EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Basketball is back!
 
The Screaming Eagles hits the court to open the 2020-21 season when they host Rockhurst University Friday before completing the first weekend with a visit from William Jewell College Sunday. Tip off for both dates are 3:15 p.m. at Screaming Eagles Arena.
 
Fans can catch all of the game coverage for the 2020-21, including live stats, video stream, and audio broadcasts, is available at GoUSIEagles.com. The games also can be heard on ESPN 97.7FM and 95.7FM The Spin.

REMINDER: At this time, fans are not permitted to attend games in Screaming Eagles Arena due to COVID-19. 

USI Men's Basketball vs. Rockhurst, William Jewell Quick Notes:
 
Eagles ranked in preseason poll. The Screaming Eagles are ranked 25^th in the NABC Preseason Top 25 poll. This is USI's first appearance in the NABC preseason poll since 2013-14.
 
Little named preseason All-American. USI senior forward Emmanuel Little was named preseason All-American by Basketball Times.
 
USI still the defending NCAA II Midwest Region champs. USI remains the defending NCAA Division II Midwest Region champion as it enters the 2020-21 season. The Screaming Eagles won the NCAA II Midwest Regional in 2019, while the 2020 regional was canceled due to COVID-19.
 
The 2019-20 season. USI finished the 2019-20 season with a 22-8 overall record, while posting a 13-7 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and finishing fourth in the league's regular season. The Eagles also finished the year as a GLVC Tournament semifinalist and received an at-large bid to the NCAA II Midwest Regional. 
 
Little named preseason All-American. USI senior forward Emmanuel Little was named preseason All-American by Basketball Times. The preseason honor was the first of Little's career.
 
USI picked to win GLVC East. USI is picked to win the GLVC East Division in a COVID-19 shortened Great Lakes Valley Conference-only season. The Eagles placed fourth a year ago and were a GLVC Tournament semifinalist.
 
2019-20 Eagle leaders. Senior forward Emmanuel Little lead USI last season with 16.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, while senior forward Josh Price posted 12.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per contest. Junior guard Mateo Rivera also reached double-digits in scoring with 10.3 points per game in 2019-20.
 
Double-doubles in 2019-20. Senior forward Emmanuel Little lead the team with 10 double-doubles a year ago. Senior forward Josh Price followed with nine double-doubles in 2019-20. 
 
First visit to SEA. Rockhurst University and William Jewell College are making their first visits to Screaming Eagles Arena.
 
USI vs. Rockhurst. USI holds a commanding 19-2 overall record versus Rockhurst, including 16 of the last 17. The Eagles, who have taken 16 of 18 conference games from Rockhurst, won the only meeting with the Hawks last year, 70-62, in Kansas City, Missouri, and was led by senior forward Josh Price, who had 17 points, and senior forward Emmanuel Little, who posted 13 points and tied for the team lead with seven rebounds. 
 
Rockhurst in 2019-20. The Hawks were 16-13 in 2019-20, 12-8 in the GLVC, placing sixth in the league's regular season and earn a berth in the conference tournament. Rockhurst finished the season with an 85-63 loss to Truman State University in the opening round of the GLVC Tournament.
 
USI vs. William Jewell. USI holds a 7-1 series lead over William Jewell since it joined the GLVC in 2010-11. The Eagles took the only match-up with the Cardinals last year, 76-60, in Liberty, Missouri. Senior guard Mateo Rivera led the Eagles to the road win last year with 14 points on, while senior guard/forward Clayton Hughes dropped in 13 points and senior forward Emmanuel Little posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Willliam Jewell in 2019-20. The Cardinals were 10-18 in 2019-20, 5-15 in the GLVC, placing 14^th in the league.