▁originally ▁published ▁in ▁The ▁New ▁York ▁Review ▁of ▁Books ▁Category : E ss ays ▁about ▁politics <0x0A> </s> ▁The ▁ 2 0 1 7 – 1 8 ▁SI U ▁Edwards ville ▁C oug ars ▁men ' s ▁basketball ▁team ▁represented ▁Southern ▁Illinois ▁University ▁Edwards ville ▁during ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 7 – 1 8 ▁NCAA ▁Division ▁I ▁men ' s ▁basketball ▁season . ▁The ▁C oug ars , ▁led ▁by ▁third ▁year ▁head ▁coach ▁Jon ▁Harris , ▁played ▁their ▁home ▁games ▁at ▁the ▁V adal ab ene ▁Center ▁in ▁Edwards ville , ▁Illinois ▁as ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁Ohio ▁Valley ▁Conference . ▁They ▁finished ▁the ▁season ▁ 9 – 2 1 , ▁ 5 – 1 3 ▁in ▁O VC ▁play ▁to ▁finish ▁in ▁a ▁three - way ▁tie ▁for ▁nin th ▁place . ▁Due ▁to ▁S out heast ▁Missouri ▁State ▁being ▁in el ig ible ▁for ▁post season ▁play ▁due ▁to ▁A PR ▁viol ations , ▁the ▁C oug ars ▁received ▁the ▁No . ▁ 8 ▁seed ▁in ▁the ▁O VC ▁Tournament ▁where ▁they ▁lost ▁in ▁the ▁first ▁round ▁to ▁Tennessee ▁Te ch . ▁ ▁Pre vious ▁season ▁ ▁The ▁C oug ars ▁finished ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 6 – 1 7 ▁season ▁ 6 – 2 4 , ▁ 1 – 1 5 ▁in ▁O VC ▁play ▁to ▁finish ▁in ▁last ▁place ▁in ▁the ▁West ▁Division . ▁They ▁failed ▁to ▁qual ify ▁for ▁the ▁O VC ▁Tournament . ▁ ▁Pres e ason ▁ ▁In ▁a ▁vote ▁of ▁conference ▁coach es