Basketball season is here as we continue our season preview on EIUPanthers Podcast as this week we bring you the Eastern Illinois men’s basketball press conference from this year’s Ohio Valley Conference Media Day.   Head coach Marty Simmons enters his first season with the Panthers returning just a handful of players including post player Sammy Friday IV, who also participated in this year’s event for EIU.  The 2021-22 season opens on Nov. 9 on the road as the Panthers travel to Northwestern.  EIU’s home opener is Nov. 15 against Central Michigan.