Dual comeback wins mark second trip west
By Jason Maholy
Southern Illinois didn’t play consistently great basketball during a two-game weekend sojourn to Las Vegas, but may have played its best ball of the season when it mattered most as the Salukis stole two victories by coming from behind in the final minutes of both contests.
The Salukis defeated San Diego in dramatic fashion Saturday night, when they scored the game’s final 13 points in a 70-68 win; then followed that with a 67-66 victory Sunday over San Francisco, made possible by sophomore guard Kevin Dillard’s driving layup with 12 seconds left. The heart-stopping triumphs sent the Dawgs back to Carbondale at 7-2 and winners of four straight as they prepare to start the Missouri Conference Valley schedule Dec. 29 against Indiana State at SIU Arena.
Southern came into the Holiday Hoops Classic with more questions than answers regarding how much they’ve improved since last season. The Salukis’ five wins prior to the Vegas trip had all been by at least 10 points against markedly inferior competition, and they were never seriously challenged in any of those games. In the team’s two losses to UNLV and Saint Louis, they showed immaturity and an inability to mount much of a comeback once they fell behind – problems that plagued them during last season’s 13-18 effort. It was uncertain heading into the weekend whether these guys would be able to execute down the stretch and pull out tight games.
The Dawgs answered that question in both games. Why they were in that position against the Toreros and Dons -- teams that came into the weekend a combined 8-13 and lost to South Florida by 20 and 10 points, respectively, during the two-game stint -- is a legitimate question; but a win is a win, so give these Salukis credit for hanging tough, fighting back and making plays at both ends of the floor in crunch time. They showed, despite their flaws, that they’re progressing in their mental preparedness and resiliency, while at the same time learning how to make key defensive stops and turning those stops into points at the other end. SIU was down as many as 15 points to San Diego and trailed 42-29 at halftime, but limited the Toreros to 4-for-24 from the field in the second stanza and held them without a field goal for the final 7:27.
It is also evident players are settling into roles, and that guys such as Dillard, Justin Bocot and Carlton Fay aren’t afraid to – and can hit -- clutch shots. Dillard scored 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting, dished out seven assists and pulled down six rebounds against San Diego, while Bocot poured in a game-high 22 points while hitting two crucial 3-pointers, making a key steal and draining two free throws during the 13-point, game-ending flurry. Fay’s two free throws with 2.5 seconds left turned out to be the winning points.
Sophomore center Nick Evans, meanwhile, was able to put possibly his worst performance of the season (four points, 1-for-5 from the field, one rebound, five turnovers and four personal fouls) behind him to block a shot and grab a critical rebound down the stretch.
It was Dillard and Fay playing heroes again against San Francisco in a game in which the Salukis trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half. A trey by Dillard and two more by Fay brought the Dawgs to within four at the break, and both players made key plays in the game’s waning minutes to help Southern come out on top. Dillard finished with 18 points (8-of-12 from the field, 2-of-3 from 3-point range) and nine assists and made the game-winning shot on a play designed for him, while Fay scored 15 points and hit three of his six tries from behind the arc.
Senior guard Tony Freeman contributed 14 points and forced Dons’ guard Kwame Vaughn to take a difficult shot on the game’s final play, sealing the victory. Evans scored just six points but had three blocks and two steals, and is beginning to establish himself as an interior defensive presence.
SIU won’t play next until the Sycamores come calling next Tuesday, and the long layoff will be welcome with junior guard Jack Crowder already out (shoulder) and junior guard John Freeman and freshman center Eugene Teague seeing limited action because of injuries. Freeman, one of the team’s best defenders who had played himself into the starting lineup during just his first year with the program, played just 20 minutes in Vegas due to a nagging hamstring injury. Having a healthy Freeman and Teague will be essential during the conference season, which is looking more foreboding by the day as teams like Wichita State (10-1) and Missouri State (10-0) have gotten off to fast starts to join preseason favorite Northern Iowa (8-1) and a formidable Illinois State (8-2) squad as contenders in the Valley.
The Salukis have not been as impressive as any of those teams and are for now bunched in with Indiana State, Bradley and Creighton in the middle of the Valley pack. The Dawgs have made progress, but are still learning how to win and how to bring 40 minutes of intensity each and every game. The comeback wins in Vegas are encouraging, but the fact they were on the verge of losing both of those contests to teams that likely won’t be playing any sort of significant postseason ball is evidence this squad has a ways to go before it can be considered a legitimate threat to the conference crown. This team is still too inconsistent all around, but particularly on defense, which they must shore up if they are to have any chance against the top Valley teams. San Diego shot 66.7 percent in the first half and even after making just four shots in the second half finished at 48.9 percent, while San Francisco shot 49.7 percent from the field. Neither of those teams possesses the talent or offensive firepower of Northern Iowa, Illinois State, Creighton or Wichita State.
SIU will also need more consistent offensive contributions from Bocot (7.6 ppg) and Anthony Booker (7.1 ppg) because defenses are going to key on stopping Dillard and Fay, who have emerged as this team’s go-to scorers. Bocot has proven capable of scoring 20 points on any given night, but is too often too inconsistent to be a major factor. Booker has been playing better of late but has yet to establish himself as the inside scoring threat he must be in order to provide his teammates open lanes and good looks at the hoop. He has been the slowest of the Salukis’ youngsters to develop and every so often appears on the cusp of greatness, only to take a step back and keep questions alive about his durability and desire. The emergence of Dillard and Fay, the steadiness provided by Tony Freeman, and the development of Evans and Bocot will keep the Salukis competitive in a rugged Valley, but whether Booker can take his game to the next level may be the difference between this team being a contender or also-ran.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Salukis look to double down on wins in Vegas
SIU faces San Diego and San Francisco in Sin City weekend
By Jason Maholy
Seven games into the Southern Illinois Salukis’ 2009-10 season, just how good – or not good – this team is remains unknown.
SIU (5-2) is in Las Vegas this weekend, the team’s second trip to Sin City this season, for games against San Diego (5-6) and San Francisco (3-7) of the West Coast Conference. Both teams are under .500, like all four Division I teams the Dawgs have beaten with relative ease, yet should provide more of a challenge than the likes of Tennesee-Martin or Southeast Missouri State – both of which may be among this season’s worst 20 of the NCAA’s 300 DI programs .
The lack of quality opponents is the reason these Salukis are difficult to assess. We know they can dominate lesser competition: In their four wins against DI teams – which have a combined record of 7-25 – SIU is scoring 83.2 points per game while holding opponents to 63.7. Sophomore forward Anthony Booker and sophomore center Nick Evans have looked like studs against these smaller, less athletic and generally overmatched teams; however, have looked very ordinary in the Salukis two losses to UNLV (8-1) and Saint Louis (6-3).
Then again, the team as a whole has looked rather ordinary against the better competition. In contrast to their nearly wire-to-wire dominance of weaker teams, the Salukis struggled to play a solid 40 minutes in both of their road losses to the Runnin’ Rebels and Billikins. SIU led both games at halftime and played encouragingly well for stretches, including beginning the UNLV game with an 18-6 run that undoubtedly had Saluki fans salivating and having visions of the days of Jamaal Tatum and Tony Young, but this relatively young squad that started three sophomores in each of those contests fell apart both times in the second halves. The Dawgs were woeful offensively in both games, averaging just 65 points and shooting 34.7 percent from the field and a miserable 18.4 percent (9-49) from 3-point range.
It is understandable why SIU head coach Chris Lowery put together a rather cupcake-ish non-conference schedule. Last season’s squad finished 13-18 while turning in the program’s first losing season since 1998-99 and ending a string of seven consecutive postseason appearances. Lowery wasn’t about to overschedule again and risk damaging his players’ psyches.
The Dawgs may not have been challenged much in their victories this season, although Illinois-Chicago did play them close for 30 minutes, but the contests have provided a valuable means for this team to confront and overcome its own challenges. The overmatched competition should help build Southern’s confidence and give the players time to improve, gel as a unit and settle into their roles before the start of the Missouri Valley slate. That’s what this team is preparing for, and where they will have to excel if they are to win an outright conference crown, or better yet take the title at Arch Madness and earn a bid to the Big Dance for the first time in three seasons.
This team has shown flashes that it may, come spring, contend with the likes of Northern Iowa, Illinois State and Creighton for that automatic NCAA berth. Sophomore guard Kevin Dillard is averaging 15.4 points per game, good for fifth in the conference, and 5.3 assists to lead all MVC players. His shooting hasn’t been as good as expected, but he has excelled at running the offense and improved at all other aspects of his game, and has already recorded two points-assists double-doubles. Coming into this season that feat had been accomplished just six times in the program’s history.
Tony Freeman, the team’s lone senior, also appears to be settling into his role as a go-to scorer and leader on and off the floor. After an inauspicious start to the season and suffering an injury that sidelined him for the Saint Louis game, Freeman has come on strong, hitting 10-of-17 shots from 3-point range and scoring 38 points in the past two games combined. He is averaging 13.4 points on the season, good for second on the team. His steadiness at both ends of the floor will be essential for this team to pull out tight games during the conference slate.
The team’s front-court play is also a reason for optimism. Junior forward Carlton Fay is averaging 11.9 points and 4.6 boards per game, and though inconsistent at times has shown he can be a game-changing shooter who can carry a team. He started the season coming off the bench but has started the past two games, giving the Salukis four starters averaging double figures in points. Evans has provided a big boost as well. The 6-11 redshirt sophomore who plays with a frenetic energy is averaging 10.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 65 percent from the field. In his past two games he is averaging 14.5 points and if he can continue to improve as a low-post threat will help open up the perimeter for guys like Dillard, Freeman and Fay. He has also matured as a defender and has for the most part avoided the foul trouble that plagued him during his freshman campaign.
The wild card of this group is Booker, who was unimpressive the first five games but has looked like a different player since being replaced by Fay in the starting lineup. He scored just seven points combined against UNLV, Saint Louis and UIC, in part because of a hip injury that limited his minutes and effectiveness, but he followed those games with a 10-point, 11-rebound, four-block performance against SEMO and 12 points and seven boards versus Alabama State. His development as the team's top front court reserve will be a key to this team succeeding in the grueling 18-game MVC schedule, but he has yet to prove he can be an impact player against quality opponents.
By Jason Maholy
Seven games into the Southern Illinois Salukis’ 2009-10 season, just how good – or not good – this team is remains unknown.
SIU (5-2) is in Las Vegas this weekend, the team’s second trip to Sin City this season, for games against San Diego (5-6) and San Francisco (3-7) of the West Coast Conference. Both teams are under .500, like all four Division I teams the Dawgs have beaten with relative ease, yet should provide more of a challenge than the likes of Tennesee-Martin or Southeast Missouri State – both of which may be among this season’s worst 20 of the NCAA’s 300 DI programs .
The lack of quality opponents is the reason these Salukis are difficult to assess. We know they can dominate lesser competition: In their four wins against DI teams – which have a combined record of 7-25 – SIU is scoring 83.2 points per game while holding opponents to 63.7. Sophomore forward Anthony Booker and sophomore center Nick Evans have looked like studs against these smaller, less athletic and generally overmatched teams; however, have looked very ordinary in the Salukis two losses to UNLV (8-1) and Saint Louis (6-3).
Then again, the team as a whole has looked rather ordinary against the better competition. In contrast to their nearly wire-to-wire dominance of weaker teams, the Salukis struggled to play a solid 40 minutes in both of their road losses to the Runnin’ Rebels and Billikins. SIU led both games at halftime and played encouragingly well for stretches, including beginning the UNLV game with an 18-6 run that undoubtedly had Saluki fans salivating and having visions of the days of Jamaal Tatum and Tony Young, but this relatively young squad that started three sophomores in each of those contests fell apart both times in the second halves. The Dawgs were woeful offensively in both games, averaging just 65 points and shooting 34.7 percent from the field and a miserable 18.4 percent (9-49) from 3-point range.
It is understandable why SIU head coach Chris Lowery put together a rather cupcake-ish non-conference schedule. Last season’s squad finished 13-18 while turning in the program’s first losing season since 1998-99 and ending a string of seven consecutive postseason appearances. Lowery wasn’t about to overschedule again and risk damaging his players’ psyches.
The Dawgs may not have been challenged much in their victories this season, although Illinois-Chicago did play them close for 30 minutes, but the contests have provided a valuable means for this team to confront and overcome its own challenges. The overmatched competition should help build Southern’s confidence and give the players time to improve, gel as a unit and settle into their roles before the start of the Missouri Valley slate. That’s what this team is preparing for, and where they will have to excel if they are to win an outright conference crown, or better yet take the title at Arch Madness and earn a bid to the Big Dance for the first time in three seasons.
This team has shown flashes that it may, come spring, contend with the likes of Northern Iowa, Illinois State and Creighton for that automatic NCAA berth. Sophomore guard Kevin Dillard is averaging 15.4 points per game, good for fifth in the conference, and 5.3 assists to lead all MVC players. His shooting hasn’t been as good as expected, but he has excelled at running the offense and improved at all other aspects of his game, and has already recorded two points-assists double-doubles. Coming into this season that feat had been accomplished just six times in the program’s history.
Tony Freeman, the team’s lone senior, also appears to be settling into his role as a go-to scorer and leader on and off the floor. After an inauspicious start to the season and suffering an injury that sidelined him for the Saint Louis game, Freeman has come on strong, hitting 10-of-17 shots from 3-point range and scoring 38 points in the past two games combined. He is averaging 13.4 points on the season, good for second on the team. His steadiness at both ends of the floor will be essential for this team to pull out tight games during the conference slate.
The team’s front-court play is also a reason for optimism. Junior forward Carlton Fay is averaging 11.9 points and 4.6 boards per game, and though inconsistent at times has shown he can be a game-changing shooter who can carry a team. He started the season coming off the bench but has started the past two games, giving the Salukis four starters averaging double figures in points. Evans has provided a big boost as well. The 6-11 redshirt sophomore who plays with a frenetic energy is averaging 10.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 65 percent from the field. In his past two games he is averaging 14.5 points and if he can continue to improve as a low-post threat will help open up the perimeter for guys like Dillard, Freeman and Fay. He has also matured as a defender and has for the most part avoided the foul trouble that plagued him during his freshman campaign.
The wild card of this group is Booker, who was unimpressive the first five games but has looked like a different player since being replaced by Fay in the starting lineup. He scored just seven points combined against UNLV, Saint Louis and UIC, in part because of a hip injury that limited his minutes and effectiveness, but he followed those games with a 10-point, 11-rebound, four-block performance against SEMO and 12 points and seven boards versus Alabama State. His development as the team's top front court reserve will be a key to this team succeeding in the grueling 18-game MVC schedule, but he has yet to prove he can be an impact player against quality opponents.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
It's tough to win in Vegas
Salukis show mettle in loss to Rebels
By Jason Maholy
Southern Illinois suffered its first defeat of the season Saturday night in Las Vegas, but rest assured this version of the Salukis is a legitimate contender for the Missouri Valley title and has as good a chance as any team of representing the conference in the NCAA Tournament.
The Dawgs shot 35 percent (21-60) and 19.2 percent (5-26) from 3-point range, while UNLV shot 56.3 percent for the game and 77 percent in the second half, yet were down just five points with a minute and a half left. Kevin Dillard, Tony Freeman and Carlton Fay, the team's three best players and the guys being counted on to carry this team offensively, were a combined 9-for-33 from the field and 2-for-19 -- no kidding -- from the arc. But sophomore center Nick Evans, who really appears to be coming into his own and may be dominant by season's end, scored 12 points and reserve swing man John Freeman dropped 11 to at least make up a bit of the difference. That is indicative Southern has other scoring options other than the Big Three, and it will probably be rare that Dillard, Fay and Tony Freeman all have such poor-shooting nights.
How were the Salukis even in this game? Last year's team -- the one led by tough-as-nails point guard Bryan Mullins -- would have wilted and lost by 20 or more, a la the demoralizing losses to Duke, UCLA and Nevada, but these Salukis played smart, fundamentally sound basketball the majority of the game and never caved despite the adversity of playing what appears to be a pretty good team in a hostile environment. They committed just eight turnovers and contributed to The Rebels' 15, and were just two or three shots away and a defensive stop from stealing a tough game on the road.
Don't doubt this team's heart or its desire to play inspired basketball for 40 minutes. These guys came out pumped up, perhaps a little too pumped, and jumped out to an 18-6 lead in the first six minutes of the game. Maybe the adrenaline wore off, or maybe SIU actually played too hard the first six minutes, but that lead deteriorated courtesy of an 18-2 Rebel run during a five-minute stretch in the middle of the first period that gave the hosts a 24-20 lead. Still, no one can accuse the Dawgs of not being ready for what was likely their biggest game of the non-conference schedule. Eighteen-to-6 runs to start games on the road aren't produced by mediocre teams; these guys are tough, talented and ambitious, and understand what it means to be a Saluki. They proved their resiliency when, despite losing that early big lead, they managed to regain their composure and take a 37-34 lead into halftime.
But good first halves do not a game make, and the Rebels turned it on in the second half, scoring 44 points and sending the Salukis back to Carbondale, though I doubt with their tails between their legs. This team has much room for improvement, particularly with defense and being patient on offense, but the UNLV game was just the sort of competition this relatively young squad needed early in the season. Their flaws were exposed, which will hopefully serve as motivation for them to continue to improve; but their strengths -- taking care of the ball, maintaining their composure, making their free throws -- were also made evident, giving them something to be proud of and build on. Players like Dillard, Evans, Bocot and forward Anthony Booker are still developing, and thier ceilings appear to be quite high -- particularly Dillard and Evans, who could be very scary together for the next three seasons. Freshmen Kendal Brown-Surles and Eugene Teague, meanwhile, already seem capable of providing solid minutes off the bench and will only get better as the season progresses.
Southern's teams have in the past rarely been dominant in the non-conference portion of the schedule, and have used losses early in the season as learning experiences to prepare them for a run at the MVC crown. The talent coach Chris Lowery has assembled on this squad may be the best and deepest in the program's history, if they can improve just a little bit each game and correct the flaws that lead to a few missed scoring opportunities or an easy basket or two for the opposition, the Salukis will once again be at or very close to the top of the Valley.
By Jason Maholy
Southern Illinois suffered its first defeat of the season Saturday night in Las Vegas, but rest assured this version of the Salukis is a legitimate contender for the Missouri Valley title and has as good a chance as any team of representing the conference in the NCAA Tournament.
The Dawgs shot 35 percent (21-60) and 19.2 percent (5-26) from 3-point range, while UNLV shot 56.3 percent for the game and 77 percent in the second half, yet were down just five points with a minute and a half left. Kevin Dillard, Tony Freeman and Carlton Fay, the team's three best players and the guys being counted on to carry this team offensively, were a combined 9-for-33 from the field and 2-for-19 -- no kidding -- from the arc. But sophomore center Nick Evans, who really appears to be coming into his own and may be dominant by season's end, scored 12 points and reserve swing man John Freeman dropped 11 to at least make up a bit of the difference. That is indicative Southern has other scoring options other than the Big Three, and it will probably be rare that Dillard, Fay and Tony Freeman all have such poor-shooting nights.
How were the Salukis even in this game? Last year's team -- the one led by tough-as-nails point guard Bryan Mullins -- would have wilted and lost by 20 or more, a la the demoralizing losses to Duke, UCLA and Nevada, but these Salukis played smart, fundamentally sound basketball the majority of the game and never caved despite the adversity of playing what appears to be a pretty good team in a hostile environment. They committed just eight turnovers and contributed to The Rebels' 15, and were just two or three shots away and a defensive stop from stealing a tough game on the road.
Don't doubt this team's heart or its desire to play inspired basketball for 40 minutes. These guys came out pumped up, perhaps a little too pumped, and jumped out to an 18-6 lead in the first six minutes of the game. Maybe the adrenaline wore off, or maybe SIU actually played too hard the first six minutes, but that lead deteriorated courtesy of an 18-2 Rebel run during a five-minute stretch in the middle of the first period that gave the hosts a 24-20 lead. Still, no one can accuse the Dawgs of not being ready for what was likely their biggest game of the non-conference schedule. Eighteen-to-6 runs to start games on the road aren't produced by mediocre teams; these guys are tough, talented and ambitious, and understand what it means to be a Saluki. They proved their resiliency when, despite losing that early big lead, they managed to regain their composure and take a 37-34 lead into halftime.
But good first halves do not a game make, and the Rebels turned it on in the second half, scoring 44 points and sending the Salukis back to Carbondale, though I doubt with their tails between their legs. This team has much room for improvement, particularly with defense and being patient on offense, but the UNLV game was just the sort of competition this relatively young squad needed early in the season. Their flaws were exposed, which will hopefully serve as motivation for them to continue to improve; but their strengths -- taking care of the ball, maintaining their composure, making their free throws -- were also made evident, giving them something to be proud of and build on. Players like Dillard, Evans, Bocot and forward Anthony Booker are still developing, and thier ceilings appear to be quite high -- particularly Dillard and Evans, who could be very scary together for the next three seasons. Freshmen Kendal Brown-Surles and Eugene Teague, meanwhile, already seem capable of providing solid minutes off the bench and will only get better as the season progresses.
Southern's teams have in the past rarely been dominant in the non-conference portion of the schedule, and have used losses early in the season as learning experiences to prepare them for a run at the MVC crown. The talent coach Chris Lowery has assembled on this squad may be the best and deepest in the program's history, if they can improve just a little bit each game and correct the flaws that lead to a few missed scoring opportunities or an easy basket or two for the opposition, the Salukis will once again be at or very close to the top of the Valley.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Salukis head to Vegas for tilt with Rebels
UNLV will be SIU's first real test of season
By Jason Maholy
Southern Illinois will get its sternest test thus far this season when it hits the road to for the first time to take on UNLV Saturday night in Sin City.
The battle between the Salukis and Runnin’ Rebels is part of the inaugural Missouri Valley-Mountain West Challenge Series, which pits teams from each conference against each other for the next four years.
SIU (2-0) is off to a strong start averaging 87.5 points per game and has outscored its first two opponents by a combined 43 points. The Salukis scored 91 points – the most in coach Chris Lowery’s six years at the helm -- in their season-opener against Tennessee-Martin, then followed that with an 84-point outburst against Division II Indianapolis.
Facing a team with legitimate NCAA Tourney hopes in a hostile environment in the first road game of the season, however, will be a much more challenging endeavor. The Salukis hope this trip ends better than their last journey to the Silver State, when Nevada thumped them 62-48 last Dec. 14.
The Runnin’ Rebels (2-0) come into the game fresh off an 88-75 comeback victory over Nevada in which they scored 55 second-half points and overcame a 12-point deficit. Guard Oscar Bellfield led the Rebels with 22 points and freshman guard Justin Hawkins had 16.
UNLV comes into the contest with three players averaging double-figures in scoring including junior guard and leading scorer Tre’Von Willis (12.5) and Hawkins (12). The balanced UNLV squad has 10 players averaging at least six points a game. Forwards Chace Stanback, a starter, and Darris Santee, a senior reserve, share the team-lead in rebounding at 6.5 per game.
Unlike teams of Saluki past, this one can match the offensive firepower of a squad like Lon Kruger’s Rebels. Lowery is still preaching tenacious pressure defense as the key to success, but he has admittedly loosened the leash on his Dawgs because he recognizes their considerable offensive talents. With players including Kevin Dillard, Tony Freeman, Justin Bocot and Carlton Fay capable of pouring in 20 points on any given night, and capable scorers like Anthony Booker, Nick Evans and Jack Crowder, Lowery has more weapons at his disposal than ever before. With such a glut of scoring options it should be a rare night this offense has trouble scoring points or that at least one guy doesn’t have the hot hand.
Dillard, Freeman and Bocot are capable of creating their own shots, so the cumbersome, ball-control motion offense employed in the past has given way to more freestyle game predicated on attacking the basket and breaking down defenses. Dillard is the team’s primary ball-handler and most dangerous scorer, and if opponents key on stopping him he will gladly get the ball to his teammates, as evidenced by his 10 assists against Indy.
While Lowery has been pleased with his team’s offense -- aside from the 87.5 point per game they’re shooting 52 percent from both the field and 3-point range, while sharing the ball almost to a fault at times -- he won’t settle for winning shootouts and has expressed his desire for this team to hold opponents in the “low 50s.” It remains to be seen whether that is possible given this team’s more up-tempo game, which means more possessions for the opposition, but there is no question they haven’t played the type of defense needed to beat teams like UNLV or win in the MVC. That’s understandable, as offense is typically further along than defense at this point in the season, and if they can tie up a few loose ends on ‘D’ they should be in position to win this game at the end.
One of the keys to the Salukis coming home happy will be Freeman, the team’s lone senior and a former starter at the University of Iowa. Freeman has kept a low profile in the first two games by simply executing the team’s game plan against two inferior opponents, but he is this team’s emotional leader and understands the intensity, focus and execution necessary to defeat a tough opponent on the road. Look for him to step up his game at both ends of the floor against UNLV, particularly if any of the youngsters falter early.
FYI
-Southern is 1-2 all-time against UNLV. The Rebels won the last meeting 91-68 on Dec. 23, 1983.
-The Salukis are 13-4 all-time against Mountain West teams, with the last game a 57-53 victory over Wyoming on Dec. 3, 2005.
-SIU’s bench has scored 71 of the team’s 175 points (40.5 percent). Carlton Fay is the leading scorer off the bench with 29 points (14.5 per game).
-The 2008-09 Dawgs scored as many as 80 points just once, hitting that number against Massachusetts last Nov. 12 in the second game of the season.
By Jason Maholy
Southern Illinois will get its sternest test thus far this season when it hits the road to for the first time to take on UNLV Saturday night in Sin City.
The battle between the Salukis and Runnin’ Rebels is part of the inaugural Missouri Valley-Mountain West Challenge Series, which pits teams from each conference against each other for the next four years.
SIU (2-0) is off to a strong start averaging 87.5 points per game and has outscored its first two opponents by a combined 43 points. The Salukis scored 91 points – the most in coach Chris Lowery’s six years at the helm -- in their season-opener against Tennessee-Martin, then followed that with an 84-point outburst against Division II Indianapolis.
Facing a team with legitimate NCAA Tourney hopes in a hostile environment in the first road game of the season, however, will be a much more challenging endeavor. The Salukis hope this trip ends better than their last journey to the Silver State, when Nevada thumped them 62-48 last Dec. 14.
The Runnin’ Rebels (2-0) come into the game fresh off an 88-75 comeback victory over Nevada in which they scored 55 second-half points and overcame a 12-point deficit. Guard Oscar Bellfield led the Rebels with 22 points and freshman guard Justin Hawkins had 16.
UNLV comes into the contest with three players averaging double-figures in scoring including junior guard and leading scorer Tre’Von Willis (12.5) and Hawkins (12). The balanced UNLV squad has 10 players averaging at least six points a game. Forwards Chace Stanback, a starter, and Darris Santee, a senior reserve, share the team-lead in rebounding at 6.5 per game.
Unlike teams of Saluki past, this one can match the offensive firepower of a squad like Lon Kruger’s Rebels. Lowery is still preaching tenacious pressure defense as the key to success, but he has admittedly loosened the leash on his Dawgs because he recognizes their considerable offensive talents. With players including Kevin Dillard, Tony Freeman, Justin Bocot and Carlton Fay capable of pouring in 20 points on any given night, and capable scorers like Anthony Booker, Nick Evans and Jack Crowder, Lowery has more weapons at his disposal than ever before. With such a glut of scoring options it should be a rare night this offense has trouble scoring points or that at least one guy doesn’t have the hot hand.
Dillard, Freeman and Bocot are capable of creating their own shots, so the cumbersome, ball-control motion offense employed in the past has given way to more freestyle game predicated on attacking the basket and breaking down defenses. Dillard is the team’s primary ball-handler and most dangerous scorer, and if opponents key on stopping him he will gladly get the ball to his teammates, as evidenced by his 10 assists against Indy.
While Lowery has been pleased with his team’s offense -- aside from the 87.5 point per game they’re shooting 52 percent from both the field and 3-point range, while sharing the ball almost to a fault at times -- he won’t settle for winning shootouts and has expressed his desire for this team to hold opponents in the “low 50s.” It remains to be seen whether that is possible given this team’s more up-tempo game, which means more possessions for the opposition, but there is no question they haven’t played the type of defense needed to beat teams like UNLV or win in the MVC. That’s understandable, as offense is typically further along than defense at this point in the season, and if they can tie up a few loose ends on ‘D’ they should be in position to win this game at the end.
One of the keys to the Salukis coming home happy will be Freeman, the team’s lone senior and a former starter at the University of Iowa. Freeman has kept a low profile in the first two games by simply executing the team’s game plan against two inferior opponents, but he is this team’s emotional leader and understands the intensity, focus and execution necessary to defeat a tough opponent on the road. Look for him to step up his game at both ends of the floor against UNLV, particularly if any of the youngsters falter early.
FYI
-Southern is 1-2 all-time against UNLV. The Rebels won the last meeting 91-68 on Dec. 23, 1983.
-The Salukis are 13-4 all-time against Mountain West teams, with the last game a 57-53 victory over Wyoming on Dec. 3, 2005.
-SIU’s bench has scored 71 of the team’s 175 points (40.5 percent). Carlton Fay is the leading scorer off the bench with 29 points (14.5 per game).
-The 2008-09 Dawgs scored as many as 80 points just once, hitting that number against Massachusetts last Nov. 12 in the second game of the season.
Salukis outpace Greyhounds for second win
Dillard's double-double leads the way
By Jason Maholy
Southern Illinois came out shooting again Tuesday and scorched the nets at SIU Arena as they defeated Indianapolis 84-69.
The Salukis (2-0) scored the game’s opening basket and never trailed, and outpaced the Division II Greyhounds by shooting 55 percent from the field and going 11-for-19 (58 percent) from 3-point range. The Dawgs are shooting 52 percent this season from both the field and the arc.
Sophomore guard Kevin Dillard led five Salukis who scored in double figures with 16 points and a game-high 10 assists for his first career double-double. Carlton Fay, Anthony Booker, Nick Evans and Tony Freeman chipped in with 11 points apiece. Junior guard Justin Bocot had eight points and was the only SIU starter who didn’t tally in double figures. Evans led all players with seven rebounds.
Darius Adams led Indianapolis with 21 points, while Ryan Sims had 15 points, six assists and five boards.
The Salukis, a team known for lockdown defense, are averaging 87.5 points through two games. They are also allowing an average of 66, far higher than coach Chris Lowery’s stated goal of the “low 50s,” and giving up 69 to a D2 team is unbecoming of a program that has played a smash-mouth brand of ‘D’-first basketball the better part of this decade. The Greyhounds shot 48 percent from the field and 53 percent from 3-point range, which enabled them stay within striking distance going into halftime.
The Salukis appeared to come to out of the break with a renewed focus and reeled off the first 10 points of the second stanza to take a 15-point lead. Indy responded, however, with a nine-point run of its own to get within six. Sloppy play by the Dawgs, including several turnovers and fouls during a five-minute span, allowed the Greyhounds to inch back into the contest, and the lead was down to five (54-49) with just more than 12 minutes left. Eleven of the Salukis’ 16 turnovers came in the second half.
But that was the closest Indy would get, as every time they seemed to get a little life back the Salukis would respond with a big shot of their own. SIU hit 5-of-7 treys in the second half.
Those shots at crucial moments are what Southern lacked last year, when they would routinely go four or five minutes, sometimes more, without a field goal. With a plethora of weapons including Dillard, Fay, Freeman, Booker, Bocot and reserve guard Jack Crowder (six points), such lulls will likely be few and far between this season. The biggest issue thus far appears to be the defense, although the high number of points allowed has certainly been aided by Southern’s newfound up-tempo offense, which contributes to more scoring opportunities for the opposition.
The Salukis will have to mend some holes in its ‘D’, though, as the competition gets a little stiffer starting Saturday at UNLV. Southern won’t have the advantages in size and athleticism they enjoyed against Tennessee-Martin and Indianapolis, and will have to play a much tighter, efficient game to limit both the Rebels’ possessions and good looks at the basket.
By Jason Maholy
Southern Illinois came out shooting again Tuesday and scorched the nets at SIU Arena as they defeated Indianapolis 84-69.
The Salukis (2-0) scored the game’s opening basket and never trailed, and outpaced the Division II Greyhounds by shooting 55 percent from the field and going 11-for-19 (58 percent) from 3-point range. The Dawgs are shooting 52 percent this season from both the field and the arc.
Sophomore guard Kevin Dillard led five Salukis who scored in double figures with 16 points and a game-high 10 assists for his first career double-double. Carlton Fay, Anthony Booker, Nick Evans and Tony Freeman chipped in with 11 points apiece. Junior guard Justin Bocot had eight points and was the only SIU starter who didn’t tally in double figures. Evans led all players with seven rebounds.
Darius Adams led Indianapolis with 21 points, while Ryan Sims had 15 points, six assists and five boards.
The Salukis, a team known for lockdown defense, are averaging 87.5 points through two games. They are also allowing an average of 66, far higher than coach Chris Lowery’s stated goal of the “low 50s,” and giving up 69 to a D2 team is unbecoming of a program that has played a smash-mouth brand of ‘D’-first basketball the better part of this decade. The Greyhounds shot 48 percent from the field and 53 percent from 3-point range, which enabled them stay within striking distance going into halftime.
The Salukis appeared to come to out of the break with a renewed focus and reeled off the first 10 points of the second stanza to take a 15-point lead. Indy responded, however, with a nine-point run of its own to get within six. Sloppy play by the Dawgs, including several turnovers and fouls during a five-minute span, allowed the Greyhounds to inch back into the contest, and the lead was down to five (54-49) with just more than 12 minutes left. Eleven of the Salukis’ 16 turnovers came in the second half.
But that was the closest Indy would get, as every time they seemed to get a little life back the Salukis would respond with a big shot of their own. SIU hit 5-of-7 treys in the second half.
Those shots at crucial moments are what Southern lacked last year, when they would routinely go four or five minutes, sometimes more, without a field goal. With a plethora of weapons including Dillard, Fay, Freeman, Booker, Bocot and reserve guard Jack Crowder (six points), such lulls will likely be few and far between this season. The biggest issue thus far appears to be the defense, although the high number of points allowed has certainly been aided by Southern’s newfound up-tempo offense, which contributes to more scoring opportunities for the opposition.
The Salukis will have to mend some holes in its ‘D’, though, as the competition gets a little stiffer starting Saturday at UNLV. Southern won’t have the advantages in size and athleticism they enjoyed against Tennessee-Martin and Indianapolis, and will have to play a much tighter, efficient game to limit both the Rebels’ possessions and good looks at the basket.
Hot-shooting Salukis bring down Skyhawks
Dawgs go 50 percent from field, hit 12 3-pointers
By Jason Maholy
Carlton Fay scored 18 points to lead five Salukis in double figures as Southern Illinois routed Tennessee-Martin 91-63 Saturday in the season opener for both teams.
Southern guards Kevin Dillard and Kendal Brown-Surles dropped in 14 and 12 points, respectively, while senior guard Tony Freeman and sophomore forward Anthony Booker chipped in 10 apiece. Booker also grabbed five rebounds and blocked two shots, while Nick Evans had four points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
Rueben Clay's 16 points led Tennessee-Martin, while Benzor Simmons had 14. No other Skyhawk scored more than eight points for a squad that shot 37.7 (20-53) percent from the field and 18.8 percent (3-16) from the arc, and committed 23 turnovers.
The Salukis played far from perfect basketball but rolled over UT-Martin, out of the Ohio Valley Conference, with blistering shooting from the field. The Salukis shot 50 percent from the field and were 12-25 (48 percent) from 3-point range. They outrebounded the Skyhawks by just three, committed 28 fouls, turned the ball over 17 times and shot a lukewarm 70 percent (21-30) from the charity stripe, but simply overmatched a team with four first-year starters and no players that averaged more than 5.7 points per game last season.
UT-Martin scored the game's first two points but never led again. SIU went on a 19-4 run over the next 7:23 and led 43-25 at halftime. The Salukis' biggest lead was 33 points, when Brown-Surles' second 3-pointer put them up 82-49 with 6:02 left. They scored 90 or more points for the first time since beating Evansville 93-67 in March 2004 in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
The win was the Salukis' 100th at SIU Arena, against 12 losses, since the start of the 2001-02 season. Southern Illinois has won 11 straight season openers.
Fay, a junior forward who started all 31 games last season, was suspended for SIU's two exhibition games and didn't start the opener. The lack of game time during the preseason didn't hinder him, as he hit 6-of-7 field goals and was 5-for-5 from the free-throw line in 15 minutes. He also grabbed five rebounds and didn't commit a turnover.
Brown-Surles, a 5-10 freshman out of Harrison High School in Evansville, Ind., was 4-of-6 from long range and dished out five assists while committing just one turnover in 20 minutes. He scored all of his points in the second half.
Dillard, a sophomore who is being counted on to help carry the Salukis, was 4-for-7 from the field including 2-of-4 from long range, and hit all four if his free-throw attempts. The Homewood-Flossmoor High School product also handed out four assists, had two steals and didn't turn the ball over.
Junior college transfers Jack Crowder and John Freeman, both junior guards, each scored seven points off the bench for Southern. All 13 players on the Salukis' active roster got into the game.
Three players committed 12 of SIU's 17 turnovers. Junior guard Justin Bocot (9 points) led the squad with five while Evans, a 6-11 sophomore center, had four and Freeman three. Four Salukis committed four personal fouls apiece.
By Jason Maholy
Carlton Fay scored 18 points to lead five Salukis in double figures as Southern Illinois routed Tennessee-Martin 91-63 Saturday in the season opener for both teams.
Southern guards Kevin Dillard and Kendal Brown-Surles dropped in 14 and 12 points, respectively, while senior guard Tony Freeman and sophomore forward Anthony Booker chipped in 10 apiece. Booker also grabbed five rebounds and blocked two shots, while Nick Evans had four points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
Rueben Clay's 16 points led Tennessee-Martin, while Benzor Simmons had 14. No other Skyhawk scored more than eight points for a squad that shot 37.7 (20-53) percent from the field and 18.8 percent (3-16) from the arc, and committed 23 turnovers.
The Salukis played far from perfect basketball but rolled over UT-Martin, out of the Ohio Valley Conference, with blistering shooting from the field. The Salukis shot 50 percent from the field and were 12-25 (48 percent) from 3-point range. They outrebounded the Skyhawks by just three, committed 28 fouls, turned the ball over 17 times and shot a lukewarm 70 percent (21-30) from the charity stripe, but simply overmatched a team with four first-year starters and no players that averaged more than 5.7 points per game last season.
UT-Martin scored the game's first two points but never led again. SIU went on a 19-4 run over the next 7:23 and led 43-25 at halftime. The Salukis' biggest lead was 33 points, when Brown-Surles' second 3-pointer put them up 82-49 with 6:02 left. They scored 90 or more points for the first time since beating Evansville 93-67 in March 2004 in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
The win was the Salukis' 100th at SIU Arena, against 12 losses, since the start of the 2001-02 season. Southern Illinois has won 11 straight season openers.
Fay, a junior forward who started all 31 games last season, was suspended for SIU's two exhibition games and didn't start the opener. The lack of game time during the preseason didn't hinder him, as he hit 6-of-7 field goals and was 5-for-5 from the free-throw line in 15 minutes. He also grabbed five rebounds and didn't commit a turnover.
Brown-Surles, a 5-10 freshman out of Harrison High School in Evansville, Ind., was 4-of-6 from long range and dished out five assists while committing just one turnover in 20 minutes. He scored all of his points in the second half.
Dillard, a sophomore who is being counted on to help carry the Salukis, was 4-for-7 from the field including 2-of-4 from long range, and hit all four if his free-throw attempts. The Homewood-Flossmoor High School product also handed out four assists, had two steals and didn't turn the ball over.
Junior college transfers Jack Crowder and John Freeman, both junior guards, each scored seven points off the bench for Southern. All 13 players on the Salukis' active roster got into the game.
Three players committed 12 of SIU's 17 turnovers. Junior guard Justin Bocot (9 points) led the squad with five while Evans, a 6-11 sophomore center, had four and Freeman three. Four Salukis committed four personal fouls apiece.
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