Salukis get lesson in effort, execution
By Jason Maholy
Northern Iowa thoroughly trounced Southern Illinois Wednesday night on the Salukis' home court, delivering to Carbondale a 61-49 defeat that was nowhere near as close as 12 points, and exposing the immaturity of a team that many fans expected to be further along in its development.
The Panthers, who have established themselves as the dominant team in the Missouri Valley and a team capable of playing well into March, dismantled a Southern squad that scored its fewest points since throwing up 48 against Nevada in Reno last December. UNI scored the game's first nine points and SIU didn't hit its first field goal until Carlton Fay scored a rare point in the paint 4:01 into the action. The Panthers took a double-digit lad for good when guard Johnny Moran hit the last of three free throw attempts 24 seconds later after being fouled by John Freeman.
The Salukis shot 34.6 percent from the field, and that was after a "hot-shooting" second half in which they hit a frigid 10-of-27 (37 percent). Their first half statistics: 8-for-25 from the field (32 percent), 1-for-5 from beyond the arc, and an inexcusable 2-for-10 from the free-throw line. Starting guard Justin Bocot and usual starting point guard Kevin Dillard, held out of the starting lineup for violating a team rule, each missed both ends of a trip to the charity stripe during the dismal first half that churned out all of 20 points. Southern also committed more fouls (7) than it recorded assists (6) in the opening stanza.
By the end of the first 20 minutes if misery UNI was up 36-20 and it looked like the Panthers could win by 30. Fortunately for Southern the visitors knew there was no way the Salukis would come back from the 25-point lead they attained when Lucas O'Rear slammed home a dunk to make it 57-32 with 6:56 left, and they eased off the overmatched and seemingly disinterested Dawgs. UNI didn't hit another field goal and managed just four points the rest of the way.
The effort some fans who saw the game are calling the worst performance they've ever seen, and most others saying it's close, exposed the Salukis as a team still struggling to mature as a unit in which the players trust each other unequivocally at both ends of the floor, and can translate that trust into the precision execution that helped build the program into one of the nation's premier smaller-conference teams last decade.
On offense they attempt too many quick 3-pointers instead of working for good positioning, finding the open man or the guy with an advantage, and taking high percentage shots. Too many guys want to be the hero and take borderline wild shots over defenders or falling away from the basket, instead of using the team's collective speed and athleticism to create open lanes, mismatches and clear looks at the basket. There is nothing wrong with having that hero mentality -- it is great to have guys who want the ball in their hands and believe they can make something happen -- but they must learn how to channel that passion and use it at appropriate times, not every other trip down the floor.
The defense actually seems further along at this point. Northern Iowa didn't dominate Southern offensive, they were just very efficient, didn't make mistakes and hit 17-of-25 free throws to Southern's 9-for-17. Had the Salukis shot anything even decently they would have been right in the game. Another five or six shots made -- certainly 23-for-52 is not unreasonable (or unexpected) -- and four or dare I say five free throws and it's a different ballgame. But back to the point, and it's that the defense still has work to do as well. If they can play with the intensity, focus and determination for 40 minutes like they did in spurts against San Diego, San Francisco, Bradley and even in a loss the Illinois State, they can be dominant.
That failure to maximize their talents is what makes it so obvious these guys are just not ready to be one of the elite teams in the Valley. They are very talented but very young, and don't yet have the wisdom to accurately assess their own strengths and weaknesses and adjust accordingly. The coaching staff has to take some of the blame here -- coaches are supposed to utilize the talent they have in the best possible and put players in position to succeed -- but the players must be held accountable as well because the effort they give is on them. The biggest difference between this team and those teams -- experience and veteran leadership. Kent Williams, Jermaine Dearman, Rolan Roberts, Darren Brooks, Tony Young, Jamaal Tatum, those guys were hardened by court war and knew what they wanted to do and how to do it. Saluki fans know the results.
This team may have more talent than any of those past teams, but it is not yet being realized. Just as they must be patient in controlling their instincts and playing with more deliberation and purpose, however, so must fans be patient while watching these guys develop. This season is not lost by any means. These Dawgs comprise a good team and have 14 more games to learn and grow, and if they can take what they should have learned thus far this season and use it to become smarter, more mature basketball players, they can win another 10 or 11 conference games. Making a run at Arch Madness seems a stretch at this point, but if they do manage to put it all together this season and are playing the way they will eventually be able to play, anything is possible.
At the very least it will be entertaining to read SalukiTalk.
Showing posts with label San Francisco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label San Francisco. Show all posts
Friday, January 8, 2010
Monday, December 21, 2009
Salukis come up aces in Vegas
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.
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.
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