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.
Showing posts with label Tony Freeman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tony Freeman. Show all posts
Friday, December 18, 2009
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.
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