Former Saluki Nick Evans’ Arrest Should Be Considered A Call For Help
Over the weekend, we were tipped on a very troublesome story to come out of Carbondale on Friday night.
As first reported by KFVS12′s Chad Fryman, Nick Evans has found himself in trouble with the law. (more…)
Alleged DUI Another Black Eye For SIU
After a season of turmoil that saw three players transfer out of the program, with another being booted off the squad before the campaign even got started, the last thing the Southern Illinois University men’s basketball team needed was more bad news.
Unfortunately, that’s what I bring you today thanks to a tipster.
According to this Jackson County website, assistant coach Marcus Belcher was ticketed for driving under the influence in early May. In addition to the ticket, Belcher was also given a citation for failure to reduce speed and leaving the scene.
A triple whammy of bad news, if you ask me.
Does It Matter Why Anthony Booker & Kevin Dillard Left?
We are now a few days removed from the announcement of what is a largely unheralded five-man recruiting class for the Southern Illinois University men’s basketball team.
But funny math meant that coach Chris Lowery also revealed that two key cogs of a recruiting class that was believed to be the best in school history.
Kevin Dillard and Anthony Booker are no longer Salukis, becoming the ninth and tenth players to leave since Lowery took over for Matt Painter.
They also became the fourth and fifth members from the 2009 freshman class to take their game elsewhere, joining Torres Roundtree, Ryan Hare and Nick Evans – who was redshirted from the year before.
The mass exodus from Carbondale is bad news on several levels. The highly touted class was the coup that came from the Salukis’ 2007 Sweet Sixteen squad and were expected to take SIU to new levels upon arrival.
When they came, SIU was Butler before the Bulldogs blew up. Now, the Salukis are just that — blown up.
When asked if Booker or Dillard gave specific reasons, Lowery’s response during the press conference was eye-raising.
“I don’t think the reasons are important at this point. It’s a lot to do with who they are and who we are — maybe it didn’t mesh. But I can’t answer and tell you what those reasons are.”
There’s a part of me that thinks the reasons are important.
Consider the number as a whole. You can field two five-man teams with the guys that left/didn’t come to SIU. Based on depth alone, the departures hurt the team as the Salukis found themselves worn out trying to play their patented style of ball which was at its best when SIU grinded out wins.
Next, the departures have left Saluki coaches scrambling to find class balance, which is an important, yet underrated, aspect of the college basketball game.
Then there’s the intangible of experience. Talent wins games, experience wins championships. For the first time in a long time, SIU did not have a four-year senior graduate. One of this program’s major problems is that it doesn’t have the leadership of guys who have been through the rigors of a Floorburn U practice that can say, “Hey, this sucks now, but it will be worth it come March.”
It’s hard to buy into a concept, especially one as demanding as Lowery’s system, without the reinforcement of a player who can empathize and sympathize with the struggles of a youngster.
And in the end, I think that might have been a deciding factor in why Dillard and Booker are no longer a part of the Saluki basketball team.
When Lowery says, “When people talk about us they still say, ‘Boy, you guys really guard,’ and that’s not true anymore. We haven’t guarded for two years, but the perception is that we’re still one of the better teams defensively in the country…” I am convinced he’s trying to tell us the two main culprits of the defensive shortcomings were Booker and Dillard.
Then again, Lowery is the guy who brought them to Carbondale in the first place. So he either thought they had that kind of talent to defend, or could coach it. Apparently, according to Lowery’s high standards, neither happened.
And when Booker says in the Daily Egyptian, “I saw the way the team was being shaped, and the way the team was going. I saw how the team was playing, and it was more of a slow style of play.” I am convinced that there is more to the story.
When Roundtree, his former high school teammate left, he cited similar reasons about the style of play. I’m bothered by this development — a lot. Dillard, Roundtree and Booker were heavily recruited by Lowery and his staff from Day 1.
SIU won 95 games, two Missouri Valley Conference regular season championships, one MVC Tournament championship and earned four postseason wins — three of which came in the NCAA Tournament. All that in the four years before the uber-talented class stepped foot on campus.
So, I ask what’s wrong with the system? Nary a word was said slamming the system won 126 games from 2002 through 2007. Not a peep. Not a problem.
Jamaal Tatum thrived on the offensive end with his creativity in the open court in this system.
Why couldn’t Dillard do the same?
Randal Falker developed his post game over a five-year stretch at Southern and improved in every facet of his game.
Why couldn’t Booker do the same?
I’m not saying the players are completely at fault here. But on the other hand, I’m not entirely convinced the system is to blame either.
Bruce Weber had an elite class of recruits (read: Bill Self’s guys) and coached it up under the same system and took Illinois to the brink of a national championship.
Matt Painter uses the same system at Purdue and has 101 wins to show for it.
Lowery’s mea culpa at the presser makes me think his coaching has been the biggest shortcoming of it all.
And since it has been reiterated that he’s willing to make improvements and make the necessary changes, we think things at the alma mater are going to be on an up-tick sooner, rather than later.
SIU Basketball’s Slogan For 2010-11: Commit To The Saluki
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Again, we’re giving a shoutout to our girl Edyta B., who provided us with this shot from media day back when I first covered the Salukis.
My, how time has changed.
Check her out at her photo blog here. Oh, and ask her a question on formspring, too.)
After the jump, we’ll detail why Saluki Nation should look forward to the 2010-11 season.
Unless, of course, you’re thinking about transferring elsewhere.
The Solution To The Saluki-Illini Basketball Scheduling Issue
(First, we’re giving a shoutout to our girl Edyta B., who provided us with this shot of Bruce Weber and Chris Lowery from this fall.
Check her out at her photo blog here. Â Oh, and ask her a question on formspring, too.
Now, on with the show.)
The news of the SIU-Illinois basketball game, originally posted by Paul Klee and confirmed by Stile Smith of the Daily Egyptian came with a slew of mixed emotions for fans throughout the state.
The long-awaited battle between the Salukis and Illini is a long time coming and is seen as a blessing and a curse all in one.
On the one hand, it is hard to say no when a Big Ten school comes calling for a game, especially one season after playing the likes of Tennessee-Martin, Alabama State and SEMO.
SIU, which used to be able to tell its recruits with pride that playing Saluki basketball came with playing against premier competition, would have been clowned by MVC commissioner Doug Elgin for back-to-back seasons of scheduling cupcakes.
Now, Saluki Nation will partake in its own pantsing as surely someone will remember the days in which SIU would have never accepted a one-and-done game with a power conference opponent.  Doing things like that was deemed hurtful to the program, and not how the Salukis did business.
My, how time has changed. (more…)
