Jeff Teague’s Emergence Not A Surprise To SIU’s Lowery
Jeff Teague has taken the NBA Playoffs by storm.
A non-factor in the Atlanta Hawks series win against the Orlando Magic, Teague, a second-year guard out of Wake Forest has taken his game to another level against the top-seeded Chicago Bulls.
Teague is averaging 17 points, 4.4 assists and is shooting 55.9 percent from the field in the first five games against the Bulls’ highly regarded defense.
For most, Teague’s coming out party has come out of nowhere.
That’s not quite the case for Southern Illinois University Carbondale head coach Chris Lowery. (more…)
Happy Birthday, You Ol’ Blog!
It’s been four years since Matt Hartwig and I started this thing in hopes that we could take over the world.
Unfortunately, our attempts at global domination have fallen short. Way short. Then both of us grew up, took big boy jobs and scrapped the world domination via sports blog chit-chat.
And while Hartwig has retired from the blogosphere, I’m still chugging along. As is this blog.
With that being said, I’d like to say thanks to this blog’s fanbase. I appreciate you all the same, but bless the Saluki fans for really putting me on the map and trusting me as a source for analysis and news.
I’d also like to give a shoutout to the contributors we’ve had over the years.
Johnny Sole. Jon Iaccino. Stile Smith. Brian Feldt. Jeff Engelhardt. Mike Carter.
Here’s hoping I didn’t forget anyone.
(Though I probably did.)
So, how will we celebrate another year of this blog’s existence?
Well, if it was up to me…
And if you’re note already doing so, follow this fine blog’s editor on Twitter @lcm1986.
SIU Adds T.J. Lindsay, Likely Loses Mykel Cleveland & Troy Long
While the SIU basketball family has to be pleased with adding T.J. Lindsay, a solid point guard who helped lead JUCO powerhouse Monroe College in New York to a NJCAA Final Four bid, it simply can’t be pleased that the total number of defections since Chris Lowery became coach has hit 18.
Sources have indicated that Troy Long and/or Mykel Cleveland will be leaving Carbondale to make room for Lindsay.
Southern Illinois had no scholarships available prior to this week.
In Tom Weber’s most recent DawgBlog, he all but sets in stone that both Long and Cleveland won’t be suiting up in maroon and white next season.
“Lowery said Lindsay is a good enough ball handler that he can play all three guard spots, and he will push the team’s three incumbents — Kendal Brown-Surles, Justin Bocot and Diamond Taylor — for playing time.”
No mention of Long.
No mention of Cleveland.
Last year’s JUCO transfers were two of the most frustrating Salukis to watch last season.
Cleveland, because of his struggles in grasping the motion offense. Long, because of his inability to sink perimeter shots at the rate he did while starring at Southeastern Illinois College.
Things got really complicated for Long and Cleveland after the incident that involved teammates Davante Drinkard, Gene Teague, Brooke LeMar’s Ford Mustang and an Airsoft rifle.
Cleveland, Long and Teague served suspensions.
Teague has already left the team and is searching for a new basketball home.
The most frustrating part of what will likely be two names to add to the list of dearly departed is that the potential of adding two JUCOs to this roster handcuffs the Salukis’ plans for their 2012 recruiting class.
With Cleveland and Long coming off the books next year, Lowery, Brad Korn and new assistants Ron Smith and Anthony Stewart could have really built strong ties en route to rebuilding the program from the ground up with freshman recruits in 2012, rather than patching together holes and hoping for the best.
Then again, we’re probably not even having this conversation had Lowery been able to retain previous recruiting classes — especially prominent members of the backcourt.
This somewhat tempers how much we at TBDS look forward to the 2011-12 basketball season.
But new blood, including the likable Treg Setty, the high-energy play of Dantiel Daniels and the potential scoring ability of Josh Swan gives us hope that better days are on the horizon.
Make sure to wake us up when Desmar Jackson can throw on a jersey, though.
Roster Turnover At SIU Is The Gift After The Curse For Salukis
The 2010-11 basketball season at Southern Illinois University can be summed up in a simple word.
Tease.
The phrase that paid throughout last season was “glimmer of hope” as the Salukis were battered during a 13-19 season, but had moments that made you scratch your head and wonder why it couldn’t put it all together for 40 minutes.
Southern played 15 good minutes against Purdue, holding the nationally ranked Boilermakers without a made field goal for the game’s first 10 minutes before imploding in the second half.
Wins against defending Missouri Valley Conference champion Northern Iowa at home and against eventual MVC runner-up Wichita State raised eyebrows as well. But nothing resembling momentum resulted afterward.
The biggest head-scratcher of the season came at Arch Madness when the Salukis led for all but the waning moments as Southern Illinois fell to regular season conference champion Missouri State.
So, why will next year be different? (more…)
Chris Lowery Gets A New Assistant: Ron Smith
The re-shuffling of the deck chairs has commenced at Southern Illinois University Carbondale as Director of Media Services Tom Weber tweeted breaking news this morning that Ron Smith will join the Saluki men’s basketball coaching staff as Chris Lowery’s Associate Head Coach.
Smith’s bio was already up at siusalukis.com shortly after the tweet. Also, noticeably missing are the bios of former assistants Lance Irvin and Marcus Belcher. So, I guess it’s safe to assume that the other assistant to take the fall for this season’s disappointing campaign is Belcher — not Brad Korn as had been a hot rumor down south.
So, who is Ron Smith? (more…)
The 10 Most Important Quotes Regarding SIU’s Chris Lowery’s Future
The Southern Illinois University men’s basketball team took a step back on Thursday in order to take a step forward in the future.
Head coach Chris Lowery and Director of Athletics Mario Moccia held a press conference to discuss the future of Saluki basketball and some of the forthcoming changes.
The lead here is the dismissal of at least one assistant on Lowery’s staff. Sources have indicated to TBDS that two SIU assistants will be out the door as Lowery will enter his eighth year as head coach with a pair of fresh faces joining him on the bench.
There was a lot said by very important people in regard to what is on the horizon for SIU basketball. We whittle down from the massive amount of quotables to bring you the best of the best.
After the jump, of course. (more…)
Chris Lowery, Mario Moccia To Hold Press Conference At SIU This Afternoon
SIU Director of Media Services Tom Weber tweeted this morning that a press conference featuring men’s basketball coach Chris Lowery and AD Mario Moccia will be held this afternoon to discuss the future of Saluki basketball.
It is believed at this 2 p.m. press conference that Southern will end much of the speculation that has surrounded the program in the past few weeks and announce Lowery’s return for his eighth season at the helm of SIU hoops.
The good news is that the event will be live streamed via SIUSalukis.com. The bad news is that there is no chance in hell that Boers and Bernstein can do audio drops throughout its entirety.
Lowery has coached the Salukis to four postseason bids with three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 berth in 2007, to go along with a 2008 spot in the NIT.
Things have gone south for Southern Illinois since the team’s NIT loss at Arizona State.
The Salukis have had four consecutive seasons in which the team has finished below .500 in the Missouri Valley Conference, have seen numerous defections from the program and a handful of incidents that lead to the kind of newspaper headlines no one wants to read.
Southern has played in the MVC Tournament play-in round in each of the past two seasons and had lost four straight Arch Madness games prior to this season’s 57-54 thriller against Illinois State. The win against the Redbirds represents the first postseason win of any kind for SIU since the 2008 NIT opening round victory against Oklahoma State.
Still, the upcoming press conference carries a lot of speculation, including a potential shake-up with the coaching staff.
Stay tuned to TBDS for updates and analysis.
Chris Lowery, Salukis Live To See Another Day With Win vs. Illinois State
Let the record show that tonight’s win by the Southern Illinois Salukis has no bearing on any decision that has been made or will be made in regards to the future of head basketball coach Chris Lowery.
Still, it sure was nice to get a monkey off our back.
Southern Illinois took a trip in the way-back machine, limiting itself to a season-low four turnovers, scoring 14 points of 15 Illinois State giveaways and doing enough on the defensive end to offset the late inefficiencies encountered at the end of the game on offense in a 57-54 win against the Redbirds.
The opening round win gives SIU means the following:
- Snaps four-game losing streak at Arch Madness.
- First MVC Tournament game win since 2007′s semi-final win against Bradley.
- First postseason win of any kind since defeating Oklahoma State in the 2008 NIT opener at SIU Arena.
So what do the Salukis receive as a parting gift? A shot at Missouri State — the MVC regular season champion Missouri State.
The Bears boast Coach of the Year Cuonzo Martin and a roster that has beaten SIU by an average of 15 points per game in two previous meetings.
One down, three to go.
Sure as heck beats the alternative.
Lowery Watch Deserves, Gets A Much-Needed Update
Nice to see the southern Illinois media to weigh in on Lowerygate 2011 on Tuesday.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, TBDS alluded to a potential buyout being in the works at Southern Illinois University Carbondale to free itself from the next three years of Chris Lowery’s contract.
Lowery, who will make $750,000 over the next three seasons, has no early-out clause and if the university were to let him go, would be responsible for the remaining $2.25 million.
I would like to use this blog post for an update and some clarification.
Ready?
Let’s go for a spin, shall we? (more…)
Is The Chris Lowery Era Coming To An End?
In 2009, the Missouri State Bears were bottom feeders in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Bears finished 11-20 overall, 3-15 in conference play and with a ranking of 197 in the RPI.
Now, in the third year of Cuonzo Martin’s tenure in Springfield, Mo., the Bears have captured the school’s first MVC regular season title after defeating Wichita State on Saturday afternoon.
So, is a worst-to-first turnaround in The Valley impossible? No. The Bears proved today that recruiting and developing a well-disciplined team isn’t as difficult as one would be led to believe.
After three NCAA Tournaments and a bid in the NIT, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is faced with a similar up-hill climb. The Salukis are on the bottom floor of a rebuilding project that began last spring with the departures of Kevin Dillard and Anthony Booker — two key cogs in what was supposed to be the best recruiting class in team history.
Operating under the that getting back to basics would spark a revival in Carbondale, the Salukis never got off the ground running. SIU lost in its home opener, a nationally televised overtime loss to Northeastern in what turned out to be a sign of what was to come this season for SIU.
The Salukis finished their season with a 12-18 record overall, 5-13 in conference play and with a woeful 244 RPI.
SIU hit rock bottom hard this season with one academically ineligible recruit who never made it to campus (Ernest “Stretch” Watson), three players arrested and suspended due to a shooting incident on campus (Gene Teague, Troy Long & Mykel Cleveland) and five conference losses of 14 points or more.
Even then, Southern still isn’t out of the woods quite yet. (more…)
