The reason Hornecker didn't play more was absolutely his defense according to the guy that makes the final decision who is Bryan Mullins. You can disagree all you want, but that was HIS rationale. Bryan Mullins decision to not play Ferguson more was not necessarily just his defense, but his adjusting to the speed of D1 basketball. Again, you can disagree all you want, but that is why the head coach didn't play him more. I expect both to play more this year, with Ferguson in particular being a big part of the team. I also expect Ferguson to be a very good defender in the long run. Hornecker's speed and footwork were very slow last year. He has a ways to go, but will eventually get there. He will contribute some this year and even more in the years to come.There is absolutely no excuse for Hornecker and Ferguson not getting more minutes last year - 48 and 58 minutes respectively in 33 games. It was NOT their defense. Opportunities for these young guys to get more game experience were simply ignored. Talk about lack of development.
Even Rodney Watson was wondering why we didn't use Hornecker more.
I have this odd feeling that this team is going to vastly exceed the prostications of the armchair QBs on this board as well as the “expert” rankings of the Joe Blow dot com experts. Please excuse my lack of reverence.The reason Hornecker didn't play more was absolutely his defense according to the guy that makes the final decision who is Bryan Mullins. You can disagree all you want, but that was HIS rationale. Bryan Mullins decision to not play Ferguson more was not necessarily just his defense, but his adjusting to the speed of D1 basketball. Again, you can disagree all you want, but that is why the head coach didn't play him more. I expect both to play more this year, with Ferguson in particular being a big part of the team. I also expect Ferguson to be a very good defender in the long run. Hornecker's speed and footwork were very slow last year. He has a ways to go, but will eventually get there. He will contribute some this year and even more in the years to come.There is absolutely no excuse for Hornecker and Ferguson not getting more minutes last year - 48 and 58 minutes respectively in 33 games. It was NOT their defense. Opportunities for these young guys to get more game experience were simply ignored. Talk about lack of development.
Even Rodney Watson was wondering why we didn't use Hornecker more.
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
Troy D'Amico has taken his old high school jersey #0. D'Amico, Ebube, and Wonders all wore jersey #0 in high school with Wonders keeping the number at SIU when the three entered as classmates.
Troy's jersey move has allowed RJ McGee keep the #23 jersey he wore for four years at Tulane.
The official roster appears complete with the exception of new player photos.
@dr222 Thank you for sharing this. I also noticed that some of the players have switched majors. Hornecker switched from Photography to Business, and Ebube from Computer Science to Sports Administration. When viewing the day 1 video of team drills I did not see Scottie participating. Hope all is well with him.
The reason Hornecker didn't play more was absolutely his defense according to the guy that makes the final decision who is Bryan Mullins. You can disagree all you want, but that was HIS rationale. Bryan Mullins decision to not play Ferguson more was not necessarily just his defense, but his adjusting to the speed of D1 basketball. Again, you can disagree all you want, but that is why the head coach didn't play him more. I expect both to play more this year, with Ferguson in particular being a big part of the team. I also expect Ferguson to be a very good defender in the long run. Hornecker's speed and footwork were very slow last year. He has a ways to go, but will eventually get there. He will contribute some this year and even more in the years to come.There is absolutely no excuse for Hornecker and Ferguson not getting more minutes last year - 48 and 58 minutes respectively in 33 games. It was NOT their defense. Opportunities for these young guys to get more game experience were simply ignored. Talk about lack of development.
Even Rodney Watson was wondering why we didn't use Hornecker more.
I didn't specifically hear BM say that, but if you say he did I'm not denying it. There is a coach's rationalization for a poor decision and then there's reality. Hornecker was easily our best offensive option at center and wasting a year of his eligibility while giving him little experience was not a good thing.
There were a number of games in which D'Amico played center while Hornecker and Rupert sat on the bench. I'm specifically thinking of the loss to Indiana State at home. D'Amico out of position at center simply became a target and got eaten up inside on rebounds, layups, tip-ins, etc. while 7' Cade Hornecker sat on the bench and so did Clarence Rupert. Either one of those guys playing center and we win that game, because ISU would absolutely NOT have gotten all those rebounds, layups, and tip-ins - bad footwork or not. I was at that game and at the end, fans were booing our coach, knowing that was a game we could/should have won.
BM repeated that strategy in a number of games, and it almost always hurt the team's chances.
And that is not the only very questionable use of personnel last year.
I listened to Reis and Watson for every game and RW was excited about Hornecker, even bringing him up in one BM interview question, which was more or less dismissed by BM.
It's water under the bridge now, but I stand by my statement.
It will be interesting to see the personnel decisions this year - hopefully more sensible.
I was at the Indiana State home game and was also very unhappy with the smaller lineup getting dominated inside. Rupert was having a good game, got taken out and not put back in. It was a real head scratcher. Not sure a cold Hornecker would have been the answer, but Rupert should have been put back in. As I have stated before, I do not want to see D'Amico play the 5 ever again. He does make a good 4 and will probably be starting at the 4 1st game.The reason Hornecker didn't play more was absolutely his defense according to the guy that makes the final decision who is Bryan Mullins. You can disagree all you want, but that was HIS rationale. Bryan Mullins decision to not play Ferguson more was not necessarily just his defense, but his adjusting to the speed of D1 basketball. Again, you can disagree all you want, but that is why the head coach didn't play him more. I expect both to play more this year, with Ferguson in particular being a big part of the team. I also expect Ferguson to be a very good defender in the long run. Hornecker's speed and footwork were very slow last year. He has a ways to go, but will eventually get there. He will contribute some this year and even more in the years to come.There is absolutely no excuse for Hornecker and Ferguson not getting more minutes last year - 48 and 58 minutes respectively in 33 games. It was NOT their defense. Opportunities for these young guys to get more game experience were simply ignored. Talk about lack of development.
Even Rodney Watson was wondering why we didn't use Hornecker more.
I didn't specifically hear BM say that, but if you say he did I'm not denying it. There is a coach's rationalization for a poor decision and then there's reality. Hornecker was easily our best offensive option at center and wasting a year of his eligibility while giving him little experience was not a good thing.
There were a number of games in which D'Amico played center while Hornecker and Rupert sat on the bench. I'm specifically thinking of the loss to Indiana State at home. D'Amico out of position at center simply became a target and got eaten up inside on rebounds, layups, tip-ins, etc. while 7' Cade Hornecker sat on the bench and so did Clarence Rupert. Either one of those guys playing center and we win that game, because ISU would absolutely NOT have gotten all those rebounds, layups, and tip-ins - bad footwork or not. I was at that game and at the end, fans were booing our coach, knowing that was a game we could/should have won.
BM repeated that strategy in a number of games, and it almost always hurt the team's chances.
And that is not the only very questionable use of personnel last year.
I listened to Reis and Watson for every game and RW was excited about Hornecker, even bringing him up in one BM interview question, which was more or less dismissed by BM.
It's water under the bridge now, but I stand by my statement.
It will be interesting to see the personnel decisions this year - hopefully more sensible.
Saluki hoops has posted a bunch of photos from team workouts the past couple weeks and no signs of Ebube, which is a shame, because he could use a full offseason to get in gear after last year's injury-marred season. Anyone know what his deal is?
https://twitter.com/SIU_Basketball/status/1669440980494307344
Didn't sound like there's much to worry about with Ebube.
Still a lot of open slots on the schedule to learn about, especially the road/neutral schedule. Despite the lack of proven offensive firepower, Mullins is talking about the schedule like he wants to play a tough one, which I'm onboard with.
Completely on onboard with playing a more difficult non-conference schedule. It’s a huge opportunity to get noticed if you play well and if you don’t you still have a chance at making the post season if you can win the conference or the MVC Tournament. Also get’s the team ready for conference play.
I know The Southern SIU beat writer has been the butt of many jokes over the years (Heff and Dent both), but I'll say since the start of summer workouts, Bucky has been putting up stories quite a bit about this year's team and asking a lot of the same questions many on here have.
I wish he would have been a bit more active during the recruiting cycle, but glad he is being more active on this front.
I know The Southern SIU beat writer has been the butt of many jokes over the years (Heff and Dent both), but I'll say since the start of summer workouts, Bucky has been putting up stories quite a bit about this year's team and asking a lot of the same questions many on here have.
I wish he would have been a bit more active during the recruiting cycle, but glad he is being more active on this front.
Bryan and staff aren't very public with any information so tough to do recruiting news as a beat writer. But getting year-long news from the team is an improvement.
SIU Basketball has an advantage of being the only show in town compared to most Valley schools and giving them attention and covering them in June makes it seem bigger for the athletes.
As someone provokingly posted, the reality is that there WILL be a couple players who don't get the minutes they, or fans on this forum, want. It's a numbers game and Mullins is not likely going to play 10-12 deep. I have my guesses on who will be riding the pine. A good bet would be players who didn't force the coaches hand last year.
I know The Southern SIU beat writer has been the butt of many jokes over the years (Heff and Dent both), but I'll say since the start of summer workouts, Bucky has been putting up stories quite a bit about this year's team and asking a lot of the same questions many on here have.
I wish he would have been a bit more active during the recruiting cycle, but glad he is being more active on this front.
Bryan and staff aren't very public with any information so tough to do recruiting news as a beat writer. But getting year-long news from the team is an improvement.
SIU Basketball has an advantage of being the only show in town compared to most Valley schools and giving them attention and covering them in June makes it seem bigger for the athletes.
I mean sure he doesn’t have to be spilling inside information, but he can keep track of the offered/interested recruits and occasionally do an article discussing the teams needs and who he thinks fit best, etc. We all get our inside information from here anyway 😉
As someone provokingly posted, the reality is that there WILL be a couple players who don't get the minutes they, or fans on this forum, want. It's a numbers game and Mullins is not likely going to play 10-12 deep. I have my guesses on who will be riding the pine. A good bet would be players who didn't force the coaches hand last year.
If SIU hopes to exceed expectations this year, one or more of those “players who didn’t force the coaches hand” will need to make a significant jump and start realizing their potential, IMO. Without Domask and Jones, it’s gonna take the whole village, even from those who end up not getting minutes.
--Insert something witty here--
