SIU welcomes Chicago State to end off the home non-conference schedule.
The Cougars still aren't great (KenPom #329) but way more competitive than in years past. They boast wins over #229 Southern Indiana, #284 Valpo, and #363 IUPUI and were competitive against #144 Murray State in their last outing, even leading 30-8 with 9:11 left in the 1st half.
Meet the Cougars:
Chicago State is coached by Gerald Gillion, in his 2nd year with the program. Gillion was an assistant at South Florida, Tennessee Tech, and Samford before taking the Chicago State job. The Cougars won 7 games under previous coach Lance Irvin in his 3 years while Gillion won 7 games in his first season last year.
Chicago State doesn't play their bench too much, they're 316th in the country in % of bench minutes used (25.0%). The Cougars are 273rd in the country in D-1 Experience (1.47 years).
What the Cougars do well:
The Cougars are 70th in the country in offensive rebounding % (33.0%) so hopefully SIU is able to rebound. Chicago State also does a good job at getting to the free throw line and knocking down free throws. The Cougars are 121st in the country in free throw attempts per field goal attempts (33.3) and 45th in the country in free throw % (76.0%).
What the Cougars don't do well:
Chicago State is one of the worst defensive teams in the country. They're 358th out of 363 D1 teams in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency. They don't turn teams over much on defense as they're 308th in the country in turnover % on the defensive end (16.5%).
On the offensive end, Chicago State struggles to take care of the basketball. The Cougars are 326th in the country in turnover % (22.1%) and 292nd in the country in steal % on the offensive end (11.0%).
The Cougars' leading scorer is 6'6 Sophomore Wesley Cardet Jr. averaging 16.2 points per game on 46.6% shooting. Cardet was a 4 star recruit out of Orlando, FL and chose Samford over offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, and DePaul. Cardet started all 27 games he played his Freshman year at Samford and averaged 8.1 points per game before transferring to Chicago State this offseason. This season, Cardet is 322nd in the country in true shooting % (59.2%) and 496th in the country in assist rate (19.2%). Cardet is really good at getting to the free throw line as he's 185th in the country in free throw rate (48.9) and when he gets to the free throw line, he's been knocking them down as he's 153rd in the country in free throw % (56-65, 86.2%).
Chicago State's leading rebounder is 6'6 Sophomore Jahsean Corbett averaging 8.6 rebounds per game. Corbett started and played in 30 of 32 games last year and was 2nd on the team in scoring with 12.4 points per game. This season, Corbett is playing the most minutes on the team. Corbett is 79th in the country in % of minutes played (86.6%). Corbett is 224th in the country in offensive rebounding % (10.3%) and 416th in the country in defensive rebounding % (18.2%). Corbett is also 477th in the country in effective field goal % (53.3%).
6'5 Senior Elijah Weaver transferred over to Chicago State after spending two years at Dayton and two years at USC. Weaver was a 4 star recruit out of Brevard County, Florida and chose USC over offers from Florida, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, and Arizona. At USC, Weaver started in 19 of 59 games and averaged 5.9 points per game and transferred to Dayton after his Sophomore season. At Dayton, Weaver made 14 starts and was shut down midseason last year due to a wrist injury. This season, Weaver has been effective at getting to the free throw line and making his free throws. Weaver is 305th in the country in free throw rate (41.6) and 212th in the country in free throw % (83.3%).
Other players to watch out for on Chicago State include 6'3 Junior Brent Davis. Davis transferred over after 2 years at The Citadel and is 138th in the country in 2 point % (17-26, 65.4%). 6'3 Sophomore Bryce Johnson is in his 2nd year at Chicago State and is 458th in the country in block % (2.8%).
Links:
Chicago State Game Notes
@salukiworld Another game that should be a blowout. The only advantage to games like this is getting a good look at the younger players to see who the future lies with. To that extent, the previous game allowed us to see more action from #0 and #14, plus more time for #4. They are the future, along with #23 & #21. It is a waste of time to be playing extra minutes for #11. He has no future, and is using valuable time that could best be used for others. He has no offense and we can only pray he does not have to shoot a FT.
Anyone that watched the 2nd half of the Murray State game saw Chicago State's lack of defense. I'm expecting Lance Jones to have a big game, Murray was getting to the rim at will in the 2nd half.
Chicago State does have some talent though so can't take them lightly.
@salukiworld Another game that should be a blowout. The only advantage to games like this is getting a good look at the younger players to see who the future lies with. To that extent, the previous game allowed us to see more action from #0 and #14, plus more time for #4. They are the future, along with #23 & #21. It is a waste of time to be playing extra minutes for #11. He has no future, and is using valuable time that could best be used for others. He has no offense and we can only pray he does not have to shoot a FT.
Hopefully CH and CR and AJ and FW get a lot of minutes. We're going to need them in the MVC. I'm sure it's tough to get everybody some minutes - they all want to play and they come to work everyday.
Hopefully the aforementioned players perform well enough to earn minutes.@salukiworld Another game that should be a blowout. The only advantage to games like this is getting a good look at the younger players to see who the future lies with. To that extent, the previous game allowed us to see more action from #0 and #14, plus more time for #4. They are the future, along with #23 & #21. It is a waste of time to be playing extra minutes for #11. He has no future, and is using valuable time that could best be used for others. He has no offense and we can only pray he does not have to shoot a FT.
Hopefully CH and CR and AJ and FW get a lot of minutes. We're going to need them in the MVC. I'm sure it's tough to get everybody some minutes - they all want to play and they come to work everyday.
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
The Salukis were having fun vs Lincoln and that translated into playing more relaxed and working as a team and sharing the ball. It was great to see Lance and Rupert working together. Lance was more under control than I have seen him in a long time. The bench played well. Fewer minutes for Domask (I think he leads the team in TOs) was a good thing. I would like to see him max out at 25-30 minutes per game. This should be a harder test than Lincoln, but very winnable. A victory tonight would be a nice momentum builder going into conference play.
I have two tickets for the game that I will not be using, good seats, 14 rows up from SIU bench. If anyone can use them PM me and I will email them to you. (free of charge, tis the season for giving!)
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
@dawgbytes I sent you a message
check your email.
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
I don’t know how anyone, especially the coaches, looks at Wonders’ shot and doesn’t expect them to go in. If we are going to live or die by the 3, I want him to take 8 a game.
Jones so feast or famine, drives me crazy.
Missed layups, open 3's and FT's.............I've seen this movie before and I don't' like it. Oh and the TO's
I don't get how the turnovers aren't being improved
