SIU was 7th in the MVC in points allowed last year ( https://mvc-sports.com/stats.aspx?path=mbball&year=2020). Obviously not very good, especially since it's not like the Salukis played at a breakneck pace with tons of possessions. And with Bryan Mullins in charge, you'd expect more of a defensive identity to take root for the Salukis.
The good news is there seems to be realistic potential for a pretty substantial step forward defensively this year, considering:
- The addition of Muila/Ebube should provided some needed rim protection/interior defensive presence.
- Similarly, with more size and athleticism, you'd think SIU would be a better rebounding team, and thus give up fewer second-chance opportunities.
- Grad transfer Ben Coupet is a long, athletic wing, which comes in handy in defending a wide array of 6-3 to 6-7-type scorers.
I also think Jones and Banks have the potential to turn up the ball pressure a bit more going forward. Banks did a pretty nice job of that in limited minutes as a freshman.
We'll see how it all plays out, but if Southern is going to compete with the expected contenders (Drake, Loyola, Missouri State, UNI), the Salukis are going to have to make strides across the board, with defense & rebounding at or near the top of the list.
Yeh D must get much better. Guys like Prim and Krutwig ate us alive inside, so hoping Mulia, Filewich, and Ebube will make it much tougher in the middle this year.
Also, lack of rebounding hurt us. That should improve.
Our post players were inexperienced and young I believe our post play will improve by adding strength experience and depth and this should help by putting players in the correct position
The two biggest issues IMHO were rebounding/second chance points and on ball defending. We got beat off the dribble so many times which forced help defense and any decent passing team was able to get a pretty good look off those plays by moving the ball quickly once help came. That also puts you out of position for rebounding when you are chasing the ball around...so better on ball defending, I think, inherently helps your rebounding even if we didn't bring in better rebounding players.
I'm hopeful our guards worked on lateral speed over the summer and got quicker. Loyola's on ball defending was really good last year and I think that's the ultimate goal for Mullins.
One other issue. Our philosophy seems to be to head back down the floor as soon was we shoot, to prevent fast break baskets. Because of this , it seems to leave us in a precarious position to rebound missed shots, particularly long range efforts.
The philosophy on getting back on defense may be a result of the way offensive rotations also without a consistent inside presence I would assume with more team depth and more experience the philosophy will probably evolve hard to install your total philosophy when you don't have the horses
