SIU opens up the home conference season with a big game against a surprising Sycamores team.
The Sycamores are 7-1 this year with a quality win over #71 Drake and a bad loss in Estero, FL to #279 UMKC.
Meet the Sycamores:
The Trees are 221st in the country in D-1 Experience (1.70 years) and 110th in the country in average height (77.5"). 36.6% of total minutes played come from Indiana State's bench, 55th in the country. The Sycamores like to run, they're 15th in the country in adjusted tempo (73.1) and 8th in the country in average possession length on the offensive end (15.0 seconds).
What the Sycamores do well:
Indiana State has shot the ball great so far this season. The Trees are 14th in the country in effective field goal % (57.1%), 11th in the country in 2 point % (59.2%), and 77th in the country in 3 point % (36.7%). Not only that, but they've done a good job at taking care of the basketball as they're 96th in the country in turnover % on the offensive end (17.4%). 40.5% of the Sycamores' points come from 3 which is 15th in the country and the Sycamores are 5th in the country in 3 point attempts per field goal attempts (50.7%). If the game comes down to free throws, the Trees are 84th in the country in free throw % (74.2%).
The Sycamores have been equally effective on the defensive end as they're 83rd in the country in effective field goal % against (46.9%) and 79th in the country in 3 point % against (30.4%). They've also done a good job at rebounding the basketball on the defensive end as they're 77th in the country in offensive rebounding % against (25.6%). The Sycamores are also 102nd in the country in steal % on the defensive end (10.7%).
What the Sycamores don't well:
Like SIU, Indiana State doesn't seem to go after offensive rebounds. Indiana State is 329th in the country in offensive rebounding % (22.3%). Indiana State has struggled keeping teams off the free throw line. The Sycamores are 307th in the country in free throw attempts/field goal attempts on the defensive end (39.2%) and 22.8% of total points allowed come from the free throw line which is 37th in the country.
Indiana State's leading scorer and rebounder is 6'5 Senior Courvoisier McCauley averaging 17.4 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game. McCauley spent his first two seasons playing for Indiana State Head Coach Josh Schertz at D2 Lincoln Memorial and then transferred to DePaul. After 2 seasons at DePaul, McCauley transferred to Indiana State this offseason and has really taken off with a big minutes increase. McCauley is Indiana State's leader in shots and possessions. He's 122nd in the country in % of possessions gone through him (28.2%) and 34rd in the country in % of shots taken when on the floor (32.9%). McCauley has taken 78 3-pointers already and has made 29 (37.2%) but has done most of his work closer to the basket. McCauley is 167th in the country in 2 point % (22-34, 64.7%), 254th in the country in effective field goal % (58.5%), and 286th in the country in true shooting % (60.5%). McCauley is also 182nd in the country in defensive rebounding % (21.8%).
Another Lincoln Memorial transfer that's made a big impact for the Trees is 6'6 Senior Cameron Henry. Henry spent 3 seasons at Lincoln Memorial before joining Indiana State last year with his head coach. Henry made an instant impact in the Valley last year averaging 14.3 points per game on 47.3% shooting and was the team leader in shots and possessions. This season, Henry is averaging 11 points per game on 55% shooting and leads the team in assists, blocks, and steals with 3.1 assists per game, 1.4 steals per game, and 0.5 blocks per game. Henry is 201st in the country in 2 point % (30-47, 63.8%), 286th in the country in effective field goal % (57.5%), and 291st in the country in true shooting % (60.4%). Henry is also 479th in the country in assist rate (19.9%) and 262nd in the country in free throw rate (45.0%).
6'4 Senior Trenton Gibson is another D2 transfer that's made an impact for the Sycamores. Gibson came over from Tusculum University where he spent 4 seasons and was the 2021 SAC Player of the Year. In his first season at the Division 1 level, Gibson has made an impact. He's 93rd in the country in defensive rebounding % (24.1%), 279th in the country in steal % (3.2%), and 434th in the country in assist rate (20.6%).
Other players to watch on this Sycamores team includes 6'10 Freshman Robbie Avila. SIU recruited Avila out of Oak Forest High School in Oak Forest, Illinois and he's made an impact for the Sycamores, especially recently. Avila had 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists in the Sycamores win over Drake and then backed it up with 13 points and 9 rebounds in their win over Miami OH. 6'7 Senior Kailex Stephens is a JUCO transfer that came over in Greg Lansing's last season but missed the year with an injury. Stephens torched SIU in Terre Haute last season for 21 points on 8-16 shooting. 6'8 Sophomore Jayson Kent came over from Bradley this offseason and is 367th in the country in steal % (3.0%). 6'4 Senior Cooper Neese would be a name on the top of an Indiana State scouting report but he missed the last game with an injury and it sounds like he's out for this game as well.
Links:
Bryan Mullins on In the Dawghouse 12/5
Rodney Watson radio interview with Indiana State Head Coach Josh Schertz
Bryan Mullins pregame with Mike Reis
Saluki Radio Flashback: SIU's Two Wins Over Indiana State in 2001
This game will tell us a lot about this team. A loss and I think this team is trending more towards the mediocre Valley team they've been. I think this is the biggest game of the year so far.
KenPom has #99 SIU winning 70-66 over #115 Indiana State so expect to see a Vegas line of around 3.5-5 points.
A post on IN State message board, this cracked me up: I'm in a dilemma, I want to go to this game. I've been to SIU 5 times and we lost 4 of them, the other time Devonte Brown went unconscious at the end and pulled a win out of his ....
It's a super excruciating ride home after a loss...so bad I once missed an exit and ended up in STL instead of Effingham.
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
Not knocking him, I’m sure he’s a good kid or we would not have offered him, but every time I see Avila I’m reminded of the kid in calculus class who always had his homework. It’s the glasses.
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
Time to go get one! Really no more excuses, either siu team and staff are good enough or not, I understand losses, but this one would hurt. I think siu wins this game.
If we lose this one at home, I will start wishing Barbecue was back.
(just kidding!!!)
Bryan Mullins on In the Dawghouse:
https://www.1035espn.com/episode/in-the-dawghouse-12-5-22-bryan-mullins/
Bryan Mullins on In the Dawghouse:
https://www.1035espn.com/episode/in-the-dawghouse-12-5-22-bryan-mullins/
On the injury front, Mullins said Muila could be back within a week and best-case for Ebube would likely be the SEMO game before Christmas.
And if you’re reading this Matt Varney, Lance’s deep shooting range is not new this year … he’s made several bombs in the past. Regardless of whether he’s one or 10 feet behind the line, hopefully he starts making more of them soon.
Non-conference SOS so far per KenPom:
24 - Murray
105 - SIU
110 - UNI
145 - Evansville
153 - Belmont
177 - MSU
206 - Bradley
232 - Valpo
283 - Drake
303 - Illinois St
350 - Indiana St
353 - UIC
Adds a little more light on their 8-1 record.
I had forgotten that we have only played 2 home games this season. I think there is an inordinate amount of negativity and hand wringing being expressed. I keep going back to the fact that we are without Ebube and Muila and have been with the exception of the first game, in which Ebube played. I seriously believe that with Ebube and Hornecker in the mix this team is going to be a lot tougher to match up with. I also believe that the coaches, who see all of the players in practice constantly, may have a little better insight than the Monday morning quarterbacks. We have laid one egg, and that, of course, was at USI. We have played thus far every game but one without a legitimate center (I don’t consider Rupert to be a legitimate center). We so far have been in a race with one of our tires only half inflated. Count me out on the negativity train. Go Dawgs.
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
Bryan Mullins on In the Dawghouse:
https://www.1035espn.com/episode/in-the-dawghouse-12-5-22-bryan-mullins/
On the injury front, Mullins said Muila could be back within a week and best-case for Ebube would likely be the SEMO game before Christmas.
And if you’re reading this Matt Varney, Lance’s deep shooting range is not new this year … he’s made several bombs in the past. Regardless of whether he’s one or 10 feet behind the line, hopefully he starts making more of them soon.
As Coach Mullins noted though, and stats will verify, the closer you are, the better your chances are of making them.
Not the toughest schedule indeed but they're winning those games. Also, in watching those games, they definitely pass the eye test. This is going to be a VERY tough game and possibly a 50/50 one at that. I don't care if it takes us 5 OT's, if the Salukis come out of this game with a win, with their upcoming schedule, I'm feeling much better about things as these easier games should give our guys time to further heal.
I had forgotten that we have only played 2 home games this season. I think there is an inordinate amount of negativity and hand wringing being expressed. I keep going back to the fact that we are without Ebube and Muila and have been with the exception of the first game, in which Ebube played. I seriously believe that with Ebube and Hornecker in the mix this team is going to be a lot tougher to match up with. I also believe that the coaches, who see all of the players in practice constantly, may have a little better insight than the Monday morning quarterbacks. We have laid one egg, and that, of course, was at USI. We have played thus far every game but one without a legitimate center (I don’t consider Rupert to be a legitimate center). We so far have been in a race with one of our tires only half inflated. Count me out on the negativity train. Go Dawgs.
Ebube played 8 whole minutes in the opener, and it was a blowout. Given how many minutes the young guys are playing, are we sure Ebube would actually be getting much run?
And SIU isn’t playing without a center, they have a 7 footer on the bench.
We'll see how long Johnson's hot streak lasts. He went from ice cold the first few weeks to scorching hot these past couple games, and you'd have to assume he will settle into some sort of happy medium at some point. It would be helpful if he could be counted on for 8-10 points and 5-6 assists most nights.
Not the toughest schedule indeed but they're winning those games. Also, in watching those games, they definitely pass the eye test. This is going to be a VERY tough game and possibly a 50/50 one at that. I don't care if it takes us 5 OT's, if the Salukis come out of this game with a win, with their upcoming schedule, I'm feeling much better about things as these easier games should give our guys time to further heal.
Oh I agree, just so much as Indiana State could be underrated we could be overrated at our current KenPom or NET; it only shakes out once we play the games. Their win at home against Drake helped, and I agree they have looked good by winning soundly in most of their other wins.
I could see us winning close tomorrow or winning big; it will be interesting to see how they respond to our defense.
