We did what we were supposed to do tonight. We beat a D2 team by 31 at home. Nice to see Stulich & Brown get streaky hot tonight. I don't think we can count on that consistently, though! 🤣
The 5-spot looks good with Rupert & Ebube holding it down. X was the best player on the floor by far, even on one leg. Without Hornecker, Hensley, & Sheridan we have no back-ups at the 4 and 1 spots, though. That could be a problem. Really like the athleticism of Ferguson & Davis.
Kentucky beat them by 43. Tonight Kentucky beat New Mex. State by 40.
Most D1 schools start out with a wimp. Doesn't embarrass me when you play 30+ games a year.
Playing D2 or NAIA in Football (Dale Lennon) IS embarrassing when you only play 11 games a year.
I’ll take it for the opener. X looks improved but he’s going to draw a lot of attention from quality opponents, so we’ll see if he can be consistent over the course of the season. Will need Miller to get going offensively going forward.
Looking forward to seeing a D1 matchup on Friday to tell a little more, but good to take care of business in this Crossfest.
Kentucky beat them by 43. Tonight Kentucky beat New Mex. State by 40.
Kentucky played them in an exhibition for them, I wouldn't compare that to an actual regular season game. We'll know more about SIU on Friday against a decent Queens team.
Disagree. I saw a good part of that game. Sure looked like a regular game to me. UK started the starting 5 they used against NMSU and most of them played over 25 minutes. Most of the minutes went to their top 6 - 7 players. Cal sure didn't give his bench warmers much playing time.
KSU is obviously not a very good team. Queens lost 89 - 73 at Marshall tonight.
James Madison will be our first real challenge I imagine. They beat #4 Michigan St in East Lansing. 79 - 76 in OT.
Bryan Mullins postgame with Saluki Radio:
https://siusalukis.com/watch/live?Archive=7149&type=Archive
Trent Brown postgame:
I know some probably get tired of me harping on the schedule. And for that I apologize.
But this year's schedule has exactly one true road game in non conference. It has 2 neutral site games. And 8 true home games.
For years and years when people would complain about the weakness of the schedule or lack of home match ups the standard line from all MVC schools was "there are too many games" and "it's hard to get home games".
Well there are two fewer games to schedule per season. This is, and someone can quote me, probably the least SIU has ever traveled in non conference.
A game against a bad D2 school means nothing. It tells us nothing. It does nothing to prepare the players.
When the MVC went to more conference games the lower division games should have been the first to go. And SIU is not the only one at fault. It is a sickness among a lot of mid majors.
Instead of playing eachother they whine about no one wanting to play them.
And in a year where SIU barely leaves Carbondale having a division 2 school on the regular season schedule is an embarrassment for the program.
I might be in the minority here but I was impressed with the team overall this evening.
The good: Stulich, Ebube and Ferg. Nice to see XJ have a big game. That needs to continue all season. He cannot be a complimentary piece in 23.
Supporter of the Fab 4: Scottie Ebube, Foster Wonders, AJ Ferguson & Cade Hornecker.
They’re the ones that can get us where we haven’t been in 15 years.
Welcome to the minority. I was most impressed with XJ, he looked like Lance Jones on his cuts to the basket. Rupert and D’Amico have really gotten into great shape and are quicker. AJ Ferguson is a total stud. AND a big shout out to the Dawg Pound, they were loud and proud the entire game. (don’t mean to spoil y’all’s pity party).I might be in the minority here but I was impressed with the team overall this evening.
The good: Stulich, Ebube and Ferg. Nice to see XJ have a big game. That needs to continue all season. He cannot be a complimentary piece in 23.
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
Ok, yeah, i'm talking about the Vogler commercial, you are talking about the Ron Ward commercial. Nice of you to say im mean and then call that poor girl fat though. haha17? i'd have guessed closer to 47 lolI'm going to get really sick of this vogler ford commercial, that lady with the "maybe we don't" line makes me chuckle, but God, it's going to get old fast. haha
I know, but she’s like 17. It could be worse. I miss southern Illinois.
dude that is mean. She is some local fat girl who can’t be more than 21. She says go Dawgs. I like her.
Oops 🙂
I don’t think anyone was upset with how they played last night outside of free throw shooting. It’s just how much can you actually take from a non-D1 game? I don’t take much from last night, the Queens game on Friday will tell us a lot about this team.
Still trying to figure out why we didn't play SEMO this year...
@spike TOTALLY agree with your comment about mids not playing each other while they complain about the schools that won't play them. TOTALLY agree. Especially the good mid-majors. While I hated calling games vs D-2s, I think every team is different and this one with 6 new players, no proven go to guy on offense, Hornecker hurt, Sharp hurt, Hensley ineligible, X less than 100%, and his back up unproven, needed a game they could worry about how to play together without the probability of losing. First real game without one half of your offense (Jones and Domask). Picked 9th because those 2 left. 0-1 and HOPING down road you learn more from losing to a better team than you do from just being 1-0...would have been hard. Plus they had scrimmaged Loyola and Western Ky. instead of playing D3 exhibition games. 4500 bought tickets (they announce tix sold not used). I wonder if half the roster had ever played in front of 3500 or more. Bryan's only scheduled one non D1 unlike several MVC teams. I think there were more positives than negatives playing that team.
@spike TOTALLY agree with your comment about mids not playing each other while they complain about the schools that won't play them. TOTALLY agree. Especially the good mid-majors. While I hated calling games vs D-2s, I think every team is different and this one with 6 new players, no proven go to guy on offense, Hornecker hurt, Sharp hurt, Hensley ineligible, X less than 100%, and his back up unproven, needed a game they could worry about how to play together without the probability of losing. First real game without one half of your offense (Jones and Domask). Picked 9th because those 2 left. 0-1 and HOPING down road you learn more from losing to a better team than you do from just being 1-0...would have been hard. Plus they had scrimmaged Loyola and Western Ky. instead of playing D3 exhibition games. 4500 bought tickets (they announce tix sold not used). I wonder if half the roster had ever played in front of 3500 or more. Bryan's only scheduled one non D1 unlike several MVC teams. I think there were more positives than negatives playing that team.
Yes, and on top of that, from a fan's perspective, I think it's easier to be OK with this D2 opener when you have SLU and Oklahoma State coming into town next month as opposed to as part of a non-conference home schedule like last year's.
