I have no idea if the players are coming back, and the only ones who are guaranteed to be correct are the hindsight posters who wait until events have already transpired to pontifically post. I personally feel that last night could easily have been them wanting to go through the Senior night as a "family" and isn't necessarily an indication of whether or not they are all coming back.
That being said, if they do NOT come back, I think we'll really see what kind of recruiter Mullins is. In this portal era, it's not impossible to replace high caliber players. It does make it more difficult when you recruit based on morals and work ethic, but that is unashamedly OUR culture. I believe the portal opens up on, or around, 3-13 so we won't have to wait too long to see who comes back and who doesn't AND who's available out there to bring in.
I always tend to be a pessimist in these scenarios (then you are never disappointed 🤣). The fact that they all went through senior day would suggest to me they are leaning towards moving on. At the same time, if Mullins had that feeling, I think he would have been more aggressive in recruiting, needing to fill 3 additional holes. I get he's likely going to need some immediate impact transfers to replace that much scoring, but I can't imagine all 4 open scholarships would go that route (maybe I'm wrong).
All that said, I don't think any of us really know unless some insiders have connections with the coaches/family. If they do leave, I would have no ill will as those three 4 year guys gave everything they had to this program...I also think we will struggle quite a bit next year if they all leave, so a bit of a bitter pill to swallow. Here's hoping for a fun finish to the season and let the chips fall where they may.
I don't think the lack of recruiting says much because you want to keep some open spots for the transfer portal. Right now SIU has one open spot with Muila/Newton gone and Kennard Davis Jr. coming in. As many as 4 more spots can open and that's assuming nobody else moves on. The portal is really the only shot you have at somewhat competing next year if all the Seniors move on.
SIU picked up three starters from the portal in the spring (Rupert, Newton, Johnson), which is somewhat impressive, but they would need to bring in higher-end scorers to withstand losing Domask and Jones. Not easy. To put it this way, if a player like Domask were in the portal, SIU would have a very, very uphill climb to get him.
It would be pretty bad timing to have next year be a rebuild year with Oklahoma State and SLU slated to visit Carbondale.
That many spots open is kind of my point. I don't think he would go completely portal for all of them (see Mo St for how that works) as most folks coming from the portal expect to play immediately. I've not seen many mid-majors successfully integrate that many folks. Newton, Johnson, and Rupert has been quite the task even this year and it took awhile for Rupert to break through (remember he was used sparingly early in the season, much to the chagrin of many on here). I also think it would be awfully naive to expect zero transfers so let's go on the low side and say 5 open schollies with one additional transfer assuming all the seniors leave...you don't think he'd want at least one or two to be high level high school players? It doesn't appear they are really interested in '23 high school players right now. That of course could change at the end of the season, I'm well aware. I guess my point isn't that I think they are coming back for sure because of the slow recruiting, just that I really think they haven't made up their mind yet.
Don't even get me started on the amount of talent we would need to bring in if they do all indeed leave. Last year we were worried about trying to find a third scorer to replace Coupet and honestly I don't think we got it. Newton, Johnson, and Rupert have been good players no doubt, but no one has really filled that void consistently and I think that is why we aren't playing for first place. Can you imagine trying to replace your top two scorers!?! We would be lucky to finish middle of the pack next year, unless they really hit a home run and this staff hasn't done that in the portal so far. They've gotten a lot of good supporting pieces, but not a 1st team all valley level talent (at least not one who was first team all valley immediately).
Hate to say it, but the way Marcus, Lance and Trent acted emotionally during the ceremony and when they came off the court during the late substitution gives me less hope they are coming back. Also, Lance said in his post game interview "Since this is the last time we were playing in front of these fans"... Tea leaves are looking bad if you're into reading them.At the meet and greet in July my wife innocently asked Marcus if this was his last year, he replied “no, I have two years left”.Mullins, Domask, Jones, Brown with the media:
Domask doesn't sound like someone coming back to me but hopefully no decision has been made yet
I always tend to be a pessimist in these scenarios (then you are never disappointed 🤣). The fact that they all went through senior day would suggest to me they are leaning towards moving on. At the same time, if Mullins had that feeling, I think he would have been more aggressive in recruiting, needing to fill 3 additional holes. I get he's likely going to need some immediate impact transfers to replace that much scoring, but I can't imagine all 4 open scholarships would go that route (maybe I'm wrong).
All that said, I don't think any of us really know unless some insiders have connections with the coaches/family. If they do leave, I would have no ill will as those three 4 year guys gave everything they had to this program...I also think we will struggle quite a bit next year if they all leave, so a bit of a bitter pill to swallow. Here's hoping for a fun finish to the season and let the chips fall where they may.
Brendan Mullins specifically said in the Cook Club last night not to look too much into the players being honored for "senior night." He said who knows what's going to happen with the Covid stuff and "if they end up getting two senior nights, then they get two senior nights."
So hopefully we have some staying!
The inside information in this.
im not even sure if the players know yet. It is 50/50
While it is somewhat fascinating to try and guess who will do what who will fill the void if some or all leave or if others leave not being mentioned I would think the best thing to do is let things play out hope for the best on the finish of this season and let things play out for better or worse but I don't think you can continue down the road like MoSt and be long term successful
WOW, If this is true, extremely classyBy the way, super classy move by Jacobson taking a technical for Brown to get into double figures on his senior night.
I thought the same. Never seen that happen before.WOW, If this is true, extremely classyBy the way, super classy move by Jacobson taking a technical for Brown to get into double figures on his senior night.
He called a timeout so he could get his guys off the court and sub. Game was already lost, so 2 more points didn’t matter. That’s at least what the guys were saying on TV.
@siu-grad-87 it would be Marcus' record. 3 or no 3. 5 years or 4. Just like it would have been Kent's had he broken it while playing in 130 games. Or Anthony Beane and Darren Brooks who played in 129 and 134. Or Falker, 137. Chico played 4 years. So did 9 of the top 10 in school history. If Marcus plays next season he will play 4 seasons plus 10 games.
@dawgbytes Mike is the best shooter I've seen and think you're right about the 3 record. I just wish shot charts existed so we could see where he actually took his shots. It's just over 22 feet now. I remember being impressed he made shots (57%!!!). I remember they were jumpers. But I don't remember distance.
@dawgbytes Mike is the best shooter I've seen and think you're right about the 3 record. I just wish shot charts existed so we could see where he actually took his shots. It's just over 22 feet now. I remember being impressed he made shots (57%!!!). I remember they were jumpers. But I don't remember distance.
i interviewed mike glenn a few years back for salukitalk. i asked him where he thought his shot usually came from as it was before the three point line. he thought it was probably right around where the line was now, because if he was any closer, he never would have been open. and as mike said above, glenn was the best shooter we ever had. he rarely scored off the dribble or at the free line line. it was catch and shoot, and it rarely hit the rim.
That's the way I remember it!@dawgbytes Mike is the best shooter I've seen and think you're right about the 3 record. I just wish shot charts existed so we could see where he actually took his shots. It's just over 22 feet now. I remember being impressed he made shots (57%!!!). I remember they were jumpers. But I don't remember distance.
i interviewed mike glenn a few years back for salukitalk. i asked him where he thought his shot usually came from as it was before the three point line. he thought it was probably right around where the line was now, because if he was any closer, he never would have been open. and as mike said above, glenn was the best shooter we ever had. he rarely scored off the dribble or at the free line line. it was catch and shoot, and it rarely hit the rim.
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