the Mullins interview gets the blood flowing!
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
I really think people are underselling this SIU team. They didn't have Domask(16 PPG) for 2/3 of the season last year and lost Muila before the season. Their frontcourt rotation was a D2 grad transfer and a true freshman.
They return 9 players from that team. Not including Domask they return 57.5 PPG in scoring while adding back Domask and a healthy Muila along with grad transfer Ben Coupet(10.3 PPG at Arkansas-Little Rock).
Added 3 good freshman as well who can be eased in hopefully with the depth the team has.
This isn't a "rebuild". This team has talent and depth. This is the team that should contend after a rebuild.
I really think people are underselling this SIU team. They didn't have Domask(16 PPG) for 2/3 of the season last year and lost Muila before the season. Their frontcourt rotation was a D2 grad transfer and a true freshman.
They return 9 players from that team. Not including Domask they return 57.5 PPG in scoring while adding back Domask and a healthy Muila along with grad transfer Ben Coupet(10.3 PPG at Arkansas-Little Rock).
Added 3 good freshman as well who can be eased in hopefully with the depth the team has.
This isn't a "rebuild". This team has talent and depth. This is the team that should contend after a rebuild.
And all the players that were supposed to leave after graduation did not. This is a good SIU. This just happens to be the best Valley in a long time.
I really think people are underselling this SIU team. They didn't have Domask(16 PPG) for 2/3 of the season last year and lost Muila before the season. Their frontcourt rotation was a D2 grad transfer and a true freshman.
They return 9 players from that team. Not including Domask they return 57.5 PPG in scoring while adding back Domask and a healthy Muila along with grad transfer Ben Coupet(10.3 PPG at Arkansas-Little Rock).
Added 3 good freshman as well who can be eased in hopefully with the depth the team has.
This isn't a "rebuild". This team has talent and depth. This is the team that should contend after a rebuild.
And all the players that were supposed to leave after graduation did not. This is a good SIU. This just happens to be the best Valley in a long time.
And its for those reasons the non-conference slate feels like such a kick to the groin. Hopefully team chemistry is ahead of schedule and there are few to no stumbles before MVC play.
--Insert something witty here--
I think the difference will be the defense. If SIU can play old school SIU floorburn defense this team can compete for the top of the Valley IMO.
Here’s a question: what is our weakest position this year? I would be interested in hearing people’s opinions. Not implying that we are weak in any position, it’s a question of relativity speaking.
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
Here’s a question: what is our weakest position this year? I would be interested in hearing people’s opinions. Not implying that we are weak in any position, it’s a question of relativity speaking.
Southern has a pretty well-rounded roster this year with promising depth, so I’m not sure there’s any certain spot that jumps out as a weakness. I guess if I had to pick a position, it would be the 2-guard until guys like Brown, Harvey and Verplancken show more consistency in various parts of their game.
To me, the bigger question is what will be the team’s big strengths - what type of identity will they create that they can hang their hat on? As has been mentioned, the league looks quite salty this year, so it’s going to take some major strides being made on both ends, and some guys raising their games from where they’ve been, to hang with the contenders.
Here’s a question: what is our weakest position this year? I would be interested in hearing people’s opinions. Not implying that we are weak in any position, it’s a question of relativity speaking.
Southern has a pretty well-rounded roster this year with promising depth, so I’m not sure there’s any certain spot that jumps out as a weakness. I guess if I had to pick a position, it would be the 2-guard until guys like Brown, Harvey and Verplancken show more consistency in various parts of their game.
To me, the bigger question is what will be the team’s big strengths - what type of identity will they create that they can hang their hat on? As has been mentioned, the league looks quite salty this year, so it’s going to take some major strides being made on both ends, and some guys raising their games from where they’ve been, to hang with the contenders.
Without knowing how any of these guys have progressed over the off-season, I’m saying PG. I think Jones fits more naturally at the 2 (really struggled with TOs at the point last year) which really leaves us with one true PG in Banks. Obviously right now Jones slides over there when Banks isn’t on the floor and occasionally Brown. Wonders handled the ball quite a bit at his school, but I don’t think we should be relying on him for that at this level, especially as a freshman.
My biggest concern is defensively, specifically on ball defending. I’ve said this a few times already, but our defense doesn’t improve unless we can stop getting beat off the dribble so much (so many other things suffer when you can’t keep your guy in front of you). If we improve there, I think this team can make some noise this year.
Here’s a question: what is our weakest position this year? I would be interested in hearing people’s opinions. Not implying that we are weak in any position, it’s a question of relativity speaking.
Southern has a pretty well-rounded roster this year with promising depth, so I’m not sure there’s any certain spot that jumps out as a weakness. I guess if I had to pick a position, it would be the 2-guard until guys like Brown, Harvey and Verplancken show more consistency in various parts of their game.
To me, the bigger question is what will be the team’s big strengths - what type of identity will they create that they can hang their hat on? As has been mentioned, the league looks quite salty this year, so it’s going to take some major strides being made on both ends, and some guys raising their games from where they’ve been, to hang with the contenders.
Without knowing how any of these guys have progressed over the off-season, I’m saying PG. I think Jones fits more naturally at the 2 (really struggled with TOs at the point last year) which really leaves us with one true PG in Banks. Obviously right now Jones slides over there when Banks isn’t on the floor and occasionally Brown. Wonders handled the ball quite a bit at his school, but I don’t think we should be relying on him for that at this level, especially as a freshman.
My biggest concern is defensively, specifically on ball defending. I’ve said this a few times already, but our defense doesn’t improve unless we can stop getting beat off the dribble so much (so many other things suffer when you can’t keep your guy in front of you). If we improve there, I think this team can make some noise this year.
So you think Banks will start at PG? I agree Jones reducing his turnovers is a key to the season, but I’d still be a bit surprised if they start them both together, without a reliable PG option available off the bench.
Here’s a question: what is our weakest position this year? I would be interested in hearing people’s opinions. Not implying that we are weak in any position, it’s a question of relativity speaking.
Southern has a pretty well-rounded roster this year with promising depth, so I’m not sure there’s any certain spot that jumps out as a weakness. I guess if I had to pick a position, it would be the 2-guard until guys like Brown, Harvey and Verplancken show more consistency in various parts of their game.
To me, the bigger question is what will be the team’s big strengths - what type of identity will they create that they can hang their hat on? As has been mentioned, the league looks quite salty this year, so it’s going to take some major strides being made on both ends, and some guys raising their games from where they’ve been, to hang with the contenders.
Without knowing how any of these guys have progressed over the off-season, I’m saying PG. I think Jones fits more naturally at the 2 (really struggled with TOs at the point last year) which really leaves us with one true PG in Banks. Obviously right now Jones slides over there when Banks isn’t on the floor and occasionally Brown. Wonders handled the ball quite a bit at his school, but I don’t think we should be relying on him for that at this level, especially as a freshman.
My biggest concern is defensively, specifically on ball defending. I’ve said this a few times already, but our defense doesn’t improve unless we can stop getting beat off the dribble so much (so many other things suffer when you can’t keep your guy in front of you). If we improve there, I think this team can make some noise this year.
So you think Banks will start at PG? I agree Jones reducing his turnovers is a key to the season, but I’d still be a bit surprised if they start them both together, without a reliable PG option available off the bench.
I don’t think they start together, but they will certainly play together at times. If I had to venture a guess, starting five would be Jones, Brown, Coupet, Domask, Fillewich.
Here’s a question: what is our weakest position this year? I would be interested in hearing people’s opinions. Not implying that we are weak in any position, it’s a question of relativity speaking.
Southern has a pretty well-rounded roster this year with promising depth, so I’m not sure there’s any certain spot that jumps out as a weakness. I guess if I had to pick a position, it would be the 2-guard until guys like Brown, Harvey and Verplancken show more consistency in various parts of their game.
To me, the bigger question is what will be the team’s big strengths - what type of identity will they create that they can hang their hat on? As has been mentioned, the league looks quite salty this year, so it’s going to take some major strides being made on both ends, and some guys raising their games from where they’ve been, to hang with the contenders.
Without knowing how any of these guys have progressed over the off-season, I’m saying PG. I think Jones fits more naturally at the 2 (really struggled with TOs at the point last year) which really leaves us with one true PG in Banks. Obviously right now Jones slides over there when Banks isn’t on the floor and occasionally Brown. Wonders handled the ball quite a bit at his school, but I don’t think we should be relying on him for that at this level, especially as a freshman.
My biggest concern is defensively, specifically on ball defending. I’ve said this a few times already, but our defense doesn’t improve unless we can stop getting beat off the dribble so much (so many other things suffer when you can’t keep your guy in front of you). If we improve there, I think this team can make some noise this year.
So you think Banks will start at PG? I agree Jones reducing his turnovers is a key to the season, but I’d still be a bit surprised if they start them both together, without a reliable PG option available off the bench.
I don’t think they start together, but they will certainly play together at times. If I had to venture a guess, starting five would be Jones, Brown, Coupet, Domask, Fillewich.
I wouldn't be surprised if the starting lineup was Banks, Jones, Coupet, Domask and Muila. Even though Banks and Jones are smaller, they both rebound well for guards. I think the coaches will see value in playing Jones at the 2. Muila adds a defensive and rebounding presence at center we haven't had in some time. I think Fillewich gets plenty of minutes off the bench. Banks is a prototypical PG and I think he will be a very good player for us. He played well as a true freshman for us last year. I also see Veplancken continuing to improve and being a key contributor for us off the bench.
I would use Coupet as an impact sub tbh. SIU has good players at his position and he isn't better to the point that you take away their game time to give to a grad transfer who will be at SIU for a year.
I may be mistaken, but didn't it take a while before Mullins took over the point position as a freshmen?
“The best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores.”
-- Al McGuire
Here’s a question: what is our weakest position this year? I would be interested in hearing people’s opinions. Not implying that we are weak in any position, it’s a question of relativity speaking.
Southern has a pretty well-rounded roster this year with promising depth, so I’m not sure there’s any certain spot that jumps out as a weakness. I guess if I had to pick a position, it would be the 2-guard until guys like Brown, Harvey and Verplancken show more consistency in various parts of their game.
To me, the bigger question is what will be the team’s big strengths - what type of identity will they create that they can hang their hat on? As has been mentioned, the league looks quite salty this year, so it’s going to take some major strides being made on both ends, and some guys raising their games from where they’ve been, to hang with the contenders.
Without knowing how any of these guys have progressed over the off-season, I’m saying PG. I think Jones fits more naturally at the 2 (really struggled with TOs at the point last year) which really leaves us with one true PG in Banks. Obviously right now Jones slides over there when Banks isn’t on the floor and occasionally Brown. Wonders handled the ball quite a bit at his school, but I don’t think we should be relying on him for that at this level, especially as a freshman.
My biggest concern is defensively, specifically on ball defending. I’ve said this a few times already, but our defense doesn’t improve unless we can stop getting beat off the dribble so much (so many other things suffer when you can’t keep your guy in front of you). If we improve there, I think this team can make some noise this year.
So you think Banks will start at PG? I agree Jones reducing his turnovers is a key to the season, but I’d still be a bit surprised if they start them both together, without a reliable PG option available off the bench.
I don’t think they start together, but they will certainly play together at times. If I had to venture a guess, starting five would be Jones, Brown, Coupet, Domask, Fillewich.
I wouldn't be surprised if the starting lineup was Banks, Jones, Coupet, Domask and Muila. Even though Banks and Jones are smaller, they both rebound well for guards. I think the coaches will see value in playing Jones at the 2. Muila adds a defensive and rebounding presence at center we haven't had in some time. I think Fillewich gets plenty of minutes off the bench. Banks is a prototypical PG and I think he will be a very good player for us. He played well as a true freshman for us last year. I also see Veplancken continuing to improve and being a key contributor for us off the bench.
It sounds like Muila just got back to full contact in the fall so I would be very surprised if he starts the year in the starting five. Later in the year, depending on how things play out, I could see him sliding in to the starting lineup.
I like Jones better at the 2 as well, but with their limitations at the point, I don’t think they will both start (keep someone relatively fresh on the bench). As I said previously, I do think they will spend some time on the floor together.
Not sure why you would bench Filewich in favor of Muila tbh. Filewich put much better rebounding and much better offensive numbers as a true freshman against D1 players than Muila did against JUCO competition as a sophomore.
