@packerdawg 4th... look I’d love that to be the case but this does not look like a 4th place team... granted, this year is garbage. We play 6 road games at BU, Loyola and Drake. Totally unfair.
I really don't get why Domask and Jones are in this game with 3:30 left down 35
Edit: Mullins just took him out after a basket about 30 seconds later, no idea what that was about.
Teams with superior athletes and length will continue to give the Salukis fit until they change their recruiting model. This has been an ongoing issue dating back as long as I’ve followed SIU hoops. Always undersized at every position. The Floorburn U teams got away with it because of the type of D they played. I would’ve liked to see a scholarship or two given to big guards or wings with athleticism and the ability to jump out of the gym to match up with teams like Drake, Bradley, Missouri State. There’s a lot of roster redundancy on this team with Harvey, Brown, Verplanken, Banks, Jones, Butler, Long, etc. I would trade Verplanken or Butler or Long for someone with some length, bounce and athleticism just to mix up what we can throw at opponents and spark the effort off the bench. We get our shots blocked so often and have a hard time defending teams with bigger physical guards
That's cuz those guys are playing for Ohio St., Illinois, Iowa, Indiana.... Will always be tough to get those guys! It's rare when a non-power 5 school can get 7' centers that are really good or 6'9" forwards or 6'6" athletic guards!
Wayne Abrams, Darren Brooks, Tatum, Amaya, Jerry Jones, Roberts etc type players are pretty rare in the MVC.
I think it’s just jealously that even the perennial doormat of the Valley like Drake can turn things around to this level this quickly while we definitely will have to wait another year or two to truly contend. I think some of us (myself included) got our hopes way up prematurely that we were back after the Butler win.
Drake 86
SIU 55
Final
Drake could have won that by 40+ if they wanted to.
Teams with superior athletes and length will continue to give the Salukis fit until they change their recruiting model. This has been an ongoing issue dating back as long as I’ve followed SIU hoops. Always undersized at every position. The Floorburn U teams got away with it because of the type of D they played. I would’ve liked to see a scholarship or two given to big guards or wings with athleticism and the ability to jump out of the gym to match up with teams like Drake, Bradley, Missouri State. There’s a lot of roster redundancy on this team with Harvey, Brown, Verplanken, Banks, Jones, Butler, Long, etc. I would trade Verplanken or Butler or Long for someone with some length, bounce and athleticism just to mix up what we can throw at opponents and spark the effort off the bench. We get our shots blocked so often and have a hard time defending teams with bigger physical guards
That's cuz those guys are playing for Ohio St., Illinois, Iowa, Indiana.... Will always be tough to get those guys! It's rare when a non-power 5 school can get 7' centers that are really good or 6'9" forwards or 6'6" athletic guards!
Wayne Abrams, Darren Brooks, Tatum, Amaya, Jerry Jones, Roberts etc type players are pretty rare in the MVC.
Yes, I know this but I’m watching a team of about 12 of them in the Valley destroy the Salukis tonight. Bradley also is full of them. So is SLU. Missouri State has a ton of athletes. Illinois State always has freak athletes. In the world of the transfer, guys are constantly leaving high majors. JUCO basketball is also full of them. Just have to do a better job supplementing our talent and roster with 1-2. Maybe Long was supposed to be that guy as he was originally an Iowa State transfer and he’s banged up at the moment. We also had Davis as a Nebraska transfer last year. Just need a little more if physicality, length and athleticism to supplement Harvey, Domask, Jones, Banks, Brown, etc.
@packerdawg 4th... look I’d love that to be the case but this does not look like a 4th place team... granted, this year is garbage. We play 6 road games at BU, Loyola and Drake. Totally unfair.
A 10-8 record secured us 4th place last year in a tight Valley season. I don’t think we roll over to Loyola and BU. I could be wrong, but I don’t see why it is unlikely we finish around 4th. After a 1-3 start, a 9-5 finish nets us the same record as last year: sweep both ISUs, sweep Valpo or UNI, and split the rest of the series and we’re 10-8 again. College basketball is streaky. We can go on a winning streak just as suddenly as we go into a losing streak. Seems entirely plausible to me. We can be upset at the start to valley play, but I just think the Lowery comparisons and talk of a guaranteed Thursday spot is dangerous so early this season.
We just got smoked, but some of you need to get a grip.
@packerdawg 4th... look I’d love that to be the case but this does not look like a 4th place team... granted, this year is garbage. We play 6 road games at BU, Loyola and Drake. Totally unfair.
A 10-8 record secured us 4th place last year in a tight Valley season. I don’t think we roll over to Loyola and BU. I could be wrong, but I don’t see why it is unlikely we finish around 4th. After a 1-3 start, a 9-5 finish nets is the same record as last year: sweep both ISUs, sweep Valpo or UNI, and split the rest of the series and we’re 10-8 again. College basketball is streaky. We can go on a winning streak just as suddenly as we go into a losing streak. Seems entirely plausible to me. We can be upset at the start to valley play, but I just think the Lowery comparisons and talk of a guaranteed Thursday spot is dangerous so early this season.
The Valley is much better this year than last year. SIU couldn't sweep Evansville at home and looked bad in both games, could have easily been an Evansville sweep. The Indiana State series will tell us a lot about this team, both teams are going to be desperate for a win. Sycamores had SIU's number like SIU had Drake's number last year, hopefully they figure it out.
what disappoints me is, last year, even in losses, this was at least a fun team to watch. These last three games have not been fun at all. Complete lack of effort, heart, and defense in my opinion. Not sure what happened, but something has changed
Respectfully, Long is not banged up, he's just not a very good player. I also fully get giving players time, but the fact that Butler is not able to provide meaningful minutes in a year where there is a "Free Red Shirt" is crazy. Defense typically plays and since he came in for that reason, to not be playing is a mystery or concerning (or both).
This team needs SIZE. Assuming several players will jettison after the season (Long, Butler, Dembele,etc) here's hoping beyond hope that Mullins gets taller, stronger and more athletic players to come in. If this team had just 1 or maybe 2 players like that, they'd be fighting for the top 3 in the conference, which is currently saying a lot.
Respectfully, Long is not banged up, he's just not a very good player. I also fully get giving players time, but the fact that Butler is not able to provide meaningful minutes in a year where there is a "Free Red Shirt" is crazy. Defense typically plays and since he came in for that reason, to not be playing is a mystery or concerning (or both).
This team needs SIZE. Assuming several players will jettison after the season (Long, Butler, Dembele,etc) here's hoping beyond hope that Mullins gets taller, stronger and more athletic players to come in. If this team had just 1 or maybe 2 players like that, they'd be fighting for the top 3 in the conference, which is currently saying a lot.
Agreed on Long, I just was trying to give Mullins and Co. some credit in realizing we needed athleticism and length and thought the Long signing potentially could’ve addressed that need. Also didn’t we leave a scholly open? It would’ve been nice to fill that with another athletic big or wing but hindsight is 20/20
There are certainly some issues, but I believe in Mullins and the core of the team to regroup and grow from this low point. Lots of work to do to put this thing back together, especially with another road swing looming.
Longer term, some personnel shortcomings have been exposed, which might be useful to inform recruiting and roster management this offseason. Gotta get more athletic to supplement the skill/finesse players they have.
Thankfully, the jankety WIFI at this magnificent hotel prevented me from viewing this masterpiece.
This team has 4 guys with 1 year of D-1 experience playing a top 25 caliber team on the road. 69 is right deep breaths and relax our time is coming.
On a high not dawgpoop/Dean is no longer with us. I count that as a win myself
