It is pretty obvious that this team/Mullins is a work in progress. Like everyone else, expectations as to where we would be in year 3 have fallen short. Paradoxically, we seem so close and yet so far away from the turnaround I thought would magically happen. I still have faith that Mullins will succeed at SIU, but if Domask and Jones leave SIU without Mullins having built the Salukis into a serious contender for the league title, then Bryan will have missed a good opportunity to bring back the glory years.
I get this... lets remember something, when it got tight last night, super covid senior Lucas Williamson and Uguak turned the tide for an already good team. If those 2 graduate like they should have I think we win that game last night. That is exactly why this year is slightly tainted. If Drake doesn't get their COVID seniors we absolutely take the lead and take control of that game and win it.
But one of the only reasons we got it back close was cause of covid senior Ben Coupet hitting big shots.
It is pretty obvious that this team/Mullins is a work in progress. Like everyone else, expectations as to where we would be in year 3 have fallen short. Paradoxically, we seem so close and yet so far away from the turnaround I thought would magically happen. I still have faith that Mullins will succeed at SIU, but if Domask and Jones leave SIU without Mullins having built the Salukis into a serious contender for the league title, then Bryan will have missed a good opportunity to bring back the glory years.
I get this... lets remember something, when it got tight last night, super covid senior Lucas Williamson and Uguak turned the tide for an already good team. If those 2 graduate like they should have I think we win that game last night. That is exactly why this year is slightly tainted. If Drake doesn't get their COVID seniors we absolutely take the lead and take control of that game and win it.
But one of the only reasons we got it back close was cause of covid senior Ben Coupet hitting big shots.
Coupet is the only reason they were in that game. Other than Loyola just sleepwalking most of the game.
It is pretty obvious that this team/Mullins is a work in progress. Like everyone else, expectations as to where we would be in year 3 have fallen short. Paradoxically, we seem so close and yet so far away from the turnaround I thought would magically happen. I still have faith that Mullins will succeed at SIU, but if Domask and Jones leave SIU without Mullins having built the Salukis into a serious contender for the league title, then Bryan will have missed a good opportunity to bring back the glory years.
Agree. Those two are really talented and we need to add the rest of the ingredients before they are gone. I think they have two more years if they want two. Should graduate next year.
We do have Ebube and Hornecker and Wonders coming next year - all first year players. D'Amico, Filewich, etc. will get better. If D&J are here year after next, we could have the best team we've had in a long time.
For those of you who think Loyola was sleepwalking, I disagree. They played intense D (and got away with a lot of fouls IMO.) Their scoring droughts were also largely because we played very tough D on them.
They hit their threes though - 45.5% - and made 14 - 17 FTs.
Jones was 1 - 6, Domask was 0 - 4. Coupet our only outside shooter at 3 - 3.
I think it's ridiculous that Jones never got to the FT line once and Domask only got there once. Some home court reffin' methinks.
@mr_woogers I was at the game and Domask and Jones were getting beat on. It impacted their shots and their subsequent shots. Loyola was not sleepwalking. Our defense was doing a great jobe. Even with that, if we had made our shots we would have come out on top. We have to find a way to avoid the long dry spells on offense. As I said earlier, our defense did an excellent job for the most part and kept us in the game. We won't beat too many teams in the Valley with only one man in double figures.
I may be full of it which is not an uncommon occurrence but I think we match up better with Loyola than some of the other teams and believe the Salukis could pull off a win at home IF they shoot well from 3 and the free throw lane. I'm ducking now. 😮
I may be full of it which is not an uncommon occurrence but I think we match up better with Loyola than some of the other teams and believe the Salukis could pull off a win at home IF they shoot well from 3 and the free throw lane. I'm ducking now. 😮
It helped that Marquis Kennedy, one of their most athletic guys, was out last night. Not sure what his status is for tomorrow.
Respectfully disagree on Loyola sleepwalking; we held a Top 25 team at their place to 59 points. Our defense may not be 2007 level, but it's pretty darn good and particularly good on the perimeter.
My biggest takeaway from last night is that SIU can play with any team in the conference, and therefore Arch Madness is actually a feasible chance to convert this season into a great status. Think back to past years: there was always a Creighton tram with Doug, a Shocker team with FVV and Baker, or a Loyola team with Krutwig that would blow us out by 20 points - which meant Arch Madness was only winnable if another team knocked them out. This year really is different: this team does not quit, and they have the talent to hang with every other Valley program.
The main goal is avoiding Thursday with a top six finish, and to achieve that we are going to have to figure it out offensively.
Pumped for the rematch tomorrow night!
I may be full of it which is not an uncommon occurrence but I think we match up better with Loyola than some of the other teams and believe the Salukis could pull off a win at home IF they shoot well from 3 and the free throw lane. I'm ducking now. 😮
Agree. Last time they played in Carbondale, we DID beat them. They had most of the same starters, with the addition or Clemons and Krutwig. We shot 49% and Eric McGill had 27 pts.
We almost beat them twice last year. If we shoot well at home, we can absolutely beat them.
