SIU looks to rebound from their Southern Indiana loss on Sunday against a 3-0 Tennessee State team.
The Tigers started the season with a 10 point win over NAIA Fisk University and then had home wins over South Carolina State and Alabama A&M.
Tennessee State is coached by Brian "Penny" Collins in his 5th year with the program. He's currently 49-72 overall as coach and led the Tigers to a 18-15 season in his 2nd year. Collins was born in Nashville and played basketball at Belmont. He was an assistant at Illinois State in 2017-2018 before getting the Tennessee State head coaching job.
Meet the Tigers:
The Tigers were picked 2nd in the OVC media poll behind Morehead State (7 first place votes to Tennessee State's 2). The Tigers are 101st in D-1 experience (2.31 years) and 249nd in the country in average height (76.7"). The Tigers don't use their bench much, they're 303rd in the country in percentage of minutes going to the bench (24.3%).
The Tigers' top transfer this offseason was 6'0 5th Year Senior Jr. Clay. Clay spent 4 years at Tennessee Tech where he was named to the All-OVC 2nd team all 4 years and averaged more than 12.9 points per game each year. This season, Clay has been the leading scorer on the Tigers averaging 21.7 points per game including a 30 point game in their season opener against NAIA Fisk University. Clay was named to the All-OVC Preseason Team this preseason.
Tennessee State's leading rebounder this year is 6'7 Senior Zion Griffin. Griffin was a 4 star recruit out of Chicago and committed to Iowa State. At Iowa State, Griffin played sparingly, never averaging over 10 minutes per game. After his Sophomore season, Griffin transferred to UIC where he saw some success. Last season, Griffin played in 28 games with the Flames and averaged 11 points per game. Griffin was 36th in the nation last year in 2 point % (78-118, 66.1%) and 137th in the country in effective field goal % (57.5%). Griffin was named to the All-OVC Preseason team this preseason.
The Tigers' leader in assists this season is 6'2 Junior Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. Fitzgerald was a 3 star recruit out of Pearl-Cohn High School in Nashville and was ranked as the top point guard in his class in the state of Tennessee. In his Freshman season, Fitzgerald averaged 12.5 points per game and 2.7 rebounds per game and led the team in free throw shooting percentage (82.8%). This season, Fitzgerald has become more of a facilitator as he's 226th in the country in assist rate (27.5%). Fitzgerald was named to the All-OVC Preseason team this preseason.
KenPom has #91 SIU beating #272 Tennessee State 75-61.
Links:
Tennessee State Game Notes
Rodney Watson on In The Dawghouse 11/14
Troy D'Amico Radio Interview with Mike Reis
Didn't want to make the first post so long but other players Saluki fans might know on the Tigers include Dedric Boyd, who was at Illinois State for 2 years. He was named to the All-OVC Preseason Team with the 3 others I mentioned but he missed the last game so no idea if he'll play.
Also Adong Makoui is a 6'9 Senior that played at Northern Illinois. Pretty sure we recruited him at some point in the Mullins era.
This is a talented team that have a top 3 that can probably rival some of the better teams in the Missouri Valley but they lack a bit of depth. Also to note, they're 54th in the country in adjusted tempo and teams against them are 19th in the country in average possession length so could be a fast-paced game.
I'm not impressed.
The Rodney Watson interview should be required listening to anyone who posts on this board.
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
You are so right. His years of coaching have provided him with a great basketball insight. He won't sugarcoat things and gets to the crux of the issue discussed right away with good questions and observations. He and Mike Reis make a great play by play team.The Rodney Watson interview should be required listening to anyone who posts on this board.
I have a good feeling about the game tonight. My hope is that somebody other than Jones or Domask will be the leading scorer of the game. We have got to find that 3rd reliable scoring threat. Looking for this team to take out some frustration from the USI loss and put a whupping on Tennessee State. Another victory in the 90s would be so nice.
I also have a good feeling about this game. I did not have the same pre-game feeling at Southern Indiana, nor post-game!
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
I'm very surprised the current line is Southern -14.5 to the pre-season #2 in the OVC that comes in 3-0. I hope we cover, but I wouldn't touch that line with a 100' pole!
After Sunday's calamity, every game frightens me.
March on triumphantly!
Bryan Mullins with Mike Reis pregame:
Hoping for a sound victory tonight.
GO DAWGS!
I'm very surprised the current line is Southern -14.5 to the pre-season #2 in the OVC that comes in 3-0. I hope we cover, but I wouldn't touch that line with a 100' pole!
I would. That is the SEEMINGLY the easiest money I've seen in awhile. I'm not saying SIU won't win this game. I'm not even saying SIU can't win comfortably, but IF they're up big towards the end, I see Mullins bringing in the back half of the bench for minutes and the lead could diminish. I can also see SIU feeling the pressure of having just lost and possibly losing this game or it being close. I guess what I'm saying it, while Vegas typically gets it right, this is a game I would definitely bet on.
of course, the bobber doesn't really understand how this betting thing works, but if he did, he would lay the points tonight. i expect the mighty salukis to lay 80 on them.
This kid CANNOT guard Jones. They will have to scheme against him.
