@salukiworld while I fully expect some seniors to come back, realistically I don't think they all will. I mean as awesome as college basketball is, there is more to life than college basketball. When it comes down to it, I think a fair amount will decide to start making a living rather than playing an additional year of college basketball.
A healthy Domask , a healthy Mulia and a full offseason of preparation and I am confident that the group we have can be a top 3 or 4 team in the league.
I'd be pretty shocked considering Missouri State is already getting Prim back and Drake has said that everyone will be back for them. If everyone else in the Valley is bringing everyone back, there's no shot they're finishing even in the top 6. Remember, Northern Iowa is getting A.J. Green back.
If Devries get's plucked away, which i think is highly likely, Drake may lose some key players. Lot's of high majors may come-a-callin, especially if he brings his 4* son with him! I think UNI needs better depth, even with Green to compete with Drake and Loyola, should Drake and Loyola bring their studs back. I seriously think the valley could conceivably be a 4 bid league next year. It might be like 2007 all over again. Of course, the ncaa will find a way to screw multiple mvc teams!!!!
We’ll see what happens with DeVries, but he could possibly, maybe, perhaps be another Ben Jacobson...
The only reason I speculate on that is because the Drake athletic department was totally blindsided when Niko Medved left for Colorado St. They really thought Niko was going to be their guy with whom to grow the program, such that Drake really emphasized character and loyalty on that coaching search. It was just as much about the dude as it was the Xs and Os. I remember at DeVries’s presser the AD said something to the effect of, “We weren’t looking for someone who wanted a head coaching job, we were looking for someone who wanted to be the head coach at Drake University.”
We will see in the next four-six weeks whether or not Drake was correct in making that guess.
That would be really tough for Drake if he left. I hope for the Valley’s sake that DeVries, Wardle, and Porter stays (as much as I despise Porter and Wardle). If Mullins can resurrect the SIU program in a couple years and Dana Ford’s recruiting can make up for his shortcomings as a head coach, the Valley is looking very good.
We’ll see what happens with DeVries, but he could possibly, maybe, perhaps be another Ben Jacobson...
The only reason I speculate on that is because the Drake athletic department was totally blindsided when Niko Medved left for Colorado St. They really thought Niko was going to be their guy with whom to grow the program, such that Drake really emphasized character and loyalty on that coaching search. It was just as much about the dude as it was the Xs and Os. I remember at DeVries’s presser the AD said something to the effect of, “We weren’t looking for someone who wanted a head coaching job, we were looking for someone who wanted to be the head coach at Drake University.”
We will see in the next four-six weeks whether or not Drake was correct in making that guess.
I actually agree with you here.
however money talks and this dude can build a program
That would be really tough for Drake if he left. I hope for the Valley’s sake that DeVries, Wardle, and Porter stays (as much as I despise Porter and Wardle). If Mullins can resurrect the SIU program in a couple years and Dana Ford’s recruiting can make up for his shortcomings as a head coach, the Valley is looking very good.
If Loyola isn't bringing back pieces next year, I could really see Moser jumping for the DePaul job which should open up this year. It would be the perfect time to leave too given that Loyola is going to have to reset if Krutwig and their Seniors do leave.
But as a Valley fan, we need our good coaches to stay like Ben Jacobson. It sucks that it would make things harder for SIU but I'd rather be good in a good league than good in a bad league. If we can't compete in or win a good MVC, then it might be time to drop to the OVC.
This game was all about rebounding...Valpo with 12 offensive rebounds leading to 12 more shots than SIU. In general, defense on initial possession was good...playing D for 50-60 seconds is not sustainable. They also struggled missing some wide open shots in the second half (this seems to be a bit of a habit).
Disappointing game, this team really misses Muila.
A lot of comments about player additions or changes, any thoughts on coaching philosophy upgrades?
“The best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores.”
-- Al McGuire
Pardon the interruption, but I am tossing in a few roses among the muck. Congrats to Anthony D'Avanzo on a good game: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists. Oh, wait, he came from a D2 program so there is no way he can be a meaningful contributor. My bad. We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.
@class-of-69 Let me add to your great assessment. First, as tough as yesterday's game was, Southern played just about as good as they can play RIGHT NOW. Valpo was simply better (hats off to them). Second, we are not even two years into the Mullins tenure and all I read is it has already failed (give me a break). Coach is undertaking a complete rebuild of the program, not an overhaul of the previous regime. THIS WILL TAKE TIME AND PATIENCE. Third, we are one of the youngest teams in the NCAA that is playing without two key starters and a depleted bench (what is UNI's excuse?).
I have been around Saluki basketball for a very long time and I cannot honestly point to more than a handful of true FROSH of SOPH who were gamechangers as FROSH or SOPH for Southern. I like the core talent we have (Banks, Kyler, Marcus, Lance, Brown, Verplancken, and Harvey). Add JD and the three recruits, you have a pretty solid 11 with room to add a few more (the athletic transfers many point to).
Finally, of course this rebuild will be tougher when the MVC is getting better and better. Of course it won't easy UNLESS other teams decide to stink up the court in the near future. Everyone needs to keep an eye on the long game and not what happens tomorrow or next week in the STL (Go Southern Go) ! ! !
Go Southern Go ! ! !
We’ll see what happens with DeVries, but he could possibly, maybe, perhaps be another Ben Jacobson...
The only reason I speculate on that is because the Drake athletic department was totally blindsided when Niko Medved left for Colorado St. They really thought Niko was going to be their guy with whom to grow the program, such that Drake really emphasized character and loyalty on that coaching search. It was just as much about the dude as it was the Xs and Os. I remember at DeVries’s presser the AD said something to the effect of, “We weren’t looking for someone who wanted a head coaching job, we were looking for someone who wanted to be the head coach at Drake University.”
We will see in the next four-six weeks whether or not Drake was correct in making that guess.
I actually agree with you here.
however money talks and this dude can build a program
Agree with me all the time and you'll never be wrong. 😎 😆
@class-of-69 Let me add to your great assessment. First, as tough as yesterday's game was, Southern played just about as good as they can play RIGHT NOW. Valpo was simply better (hats off to them). Second, we are not even two years into the Mullins tenure and all I read is it has already failed (give me a break). Coach is undertaking a complete rebuild of the program, not an overhaul of the previous regime. THIS WILL TAKE TIME AND PATIENCE. Third, we are one of the youngest teams in the NCAA that is playing without two key starters and a depleted bench (what is UNI's excuse?).
I have been around Saluki basketball for a very long time and I cannot honestly point to more than a handful of true FROSH of SOPH who were gamechangers as FROSH or SOPH for Southern. I like the core talent we have (Banks, Kyler, Marcus, Lance, Brown, Verplancken, and Harvey). Add JD and the three recruits, you have a pretty solid 11 with room to add a few more (the athletic transfers many point to).
Finally, of course this rebuild will be tougher when the MVC is getting better and better. Of course it won't easy UNLESS other teams decide to stink up the court in the near future. Everyone needs to keep an eye on the long game and not what happens tomorrow or next week in the STL (Go Southern Go) ! ! !
I don't know how great my assessment is, but I have been around since the days of Walt Frazier and have seen the ebb and flow of Saluki talent as have many others on this board. I know we all want immediate success; what D1 program doesn't? But for all the doom and gloom we feel for this unexpectedly lousy season, I think the season has been more cruel in a twisted way to the Drake and Loyola fans than to ours. Imagine having a ranked team and not even be able to attend the games or watch them on TV with little game atmosphere or fan frenzy. Imagine if the same thing had happened during SIU's glory years. These games look like glorified scrimmages. (At the least the players don't have to wear masks on the court!) Yes, both the Bulldogs and the Ramblers are projected to go dancing, but as we know all too well in the MVC, two teams in the tourney is not a guarantee and I would not be surprised if one of them is left crying in the bathroom stall as their spot is taken by some other team. In a way we are more fortunate to use this Covid year and probably the next to build up a solid foundation. I have no idea how Mullins & Co. are holding this group together under these circumstances and all the nuances the Covid year will give players, but I am willing to watch and see him develop to be as good a coach as he was a player.
Speaking of rebuilding it took Porter Moser 2 years in the Horizon League and 3 in the valley before he caught lightning in a bottle his 4th year in the valley that established the program to what it is today so let us chill and let the staff continue to grow
Speaking of rebuilding it took Porter Moser 2 years in the Horizon League and 3 in the valley before he caught lightning in a bottle his 4th year in the valley that established the program to what it is today so let us chill and let the staff continue to grow
Oh come on, SIU isn't close to the same situation as Loyola. Yeah Mullins had to undergo a full rebuild because Hucky left the cupboard bare besides Lance Jones but Hinson also had them competing in the Valley (poorly, granted). Loyola was nothing for decades before Moser got there.
One game at a time, one day at a time. as Class of 69 says I also have been around quite a while, 69/70 was my freshman year at SIU, I guess being old probably gives me a little more patience. The constant analyzation of the players individually and the coaching as well tends to get a little tedious. I just wonder how many of our expert analysts played at the high school or collegiate level? I actually did start on my high school team. It was a small farm town school but it was still high school bball. Wasn't good enough to play college but did play intramurals in the greek league at siu. I also have coached at the high school level (and AAU) including being an assistance varsity and jv head coach on a private school team that won a state championship with two players that went to DI schools and started, one was the son of an NBA and College hall of famer and played in the Big 10.
Everyone's opinion is valid from their own viewpoint. Just don't expect everyone to agree with you and please don't bark at people that don't just because they don't see things the same way you do. I said in one thread at the beginning of this season that everything would be all right and almost got my head bit off. I enjoy reading a lot of what is on here, and I am a die hard Saluki fan and have been since my first day there. I will continue to back the teams, hope for the best, appreciate the efforts these players are giving and think the future with this coaching staff is very bright in what is a pretty competitive MVC, more so that it has been for while.
Just the ramblings of an old man.....
