DawgBlog

Lukewarm crowd here at the SIU Arena, in preparation for the Salukis’ official season opener against Tennessee-Martin.
Should be a good one. SIU has to rebound better, and should get a big lift in that department from the premiere of junior forward Carlton Fay. I also expect Nick Evans, Anthony Booker and Gene Teague to have big games against a pretty small Skyhawks squad.
UTM is expected to start 6-foot-5 and 6-7 forwards, respectively, with three guards. Booker and Teague have really looked good in practice this week. Evans has looked good, too, I’d just like to see him play more aggressively. He needs a mean streak and he needs to be like Teague: try to dunk everything you get near the basket.
It will be Booker’s first career start tonight. He could have a monster year, beginning tonight.
The difference for SIU is at the defensive end, if it’s to reverse this downward trend they’ve hit since I took over the beat. I took over two Januarys ago, broke the NCAA tournament streak. Last year the Salukis missed the postseason for the first time in a while.
I’m due for some better look this season.

Keep those seat cushions handy, folks. SIU’s football team might be back for another McAndrew Stadium sendoff in a few days.
The top-ranked Salukis (9-1, 8-0 Missouri Valley Football Conference) rallied to beat Missouri State 44-24 today at the Mac’s last regular-season home game. With a win at 2-8 Southeast Missouri State this coming weekend, SIU can probably punch a ticket for a first-round home game in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
The Bears (6-5, 4-4) actually scored first Saturday, and in unordinary fashion against SIU. Chris Douglas broke a tackle near the line of scrimmage and bolted past everyone for a 65-yard touchdown on MSU’s opening drive. It was the longest run from scrimmage the Salukis have allowed this season, and just the fourth rushing touchdown the Dawgs had given up.
MSU added a 7-yard run from Miguel Warren long after the game was decided.
Deji Karim had another big day, rushing for 117 yards, and the defense stepped it up even a bit more. The Salukis intercepted three passes, tying the 2007 group with their 21st, and took two of them to the house. SIU also recovered two Bears fumbles in the win.
Now it’s on to Cape Girardeau for the regular-season finale at 1 p.m.

I stopped taking notes after Deji Karim’s third touchdown of the game, folks. I gotta rest up for the basketball game tonight.
Top-ranked SIU (8-1, 7-0 Missouri Valley Football Conference) gave up its longest rushing play of the season on Missouri State’s opening drive, but responded with 34 straight points. Chris Douglas became just the fourth guy to run for a touchdown against SIU this season when he bolted 65 yards on the opening drive of the game. Someone missed a tackle near the line of scrimmage, and Douglas just broke free.
SIU went right down the field on its first drive to answer. Paul McIntosh converted a third-and-eight with a 57-yard pass over the middle to Joe Allaria to keep the drive alive. Allaria got caught from behind, but set up the first of three Karim scores. The fifth-year senior, one of 24 seniors that were honored prior to the game, scored from seven, three and 73 yards out.
Karim has 119 yards on 12 carries, and still has a half to go. I imagine coach Dale Lennon will play him the first couple drives, and when SIU gets up by 30 or so in the second half, will pull him.
The defense has forced four turnovers, two picks and two fumble recoveries, and scored on one of them. Chauncey Mixon and another defender got to MSU quarterback Cody Kirby, forcing him to throw a little quicker than he wanted to. He threw it right to SIU cornerback Brandon Williams, who turned it upfield 34 yards for the touchdown.
SIU scored 27 points in less than eight minutes to take control, and will get the second-half kickoff.

Close the deal. That’s SIU’s football team’s goal today. It doesn’t have to be pretty, although I expect it to be, but the Salukis just have to survive today.
Montana was hopped in one poll and took over the top ranking by beating a winless team on a last-second field goal. SIU shouldn’t need that today, and should take care of the Bears pretty handily.
While Missouri State has a pretty formidable passing game, SIU has been extremely consistent the last five weeks: take the lead, run the ball, and ride out the lead.
The Saluki defense has intercepted at least one pass 10 straight games entering today, and Bears quarterback Cody Kirby has more picks (13) than six (11) this year. Look for SIU to add to his total, but, be aware. Kirby will probably complete some passes for some significant yardage, 200-250, but if MSU can’t run the ball, it can’t win today.
SIU simply has too much to play for to pick against today, and coach Dale Lennon has been just as steady as a warship captain through the big games. He’s treated every victory - whether it be over Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, or at Macomb - with grace and dignity. His team has taken that identity, and hasn’t appeared to look past anyone this season. Look for SIU to throw a little outside the box at the Bears (reverses, flea-flickers, play-action passes, and some called quarterback keepers out of the shotgun) to keep them on their toes.

Wide receiver Jeff Evans, who was nursing a torn meniscus in his right knee earlier this week, is not dressed for today’s game and will probably not play.
Evans has 17 catches for 314 yards and three touchdowns this season. His three scores are second only to Joe Allaria’s four. His only catch against South Dakota State last weekend was that 40-yarder in the corner of the end zone for the touchdown.
That means Matt Guinn could get his first start of the season. He doesn’t have a catch this season. I imagine Marc Cheatham, who had the game-winning touchdown against Missouri State last year, will get a few more looks today. He’s a guy who I’ve just been waiting to go off this year, and he just hasn’t. He’s a big target, has pretty good speed, and is a pretty confident guy.

SIU opened the regular season with a 71-45 road loss to SLU on Friday, in a game that saw SIU coach Missy Tiber make headlines - and not in the good way.

The Good:

After a disastrous first half, SIU committed only one turnover in the second half and outscored SLU 34-33. The Salukis shot much better overall through the final 20 minutes and put three players (Eboni Crayton, Katrina Swingler and Teri Oliver) in double figures with 10 points each. Point guard Stephany Neptune missed her second-straight double-double by two points by finishing with 8 points and 12 rebounds.

Olivia Lett also returned to the court after being out of practice all week because of the flu. She played nine minutes and was held scoreless.

The Bad:

SIU committed 17 turnovers in the first half and shot just 16 percent (4-25) from the field. Beyond the arc, the Salukis were 1-of-9 and also went 2-for-5 at the free-throw line. SIU also lost its 11th straight road game, which dates back to a 69-68 win over Central Arkansas on Dec. 16, 2008.

The Ugly:

SIU scored only 11 points in the first half, the lowest one-half total in program history. SLU had a 32-8 lead with 2:18 left before halftime and shot 57.7 percent (15-26) in the first 20 minutes.

Up Next:

Tiber has little precious time to get ready for No. 20/22 Vanderbilt on Wednesday, as SIU has its home opener on Camper Reunion Day at SIU Arena.

“Are you ready for Salukiiiiiiiiiiiiii basketball?!!!!”
Love that sound. And it’s finally here, folks. I’ve been out with football the last two weeks (both wins, thank you very much), but it’s back to the hardwood tonight after a few hours with Missouri State and your SIU football team. Love basketball season. Can’t wait to see the guys I watch in practice every day try to orchestrate the beginning of a turnaround tonight.
Tennessee-Martin is the opponent tonight at 7:05 at SIU Arena. The Skyhawks finished 22-10 and 14-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference with current Boston Celtic guard Lester Hudson. Hudson became the first player in NCAA history to record a quadruple-double (25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals) against Central Baptist on Nov. 13, 2007. Hudson averaged around 27 points per game last year, and the Skyhawks, obviously, face some very big questions entering tonight’s season opener for both teams.
They appear to have a pretty good point guard in Delrico Lane, who had 10 assists in UTM’s only exhibition game, a whoopin’ against a Division III school. Junior Reuben Clayton provided the scoring punch against Rhodes College, as he went for 33 points, six steals, five boards and four assists. He had five double-digit scoring games last season.
UTM is small, so look for SIU’s big men to have a good day. Carlton Fay will make his season debut tonight after serving a two-game suspension for violating team rules, and Anthony Booker and Gene Teague could have big games. Nick Evans has looked OK in practice this week. I’ll tell you this - I don’t know how Teague will do running the floor this season, but he’s the first guy in a long time who really looks like he wants to dunk the ball every time he gets it. SIU hasn’t had somebody like that for awhile. Evans is big enough, he just doesn’t seem to be aggressive enough, or strong enough, to play that way. Hopefully someday this season he will be.
First-year UTM coach Jason James is the second-youngest coach in the country in Division I men’s basketball, as he just turned 32 in October. He was an assistant for the previous eight seasons and helped UTM to its first OVC title. Tonight, he hopes to lead the Skyhawks to their first win over the Salukis in six tries.
SIU has won 10 straight openers. Saluki coach Chris Lowery is 5-0 in openers.
“We’re not going to play 12. We’re probably going to play 10,” Lowery said. “It all depends on how they play, how hard they play. But I think we have good depth, and I think we’re going to be able to really play longer without our starters in. That’s the good news for this team, is we’re going to play extended minutes with some of our guys off the bench.”
At Friday’s practice, SIU’s second group looked the best. It was with Carlton Fay, junior college transfers Jack Crowder and John Freeman, Gene Teague and freshman point guard Kendal Brown-Surles. They shared the basketball, were patient, and hit a couple shots in a row against the black jerseys, which had four of today’s expected starters. Maybe Lowery can play 10.
We’ll see. Hope to see you at Super Duper Saluki Saturday. Big day.

Prior to Monday’s event with Coaches vs. Cancer, I had a chance to speak with Illinois coach and former SIU leader Bruce Weber. Weber went 103-54 in Carbondale, helping the Salukis reach the NCAA tournament twice.
Here’s what he said about the outlook this season with his young guys.
“Our young kids are pretty talented. We knew that coming in,” Weber said. “My big thing is our juniors are the majority of our team. On our poster it says ‘Rise up,’ and we’re trying to get ‘em to take another step. We can’t depend on the freshmen. We have to depend on our upperclassmen if we’re going to be really good, if we’re going to be a top 25 team. The freshmen can have their moments, but if they have to carry us then I’m really worried.”
Of course, freshman Brandon Paul had a team-best 29 points tonight to lead the Illini past SIU-Edwardsville 96-69, but three others had double figures. Good sign.
Weber sat with Lowery and his family, and still seemed to have good memories of his time down south.
“For me to come back, great friends, great memories, and then a great cause for Coaches vs. Cancer,” he said. “Chris and I are very close, and we talk all the time. We talked about doing it last year, we just couldn’t find a date.
“You both have to have the same days off.”
Hopefully, the two can find a date next year around this time to have the event. Promoters talked about having it at a bigger venue, as in the infield, which was originally discussed. I’m not sure that would be the best place, because it usually is a little colder than 65 degrees in November. But it would make it an even more unique event. I’ll say that. Weber said that he and Matt Painter, the former Saluki coach who is now at Purdue, usually invites someone else different every year to keep things interesting. Maybe they could invite Stephen Bardo, who now covers a lot of Illini games but is originally from Carbondale.
Whoever it is, both parties are already looking for a date next year.
“We’re still in the state of Illinois. I don’t think we do a great job of promoting our athletic program all the way throughout the state,” Weber said. “We’re usually up north. I try to make my way down this way as much as possible. We’re hoping this is something that stays around all the time.”
Said Lowery, “We’re going to look at doing this every single year just because it’s such a great cause.”

Had a great time at Monday night’s fundraiser for Coaches vs. Cancer that was hosted by the Southern Illinois Miners, Chris Lowery and Bruce Weber.
Because I gave the event some pub, one of the promoters, Kay Dozier, said she had a seat for me to hang out, but my father-in-law had a table, too, so I sat with the fam minus my 11-month-old daughter. She missed a good speech, and not only from Lowery, SIU’s men’s basketball coach, and Weber, Illinois’ head man. Assistant coach Brad Korn opened up publicly about his bout with cancer before Weber and Lowery got up to the podium, and was very poignant.
“It’s made me realize what is big in the big picture,” Korn said. “I love my wife more than I ever have before. I never really understood what true value, and true times spent with family and loved ones meant, until you hear that word. Until you know what it means when that all can be taken away.”
Korn got a nice ovation when his 6-minute or so long speech was concluded at Rent One Park’s banquet room. The event was sold out, which was nice to see. With Weber and Lowery, two old friends, you could see why.
Joking about someday playing each other, Weber said “If you want to, next year, you can come to Champaign.” Then people started asking if Illinois would be willing to drive down to the arena and play the Salukis on their own floor.
“What about next year?!!!” someone, I think it was Mike Reis, asked.
“You can come back to Champaign!” Weber said.
It was funny, but, people want to see them get together. Chicago seems to be a great idea, even though it’s quite far from Carbondale, but there are a lot of alumns in the Chicago area. A lot would drive up, because it’s such a great town. Would it fill the United Center? Doubt it. One of Chicago’s other arenas? Maybe.
A home and home would be nice, of course, although I think SIU wanted to play two years ago. The Salukis probably would have beaten Illinois then.

The Southern Illinois women held their final practice prior to Friday’s season opener at St. Louis, although the team will have a shootaround at 1 p.m. at SIU Arena before getting on the bus.

Nneka Nwani, Stephany Neptune, Katrina Swingler, Eboni Crayton and Katie Wagner/Teri Oliver are the projected starters against the Billikens, with Wagner and Oliver being an either-or choice.

The Salukis worked on their transition game, defensive assignments, layups and guard drills Thursday, and won a five-minute scrimmage with the Grey Team at the end of practice. Head coach Missy Tiber also quizzed the team on the playing habits of some of the Billikens’ top players.

Injury Report: Katerina Garcia (leg), Renee Reed (knee), Adrianne Griffith (knee), Christine Presswood (eye) and Olivia Lett (flu) are all expected to miss Friday’s game. Garcia is about three weeks away from returning, but was riding the bike and doing some light jogging at practice. Presswood has had surgery for her eye injury and is expected to miss about a week, according to coach Tiber, and will return with a mask as well. That would mean she would also miss Wednesday’s game against No. 20/22 Vanderbilt at SIU Arena.

Lett’s on-again, off-again fever has kept her out of practice and no word on when she would be able to rejoin her teammates. My guess is that until she’s symptom-free for at least 48 hours, we won’t be seeing her on the hardwood. Griffith and Reed have already been declared as out for the season with ACL injuries.