CARBONDALE - Tony Freeman said he still has a lot to learn at Monday's Southern Illinois University men's basketball media day.

One of four seniors on this year's roster, the Iowa transfer will try to help the Salukis in relative obscurity. Fittingly, he was not featured on the 2008-09 media guide cover like the other seniors, tri-captains Bryan Mullins, Wesley Clemmons and Tony Boyle. Freeman will only be able to help SIU in practice, as he sits out the season per NCAA regulations.

"Some people may look at it as a positive, and as a negative," Freeman said. "I look at it, mostly, as a positive, only because I get to practice and get better without actually playing, you know, on a big stage. I only get to get myself better, and the team better, for next year."

The 21-year-old St. Joseph High School graduate didn't ask for his situation, a senior all of a sudden in new digs after playing three years in the Big Ten. Freeman transferred shortly after Iowa coach Todd Lickliter's first season concluded with the worst record in Hawkeye history. Freeman led Iowa in scoring at 13.8 points per game, and could give SIU yet another formidable backcourt player after Mullins and Clemmons are gone.

Freeman and junior forward Christian Cornelius could be the Salukis' only seniors next season.

Until then, he hopes to help one of the youngest teams in the Missouri Valley Conference from behind the scenes.

"People respect the fact where I came from, and I'm not trying to bully anybody or trying to be an authority or a leader," Freeman said. "I'm just trying to share what I have and I'm open to listening and taking away what other guys do. I'm trying to take some in, too."

SIU finished 18-15 last season, reaching the second round of the NIT. The Salukis missed the NCAA tournament for the first time in seven seasons, but return three players that started at least one game.

SIU coach Chris Lowery signed, arguably, the best recruiting class in decades to go along with five returnees.

Sophomore Justin Bocot, a lefty who was one of the highest-recruited players in Illinois his senior year of high school, sat out last year because of academic struggles but could get a fourth year if he's on track to graduate later. Redshirt freshman Nick Evans, a 6-foot-11, 250-pound center, practiced with the team all last season and could give the Salukis a big post presence.

Freshmen Kevin Dillard, Torres Roundtree, Anthony Booker and Ryan Hare make up the strength of the class.

Dillard, a Homewood-Flossmoor standout, became the first Mr. Basketball of Illinois to ever sign with the Salukis last year. Roundtree, a 6-4 guard/forward, and Booker, a 6-8 forward, teamed at McCluer North (Mo.) High School for a state championship and a runner-up finish in their final two seasons. Hare may turn out to be the best of all of them.

At 6-4, 200 pounds, the Chicago Marshall standout averaged 18.1 points and seven rebounds per game to help the Commandos win the Class 3A state title in March. With the size of ball-hawk Tyrone Green, Hare could give SIU not just another scorer, but another big-bodied defender to go with Mullins, the Valley's Defensive Player of the Year last year.

SIU officially begins practice Friday night at Maroon Madness. The Salukis open with home exhibitions against Div. II schools Missouri Southern Nov. 3 and Southwest Baptist Nov. 6. SIU opens the regular season against California of Pa., another Div. II school, in the first round of the 2K Sports Classic Nov. 11 at SIU Arena.

Lowery said he liked the competition for minutes his squad has already begun going through.

"We have to show how competitive we are throughout the whole game again," he said. "We are inexperienced, but the fact that we do have so many guys that want to be on the floor, that's a huge change from last year. We have a lot of guys that want to be out there, and that's a big moment."

todd.hefferman@thesouthern.com / 351-5087