Usually, I roll my eyes. And maybe I shouldn't. I'm the guy who wants to launch Lovie Smith and the rest of his remaining staff into the stratosphere as soon as possible. That analogy got me thinking that might be the reason SIU shouldn't fire Lowery. Other than the fact that he has four years remaining on a deal worth $750,000 per season.
After each loss by my beloved Bears, you didn't need the most savvy NFL expert to tell you whatever Chicago's football team was running wasn't working. I know 8-year-old children who have questioned Ron Turner's playcalling.
Nothing is more damning to an offensive coordinator than having to hear a youngster ask, "Why do they keep doing that?" after the 3,756th failed attempt at a bubble screen.
But it is when the Bears win, and the common fan (as well as the seasoned expert) can find holes in the game plan. And I spend my afternoon celebrating a meaningless victory against the Lions, who couldn't stop a bubble screen if Jay Cutler handed the ball off to a defender in the Maui blue uniforms, then there is a problem.
Now that I think about it, maybe a more apt analogy would be how I feel about Vinny Del Negro. No. I just think he's bad. Well, I just wasted a few precious moments of your time. The Bulls should fire Vinny Del Negro. He had never been a coach at any level. To my knowledge, he has never even managed a Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball team. That could possibly explain why he doesn't know when to put in his best players. I hate when I forget to update my rosters daily.
I digress.
In either case, I don't get that feeling when I watch SIU lose games. Even in last night's debacle, the Saluki defense performed quite well in regard to points allowed (61) and field goal percentage (26 percent in the second half, 38 for the entire game) but its offense was brutal.
Saluki guards staggered throughout the motion offense and looked lost at times, especially in the opening minutes with sophomore guard Kevin Dillard sidelined for an infraction of team rules. The sharp cuts fans saw during the team's recent six-game winning streak turned into sloppy attempts at getting open. That turned into turnovers, which turned into Northern Iowa points.
Like Lowery said in the post game, "You don't win six games in a row if you don't have a good team."
SIU still has a good team. Senior guard Tony Freeman, busted nose and all, is still on board looking to make his senior season a memorable one. Junior forward Carlton Fay is still posted on the block or on the perimeter, it's not as if he's going anywhere anytime soon. And the core of young guards that people have fallen in love with, guys like Justin Bocot, Kendal Brown-Surles and John Freeman are still sporting the maroon and white.
Heck, even Anthony Booker has broke free from his early-season slumber to be a very productive sixth man for SIU.
Last night's loss was more of a lack of execution rather than game planning, in my humble opinion. When SIU had fast break opportunities, they were quick to turn it over. Ball movement was non-existent throughout the match-up and defensive rotations were slow to get around to the shooters.
Some would call it an off night.
Personally, I'm not sure what to call it.
After winning six straight games and starting the season 9-2, including back-to-back wins to start the conference season, SIU has lost two straight to the two teams I thought would be at the top of the Valley standings all year long.
The alma mater currently sits at 9-4 (2-2 MVC) through 13 games. A year ago today, SIU improved its record to 6-9 (1-3 MVC) with a 74-62 win at Wichita State. Freshman Ryan Hare led the way with 18 points.
The Salukis finished with only 13 wins that season in the school's first losing season since the end of the Rich Herrin Era. With 16 games to go in the regular season, Southern would have to go 4-12 down the stretch to match that 13-win mark. This team is too good to that.
But if for some reason this team losses 12 of its final 16 games, then you could start asking to push coach off the Pulliam Clock Tower. On the flip side, if SIU goes 12-4 down the stretch, giving SIU a 21-win campaign going into the conference tournament, I'm sure my inbox will be filled with "I don't want a BCS school to scoop up our coach again" e-mails.
It's the ying and the yang that makes analyzing college hoops fun for yours truly.
Until then, relax. Or don't. Keep firing away those e-mails, calling in talk shows and lighting up message boards. I doubt that a university so strapped for cash would be willing to pay for two coaches, especially when one will be making $750,000 to not coach the team.
In the end, there's plenty of basketball to be played, and hopefully, plenty more victories for the Egyptian Hunting Dawgs.
4 comments:
Chris Lowery is an assistant coach not a head coach. He can get the players there, but cant do anything when they get there. He was handed a great team, and took them to a sweet sixteen, which could have been a elite 8 or final four team. Has done nothing since. The last two years have been a joke. I don't even want to talk about them. This year we are 9-4. Good, except for that the fact we good strong victories against who? San Diego, Tenn Marting, SEMO, Alabama St, San Fran....seriously? We won six in a row...wow against good some good competition. We struggled against some of them too. We will be lucky to come out at.500 I really dont know why people dont opened there eyes and realize that SIU Basketball isnt the same and paying for Lowery was a joke.
"You don't win six games in a row if you don't have a good team."
Actually, you can if you have a strength of schedule in the mid 300s.
Other than that though, agree with the post.
Well, after the Drake debacle, how's your inbox looking lately? Better yet, with the Wainwright firing at DePaul, would the Blue Demon higher ups consider taking Lowery off of our hands? Please? We'll even throw in Irvin too, for free!
Another agonizing loss to Bradley. Carbondale used to be death valley of the Missouri Valley, now teams can practically chalk up a win on the bus ride down....time to change.
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