Salukis Take A 'Seat' In FCS Playoffs

The Southern Illinois Salukis football team ended the season No. 1 in the rankings and No. 1 in your hearts.

So, how did Southern end up No. 3 in the Football Championship Subdivision Playoff (yes, I said college football playoff) seedings?

Beats the heck out of me.

Certainly Saturday's win against SEMO didn't help.  Wait.  A win didn't help?  Not when that team enters the season 2-8, and is only beaten 42-24.  I hoped whatever playoff selection committee existed was not watching Saturday's sluggish effort put forth by Southern.  Apparently they were, and even though that win was not indicitive of the Salukis' entire body of work, it might have played a part in where SIU would be seeded for the playoffs.

Another factor working against the Salukis was Northern Iowa's loss to Illinois State.  The Redbirds win did not just knock the Panthers out of the playoffs, it weakened what looked like SIU's biggest win -- a road "W" in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  The Missouri Valley Football Conference will only get two teams in the playoffs as South Dakota State will also represent The Valley.

While many will have their say (read: fans are pissed) about the decision made by the NCAA, and its terrible production of its Selection Show on ESPN, none of it will matter when Weber State Eastern Illinois comes into McAndrew Stadium on Nov. 28th.

No matter where the Salukis were going to be seeded, the team looked to be motivated headed into the playoffs with something to prove as it seems as if the Dawgs have been on a mission since the season started.  Should Southern feel slighted?  Sure.  But they won't be.  Head coach Dale Lennon won't allow it.

And really, the last thing the rest of the FCS needed was a motivated Saluki group with another chip on their shoulders.

(Screen grab via, HT: @bfeldt)

Lowery, Weber Need To Make Things Work

See what I did there?  Went with the throwback Bruce Weber pic of when he once upon a time coached the Saluki men's basketball team.

Bruce should remember what it was like being the low-man on the totem poll.  Which is why I'm surprised he refuses to schedule a home-and-home with SIU.

Weber cites travel costs for not playing Southern, or any of Illinois' in-state rivals on their home turf.  I cite that he is taking his playcalls from AD Ron Guenther.  Trust me, I know it is not much of a burden to drive down I-57 from Champagne-Urbana to Carbondale.  I used the Olympian Dr. pit stop all the time.  (Mobile-Dairy Queen FTW!)

And I am really sick of hearing coaches say it's a no-win situation for us in regard to playing a team such as SIU.  (By the way: If playing SIU is a no-win situation, why did Guenther schedule the Saluki football team to play the Illini.  In college football, a loss to a FCS team hurts more than it would in college basketball.  See: Appalachian State v. Michigan.  Just saying.)  When Southern was winning upward of 20 games a year, Valley titles and NCAA Tournament games, a win against the Salukis, whose RPI was always in the upper echelon of college basketball, would have been worth the drive to Carbondale.  Bruce knows that if he played a game in Carbondale, it would not only be good for his team -- to possibly get a quality win on the road without having to extend the budget too far -- but for his former school as well.  If the game was played on a Saturday night, SIU would get a huge revenue boom.  So would the businesses of the southern Illinois region.

Heck, this could be the game that helps saves southern Illinois' budget woes.  I kid, of course, but not when it comes to the game itself.

The funny thing is that Lowery is not innocent in this at all.  (I know, me criticizing CL? Shocker, huh?)  I was never able to confirm this rumor with a SIU official, but it was passed across my desk back when I was on campus (and I know it crossed the airwaves of others as well) that North Carolina offered Southern a 3-for-1 that would have covered the Tatum-Young sophomore, junior and senior years, along with the Falker-Shaw senior season.  Lowery isn't big on 2-for-1s.  No one in the athletic department is, so I'm not surprised it was shot down (assuming it was ever offered, of course) by the Salukis.

But at what point do you accept a 2-for-1 for the good of the program?  I mean, the notoriety of playing an elite BCS school has got to be worth something to recruits.  Lowery said he prided himself on playing some of college basketball's best teams and that it was attractive to recruits.

Don't believe me.  Don't forget about where I came from?

(Chris) Lowery said playing against one of college basketball's elite programs on the nation's biggest stage won't faze the Salukis, no matter how exciting the experience may become.

Lowery said the players are embracing the opportunity because they expected to play quality opponents when they signed on with SIU.

"This is why we recruited them; we said we're going to play the best teams. That's why we attracted these kids because those are promises we can make," Lowery said.

I wonder if there is a point where Lowery and AD Mario Moccia come out with guns blazin' saying "We'll play anybody, anywhere, any time."

Southern significantly scaled back its non-conference schedule, even though it features two trips to Las Vegas.  Rumor has it that UCLA offered SIU a one-and-done game to travel to the West coast.  I would have accepted it in a heartbeat if I knew UCLA would fall to Cal State Fullerton (and assuming SIU doesn't have to make two trips out west already.)

So, to keep the budgets online and to keep the Chicago alumni base (which includes yours truly) happy, here are some games I believe the Salukis should try to find a way to schedule.

Yeah coach, we're going thattaway!

1. DePaul.  This could make for an interesting home-and-home series.  For SIU, it would provide the chance to say it knocked off a Big East team ... kind of like when the football team defeated a woeful Indiana team for its victory against a Big Ten opponents.  On the other hand, the Blue Demons would square off against a team closer to its talent level while also preparing for a "punch-you-in-the-mouth" kind of game.

2.  Northwestern.  Alright, so one Big Ten team in this state won't play you.  How about going up toward the Chicagoland area and play Northwestern.  For the Wildcats, playing SIU would in a way mimic a brutal, sluggish Big Ten game without actually having to play a conference game.  The Salukis would then have a chance to appeal to their Chicago audience while also getting a chance to play a Big Ten opponent with an unorthodox style.

3.  The Illinois Invitational starring Southern Illinois, Northern Illinois, Eastern Illinois, Western Illinois, Bradley, Illinois State, Loyola-Chicago and Illinois-Chicago.  There is a part of me that thinks the alumni base for each of these universities in Chicago is big enough to get this tournament to be played at the United Center.  But for argument's sake, we'll play it at the Rosemont Horizon, which some of you know it as the AllState Arena, which is a stone's throw from O'Hare Airport.  (I mean it.  If you gave Ichiro or Vlad a baseball, they could probably hit the building from an O'Hare tarmac.) 

As for the tournament itself, you could pit SIU, UIC, NIU and EIU on one side Illinois State, Bradley, WIU, Loyola on the other side.  It would be difficult to get this one to go because I'm sure SIU, ISU and Bradley do not want to face each other three times (possibly four times if you count the MVC Tournament) in a year.  But putting Jim Les' Blago hair-led team on one side and the Fighting Osiris' on the other side of a bracket could mean a prime-time match-up of one of the state's most intense college basketball rivalries.

4.  Just play the Illini already.  If I was in power at SIU (and Lord willing, maybe someday I will be) this would be my pitch to the U of I.  We'll use the upcoming hoops season as a hypothetical situation.

• One game at Assembly Hall (2010)
  
• One game at the United Center in Chicago (2011)
• One game in Saint Louis (2012)

Who's the loser in this situation.  Illinois would get its home game on campus.  SIU gets the exposure it wants in Chicago.  The neutral court game in St. Louis could attract another set of alumni, along with some Illinoisans who see the The Lou as a much more affordable travel destination.

Notice I left off a game at SIU Arena.  Here's the catch.  I would pitch to Guenther (or whoever was involved) what baseball people would call a vesting option for a game in Carbondale.  meaning, if you hit X in attendance numbers of the first three games, the option to play at SIU is automatically picked up.  If the attendance numbers don't add up, the game doesn't happen.

Plain and simple no?

Comments in the section area, please.  We've been lacking there thus far.  But we appreciate you commenting on Facebook and Twitter.

Dawgs Drop 91 In Opener? Who Are These Guys?

For those of you who are unaware, the Saluki is a breed of Egyptian hunting dog.  Hah.  Tell that to the University of Tennessee-Martin men's basketball team. 

For 40 minutes, Southern Illinois University's men's basketball team played like attack dogs as it scored 90 points for the first time since the 2003-04 season as the Salukis beat the Skyhawks 91-63.

Matt Painter's Salukis (who went 17-1 vs. MVC foes in his lone year at the helm) hung 93 in a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament game against Evansville.  The last time Southern had put at least 90 on the scoreboard in a regular season game was against Drake earlier that season as the Dawgs dominated Drake, 96-76.

I don't expect the Salukis to score 90 every night, neither does head coach Chris Lowery, however, Southern's offense should be much improved from last season.  In fact, it might be the most talented offensive unit Lowery has had since taking over at his alma mater following Painter.

SIU showed its depth as eight different players scratched the scoring column, and five players hit the double-figure scoring mark.  Southern's starting guards (Kevin Dillard, Tony Freeman and Justin Bocot) combined to score 33 points.  Dillard had 14, Freeman added 10 and Bocot finished with nine.  Off the bench, the guards were aided by 12 points off the bench by freshman Kendal Brown-Surles, and seven more each from Jack Crowder and swingman John Freeman.

Because of their abundance of guards, Southern should be significantly better.

Then there's junior Carlton Fay, who came off the bench to score 18 points in 15 minutes.  There's only one ball on the court, but there are eight guys who could score double figures on any given night.  That number climbs to 10 if Nick Evans and Eugene Teague go nutso on the offensive boards.

So, what sparked the balanced effort?  Well, that was a question posed last night to the coach.

"It comes from our patience. I thought we were much more patient and really tried to ball control and go inside more," Lowery said in his post game press conference. "I like my team because they don't understand why I'm so hard on them. But if we keep playing and practicing hard, then good things will happen for us."

So, maybe SIU's aggressive practices are translating to aggressive play on the court.  The Salukis shot 30 free throws last night, sinking 21 of them.  Lowery said he was happy with the team shooting at a 70 percent clip and set a team goal to shoot 30 free throws per game, and while UT-Martin shot upward of 30 free throws, the coach had an explantation on why they failed to be as successful as Southern's shooters.

"We fouled them too but we wore them down physically, so when they were getting to the line they were very tired," Lowery explained. He would then go into how wearing down an opponent could help spark some future Saluki offense. "It shows that we're slowly starting to get how i want to play defense back. Once we figure out some more things and continue to learn about positioning defensively, we'll turn those turnovers into points more."

Where have we heard this before?  Better yet, where have see seen this before?  SIU's defense has been so good at forcing turnovers over the years, but everyone always wonders why the team rarely attempts to capitalize on its opponents mistakes via the fast break.  Those days might be behind us as this year's Southern squad features enough ball handlers to push the break and enough big men willing to run.

As much as we've heard about style changes with this team, maybe it is the change in the kind of personnel that might prove to be the biggest difference in Saluki Basketball this season.

Though we're only one game in, I like what I have seen thus far.  I also like what I hear, too.  Especially from sophomore forward Anthony Booker after being asked how he felt after getting a win that counts his belt.

"Every game counts for me. Whether it's exhibition or regular season or not.  Even though they don't count for stats, they measure how well we do as a team," Booker said. "Every game counts, but it's also good to get that first "W" to show the SIU fans that we mean business and that we're getting back to defense."

I'm not sure that Southern Illinois can score 91 points per game this season, but I do know if its "D" can turn into "O" the Salukis will rack up a lot of "Ws" this season.

Pack The Mac -- No Excuses

It will be a beautiful day in Carbondale, Ill., according to our good friends at the Weather Whannel.  It's Nov. 14, and you couldn't ask for a better day to be at a football game.

That's right a football game.

It's a football game that will feature the No. 1 team in the country ... On its Senior Day ... In what will be the last game at creaky, old McAndrew Stadium.

So, there is no excuse to not be at today's game if you are in the southern Illinois region.  And if you are on the Carbondale campus, you have absolutely no excuse.  None.  I don't want to hear about papers you have due on Monday.  Quizzes you have to study for.  Swine flu you need to get an injection for.  No excuses means no excuses.

Been there, done that, got the degree.  And I went to the football games, too.

I do not care if you are scheduled to go out on a date with seven Playboy Playmates.  Bring 'em to the game.  How often can you say you had a chance to see the top team in the country -- in any sport.  I do not care for those of you who will dismiss the game because it is a FCS/Division I-AA game.  Division I football is Division I football.

Walter Payton and Jerry Rice each played at the I-AA level ... and they are the greatest players to ever play at their positions.  What?  Would you rather watch Notre Dame get smoked by Dave Wannstedt's mustache?  How about another disappointing effort by the Michigan Wolverines?  Is a SEC smackdown on your schedule today?

Probably not.  Again, there is no reason to not be at this game.

If you do not want to stick around for the Saluki asketball game at 7 p.m., I'll let you slide.  I understand that it is hard for some to get hyped by a non-conference game with Tennessee-Martin.  But when you've got a game of this magnitude, how can you not be there.

Did I mention Deji Karim is going to try to lock up a Player of the Year award?  The total package running back has gained 1,240 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns in his breakout senior season.

How could you not want to be at this game and support this kind of player?

Saluki Nation, show some pride and grit.  Get your tails out to McAndrew Stadium.

Pigskin Pimpin On A Sunday

Your weekly installment of football stuff and gratuitous cheerleader photos after the jump ... has been replaced for this week.

Alright, so I hope no one minds that your weekly blog of cheerleader pictures has been replaced by Walter Payton.

The former Chicago Bears great died 10 years ago today.  I'll never forget the day for as long as I live.  I was a youngster in Chicago who had walked off the school bus, ready to tell my family about my day at school -- specifically -- the candy I acquired in class seeing it was the day after Halloween.

But the smile on my face quickly disappeared when I learned Sweetness had died.  Payton looked sickly for a while, but didn't make his liver ailment public until after Chicago broadcaster Mark Giangreco said Payton looked like Ghandi.  Payton made it public to save his family the ridicule of tasteless jokes like that.

It was typical Payton.  he didn't want the public to pity him.  He just wanted to live his life with his family as long as he could.  more than the greatest running back of all time, Payton worked hard on and off the field.  He did a lot for local charities and causes.  He will go down as one of Chicago's greatest athletes, but really, he will go down as one of Chicago's greatest citizens.

His presence in Chicago is missed.

So, what's the bigger headline going into today's Bears-Browns game.  Is it Tommie Harris' return after being a healthy scratch last week against the Bengals?  Possibly.  When healthy, Harris has been a Pro Bowl caliber defensive tackle.  And even though he hasn't been good this year, his presence in the line-up still demands a double team.  But unlike previous years, Harris has been unable to shed the double team.  Still, the other 10 defenders (especially someone on the D-Line) should be able to get theirs since one of their own is being tag teamed.

Or is the bigger headline the health of Jay Cutler?  OK, so JC6 is completely healthy, but this Bears offense isn't.  In wins, Cutler has thrown 7 TDs against 1 INT.  He only averages 208 yards per game and 6.7 yards per attempt in wins, but his passer rating is a solid 109.8 and his completion percentage is 71 percent.  However, when the Bears lose, he has thrown 9 INTs opposed to only 4 TDs.  His averages in yards per game (276) and yards per attempt (7.1) go up, but his passer rate (61.3) and completion percentage (60.3) plummet.

Chicago could use Matt Forte (c. 2008) and an offensive line that gets a push forward to help Cutler.  There's lots of negativity flowing toward Greg Olsen, but it is clear opposing defenses are scheming against the Bears' biggest threat in the pass game.  It's part of the reason Johnny Knox and Devin Hester are thriving with Cutler under center.

The official fantasy team of TBDS has a pretty good chance of winning today.  We've got Jay Cutler going against Cleveland in a rebound game against one of the worst teams in the NFL.  The receiving unit of Larry Fitzgerald (vs. Carolina), Donald Driver (at Minnesota) and Marques Colston (vs. Atlanta) should provide at least 30 fantasy points.  I picked up Johnny Knox knowing he'd be going up against Cleveland's defense, but there's nowhere to put him.

My only concern is at the running back position, where Frank Gore (at Indianpolis) might not get a lot of carries seeing that the 49ers are playing against the Colts and will likely be playing from behind.  Then there's Pierre Thomas (vs. Atlanta) who is awfully talented, but often is cockblocked by Mike Bell and Reggie Bush.

Thomas and Gore are projected to combine for 26 points, but I fear they won't be as productive as projected.

So much for Indiana State's winning streak.  The SIU football team demolished the Sycamores, shutting them out 33-0.

The No.3 Salukis (7-1, 6-0) allowed less than 100 yards of offense en route to its 12th consecutive Missouri Valley Football conference victory.  SIU has gone 16-2 in its last 18 conference games.  The only losses have been on the road, at North Dakota State in 2008 and at Northern Iowa in 2007.

Paul McIntosh was as good as advertised, but it's really hard to gauge his play when he's up against a team so woefully bad as Indiana State.  Mac was 15 of 22 in the air for 159 yards, gaining another 57 yards and scoring two touchdowns on the ground.

The real test comes next Saturday at No. 9 South Dakota State in a game that will likely decide the MVFC championship.

The Paul McIntosh Era For SIU Set To Begin Saturday At Indiana State

Paul McIntosh, your table is ready

I knew I had to write this post as soon as I received a text message early Sunday morning that claimed the Saluki football team's season dead on arrival upon hearing the news of Chris Dieker's injury, which was confirmed today..  As usual, yours truly has been asked to play the voice of reason.  Between the boo-hoo birds and the maroon kool-aid drinkers, here I am telling both parties to sit down, shut up and enjoy the rest of the show.  Because that's what you're going to get out of the rest of the Southern Illinois football season.

A show.

It's not as if the Salukis will be trotting out the collegiate equivalent of JaMarcus Russell every Saturday until the team hits Chattanooga.  Paul McIntosh is a damn good quarterback, and you'll see it soon enough. 

McIntosh, a redshirt freshman, will make his first career start Saturday against the Indiana State Sycamores.  Here's what you need to know about McIntosh before we make the trip to Larry Bird's old stomping grounds.

• Was a 3-year varsity starter at the quarterback position.
• Rushed for 1,600 yards and 34 scores in his high school career.
  
• Threw for 2,400 yards and 22 touchdowns and only 5 picks in his senior year (4.4-to-1 TD/INT ratio) 
• Led his team to a 15-0 record and state title as a senior.
  
• Was Indiana's Mr. Football and Gatorade Player of the Year in 2007.
• Other recipients of that award include none other than Rex Grossman
• Unlike Grossman, McIntosh doesn't suck.

Alright Saluki fans, let's get this straight.  He's a winner (evidenced by the state title and 15-0 record).  He's not turnover prone (22 TD passes, 5 INTs as a senior).  He's versatile and mobile (34 rushing TDs).  He was an elite high school signal caller (Indiana's Mr. Football).  Name is not Rex Grossman.

Those are all signs that SIU isn't as completely screwed as you might think it would be.  Dale Lennon is still roaming the sidelines.  Deji Karim is still on the team, as well as offensive weapons such as Bryce Morris, Joe Allaria, Marc Cheatham and Ryan Kernes.  The defense hasn't left Carbondale either as Brandin Jordan, Korey Lindsey and Marty Rodgers still are alive and well.

And as scary as it might sound for the rest of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, the Salukis might be better off with McIntosh under center.  He led the team with 81 rushing yards on Saturday, and his nimble feet will send defensive coordinators scrambling to defend what was once a non-factor of Southern's offense.

Remember when New England Patriots fans thought their season was over when Drew Bledsoe went down and all the Pats had to fall back on was a former 6th round pick named Tom Brady?  Well, we saw how well that has worked out for everyone.

I expect similar results out of McIntosh.

Pigskin Pimpin On A Sunday

Your weekly installment of football stuff and gratuitous cheerleader photos after the jump.

 

The alma mater kept the ball rolling in a 27-8 win against Youngstown State.  In the last two games between the Salukis and Penguins, Southern Illinois has outscored The Fightin' Tressels (h/t for the nickname goes to Jon. I) 61-7.  However, SIU's win comes at a cost.

Junior quarterback Chris Dieker suffered a broken collarbone on his non-throwing arm and looks as if he might be out indefinitely.  Listening to head coach Dale Lennon's post-game radio interview wasn't encouraging as Lennon noted Dieker was very emotional after finding out the injury and that he couldn't blame him for being so emotional because of the extent of the injury which could be season ending before changing course and saying he wasn't sure if it was that serious yet.

In his stead, Paul McIntosh completed 10 of 14 passes for 133 yards -- including an 86-yard pitch-and-catch from McIntosh to Joe Allaria, the guy Dieker beat out for starting QB job last year.  It wasn't a classic bomb, but it was a sideline route in which the speedy Allaria used some fine footwork and some downfield blocks to explode into the end zone.

Before anyone goes jumping off the clocktower on campus, McIntosh is a more-than-capable back-up.  In fact, there were some people in some circles that thought McIntosh was a better fit for Phil Longo's pseudo-spread offense.  In addition to his 133 passing yards, McIntosh rushed for a team-best 81 yards on 12 carries.  It's just another wrinkle tSIU could use down the stretch.

Running back Deji Karim, who was held under the 100-yard mark for the first time this season, surpassed the 1,000-yard plateau and became the third fastest Saluki to do so.  However, he missed a chunk of the fourth quarter and will be watched very closely as the Dawgs will square off against Indiana State which actually won a game, defeating Western Illinois 17-14.

While Illinois' best college football team improved its record despite losing its starting quarterback, Illinois' biggest school continued its free fall.  The Fighting Illini fell to Purdue 24-14 on Saturday.  At this point, that magical Rose Bowl run is nothing but a figment of your imagination.  Juice Williams, other than the drive that cut the Illini's deficit to 21-14, looked like a shadow of his old self.  And to think, this is his senior year.

The calls for Ron Zook's head are starting to get louder and louder, and there is reason.  The U of I has seen a decrease in production since the Rose Bowl year despite several highly touted recruiting classes.  And while Illini AD Ron Guenther says there won't be any changes at the top, but I think Illinois needs a little more than some window dressing to take this team out of the gutter.

Think SIU has a shot to knock 'em off at Memorial Stadium next year?  You bet your ass I do.

Cedric Benson has been talking $#!% again and claims the Bears lowballed, blackballed (and blueballed?) him.  He said the Bears went out of their way to make him look bad.  How?  By showing game tape?  Benson struggled in Chicago because he was so concerned about getting his mula.  That is it.  That's where the story begins and where it ends.

Why is Benson the NFL's third leading rusher right now?  Well, it's not as if the talent wasn't there when he was in Chicago.  But the effort and the desire weren't.  Things change when you blow a $17 million signing bonus, and Benson is a better football player because of it.  Do I wish he would have put it together in Chicago?  Yes.  Would he have been able to do so?  Absolutely not.  Benson is a changed man on the field, off of it, it's the same old Ced.

There are seven undefeated college football teams competing in the Football Bowl Subdivision.  Florida and Alabama will likely represent one half of the national championship scenario, but it takes two to tango.  Texas is in the driver's seat despite the Big Twelve Conference having a down year compared to what it was a year ago.  And even though it plays in the Big Ten, Iowa has a legit case to a spot in the national title game.  Same can be said about potential Big East representative Cincinnati.  Then there's Boise State and TCU, who has no other big time opponents in the wings, so there is a distinct possibility that the Broncos and Horned Frogs could go the rest of the year without losing a game and still be on the outside looking in -- possibly to a one-loss team.

And as much money as college football makes by having bowl games, I wonder why it can't bring in that kind of dough by using those bowl games as playoff sites.  College hoops rakes in the greenbacks hand-over-fist when the NCAA Tournament rolls around.  Not to mention the lucrative television deal it has not only with the Big Dance ... but also with the NIT. 

Then there is USC, who always falls flat out of the gate with some sleeper Pac 10 team, but always seems to get better on a week-by-week

Soccer doesn't excite me.  But the idea of soccer cheerleaders does.  Sometimes the best action is on the sidelines, and not on the field.

Saluki Men's Hoops 2009-10 Preview: Carlton Fay

[Ed. Note: This is the last installment of a series previewing the 2009-10 SIU men's basketball team's projected starting five.  Starting Monday, we'll look at head coach Chris Lowery's bench before writing a slick set of previews Friday that will include some notes on his coaching staff and the all-important, yet very irresponsible, pre-season prediction blog. Now to the rest of the garbage...  After finishing the 2008-09 season with a disappointing 13-18 record, Chris Lowery's Salukis are one year stronger and one year smarter as they will look to extract revenge on the Missouri Valley Conference teams that took advantage of a young squad.  Those teams will get their comeuppance soon enough.  And what better way to warn them than with a preview of each player that will tear their hearts out and step on their souls.]

Carlton Fay's freshman season was a struggle.  He scored what was then a career-high 11 points against Illinois State, but it was a brief highlight as he only averaged 2.4 points per game as he lingered behind senior forwards Matt Shaw and Randal Falker.

Then came Fay's sophomore season -- and it came in a big way.  He opened the season with a double-double against Cal (Pa.) in which he scored 16 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.  Fay would go on to win the 2K Sports Carbondale Regional's Most Valuable Player as he scored 33 points in two games.

Fay would go on to score in double figures in 19 of the team's 31 games.  He averaged 13.6 points per game over the season's first nine games.  At times, he played as if he was Shaw's clone.  Getting away with garbage buckets down low while also being a threat on the perimeter.

Fay should be able to build on a solid sophomore season as he enters his second year as a starter under head coach Chris Lowery.

But first, Fay (and the rest of Saluki Nation) will need to erase the above image from their memories.  I was there in New York City as it happened, and believe it or not, it was uglier in person than it was on television.  It didn't help when you've got Duke fans surrounding you, a creepy, smarmy old man "announcing" the game (to himself?) and a Duke student sports writer bitching about a small television/stats monitor in his seating area.  Yeah -- it was that kind of weekend for all Salukis.

The good news is that Coach K's Blue Devils are not on the Salukis' schedule and would likely not meet up until the NCAA Tournament.  It wouldn't matter anyway as Duke usually has found itself out after the first two rounds over the last few years.  I wouldn't mind if it happened again.  I digress.  More on C-Fay.

A part of me wants Fay to take off like Shaw did in his junior year.  After respectable years as a freshman and sophomore, Shaw went on to average 11.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in what turned out to be a Sweet 16 year for the Salukis.  He shot 46.8 percent from the field, 80.7 percent from the free-throw line and 35 percent from the 3-point line.

Shaw, and Randal Falker for that matter, clearly benefited from having senior standout guards Jamaal Tatum and Tony Young in the backcourt.

However, a part of me remembers what happened to Shaw his senior year.  He was good, but not as great as he should have been.  In games in which he made his first shot, it seemed as if he was automatic.  But if he missed his first shot, it felt as if it was going to be a long night in Saluki country.  As a senior, Shaw saw his points per game jump to 12.7 and rebounds per game go up to 6.9 ... but at what cost?  Shaw shot 41.4 percent from the field , 32.1 percent from the 3-point line and 76 percent from the charity stripe.

So, should we expect a breakout year from Fay?  History tells me yes because the third year in the Saluki system is one that usually pays off the biggest leap in production.  Jamaal Tatum and Tony Young did it.  As did Darren Brooks and Stetson Hairston.  You can add Kent Williams to the list, too.  OK, so every year was a big year for Kid Kent.  I'm sure you see my point.

Here's hoping Fay channels his inner Matt Shaw for his junior year.  As for his senior year, well, we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Saluki Men's Hoops 2009-10 Preview: Anthony Booker

[Ed. Note: This is the newest installment of a series previewing the 2009-10 SIU men's basketball team.  After finishing the 2008-09 season with a disappointing 13-18 record, Chris Lowery's Salukis are one year stronger and one year smarter as they will look to extract revenge on the Missouri Valley Conference teams that took advantage of a young squad.  Those teams will get their comeuppance soon enough.  And what better way to warn them than with a preview of each player that will tear their hearts out and step on their souls.]

Once upon a time, M.J. Hartwig and I debated about student-athlete blogs.  It stemmed from an issue with allowing athletes to write columns -- it was about the time Nick Hill was penning pieces for the DE as he prepared for the NFL Draft.  The conversation turned to who we would have do it next year.  I said no one.  He suggested Anthony Booker, who to this day is still the highest ranked recruit the modern era of Saluki basketball player has brought in.


"I'd give him whatever he wants," is what I remember Hartwig saying at the time.  Lots of time has passed between then and now.  (P.S. This is a much better blog than it used to be.)

So, here we are in 2009 and Booker has found his way into my projected starting line-up.  And for good reason.

Photo via EdytaB (visit her blog here)

Sophomore forward Anthony Booker is arguably one of the biggest match-up problems in the Missouri Valley Conference.  Listed at 6-foot-8-inches, 230 pounds, Booker can bang down low with the big boys as his various post moves give many defenders fits.  In his high school career, and at times during his freshman year with the Salukis, Booker showed a nice touch with his mid-range game.

However, as he learned throughout the year, he fell in love with his long distance jump shot a little bit too much.  Booker only connected on one of his 11 3-point field goal attempt in the 2008-09 season.  It came in the waning moments of the Salukis' first-round loss to Bradley in the MVC Tournament.  With a full season of ups and downs under his belt, Booker should be poised for a break out season.

The highly touted forward struggled shooting from the field in the season's first 19 games as he shot 24 percent.  No power forward should be shooting 24 percent.  But Booker shook off the slow start to shoot 52 percent from the field down the stretch.  It seemed as if Booker grew as a player as the season went on, with a lot of his improvements coming in practice.  He outhustled a lot of bigs and some smalls for loose balls in the Salukis' no-holds-barred practices.  He was a grinder on the boards -- especially on the offensive end.  Defensively, he was always good for a few blocked shots.

Finally, it appeared as if it came all together on Feb. 18, 2009, when Booker scored a team-high 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds (6 offensive boards) in Southern Illinois' 78-72 loss at home to Indiana State.  It was the game SIU fans, coaches and team members had been looking forward to seeing Booker have.  He was the most dominant player on the floor as he accounted for 18 of the Salukis' 19 points off the bench while outscoring the Sycamores' bench by eight points all on his own.

Booker is capable of having an entire season like that.  That is why he's one of my five projected starters.  In the five games in which he played at least 20 minutes, Booker averaged 7.4 rebounds per game.  In Southern's 80-73 win against UMass, Booker grabbed 7 boards in 14 minutes.  Also, in those games in which he logged at least 20 minutes, Booker averaged 8.2 points per game

There is undeniable chemistry between Booker and point guard Kevin Dillard.  And I would argue that there is no more valuable relationship on the court than one between the post and the point.  Expect for Dillard to feed Booker on the low block often.  Then, expect the 6-8 forward to throw it down with authority or use his soft touch around the rim to put down two points.  It is the kind of inside-outside threat that could heat up a cold winter of basketball.

Booker reminds me of a more polished Randal Falker because both are good players around the rim on both sides of the floor.  However, Booker has a much higher upside, especially at this stage of the game as he enters his sophomore year.  Like Falker, Booker struggled at times at the free throw line.  If he can follow Falker's footsteps and improve his stroke at the charity stripe, do not be surprised if Booker is averaging double figures by the time March rolls around.

I know I won't be.

Saluki Men's Hoops 2009-10 Preview: Justin Bocot

[Ed. Note: This is the newest installment of a series previewing the 2009-10 SIU men's basketball team.  After finishing the 2008-09 season with a disappointing 13-18 record, Chris Lowery's Salukis are one year stronger and one year smarter as they will look to extract revenge on the Missouri Valley Conference teams that took advantage of a young squad.  Those teams will get their comeuppance soon enough.  And what better way to warn them than with a preview of each player that will tear their hearts out and step on their souls.]

Justin Bocot exploded onto the Saluki hoops basketball scene when he scored a career-high 28 points in Southern Illinois' 72-64 win at Missouri State.  But really, his on-the-court success began with a homecoming of sorts as he scored a team-high 14 points in a 70-63 loss at Illinois State.

From that point on, Bocot averaged 10.8 points per game -- including the 28 point game that was in the team's second game after losing senior guard Bryan Mullins to what would eventually end up being a season-ending stress fracture.

So, what does Bocot do for an encore?  Replacing Ryan Hare, who was dismissed from the team on Sunday for violating team rules, in the starting line-up would be a good start.

Image via

There might not be a more humble member of the SIU men's basketball team than junior guard Justin Bocot.  The 6-foot-4-inch guard from Bloomington, Ill., was a two-sport star in high school as he excelled on the hardwood and on the track. 

A naturally gifted athlete, Bocot was recruited by high majors such as Big Ten schools Illinois, Iowa and Purdue.  However, Bocot did not qualify academically as a freshman (as detailed here by SIU sports information director Tom Weber) and that scared away many other powerhouse programs.  And rather than run away from Bocot as other schools did, the Salukis welcomed him as part of the family and Bocot paid his own way through what would have been his freshman year.

This sidebar story I wrote after his 28 point game reveals some details via head coach Chris Lowery, who comes off as a proud poppa when he discusses Bocot.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Last season, Justin Bocot could not help the SIU men’s basketball team even if he wanted to.

The sophomore guard sat in the stands of the SIU Arena awaiting his turn as he was sidelined because of academic issues as his ACT score fell short of the NCAA’s eligibility requirement.

Head coach Chris Lowery said Bocot paid his dues off the court and is now paying dividends for the team on it.

“He was sweeping up in the locker room. He was working in the gym. I couldn’t have done that as an 18-year old kid,” Lowery said. “I couldn’t mop the weight room and the bathrooms and done all that stuff, no way I could have done that. But it’s all paying off for him.”

To this date, Bocot is still on the straight and narrow, and it is expected that Bocot will eventually be granted a fifth year of school and a fourth year of eligibility to play basketball for SIU.  It couldn't happen to a better player.

So, maybe my expectations are homer-ish because of a good story.  Or maybe they're realistic for the former Bloomington Pantagraph Player of the Year.  Bocot was an elite scorer at the high school level, averaging 20 points as a senior.  If you watch Bocot's game, you could tell he is more than just a scorer.  He averaged 3.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game. His lengthy wingspan allows him to pick off lazy entrance passes and defend all three guard spots.

It would have been nice to see Bocot be the first Dawg off Lowery's bench, seeing that he was named to the MVC's All-Bench Team for his role as a Saluki Sub.  But as the situation  goes, he is a high-energy player whose athletic gifts and basketball instincts will be used as a starter.  Bocot played very well down the stretch for a Saluki team that played without its senior leader and seemed to get stronger and better as the season progressed.

Even though I have delivered a glowing endorsement of Bocot's skills, there is still work to be done.  One of the knocks on Bocot's game are his jump passes -- a move that is highly frowned upon by Coach Lowery.  Turnovers play a major role in Saluki ball games, and if Bocot can limit his -- most of which come off the jump pass -- then Southern's backcourt should be in good shape.

His points per game should get a bump upon joining the starting line-up as he will likely average somewhere between 20 and 25 minutes per game as I'm sure Lowery will not want to over-extend any of guards -- an ideology shared with previous coaches Bruce Weber and Matt Painter.  It's a game plan that has helped fresh Saluki guards play their best all season long.  It's the game plan that helped SIU basketball become the premier mid-major in college basketball with its lengthy steak of consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, Missouri Valley Conference titles and Sweet 16 appearances in 2002 and 2006.

And finally, my favorite Justin Bocot story, as originally posted here at the DE Sports Blog:

After covering a women's basketball game during the first semester, Bocot was having a personal post-game shootaround.  Dressed in a sweater, a collared shirt, khakis and some loafers, I asked Justin if I could take a couple shots with him.

I went on to airball my first few and Bocot cracked a smile and a slight laugh.

"That's why I do what I do and you do what you do," I told him.

Eventually I made a few layups.  In between him drilling shots and my failed attempts at filling the basket I asked him if he ever got tired of being at the SIU Arena.  It was a Friday night.

"This is my home.  I love this place."

Bocot's love for the game should translate well to the 2009-10 Saluki season.

Saluki Men's Hoops 2009-10 Preview: Tony Freeman

[Ed. Note: This is the newest installment of a series previewing the 2009-10 SIU men's basketball team.  After finishing the 2008-09 season with a disappointing 13-18 record, Chris Lowery's Salukis are one year stronger and one year smarter as they will look to extract revenge on the Missouri Valley Conference teams that took advantage of a young squad.  Those teams will get their comeuppance soon enough.  And what better way to warn them than with a preview of each player that will tear their hearts out and step on their souls.]

When I was the Daily Egyptian's sports editor, I received many e-mails about the well-dressed young man sitting at the end of the bench.  They asked if he was a coach?  Kind of, but not really.  A recruit?  Kind of, but not really.

Eventually, I got around to writing a feature about Tony Freeman, a 6-foot-1 guard from Maywood, Ill.  The University of Iowa transfer sat out the 2008-09 season because of NCAA transfer rules and will look to break out in his senior year at SIU.

And for those who fear he will be rusty, take note that T-Free was named the Most Valuable Player in a tournament played in Turkey over the summer.  One of his teammates on the trip was fellow Saluki Nick Evans, and they helped topple the mighty basketball dynasties of France, Germany and Bulgaria.

So, what should fans expect from the team's lone senior?

As a junior, Tony Freeman was the Big Ten Conference's third leading scorer as he averaged 13.8 points per game despite missing 10 non-conference games with a stress fracture in his foot.  (Pause. Cause for concern?  OK. Continue.)  Freeman led the Hawkeyes with 22 steals while averaging 3.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game.  He shot 38 percent from beyond the arc that season, but is only a 68.6 percent career free throw shooter.  And because Freeman will likely take a bulk of the big shots in the guts of a game, an improvement at the line would be beneficiary to his stats and to the team's overall goal of winning.

Still, there isn't a doubt in my mind that Freeman is the most complete player on the Salukis.  He's a speedster built like a truck.  He's a strongman that can score off the dribble and with a jump shot.  Freeman is the piece Southern needed last year to break through in the Valley.  Instead, when it came to game day, you could find Freeman at the end of the bench cheering on his teammates.

But it doesn't mean Freeman took it easy in his off year.  This feature indicates Freeman's worth to the team.

The 6-foot-1-inch guard has been forced to watch from the sidelines as the Salukis’ roster was depleted because of injuries and mid-season departures.

Even though Freeman is ineligible to participate in games, NCAA transfer rules allow him to practice with the team, which has helped the short-handed Salukis.

Despite being constricted to a limited role, having the former second-team all-state player has been beneficial to the team as a whole, coach Chris Lowery said.

“What he brings is that he is a mature kid,” Lowery said. “He’s played at the highest level and he understands what it means to play hard. He’s a great teammate right now, and that’s what we need more than anything.”

Whether it is on game day or during practice drills, Freeman has been an integral part in the everyday basketball operations.

On game day, Freeman almost serves as an additional assistant coach as he gives teammates tips and support from the sideline. In practice, he is one of the Salukis’ biggest offensive threats and better on-ball defenders.

Freeman will serve as the ying to Kevin Dillard's yang.  Whatever that means.  Freeman will share some of the ball-handling opportunities as the team will try to alleviate some of the pressure off the back of Dillard, who was the team's primary ball distributor last season.  If at all possible, Freeman is a bigger scoring threat than Dillard because his game is more developed at this stage because that is what comes with being a fifth-year senior who spent an entire season taking his bumps and bruises on the practice floor.

Which brings me to my favorite Tony Freeman story.

The scene is at the SIU Arena shortly before one of the first set of practices of the 2008-09 season.  A handful of the assembled media had remained after talking to Coach Lowery as Freeman walked by and jokingly asked why none of us wanted to talk to him.  Lowery, who generally keeps it loose before practice starts, of course was ready with a quip. "No one wants to talk to scrubs, Free."  I laughed.  So did others.  Freeman had the last laugh.

I eventually sat in my perch high above the SIU Arena where Rodney Watson suggested I could watch practice without being in the way or be a distraction to the coaches or players.  I'll always love Rodney for giving me those opportunities.  That is where I witnessed Freeman dismantle each and every Saluki defender that tried to guard him.  On the defensive end, he was equally as impressive.

Long story, short: A motivated Freeman will be to Southern Illinois basketball what Chamberlain "Champ" Oguchi was to the Illinois State Redbirds last season.  Expect Freeman to be listed among player of the year and newcomer of the year candidates if he can stay healthy.

Saluki Men's Hoops 2009-10 Preview: Kevin Dillard

[Ed. Note: This is the first in a series previewing the 2009-10 SIU men's basketball team.  After finishing the 2008-09 season with a disappointing 13-18 record, Chris Lowery's Salukis are one year stronger and one year smarter as they will look to extract revenge on the Missouri Valley Conference teams that took advantage of a young squad.  Those teams will get their comeuppance soon enough.  And what better way to warn them than with a preview of each player that will tear their hearts out and step on their souls.]

Kevin Dillard became the first Saluki freshman to lead the team in scoring since Kent Williams.  So how does the former Illinois Mr. Basketball follow up a stellar first-year campaign?

By bulking up.

Dillard earned many accolades as a true freshman, including being named to the Missouri Valley Conference's All-Freshman and All-Newcomer teams and being named the conference's Freshman of the Year.  He averaged 12.2 points per game leading SIU and ranking first among all freshmen. Dillard also finished second in the Valley in 3-point percentage (45.2 percent) and third in assists (4.2 per game).

Still, it didn't mean that there wasn't room for KD to improve.

A microcosm of the talented guard's season can be found in the SIU men's basketball team's 73-72 overtime loss on Jan. 14 at Creighton.  This story, written by yours truly details the action.

Freshman guard Kevin Dillard led the Salukis with 21 points in 39 minutes of play and dished five assists, but a pair of freshman mistakes hurt the team in the game’s closing seconds.

After hitting a pair of free throws to give SIU (7-10, 2-4) a 63-60 lead with 10.4 seconds remaining in regulation, Dillard fouled guard Cavel Witter as he attempted a 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds, giving the Bluejays a chance to tie the game.

Witter proceeded to hit all three free throws to tie the game. Senior guard Bryan Mullins had a chance to win the game in regulation, but his desperation 3-point heave near midcourt glanced off the rim to send the game into overtime.

It's a situation I replayed about a month ago with SIU head coach Chris Lowery who said now that Dillard has added some muscle, situations like that will likely never happen again.

KD has bulked up in the offseason, a process that began shortly after the team's season ended with an opening round loss to Bradley in the MVC Tournament.  And even though Dillard is stronger, his added strength has not altered the sugar-sweet jump shot that helped him to carry a hefty scoring load.

With Bryan Mullins completely out of the pictuer, Dillard becomes the team's main ball-handler.  He will be in charge of running the offense and getting his teammates involved -- all while trying to create his own shot.  It seems like a tall task for a sophomore floor general. 

The biggest area in which Dillard can improve as a sophomore is in the turnover department.  Dillard needs to handle his business in regard to his ball handling skills because 1.3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio isn't going to cut it.  Not at SIU.  Not when your head coach is Chris Lowery, who knows a thing or two about running the point as a Saluki.  And especially not when you're following one of the best point guards, not just in school history, but in Missouri Valley Conference history.

Expect Dillard to bump his scoring a tad into the 13 or 14 ppg range, especially if he can improve on his stroke from the charity stripe, where he shot only 72 percent.  KD should also see his assist numbers rise, especially if his turnover rate dips.

Saluki fans are always craving a big man, but the truth of the matter is that guard play will carry you not only through the conference season, but through postseason play as well.  There will be 12 other ballers decked out in maroon and white joining him in the huddle this upcoming season.  But the team' will go only as far as Dillard (and the rest of the guards for that matter) will take them.

Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow: Salukis Dismiss Sophomore Guard

Two days after the Southern Illinois University men's basketball team tipped off its season with its annual Maroon Madness, the team finds itself without an integral member of the team.

Sophomore guard Ryan Hare was dismissed from the team according to a release via the school's Web site on Sunday night.  Hare averaged 7.5 points per game and started 26 of the team's 31 games as a freshman.  In September, Hare was suspended after being arrested and charged with felony battery and trespassing.

TBDS sources have informed the blog that the charges stemmed from a fight that might be related to a domestic issue.  Hare was given a second chance, but citing a violation of team rules (also known as breaking whatever rules Coach Lowery laid down after the suspension) Hare was dismissed and has left the SIU Carbondale campus.


On the court, the Chicago native drew favorable comparisons to former Saluki great Stetson Hairston.  Like Hairston, Hare was a left-handed shooting grinder who excelled on the defensive end of the court.  I would make the argument that Hare was the team's best on-the-ball defender after senior guard Bryan Mullins bit the dust with a stress fracture injury.

Hare was expected to log heavy minutes for the Salukis in the upcoming 2010 season.  But rumors of his dismissal started as whispers on Friday when Hare was not announced, nor was he in attendance at the team's Maroon Madness event.  The rumors were put to rest Sunday with the official announcement of the dismissal.

So, you won't see Ryan Hare in any of the upcoming Saluki previews that will be posted over the next two weeks.  It's a shame, too.  Soft-spoken and always polite with the media whether the mic was on or off, Hare looked poised to be another great Saluki guard in Southern's stable of backcourt ballers.

Hare is the second member of the much-heralded 2008 recruiting class that also landed guard Kevin Dillard and forward Anthony Booker.  Guard Torres Roundtree left the team after the team's Dec. 31 loss against Northern Iowa.  Hare is the sixth Saluki to leave Lowery's program after playing in the system, joining Roundtree, Christian Cornelius, Joshua Bone, Brandon Wood and Mike Dale.  Other Saluki commitments to never make the court include Josh Tabb, who was snagged by Bruce Pearl at Tennessee and Drew Barham, who got picked up by Memphis after backing out of his commitment in one of the strangest recruiting sagas (see: total bullshit on behalf of Memphis recruiting -- which really shouldn't shock anyone) in recent memory.

Hare's dismissal will likely set off a backlash in the southern Illinois.

At times, there is a divide among the Southern Illinois community.  Chicago and its surrounding suburbs make up a healthy chunk of the Carbondale campus.  And like yours truly, some of the northern kids become Southern transplants.  It's an awkward situation that sometimes sets off rivalries between former city slickers and life long members of a tight-knit rural community.  I have already received backlash as "you Chicago kids" are apparently no good despite the fact that I have a clean record.

It would not surprise me to hear and read those types of comments on blogs, in comment sections and on message boards.  When really, a small sample size shouldn't put everyone in a dark light.

In the end, a black eye for my alma mater is a black eye for everyone involved.

Pigskin Pimpin: Salukis FTW! Edition

The Southern Illinois University football team had won 127 games from 1994-2008.  None of them were at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

In what is arguably the most bitter rivalry in the Gateway Missouri Valley Football Conference, the University of Northern Iowa had always gotten the better of Southern Illinois when the games were played indoors.  Panthers fans called it "Dome Magic."  Saluki fans called it (expletive deleted) ... among other things.

And as yours truly predicted on Friday, it all came to an end as the Salukis beat the Panthers 27-20 on Saturday at the little dome of horrors.

Consider the following.  Southern has had six head coaches try and fail to beat UNI in its back yard since Rey Dempsey's squad did the trick in 1983 en route to the school's lone national title.  Ten different First Team All-Americans have suited up in the maroon and white.  None of them came home with a road win at Northern Iowa.  Southern has fielded 16 different 1,000-yard running backs.  But none had carried the Egyptian Hunting Dawgs to a road win in the terror dome.

That all became nothing more than a past nightmare as Deji Karim rushed for 125 yards and what turned out to be the game winning touchdown. The 1-yard score on 4th-and-Goal gave SIU a 20-13 lead with about five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

On the Panthers' ensuing possession, cornerback Brandon Williams took back a pick six to put the game on ice.

And for good measure, former Saluki great Jerry Hairston Jr. scored the winning run for the New York Yankees after leading off the bottom of the 13th with a base hit.  I guess you could pencil in a 10-tackle day for Bart Scott against the Bills and a 100-yard rushing game for Brandon Jacobs against the Saints as a pair of former Dawgs will hit the gridiron later today.

And now, the rest of your Pigskin Pimpin' on a Sunday morning...

A great day for the alma mater was made better by a loss for a school I never even thought of attending.  Notre Dame.  Sure, the Fighting Irish made it close in the end, but the Southern Cal showed it was just a better team.  At least, enough of a better team to beat the Irish by seven points.

I know ND fans thought they'd pick up a win in this one.  Their beloved Fightin' Stereotypes had the home field advantage, an edge at the quarterback position and the motivation to get it done.  However, I'm not sure why this team was so confident.  Sure, it had beaten the University of Washington, a team that had beaten USC a few weeks ago.  But if there's one thing I know about the Trojans is that they don't let an early-season loss put them down.

USC is one of the few teams that seems to get better each as the season goes on.  I guess that's why they always have an argument to be in the national title hunt at the end of the year despite losing to a mediocre Pac-10 squad earlier in the year.

Some Irish fans are shocked with the loss.  Why?  The Trojans had already beaten a quality opponent on the road.  Granted that opponent was the uber-fraudulent Ohio State, but give the Buckeyes credit where it's due -- they never lose at home.

As for Notre Dame, they somehow find a way to lose big games.  Remember when they used to win big games?  Ah, the days of Lou Holtz and Ron Powlus must feel like ages ago for fans of the Fighting Irish.

Yeah, I enjoyed the fact that Ohio State lost to Purdue.  You can't fault the Buckeyes for falling on the road in the Big Ten?  I can.  Terrell Pryor ain't winnin' the Heisman.  Not this year.  Maybe not ever.  He's gone after his junior year -- you heard it here first.  Still, gotta love The Sweatervest.

As for Purdue, well, Purdue is bad.  Plain bad.  Drew Brees isn't running the show.  Neither is Kyle Orton.  Once upon a time, Joe Tiller offenses used to light up the scoreboard.  Now, it's the Boilermaker defense that spends most of the time getting lit up.

At least Purdue has Matt Painter (yet, another Saluki reference in tonight's blog) and basketball season in the not-too-distant future.

The Atlanta Falcons provide the Chicago Bears with their biggest test to date when the team's square off for a nationally televised game on NBC.  Here's hoping Chicago fares better tonight than the last time the team was under the national microscope.

The bad news is that Jay Cutler is one four-INT game away from being the worst quarterback evar! in Chicago Bears history.  That's just how Chicago sports fans are.  One week, you're the savior.  The next week, the only person more maligned than you is Satan.  Those are just the breaks.

However, the good news is that the Bears do have Jay Cutler, and that means if this game gets into a shootout -- like the Falcons' Week 5 match-up against a good 49ers team -- Chicago should be adequately prepared.

Cutler has 10 games under his belt in which he has thrown for at least 300 yards.  He also has a 447-yard throwing performance in his back pocket as well.  In his big games, he owns a 60 percent completion rate and an 18 career touchdowns against 13 interceptions.  Cutler is 5-5 in such games.  In the wins, Cutler owns a 4-1 TD-to-INT ratio (12 TDs, 4 INTs) and his teams have averaged 32.6 points per game with a 41-point game against the Oakland Raiders in Sept. 2008 being the high-water mark.  On the other hand, Cutler's teams have allowed an average of 35.6 points per game in the losses.

For the Stat Boy in all of us:  The Falcons are averaging 25.5 points per game in 2009.  The Bears average 26.2 points per game.  Cutler is 14-1 when his defense allows 20 points or less.

Anyone ready for a shootout in the Georgia Dome tonight?

SIU Wins ... Just Like Someone Predicted

I'm like Jimmy The Greek ... but I like black people.

Friday:

Today:

Um, yeah.  Did I call it or did I call it?

Southern Illinois > Northern Iowa: Book It!

Deji Karim is good.  Everyone knows that by now.  And quarterback Chris Dieker threw for 274 yards last week in a game fans and coaches have been waiting for him to have for a long time.  Chauncey Mixon returns for the Saluki defense after leaving Week 1's loss with a busted jaw.

I could bore you with numbers and drown you with plenty of logical reasons why the No. 5 Salukis of Southern Illinois Universiy will finally end their drought inside the UNI Dome on Saturday against Northern Iowa.

I won't.

Instead, I'll tell you a story about a feeling.  It's a good feeling.  Almost like the kind of feeling you get after a sip of Dirty 30 juice ... without the remorse of a hangover or having to take a walk of shame.

I felt this feeling in 2006.  The story as I remember it is that myself and a few college buddies were planning to make the trip to Bloomington, Ind., the morning of the game.  SIU had never beaten a Big Ten team, in fact, it had been a mighty long time since they had beaten a Division I-A (or Football Bowl Subdivision) team.  After narrow defeats against Northern Illinois and Western Michigan, I figured that it was time to get it done and there was no better time to do so than against the Hoosiers -- who agreed to host SIU in a package deal that landed the Salukis basketball team a home-and-home series with IU.

Unfortunately, at the last minute, the plans fell through.  And we watched the game from a friend's couch as I made cheeseburgers on the stove top.

Then there was 2007, when I had a real good feeling about beating Northern Illinois.  SIU lost by one point to their Northern rivals and figured without Michael "The Burner" Turner, the Salukis had more than just a slight chance to win.  Again, last-minute plans fell through and I ended up watching the game at a bar.  Early in the game, it would have been easy to dismiss the missed trip as the Salukis found themselves down early and I had started to receive phone calls from friends that were at the game.

But one of the greatest comebacks in school history began to form, and ended with a Nick Hill game-winning touchdown pass.  The night ended with me calling friends at Northern Illinois and leaving voicemails that said, "You want to know what a Saluki is?  Well, it just kicked your ass!"

Now, I have those same feelings about this game at Northern Iowa.  The SIU football team would be breaking a streak of 12 straight games in which the home team has won if the Road Dawgs were able to knock of the Panthers.  And if they did so, it would be the first time turning the trick since 1983 -- the year that Southern won it's lone national championship.

And of course, I predicted a national title for the Salukis this year -- only one year after being the only "expert" on a panel of Daily Egyptian sports writers to pick SIU to win the conference championship.

Ready for the kicker?  I had two peeps bail on me for this year's road trip.  Not to mention a heads up report about crappy construction road work.

So, let's get this straight...

• Potential road trip to difficult match up
• Looking to break lengthy losing streak
• Last minute cancellations
  

Yep.  Sounds like a Saluki win to me.

Diamond In The Rough? SIU Sure Hopes So

Maybe Diamond Taylor should have gone to the Southern Illinois University in the first place.

The 6-foot-4 guard was once pursued by Big Ten schools such as Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and Purdue.  Southeastern Conference schools such as Kentucky and Vanderbilt, along with Wake Forest of the Atlantic Coast Conference.  Missouri Valley Conference foe Bradley also had an interest in Taylor, who eventually chose Wisconsin over the rest.

The talented guard from Bolingbrook is on his way to the Carbondale campus via the University of Wisconsin after being suspended, then booted from the Badgers' basketball program after he and teammate Jeremy Glover were charged with burglary and underage drinking.

In an interview with ESPNChicago.com, his former AAU coach Mike Mullins (yes, father of future Saluki Hall of Famer Bryan Mullins) said going to SIU would be a good fit for Taylor.

"It'll be a great opportunity for him to get back into basketball and on the road to doing positive things with his life. He made a foolish mistake, and he has paid the penalty for it. There's no excusing it. He's accepting the consequences."

It's not necessarily the story some Saluki fans want to hear after the Ryan Hare arrest, but if there is anyone Saluki fans should trust, it has to be Mike Mullins, right?  Mullins has sent some pretty talented players down I-57, including his son, and junior forward Carlton Fay.  The Mullins family and Lowery family are close, so I do not feel as if the senior Mullins would send a bad apple down to Carbondale.

Taylor was not only one of the best recruits in the state of Illinois when he graduated, but he was also among the best in the nation.  His talent and body style alone should make Saluki fans giddy about this get.  He will likely have four years of eligibility after redshirting last season with the Badgers.  He'll be a third-year "freshman" -- like many SIU undergrads.  But it really is hard to focus on the on-court stuff when the off-the-court issues loom large.

When Taylor finally takes the court, he will be surrounded by what should be a team on the brink of something special.

Kevin Dillard, Ryan Hare, Anthony Booker and Nick Evans will be juniors.  Kendal Brown-Surles, Gene Teague and Jordan Myers will be sophomores, with the possibility of Myers being a redshirted freshman.  Carlton Fay, Jack Crowder and John Freeman will be seniors, while Justin Bocot will be in his third year with the Salukis and classified as a senior, but is currently on the path to gaining a fourth year of eligibility.

Anyone afraid of Taylor's cloudy past should try to remember the name Roland Roberts.  He was a transfer from a power conference school with a questionable past.  Roberts was able to shake off his baggage and lead SIU to two NCAA Tournaments including a very successful Sweet Sixteen season in 2002.

Sometimes a change of scenery can benefit a player off -- and on --  the court. SIU head coach Chris Lowery is no stranger to dealing with baggage-filled ballers.  Balancing the addition of Taylor with the suspension of Hare could be Lowery's biggest challenge.

But those are the things one must deal with when they make $750,000 per year.

White Out Fuels Karim's Dream Season

Richard White has tallied 53 yards on 11 carries in the 2009 season.  He didn't even suit up for the Salukis' 30-10 win Saturday at Western Illinois.

But for the second straight season, there is a case for naming White the Salukis' most valuable member.

Last season, White was injured on a kick-off return in SIU's 37-31 season-opening win against the Hampton Pirates.  His injury opened the door for Larry Warner.  And to say Larry Lightning ran through it would be an understatement.  Warner went on to rush for what was then a career-high 151 yards and score two touchdowns -- including a 95-yard kick-off return in the win against Hampton.

And even when White returned, Warner became Dale Lennon's featured back.  Warner gained 1,265 yards on the ground to go along with 10 rushing TDs and three kick return touchdowns.  With White sidelined, Warner became a cult hero for the Dawg Pound as he was the team's leader and focal point throughout the 2008 season.

Fast forward to 2009 and White has found himself in street clothes once again.  This time it is Karim busting through the door en route to a stellar season with the Salukis. Through four games, in which SIU is 3-1, Karim has taken full advantage of the increased PT, notching 561 yards and five touchdown runs.  He opened Saturday's win at WIU with a 92-yard run on the team's first offensive play from scrimmage.  He went on to pick up 157 yards, averaging 9.7 yards per rush.

Like Warner, Karim has also shined in the special teams department.  Deji has averaged 42.6 yards per kickoff return -- including an 69-yard scamper that nearly went all the way on Saturday.

A rare back that combines power and speed, Karim is making good on a new lease on life at Southern.  While Warner shined in White's place, Karim also found himself on the sideline nursing a season-long injury sustained in spring ball.  It would be an injury that sidelined a player that scored eight rushing touchdowns the year before.  It would have been easy for Karim to risk his status and take off the redshirt.  But Lennon and the training staff was somehow able to convince Karim to tough it out and wait 'til next year.

And now that next year is here, Karim is living the dream as he is on pace for a 1,234-yard, 11 touchdown season.

It's too bad that for the second straight season, it is coming at White's expense.