ST. LOUIS – Coming off consecutive wins against Drake and Wichita State to close the regular season, the Salukis will need to rattle off three straight wins at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament to extend their season.
Their first test comes at 2:30 p.m. today against Bradley in the Scottrade Center.
While it seems like the toughest task SIU has faced this season, each Valley team has been prone to a let down at one point or another this season. And the Salukis could take advantage of a topsy-turvy year in the conference and walk out with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament if the following things occur.
Kevin Dillard goes on a scoring spree
The MVC Freshman of the Year award winner is the Salukis’ leading scorer, and with Bryan Mullins possibly sidelined for a ninth straight game, Dillard holds the keys to the offense.
Dillard has become the team’s primary distributor, ball-handler and scorer as a true freshman. When the Saluki offense needs a play made, often times it is Illinois’ reigning Mr. Basketball that makes it.
Dillard scored 34 points in two games against Bradley and will look to add to that total today. If he can have another 20-point performance, the Salukis will likely find themselves in the semifinals.
Play without fouling
SIU head coach Chris Lowery said he has been pleased with the team’s return to its gritty defense. However, with only eight healthy players on its roster, Lowery has stressed the importance of playing defense without fouling.
Specifically, Ryan Hare.
Hare ranks third on the Salukis with 79 personal fouls and is a key member of the Saluki guard unit. The freshman guard is arguably the team’s best one-on-one defender and is capable of limiting an opposing player’s open looks.
But when he fouls and sends the opponent to the free-throw line, it hurts the team.
After the Salukis’ BracketBuster loss to Illinois-Chicago, Lowery stressed the importance of playing hard without suffering the consequences of fouling.
“If Ryan doesn’t foul, then we’re good. We saw what happens when Ryan’s in the game,” Lowery said after the 74-67 loss. “He’s got to be in the game, and he can’t foul.”
Seniors must step up
With Mullins possibly sidelined, senior leadership must come from Tony Boyle and Wesley Clemmons.
Boyle has shown moments of brilliance throughout his Saluki career, especially when the calendar turns to March.
The senior forward is one of three SIU players to have played for the school’s 2007 Sweet Sixteen team.
Coming off the bench for an injured Matt Shaw, Boyle scored a then season-high 14 points, shooting 4-for-5 from the field and 6-for-8 from the free-throw line.
Lowery said another clutch performance from Boyle could spark the Salukis to some success at Arch Madness.
“Tony Boyle has been Mr. March for us. He’s been great at conference tournaments and NCAA tournaments,” Lowery said. “Everybody remembers what he did against Holy Cross (in the 2007 NCAA Tournament) and really catapulted us to the second round.”
As for Clemmons, he has provided energy and solid defensive play throughout his four years at SIU. The 6-foot-3-inch guard could set a tone coming off the bench that his teammates could follow.
Mullins miraculously heals
When the Salukis’ senior leader went down, the team clearly struggled.
After splitting its first two games without Mullins, SIU dropped four consecutive games, including a 26-point loss at Northern Iowa and a 22-point loss at home to Creighton.
SIU bounced back with two wins to close the season, but if Mullins can return, even in limited doses, it could spark the team.
Everyone benefited from Mullins’ presence. The two-time MVC Defensive Player of the Year award winner was the cornerstone of the Saluki defense.
When Mullins has the ball on the offensive end, SIU’s all-time assist leader knows what to do with it. And his basketball IQ might be the kind of added ingredient the Salukis need to push them past their Valley counterparts.
A little bit of luck
Last year, the University of Georgia overcame the odds to win the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship.
With rumors swirling around the program about the possible firing of head coach Dennis Felton and a tornado that delayed the tournament’s start, the Bulldogs still managed to win four games in four days – including a double-header – to earn its first NCAA Tournament trip since 2002.
Georgia entered the SEC Tournament with a 13-16 record and only four wins against SEC schools. It walked out of the tournament with its head held high after cutting down the nets in Atlanta.
With that said, a slew of SIU upsets is a definite possibility.
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