Quick, when was the last time the SIU men’s basketball team won at the Scottrade Center?
If your answer was March 3, 2007, then you are absolutely correct. The Salukis’ last win in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament came against Bradley in the semifinal round by a score of 53-51. Two years later, SIU is looking for history to repeat itself Friday as it faces the Braves in the quarterfinal round of the tourney.
The Salukis finished the season with back-to-back wins against Drake and Wichita State to avoid playing a dreaded play-in game today, in the tournament’s opening round. SIU returned to its roots, playing a rugged man-to-man defense in its wins against the Drake Bulldogs and Wichita State Shockers, which allowed the Salukis to bypass both squads to secure the fifth seed in St. Louis.
SIU is no stranger to success at Arch Madness, having won three-straight conference tournament titles from 1993 to 1995 and again in 2006. But for the Salukis to continue their string of seven-straight postseason appearances, they need to win three straight games in St. Louis.
On paper, it seems like an impossible task, especially when SIU has not strung together three consecutive victories since the five-game winning streak from Feb. 13-26, 2007.
The Salukis received many breaks in the regular season’s final week to earn the conference’s fifth seed, and will need a few more to keep its post-season streak alive.
Seniors’ last stand
Tony Boyle and Wesley Clemmons’ days sporting Saluki maroon have been numbered, and head coach Chris Lowery said the team’s healthy seniors have taken notice.
Lowery said he has been pleased with the kind of leadership put forth by Boyle and Clemmons, especially in the team’s season-ending wins against Drake and Wichita State.
“I thought (Boyle) and Wes played with much more enthusiasm than they have in the past – and that’s the last two games,” Lowery said. “I think they’ve started to develop a sense of urgency.”
Boyle sealed a Senior Night victory for SIU with a 20-point, 10-rebound performance in the team’s 72-68 win against the Shockers. If he can continue his recent strong efforts, Boyle’s inside presence on the offensive and defensive end of the floor could propel the team to a few wins.
‘Book’ goes home
Freshman forward Anthony Booker is no stranger to the Scottrade Center. The St. Louis native and former McClure North standout returns to the Gateway City for the first time while wearing a Saluki uniform.
As the season has gone on, Booker has seen an increased role with the team, logging more minutes as he has made several strides of progress as the regular season closed.
Booker notched his first career double-double scoring 18 points and grabbing 11 rebounds off the bench in the Salukis’ Feb. 18 78-72 loss against Indiana State.
The 6-foot-8-inch reserve forward said he looks forward to playing in front of friends and family and knows he could be a game-changing performer in his homecoming.
“I just got to keep doing what I’ve been doing – and that’s take advantage of my minutes,” Booker said. “I’ve got to listen to what coach says and try not to get caught up emotionally with my family being there and just focus on the task at hand and that’s winning the next three games.
Mullins: To play or not to play?
There was no secret about it: SIU struggled without senior guard Bryan Mullins. The two-time defending MVC Defensive Player of the Year will likely be a game-time decision as he continues to recover from a stress fracture in his right foot that caused him to miss the team’s last eight games.
The Salukis went 3-5 in their games without the school’s all-time assist leader, but could see him return in St. Louis. As a freshman, Mullins helped lead the team to a conference tournament victory in 2006 beating Evansville, Northern Iowa and Bradley.
Even though Mullins could help the team by returning to the court, he has still been influential off of it.
MVC Freshman of the Year Kevin Dillard said even though he has missed his backcourt mate’s presence on the floor, he has still taken Mullins’ advice from the sideline.
“I’ve learned so much from (Mullins). I learned how to talk to my teammates and become a better vocal leader,” Dillard said. “Instead of getting down on them, I learned how to encourage them a lot more.
“He taught me how to play defense a lot better than I did, because I never played defense before I got here, honestly. You can take so much from him.”
Saluki support
Director of Athletics Mario Moccia said fan support from Saluki Nation could be a deciding factor on what is intended to be a neutral court.
Because St. Louis is an estimated 2 hour, 11 minute drive from Carbondale, SIU fans have been able to make the trek to the conference tournament to support the team.
And Moccia said he believes SIU fans, who have made strong showings in games in DeKalb, Chicago and New York, could make a difference in shifting a neutral court into a home-court advantage.
“You always see a ton of Saluki supporters ... and they come from all over the place,” Moccia said. “It’s always fun to step into the arena and see a dominated, maroon fan base. That, to me, is the highlight of the week.”
Luis C. Medina can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 256 or lcm1986@siu.edu.
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