NCAA BK

Southern Illinois Getting Inside

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Updated Dec 4, 2009 10:03 AM ET
     
 


The Salukis played fewer November games than another MVC school. After four games, and three wins, SIU remains an unknown. Coach Chris Lowery planned it that way. The Salukis, with one senior, are taking plenty of practice time early in the season. A year ago, a schedule loaded with road trips and opponents such as Duke and UCLA overwhelmed SIU.

Lowery won't let that happen again. He is mixing in five newcomers and his point guard is a sophomore. The Salukis play. Then they practice. They get busier soon, after they take time to learn.

"We did it on purpose, just so we knew what we needed to work at," Lowery said. "We learned from mistakes last year -- having so many new guys, but never being here in the first three weeks of the season. We really just focused on getting better and having our guys around, and working on them to know the system before conference play starts."

The hints SIU is dropping are mixed. Good defensive efforts against Illinois-Chicago and Tennessee-Martin led to double-digit victories. But UNLV dented the Salukis for 78 points and shot 56.3 percent from the field in a nine-point win in Las Vegas. SIU's only real step up in class went badly in the second half after it led 37-34 at halftime.

SIU's offense appears to be more balanced and effective. Junior Carlton Fay produces starter's minutes (26.3) and points (14.8) off the bench. Sophomore Kevin Dillard is too good a shooter to continue to miss three out of four 3-pointers.

"Kevin is doing some things that he's never done in his career, and that's guard the ball much better than last year," Lowery said. "He's doing a much better job of playmaking."

Freshman guard Kendal Brown-Surles is quickly developing into a reliable reserve. Bench scoring is a definite plus.

"We feel like we have five guys that can get us 10 points in a game at any time," Lowery said.
Tagged: Southern Illinois

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