Man, it seems like ages ago when Creighton and Southern Illinois got together at the Qwest Center back on January 13th. Antoine Young was the hero that evening, scoring on a runner with a couple seconds remaining to give the Bluejays a close 71-69 win.
The Jays played with passion that evening, thanks in large part to a spark off the bench from Chad Millard. SIU’s Nick Evens took a swing at Millard, who didn’t much care for the fisticuffs and let Evans know that with some choice words. Evans would be thrown out of the game, suspended for the following contest, and eventually leave the Salukis team a couple of weeks ago citing “personal reasons.” But he won’t be the only player missing from the previous meeting between these two schools. Creighton’s P’Allen Stinnett was suspended a few games after the win against SIU, last playing in a win against Missouri State.
Both teams have still been up and down since then and many wonder what happened to the two teams that stood atop the Valley for so many years. To answer these and other questions about the Salukis, we turn to Todd Hefferman of the Southern Illinoisan. The following rundown of Saluki Nation provides concerned Creighton fans some information to ponder as one of the more challenging seasons during Dana Altman’s tenure comes to a close.
White & Blue Review: What is the mood there in Carbondale considering the Salukis’ season? How are the fans handling the season that at the beginning was pretty hopeful?
Todd Hefferman: People were hoping for better results, just like Creighton fans. Maybe not the NCAA Tournament, but at least the upper half of the conference and a playoff berth. People will consider this season a failure unless SIU wins the tournament, or gets to the finals. I think SIU will make some sort of postseason, but fans expected better.
WBR: Kevin Dillard has been asked to do a lot in his short time at Southern Illinois. What were the expectations for him coming into the season and is he there yet?
TH: He was expected to be the point guard first, and to set up some of SIU’s scorers, while also leading the team and being the Salukis’ money player. I think he’s lived up to all three. He leads the league in assists, partly because of his own talent, but partly because Tony Freeman came in, Gene Teague became an inside presence, and SIU has more consistent perimeter shooters in Justin Bocot and Carlton Fay. I expected him to be a little better defender, and he’s really not, but his other attributes kind of mask it.
WBR: When Fay signed with SIU, here’s what Chris Lowery said: “He’s that blue-chip recruit that you need in each class to continue your success.” He passed up Wisconsin, Xavier, Vanderbilt, etc., to play for the Salukis. Yet he hasn’t been a consistent force in the Missouri Valley Conference. Was his 38-point game Saturday a sign of things to come, or just another tease to SIU fans?
TH: I think Fay has been a little more consistent this season than years past. Yes, he’s had games where he has disappeared (he had five points and a rebound in 29 minutes against Wichita State at home), but he’s also hit double figures 15 times this season. His 38-point game was a big performance, not just with the totals, but the way he did it. He scored from the 3-point line, he put the ball on the floor to get to the basket and get fouled, and he went on the block and scored off a few nice post moves. If he continues that, becoming more than a jump shooter, he’ll have a solid rest of the season. If he allows defenses to pressure him from the perimeter, and not take advantage with the dribble, then he’ll disappear again, and that can’t happen for SIU to be good. Hopefully, his game against Western Michigan is a sign of things to come.
WBR: With a down season, there is bound to be some players re-thinking their commitment to Southern Illinois. Some people have even gone so far as to believe that Anthony Booker’s statements on his Facebook account this week make it seem like he wants to leave. How is the team chemistry at this point?
TH: I think the players are disappointed about another, potentially, losing season, because they, like the coaches, were optimistic of something more. I think there is some dissention, even though the players say there isn’t, and the coaches say there are no chemistry issues with this team. Some players are not as coachable as others. There may be departures after the season. There might not be. We’ll see.
WBR: What was the situation with Nick Evans leaving the team? Were his actions against Creighton in their first matchup the final straw for his tenure at SIU or is there something else behind his decision to leave?
TH: There was something more than Evans’ technical foul at Creighton, but it certainly didn’t help his reputation as kind of a hot head this season. He didn’t respond as well as some thought he should, and that’s where the suspension came into play. I’ve heard different reasons why he left. Evans has never spoken to me about it, so I’ll never know, but he did tell me the day before he left he had no intention of quitting. SIU coach Chris Lowery had no intention of kicking him off the team. Something changed. I don’t really consider it a big loss.
WBR: Both the Bluejays and Salukis have had problems playing consistently this season and it is tough to see stalwart teams that helped put the MVC back on the map over the past several years struggling. Are the teams really down that much or has the rest of the Valley just passed them up?
TH: A little of both. The MVC is a little better from top to bottom. Creighton’s problems at the point guard spot became more than, I think, coach Dana Altman anticipated. Losing P’Allen Stinnett didn’t help Creighton. I think both programs will return to the upper half next season.
WBR: What does the recruiting picture look like for SIU going into next season?
TH: SIU has three scholarships for next season, and doesn’t have any verbal commitments, so they’re in trouble. It’s getting late. They’re pursuing an athletic forward from John A. Logan College named Jesse Perry, but Missouri, Arizona, South Carolina, and Iowa State have jumped in here in the last month, so, we’ll see. SIU really doesn’t need a lot, because it could return everyone but Tony Freeman.
WBR: What do the Salukis need to do to pull out the win against Creighton? Do they want to avenge the loss the Bluejays handed to them in Carbondale last season?
TH: Teague has to be a factor tonight. SIU has to not be careless with the basketball, take good shots, and get to the free-throw line. The Salukis, obviously, want to get the one in Omaha back tonight at SIU Arena, but, more importantly, these two teams want to build momentum for the MVC tournament. SIU finishes at Wichita State, and that’s going to be a really tough task, but if it’s able to win tonight, I might like its chances a bit more.
WBR: What is your final prediction?
TH: I think Creighton is going to come in here and win tonight. SIU has played some of its worst games of the season at home. I like the matchups with Creighton, as far as SIU is concerned there, but I just have a feeling the Bluejays are going to somehow pull one out tonight.