Creighton and Southern Illinois have played some great games over the years. But recent matchups have not had the same type of impact on Valley title races. Both programs are down from where they stood in the past decade, though maybe the Salukis more so than the Bluejays.
SIU beat Wichita State at Koch Arena Tuesday night. To say not many people in the Valley expected that outcome would be kind. Chris Lowery’s team was coming off a week when they were blasted by Drake, Lowery called his team out for quitting on the game, and then they lost to last place Bradley. Add suspensions to three players, including two starters, and it looked like nothing could go right for Southern Illinois.
But missing Gene Teague and Mykel Cleveland in the starting lineup, Lowery’s team got a win at Wichita. Those two players will still be absent for the Salukis when they come to town Sunday night to play Creighton.
We caught up with Todd Hefferman, beat writer for The Southern, for more information about SIU’s recent play and what to expect when the Salukis meet the Bluejays.
White & Blue Review:Southern Illinois has really had another up and down season. I had them as high as fourth in my preseason predictions. How was I so wrong?
Todd Hefferman: You, like the rest of us, thought SIU had some great parts, and would be able to make a move up, certainly, because they were going to be better, defensively, or die trying. The Salukis have just been inconsistent. Tremendously, horrifically, unbelievably inconsistent. Center Gene Teague, expected to have a big season as a sophomore, has been impressive at times, but invisible lately. Early on SIU had major problems with turnovers, which cost the Salukis some games, and has had real struggles all year with the point guard spot.
Other games it’s been giving up too many free throws, or an inability to close a game out. Defensively, they’re better, that’s been about the most consistent thing. Everything else, you simply just don’t know what to expect.
WBR: Is Chris Lowery still trying to keep his job or has the pressure from boosters and others already made the decision for next season?
TH: People I’ve spoken to, who know people who can push for a change and get it done, say he’s going to return next season. Winning at Wichita State Tuesday night probably took a lot of pressure off, but it also presents the question “Where was that kind of effort five games ago?” He’s under a lot of pressure to win, I think, because of his salary and expectations, but he will keep his job. He deserves another year, in my opinion, but the team has to make some steps forward in the last few games of the season.
WBR: After SIU’s loss at home against Drake a little over a week ago, Lowery thought the players quit. Did you feel that was the case?
TH: Absolutely. They watched loose balls. They watched others go for the throat, on their own floor, and it was extremely disappointing to see that kind of potential just decide to try to win a game. Mamadou Seck and Carlton Fay stuck out like a sore thumb because they were the only ones going 100 miles an hour to the end, with respect to John Freeman, too, who played hard that night.
WBR: To top things off, three players, including starters Gene Teague and Mykel Cleveland were suspended. What was the situation around that?
TH: I’m still working on the exact details, but they were involved in an incident around a dorm on campus that involved a 20-year-old victim and a pellet gun, allegedly. All three were issued citations by campus police for battery, but, according to Lowery, no one was hurt. So, we’ll see. The timing of it, with the losing streak and the pressure building on Lowery to win from the fans, didn’t help, which is probably why they got three games.
WBR: Creighton vs. Southern Illinois has always been billed the big rivalry in the Valley. Is that still the case or has it cooled off in recent years?
TH: I think CU and SIU still have a regional rivalry. It’s not the nationally-recognized event I think it used to be when I started this beat three and a half years ago, because neither team has been a challenger for the NCAA tournament, but it’s also on ESPNU, so, there is still a lot of regional interest. The SIU-CU game had the biggest crowd of the season here, over 5,000 fans, so, there’s still some emotion in that game.
WBR: One bright spot this season has had to be the play of Mamadou Seck. What has he brought to the team and is he that leader that the Saluki’s have been missing?
TH: Seck brings major energy, some athleticism, and a tremendous set of skills. He’s not bad, defensively, is a terrific rebounder despite only being 6-7, and can score in a lot of different ways. He’s one of the team’s best ball-handlers, and really wants to win every game. You can see the frustration on his face when SIU loses, even if it’s not his fault. He and Carlton have been big-time leaders for a program in search of them this season.
WBR: Who else has been playing well that has surprised you? Who have been the disappointments?
TH: Kendal Brown-Surles has turned it up a notch, I think, since the suspension, and was challenged to be a consistent scoring threat. He had a huge bucket at Wichita State, 18 against Bradley in a losing effort, and may start the rest of the season at the point. His turnovers and assist numbers are not great, however, and he needs to improve those for the team to be good. Diamond Taylor is coming into his own, both as a defender and a slasher with the basketball, and is a pretty good athlete. He appears more confident. Jack Crowder has also been a pleasant surprise. He was invisible last season, but is the Salukis’ best bench player, now.
Teague has been a major disappointment, considering how I’ve seen him dominate some teams inside. Cleveland and Troy Long have been a bit disappointing after some good stretches in the first half of the season. Justin Bocot’s shooting has been disappointing, but he’s battled injuries and is playing hard, so, he’s on the fence, there. I think he’s doing what he can.
WBR: How have seniors like Carlton Fay handled not going to an NCAA Tournament during his career at SIU?
TH: Carlton, to his credit, never seems to get too high or too low, but it’s gotta be crushing to not make the tournament at all in his career, with the history of the program before he got here. It’s not all his fault, especially not this season, but he cost SIU some games, too. I think he’s handling it well, and just focusing on the next game. Seniors always seem to up it a bit when the tournament comes around, and they’re suddenly in their last collegiate games.
WBR: The MVC as a league has had a lot of ups and downs over the past few seasons since getting four teams into the NCAA Tournament? What is wrong with the league and what needs to be done to get the MVC back into a multiple bid league?
TH: You need one of two things: A two-team race for the regular-season title/conference tournament title, where two teams separate themselves as the clear top-two teams, or you need older, experienced players on challengers. The MVC might not have either this season. Wichita State and Missouri State are near the top, but Northern Iowa’s not far behind. Evansville, Indiana State and Creighton are not far behind them, with just about three or four games left in the MVC schedule.
WSU has some great seniors. So does Missouri State, and UNI. Does anybody else, other than Bradley? A standout, clutch-performing senior? Outside of Andrew Warren, who’s left, with respect to Kenny Lawson, Jr., who is a terrific player but who was coming off the bench earlier this season? And the MVC doesn’t have any great signature victories in the non-conference. I think the best is WSU over LSU, which isn’t even that great.
WBR: What is your final prediction? What will Southern Illinois need to do in order to walk away from Omaha with a win?
TH: Well, Qwest Center Omaha has been a house of horrors for SIU. I don’t expect that to change this weekend. CU’s Doug McDermott, Lawson, and Greg Echenique will establish the inside early, with SIU playing without Teague, and dominate the paint and the rebounds. Seck and Fay will have big games, because they’re matchup problems, too. CU will win a tight one, 65-61. Antoine Young will score the winning points, mark my words. The guy is money against SIU.