MVC Games Week 10

[PantherSigEp]

Not every day the Valley goes 0-fer at home. Those road wins are always tough to get.

Panthers and Dawgs go down to the wire. Loyola comes back on the Trees. Another exciting day of MVC bball

[SalukiWorld]

SIU was so fun in year 1 of Mullins but now I'm not sure if SIU will ever compete for a Valley championship again. Seems a bit overdramatic for a 1 point loss but the game really wasn't that close. SIU constantly plays half games and go on way too many offensive droughts. And they're just not athletic enough to compete with the good teams in the MVC.

[BCPanther]

SIU was so fun in year 1 of Mullins but now I'm not sure if SIU will ever compete for a Valley championship again. Seems a bit overdramatic for a 1 point loss but the game really wasn't that close. SIU constantly plays half games and go on way too many offensive droughts. And they're just not athletic enough to compete with the good teams in the MVC.

IMO, Mullins is trying to play a style that has died out in this league. Needs to modernize the offense and try to play a little faster. You can't win with the really slow, physical defense like he did when he played.

He's young, he's smart. He'll adjust.

[Action10]

SIU was so fun in year 1 of Mullins but now I'm not sure if SIU will ever compete for a Valley championship again. Seems a bit overdramatic for a 1 point loss but the game really wasn't that close. SIU constantly plays half games and go on way too many offensive droughts. And they're just not athletic enough to compete with the good teams in the MVC.

IMO, Mullins is trying to play a style that has died out in this league. Needs to modernize the offense and try to play a little faster. You can't win with the really slow, physical defense like he did when he played.

He's young, he's smart. He'll adjust.

I consider myself an SIU fan that lost interest for a while during the end of the Lowery years, and I don't understand the fan base sometimes. Most SIU fans didn't want to hear any other name than Bryan Mullins during the coaching search 3 years ago. I wanted to see all options explored and find the best candidate that would be willing to come to SIU.
I said it before in a different thread, but Tim Miles had just been fired by Nebraska. He was successful at two different mid-major schools (NDSU and Colorado State) and was far more successful at Nebraska than most coaches have been. Both Scott and Sean Sutton are still assistant coaches at Big 12 schools right now and we're at that time also. Luke Yaklich was a top assistant and about to become a head coach.
I was frustrated at the time because it felt like none of these options were seriously considered (or even looked into). Did SIU get the right coach? I don't know, time will tell. I just know the excitement that the fan base had is seeming to sputter a little.

[SalukiWorld]

SIU was so fun in year 1 of Mullins but now I'm not sure if SIU will ever compete for a Valley championship again. Seems a bit overdramatic for a 1 point loss but the game really wasn't that close. SIU constantly plays half games and go on way too many offensive droughts. And they're just not athletic enough to compete with the good teams in the MVC.

IMO, Mullins is trying to play a style that has died out in this league. Needs to modernize the offense and try to play a little faster. You can't win with the really slow, physical defense like he did when he played.

He's young, he's smart. He'll adjust.

I think this style of play can work but SIU needs better offensive players and more athletic players. I think they're going to have to make tough decisions this offseason on the coaching staff and the current roster because as of right now, they only have 1 open scholarship and they're losing an athletic player in Ben Coupet.

[SalukiWorld]

SIU was so fun in year 1 of Mullins but now I'm not sure if SIU will ever compete for a Valley championship again. Seems a bit overdramatic for a 1 point loss but the game really wasn't that close. SIU constantly plays half games and go on way too many offensive droughts. And they're just not athletic enough to compete with the good teams in the MVC.

IMO, Mullins is trying to play a style that has died out in this league. Needs to modernize the offense and try to play a little faster. You can't win with the really slow, physical defense like he did when he played.

He's young, he's smart. He'll adjust.

I consider myself an SIU fan that lost interest for a while during the end of the Lowery years, and I don't understand the fan base sometimes. Most SIU fans didn't want to hear any other name than Bryan Mullins during the coaching search 3 years ago. I wanted to see all options explored and find the best candidate that would be willing to come to SIU.
I said it before in a different thread, but Tim Miles had just been fired by Nebraska. He was successful at two different mid-major schools (NDSU and Colorado State) and was far more successful at Nebraska than most coaches have been. Both Scott and Sean Sutton are still assistant coaches at Big 12 schools right now and we're at that time also. Luke Yaklich was a top assistant and about to become a head coach.
I was frustrated at the time because it felt like none of these options were seriously considered (or even looked into). Did SIU get the right coach? I don't know, time will tell. I just know the excitement that the fan base had is seeming to sputter a little.

I'm not giving up on Mullins yet but next year is going to turn out to be a huge year. I'm pretty sure SIU interviewed Yaklich and Dane Fife for the job. So far Yaklich has had meh results at UIC, we'll likely see him in the MVC next year.

[Kyle_Saluki_17]

Some people have lost excitement since Mullin's first year, but had it not been for the COVID 5th year players, Loyola and Drake would have completely different teams. Mo State would not have Prim. UNI might not have a couple of players. And without an AJ Green injury last year, they might not even have him this year as he might've left.

My point is, remove all the super seniors and SIU might've very well been competing for a championship this year. We don't know for sure.

It is year 3 with Mullins, but it may as well be year 2 with all the others retaining seniors. No reason to be this down on him yet.

Next year I fully expect to be competing for a title though. If we aren't, then I'll probably have a different tone. Of course, next year might have a very tough Murray squad added to the list as well.

[Salukimadness86]

It is year 3 with Mullins, but it may as well be year 2 with all the others retaining seniors. No reason to be this down on him yet.
Next year I fully expect to be competing for a title though. If we aren't, then I'll probably have a different tone. Of course, next year might have a very tough Murray squad added to the list as well.

You're right about people being down on Mullins, and expecting bigger things this year. Hinson had SEVEN years to.produce a championship, his last with 6 seniors and could not do it. I believe this is the reason some people are being so critical, they want positive results now. It's also the current generation of instant gratification. BM is building the program the correct way IMO, but at times it has been quite frustrating.
Since you attended last night's game, what are your observations, and what in your opinion are some of the issues holding this team back?

[BEARZ77]

I think SIU has a really nice team; they play well together , have a number of guys who can hit the trey, have adequate depth and post play in their 3 man rotation inside. Dalton is a true pg, but they don't have him installed as the guy at that position, and when he's not in, they can be a bit inconsistent with Jones, who while explosive, just isn't a true pg. Coupet has helped in an area I thought they were lacking, that being a long athletic wings, but he's a complimentary piece and I think is gone after this year, so they still need some athletic wings going forward. to me Domask has to step forward and be a top 3-4 guy in the league if they're gonna challenge this year or next. He was too passive in the game against MSU, getting the bulk of his 20 points after the game was just about decided. He kept it interesting, but I was wondering where that was the first 35 minutes, although I will say Donovan Clay had a lot to say about that.

SIU isn't as good defensively as I thought they'd be. Their defensive ppg is more a product of pace of play than a stifling defense . I think the potential is there to be a top level defense, but by some metrics, they just aren't at that top level so far. I haven't been impressed with their adds since Domask/Jones; some good role players, but no impact/top of the MVC types , but they're hard to find. With Prim graduating and if Mosley would leave, MSU would be in similar spot with alot of solid guys, but not sure who is star capable. Anyway just some thoughts. SIU should be a top 5 team this and next year for sure, and if you're that, then you can make a run at a title; but there will be at least 6-7 teams next year with as much reason to think the same.

[Kyle_Saluki_17]

It is year 3 with Mullins, but it may as well be year 2 with all the others retaining seniors. No reason to be this down on him yet.
Next year I fully expect to be competing for a title though. If we aren't, then I'll probably have a different tone. Of course, next year might have a very tough Murray squad added to the list as well.

You're right about people being down on Mullins, and expecting bigger things this year. Hinson had SEVEN years to.produce a championship, his last with 6 seniors and could not do it. I believe this is the reason some people are being so critical, they want positive results now. It's also the current generation of instant gratification. BM is building the program the correct way IMO, but at times it has been quite frustrating.
Since you attended last night's game, what are your observations, and what in your opinion are some of the issues holding this team back?

Honestly, free throws! If we make free throws, we win the game. I thought SIU did a decent job against Green, and defensively overall. I was fairly impressed with the team except for a few moments in the first half where we couldn’t get any good looks. We’ve gotta move the ball better in those situations.

My top 3 issues:
Free throws
Moving the ball
Rebounding

But free throws alone could’ve done it. Look how Missouri State closed us out…making 18 straight free throws or something similar.