SIU – New Blood – Former Glory

Mullins Building on Historic Saluki Foundation

(St. Louis, MO) – When Southern Illinois hired Bryan Mullins as its head coach they were looking to build on the program’s former glory. The Saluki hall-of-famer was brought in to build on the Saluki foundation of ‘Floor Burn U’ and Sweet Sixteen runs.

Mullins has his work cut out for him.

Senior guards Aaron Cook and Eric McGill are the only truly experienced players returning from last year’s team. Both shoot the three, defend well and average around ten points per game. They are a solid foundation. The two veterans made a joint decision to return for their senior seasons. Coach Barry Hinson had been fired and each had options to play elsewhere, but chose, together, to come back to Carbondale.

Junior Brendon Gooch is the only other returner.

Mullins has done a number of creative things to attempt to create a team and family atmosphere with a brand new team.

 

 

McGill says he contemplated leaving but then bought in to Mullins’ vision for Saluki basketball. The Memphis native knows that he and Cook play a key role on this year’s team.

 

 

Both players have enjoyed getting to know how Mullins wants to build the SIU team, but it hasn’t been easy. McGill says the heavy defensive emphasis is demanding and the attention to detail is encouraging.

 

 

Two other senior transfers have joined the team, so SIU will feature four seniors. Mullins says while he is depending on McGill and Cook to lead the way, newcomers Ronnie Suggs and Barret Benson will add a veteran presence and proven production.

Mullins is grateful that McGill and Cook returned and is bragging on the abilities and attitudes of his two other seniors.

 

 

Suggs started his collegiate career at Bradley and last season was part of the Missouri program. The 6’10 Benson is a Northwestern transfer. Cook and Suggs (Washington High School) played against one another in high school.

Cook has been working on his game. Shooting and leadership are the aspects of his game that he thought have needed attention.

 

 

Other Newcomers

Five freshmen high-light the rest of the recruiting class. The most compelling of the bunch is Nebraska transfer Karrington Davis. The 6’6 redshirt freshman and St. Louis native (Chaminade) was a three-star recruit who sat out last season with an achilles tendon injury. In St. Louis he teamed with Boston Celtic star Jayson Tatum to win a state championship.

Another highly regarded redshirt freshman is Sekou Dembele. The Mali native is recovering from a minor knee surgery. Both former coach Hinson and current leader Mullins are very high on his unique abilities. He is a 6’7, 230 pound wing with international experience.

Freshmen Marcus Domask, Lance Jones and Trent Brown have potential. Domask is Wisconsin’s reigning ‘Mr. Basketball’ who averaged 25 points and ten rebounds per game last season. Jones is a two-time all state performer from Evanston, Illinois. Brown (Scottsdale, AZ) and Jones are both guards.

Transfers Stevan Jeremic (Utah State) and Harwin Francois (Daytona State) also bring a veteran presence.

Mullins Looking for Former Glory

Mullins is a winner.

As a player Mullins helped lead the Salukis to two NCAA Tournaments and one NIT appearance. He set SIU records for assists and steals. The 2007 team reached the Sweet Sixteen.  Four times he landed on the Valley’s All-Defensive team and twice was the league’s defensive player of the year.

He graduated with a 4.0 GPA and after a four year professional playing career, joined Porter Moser’s Loyola coaching staff. As Moser’s Associate head coach he helped the Ramblers to their Final Four appearance the last two MVC regular season championships.

Moser says Mullins will be very successful in Carbondale.

 

 

Mullins is proud of his playing career in Carbondale and is thrilled to be coaching at his alma mater. He can’t wait for the games to begin.

 

 

This year’s squad may not reach its former glory, but don’t underestimate a team led by a coach with as much passion and experience as Mullins.

Suggs was a productive player at Bradley. Benson may be the team’s best offseason signing and Cook and McGill are proven commodities. Davis could become a dynamic difference-maker. The Salukis who were picked to finish last by many experts, could be much better than advertised.

Do Good

 

Editor: Featured photo courtesy of siusalukis.com.