SIUE’s Brian Barone

Cougars Are Building Consistency

(St. Louis, MO) – During the ‘portal pandemic’ Southern Illinois Edwardsville is taking a different approach. The Cougars are building consistency with an eye to climbing up the ladder of the Ohio Valley Conference standings.

Head coach Brian Barone is beginning his fourth season at the Cougar helm and is enjoying his first offseason and preseason that could be called ‘normal’. While some college basketball teams are replacing their entire roster, the Cougars return four of their top six scorers and three other players that averaged double-digit minutes last season.

While leading scorer and all-freshman team member Ray’Sean Taylor (17.6 ppg) will likely miss some early season games as he rehabs his injured knee, he should be solid for the OVC season. Leading rebounder DeeJuan Pruitt (10.2 and 6.9) is back and poised to be one of the league’s top frontcourt players.

The Wright twins (Shamar and Lamar) combined to start 58 games last season are the outstanding picture that the Cougars are building consistency. Shamar and Lamar are technically juniors and are beginning their fourth active season in Edwardsville. The lefthanded Shamar has scored 747 career points and Lamar has tallied 404.

Barone believes those two consistent performers are ready for a breakout season.

Cougars are Building Consistency

Barone was hired in the Spring of 2019 and had to hurriedly build a roster and coaching staff. As his first season came to an end, the coronavirus hit and made ‘normal’ recruiting impossible. During that 2020-21 season, his team was forced to play 19 games in a 42-day span.

Still recruiting was hindered by covid concerns and while last season was more normal, even the beginning of the season and offseason workouts were hindered and limited. The son of legendary coach, Tony Barone wants to build a family atmosphere and with the first normal offseason in his head coaching career, his desires are now more in reach.

While Barone brags on his players’ ability to endure the difficulties, he is excited for this normal offseason.

 

 

This summer his team has been able to serve at a local children’s hospital, hold team barbeques, helping at a local festival and participate in their annual ‘Mushball’ game. Barone says his father and mother (Kathleen) built basketball teams together through family engagements and celebrations. The younger Barone brags that his mother’s cooking might have been his father’s best recruiting tactic.

Adding to his seven returners are players familiar with the area, and with one another. The Cougars are building consistency.

Taylor, Pruitt and Polk

While all eyes are on Taylor, or on Taylor’s knee, there are other talents on squad. The 6’1 redshirt sophomore sat out what would have been his freshman season with a knee injury and missed the last eleven games of last season with an ACL tear to the same right knee.

The Collinsville native was part of the OVC’s all-newcomer team despite the injury. Barone is upbeat on his star player’s possibilities of a full-strength return but wants Taylor to be fully healthy before he steps on the First Community Arena court.

 

 

Two other valuable returners are DeeJuan Pruitt and Desmond Polk. Pruitt was the OVC’s fourth leading rebounder (6.9 per game) and averaged over ten points per game. The 6’8 sophomore made 17 triples and was the Cougars’ top free-throw shooter (.767). His ability to get offensive rebounds adds offensive opportunities for a team that was last in the OVC in three-point percentage.

While Polk’s shooting numbers leave something to be desired, Barone insists the Link Year Prep graduate has a knack of making clutch shots.

 

 

Barnes, Minor & Other Newcomers

While the Cougars are building consistency, they added some important experience to their roster. Former Indiana State guard Cobie Barnes and juco all-American Damarco Minor are the most notable newcomers.

Barnes was part time contributor with the Sycamores and transferred to John A. Logan and helped that squad to the juco Sweet Sixteen. At 6’7 with guard skills, Barnes’ versatility and size will be a huge benefit.

Minor was the junior college National Player of the Year and his team went 33-0 winning the national title. Barone says Minor is a confident player with a wide range of tools. While he averaged over 20 points per game, he was also second nationally in steals. The Harvey, Illinois native is glad to be playing close to home.

 

 

Jalen Hodge is coming home too. The O’Fallon, Illinois native played two seasons each at Louisiana-Monroe and James Madison. He connected on nearly 44% of his long distance attempts last season and has recorded 396 career Division 1 points.

Terrance Thompson and Dorion Staples are 6’7/6’8 forwards with experience. Thompson played at Green Bay two seasons ago. Staples helped Moberly win the Region 12 championships.

Braden Wood is another Link Year Prep product. He is one of five former Lions on this year’s roster. Link director Adam Donyes calls him a sniper.

Wide Open Ohio Valley

While the Cougars are building consistency the Ohio Valley Conference is certainly not that. Three teams have departed and three have replaced them. Gone are perennial powers Austin Peay, Belmont and Murray State.

Entering are Little Rock and two Division 2 teams making the leap to D1. Lindenwood (St. Charles, MO) and Southern Indiana are joining the league with great energy and fanfare. Barone believes all three programs will be very competitive and admits the league is more wide open than ever before.

 

 

Taylor, the Wrights and Pruitt give SIUE veterans to lean on and returners Polk, Cameron Williams and Johathan Kurtas bring OVC experience. Incoming players come from winning programs and have some proven talents.

While Barone’s record has mildly improved every season (8 wins, nine victories and 11 last season) this could be the season they take a significant jump. They have the makeup of a team on the rise.

The Cougars are building consistency.

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