Southern Illinois Salukis men's basketball

Infobox CBB Team
name = Southern Illinois Salukis

logo_size = 150px
university = Southern Illinois University
conference = Missouri Valley Conference
conference_short = Missouri Valley
city = Carbondale
stateabb = IL
state = Illinois
coach = Chris Lowery
tenure = 4th
arena = SIU Arena
capacity = 9,328
nickname = Salukis
color1 = Maroon
color2 = White
hex1 = 800000
hex2 = FFFFFF
NCAAfinalfour =
NCAAsweetsixteen = 1977, 2002, 2007
NCAAtourneys = 1977, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
conference_tournament = 1977, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2006
conference_season = 1977, 1990, 1992, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007
h_body=800000
h_pattern_b=_thinsidesonwhite
h_shorts=800000
h_pattern_s=_blanksides
a_body=800000
a_pattern_b=_basketball
a_shorts=800000
a_pattern_s=_whitesides

The Southern Illinois Salukis basketball team represents Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Carbondale, Illinois. The Salukis compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Salukis are currently coached by Chris Lowery who led the team to the NCAA tournament in 2004 thru 2007. Lowery was the youngest head coach in the NCAA tournament in 2004 thru 2007. In 2008 the Salukis finished the regular season at 17-14 and advanced to the NIT, where they defeated Oklahoma State University before falling to Arizona State University in the second round.

According to rivals.com, the Salukis 2008 recruiting class ranks 25th in the nation. The recruiting class includes two players (Anthony Booker, #44; Kevin Dillard, #137) ranked in the top 150. [cite web | title =rivals.com: | date = 2008 | url = http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?cid=790385 | accessdate = 2008-04-25]

History

Prior to joining the NCAA, the Salukis competed in the NAIA men's basketball level. Appearing 5 times, with a combined tournament record of 8 wins and 5 loses. Most notable tournament appearances came in 1945 in which the Salukis finished 4th, and then the following year in the 1946 tournament, the Salukis won the whole thing. The Salukis would not place again in the following 3 tournament appearances in 1947, 1948, 1960.

In 1967, SIU, led by guard Walt Frazier who went on to be named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, won the National Invitation Tournament. At the time, the tournament was considered much more prestigious than it is today. The Salukis were members of the College Division, the equivalent of Division II, and were therefore ineligible to compete for the NCAA Tournament.

In 1977, future NBA player Mike Glenn led the Salukis to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen.

From 1993 to 1995, SIU advanced to three straight NCAA Tournament. Prior to that, the Salukis participated in the National Invitation Tournament for four consecutive years from 1989-1992.

Part of the SIU Saluki men's basketball team's 2003 season was chronicled in MTV's "True Life: I Am A College Baller". [cite web | title =Shadowbox Films: | date = 2007 | url = http://www.shadowboxfilms.com/stills_baller_01.html | accessdate = 2007-05-31]

The Saluki men's basketball team garnered national attention by advancing to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen in 2002 and 2007.

In 2006-2007 year, the Salukis reached their highest position in the AP Coaches Poll and the ESPN/USA Today Poll with a position of #11, before dropping to #14 prior to entering the NCAA tournament.

After achieving success at SIU, former coaches Bruce Weber (1998 - 2003) and Matt Painter accepted head coaching positions at schools in the Big Ten. Bruce Weber accepted the head coaching job at Illinois in 2003. Matt Painter accepted the Purdue offer to become top assistant and designated successor to Gene Keady in 2004. Matt Painter became head coach in 2006. Matt Painter is an alumnus of and former basketball player at Purdue University.

ee also

*Southern Illinois University Carbondale
*Southern Illinois Salukis

Notes

References

* [http://www.siuc.edu/ Southern Illinois University]