Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois-Missouri Preview
03/18/2003 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
March 18, 2003
GAME: No. 11 Southern Illinois (24-6) vs. No. 6 Missouri (21-10).
REGIONAL: Midwest, first round.
TIME: Thursday, 2:40 p.m. EST.
SITE: RCA Dome; Indianapolis.
Quin Snyder has taken Missouri a step further with each NCAA tournament appearance in his three years at Missouri. If this pattern holds true, the Tigers will reach New Orleans.
But Missouri must first dispatch a strong challenger in Southern Illinois in a first-round clash.
The Tigers were one of the final at-large entrants in the 2002 field of 65, earning a 12 seed in the West Regional. Snyder's squad surprised Miami in the first round en route to a regional final appearance, where it lost to Big 12 rival Oklahoma.
Snyder, a former assistant to Mike Krzyzewski at Duke, led Missouri to the NCAA tournament in 2000 and a second-round appearance in 2001.
Unlike last season, the Tigers enter the NCAA tournament with momentum following their run to the Big 12 tournament final, where they were again turned back by the Sooners after wins over ranked foes Oklahoma State and Kansas.
But Missouri has plenty of optimism on its side after nearly erasing a 21-point deficit in the final 15 minutes while holding Oklahoma to three points in Sunday's 49-47 defeat.
"Everybody probably thought that this game was over," Snyder said, referring to Missouri's 37-19 halftime deficit. "There was ample opportunity to rationalize. I was talking to them about that's the way losers think. "That's not how we're going to think."
The Tigers have a formidable frontcourt tandem in forward Ricky Paulding, who averages a team-best 16.7 points, and bruising center Arthur Johnson, who contributes 15.5 points and 9.3 rebounds.
Southern Illinois was one of the surprises of the 2002 NCAA tournament, using the short drive to the United Center in Chicago as a springboard to the regional semifinals with wins over Texas Tech and Georgia in the first two rounds.
The Salukis were granted an at-large bid this year after losing to Creighton in the finals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.
"They're a good team. I remember them from last year, when they made a run in the tournament," Johnson said. "But all that doesn't matter now; it's sweet just to be playing."
Even with last year's success, Salukis coach Bruce Weber was sweating out the invite to the field of 65.
"For us to get a back-to-back at-large bid as a mid-major is a tremendous accomplishment," Weber said. "I know our players are very appreciative and I hope our fans are."
Kent Williams, Jermaine Dearman and Stetson Hairston again compose the nucleus for the Salukis, with Williams averaging a team-best 15.3 points while making 47.6 percent of his 3-point shots.
One area of concern for Southern Illinois may be perimeter defense, since opponents have shot 40.7 percent from 3-point range for the season.
The winner of this game will play either Marquette or Holy Cross in the second round Saturday.
PROBABLE STARTERS:
Southern Illinois - F Darren Brooks, F Dearman, C Sylvester Willis, G Hairston, G Williams.
Missouri - F Travon Bryant, F Paulding, C Johnson, G Ricky Clemons, G Jimmy McKinney.
TEAM LEADERS:
Southern Illinois - Williams, 15.3 ppg; Dearman, 6.5 rpg; Darren Brooks, 3.2 apg.
Missouri - Paulding, 17.0 ppg; Johnson, 9.2 rpg; Clemons, 3.8 apg.
HOW THEY GOT HERE:
Southern Illinois - At-large bid, Missouri Valley Conference.
Missouri - At-large bid, Big 12.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD
: Southern Illinois - 3-5, 6 years.
Missouri - 17-20, 21 years.
