Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Basketball Ready For Arch Madness
03/03/2005 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
March 3, 2005
By Scott Mees
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Here we go again. Will the fourth time be a charm for the Southern Illinois University men's basketball team at Arch Madness in
That is the question on everyone's mind as the MVC regular-season champs head to this weekend's Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at
The MVC Tournament is always difficult for the top team in the conference, and this year will be no different.
"Our kids have worked very hard, but we're not finished yet," said SIU head coach Chris Lowery. "I think we have a mindset where we want to continue to play hard."
However, there is one slight disadvantage to being the top-seeded team in the conference tournament.
"We're also looking forward to having an opponent, too," Lowery said. "Just being able to see who we play, later on, we'll get our mind focused in the right direction on how we want to guard, and what things we think we can work on offensively."
The opponent in question will be the winner of Friday night's game between eighth-seeded Bradley (13-14, 6-12) and ninth-seeded
"It's hard for everybody just because it's three games in three days," Lowery said. "Obviously, certain people have different motivations, and sometimes there's a mindset where somebody may think they're already in, and not feel the same way as somebody who has to win to get in.
"We just have to have the mindset that we're going there to win."
Coach Lowery mentioned that his team's main goal was to win the tournament so there would be no waiting and wondering all of next week. The coach also said that it helps the team to see its name up on the NCAA board a week before the pairings are announced.
The Salukis picked up numerous MVC awards this week, and no less than five players were honored by the conference.
The MVC named Darren Brooks - once again - its Player of the Year as well as its Defensive Player of the Year. This is the first time it has ever happened in back-to-back seasons for a player. Stetson Hairston was named Honorable Mention in the conference.
Sophomore guard Jamaal Tatum earned spots on the all-conference second team, the scholar-athlete team and the most-improved team. As with many of the Salukis, the personal accolades are secondary to winning the tournament.
"Honestly, it just makes me work harder to tell you the truth," Tatum said. "Everybody up there is going to be tough. Everybody is going to try to gun for us."
SIU sophomore guard Tony Young made the all-defensive team, the all-conference bench team, and he was voted the league's Sixth-Man of the Year.
"I can't let individual accolades take away from what we do as a team," Young said. "It feels good that people actually recognized me for playing hard. That's what I think I got the award for is coming in and playing hard."
SIU has been led in scoring - this season - by many different players at certain points, but it is that variety of options that gives the Salukis a great advantage in the postseason.
"A lot of people can hit shots, and a lot of people can make plays," Young said. "That's just the kind of team we have. No matter who's hot or who's not, there's always somebody that can step up."
The other honor bestowed upon the Salukis went to freshman Matt Shaw - he was selected to the all-freshman team in the conference. The
Shaw said he is extremely excited about being a part of something like Arch Madness, and he is looking forward to helping out his team in whatever capacity he is needed.
Ticket sales for the lower bowl at
"Going into it last year I didn't realize how much maroon was going to be there," said SIU forward LaMar Owen. "So, this year being our last year, we're definitely going to go out with the crowd behind our back."
Owen admitted the Salukis are hungrier than ever to stand on the stage at the tournament's championship game on Monday night.
"This year it's all about greed for us," Owen said. "This year we're just thinking like we're not in the tournament yet. We have to think like we need to win all three games to get in to the tournament."
Fourth-seeded Northern Iowa (21-9, 11-7) will meet fifth-seeded
