Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Basketball will be tested early, often
08/22/2006 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
Aug. 22, 2006
By Tom Weber
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - When you are one of just 15 teams in the country to make five-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, it can be tough to find opponents willing to play you.
Southern Illinois continues to encounter scheduling challenges because of its stature in college basketball, but Saluki men's basketball coach Chris Lowery said he is pleased with the final product for 2006-07.
Southern Illinois will play home, non-conference games against Murray State (Nov. 19), St. Louis (Dec. 2) and Central Michigan (Dec. 20), as those schools return the second leg of a home-and-home series.
The road slate features three, new opponents -- Western Kentucky (Dec. 9), Indiana (Dec. 17) and Saint Mary's (Dec. 23). All three will make a return trip to Carbondale in 2007-08.
Rounding out the non-conference schedule is a one-time, home game against Washington (Mo.) on Nov. 10, a return game at Louisiana Tech (Nov. 29), a road ESPN BracketBusters contest (Feb. 17), and the ESPNU Classic in Orlando, Fla., which opens with Arkansas on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 23).
Beginning with the Arkansas game, SIU plays 10 out of 13 games away from home between Nov. 23 and Jan. 10.
"Winning at this level makes it tough to get home games," Lowery said. "We don't complain about it. We've played road games before. It builds character for our kids. It builds a better player come March."
Playing in tournaments, such as the ESPNU Classic, is a critical opportunity for the program, Lowery said. The Salukis will play a Southeastern Conference powerhouse on a neutral court, and potentially could play other high-profile teams in the other, two tournament games.
Rarely will a high-major program, such as Arkansas, agree to play a home-and-home series with SIU. That's one reason why Lowery is satisfied with the schedule. The Salukis were able to get Indiana to play at SIU Arena in 2007.
"We're trying to find ways to get good teams in this building on a regular basis," Lowery said. "We refuse to do things that will put us in a bind for several years with regard to our schedule."
With five, returning starters, Lowery said he doesn't fear playing so many games away from home in the upcoming season.
"We have a program in place," he said. "We have seniors and older kids, who have been in our system for some time. The level of confidence is higher."
In conference play, the MVC will continue its tradition of an 18-game, home-and-home series for all, 10 league members.
If you are not already a men's basketball season-ticket holder, you will want to mark Sept. 7 on your calendar. On that day, the ticket office will have its annual, season-ticket Tag Day at SIU Arena. All available seats in the lower bowl and upper bowl will be tagged for purchase. If the seat has a donation requirement, the donation must be made at the time of purchase.
Beginning at 6:30 p.m. on the 7th, the ticket office will give out lottery tickets to set the order for fans to choose their seats. The lottery drawing will take place at 7 p.m., and the first group will be allowed into the Arena at 7:15 p.m.
The cost of lower bowl tickets is $200, and some require an additional donation to the Saluki Athletic Scholarship Fund (SASF). Upper bowl tickets are $130 for adults, $110 for Faculty/Staff/Senior Citizens/Emeritus, and $100 for high school and younger.
