Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Eight-team field announced for Chicago Invitational Challenge
06/02/2010 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
June 2, 2010
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The field for the fifth-annual Chicago Invitational Challenge at the Sears Centre Arena will feature Southern Illinois, Purdue, Richmond, Wright State, Austin Peay State, Oakland, Southern University and Charleston Southern, tournament organizers announced Wednesday.
The first two rounds will be played at campus sites, and SIU will host Austin Peay on Nov. 21, and Charleston Southern on Nov. 23. The final rounds take place during Thanksgiving, Nov. 26-27, at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. All eight teams will advance to Chicago. SIU is guaranteed to play two of three teams from a pool of Purdue, Richmond and Wright State.
Southern Illinois returns three starters from last year's team that finished 15-15, led by senior forward Carlton Fay. Fay averaged 12.0 points and 3.4 rebounds, while shooting 38 percent from 3-point range. Also returning is junior guard Justin Bocot (9.1 points) and sophomore center Gene Teague (6.1 points, 4.6 rebounds), who was named the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year.
The Boilermakers will be led by All-Big Ten performers E'Twaun Moore (16.4 ppg) and JaJuan Johnson (15.5 ppg), who have decided to return for their senior seasons. Senior forward Robbie Hummel (15.7 ppg), who will be returning from season-ending knee surgery, will make this trio one of the nation's best. Purdue is expected to start the season ranked in the top 10 and contend for a national title.
Richmond is coming off the best season in school history and its first NCAA appearance since 2004. The Spiders return Atlantic 10 Player of the Year point guard Kevin Anderson (17.8 ppg). The Spiders should be a preseason Top 25 team.
Wright State is under the new leadership of Chicago native and first year head Coach Billy Donlon. The Raiders are coming off their fourth-straight 20-win season and return All-Horizon League performer Vaughn Duggins (14.2 ppg).
Each school will receive a block of the best tickets, and Saluki fans may purchase SIU's inventory directly from the Saluki Athletic Ticket Office. To purchase tickets, fans can download an order form from the official athletics website (www.SIUSalukis.com).
Sears Centre Arena is an 11,000-seat multi purpose family entertainment, cultural, and sports arena located in Hoffman Estates' Prairie Stone Business Park. The Sears Centre Arena, which opened in 2006, is designed to accommodate a variety of events including concerts, family shows and sporting events. For more information regarding the Sears Centre Arena and upcoming events, please visit the arena's website at www.searscentre.com
