Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Minnesota
Men's Basketball seeks upset at Big Ten Minnesota on Friday
11/23/2016 | 12:36:00 | Men's Basketball
Series vs. Minnesota
The teams have met twice before on neutral courts. Most recently, the Salukis beat Minnesota, 69-53, on Nov. 24, 2006 at the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Florida. In that game, the Salukis forced 22 turnovers. When SIU pulled its starters from the contest with five minutes remaining, it led, 58-34. Matt Shaw scored a career-high 26 points.
The teams also met in Sacremento, California on March 18, 1994 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Gophers, prevailed, 74-60. SIU was led by Chris Lowery's 19 points.
Common Opponents
SIU and Minnesota have played two common opponents this season as part of the informally organized Golden Gopher Invitational. Minnesota beat Mount St. Mary's by 24, while SIU won by 10. Minnesota beat Arkansas by 14, while SIU lost to the Razorbacks by 25.
Salukis vs. the Big Ten Conference
The Salukis are 10-22 all-time against current members of the Big Ten Conference, including a 1-14 mark on the road. The lone road win came at Wisconsin in 1969. Barry Hinson has a 1-2 record lifetime against the Big Ten, with two losses to Purdue and a win versus Wisconsin — all while coaching at Missouri State.Â
Offense among national leaders
The Salukis rank 88th in the nation in scoring (81.0), 28th in field goal percentage (51.2) and 32nd in 3-point shooting percentage (41.3) after five games.
Mike Rodriguez leads team in scoring, assists
PG Mike Rodriguez (5-10, 165, Sr.) has accounted for 31 percent of SIU's baskets this year, as the team's leader in scoring (14.6) and assists (231). He has a 1.92 assist-TO ratio. His ratio last year (1.88) was the ninth-best single-season mark in school history. Rodriguez scored a career-high 29 points in the opener against Wright State, nearly doubling his previous best of 15 versus Air Force on Nov. 13, 2015. Â
Sean O'Brien voted Preseason Second-Team All-MVC
F Sean O'Brien (6-7, 215, Sr.) is SIU's top returning scorer (12.1 points), rebounder (6.0 rebounds) and shot blocker (29 blocks). He was also second on the team in assists (63). The savvy veteran first cracked the lineup early in his freshman campaign, and has started 94 of the last 95 games, including a current streak of 72-consecutive starts.
Thik Bol among nation's top shot blockers
F Thik Bol (6-8, 205, Jr.) ranks 21st in the nation in blocked shots per game (2.8). He's coming off a career-high six blocks versus Mount St. Mary's. He also is tied for the team lead in rebounding.
Armon Fletcher with the hot handÂ
Armon Fletcher (6-4, 190, So.) is the team's top 3-point shooter so far, converting 12-of-22 (.545). He has made multiple 3-pointers in every game and is the only Saluki player to score double figures in all five games this season.
Senior leadership
The Salukis' senior class (Sean O'Brien, Leo Vincent, Mike Rodriguez, Tyler Smithpeters) has the most returning career points and rebounds of any school in the Missouri Valley Conference. In fact, 25 percent of the returning scoring in the MVC comes from SIU's four seniors.
Dawg Bites
•Minnesota starting C Reggie Lynch played four games against SIU while a member of Illinois State. His totals included 15-of-24 (.625) shooting, 43 points and 12 blocked shots.
•In the Salukis' three wins, they are a combined +84 in points scored in the paint. In the two losses, they are a combined -2.
•In the first three games, Sean O'Brien had 3 assists/13 TOs. In the last two games, he had 18 assists/6 TOs.
•O'Brien and Bol are co-leaders of the MVC in rebounding (9.0), which ranks 61st in the nation.
•The Salukis started 14-2 last season and did not lose their third game until Jan. 9, 2016 vs. Wichita State.
