Men's Basketball takes on No. 11 Louisville on Wednesday

Southern Illinois plays its third Power Five opponent of the season on Wednesday when it plays at Louisville at 6 p.m. CT. The Salukis previously lost to Arkansas (Nov. 14) by 25 points and Minnesota (Nov. 25) by 12 points. The last time the Salukis beat a Power Five program was in 2008, when they defeated Oklahoma State in the first round of the NIT. Since that game, they have lost nine straight.

Series vs. Louisville
The Salukis are 2-3 lifetime against the Cardinals. The 53-50 win in Carbondale on Jan. 11, 1967 was especially memorable. SIU was a College Division program at the time, and Louisville was ranked No. 2 in the nation among University Division teams. Dick Garrett had 18 points to lead SIU, while Walt Frazier added 16. The Salukis went 24-2 that season, won the NIT title, and finished ranked No. 1 in the nation among College Division teams.

Louisville was actually a member of the Missouri Valley Conference from 1963 to 1974. Southern Illinois, which moved up to University Division status in 1967-68, joined the league for the 1975-76 season.

Salukis versus ranked opponents
The Salukis are playing a nationally ranked non-conference opponent for the first time since Christmas Day in 2011. On that date, SIU lost to No. 14/15 Xavier, 87-77. The last time SIU beat a nationally ranked non-conference team was on Dec. 11, 2007 when it beat No. 24 Saint Mary's at home, 71-56. The last road win against a non-conference ranked foe was on Feb. 17, 2007 when SIU beat No. 13 Butler, 68-64.

Salukis vs. the ACC
The Salukis are 10-17 all-time against current members of the ACC. The most recent meeting was an overtime loss to Clemson on Dec. 23, 2012. The last win against an ACC team came against Virginia Tech — a 63-48 victory in the NCAA Tournament on Mar. 18, 2007.

Mike Rodriguez accounts for 36 percent of Saluki offense
PG Mike Rodriguez (5-10, 165, Sr.) has had a hand in 36 percent of SIU's field goals this year, as the team's leader in scoring (14.5) and assists (47). He has a 2.61 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.

Thik Bol 31st in the nation in blocked shots
F Thik Bol (6-8, 205, Jr.) ranks 31st in the nation in blocked shots per game (2.38). He had a career-high six blocks versus Mount St. Mary's. He is also second on the team in rebounding (7.6).

Rodriguez to Bol connection
The biggest beneficiary of Mike Rodriguez passing prowess has been C Thik Bol. Of Rodriguez' 47 assists this season, 38 percent (18) have led to baskets by Bol. Bol has shown he can finish with authority — 20 of his 37 field goals (54 percent) have been dunks.

Sean O'Brien voted Preseason Second-Team All-MVC
F Sean O'Brien (6-7, 215, Sr.) is SIU's top returning scorer, rebounder and shot blocker from last season. He was also second on the team in assists. The savvy veteran first cracked the lineup early in his freshman campaign, and has started 97 of the last 98 games, including a current streak of 75-consecutive starts.

Dawg Bites
•Rodriguez is 19th in the nation in free throw attempts (49-of-65).
•All five starters are averaging double figures in scoring for SIU.
•SIU is 2-1 in games decided by five points or less this season.
•In the Salukis' five wins, they are a combined +114 in points scored in the paint. In the three losses, they are a combined -4.
•The Salukis were 6-1 in December last year and are 1-0 this year.

Armon Fletcher with the hot hand
Armon Fletcher (6-4, 190, So.) is the team's top 3-point shooter so far, converting 17-of-39 (.436). He has made multiple 3-pointers in six of the eight games.

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.

Leo Vincent smooth transition to starting job
G Leo Vincent (6-1, 192, Sr.) played in all 32 games last year, never started, but was the team's fourth-leading scorer (8.1 points) and was named to the MVC's All-Bench team. This season, he has started all eight games and is the team's third-leading scorer (11.6 points) and is second in 3-point shooting (.343).

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Players Mentioned

Thik Bol

Armon Fletcher

Sean O'Brien

Mike Rodriguez

Tyler Smithpeters

Leo Vincent

Scoreboard

Upcoming Events