SOUTHERN ILLINOIS SALUKIS
 Coach: Chris Lowery  |  Record: 22-10

 
Overview: It  was a season of peaks and valleys for the Salukis. Early losses to Monmouth and Alaska-Anchorage were followed by an eleven-game winning streak, highlighted by victories over Kent State and Murray State. The Salukis then struggled through a stretch that saw them lose five of seven, which included a loss at Evansville. But Chris Lowery’s team bounced back and played very well in the Valley tournament. So which squad will show up for the dance?

Potential Difference Maker: If Kristi Yamaoka pulls a Willis Reed and shows up to cheer, she gets it hands down. But in terms of actual Saluki players, forward Randal Falker is stepping it up at the right time. He didn't record a double-double until a January 28 win over Illinois State. Since then, he's recorded five more, including a large 17 point, 16 rebound effort in the MVC tourney final.

On Offense: They run a similar motion offense to Illinois and will run sets out of their motion. They are mostly looking for Jamaal Tatum and Tony Young off of screens as one Valley Coach says “they must log 10 miles per game.” The perimeter players help isolate Randal Falker inside.

On Defense: The best defensive team in the Missouri Valley, they will play hard-nosed man-to-man defense that will extend and pressure in the half-court. Tony Young is a big-time defender.

Strength: Their NCAA experience and defensive toughness gives them a chance to be tough to beat. They also have balance on offense.

Weakness: They are not a great shooting team (41% from the field) and can be inconsistent on offense. They lack depth inside.

Keys to Success: They must make shots from the perimeter and keep Falker out of foul trouble.

How to Beat Them: A strong inside presence can hurt them and you have to handle the pressure on the perimeter. Defensively, you have to control their penetration.