Southern Illinois' Program

[Hime_Peterson]

What more can you say? They have an exceptional program. The coaches have changed, the players have changed, but the system and the results haven't.

I thought they would have a rebuilding year and probably be an NIT team this year, but sure enough, they are dancing for their fifth straight year. It doesn't always look pretty, but if you watch that team play and you can't enjoy and admire the way that they play defense, then you don't appreciate good basketball. Very impressive program.

[SALUKI FAN]

We all thought the same thing. Rebuilding year, team too young and inexperienced, no solid leadership. Many times we doubted Lowerys ability to lead in tough situations. And at times we sure as hell looked that way!
Todays game surprised me as I dont think you can describe the second half of the Bradley game as anything less than an old fashioned a$% whoopin! I hoped to win, but I thought we were looking at a 2 point game or less one way or the other. We definetly have potentially the best team ever coming the next couple of years losing no starters and gettting Bone. Should be interesting. Falker is going to be amazing. He shocked the hell out of all of us in SalukiLand today.

[panther2317]

I think as a fan of college hoops in general...you have to tip your cap to them. I hate to lose to SIU, but they've found a way to get it done this year. Now, to any SIU fans on here...please...win a game or two in the NCAA's and gain some national respect for our league.

[Marc Wigim]

Falker is going to be amazing.

One thing's for sure... he's a bad motherFalker.

That was terrible... I apologize.

[panther2317]

They should have t-shirts made that say:

"DUNK IT FALKER!"

[JayJ79]

anyone know if the SIU cheerleader who took the header is alright?
(the whole "cheer routine while being carted off" was a good sign. but you never know, as head/neck injuries can be scary)

[Newsbreaker]

SIU has done amazing things, but let's be honest, they should be at that level across the board. The school has almost 30,000 freaking students!! They dwarf most MVC schools. There is no excuse for them not being very successful.

[Matt Trump]

SIU has done amazing things, but let's be honest, they should be at that level across the board. The school has almost 30,000 freaking students!! They dwarf most MVC schools. There is no excuse for them not being very successful.

I believe its 30,000 split between a couple of schools though.

[Newsbreaker]

I dunno, it could be Reed, but either way, that's a lot of alumni and potential boosters to beg for money. They also are a more established graduate school then UNI (while not nearly the undergrad school we are), meaning even more highly paid alumni.

They have advantages other schools do not, is the point.

[Matt Trump]

I dunno, it could be Reed, but either way, that's a lot of alumni and potential boosters to beg for money. They also are a more established graduate school then UNI (while not nearly the undergrad school we are), meaning even more highly paid alumni.

Graduate programs are HUGE for donors and money into sports programs. UNI could use more of those.

[Hime_Peterson]

SIU doesn't have near the cash that Creighton has. Creighton has BCS-money for their basketball program.

[DWadle1983]

SIU has done amazing things, but let's be honest, they should be at that level across the board. The school has almost 30,000 freaking students!! They dwarf most MVC schools. There is no excuse for them not being very successful.

SIU at Carbondale's enrollment is around 20,000, give or take a 1,000. SIU at Edwardsville has over 10,000.

A couple thousand enrolled at Carbondale are distance learning students.

Carbondale has a lower level law school and lower level medical school, but if I remember correctly the medical school is upstate at Peoria or Springfield.

One advantage SIU has is that its the only state university in Southern Illinois (the far southern part has around 250-300,000 people) and is a few hours away from Champaign. I imagine that helps SIU raise contributions, and I imagine that SIU also has southern Illinois politicians looking out for SIU in Springfield. UNI's proximity to Iowa will always hurt UNI.

SIU has advantages over UNI in the ability to raise money but probably less of an advantage than Iowa State has over UNI.

[Newsbreaker]

I certainly wasn't comparing them to Iowa or Iowa State, both schools of comparable size if you include their Edwardsville populace.

They may have 'lower level' Law and Medical programs, but that's a large step ahead of what UNI has, and those folks make good money that many UNI grads don't see as well.

The point is, they have resources that should put them at a decided advantage.

[Panthers to the Bone]

SIU has a strong Engineering program also. Anyone remember the name "Buckminster Fullerene"? He also created what is known as "Bucky Balls" (for those with science background). He is from SIU.

But, having law and medicine (SIU has physician and dental), to go along with engineering, they have money there.