Southern Illinois Salukis men's basketball

Last updated

Southern Illinois Salukis men's basketball
Basketball current event.svg 2024–25 Southern Illinois Salukis men's basketball team
Southern Illinois Salukis wordmark.svg
UniversitySouthern Illinois University
Head coach Scott Nagy (1st season)
Conference Missouri Valley
Location Carbondale, Illinois
Arena Banterra Center
(capacity: 8,284)
Nickname Salukis
ColorsMaroon and white [1]
   
Uniforms
Kit body thinsidesonwhite.png
Kit body basketball.svg
Kit shorts blanksides2.png
Kit shorts.svg
Home
Kit body thinwhitesides.png
Kit body basketball.svg
Kit shorts whitesides.png
Kit shorts.svg
Away
NCAA tournament runner-up
1965*, 1966*
Other NCAA tournament results
Final Four1962*, 1963*, 1965*, 1966*
Elite Eight1962*, 1963*, 1965*, 1966*
Sweet Sixteen1961*, 1962*, 1963*, 1964*, 1965*, 1966*, 1977, 2002, 2007
Appearances1959*, 1961*, 1962*, 1963*, 1964*, 1965*, 1966*, 1977, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
NAIA tournament champions
1946
Other NAIA tournament results
Semifinals1945, 1946
Quarterfinals1945, 1946
Appearances1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1960
Conference tournament champions
1977, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2006
Conference regular-season champions
MVC - 1977, 1990, 1992, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007
IIAC - 1946, 1947, 1948, 1960, 1961, 1962
NIT champions
1967

* at Division II level

The Southern Illinois Salukis men's basketball team represents Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Carbondale, Illinois. The Salukis compete in the NCAA Division 1, and they play their home games at Banterra Center. As of March 2024, former South Dakota State and Wright State coach, Scott Nagy, has become the newest head coach of the Southern Illinois basketball program. Southern Illinois has appeared 10 times in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, most recently in 2007.

Contents

History

Prior to joining the NCAA, the Salukis competed in the NAIA men's basketball. Appearing five times, with a combined tournament record of 9 wins and 4 losses. Most notable tournament appearances came in 1945, in which the Salukis finished third, and then the following year in the 1946 tournament where the Salukis were NAIA national champions. The Salukis would not place again in the following three tournament appearances in 1947, 1948, 1960.

Captains Ralph Johnson and Walt Frazier hoist the 1967 NIT championship trophy. Southern Illinois 1967 NIT.jpg
Captains Ralph Johnson and Walt Frazier hoist the 1967 NIT championship trophy.

In 1967, SIU, led by guard Walt Frazier, who went on to be named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, won the National Invitation Tournament under coach Jack Hartman. At the time, the tournament was considered much more prestigious than it is today. The Salukis were in their final season members of the College Division [2] (now Division II) and became the only non-Division I/University Division team to win the NIT. After the NCAA began operating the NIT in 2006, non-Division I teams were no longer eligible to participate. Frazier was named Most Valuable Player of the 1967 NIT.

In 1977, future NBA player Mike Glenn led the Salukis to the NCAA Division I Tournament Sweet Sixteen.

From 1993 to 1995, SIU advanced to three straight NCAA Division I Tournaments. Prior to that, the Salukis participated in the National Invitation Tournament for four consecutive years from 1989 to 1992.

Part of the SIU Saluki men's basketball team's 2003 season was chronicled in MTV's True Life: I Am A College Baller. [3]

The Saluki men's basketball team garnered national attention by advancing to the Sweet Sixteen in 2002 and 2007.

In the 2006–2007 season, the Salukis, coached by Chris Lowery, reached their highest ranking in the AP Coaches Poll and the ESPN/USA Today Poll with a position of #11, before dropping to #14 after losing the MVC to Creighton prior to entering the NCAA tournament.

After achieving success at SIU, former coaches Bruce Weber and Matt Painter accepted head coaching positions at schools in the Big Ten. Weber took over at Illinois in 2003 and Painter – an alumnus of and former basketball player at Purdue University – accepted the Boilermakers' offer to become top assistant and designated successor to Gene Keady in 2004, becoming head coach in March 2005.

Prior to the 2018–19 season, the Salukis became the first NCAA men's basketball team to win a completed game against the Cuban national team during a pre-season visit to the country. [4]

Nine Salukis have gone on to play in the NBA:

Chico Vaughn - St. Louis Hawks (1963–66), Detroit Pistons (1966-67)
Walt Frazier - New York Knicks (1968–77), Cleveland Cavaliers (1978–80)
Dick Garrett - Los Angeles Lakers (1970), Buffalo Braves (1971-73), New York Knicks (1974), Milwaukee Bucks (1974)
Nate Hawthorne - Los Angeles Lakers (1974), Phoenix Suns (1975–76)
Joe C. Meriweather - Houston Rockets (1976), Atlanta Hawks (1977), New Orleans Jazz (1978–79), Kansas City Kings (1981–85)
Mike Glenn - Buffalo Braves (1978), New York Knicks (1979-81), Atlanta Hawks (1982–85), Milwaukee Bucks (1986-87)
Ashraf Amaya - Vancouver Grizzlies (1996), Washington Bullets (1997)
Chris Carr - Phoenix Suns (1996), Minnesota Timberwolves (1997–98), New Jersey Nets (1999), Golden State Warriors (2000), Chicago Bulls (2000), Boston Celtics (2001)
Troy Hudson - Utah Jazz (1998), Los Angeles Clippers (1999-2000), Orlando Magic (2001-02), Minnesota Timberwolves (2003–07), Golden State Warriors (2007–08)

Yearly records (Division I)

Statistics overview
SeasonCoachOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Jack Hartman (Division I Independent)(1967–1970)
1967-68Jack Hartman 20-2
1968–69Jack Hartman 16–8
1969–70Jack Hartman 13–10
Jack Hartman:29–18
Paul Lambert (Midwestern Conference)(1970–1972)
1970–71Paul Lambert 13–10
1971–72Paul Lambert 10–16
Paul Lambert (Division I Independent)(1972–1975)
1972–73Paul Lambert 11–15
1973–74Paul Lambert 19–7
1974–75Paul Lambert 18–9 NIT 1st Round
Paul Lambert (Missouri Valley Conference)(1975–1978)
1975–76Paul Lambert 16–109–32nd
1976–77Paul Lambert 22–78–4T–1st NCAA regional semi-Finals
1977–78Paul Lambert 17–1011–53rd
Paul Lambert:126–8428–12
Joe Gottfried (Missouri Valley Conference)(1978–1981)
1978–79Joe Gottfried 15–138–8T–3rd
1979–80Joe Gottfried 9–175–118th
1980–81Joe Gottfried 7–200–169th
Joe Gottfried:31–5013–35
Allen Van Winkle (Missouri Valley Conference)(1981–1985)
1981–82Allen Van Winkle 11–167–97th
1982–83Allen Van Winkle 9–195–138th
1983–84Allen Van Winkle 15–137–9T–5th
1984–85Allen Van Winkle 14–146–10T–6th
Allen Van Winkle:49–6225–41
Rich Herrin (Missouri Valley Conference)(1985–1998)
1985–86Rich Herrin 8–204–12T–8th
1986–87Rich Herrin 12–175–96th
1987–88Rich Herrin 12–166–8T–4th
1988–89Rich Herrin 20–146–8T–5th NIT 1st Round
1989–90Rich Herrin 26–810–41st NIT 1st Round
1990–91Rich Herrin 18–149–7T–4th NIT Quarterfinals
1991–92Rich Herrin 22–814–4T–1st NIT 1st Round
1992–93 Rich Herrin 23–1012–62nd NCAA 1st Round
1993–94 Rich Herrin 23–714–4T–2nd NCAA 1st Round
1994–95Rich Herrin 23–913–5T–2nd NCAA 1st Round
1995–96Rich Herrin 11–184–14T–10th
1996–97Rich Herrin 13–176–129th
1997–98Rich Herrin 14–168–108th
Rich Herrin:225–174111–103
Bruce Weber (Missouri Valley Conference)(1998–2003)
1998–99Bruce Weber 15–1210–8T–5th
1999–2000Bruce Weber 20–1312–63rd NIT 2nd Round
2000–01Bruce Weber 16–1410–8T–4th
2001–02 Bruce Weber 28–814–4T–1st NCAA Sweet 16
2002–03 Bruce Weber 24–716–21st NCAA 1st Round
Bruce Weber:103–5462–28
Matt Painter (Missouri Valley Conference)(2003–2004)
2003–04 Matt Painter 25–517–11st NCAA 1st Round
Matt Painter:25–517–1
Chris Lowery (Missouri Valley Conference)(2004–2012)
2004–05 Chris Lowery 27–815–31st NCAA 2nd Round
2005–06 Chris Lowery 22–1112–62nd NCAA 1st Round
2006–07 Chris Lowery 29–715–31st NCAA Sweet 16
2007–08Chris Lowery 18–1511–73rd NIT 2nd Round
2008–09Chris Lowery 13–188–105th
2009–10Chris Lowery 15–156–129th
2010–11Chris Lowery 13–195–138th
2011–12Chris Lowery 8–235–139th
Chris Lowery:145–11577–67
Barry Hinson (Missouri Valley Conference)(2012–2019)
2012–13 Barry Hinson 14–176–1210th
2013–14 Barry Hinson 14–199–9T–4th
2014–15 Barry Hinson 12–214–149th
2015–16 Barry Hinson 22–1011–7T–4th
2016–17 Barry Hinson 17–169–9T–3rd
2017–18 Barry Hinson 20–1311–72nd
2018–19 Barry Hinson 17–1410–8T–3rd
Barry Hinson:116–11060–66
Bryan Mullins (Missouri Valley Conference)(2019–present)
2019–20 Bryan Mullins 16–1610–85th
2020–21 Bryan Mullins 12–145–139th
2021–22 Bryan Mullins 16–159–96th
2022–23 Bryan Mullins 23–1014–6T–3rd
2023–24 Bryan Mullins 19-1311-96th
Bryan Mullins:86–6849–45
Total:948–753

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Postseason results

NCAA Division I tournament results

The Salukis have appeared in the NCAA Division I Tournament ten times. Their combined record is 6–10.

YearSeedRoundOpponentResult
1977 Quarterfinals
Sweet Sixteen
Arizona
Wake Forest
W 81–77
L 81–86
1993 #14First Round#3 Duke L 70–105
1994 #11First Round#6 Minnesota L 60–74
1995 #10First Round#7 Syracuse L 92–96
2002 #11First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
#6 Texas Tech
#3 Georgia
#2 Connecticut
W 76–68
W 77–75
L 59–71
2003 #11First Round#6 Missouri L 71–72
2004 #9First Round#8 Alabama L 64–65
2005 #7First Round
Second Round
#10 St. Mary's
#2 Oklahoma State
W 56–65
L 77–85
2006 #11First Round#6 West Virginia L 46–64
2007 #4First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
#13 Holy Cross
#5 Virginia Tech
#1 Kansas
W 61–51
W 63–48
L 58–61

NCAA Division II tournament results

The Salukis have appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament seven times. Their combined record is 17–9.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1959 Regional Semifinals
Regional Third Place
Wittenberg
Belmont Abbey
L 70–80
L 70–79
1961 Regional Semifinals
Regional Finals
Trinity
Southeast Missouri State
W 96–82
L 84–88
1962 Regional Semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight
Final Four
National Third Place
Union
Evansville
Northeastern
Mount St. Mary's
Nebraska Wesleyan
W 70–56
W 88–83
W 73–57
L 57–58
W 98–91
1963 Regional Semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight
Final Four
National Third Place
Southeast Missouri State
Lamar
Evansville
South Dakota State
Oglethorpe
W 87–79
W 93–84
W 86–73
L 76–80
L 64–68
1964 Regional Semifinals
Regional Finals
Ball State
Evansville
W 88–81
L 59–64
1965 Regional Semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight
Final Four
National Championship Game
Concordia (IL)
Central Michigan
Washington-St. Louis
North Dakota
Evansville
W 71–70
W 90–62
W 76–67
W 97–64
L 82–85 OT
1966 Regional Semifinals
Regional Finals
Elite Eight
Final Four
National Championship Game
Indiana State
Evansville
Fresno State
North Dakota
Kentucky Wesleyan
W 83–65
W 90–77
W 93–70
W 69–63
L 51–54

NAIA tournament results

The Salukis have appeared in five NAIA Division I tournaments. Their combined record is 9–4. They were NAIA national champions in 1946.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1945 First Round
Elite Eight
Final Four
Third Place Game
Washburn
Doane
Loyola (LA)
Eastern Kentucky
W 64–49
W 61–44
L 35–37
W 49–45
1946 First Round
Second Round
Elite Eight
Final Four
National Championship
Central Missouri
Loras
Nevada
Loyola (LA)
Indiana State
W 49–39
W 58–55
W 66–58
W 53–37
W 49–48
1947 First RoundDakota WesleyanL 39–44
1948 First RoundSouthern Oregon
Manhattan
W 54–50
L 42–52
1960 First RoundOklahoma BaptistL 71–75

NIT results

The Salukis have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) nine times. Their combined record is 8–8. They were NIT champions in 1967.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1967 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
Saint Peter's
Duke
Rutgers
Marquette
W 103–58
W 72–63
W 79–70
W 71–56
1969 First RoundSouth CarolinaL 63–72
1975 First RoundPittsburghL 65–70
1989 First RoundSaint LouisL 54–87
1990 First RoundGreen BayL 60–73
1991 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Boise State
Missouri State
Stanford
W 74–75
W 72–69
L 68–78
1992 First RoundBoston CollegeL 69–78
2000 First RoundColorado
BYU
W 94–92
L 57–82
2008 First Round
Second Round
Oklahoma State
Arizona State
W 69–53
L 51–65

Retired numbers

Two players have had their numbers retired by the school.

Southern Illinois Salukis retired numbers
No.PlayerCareerRef.
20 Chico Vaughn 1958–1962 [5]
52 Walt Frazier 1963–1967 [6]

References

  1. Missouri Valley Conference Style Guide (PDF). August 29, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  2. "2021–22 NCAA Men's Basketball Conference Standings: Division I Alignment History" (PDF). NCAA. 2023. p. 49. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  3. "Shadowbox Films:". 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2007.
  4. Hefferman, Todd. "Salukis beat Cuban national team on Bartley's game-winning 3". The Southern. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  5. Charles Vaughn bio at Siusalukis.com
  6. Frazier bio at Siusalukis.com