Oct. 31, 2009

By Tom Weber
www.SIUSalukis.com

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CARBONDALE, Ill. - Saluki fans got a dash of the past along with a glimpse at the future during Saturday night's men's basketball exhibition win over Henderson State. As expected, Southern Illinois cruised to an easy, 82-55 victory against its Division II opponent. How they won was more intriguing.

The returning backcourt duo of Kevin Dillard and Justin Bocot were turned loose in the open court, as the Salukis played a more up-tempo style than fans are accustomed to.

"It's fun -- I'm a transition kind of guy," said Dillard, who sliced his way through the defense, scoring 15 points and adding six assists with no turnovers. "I don't like to slow it down unless I have to. With the athletes that we have and the big men that can run up and down the floor, (up tempo) is the best situation for us, because we get easy dunks, and we have people shooting threes off the break."

Bocot was explosive in the open floor, scoring a game-high 16 points, adding three steals and a breakaway dunk.

"My understanding of the game and my role on the team has improved," Bocot said. "I'm more comfortable in the system, and I think I bettered myself on both sides --offense and defense -- since last season."

It wasn't just Dillard and Bocot who excelled in the open court. Newcomers to the backcourt Kendal Brown-Surles, Jack Crowder and John Freeman kept the transition game going, combining for 22 points off the bench.

Brown-Surles only scored two points, but the speedy point guard changed the tempo during his 16 minutes of action. His highlights included a crowd-pleasing lob pass to Crowder for a dunk.

"Kendal is a change of pace," said head coach Chris Lowery. "He's a push point guard. He's a pass-first guy. He blows their socks off, and we get lobs, and we get penetration and pitches."

Crowder transferred to Southern with a reputation as a scorer, and he did not disappoint, pouring in 12 points in 17 minutes. He showed the ability to score in both transition and the half court, converting a pair of 3-point shots.

"Jack came off the bench and did what we thought he could do, and that is score," Lowery said. "He plays with a tremendous amount of energy, and he's athletic."

Like Crowder, Freeman is a 6-foot-4 wing player with explosiveness. He scored eight points and had four rebounds.

"I thought when John and Jack get in, they change how we are on the wing position," said Lowery, whose team forced 22 turnovers and recorded 11 steals. "They're both long and athletic. They allow us to get out in the passing lanes a little more."

When SIU needed an inside bucket, it looked to 6-foot-11 sophomore Nick Evans and 6-foot-9, 290-pound freshman Gene Teague. Evans scored 11 points, including a pair of dunks, and Teague bulldozed his way for six points and a team-high nine rebounds.

The Salukis used 13 players, and it's easy to see how the team could go 10-deep this season.

"The difference from this year and last year is that we have depth now," Dillard said. "I don't have to hold the ball in every second of the game now."

One Saluki who did not play was junior forward Carlton Fay, who was the team's second-leading scorer a year ago. Lowery said it was a disciplinary matter, but that he looks forward to Fay's return.

"When Carlton gets in the mix, it's going to change some things," Lowery said. "Carlton can shoot the three. Carlton's had a tremendous spring, summer and fall, as far as improving himself as a player. Kevin knows that Carlton's our security blanket on offense, when things bog down, because he can shoot the basketball."

The Salukis will host Southern Indiana at 3 p.m. next Saturday in the final tuneup before the home opener versus UT-Martin on Nov. 14.