GAME NOTES
Senior Jamar Smith led USI with 18.5 ppg last year.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana opens the 2009-10 campaign by visiting Southern Illinois University for an exhibition game at 3:05 p.m. Saturday in Carbondale, Illinois. The exhibition contest also will be the collegiate head coaching debut of USI’s Rodney Watson, who was an associate head coach and assistant coach at SIU for the last 21 seasons.
During Watson's tenure at SIU, the Salukis won 11 Missouri Valley Conference championships and qualified for nine NCAA Tournaments and six NITs. SIU also compiled a 430-237 record, a .645 winnings percentage, and was ranked in the top 15 nationally in scoring defense four times in the last five seasons.
Also making a return appearance in the SIU Arena is former Saluki and new USI assistant coach Derick Tilmon. He was a three-year starting forward and center for the Salukis, ending his career as SIU’s 13th all-time leading shot blocker. The Salukis were 20-13 and advanced to the second round of the NIT during Tilmon’s senior season.
USI fans can purchase tickets for seats located in SIU Arena’s CC and TT sections. The games will be carried live on ESPN 106.7FM and WPSR 90.7FM. Fan also can catch all of the action through the internet at http://wyfx1067.webs.com or http://www.820theedge.com.
The Screaming Eagles are coming off a 27-7 year in 2008-09 that was topped off with trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the 21st time. The season also featured a GLVC West Division title and the GLVC Tournament being hosted by USI.
Leading the Eagles into 2009-10 is All-American senior guard Jamar Smith (Peoria, Illinois). Smith was USI’s top player in the second half of last season, averaging 18.5 points and 3.9 three-point field goals per game.
The Eagles also will have a big defensive presence in senior forward Tyrone Bradshaw (Cincinnati, Ohio). Bradshaw led the team and ranked second in the GLVC with 76 blocked shots last season (2.2 per game).
The Salukis are already underway in 2009-10, posting an 82-55 victory over Henderson State University last Saturday. SIU was led to the win by guard Justin Bocot, who had 16 points, and guard Kevin Dillliard, who had 15 points.
The regular season all-time series has SIU leading 3-0. The Salukis defeated the Eagles 84-59 in 1981-82; 103-73 in 1983-84; and 83-70 in 1984-85.
The Eagles will be looking for their first exhibition game winner against a Division I foe on Saturday after going 0-7 since 2003. USI has been edging closer with a four-point double-overtime loss last year and a two-point heartbreaking defeat in 2006 at the University of Evansville; and holding second half leads at the University of Louisville and the University of Tennessee in 2005.