Salukis Falling Apart

Growing Up in Southern Illinois, I was a SIU sports fan from as early as I can remember. Needless to say, I have thoroughly enjoyed following the Salukis men's hoops success of recent years, even from a distance. 2002's Sweet Sixteen was the high point, but the four consecutive Missouri Valley Conference titles have also been very exciting.

Unfortunately that streak is coming to an end. In the first half of this season it looked like the Salukis were going to surprise everyone and possibly be in a position to pull off a fifth consecutive conference season title. The Salukis tenacious defense and stellar guard play was permitting them to rack up win after win. But as of late, it looks like the preseason pessimists were right after all. In the year that some are projecting the Missouri Valley to get five teams in the dance, it's as if SIU actually doesn't want to be in the NCAA tournament. To get in, Southern will have to upset Northern Iowa in the season finale and then have an impressive showing in St. Louis in the conference tournament.