Anthony Beane Sr. closely tracks Illinois State?s basketball scores from a distance. His boss, Barry Hinson, said Beane is ?distraught? about the Redbirds? six-game losing streak.
Beane can?t argue with that.
?You develop relationships with those guys and their families,? said Beane, who spent the five previous seasons as ISU?s assistant coach. ?It really hurts for those seniors ? Jackie (Carmichael), John Wilkins, Anthony Cousin, Tyler Brown ? and know this is their last go-around. It definitely hurts, but there?s nothing you really can do. I hope they get it figured out ? after Sunday, of course.?
There figures to be plenty of pregame hugs Sunday. Beane and his son, freshman guard and Normal Community High School graduate Anthony Jr., will be on the opposing side when ISU takes on Southern Illinois at 7 p.m. in a Missouri Valley Conference game at SIU Arena.
Beane was hired as an assistant by Hinson, the new Salukis? head coach, in May after Tim Jankovich left as ISU?s coach and Dan Muller was hired. Beane Jr., who signed with ISU in November 2011, was released from his national letter of intent with the Redbirds to follow his father.
Both teams are desperate for a victory. The Redbirds (9-9 overall) haven?t won since Dec. 22 and are in the Valley basement at 0-6. SIU (8-9) sits just ahead of ISU in the league standings at 1-5.
?I?ll be really glad to see those guys,? said Beane Sr. of ISU?s players. ?I was really excited to see the success they were having in nonconference. It will be nice to chat with them a little bit before the game. It will be weird from the standpoint of being on the opposite bench and coaching against those guys, no question about it.?
Beane Jr. also knows the Redbird players well from the time he spent around the program. His father believes his 6-foot-1 son owes some of his success this season to the Redbirds? veteran players. The younger Beane said he developed a close relationship with Bryant Allen and Johnny Hill.
With his 10.4 average, Beane Jr. is the leading freshman scorer in the Valley and the early choice for Valley Freshman of the Year. He has started all but two games and also averages 2.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals.
?His transition came along even a lot quicker than I imagined,? said Beane Sr. ?Growing up around the game and getting the chance to play against college players when he was in high school, he already had a comfortable feeling right away than most high school kids would have. Certainly playing in Coach Hinson?s system, which is identical to Coach Jankovich?s system, have paid dividends for him and helped in his transition.?
Muller, who interviewed for the SIU position last spring, said he is happy everything has turned out well for the Beanes.
?Anthony and his family are really good people. It was a tough situation,? said Muller. ?He knows our players, but he doesn?t know our system ? everyone watches film, so it?s not much of an advantage.?
The Redbirds will have to contend with the smallest team they have faced. The Salukis had several of their post players transfer the past couple years and don?t start anyone over 6-5. Jeff Early, a 6-1 senior, plays the power forward spot.
However, the Salukis have adopted the scrappy personality of their coach, Hinson. Five of SIU?s losses have been by eight points or less.
?They have talent, but they have very little size,? said Muller. ?Defensively they play hard and help each other and gang rebound.?
The elder Beane said he spoke with Jankovich this week about facing the Redbirds for the first time and the emotions he expects to feel. However, Beane figures once the ball is tossed up it will be just like a normal game and he?ll be trying to help the Salukis win.
Beane already has figured out how not to upset his wife, Katina, when he yells at their son during games.
?Fortunately for both of us she sits in back and up a bit and she can?t hear exactly what?s going on, on the bench,? said Beane. ?But I know she?s seen that expression on my face sometimes, so I know she can tell. But if he ever tells on me I?ll get in trouble.?
Beane can?t argue with that.
?You develop relationships with those guys and their families,? said Beane, who spent the five previous seasons as ISU?s assistant coach. ?It really hurts for those seniors ? Jackie (Carmichael), John Wilkins, Anthony Cousin, Tyler Brown ? and know this is their last go-around. It definitely hurts, but there?s nothing you really can do. I hope they get it figured out ? after Sunday, of course.?
There figures to be plenty of pregame hugs Sunday. Beane and his son, freshman guard and Normal Community High School graduate Anthony Jr., will be on the opposing side when ISU takes on Southern Illinois at 7 p.m. in a Missouri Valley Conference game at SIU Arena.
Beane was hired as an assistant by Hinson, the new Salukis? head coach, in May after Tim Jankovich left as ISU?s coach and Dan Muller was hired. Beane Jr., who signed with ISU in November 2011, was released from his national letter of intent with the Redbirds to follow his father.
Both teams are desperate for a victory. The Redbirds (9-9 overall) haven?t won since Dec. 22 and are in the Valley basement at 0-6. SIU (8-9) sits just ahead of ISU in the league standings at 1-5.
?I?ll be really glad to see those guys,? said Beane Sr. of ISU?s players. ?I was really excited to see the success they were having in nonconference. It will be nice to chat with them a little bit before the game. It will be weird from the standpoint of being on the opposite bench and coaching against those guys, no question about it.?
Beane Jr. also knows the Redbird players well from the time he spent around the program. His father believes his 6-foot-1 son owes some of his success this season to the Redbirds? veteran players. The younger Beane said he developed a close relationship with Bryant Allen and Johnny Hill.
With his 10.4 average, Beane Jr. is the leading freshman scorer in the Valley and the early choice for Valley Freshman of the Year. He has started all but two games and also averages 2.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals.
?His transition came along even a lot quicker than I imagined,? said Beane Sr. ?Growing up around the game and getting the chance to play against college players when he was in high school, he already had a comfortable feeling right away than most high school kids would have. Certainly playing in Coach Hinson?s system, which is identical to Coach Jankovich?s system, have paid dividends for him and helped in his transition.?
Muller, who interviewed for the SIU position last spring, said he is happy everything has turned out well for the Beanes.
?Anthony and his family are really good people. It was a tough situation,? said Muller. ?He knows our players, but he doesn?t know our system ? everyone watches film, so it?s not much of an advantage.?
The Redbirds will have to contend with the smallest team they have faced. The Salukis had several of their post players transfer the past couple years and don?t start anyone over 6-5. Jeff Early, a 6-1 senior, plays the power forward spot.
However, the Salukis have adopted the scrappy personality of their coach, Hinson. Five of SIU?s losses have been by eight points or less.
?They have talent, but they have very little size,? said Muller. ?Defensively they play hard and help each other and gang rebound.?
The elder Beane said he spoke with Jankovich this week about facing the Redbirds for the first time and the emotions he expects to feel. However, Beane figures once the ball is tossed up it will be just like a normal game and he?ll be trying to help the Salukis win.
Beane already has figured out how not to upset his wife, Katina, when he yells at their son during games.
?Fortunately for both of us she sits in back and up a bit and she can?t hear exactly what?s going on, on the bench,? said Beane. ?But I know she?s seen that expression on my face sometimes, so I know she can tell. But if he ever tells on me I?ll get in trouble.?
