Wright State, Salukis square off in battle of rebuilding projects
Wright State has three starters back from a 22-win squad, a new coach and a faster style. SIU's men's basketball team also returns three starters from a 20-win team, but faces the inevitable task of finding a way to replace go-to scorer Anthony Beane.
Instead of owning the most athletic player on the floor most nights - Beane finished his career as SIU's third all-time leading scorer - the Salukis' hopes now hinge on their advantage at the small forward/hybrid spot. Sophomore guard Sean Lloyd scored a game-high 13 points in SIU's only exhibition game of the season, and 6-foot-6 junior guard Jonathan Wiley added 10 in 14 minutes.
"The guy played and was perfect from the field (vs. UMSL)," SIU coach Barry Hinson said. "For us, it would be nice if he could rebound and defend a little bit better. He is going to help us a bunch. I can already see it. I can see the contributions that he's going to make in the future. We're really excited about him."
Lloyd, a 6-5, 215-pound guard who played in 13 games last season before a year-ending leg injury, gives SIU a powerful driver that could also help the Salukis at the defensive end. Against the Raiders, who started four guards in their only exhibition game, Hinson could play Lloyd and Wiley at the same time.
Both are expected to come off the bench when SIU opens the 2016-17 season in the first of four games in seven days.
Senior point guard Mike Rodriguez, a member of the Missouri Valley Conference All-Newcomer Team, is expected to play after sitting out most of October with a stress fracture in his knee. Senior forward Sean O'Brien and junior college transfer Thik Bol are expected to lead the frontcourt. Rodriguez, senior shooting guard Leo Vincent and 6-4 sophomore Armon Fletcher are expected to round out SIU's first lineup.
Hinson hopes to play 11 guys Friday night. That number could increase to 12 if freshman guard Brendon Gooch, his only real option to redshirt, decides to play. Hinson said he always leaves it up to the players to decide if they want to spend the year improving off the court. At 6-5 and 201 pounds, Gooch could add more defensive length to an already big team of guards, but it's tough to say Hinson would play him over Lloyd, Wiley or Fletcher.
Wright State averaged 68.5 points per game last season under former coach Billy Donlon. Four players averaged between 9-13 points per game, led by the departed J.T. Yoho (12.6 points per game) and 6-5 junior Mark Alstrok (12.4 points per game). Now under former South Dakota State leader Scott Nagy, Wright State will still shoot a lot of 3s, but now a lot faster.
South Dakota State, which went 26-8 last season, averaged 76.2 points per game. Three players averaged double figures, but Nagy was quick to point out the transition to his offense has taken some time.
"We're trying to start older players that have experience on the floor," Nagy said. "I did that last year, and then we ended up having a freshman be first team all-conference. We brought him off the bench all year. It's about how you finish. They're bigger than we are, particularly at the 4 and 5 spots, so we're going to have some defensive problems that we'll have to deal with, but they'll have to guard us, also."
Wright State has three starters back from a 22-win squad, a new coach and a faster style. SIU's men's basketball team also returns three starters from a 20-win team, but faces the inevitable task of finding a way to replace go-to scorer Anthony Beane.
Instead of owning the most athletic player on the floor most nights - Beane finished his career as SIU's third all-time leading scorer - the Salukis' hopes now hinge on their advantage at the small forward/hybrid spot. Sophomore guard Sean Lloyd scored a game-high 13 points in SIU's only exhibition game of the season, and 6-foot-6 junior guard Jonathan Wiley added 10 in 14 minutes.
"The guy played and was perfect from the field (vs. UMSL)," SIU coach Barry Hinson said. "For us, it would be nice if he could rebound and defend a little bit better. He is going to help us a bunch. I can already see it. I can see the contributions that he's going to make in the future. We're really excited about him."
Lloyd, a 6-5, 215-pound guard who played in 13 games last season before a year-ending leg injury, gives SIU a powerful driver that could also help the Salukis at the defensive end. Against the Raiders, who started four guards in their only exhibition game, Hinson could play Lloyd and Wiley at the same time.
Both are expected to come off the bench when SIU opens the 2016-17 season in the first of four games in seven days.
Senior point guard Mike Rodriguez, a member of the Missouri Valley Conference All-Newcomer Team, is expected to play after sitting out most of October with a stress fracture in his knee. Senior forward Sean O'Brien and junior college transfer Thik Bol are expected to lead the frontcourt. Rodriguez, senior shooting guard Leo Vincent and 6-4 sophomore Armon Fletcher are expected to round out SIU's first lineup.
Hinson hopes to play 11 guys Friday night. That number could increase to 12 if freshman guard Brendon Gooch, his only real option to redshirt, decides to play. Hinson said he always leaves it up to the players to decide if they want to spend the year improving off the court. At 6-5 and 201 pounds, Gooch could add more defensive length to an already big team of guards, but it's tough to say Hinson would play him over Lloyd, Wiley or Fletcher.
Wright State averaged 68.5 points per game last season under former coach Billy Donlon. Four players averaged between 9-13 points per game, led by the departed J.T. Yoho (12.6 points per game) and 6-5 junior Mark Alstrok (12.4 points per game). Now under former South Dakota State leader Scott Nagy, Wright State will still shoot a lot of 3s, but now a lot faster.
South Dakota State, which went 26-8 last season, averaged 76.2 points per game. Three players averaged double figures, but Nagy was quick to point out the transition to his offense has taken some time.
"We're trying to start older players that have experience on the floor," Nagy said. "I did that last year, and then we ended up having a freshman be first team all-conference. We brought him off the bench all year. It's about how you finish. They're bigger than we are, particularly at the 4 and 5 spots, so we're going to have some defensive problems that we'll have to deal with, but they'll have to guard us, also."
