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Southern Illinois Basketball: 2021-22 season preview for the Salukis

By Harry Schroeder

Southern Illinois' Marcus Domask looks for a pass during a Drake University vs. Southern Illinois basketball game on Jan. 4, 2021 at the Knapp Center at Drake University. The Bulldogs defeated the Salukis, 86-55Êto improve to 13-0 this season.
Southern Illinois' Marcus Domask looks for a pass during a Drake University vs. Southern Illinois basketball game on Jan. 4, 2021 at the Knapp Center at Drake University. The Bulldogs defeated the Salukis, 86-55Êto improve to 13-0 this season. /
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Southern Illinois Basketball Butler Bulldogs And Southern Illinois Salukis In Ncaa Basketball At Hinkle Fieldhouse In Indianapolis On Monday Dec 21 2020
Southern Illinois Basketball Butler Bulldogs And Southern Illinois Salukis In Ncaa Basketball At Hinkle Fieldhouse In Indianapolis On Monday Dec 21 2020 /

There are four outstanding Missouri Valley Conference teams that will be favored to win the conference championship, but there is an underdog lurking in Carbondale, Illinois. Southern Illinois Basketball could play the role of Missouri Valley spoiler.

The Salukis are one of the deepest teams in the Valley, have a great homecourt advantage, and play tenacious defense. Those ingredients and more, make the ‘Egyptian Dawgs’ a dangerous opponent for those highly rated favorites.

Defending champion Loyola Chicago, NCAA Tournament performer Drake, extremely talented Missouri State, and perennial power Northern Iowa all have the kinds of teams that would run away with a title during a typical Valley season.

But not this year. This league is deeper and more talented than any season since the mid-2000s when it routinely sent three teams to the NCAA Tournament and during the 2005 season had two teams reach the Sweet Sixteen.

Loyola (26-5) has earned national respect for its two recent postseason successes. While the Ramblers head coach Porter Moser and league Player of the Year Cameron Krutwig have departed, LUC returns every other player of significance and an outstanding recruiting class. They should be very good.

Drake (26-5) is better than last year. Six of their top seven players return and they are joined by Top 100 recruit Tucker DeVries. The coach’s son joins a team loaded with talent and experience. Five of those six returners are seniors.

Missouri State (17-7) has two of the top six players in the Valley. 6’9 Gaige Prim is the best big man in the Valley and guard Isiaih Mosley is the league’s reigning scoring champion.

Northern Iowa (10-15) was last year’s preseason favorite. An injury to star A.J. Green ruined the season and the Panthers are determined to climb back to the top of the MVC.

However, Southern Illinois could become the MVC’s spoiler. Here are four reasons why that could happen this upcoming season.