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Southern Illinois Edwardsville Basketball: 2021-22 Cougars season preview

By Harry Schroeder

MURRAY, KY - FEBRUARY 09: Shaq Buchanan #11 and Darnell Cowart #32 of the Murray State Racers defend against Tyresse Williford #5 of the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars in the first half of the game at CFSB Center on February 9, 2019 in Murray, Kentucky. Murray State won 86-55. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
MURRAY, KY - FEBRUARY 09: Shaq Buchanan #11 and Darnell Cowart #32 of the Murray State Racers defend against Tyresse Williford #5 of the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars in the first half of the game at CFSB Center on February 9, 2019 in Murray, Kentucky. Murray State won 86-55. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

More talent and more experience

Barone’s teams have never been this deep nor experienced. The aforementioned Carlos Curtis played in 15 games and started eight before an injury shortened his season. He was averaging eight points and 4.2 rebounds. The Triton College transfer is a strong 6’2, 205-pound guard that can produce in the paint.

Cameron Wiliams is also returning from a season-ending injury. The 6’2 junior is a do-everything kind of player who averaged 8.9 points during the team’s first ten games and has played three seasons at SIUE.

Barone has three red-shirt freshmen that played last season. Desmond Polk is a 6’4 guard from Milwaukee who averaged 3.7 points per game. Michael Matas is at 6’8 forward who averaged 3.2. Zane Butler appeared in 12 games.

Butler Community College transfer Deejuan Pruitt is a 6’8, 230 pound paint presence. He averaged 13.5 points and a team-leading 7.3 rebounds per game while making 53% of his shots and 82% from the line.

Jonathan Kurtas and Quani Rudd are incoming freshmen with size. Kurtas at 6’10 will compete with returner Elochukwu Eze (6’10) for minutes behind the Wright twins. Eze is originally from Nigeria and has struggled with injuries during his time with Southern Illinois Edwardsville basketball. Rudd is a 6’5 wing from nearby Mount Vernon, Illinois.