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SIU Basketball begins the '06-'07 season as favorite to win the MVC and a potential to become a national powerhouse. Collegehoopsnet.com gives the MVC much love- ranking SIU #19 overall and picks them to win the conference. Creighton is ranked second, Missouri State third, and Wichita State fourth, and all four are expected to make the big dance. Seems about right for a conference that is coming up and beating the big boys every March.

If any mid-major team in America has a chance to pull a "George Mason" and make the final four the Salukis have to be the team. Southern not only returns all five starters but also gained some depth in the off-season. Freshmen Christian Cornelius and Jordan Armstrong will provide depth at the forward position after redshirting last year. True Freshman Josh Bone and JuCo transfer Tyrone Green will come off the bench at the guard spots. Bone and Green should get a chance at some minutes if they play well considering Head Coach Chris Lowery’s preference to use a 3 guard offence for most of the year last year. Down low Kobby Acquah is a 7 foot 1 transfer but I am going to need to see him box somebody out before I am a believer. If your 7 foot 1 and can rebound every DI Coach in the county is going be camping outside your house with a national letter of intent, so I hope this guy can play but we will find out soon enough.

We will get a chance to see these guys in action in an exhibition game v. Quincy on Thursday. We already know what a great job our top guys can do but the bench play was a bit of a question mark last year and some of the young guys will need to provide quality minutes off the bench for this team to make a deep run in March. Check back this weekend for a wrap up of the game.

Sound off on your opinions about the 2006-2007 Saluki club in the comment sections below