The Salukis host the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday in one of the most anticipated games in SIU history. Both teams will be looking to boost their NCAA Tournament resume with a big win over a quality opponent.
In order for the Salukis to win they will need to follow "The Blueprint" to beating Indiana.
Win the transition game- This is crucial. So far in this young season the Hoosiers have been slow at times getting back on defense. Bryan Mullins and Co. must create a few easy baskets off fast breaks.
On the flip side, SIU must slow the Hoosiers down, forcing them to earn their points against the Salukis infamous half court defense.
The Battle of the Bench- With the suspension of guard Jordan Crawford the Hoosiers are limited off the bench. Indiana will count on a bruising forward, 6-6 Senior Mike White, to provide depth. White is a wide load, but the Salukis have plenty of size to counter him.
For SIU, Josh Bone must be a scoring threat. Bone has already shown the ability to light up the scoreboard and against this high octane Indiana squad a big shooting night from Bone may be the difference between a win and a loss.
No word yet on the status of Wesley Clemmons for Saturday, but if he can recover from his ankle sprain it would provide a huge lift for the Dawgs.
Be the first one to 70- Over their last three games (vs Indiana St, Xavier, and Georgia Tech) the Hoosiers have averaged 73 points. Keeping this team in the 60's is a great accomplishment for any defense.
If the Salukis need 70 points to win then they will have to get a big game from Matt Shaw. Shaw must use his size and shooting stroke for the Salukis to keep pace.
Contain Eric Gordon and D.J. White- You'll undoubtedly hear plenty about Indiana's dynamic duo over the next few days, but the Salukis have the resources to slow these players down.
Bryan Mullins and Tyrone Green figure to form some sort of tag team combo against Gordon, trapping him at every turn. And if anyone is capable of defending White in the post, its MVC Defensive Player of the Year- Randal Falker.
Bottom Line- Gordon and White can't be completely shut down, but the Salukis must hold this combo to 40 points or less. In Indiana's only loss of the season vs Xavier, Gordon and White combined for 36.
Getting a win against this Indiana team is no easy task, just ask Georgia Tech who played a solid game against the Hoosiers on Tuesday night but still came up short.
If the Salukis follow "The Blueprint," they will chalk up a big win against #15 Indiana on Saturday.
