# Southern Illinois Salukis men's basketball

The Southern Illinois Salukis men's basketball team represents Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Carbondale, Illinois. The Salukis compete in the NCAA Division 1, and they play their home games at Banterra Center. As of March 2024, former South Dakota State and Wright State coach, Scott Nagy, has become the newest head coach of the Southern Illinois basketball program. Southern Illinois has appeared 10 times in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, most recently in 2007.

## History

Prior to joining the NCAA, the Salukis competed in the NAIA men's basketball. Appearing five times, with a combined tournament record of 9 wins and 4 losses. Most notable tournament appearances came in 1945, in which the Salukis finished third, and then the following year in the 1946 tournament where the Salukis were NAIA national champions. The Salukis would not place again in the following three tournament appearances in 1947, 1948, 1960.
In 1967, SIU, led by guard Walt Frazier, who went on to be named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, won the National Invitation Tournament under coach Jack Hartman. At the time, the tournament was considered much more prestigious than it is today. The Salukis were in their final season members of the College Division (now Division II) and became the only non-Division I/University Division team to win the NIT. After the NCAA began operating the NIT in 2006, non-Division I teams were no longer eligible to participate. Frazier was named Most Valuable Player of the 1967 NIT.
In 1977, future NBA player Mike Glenn led the Salukis to the NCAA Division I Tournament Sweet Sixteen.
From 1993 to 1995, SIU advanced to three straight NCAA Division I Tournaments. Prior to that, the Salukis participated in the National Invitation Tournament for four consecutive years from 1989 to 1992.
Part of the SIU Saluki men's basketball team's 2003 season was chronicled in MTV's True Life: I Am A College Baller.
The Saluki men's basketball team garnered national attention by advancing to the Sweet Sixteen in 2002 and 2007.
In the 2006–2007 season, the Salukis, coached by Chris Lowery, reached their highest ranking in the AP Coaches Poll and the ESPN/USA Today Poll with a position of #11, before dropping to #14 after losing the MVC to Creighton prior to entering the NCAA tournament.
After achieving success at SIU, former coaches Bruce Weber and Matt Painter accepted head coaching positions at schools in the Big Ten. Weber took over at Illinois in 2003 and Painter – an alumnus of and former basketball player at Purdue University – accepted the Boilermakers' offer to become top assistant and designated successor to Gene Keady in 2004, becoming head coach in March 2005.
Prior to the 2018-2019 season, the Salukis became the first NCAA men's basketball team to win a completed game against the Cuban national team during a pre-season visit to the country.
Nine Salukis have gone on to play in the NBA:
Chico Vaughn - St. Louis Hawks (1963–66), Detroit Pistons (1966-67) Walt Frazier - New York Knicks (1968–77), Cleveland Cavaliers (1978–80) Dick Garrett - Los Angeles Lakers (1970), Buffalo Braves (1971-73), New York Knicks (1974), Milwaukee Bucks (1974) Nate Hawthorne - Los Angeles Lakers (1974), Phoenix Suns (1975–76) Joe C. Meriweather - Houston Rockets (1976), Atlanta Hawks (1977), New Orleans Jazz (1978–79), Kansas City Kings (1981–85) Mike Glenn - Buffalo Braves (1978), New York Knicks (1979-81), Atlanta Hawks (1982–85), Milwaukee Bucks (1986-87) Ashraf Amaya - Vancouver Grizzlies (1996), Washington Bullets (1997) Chris Carr - Phoenix Suns (1996), Minnesota Timberwolves (1997–98), New Jersey Nets (1999), Golden State Warriors (2000), Chicago Bulls (2000), Boston Celtics (2001) Troy Hudson - Utah Jazz (1998), Los Angeles Clippers (1999-2000), Orlando Magic (2001-02), Minnesota Timberwolves (2003–07), Golden State Warriors (2007–08)

## Yearly records (Division I)

Statistics overview :
| Season | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason |
| Jack Hartman (Division I Independent) (1967–1970) ||||||
| 1967-68 | Jack Hartman | 20-2 | | | |
| 1968–69 | Jack Hartman | 16–8 | | | |
| 1969–70 | Jack Hartman | 13–10 | | | |
| Jack Hartman: | Jack Hartman: | 29–18 | | | |
| Paul Lambert (Midwestern Conference) (1970–1972) ||||||
| 1970–71 | Paul Lambert | 13–10 | | | |
| 1971–72 | Paul Lambert | 10–16 | | | |
| Paul Lambert (Division I Independent) (1972–1975) ||||||
| 1972–73 | Paul Lambert | 11–15 | | | |
| 1973–74 | Paul Lambert | 19–7 | | | |
| 1974–75 | Paul Lambert | 18–9 | | | NIT 1st Round |
| Paul Lambert (Missouri Valley Conference) (1975–1978) ||||||
| 1975–76 | Paul Lambert | 16–10 | 9–3 | 2nd | |
| 1976–77 | Paul Lambert | 22–7 | 8–4 | T–1st | NCAA regional semi-Finals |
| 1977–78 | Paul Lambert | 17–10 | 11–5 | 3rd | |
| Paul Lambert: | Paul Lambert: | 126–84 | 28–12 | | |
| Joe Gottfried (Missouri Valley Conference) (1978–1981) ||||||
| 1978–79 | Joe Gottfried | 15–13 | 8–8 | T–3rd | |
| 1979–80 | Joe Gottfried | 9–17 | 5–11 | 8th | |
| 1980–81 | Joe Gottfried | 7–20 | 0–16 | 9th | |
| Joe Gottfried: | Joe Gottfried: | 31–50 | 13–35 | | |
| Allen Van Winkle (Missouri Valley Conference) (1981–1985) ||||||
| 1981–82 | Allen Van Winkle | 11–16 | 7–9 | 7th | |
| 1982–83 | Allen Van Winkle | 9–19 | 5–13 | 8th | |
| 1983–84 | Allen Van Winkle | 15–13 | 7–9 | T–5th | |
| 1984–85 | Allen Van Winkle | 14–14 | 6–10 | T–6th | |
| Allen Van Winkle: | Allen Van Winkle: | 49–62 | 25–41 | | |
| Rich Herrin (Missouri Valley Conference) (1985–1998) ||||||
| 1985–86 | Rich Herrin | 8–20 | 4–12 | T–8th | |
| 1986–87 | Rich Herrin | 12–17 | 5–9 | 6th | |
| 1987–88 | Rich Herrin | 12–16 | 6–8 | T–4th | |
| 1988–89 | Rich Herrin | 20–14 | 6–8 | T–5th | NIT 1st Round |
| 1989–90 | Rich Herrin | 26–8 | 10–4 | 1st | NIT 1st Round |
| 1990–91 | Rich Herrin | 18–14 | 9–7 | T–4th | NIT Quarterfinals |
| 1991–92 | Rich Herrin | 22–8 | 14–4 | T–1st | NIT 1st Round |
| 1992–93 | Rich Herrin | 23–10 | 12–6 | 2nd | NCAA 1st Round |
| 1993–94 | Rich Herrin | 23–7 | 14–4 | T–2nd | NCAA 1st Round |
| 1994–95 | Rich Herrin | 23–9 | 13–5 | T–2nd | NCAA 1st Round |
| 1995–96 | Rich Herrin | 11–18 | 4–14 | T–10th | |
| 1996–97 | Rich Herrin | 13–17 | 6–12 | 9th | |
| 1997–98 | Rich Herrin | 14–16 | 8–10 | 8th | |
| Rich Herrin: | Rich Herrin: | 225–174 | 111–103 | | |
| Bruce Weber (Missouri Valley Conference) (1998–2003) ||||||
| 1998–99 | Bruce Weber | 15–12 | 10–8 | T–5th | |
| 1999–2000 | Bruce Weber | 20–13 | 12–6 | 3rd | NIT 2nd Round |
| 2000–01 | Bruce Weber | 16–14 | 10–8 | T–4th | |
| 2001–02 | Bruce Weber | 28–8 | 14–4 | T–1st | NCAA Sweet 16 |
| 2002–03 | Bruce Weber | 24–7 | 16–2 | 1st | NCAA 1st Round |
| Bruce Weber: | Bruce Weber: | 103–54 | 62–28 | | |
| Matt Painter (Missouri Valley Conference) (2003–2004) ||||||
| 2003–04 | Matt Painter | 25–5 | 17–1 | 1st | NCAA 1st Round |
| Matt Painter: | Matt Painter: | 25–5 | 17–1 | | |
| Chris Lowery (Missouri Valley Conference) (2004–2012) ||||||
| 2004–05 | Chris Lowery | 27–8 | 15–3 | 1st | NCAA 2nd Round |
| 2005–06 | Chris Lowery | 22–11 | 12–6 | 2nd | NCAA 1st Round |
| 2006–07 | Chris Lowery | 29–7 | 15–3 | 1st | NCAA Sweet 16 |
| 2007–08 | Chris Lowery | 18–15 | 11–7 | 3rd | NIT 2nd Round |
| 2008–09 | Chris Lowery | 13–18 | 8–10 | 5th | |
| 2009–10 | Chris Lowery | 15–15 | 6–12 | 9th | |
| 2010–11 | Chris Lowery | 13–19 | 5–13 | 8th | |
| 2011–12 | Chris Lowery | 8–23 | 5–13 | 9th | |
| Chris Lowery: | Chris Lowery: | 145–115 | 77–67 | | |
| Barry Hinson (Missouri Valley Conference) (2012–2019) ||||||
| 2012–13 | Barry Hinson | 14–17 | 6–12 | 10th | |
| 2013–14 | Barry Hinson | 14–19 | 9–9 | T–4th | |
| 2014–15 | Barry Hinson | 12–21 | 4–14 | 9th | |
| 2015–16 | Barry Hinson | 22–10 | 11–7 | T–4th | |
| 2016–17 | Barry Hinson | 17–16 | 9–9 | T–3rd | |
| 2017–18 | Barry Hinson | 20–13 | 11–7 | 2nd | |
| 2018–19 | Barry Hinson | 17–14 | 10–8 | T–3rd | |
| Barry Hinson: | Barry Hinson: | 116–110 | 60–66 | | |
| Bryan Mullins (Missouri Valley Conference) (2019–present) ||||||
| 2019–20 | Bryan Mullins | 16–16 | 10–8 | 5th | |
| 2020–21 | Bryan Mullins | 12–14 | 5–13 | 9th | |
| 2021–22 | Bryan Mullins | 16–15 | 9–9 | 6th | |
| 2022–23 | Bryan Mullins | 23–10 | 14–6 | T–3rd | |
| 2023–24 | Bryan Mullins | 19-13 | 11-9 | 6th | |
| Bryan Mullins: | Bryan Mullins: | 86–68 | 49–45 | | |
| Total: | Total: | 948–753 | | | |
| National champion   Postseason invitational champion   Conference regular season champion   Conference regular season and conference tournament champion  Division regular season champion  Division regular season and conference tournament champion  Conference tournament champion ||||||

## Postseason results
### NCAA Division I tournament results

The Salukis have appeared in the NCAA Division I Tournament ten times. Their combined record is 6–10.
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1977 | | Quarterfinals Sweet Sixteen | Arizona Wake Forest | W 81–77 L 81–86 |
| 1993 | #14 | First Round | #3 Duke | L 70–105 |
| 1994 | #11 | First Round | #6 Minnesota | L 60–74 |
| 1995 | #10 | First Round | #7 Syracuse | L 92–96 |
| 2002 | #11 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | #6 Texas Tech #3 Georgia #2 Connecticut | W 76–68 W 77–75 L 59–71 |
| 2003 | #11 | First Round | #6 Missouri | L 71–72 |
| 2004 | #9 | First Round | #8 Alabama | L 64–65 |
| 2005 | #7 | First Round Second Round | #10 St. Mary's #2 Oklahoma State | W 56–65 L 77–85 |
| 2006 | #11 | First Round | #6 West Virginia | L 46–64 |
| 2007 | #4 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | #13 Holy Cross #5 Virginia Tech #1 Kansas | W 61–51 W 63–48 L 58–61 |

### NCAA Division II tournament results

The Salukis have appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament seven times. Their combined record is 17–9.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1959 | Regional Semifinals Regional Third Place | Wittenberg Belmont Abbey | L 70–80 L 70–79 |
| 1961 | Regional Semifinals Regional Finals | Trinity Southeast Missouri State | W 96–82 L 84–88 |
| 1962 | Regional Semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four National Third Place | Union Evansville Northeastern Mount St. Mary's Nebraska Wesleyan | W 70–56 W 88–83 W 73–57 L 57–58 W 98–91 |
| 1963 | Regional Semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four National Third Place | Southeast Missouri State Lamar Evansville South Dakota State Oglethorpe | W 87–79 W 93–84 W 86–73 L 76–80 L 64–68 |
| 1964 | Regional Semifinals Regional Finals | Ball State Evansville | W 88–81 L 59–64 |
| 1965 | Regional Semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four National Championship Game | Concordia (IL) Central Michigan Washington-St. Louis North Dakota Evansville | W 71–70 W 90–62 W 76–67 W 97–64 L 82–85 $^{OT}$ |
| 1966 | Regional Semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four National Championship Game | Indiana State Evansville Fresno State North Dakota Kentucky Wesleyan | W 83–65 W 90–77 W 93–70 W 69–63 L 51–54 |

### NAIA tournament results

The Salukis have appeared in five NAIA Division I Tournaments. Their combined record is 9–4. They were NAIA national champions in 1946.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1945 | First Round Elite Eight Final Four Third Place Game | Washburn Doane Loyola (LA) Eastern Kentucky | W 64–49 W 61–44 L 35–37 W 49–45 |
| 1946 | First Round Second Round Elite Eight Final Four National Championship | Central Missouri Loras Nevada Loyola (LA) Indiana State | W 49–39 W 58–55 W 66–58 W 53–37 W 49–48 |
| 1947 | First Round | Dakota Wesleyan | L 39–44 |
| 1948 | First Round | Southern Oregon Manhattan | W 54–50 L 42–52 |
| 1960 | First Round | Oklahoma Baptist | L 71–75 |

### NIT results

The Salukis have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) nine times. Their combined record is 8–8. They were NIT champions in 1967.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1967 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals | Saint Peter's Duke Rutgers Marquette | W 103–58 W 72–63 W 79–70 W 71–56 |
| 1969 | First Round | South Carolina | L 63–72 |
| 1975 | First Round | Pittsburgh | L 65–70 |
| 1989 | First Round | Saint Louis | L 54–87 |
| 1990 | First Round | Green Bay | L 60–73 |
| 1991 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals | Boise State Missouri State Stanford | W 74–75 W 72–69 L 68–78 |
| 1992 | First Round | Boston College | L 69–78 |
| 2000 | First Round | Colorado BYU | W 94–92 L 57–82 |
| 2008 | First Round Second Round | Oklahoma State Arizona State | W 69–53 L 51–65 |

## Retired numbers

Two players have had their numbers retired by the school.
Southern Illinois Salukis retired numbers :
| No. | Player | Career | Ref. |
| 20 | Chico Vaughn | 1958–1962 | |
| 52 | Walt Frazier | 1963–1967 | |