THE GOOD NEWS
G Bryan Mullins is back. He controls games with his defense and is an improving offensive player. Role players such as G Josh Bone and G Wesley Clemmons will give SIU a strong group of returners. Lowery believes his recruiting class is the best in school history. F Anthony Booker, a top-50 recruit, is the prize.

THE BAD NEWS
A solution for SIU's offensive problems is not obvious. Bone is streaky. Mullins cannot do it all himself. Counting on freshmen is risky. SIU's inside game takes a major hit to graduation and no returner is ready to replace Randal Falker and Matt Shaw.

KEY RETURNEES
Mullins is the MVC's best defender. F Tony Boyle is an experienced reserve. He will team with G Wesley Clemmons and Mullins in the senior class. G Brandon Wood is a good shooter who played sparingly as a freshman. He will get a chance to grab more minutes.

ROSTER REPORT

--G Tyrone Green handed out a career-high eight assists in the NIT win over Oklahoma State. He had no turnovers.

--G Bryan Mullins became the fifth Saluki in seven seasons to win the MVC Defensive Player of the Year award.

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