Saluki Basketball returns 97% of scoring
CARBONDALE - In a year when 30 percent of college basketball players entered the transfer portal, Southern Illinois retained all of the key pieces from last year's team, heading into the 2021-22 season.
The Salukis return their top-8 scorers and 97 percent of the scoring from last year's squad, which was the ninth-youngest in Division I basketball. Headlining the returnees are F Marcus Domask (2020 All-MVC) and G Lance Jones (2021 All-MVC). In two seasons, they've combined to score 1,229 points and add 377 rebounds and 263 assists.
"We return a team that is built on character, toughness, competitiveness and skill," said SIU head coach Bryan Mullins. "We have a great mix of returning guys and newcomers that will form an extremely motivated team that wants to accomplish something special at SIU."
SIU adds five newcomers to the mix in 2021-22:
F J.D. Muila (6-8, 240, Jr.): Redshirted during the 2020-21 season with a knee injury ... A rugged rebounder and defender, who averaged nearly 20 rebounds per 40 minutes in two seasons at Indian Hill Junior College ... Had 13 games with 10+ rebounds ... Shot 60 percent from the field ... Rated the No. 24 junior college prospect in 2020.
G Ben Coupet Jr. (6-7, 190, Gr.): Transfer from Little Rock, where he started all 57 games the last two seasons ... An athletic finisher who can shoot the three, he averaged 11.2 points and 4.7 rebounds as a junior to lead the Trojans to a conference title ... As a senior he averaged 10.8 points and was the Mid-Major Player of the Week after averaging 26.5 points and shooting 77 percent in a pair of conference wins ... Second on the team with a 1.28 assist-to-turnover ratio ... Out of Simeon High School in Chicago, originally a 3-star recruit, who signed with UNLV.
F Troy D'Amico (6-7, 205, Fr.): A versatile forward who was one of three Division I recruits on a loaded Notre Dame Niles High School squad ... Led his team to a 16-3 record and No. 3 state ranking in 2021 and was named Class 3A All-State as a junior and senior ... Scored more than 1,200 career points ... Named Notre Dame's Player of the Decade by the Chicago Sun-Times.
C Scottie Ebube (6-9, 235, Fr.): A powerful inside presence from Mundelein High School who helped lead his team to a 12-3 record in 2021 and a 43-6 mark over the last two years ... Named Associated Press Class 4A honorable mention All-State in 2020 and 2021 ... Averaged 14.5 points and 10 rebounds as a junior.
G Foster Wonders (6-5, 205, Fr.): Scored more than 2,200 career points at Iron Mountain High School (Mich.) and is the all-time leading scorer from the Upper Peninsula ... Led his team to the state championship game in 2019 and 2021 ... A finalist for Michigan's Mr. Basketball and was named Mr. Upper Peninsula Basketball ... A 3-star recruit, who averaged 34.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists as a senior ... A finalist for Detroit Athletic Club athlete of the year.
Season tickets are on sale, starting at $125, by calling the ticket office at 877-SALUKIS. Current season-ticket holders will receive renewal notices in the mail in mid-May. A four-month payment plan is available for all season-ticket holders. The Saluki basketball program will begin summer workouts on campus during the second week of June. The 2021-22 schedule will be announced in late August.