Men's basketball preview (Alestle)

By Allan Lewis

As SIUE walked off the court following a 27-point loss to Purdue last season, it left the Cougars exhausted.

Forward David Boarden sat down with now-graduated guard Aamir McCleary to discuss how SIUE lost. SIUE played the fourth ranked team in the country close in the first half before the Boilermakers pulled away to easily escape on national television.

Fatigue had taken over.

"We talked a lot about consistency. You have to play more with your head than your legs in those games because your legs are gone. You have to think about it," Boarden said. "Take a ball fake, take a couple of dribbles and go somewhere else with it."

The loss to Purdue was one of 23 for SIUE in a season winning only five games. Two of those wins came against non-Division I competition in Robert Morris (Ill.) and Hannibal LaGrange. One of them came against North Dakota, another team entering its third year transitioning to NCAA Division I. The other two came during a successful weekend at the Drake Hy-Vee Classic, where SIUE defeated Drake and UT Arlington.

With fresh legs and a blank slate, the Cougars hope to accomplish more this season.

Mark Yelovich returns as the Cougars' leading scorer and rebounder, turning in 18 points a game and 5 rebounds a game last season. They also introduce five newcomers: junior college transfers Corey Wickware, Cornelius Chatt and Abel Tillman, as well as freshmen Michael Messer and Gerald Jones.

Head Coach Lennox Forrester said those new to the program should make an immediate impact and help take some of the pressure off of Yelovich this season.

"Last year, Mark took some bad shots because he almost had to," Forrester said. "I think now, with some additions to the team and guys definitely improving around him, that will help."

The All-Independent Yelovich is expected to turn in another solid season at the four position and said he is more focused this season than he has in the past, especially considering the limited success SIUE has had at the Division I level.

"We have had a few rough years and haven't gotten too many wins. It has really gotten to me," Yelovich said. "I am coming in more focused this year and trying to get the guys to be the same."

If SIUE is going to win games, they are going to have to limit their turnovers, starting at the point guard position. The Cougars are looking to replace the production of Aamir McCleary, who averaged 11.5 points per game and 4.8 assists running the point in 2009-2010.

"I don't care what division of basketball you are playing, if you don't have a point guard who can deliver and take care of the basketball, you aren't going to be very good," Forrester said. "It may be two or three guys playing those minutes to give us a solid spot and the point guard position."

Senior Kevin Stineman, sophomore LeShaun Murphy, Wickware and Chatt all figure to make their case for the point, while other starting jobs remain contested leading into the season. Forrester said he would like to have a solid starting lineup rather than rotate different pieces in and out each game.

"If I tell you what it is today and you ask me tomorrow, I'll give you a different answer," Forrester said. "We have tried different combinations in practice, just to see who gels together. You want to go into a game saying these are our best guys who can get us off to a great start. Hopefully you also have some young guys coming off the bench who can come in and protect leads."

One of those players on the bench who may not see many minutes is new junior walk-on guard Reggie Reed. Reed was added to the Cougars roster following an open tryout held in September and is one of three non-scholarship players, along with juniors Cody Rincker and Alex Newlin.

"He is very quick and plays good defense," Forrester said. "Whenever we try and add a walk-on, we want to know what they bring to the table for us. He is competitive, and understands his role just like Rincker. He gets after it and tries to make our guys better."

The inside game was one of the biggest weaknesses for the Cougars last year. Forrester said the addition of Tillman will help, while senior Nikola Bundalo, sophomore Zeke Schneider and senior Dob Mavrak all shared minutes at the five last season.

SIUE out-rebounded opponents just six times last season, and was 4-2 in those games while the opponents were 21-1 against the Cougars when doing the same.

Forrester said he is looking for more from his returning big men this season.

"They have taken it up a notch higher as far as getting more rebounds. I have done a better job getting on them in practice as far as telling them how many rebounds they should have and if they don't get that, there are going to be some consequences," Forrester said. "It is just about getting them into the right mind frame, as far as what it's going to take for them to do their job and help us again as a team."

Consequently, Forrester said Tillman brings a level of athleticism the Cougars have not had in recent years and he will be an additional scoring threat in the paint.

"He brings two things we were lacking last year," Forrester said. "We weren't rebounding the basketball and I feel as though we didn't have enough inside baskets. Those are two things Abel can do with his athleticism. He can run the floor and finish. He brings a presence on both sides of the ball and will fit in well with this team."

With all the odds stacked against the Cougars, Boarden said the group has matured from where it was at last season.

"This team has gotten more mature in the decisions we made," Boarden said. "We are getting better everywhere we can. Our big men are getting better everyday. Yesterday they finished really well in the the post, and as far as guard play goes, Kevin Stienman is great, and we have guys like Corey and Mark getting better everyday. That doesn't hurt at all."

The Cougars will face three Big Ten schools, Iowa, Indiana and Northwestern, as well as six Ohio Valley Conference teams including two games against OVC champion Murray State.

Forrester said the Cougars relish the challenge of a new season, despite the absence of postseason implications.

"I am not afraid, I am not scared and I know these guys aren't either," Forrester said. "Yes, it's tough, but these guys will be ready for the challenge."

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