The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

Time for SIU to start racing

Whatever possible excuse for his team's letdown at Arkansas-Little Rock, SIU head coach Chris Lowery doesn't want to hear it.

"Any time you get a chance to play a ballgame, you have to compete," he said after the game.

The Salukis played 40 minutes of unenthused, sluggish basketball, and it seemed as if Brooks' cold virus had run its course through his teammates.

As a team that prides itself on defense, the Salukis played little of it Tuesday night. SIU gave up 70 points to a Trojan team that shot 60 percent from the field - the first Saluki opponent to shoot 60 percent or better since Feb. 24, 2001.

The Salukis (4-2) committed 16 turnovers and dished out just nine assists in what is becoming a trend this season - they have had more turnovers than assists in all but one game. SIU has also had trouble controlling the boards, pulling in fewer rebounds than four of its six opponents.

"Obviously it's a problem for us, the turnovers and the rebounding, but they're things that are correctable, and that's what we're going to work at," Lowery said.

To top it off, Brooks was held under double figures for the first time since March 2003.

But things have to get better from here, if SIU is to live up to expectations, starting with Murray State tomorrow afternoon.

Murray State could be the best remedy for a team in the midst of a two-game losing streak, but SIU wasn't supposed to have a tough time with, let alone lose to, the Trojans.

After leading the Racers to an Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship in his first year, Murray State head coach Mick Cronin lost his entire starting lineup and now presides over a senior-less team.

"I have the most inexperienced team in Division I basketball," Cronin said.

Don't be mistaken. His roster features six juniors, but only one of his top-eight players - starting forward Shawn Witherspoon - was enrolled at Murray State last year.

In spite of its lack of experience, Murray State (3-2) is scoring 70 points, forcing 19 turnovers a game, and was picked to win its conference.

The Racers, though, haven't beaten the world's greatest teams - SIU Edwardsville, Arkansas Tech and Texas-San Antonio - but did come within five points of knocking off the Tigers in Missouri.

Lowery said Murray State is similar to Arkansas-Little Rock and expects the Racers to use a man-to-man press to force the Salukis to make quick decisions.

One bright spot for Cronin, and someone the Salukis can't afford to lose track of, is Mississippi transfer Trey Pearson.

Pearson is the only Racer scoring in double figures, pouring in 18 points a game. He also leads his team in assists (4.6), steals (3.2) and, at 6-foot-2, 184 pounds, has somehow managed to snag 4.6 rebounds a game.

"Trey's been our best player on both ends of the floor," Cronin said.

The Racers defeated SIU 68-64 last season, but the last time they visited the SIU Arena, they were crushed 85-56, fueled by a 26-0 Saluki first-half run.

Luckily for his team's morale, none of Cronin's current players experienced that 2002 drubbing.

And even if they had, he doesn't care.

All Cronin is concerned about is playing team that's looking to take the frustration of its back-to-back losses out on the Racers.

"The only thing that's going to help us is to come in there, play hard, take care of the basketball and play some serious defense," Cronin said.

"Saturday will probably be our toughest test to date."

Murray State is no Vanderbilt or Texas El-Paso, but tomorrow's game could also be the biggest test for the Salukis, who can ill-afford to drop its third-straight game.

"Hopefully, we can win these two home games and that can get us back going again," said a healthier-looking Brooks.

"I'm ready to play."