"Ala is coming..."

UPDATE: Ala is NOT coming. Sorry, there goes the fun that will go with that name!

WARNING: This blog is highly sarcastic and full of smart-alack remarks. Reader discretion is advised.

Before I get into the seriousness, how about some irresponsible and almost racially insensitive.

Allah is coming to save the Southern Illinois basketball team. He said his mission here is to defeat the infidels (I think he is talking about Creighton) or anyone that is trying to enforce their heavily biased views on Saluki Nation (I think he's talking about ESPN.)

Alright, now for the seriousness.

Wednesday is the second coming of National Signing Day, and the Salukis will apparently be busy. The Dawgs already got a verbal commitment from Marshall (Chicago) guard Ryan Hare, and might be pulling a 6-foot-5 kid named Frank Henry-Ala, a JUCO transfer with tremendous athletic ability and a 7-foot wingspan.

So yeah, that's where I got the whole "Allah" thing...not to offend anyone...but I wanted to do it in a playful, joking way. Seriously, you can't get mad, especially when fools at this site refer to Kyle Cassity as Jesus Christ, in a 70-page thread no less.

Yes, the same Kyle Cassity that dominated southern Illinois basketball teams like no one has since - dare I say? - Kent Williams!!!???

No one will be Kid Kent, ever. I only saw the guy a handful of times, like when the Dawgs were in the NCAA Tourney, but he's one of the best in school history, without a doubt.

Besides, I think good ol' No. 33 would have found a way to get into the scoring column in a game between the best of Missouri and Illinois.

Now, allow me to get off my high horse and back to the program.

With two potential signees, that means that someone has to go. The rumor-mill has been whirling, saying guard Brandon Wood and forward Jordan Armstrong were leaving the team with the possibility that 6-foot-7 swingman Christian Cornelius might be on his way out too.

But wait there's more.

There's a chance that Tyler Ben Hansbrough could come to SIU as a transfer from Mississippi State. The 6-3 guard could give the Salukis a zone buster who might flourish at a "mid major" school...and he'll be closer to home (which is rumored to be the reason he is considering SIU). But he wouldn't be a factor until the 2009-10 season because of transfer rules.

But only time will tell. In fact, we'll find out Wednesday. Personally, I can't wait!