"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!

The Futures Market

In a tale of two teams, which will have the better 2008?

Team A has:

• Seven stars that are able to carry teams to victory
• An award winning manager/coach known for his motivational skills
• A fan base thirsty for another year of success.

Team B has:

• A bevy of incoming young talent
• An award winning/manager/coach known for his motivational skills
• A fan base thirsty for another year of success

Basically you have the classic argument of proven talent versus potential. As for the teams: your 2008 Chicago Cubs and your 2008 Southern Illinois Salukis men's basketball team.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella has one of the most talented squads in the National League, evidenced by the former and future All-Stars that are up and down his line-up such as Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Geovany Soto and Kosuke Fukudome.

Oh, and you can't forget pitchers such as Carlos Zambrano, Kerry Wood, Ryan Dempster (yes, he was an All-Star with the Florida Marlins) and Carlos Marmol.

The Cubs have the talent to run away with the NL Central and hide. But they're the Cubs, so you know they'll make it interesting.

If they win, it will be because of the aforementioned talent. If they lose, it will be because of the lack of production out of center field and shortstop - the two positions the Cubs ignored as they tried to acquire second baseman Brian Roberts.

As for the Salukis, they will open 2008 hungry as ever after missing their first NCAA Tournament since 2001.

Coach Chris Lowery has a highly touted recruiting class coming in to Carbondale, which just might be enough to make up for the depatures of forwards Matt Shaw, Randal Falker, and guard Tyrone Green.

The Egyptian Hunting Dawgs are bringing in some of the best talent in the Midwest, including the best player in Illinois, point guard Kevin Dillard, and two of the best talents in Missouri, guard Torres Roundtree and four-star power forward Anthony Booker.

Joining Booker, Roundtree and Dillard is guard Ryan Hare, another Illinois All-State performer, from Chicago's Marshall High School.

Oh, and I can't forget about combo guard Justin Bocot. The slender lefty sat out last year, but has apparently stepped it up in the classroom to the point where he just might join in on the fun.

The Salukis biggest addition might have come not on the court, but on the sidelines. Former Saluki star Tony Young joins C-Lo's staff as a graduate assistant, while reports have Southern Methodist assistant coach Lance Irvin jumping on board as well.

Irvin is reportedly best known for his ability to recruit Chicagoland talent. If SIU can corner the market on "Chi-town's finest" and the best from "The Lou," the Salukis will be the best team in the state, hands down!

In either case, both of my teams should be fun to watch in 2008 (and beyond)

Oh yeah, and this guy is coming back for the Dawgs:



Oh and he did this to a National Champion:

"Rock. Chalk. Championship!"

Kansas' 75-68 victory against Memphis in the national title game was one of the best I've ever seen. The Jayhawks' stifling defense, Derrick Rose's spectacular second-half play and Memphis' inevitable collapse at the free-throw line combined to make one helluva storybook finish.

But where do we go now? There are so many questions to be asked, thankfully, there is plenty of time to answer them. 'Til then, I'll answer my own three burning questions.

1. Where does Bill Self end up? Coach Self obviously gives a sh!t about Oklahoma State, or he would flat out tell the Cowboys and their billionaire alumni to shove it and find another coach. Instead, the rumor mill is a-runnin' wild with scenarios where Self ends up in Stillwater leaving his so-called "dream job" days after a national title. A move like that could set up another chain reaction like in 2003 that saw KU, UNC, Illinois and Southern Illinois swap coaches in one way or another.
2. Can the Tar Heels make the next step? I'm not the only one who believes that UNC will enter the 2008-09 season as the No. 1 team in the country. Not only will the Heels return everyone except back-up point guard Quentin Thomas, they will also welcome three Top-100 recruits. UCONN, UCLA, USC and Florida round out the rest of my early pre-season Top-5.
3. What about the Dawgs? An 18-win season is considered a disappointment in Saluki country, but an improvement is just beyond the horizon (especially if they can retain coach Chris Lowery.) SIU brings in a top-notch recruiting class including the best player in Illinois (point guard Kevin Dillard) and two of the best players in the Show-Me State (power forward Anthony Booker and shooting guard Torres Roundtree). The Salukis also have untapped potential in guards Brandon Wood and Justin Bocot, along with the possibility of adding a transfer student (can anyone say Ben Hansbrough???)

And finally, the best part of the tourney is 'One Shining Moment'..no ifs ands or buts about it!