Chris Lowery

[tornado]

Lowery is a "hot commodity" right now, and SIU is trying to come up with the $$ to keep him in Carbondale.
The Sun Times reports they are trying to double his salary.

But two articles out of Carbondale this morning point to serious financial problems SIU is having, unable to complete projects, cancelling library renovations, behind on debt, etc.
And it will be very hard to come up with $$ for a basketball coach without big opposition from some.
So they assume the foregone conclusion that Lowery is going to be gone.

[DannyCooksey]

Re: Chris Lowery

Lowery is a "hot commodity" right now, and SIU is trying to come up with the $$ to keep him in Carbondale.
The Sun Times reports they are trying to double his salary.

But two articles out of Carbondale this morning point to serious financial problems SIU is having, unable to complete projects, cancelling library renovations, behind on debt, etc.
And it will be very hard to come up with $$ for a basketball coach without big opposition from some.
So they assume the foregone conclusion that Lowery is going to be gone.

That's all well and good, but it takes 2 to tango. I wonder who will pursue Lowery?

Not that he's not a great candidate because he certainly is, but has anyone heard his name in connection with any of the big jobs? I am merely asking because I haven't seen or read anything.

[tornado]

None of the really big ones, like UK, Michigan, or Chicago State ( ),

but I have heard a lot of talk about Lowery and Iowa.
Lowery's name also came up in the Minnesota talk a lot, but they went with someone else's cast-off instead.
Does anyone think C-Lo's hacking, low scoring, defensive style hurts his chances of getting a top job?
Also, Lowery has never shown the ability to get any of the talent-rich Chicago area kids, despite having a supposedly good reputation as an in-state coach.
He does get the most out of Class A recruits and marginal kids, but if he goes Big Ten or BCS he'd need to get the blue chippers out of Chicago.

[DannyCooksey]

None of the really big ones, like UK, Michigan, or Chicago State ( ),

but I have heard a lot of talk about Lowery and Iowa.
Lowery's name also came up in the Minnesota talk a lot, but they went with someone else's cast-off instead.
Does anyone think C-Lo's hacking, low scoring, defensive style hurts his chances of getting a top job?
Also, Lowery has never shown the ability to get any of the talent-rich Chicago area kids, despite having a supposedly good reputation as an in-state coach.
He does get the most out of Class A recruits and marginal kids, but if he goes Big Ten or BCS he'd need to get the blue chippers out of Chicago.

I would agree with this. If he does wind up in Iowa, that's 3 very ugly styles of basketball between Illinois, Purdue, and Iowa. I would imagine the prestige of the Big-10 would greatly aid in Lowery getting a couple strong Chicago kids every year.

I just haven't heard anything. If SIU is having that much trouble with $$$ though, he might as well leave now while he's a hot commodity.

Remember the fallout from last year's salary increase down there? All the teachers and administrators were livid at how much $$ Lowery was making. Things could get touchy there realy quick.

[Braveman]

Iowa only has two Illinois kids on their roster and have never really had the top Chicago blue-chippers, so why would Lowery suddenly have to get them?

Haluska is an Iowa kid after all....

[tornado]

But they are two of their best players, and they are Chicago-area kids,
and over the years Iowa has made a living taking some of the better kids out of Illinois (Pierce, Gamble, Earl, Range, Horton, Koch, Lester)

Of the TOP 13 scholarship players (in playing time) on the Salukis, how many are Illinois kids?
Answer-- just three, and two were there well before Lowery was head coach......not much more than Iowa has right now. (Mullins, Young, Shaw)

[DannyCooksey]

But they are two of their best players, and they are Chicago-area kids,
and over the years Iowa has made a living taking some of the better kids out of Illinois (Pierce, Gamble, Earl, Range, Horton, Koch, Lester)

Of the TOP 13 scholarship players (in playing time) on the Salukis, how many are Illinois kids?
Answer-- just three, and two were there well before Lowery was head coach......not much more than Iowa has right now. (Mullins, Young, Shaw)

Don't forget: Jeff Walker, Ray Thompson, Rod Thompson were other Illinois or Chicago-area players.

These 3 were basically criminals, though and never made it past their soph years at Iowa. Ray Thompson was from Argo (when was the last time they had any players?) and had NBA written all over him, but he was a bad seed. Same with Jeff Walker from Lanphier.

[bert notorius]

...If he does wind up in Iowa, that's 3 very ugly styles of basketball between Illinois, Purdue, and Iowa.

Geez, you left off the worst offenders- Northwestern and Wisconsin. IL was ugly this year but I wouldn't consider it their avocation. Since Lowery is such a poor recruiter he should just stay in C'dale and continue to dominate the Valley with role players.

[Braveman]

But they are two of their best players, and they are Chicago-area kids,
and over the years Iowa has made a living taking some of the better kids out of Illinois (Pierce, Gamble, Earl, Range, Horton, Koch, Lester)

Of the TOP 13 scholarship players (in playing time) on the Salukis, how many are Illinois kids?
Answer-- just three, and two were there well before Lowery was head coach......not much more than Iowa has right now. (Mullins, Young, Shaw)

Most of those players you mentioned were not from Chicago...
and while Freeman was teh 3rd leading score- 7.5 pts hardly qualifies as "one of their best" and Tate only averages 4.2 a game...

I understand your premise, you just backed it up with weak facts!

[BradleyBrave]

But they are two of their best players, and they are Chicago-area kids,
and over the years Iowa has made a living taking some of the better kids out of Illinois (Pierce, Gamble, Earl, Range, Horton, Koch, Lester)

Of the TOP 13 scholarship players (in playing time) on the Salukis, how many are Illinois kids?
Answer-- just three, and two were there well before Lowery was head coach......not much more than Iowa has right now. (Mullins, Young, Shaw)

While SIU is in the state of Illinois, Chicago has never really been their recruiting base. They are so much closer geographically to St. Louis, Indianapolis, Kentucky,Tennessee, and Missouri, it makes more sense for them to have their recruiting base there rather than Chicago.

However, to your point, it might make Lowery a little less attractive to bigger schools considering that so many of them want Chicago as a major recruiting hub. I think Lowery could get it done in Chicago though.

[That Guy]

But they are two of their best players, and they are Chicago-area kids,
and over the years Iowa has made a living taking some of the better kids out of Illinois (Pierce, Gamble, Earl, Range, Horton, Koch, Lester)

Of the TOP 13 scholarship players (in playing time) on the Salukis, how many are Illinois kids?
Answer-- just three, and two were there well before Lowery was head coach......not much more than Iowa has right now. (Mullins, Young, Shaw)

Don't forget: Jeff Walker, Ray Thompson, Rod Thompson were other Illinois or Chicago-area players.

These 3 were basically criminals, though and never made it past their soph years at Iowa. Ray Thompson was from Argo (when was the last time they had any players?) and had NBA written all over him, but he was a bad seed. Same with Jeff Walker from Lanphier.

I'd consider Pierce to be a criminal as well. Isn't he actually serving time as we speak?

[BUBraves06]

I would think Lowery would be good for Michigan. Obviously they are second-teir Big Ten team at the moment but with the way he recruits and coaches defense he could turn that program around quickly.

[DannyCooksey]

I would think Lowery would be good for Michigan. Obviously they are second-teir Big Ten team at the moment but with the way he recruits and coaches defense he could turn that program around quickly.

If Michigan had any brains they'd get Stallings.

I just talked to one of my colleagues and he claims that Iowa is prepared to put the full court press on Lowery and get him as their next coach.

The guy I talked to is an Iowa native and has access to inside knowledge with their program. We'll see what happens. Would Rodney Watson get the job if C-Lo leaves or would Lowery take him with? If they both left, Paul Lusk would likely be the #1 choice so they could maintain their continuity with the Weber system.

In any case SIU has a system in place that it appears it wouldn't matter who leaves, they'll still maintain a high level of play.

[real fan]

I would rate Stallings as one of the top coaches and Michigan or Kentucky should give him an interview if he wants one.

[lefty]

...If he does wind up in Iowa, that's 3 very ugly styles of basketball between Illinois, Purdue, and Iowa.

Geez, you left off the worst offenders- Northwestern and Wisconsin. IL was ugly this year but I wouldn't consider it their avocation. Since Lowery is such a poor recruiter he should just stay in C'dale and continue to dominate the Valley with role players.

Don't you think the level of recruits change with the school somewhat....Carbondale isn't the garden spot in the state?
I think he did pretty well there...and if he leaves will do fine wherever he goes