SIU Arena by The Southern Illinoisan

SIU ARENA: A NEW ERA BEGINS

Renovated SIU Arena marks major piece of Saluki Way BY TODD HEFFERMAN THE SOUTHERN

he most impressive part about renovated SIU Arena is that not one thing jumps out at you when you walk around the concourse and enter the stands. The eyes have a lot to take in after Southern Illinois University spent $29.9 million to renovate the oldest home basketball facility in the Missouri Valley Conference. There is the gigantic scoreboard hanging high above the floor, with state-of-the-art replay ability and player stats on the bottom ring. The seats, once beige, orange and brown, have turned maroon for the first time. The final piece of the $83 million Saluki Way project, like the new football stadium, the renovated arena features some of its sport’s icons, like former women’s coach Cindy Scott, Jamaal Tatum and Walt Frazier, to name a few. “The biggest thing is that this has changed everybody’s perception around here, and that is the No. 1 thing we needed to change,” said SIU men’s basketball coach Chris Lowery, a Saluki alum. “Being able to see Walt Frazier on those walls with the championship teams in there is very important for our guys to see. They needed to see that more so than anybody else. They needed to see the championship years up in graphics with who played here. It has obviously helped us in recruiting because it’s shiny, it’s new, and it’s maroon. “When you went into the old place it was different colors. Now, it feels like it’s your gym because everything in there is maroon.” Saluki Way originally was a four-piece project when it was introduced to the SIU Board of Trustees on Sept. 8, 2005. The two jewels were the renovated arena, the most expensive piece

THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTO

Workers with Burke Electric install the panels on some of the lighted advertisements next to one of two floor scoreboards Oct. 5 at SIU Arena.

of the puzzle, and the new football stadium, the Salukis’ first since the 1930s. Saluki Way was also supposed to include a student services building in the place of McAndrew Stadium and what is now the Boydston Center, an addition to the arena that would include new offices and locker rooms for the football and basketball teams. The $25.3 million Saluki Stadium opened Sept. 2, with the season opener against NAIA opponent Quincy. The $11.3 million Boydston Center’s grand opening was Oct. 1, and the arena’s grand opening. The student services building is still in the works, but moved across the street to a two-story parking garage that stands on Lincoln Drive, near the SIU Student Center, in the latest plans unveiled by the university. Renovated SIU Arena will officially open for business

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Saturday, when the Saluki men face Division II Quincy in an exhibition game. The women’s team plays its first exhibition at the new arena Nov. 6 against Illinois-Springfield. Up the new staircase, fans will pass two new Saluki statues. As they enter through the glass doors, they’ll see a new ticket office to their right, a new Saluki Team Store further down the hall, and the new Hall of Fame next to the new main entrance. Once inside, you’ll still know it’s the old arena, but will feel like you have a lot more room to roam. Jason King, associate athletic director in charge of facilities at SIU, said fans would notice even more than the scoreboard and the new seat configuration when they come in for the first time. “One of the first things you’re going to notice is it’s significantly brighter in there,”

King said. “We’ve added a new coat of paint, new seats, the wood floor, because we stripped it down to the bare wood and started over. I think you’ll just see that it’s going to look a lot more modernized.” The renovated arena also features two new club rooms, all-new chairback seating, even in some of the upper deck, and two sizable scoreboards at each end of the arena. The concourse that encircles the court features some art of the Salukis’ greatest players, expanded restrooms and concession stands, and a wider area to walk around. Built in 1964 at a cost of $4.3 million, SIU Arena has hosted commencements, concerts, even former Sen. Paul Simon’s funeral. In the early 2000s, the men’s basketball team made it one of the most difficult places to play in the country, winning 33 straight home games from

2003-06. The Salukis swept the home schedule four times in the last 10 years, going perfect in 2001-02, 2002-03, 2004-05 and 2006-07. With the renovations, it’s even added an extra bounce in the step of this year’s squads. The SIU basketball teams now have professional-styled locker rooms, complete with lounge areas and new theaters for viewing game film. “How could you not be excited to go into that arena every single day?” SIU women’s basketball coach Missy Tiber said. “To come in this room, the lounges, the NBA-type locker room, the theater that we watch film in on a daily basis … how could you not be excited and have that intensity level to the court every day?” todd.hefferman@thesouthern.com 618-351-5087

The Southern Illinoisan Friday, October 29, 2010 Page 3

SIU ARENA: A NEW ERA BEGINS

Arena was quantum leap for Saluki athletics in 1964 BY LES WINKELER THE SOUTHERN

CARBONDALE — The Southern Illinois University athletic program took a quantum leap into the future when SIU Arena opened its doors in 1964. For decades, the university’s basketball, wrestling and gymnastics teams competed in Men’s Gymnasium — now known as Davies Gym. The first game played at the new arena was Dec. 1, 1964, when the Salukis defeated Oklahoma State, 78-55. Ground was broken in March 1962. Construction cost was about $4.3 million. “It was in the extremely early planning stages when I got there in 1960,” said Fred Huff, longtime sports information director at SIU. “I’m not so certain that I didn’t even see an architect’s drawing of it in (athletic director Don) Boydston’s office. “Don was the ramrod behind the arena. He had enough foresight to tie it in with an allpurpose type building. That was the reason for the hard floor; it was just hard on people’s ankles and feet. That was the result of the original thinking, to be a military-type facility where the ROTC could do their practice marching on that floor.” The project took nearly two years to complete. “The one thing I remember is that it was such a beautiful building to see going up,” Huff said. “They put that tower up in the middle to attach all the beams to. It was like watching a kid with an erector set. I remember going down there and watching the first beam be attached to that circular structure.” The new structure was vast improvement over tiny Men’s Gymnasium. “(The seating capacity) when

THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTO

Fans cheer for SIU women’s basketball team in 2006 at SIU Arena. At that game, the attendance record for a women’s game was broken.

we fudged, we’d call it 1,600,” Huff said. “It was technically 1,584. Area fans, you had to know somebody to get a seat to see a college basketball game. “When we were still at Davies, we’d play the big games of the season at Carbondale (Community) High School. We averaged two games a season at Carbondale (Community) High School. There was a bigger capacity there.” The new facility had the

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blessing of nearly everyone in Southern Illinois. “There wasn’t a great deal of opposition at all,” Huff said. “In looking back, I just always considered the smoothness of which it all came about was because of Boydston’s intelligence.” Once the building was completed in 1964, there were few changes — at least structurally — until the TroutWittmann Center was

completed in 2005. Saluki Way renovations began on the arena following the 2008-09 basketball season. “I can’t think of any area downstairs, upstairs, or Lingle Hall that had any appreciable change,” Huff said. “It was built pretty sturdy. It stood its place in years.” There have been other changes over the years. “Lingle Hall was more classroom space than athletic

offices,” Huff said. “Football wasn’t in there. Track wasn’t in there. The only coaches’ offices that were in Lingle Hall originally were basketball, and I’m thinking, wrestling. “Of course back then, all the coaches taught. They all had their classroom responsibilities.” And, although there were many memorable basketball games played at the arena, there were plenty other notable events.

SIU ARENA: A NEW ERA BEGINS “There were at least three NCAA championship gymnastics meets there,” Huff said. SIU men’s and women’s gymnastics and wrestling called SIU Arena home. The facelift the old building is receiving will provide physical changes, but there have been other changes as well. “The middle section was called the Century Club,” Huff said. “You had to donate all of $100 to be eligible to buy a seat there. “And, back in those years it was on paper that half of the arena belonged to the students. We could not sell a seat to anybody on the student side until 10 a.m. the morning of a game. If the students hadn’t picked up all the seats by then we were at liberty to sell the rest of the tickets. “The students filled up the west side of the arena. It was rare we ever got to sell those tickets.” However, the passage of time

took its toll. While the arena was still structurally sound, changes needed to be made, and those issues were addressed physically following the 2009 basketball season. “Obviously, whatever codes existed in 1963 and 1964 have certainly been changed today,” said current athletic director Mario Moccia. “We’ll have several elevators. We’ll have much upgraded seating. I think the restrooms have changed dramatically. “Even from a seat standpoint, you don’t have to go down those stairs on the lower level that was something of a plummet. From an ADA standpoint, or a code standpoint, I think that’s done nothing but improve the patrons’ experience.” One of the goals of the renovation was to provide a timeless look. “We wanted not to look good for the next five years, but the next 50 years,” Moccia said. “The

grand staircase and the Saluki dogs, that stuff should hold for a long, long time. For the most part, I think things are pretty simple and classic.” The goal of the remodeling was to make needed changes while maintaining the character of the building. “No. 1, there was a time we had one of the nation’s best home court winning percentages,” Moccia said. “I don’t think other teams dreaded it because the bathrooms weren’t nice. I think it was because of the proximity to the floor, and it was a sweat box at times. “We kept that intimacy. The fans are still right on top of you. I think what gave us a home court advantage from a building standpoint won’t have changed. It’s just that a lot of fan THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTO amenities are better.” Kathy Lovelace with Laborer’s Local 773 removes a board that was formerly les.winkeler@thesouthern.com 618-351-5088

a bleacher seat in the OO section Feb. 26 at SIU Arena. After SIU’s final home game against Creighton, workers started removing bleachers as renovation efforts for the arena kicked into high gear.

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SIU ARENA: A NEW ERA BEGINS SIU MEN’S BASKETBALL SINGLE-GAME RECORDS Most Points Scored in a Game 1. Centenary, Mar. 1, 1968, 130 2. Eastern Michigan, Feb. 3, 1960, 120 3. Roosevelt (Chicago), Nov. 27, 1978, 116 4. Tampa, Nov. 27, 1993, 114 4. at Murray State, Dec. 9, 1989, 114 4. New Mexico State, Feb. 18, 1980, 114 7. at Ball State, Feb. 17, 1971, 113 8. Fort Campbell, Jan. 24, 1964, 111 9. at Missouri-Rolla, Jan. 16, 1964, 110 9. at NE Missouri State, Dec. 9, 1961, 110 Most Points Allowed in a Game 1. at Drake, Jan. 10, 1980, 116 2. at Austin Peay, Dec. 2, 1988, 115 3. Evansville, March 1, 1972, 113 3. Bradley, Feb. 29, 1988, 113 5. at Tulsa, Feb. 25, 1984, 111 6. at Wichita State, March 5, 1983, 109 7. Tennessee State, Dec. 27, 1958, 108 7. at West Texas State, Jan. 19, 1981, 108 7. at Murray State, Dec. 9, 1989, 108 10. at Eastern Illinois, Feb. 8, 1951, 107 10. at Texas, Dec. 10, 1970, 107 10. at Wichita State, March 6, 1984, 107 Fewest Points Scored in a Game (In modern era — Since 1950) 1. at Bradley, Feb. 16, 1981, 36 2. Tennessee, Dec. 14, 1968, 41 2. at Murray State, Dec. 2, 1982, 41 2. at Western Michigan, Dec. 18, 2007, 41 5. Washington (Mo.), Feb. 20, 1952, 42 5. at Saint Louis, Nov. 30, 2005, 42 6. at Creighton, Feb. 2, 1981, 43 6. at Eastern Illinois, Feb. 8, 1982, 43 9. Missouri State, Jan. 22, 1952, 44 9. Indiana Central, Dec. 21, 1954, 44 9. at Washington (Mo.), Jan. 19, 1955, 44 9. at Western Illinois, Feb. 5, 1955, 44 9. at Missouri, Dec. 16, 1985, 44 Fewest Points Allowed in a Game (In modern era — Since 1950) 1. Washington, Mo., Nov. 10, 2006, 28 2. Indiana Central, Dec. 21, 1954, 33 3. at Louisiana Tech, Nov. 29, 2006 36 4. at California-Davis, Dec. 21, 1959, 37 4. Texas, Dec. 13, 1968, 37 4. Illinois-Chicago, Dec. 21, 1998, 37 7. at Saint Louis, Dec. 4, 1996, 38 7. Evansville, Jan. 11, 2006, 38 9. Washington (Mo.), Dec. 7, 1968, 39 9. Evansville, Jan. 29, 2007, 39 Biggest Margin of Victory 1. Centenary, Mar. 1, 1968, +63 2. Missouri Southern, Dec. 23, 1994, +55 3. Culver-Stockton, Jan. 29, 1964, +54

3. Nevada, Dec. 17, 1965, +54 5. at Eastern Illinois, Jan. 20, 1961, +51 6. Tampa, Nov. 27, 1993, +50 7. Benedictine, Jan. 3, 1977, +49 8. Fort Campbell, Jan. 24, 1964, +48 9. Chicago State, Jan. 18, 1964, +45 9. St. Peters, Mar. 9, 1967, +45 Biggest Margin of Victory (Road Games) 1. at Eastern Illinois, Jan. 20, 1961, +51 2. at UC-Davis, Dec. 21, 1959, +39 3. at Missouri-Rolla, Jan. 16, 1964, +38 4. at Louisiana Tech, Jan. 17, 1975, +36 5. at Wichita State, Feb. 1, 2003, +35 5. at Hawaii-Hillo, Dec. 23, 1989, +35 7. at Northeast Missouri State, Dec. 9, 1961, +34 8. at Western Illinois, Feb. 10, 1933, +31 9. at Northern Illinois, Jan. 7, 1961, +30 9. at Northern Illinois, Jan. 15, 1974, +30 Biggest Margin of Defeat 1. West Texas State, Feb. 14, 1981, –40 2. at Indiana State, Feb. 7, 1981, –36 3. at Indiana State, Jan. 19, 2000, –35 4. at Loyola, Jan. 27, 1981, –34 5. Saint Louis, Mar. 15, 1989, –33 6. at Saint Louis, Jan. 29, 1972, –32 6. at Evansville, Feb. 24, 1996, –30 8. Wichita State, Mar. 6, 1984, –30 9. at Kansas State, Dec. 30, 1981, –29 10. at Missouri, Dec. 16, 1985, –28 Most Points Scored in First Half 1. New Mexico State, Feb. 18, 1980, 70 2. Centenary, Mar. 1, 1968, 64 2. Colgate, Dec. 5, 1987, 64 4. Drake, Feb. 15, 1990, 60 5. Northern Iowa, Dec. 3, 1970, 57 6. Harvard, Dec. 30, 1969, 56 6. Austin Peay, Dec. 4, 1990, 56 6. State, Nov. 30, 1991, 56 6. Tulsa, Mar. 1, 1993, 56 6. Radford, Dec. 20, 1992, 56 6. Tampa, Nov. 27, 1993, 56 6. Evansville, Jan. 30, 2002, 56 Fewest Points Scored in First Half (In modern era — Since 1950) 1. New Mexico State, Mar. 2, 1982, 8 2. Illinois State, Dec. 28, 2003, 13 2. at Illinois State, Jan. 5, 2008, 13 4. Indiana State, Feb. 2, 1980, 14 4. at Murray State, Dec. 2, 1982, 15 4. at Creighton, Jan. 31, 2001, 15 7. at Creighton, Feb. 2, 1981, 16 7. Creighton, Mar. 10, 2003, 16 7. at Western Michigan, Dec. 18, 2007, 16

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ALAN ROGERS / THE SOUTHERN

Twin Saluki statues stand over the new upper level entrance of renovated SIU Arena, home of the Saluki men’s and women’s basketball teams.

10. at Evansville, Dec. 9, 1981, 17 Most Points Scored in Second Half 1. Culver Stockton, Jan. 29, 1964, 73 2. Fort Campbel, Jan. 24, 1964, 66 2. Centenary, Mar. 1, 1968, 66 4. Wichita State, Dec. 20, 1965, 64 4. Roosevelt Chicago, Dec. 5, 1979, 64 4. Moorehead State, Dec. 12, 1980, 64 7. Chicago State, Jan. 18, 1964, 63 8. Villanova, Nov. 26, 1988, 62 8. at Drake, Feb. 25, 1991, 62 10. South Florida, Feb. 28, 1972, 61 10. Missouri State, Jan. 15, 1998, 61 Fewest Points Scored in Second Half (In modern era — Since 1950) 1. Kentucky Wesleyan, Jan. 15, 1965, 15 1. at Kansas State, Dec. 7, 1964, 15 3. New Orleans, Dec. 30, 1977, 16 4. Drake, Feb. 26, 1983, 17 4. at Indiana State, Jan. 12, 2008, 17 6. Kentucky Wesleyan, Jan. 10, 1966, 18 6. at Evansville, Jan. 24, 1968, 18 6. at Bradley, Feb. 16, 1981, 18 6. at Bradley, Dec. 31, 1996, 18 10. at Eastern Illinois, Feb. 8, 1982, 19 10. Bradley, Feb. 2, 1984, 19 10. at Tulsa, Feb. 20, 1986, 19 10. Missouri State, Mar. 6, 2005, 19 Best Field-Goal Percentage 1. at Wichita State, Mar. 15, 1983, 70.5 2. William-Jewell, Dec. 31, 1977, 69.1 3. Wichita State, Feb. 16, 1991, 67.8 4. Wichita State, Jan. 22, 1994, 67.4 5. Chicago State, Dec. 10, 1984, 67.3 6. Syracuse, Mar. 17, 1995, 65.5 7. Creighton, Feb. 10, 2007, 65.0 8. Benedictine, Jan. 3, 1977, 64.7

9. Cal. Poly-San Luis O., Dec. 15, 1976, 64.4 10. Indiana State, Nov. 30, 1983 63.9 Worst Field-Goal Percentage 1. Wichita State, Jan. 12, 1982, 24.3 2. at Illinois State, Jan. 5, 2008, 26.0 3. at Western Michigan, Dec. 18, 2007, 26.9 4. vs. Saint Mary’s, Dec. 20, 2008, 27.0 5. at Creighton, Jan. 18, 1986, 27.3 6. Bradley, Jan. 20, 2010, 27.4 7. at Saint Louis, Nov. 30, 2005, 28.3 8. at Nevada, Dec. 14, 2008, 28.3 9. at Creighton, Jan. 17, 1983, 28.8 10. at BYU, Mar. 20, 2000, 28.8 Best Field-Goal Percentage in a Half 1. Creighton, Feb. 10, 2007, 85.7 (2nd) 2. Valparaiso, Dec. 3, 1979, 77.9 (2nd) 3. Bradley, Feb. 23, 1978, 77.8 (1st) 4. at Evansville, Jan. 15, 2008, 77.3 (1st) 5. William Jewel, Dec. 31, 1977, 76.0 (1st) 6. George Madison, Nov. 24, 2002, 75.0 (2nd) 6. Tulsa, Mar. 4, 1989, 75.0 (2nd) 6. Chicago State, Dec. 10, 1984, 75.0 (1st) 9. at Drake, Feb. 25, 1991, 74.1 (2nd) 10. Wichita State, Feb. 16, 1991, 73.3 (2nd) Worst Field-Goal Percentage in a Half 1. Creighton, Mar. 10, 2003, 15.6 (1st) 2. at Illinois State, Jan. 5, 2008, 18.2 (1st) 3. vs. Saint Mary’s, Dec. 12, 2008, 19.4 (2nd) 4. at Wichita State, Feb. 5, 1996, 20.0 (1st) 5. Illinois-Chicago, Dec. 19, 1981, 20.0 (2nd) 6. at Nevada, Dec. 14, 2008, 20.6 (2nd) 7. Indiana State, Feb. 28, 1997, 21.1 (2nd) 8. at Bradley, Feb. 22, 1999, 21.4 (1st) 9. at Bradley, Feb. 5, 1983, 21.4 (1st) 10. at Indiana State, Feb. 21, 1996, 22.0 (2nd)

The Southern Illinoisan Friday, October 29, 2010 Page 7

SIU ARENA: A NEW ERA BEGINS

New look, historic feel Renovated arena is built for the future, but doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget the past

THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTO

A worker makes adjustments to the new four-sided video scoreboard (right) Oct. 5 at SIU Arena. ALAN ROGERS / THE SOUTHERN

Photographs chronicling great moments in SIU basketball history circle the upper concourse of renovated SIU Arena.

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The Southern Illinoisan Friday, October 29, 2010 Page 9

SIU ARENA: A NEW ERA BEGINS

New look, historic feel Renovated arena is built for the future, but doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget the past

THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTO

A worker makes adjustments to the new four-sided video scoreboard (right) Oct. 5 at SIU Arena. ALAN ROGERS / THE SOUTHERN

Photographs chronicling great moments in SIU basketball history circle the upper concourse of renovated SIU Arena.

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The Southern Illinoisan Friday, October 29, 2010 Page 9

SIU ARENA: A NEW ERA BEGINS

Boydston the ‘lead dog’ for building SIU Arena BY FRED HUFF FOR THE SOUTHERN

Recently — Oct. 1 to be precise — Southern Illinois University supremely honored Drs. Donald N. Boydston and Jo Ann Boydston by dedicating and naming a new building on campus Boydston Center. It isn’t simply a new building. It’s a multi-purpose athletics facility attached to renovated SIU Arena, which soon will become the new home for SIU men’s and women’s basketball teams. As one might imagine, the dedication was professionally directed, produced and presented by all the proper dignitaries as well as appropriate guests who had

played major roles in the Boydstons’ professional careers at SIU. The compact printed program included all of the essential facts. There’s just so much more, particularly to Boydston’s 15-year run as SIU’s athletics director. If there was any one individual who earned the distinction of being referred to as “the lead dog” in regard to the construction of SIU Arena and the development of SIU’s men’s sports program, it was Don Boydston. Boydston had the savvy, the professional expertise and the good judgment of sensing when openings occurred. When interests of others in key positions appeared. When a memo or phone call might

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be productive. Even though SIU’s need for a new basketball home was severe, the arena may not have been approved when it was — in the late 1950s — without Boydston’s suggestions and talk of “a multi-purpose facility that would include classrooms for physical education and health education classes as well as ROTC training areas and graduation exercises.” He was aware that President Delyte Morris was bothered when rain had interfered with outdoor graduation plans at McAndrew Stadium. He parlayed all of these existing situations into eventual approval of SIU Arena. And, yes, it also served as home of the Saluki basketball

program, which was beginning to attract national attention under the leadership of onetime NBA great Harry Gallatin (1959-62) and Jack Hartman, who succeeded “The Iron Horse.” And, for the record, it should be noted that Men’s Gym, the former home of SIU’s basketball teams and now the re-named Davies Gymnasium, had a seating capacity of less than 1,600. Of course there were others in key positions when it came to signing off on SIU Arena. Boydston had a powerful academic ally in Dean Grinnell, who he relied on for guidance when dealing with campus leaders and matters. The bottom line is that Boydston got the job done even

though the exceptionally hard hardwood floor of the basketball court resulted in complaints from coaches and players for years to come. Remember the ROTC training connection? It was said that unlimited years of marching in combat boots on the basketball court would have little, if any, wear on the surface. It was all part of the puzzle. However, there was so much more to Donald Newell Boydston. Born in 1920 in Fort Worth, Texas, he attended grade and high schools in Sand Springs, Okla., where he developed into being a state high jump champion. He told us that his dad had taken him in their pickup truck to enroll at Oklahoma University.

SIU ARENA: A NEW ERA BEGINS

THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTO

SIU officials, current and former student athletes join Jo Ann Boydston (fifth from left) cutting the ribbon to the Boydston Center on Oct. 1 at SIUC.

The first few weeks there didn’t suit him, however, so he hitchhiked a ride to Oklahoma State University, where track coach Ralph Higgerson had shown an interest in him at the state high school meet. The shift resulted in a dormitory job which provided room and board, and Boydston was well on his way toward becoming one of the top collegiate high jumpers in America. He held records and titles at all three of the major meets, the Texas, Kansas and Drake Relays. After a distinguished career in the Marine Corps and a brief

fling in the newspaper business, Boydston turned to academics. After earning his advanced degrees, he eventually wound up at Ole Miss before attracting the attention of SIU’s leaders wanting to develop the school’s health education department. Fast-forwarding to his move to SIU in 1955, then as an appointment as athletics director in 1957, Boydston inherited a Saluki men’s program, which was, in his words, “a rag-tag operation, which lacked interest, money and tradition.” In the seven years as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate

Athletic Conference before Boydston’s takeover, the Salukis had won a total of four championships. In his second year, SIU won the all-sports championships and followed up the next two school years as well when the Salukis won nine of the 10 sports titles. SIU’s dominance actually led to the Salukis being asked to withdraw from the IIAC and, with the exception of a two-year period (1970-72), they competed as an independent until being invited into the Missouri Valley Conference in 1975. Boydston’s list of accomplishments as athletic

director is so lengthy that it’s impossible to include all. Some that he was most proud of include: z the creation of a scholarship program which amounted to a “work-for-room and board” and academic waivers for many SIU athletes before the time of NCAA full-ride scholarships. z the Salukis winning the 1967 National Invitation Tournament in New York City, where they rolled over St. Peters, Duke, Rutgers and Marquette. z the dominance SIU’s men’s gymnastics teams displayed while winning four NCAA national championships in just

nine years. z the national titles won by SIU’s cross country, swimming, golf and tennis teams at collegedivision levels. z the upgrading of SIU’s overall program from the college division to the university division level. z the adoption and development of a women’s gymnastics program which claimed numerous national federation titles. z the acceptance of Southern Illinois University as SIU, particularly in the sports world. Now it’s all part of the Boydston Center.

The Southern Illinoisan Friday, October 29, 2010 Page 11

SIU ARENA: A NEW ERA BEGINS SIU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL RECORDS SIU Women’s Basketball Records Team Single Game Records Most Points — 101 2x, last vs. Indiana State (3/5/84) Least Points —34 vs. Central Michigan (2/8/75) Most Rebounds — 64 vs. Wichita State (12/21/81) Least Rebounds — 20 vs. Drake (1/19/85) Highest Winning Margin — 54 vs. Milliken (2/22/75) Most Assists — 30 vs. Western Illinois (1/8/90) Most Steals — 21 vs. Northern Iowa (12/8/94) Most Blocks — 11 at Indiana State (12/29/99) Most FGs Made — 43 2x, last vs. Northern Iowa (1/5/87) Most FGs Attempted — 91 vs. SE Missouri State (11/21/80) Best FG Percentage — .702 vs. Western Illinois (1/8/90) Worst FG Percentage — .197 vs. Wichita State (1/29/94) Most FTs Made — 35 vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff (12/2/00) Most FTs Attempted — 46 vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff (12/2/00) Best FT Percentage — 1.000 at Evansville (1/11/03) Worst FT Percentage — .000 2x, last at Northern Iowa (2/10/05) Most Turnovers — 36 2x, last vs. Long Beach State (12/19/88) Least Turnovers — 4 vs. Memphis State (3/17/83) Least Points in a Half — 13 at Illinois State (1/29/05) Team Single Season Records Most Points — 2,409 1980-81 Highest Scoring Average — 75.3 ppg 1980-81 Highest Scoring Margin — 439, +15.7 1983-84 Most Rebounds — 1,346 1980-81 Highest Rebounding Average — 46.6 1976-77 Most Assists — 552 1980-81 Most Steals — 330 1994-95 Most Blocks — 96 1986-87 Most FGs Made — 1,026 1980-81 Most FGs Attempted — 2,230 1980-81 Best FG Percentage — .502 1982-83 Most FTs Made — 454 1982-83 Most FTs Attempted — 742 1982-83 Best FT Percentage — .740 2000-01 Most 3FGs Made — 142 2003-04

Most 3FGs Attempted — 437 2003-04 Best 3FG Percentage — .384 1991-92 Individual Single Game Records Most Points — 38 Sue Faber vs. WisconsinLaCrosse (2/10/79) Most Rebounds — 21 3x, last by Angenette Sumrall vs. Indiana State (2/17/94) Most Assists — 15 Connie Erickson vs. Eastern Illinois (2/9/80) Most Blocks — 7 Kristine Abramowski vs. Indiana State (12/29/99) Most Steals — 9 5x, last by Daphney Desamours at Bradle (2/12/05) Most FGs Made — 18 Sue Faber vs. Wisconsin-LaCrosse (2/10/79) Most FGs Attempted — 28 Sue Faber vs. Northwestern (3/4/79) Best FG Percentage — 1.000 2x, last by Th eia Hudson (10-10) vs. Evansville (2/8/97) Most FTs Made — 17 Molly McDowell vs. Wichita State (1/13/01) Most FTs Attempted — 19 Molly McDowell vs. Wichita State (1/13/01) Best FT Percentage — 1.000 Several times, last by Danette Jones (11-11) vs. Creighton (12/31/04) Most 3FGs Made — 7 2x, last by Danette Jones at Bethune-Cookman (12/18/04) Most 3FGs Attempted — 17 Cari Hassell, 2x, last vs. SMS (3/4/95) Best 3FG Percentage — .875 Karrie Redeker vs. Northern Iowa (2/6/92) Individual Single Season Records Most Points — 643 Amy Rakers 1989-90 Best Scoring Average — 20.7 Amy Rakers 1989-90 Most Rebounds — 325 Amy Rakers 1989-90 Best Rebounding Avg — 11.6 Bonnie Foley 1976-77 Most Assists — 167 Sue Faber 1982-83 Best Assist Average — 5.9 Connie Erickson 1979-80 Most Blocks — 42 Cathy Kampwerth 1988-89 Most Steals — 131 Kasia McClendon 1996-97 Most FGs Made — 267 Amy Rakers 1989-90 Most FGs Attempted — 465 Amy Rakers 1989-90 Best FG Percentage — .650 Connie Price 1982-83 Most FTs Made — 123 Char Warring 1983-84 Most FTs Attempted — 216 Char Warring 1982-83 Best FT Percentage — .904 Molly McDowell 2002-03

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ALAN ROGERS / THE SOUTHERN

Banners of former basketball stars line the walls of the VIP lounge in renovated SIU Arena, home of the Saluki men’s and women’s basketball teams.

Most 3FGs Made — 79 Cari Hassell 1994-95 Most 3FGs Attempted — 269 Cari Hassell 1994-95 Best 3FG Percentage — .446 Deanna Sanders 1988-89 Most Minutes Played — 1,139 Anita Scott 1991-92 Individual Career Records Most Points — 1,538 Amy Rakers 1987-91 Best Scoring Average — 13.9 Amy Rakers 1987-91 Most Rebounds — 1,014 Sue Faber 1979-83 Best Rebounding Avg — 10.8 Bonnie Foley 1975-79 Most Assists — 508 D.D. Plab 1980-84 Best Assist Average — 4.2 D.D. Plab 198084 Most Blocks — 104 Cathy Kampwerth 1985-89 Most Steals — 366 Kasia McClendon 1994-97

Most FGs Made — 650 Petra Jackson 1982-86 Most FGs Attempted — 1,423 Sue Faber 1979-83 Best FG Percentage — .594 Char Warring 1980-84 Most FTs Made — 367 Molly McDowell 199903 Most FTs Attempted — 635 Char Warring 1980-84 Best FT Percentage — .842 Molly McDowell 1999-03 Most 3FGs Made — 161 Karrie Redeker 1988-92 Most 3FGs Attempted — 464 Karen Powell 1990-94 Best 3FG Percentage — .417 Meredith Jackson 1996-99 Most Games Played — 121 D.D. Plab 198084 Most Minutes Played — 3,572 Angie Rougeau 1989-93

SIU ARENA: A NEW ERA BEGINS WOMEN’S TEAM Year 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06 2004-05 2003-04 2002-03 2001-02 2000-01

Home 4-8 8-5 6-8 12-3 7-6 2-10 1-10 3-9 4-8 3-9

Overall 5-24 9-19 10-20 21-11 10-18 3-24 3-24 7-20 6-21 7-20

SIU basketball teams feel ebb and flow of success

MEN’S TEAM Year 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06 2004-05 2003-04 2002-03 2001-02 2000-01

Home 10-5 8-6 13-3 13-0 11-2 15-0 13-1 14-0 13-0 10-4

Overall 15-15 13-18 18-15 29-7 22-11 27-8 25-5 24-7 28-8 16-14

ALAN ROGERS / THE SOUTHERN

Hall of Fame athletes are recognized on a wall inside renovated SIU Arena.

www.pepsimidamerica.com 1.800.827.7020 The Southern Illinoisan Friday, October 29, 2010 Page 13

SIU ARENA: A NEW ERA BEGINS

Sing it with pride, Saluki fans! School’s fight song, ‘Go Southern Go!’ will certainly ring throughout arena Go! Southern Go! Fight on to victory! Go! Southern Go! March on triumphantly! Come on and show, Southern, Show, For all the world to know Nothing’s gonna stop you now Hit that line and show them how to go! Southern Go! Go!

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ALAN ROGERS / THE SOUTHERN

The upper level of SIU Arena features images and important dates in SIU basketball history.

SIU ARENA: A NEW ERA BEGINS

I’ll never forget all the good times, highlights distinctly remember my first visit to SIU Arena. It was the winter of 1971. The Mater Dei Knights had won OFF the Salem TARGET regional LES tournament and advanced to WINKELER sectional play at Carbondale. As a naïve 16-year-old high school junior, I remember looking through the bus windows at the Brush Towers dorms and the many lighted basketball courts around campus. The country boy had reached the city.

Then, I walked into the arena proper. I couldn’t believe the size of the building. It was breathtaking. The seating capacity in those days was a touch more than 10,000, meaning it could hold 10 towns the size of Beckemeyer — my hometown. Just a couple years later, I arrived at SIU as an only slightly less naïve college freshman. I still thought the arena, which was still a shiny, new structure, had to be one of the most magnificent basketball facilities in the world. The thought of getting to play intramural basketball in the arena … it was intoxicating. Of course, college has a way of quickly stripping away any

veneer of naïveté. I got used to watching the Salukis, and even playing intramural games, at the arena. And, believe it or not, in those days the color scheme was quite chic. Unfortunately, the arena, like milk, did not age gracefully. The trendy décor of the ’70s turned gauche by the mid-80s. It was the Graceland of basketball venues. Like many other Southern Illinoisans, I was aware the arena was no longer a palace, but it seemed adequate. That was before I took over the SIU basketball beat for a couple of years. Compared to Koch Arena in Wichita, Kan., and the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., — well,

truthfully there was no comparison. Yet, the basketball was outstanding. Through the years, I’ve seen Larry Bird, Xavier McDaniel, Chris Carr, Wes Cox, Kyle Korver, Mike Glenn, Joe. C. Meriweather, Maurice Cheeks and a host of other great players. I saw Stetson Hairston’s improbable tip-in that beat Hawaii in the BracketBuster. I saw Darren Brooks and Sly Willis team up for a 94-footbuzzer beater, and I saw Josh Warren’s improbable lastsecond bank shot to defeat Missouri State. The arena was one of the most hostile venues in the country. No one, literally no one, wanted to come to Carbondale to play.

Despite SIU’s basketball success, it became more and more obvious that the arena needed work. It didn’t meet ADA codes, bathroom facilities were sorely lacking and the rickety old bleachers were an accident waiting to happen. Now, the refurbished arena is about to be unveiled. Sure, there will be a naysayer or two, but the vast majority of fans will love what they’ve done to the place. I got a sneak peak the other day. I was amazed. I felt like that naïve 16-year-old again. LES WINKELER is the sports editor for The Southern Illinoisan. Contact him at les.winkeler@ thesouthern.com, or call 618-351-5088.

The Southern Illinoisan Friday, October 29, 2010 Page 15

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