2005 Season Summary
The Southern Illinois Salukis were coming off a highly successful 2004-05 season in which they went 27-8 straight up, including a Missouri Valley Conference record of 15-3, which was good for the regular season championship.
The Salukis were upset in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament in the second round be Missouri State, however, but still made the the second round of the NCAA Tourney.
Southern Illinois was a respected team with gamblers as evidenced by their mark of 16-18 against the spread, which was indicative of their lack of board value due to consumer demand for action on the at the sportsbooks. The Salukis did get the cash in seven of their final nine games against the board for the season.
Stumbled out of the gate
Southern Illinois opened the season with a 65-47 home win over Louisiana-Lafayette as 8.5-point chalks. That was followed by a 68-80 neutral court loss to Monmouth-NJ as 15-point chalks. Next was a most alarming 64-72 loss at Alaska Anchorage as 11-point chalks, The Salukis’ problems on the board continued with a 80-72 neutral court win over Eastern Washington as 12.5-point chalks. That was then followed by a 42-56 loss at Saint Louis as 2-point dogs for a fourth consecutive failure against the board as Southern Illinois stumbled out of the gate with a 1-4 start.
Cash cows
SIU got their first payoff in five games with a 57-53 win at Wyoming as 2-point dogs. That was followed by a 58-51 win at home over Kent State as 4.5-point chalks and then a 64-54 win at Central Michigan as 9-point chalks for a third straight payoff.
Back home against Arkansas-Little Rock, the Salukis scored a 67-42 blowout win and cover as 11-point chalks. That was followed by a 57-53 win at Murray State as 6-point dogs.
The Salukis had become bona fide cash cows with a 64-50 home win over Drake as 6.5-point chalks. That was followed by a 58-49 home win over Wichita State as 2.5-point chalks. It was more of the same as Southern Illinois next scored a 55-49 win at Indiana State as 4-point chalks and followed that up with a 67-55 win over Bradley as 3-point home favorites. Southern Illinois then got a tenth consecutive cash grab with a 66-38 blowout home win over Evansville as 13.5-point chalks.
Slowing down
Ten consecutive wins against the college basketball gambling boards has a way of getting the attention of even the most casual of gamblers and that was the case for Southern Illinois, who suddenly became a most popular team with the masses. A ten game cover streak, however, is unsustainable and SIU began slowing down starting with a 47-46 win at Drake as 1-point chalks for a push. Interestingly enough, the Salukis then got a second straight push with a 65-71 win at Northern Iowa in overtime as 6-point dogs.
From there, however, the Salukis went in the red with a 63-71 loss at Missouri State as 4.5-point dogs followed by a 56-44 home win over Illinois State as 12.5-point overlays. The bleeding briefly stopped with a 62-48 home win over Creighton as 3.5-point chalks followed by a 65-52 win at Illinois State as 4.5-point chalks.
Bleeding red ink
Southern Illinois resumed bleeding red ink starting with a 54-63 loss to Indiana State as 15.5-point chalks. That was followed by a 63-71 overtime loss at Wichita State as 5-point dogs. Problems continued with a 66-64 loss to Missouri State as 4.5-point chalks. The bleeding stopped for a moment as SIU won at Creighton 64-67 as 5-point dogs. SIU went back in the tank, however, as the finished the regular season 1-3 straight up and 0-4 against the spread.
Post Season bail out
In the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, Southern Illinois saved their season with three consecutive wins and covers to take the crown and get a NCAA bid, where they lost SU&ATS to West Virginia.