Mitchell announces addition of Donchez Graham to Indiana State women’s basketball staff--gosycamores.com
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
What's Up In The Missouri Valley 6/30/2026
Testing the “One Ball” Theory of Transfer Usage and Efficiency--Basket Under Review
2023-24 Belmont Bruins: a case study in transfer hits and misses
Perhaps no team better captures the variance in transfer production than the 2023-24 Belmont Bruins. Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Malik Dia, and Cade Tyson all put up big counting stats on high usage.
As we trace their career arcs in the power conferences, we find a smattering of almost every possible transfer outcome.
Dia started his career at Vanderbilt but transferred to Belmont after playing fewer than 9 mins per game. In his lone season with the Bruins, he put up strong counting stats (16.9 PPG) on huge usage (39%) and solid efficiency (56% TS). After transferring to Ole Miss, his scoring (10.8 PPG), usage (26%), and efficiency (54%) all dipped, but Dia established himself as a productive player in the country’s toughest league. In his second season in Oxford, he increased his scoring (14.5 PPG) and usage (33%), but his efficiency suffered (52%).
Tyson’s sophomore year at Belmont (16.2 PPG on 23% usage and 64% TS) led him to fill North Carolina’s stretch-4 role previously held by Brady Manek and Pete Nance. Tyson failed to fill those shoes, scoring just 2.6 PPG on 51% TS, one of the largest efficiency drops in the dataset. However, Tyson excelled at his next P5 stop, putting up 19.6 PPG on 25% usage and 66% TS at Minnesota.
Similar to Dia, Gillespie’s scoring (14.7 PPG vs 17.2 at Belmont), usage (22% vs 25%), and efficiency (60% vs 66%) all dropped when he jumped to the power conferences, but he was a reliable contributor for Maryland’s Crab 5. At his second P5 stop at Tennessee, Gillepie put up career highs in scoring (18.4 PPG) and usage (27%) but at the expense of efficiency (54% TS).
With just three players, we’ve hit on examples of: freshmen struggling to carve a role at the P5 level; low-major players contributing after making the jump; low-major players flaming out at the P5 level, then rebounding; players decreasing their usage and efficiency; and players increasing their usage but decreasing their efficiency. With such a wide range of outcomes from just three former teammates, it’s clear that forecasting transfer outcomes isn’t so straightforward as simply looking at last season’s PPG.
The data and Belmont example can help us establish some rules of thumb as fans assess their portal additions:
- Proven P5 production translates the best
- Usage rate will generally decrease, especially for players teaming with another ball-dominant player
- It’s a coin flip whether a transfer’s efficiency will drop or not
- Even with these rules of thumb, the range of outcomes is wide
Monday, June 29, 2026
Saturday, June 27, 2026
What's Up In The Missouri Valley 6/27/2026
Justin Jennings Named Newest Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach--goredbirds.com
Avila, Conwell join ranks of ex-Sycamores in NBA--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Mitchell expects rebuilt ISU women's team to play fast, defend better--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Halli Poock returns for one last dance with Murray State women's basketball--WPSD Local 6
Thompson goes from floor to SIU staff--Southern Illinoisan
Women's Basketball Finalizes 2026-27 Coaching Staff--siusalukis.com
Friday, June 26, 2026
Thursday, June 25, 2026
What's Up In The Missouri Valley 6/25/2026
Arch Madness Smaller and Larger--Valley Hoops Insider
THE SPORTING LIFE: Arch Madness machinations totally unnecessary--Southern Illinoisan
Bradley Braves pleased with NCAA change in athlete eligibility rules--Peoria Journal Star
Amber Scalia Joins Women's Basketball Staff as Graduate Assistant Coach--gopurpleaces.com
#180: Murray State Men's Basketball Coach Ryan Miller--Full Court Press
Former Racer center, Fred King, signs with German professional basketball club--WPSD Local 6
Shot King award keeps competition alive during Murray State's offseason--WPSD Local 6
Racer men will head to Europe in August--Murray Ledger and Times
SIU to honor legendary teams--Southern Illinoisan
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
What's Up In The Missouri Valley 6/24/2026
SIU Celebrates Year of Saluki Legends--siusalukis.com
Men's Basketball
60 Years — 1966-67
One of the most celebrated teams in SIU history, the Salukis won the 1967 NIT Championship with a 71-56 victory over Marquette at Madison Square Garden. Led by Saluki Hall of Famers Walt Frazier, Dick Garrett, and head coach Jack Hartman, the Salukis finished 24-2. The team was inducted into the SIU Hall of Fame in 2000.
50 Years — 1976-77
SIU finished 22-7, won the MVC Tournament, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time. The Salukis reached the Sweet Sixteen behind Saluki Hall of Famers Mike Glenn, Gary Wilson, and brothers Corky and Wayne Abrams.
20 Years — 2006-07
The Salukis went 25-5 (15-3 MVC), earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and reached the Sweet Sixteen. SIU fell 61-58 to eventual national champion Kansas. The team featured Saluki Hall of Famers Randal Falker, Bryan Mullins, and Jamaal Tatum.Women's Basketball
40 Years — 1986-87
Coached by SIU and MVC Hall of Famer Cindy Scott, the Salukis went 28-3 and completed their second consecutive undefeated conference season (18-0). SIU finished ranked No. 16 nationally and defeated LSU in the NCAA Tournament before falling to Louisiana Tech, the eventual national runner-up. Key contributors included Ann Kattreh, Mary Berghuis, and Bridgett Williams.
35 Years — 1991-92
Also under Scott, SIU posted a 23-8 record and went 16-4 in the Gateway Conference. Led by Saluki Hall of Famers Kelly Firth and Anita Scott, the Salukis upset No. 7 Colorado in the NCAA Tournament.
All five basketball teams will be recognized during a single home weekend. Dates will be announced following the release of the MVC schedules.
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