Scouting: SIU at Illinois basketball

Southern Illinois (0-0) at Illinois (2-0)

When: 7 p.m. Saturday at Assembly Hall

TV: BTN

Radio: WSCR 670-AM

Skinny: Upon leaving SIU for Illinois in April 2003, Bruce Weber not only promised that he would get the Illini and Salukis together...but that he would bring his squad to Carbondale. While Weber says he'll make good on his entire deal within the next few years if schedules work out for both schools this starter step was born out of a good-natured trash-talking session between the teams' assistant on the Thursday night before last year's Final Four at Indianapolis. Weber and SIU coach Chris Lowery (Weber's former assistant at SIU and Illinois) sat and watched the zingers fly. “It was a family deal,” Lowery said. “It was former players, current players, staffs that intertwine. It was a fun night, but we had no idea this game would come from it.” SIU will be able to hang with Illinois if Lowery's re-cast program really has re-dedicated itself to being “Floorburn U,” which connotes a renewed emphasis on defense. Also, the Salukis need to take advantage of 6-foot-9, 290-pound Gene Teague in the post.