Switching his shooting hand isn’t all that has senior forward Tyrone Green poised for a strong season.

Green transferred to SIU for the 2006-2007 season after two years at Southeastern Illinois College, where he switched his shooting hand from his right to his left.

He said he was always able to use both hands equally, as he writes left-handed.

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Green’s high school coach said it was too late to change shooting hands, Green said, but his coach at Southeastern Illinois College told him to make the switch.

“I can use both hands equally,” Green said. “But I just picked the ball up, shot with my right hand all my life, until I got in college.”

Green said his shot is improving as he shoots more, and junior guard Bryan Mullins said Green would play a big role in the Salukis’ offense this season.

Green did play big minutes late in the season for SIU last year, averaging 15.7 minutes per game during the NCAA Tournament, playing both guard and forward.

“I just had to step up for my team,” Green said. “The team needed me, whatever I could do. I could play guard, power forward, whatever. Whatever coach needed me to do, I was willing to step up, and it worked out for the best.”

Green played 24 minutes against Virginia Tech in the second round, pulling down four rebounds and adding two assists. He then scored two points and grabbed three offensive rebounds in the next round, against top-seeded Kansas.

“His toughness was immeasurable,” coach Chris Lowery said. “He played so hard whenever he was in games, and he really gave his heart and soul to the team, and he was very emotional. So we expect those type of things from him, even more so, by playing more minutes.”

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Green said the big minutes he played last season would pay off with the Salukis’ tough schedule this season.

Key individual match-ups for Green include heralded guards A.J. Graves of Butler, Courtney Lee of Western Kentucky and possibly O.J. Mayo of USC.

“I’m going to have to play big-time minutes on big-ime athletes coming up,” Green said.

Mullins said it was tough for Green to come in from junior college and learn the Salukis’ defensive concepts, but he has improved as time has gone by.

“He’s had a great offseason and a really great fall,” Mullins said. “He’s going to play some big minutes this year and he’s got great experience playing in the Tournament last year.”

Green said he wants to improve his shooting and get to the free-throw line more this season, and Lowery said the focus for Green and the rest of the Salukis this offseason has been individual improvement.

“I think we’ve tried to really improve his game and help him get better and not just be an athlete,” Lowery said. “But now I think you’ll see him have more confidence on the floor and really be more productive offensively.”

Daily Egyptian reporter Scott Mieszala can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 256 or [email protected].