by Mikal J. Harris

DE Campus Life Editor

SIUC’s Rolling Salukis had to settle for second-best in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Regional Playoffs. But traveling to Nashville, Tenn., to watch the Final Four matchups this weekend may produce the most difficult moment yet for veteran team member and co-captain Earl Jordan.

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Jordan, a senior in psychology from Chicago, plans to help coach the Salukis until his December graduation. The team’s March 8 loss to the Chicago Bulls in the NWBA Division II Midwest Regional Championship was his last as a team member.

It still hasn’t hit me yet, he said. I’ll probably feel it when we go down to Nashville.

Jordan, who won the Regional Tournament Sportsmanship Award, is one of four valuable people who will be missing from the Rolling Salukis’ roster next season. Co-captain Dave Williams, last year’s team Most Valuable Player, also is graduating. Powerhouse new recruit James Gouch, a freshman in special education from Detroit, has opted not to return next year in favor of concentrating on family plans. First-year coach Jason Lipe, a junior in recreation from Carbondale, plans on pursuing an internship opportunity next season.

The numerous changes could lead Saluki sports fans to believe SIUC’s best chance of winning a national championship soon is gone.

This is probably the most disappointed I’ve been after a loss, Jordan said. I expected a lot more from this team.

Still, returning players Brent Bicket, Keith Paprocki and Ki Yun will be a factor for the team next year, and an optimistic Lipe says recruiting could be another possible factor in keeping the team competitive.

We need at least two big men and we’ve hit the recruiting trail pretty hard, he said. We’ll have some very big losses. We also have three new recruits who already are enrolled.

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If only those efforts will get the team past the National Basketball Association-sponsored Bulls next year.

The Chicago Bulls handed the Rolling Salukis a devastating 64-42 loss one day after the Salukis defeated the Heart of Illinois (Peoria) Hiwaymen 60-55.

We just got outplayed, Lipe said. The Bulls are a better ballclub. They have more experience and they were ranked No. 1 for a reason.

Jordan, Williams and Gouch contributed 13, 12 and 11 points respectively against the Bulls, but it was a subpar performance for Gouch, who contributed 30 points against the Hiwaymen.

Although Jordan says an easier game against the Hiwaymen would have produced a better showing against the Bulls, the difference in Gouch’s play could be traced to the problem Gouch suffered early in the first half. A broken axle on his wheelchair prevented him from maneuvering well on the court. Despite his hampered play against the Bulls, Gouch earned the Regional Tournament MVP.

I didn’t think I was going to get it, Gouch said. The coach must’ve thought I deserved it I don’t know. I just love the game.

Aided with the benefit of the additional torso height Gouch supplied, the Salukis’ second-place finish in the regional tournament was the highest the team ever attained in postseason action.

Sectional tournament woes consistently kept the team from advancing to the regionals, and this year’s sectional championship was a milestone. Gouch turned in a spectacular 40-point performance in that championship game against the Tulsa Queen City Rollers shortly after being notified of a death in the family.

This year’s achievements were little consolation for a team that had its sights set on playing in the NWBA Final Four tournament this weekend in Nashville instead of watching from the sidelines.

Like Jordan, other team members will make the trip as spectators, but it will be hard for them to watch the Chicago Bulls square off against the Virginia Beach Sunwheelers of the East. The winner of that game will advance to the Division II championship match, and will play the victor of the contest between the Charlotte Hornets of the South and the St. Lukis Cyclones of the West.

With a competitive 15-8 record and a No. 12 ranking among the nation’s Division II teams, Lipe knows his team was capable of a better game against the 29-2 top-ranked Bulls. The Rolling Salukis team is rebuilding for next season and looking forward to more accomplishments, but the loss against the Bulls during the regional championship does little to dampen Lipe’s spirits as the team prepares its Nashville journey.

I think we were more disappointed with our play [against the Bulls] more than we were with not advancing, he said. I think with everything we’ve been through this year we’ve done really well. I’m proud of my team.