Salukis welcome Tucker back from academic suspension

By Gus Bode

The SIUC men’s basketball team played a game of musical chairs with its starting lineup Nov. 25 one that provides an unknown future for the rest of the season.

The Salukis welcomed back forward Rashad Tucker from an academic suspension Nov. 25, but lost starting forward Derrick Tilmon to a stress fracture in his left foot.

SIUC Athletic Director Jim Hart announced that Tucker’s eligibility had been restored after the NCAA granted the school’s appeal.

Advertisement

We asked for a waiver of the satisfactory progress rule and the NCAA granted it, Hart stated in a press release. Rashad is eligible to play immediately. We are thankful that the entire matter is behind us and obviously glad for Rashad. We want to wish him and the team all the best the remainder of the season.

Tucker had been ruled ineligible Nov. 2 because he had not met the NCAA’s requirement concerning satisfactory progress toward a degree. Tucker was a few hours short of the required 75 percent needed. But the school appealed the decision, and the NCAA granted the appeal during a hearing Nov. 25.

Tucker missed the Salukis’ two exhibition games and the season-opening 73-61 loss to the University of Miami Nov. 14. He also missed SIUC’s 77-74 win over Virginia Commonwealth University Nov. 25, but he made his return in an 85-76 loss to St. Louis University at SIU Arena Saturday night.

Tucker, SIUC’s returning leading scorer and rebounder, made his mark immediately on the Saluki offense by scoring a team-high 22 points. Tucker added six rebounds, five assists and nine free throws in 33 minutes of play.

SIUC coach Rich Herrin was impressed with Tucker’s ability to adjust to his role in a game situation.

Tucker didn’t try to just do it all, Herrin said. He’s going to be a good player because he can pick the open man up. If he picks the open man up, good things will happen.

But Tucker’s return was bittersweet because Tilmon is expected to miss anywhere from three to six weeks with the foot injury. Tilmon originally injured the foot after the Miami game and did not play in the Salukis’ 90-61 exhibition loss to Athletes in Action Nov. 14.

Advertisement*

Tilmon made his return to the lineup against VCU, but he re-aggravated the injury after just four minutes of play. Tilmon, a sophomore transfer from Hiwassee College, was the Salukis’ starting power forward and scored 10 points and pulled four rebounds against Miami.

Herrin said the Salukis will probably not petition the NCAA for a medical red-shirt for Tilmon because he red-shirted at Norfolk State University in 1995-96.

We’re disappointed with that (the injury), that’s for sure, Herrin said. It would be a lucky thing if we got a red-shirt, but if he can play in January, we’re not going to red-shirt him.

Herrin said Tilmon will make the trip to play St. Mary’s College tonight and to the Power Bar Men’s Invitational in Honolulu Sunday, but he is not expected play.

We’ll take him with us and see what he can do, Herrin said. We’ll bring him along slowly. We’ll miss him because he’s the biggest player we’ve got. But that’s part of the game.

Advertisement