I haven’t been in many locker rooms like ours after the game. That was maybe the wildest locker room I’ve ever been in. Our kids were pretty excited. They wallowed me around pretty good. I was just glad I managed to escape the shower.

I thought I was going in, but they took pity on me.

Saluki basketball coach Rich Herrin commented about the mood of the team after his squad defeated Old Dominion on the road, 75-63, last Saturday.

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The Salukis (2-0) will have to keep from letting down against Florida Atlantic (1-2) Sunday in the Dawgs’ home opener at SIU Arena something Herrin feels will not be a concern.

I don’t think that will happen, he said. Our style of play calls for us to be aggressive and that’s not something that you necessarily turn on or off.

And besides, we’ve got enough players that we’ll be able to find someone who will be ready to play with intensity. That’s the strength of our team.

Sunday’s contest will mark the first time the two schools have met, but things do not bode well for the Owls. The Salukis have yet to lose a home opener, winning their first game each of the 31 years SIU Arena has been in existence.

The Dawgs will be led by a starting five in which four players forwards Jaratio Tucker (19 points per game) and Scott Burzynski (12.5 ppg), center Aminu Timberlake (10.5 ppg) and guard Shane Hawkins (13.5 ppg) are averaging in double figures through the Dawgs’ first two contests. The other Saluki starter, Johnny Dadzie is averaging 6.5 points per game

SIUC has committed only 23 turnovers this season, which has contributed to their early success, but the Dawgs have been outrebounded in both games so far this season. Last season, in 23 games, the Salukis were outrebounded in only four games.

Herrin said he is not too concerned about the rebounding situation because his players work hard, and things will eventually turn around.

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We play hard, and we must in order to beat anyone on our schedule, he said. This group has great work ethics. We had a great practice Tuesday and we’ve got several great leaders and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.

The Owls will counter with a three-guard offense led by junior center Craig Buchanan (16.8 points, four rebounds per game) and senior guard Machael Harvey (14.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg). FAU’s sole win came when they defeated Robert Morris University, 71-68.

In addition to it being FAU’s first battle with the Salukis, it is head coach Kevin Billerman’s first season at the helm of the Owls. Billerman took the FAU head coaching job after 10 years as an assistant at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

Although his players might overlook Florida Atlantic and look ahead to Southeast Missouri State, Dec. 14, Herrin said his crew is focused and having fun.

The strength of our team is playing with intensity, he said. Winning the first two games doesn’t mean anything when we go into game three. We start all over again, but we’re all having a lot of fun right now.

When the Salukis hit the SIU Arena’s floor against Florida Atlantic Sunday, there are many milestones which will and could be reached:It is the Dawgs’ 32nd season at SIU Arena. In its 31-year existence, the Dawgs are 310-101 at the Arena.

The Salukis are 31-0 in home openers at SIU Arena, and are looking to extend the record to 32 straight wins with a victory over FAU.

Saluki head coach Rich Herrin is looking to hit the century mark in home victories Sunday afternoon. Herrin currently sits at 99 home wins as a coach at SIUC.

Florida Atlantic will be the 121st team to grace the floor at SIU Arena in its 31-year history.

In only a season and two games, Saluki guard Shane Hawkins has hit 77 three-point baskets which places him 8th on SIUC’s all-time list, surpassing former Salukis Randy House (75) and Mirko Pavlovic (76).

Four more three-point baskets ties Hawkins with former Saluki Matt Winn, who hit 81 in his career at SIUC.

Hawkins has a long way to go to capture the all-time career lead in that category, Kai Nurnberger. He hit 181 in his career as a Saluki from 1986-89.

Tip off for the Salukis Home opener against Florida Atlantic is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. at SIU Arena.