The miracle Mets of 1969. The famous no-name Dolphins’ defense of 1972.

Where is this going you ask?

The 1995-96 Saluki men’s basketball squad is made up of little-known, unproven players much like the Dolphins and Mets.

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Last season it was easy to see who was going to take that last second shot at the buzzer, or score 20 points in a game. The answer most likely was Chris Carr or Marcus Timmons.

Unfortunately, the Phoenix Suns grabbed Carr after his junior year, and Timmons played out his four years of eligibility. Let us not forget, though, that Carr and Timmons had three other players on the court with them.

There were also guys named Paul Lusk, Shane Hawkins, Scott Burzynski, Aminu Timberlake, and Jaratio Tucker pulling their own weight.

It was not too long ago that Tucker provided outstanding defense in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championship game, and Timmons said he deserved the championship trophy for his effort.

Burzynski also provided many clutch three-pointers in the tournament last season.

Most importantly, let us not forget the Shane Hawkins Show in the NCAA Final Four Tournament against Syracuse when he sunk seven three-pointers and earned CBS Player of the Game honors.

What bothers me is this:all I’ve heard about this fall is how bad the SIUC basketball team is going to be. There are more new faces on the squad than ever before, but those guys named Hawkins, Tucker, Burzynski and Timberlake are back.

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As a member of the media, I have had the opportunity to watch this new team practice for the past few weeks. At first, I felt the same as all those who have expressed their negative feelings towards the team to me, but I have seen this team start to grow together.

What impresses me the most is the speed and full-court pressure this team possesses.

Along with the four key returnees, coach Rich Herrin has added some exciting, young talent to the team.

Freshman Monte Jenkins has impressed me with his dunks, outside shooting, and quickness; red-shirt freshman Reggie Nelson is a quick player who can also throw it down and shoots the ball well (shooting 60 percent from the floor in high school); Freshman James Jackson has the potential to be one of the top rebounders in the MVC and Missouri transfer, and Carbondale native, Troy Hudson is good all-around player who has shot exceptionally well from behind the three-point line in practice.

The run-and-gun offense is exciting to watch, and the Salukis have the players to turn it into a winning season. The squad’s success relies on the ability of role players to perform in the clutch.

This team is young and inexperienced, but have confidence in the team becoming one of the most exciting teams in the conference.

When I talked with Herrin earlier this fall about losing Carr and Timmons he said this, You can’t replace guys like that, you can only adjust and make changes.

I’m not saying the Salukis are going to win the MVC or make a fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Final Four Tournament, but I am saying this team is not going to be a loser.