Southern Illinois coach Chris Lowery was frustrated last season. The Salukis success' had been based on toughness in recent years and that was clearly missing last season.

Expect Lowery's club to return to its old-school days.

Lowery and the Salukis took a Labor Day trip to Canada to play three exhibition games and he returned with confidence - especially with a group of talented newcomers.

``We have depth and toughness to play the way we want to play," Lowery said after his team won all three games.

Think about this. The team's two seniors from a year ago, Randal Falker and Matt Shaw, didn't show up for critical games. Falker went scoreless in a loss at Charlotte and Shaw put up the goose-egg in a home setback against Butler.

Now senior point guard Bryan Mullins is clearly the leader. Mullins still isn't 100 percent after a stress fracture kept him out since March.

Lowery mentioned that talented 6-foot-8 face-up forward Carlton Fay has been more assertive with the departure of Falker and Shaw.

But the key is the addition of six new faces - including four true freshmen that comprise arguably the most highly regarded class in school history.

Freshman guard Kevin Dillard - last year's Mr. Basketball in the state of Illinois - could wind up starting from day one and should play with Mullins in the backcourt. Dillard made 19 of 20 shots from the free throw line in Canada. Fellow frosh Ryan Hare is a 6-foot-4 lefty who brings a winning attitude to the table and should find a way to earn extensive minutes.

``I was surprised how well the freshmen played collectively," Lowery said.

In fact, they played so well that a starter from last season, guard Josh Bone, opted to leave the program because his minutes had already dwindled on the Labor Day trip.

Senior Wesley Clemmons will likely help the Salukis off the bench, Justin Bocut was a prop last season and freshman Torres Roundtree is a slasher who didn't play on the trip due to a shoulder injury - but has been cleared since the Salukis returned.

``We have four guys that can bring the ball up, push the ball up and handle it," Lowery said.

That's six guys on the perimeter and all can play.

Up front, Fay and 6-foot-8 fifth-year senior Tony Boyle will likely be joined by the most highly touted freshman - 6-foot-8 Missouri native Anthony Booker. Nick Evans, an athletic redshirt freshman, will provide added size and Chris Cornelius appears to finally be healthy and ready to contribute.

``I don't know how many games we're going to win, but these guys play hard," Lowery said.

BINGHAMTON'S BROADUS ENCOURAGED BY CHEMISTRY

There was some that questioned Binghamton coach Kevin Broadus when he opted to add Tiki Mayben and Theo Davis - two high-profile kids who didn't work out at their previous destination(s).

However, Broadus said Mayben has been terrific since arriving on campus after a season at Hudson Valley Community College and Davis, while his effort is sometimes erratic, hasn't had any issues since transferring from Gonzaga in the middle of last season.

``They know what's at stake," Broadus said. "They know they have to play together on and off the court and that the microscope is on them. They have to prove it every day because like I told them, people are watching every move you make."

``What people don't realize is that Theo paid his own way second semester," Broadus added. "So there really wasn't much of a risk."

Mayben's biggest issue is really that he's a mama's boy while Davis just isn't quite as talented as what people thought back in the day coming out of Canada.

The Bearcats should be much-improved with the addition of those two players and also after bringing on former Simon Gratz standout Malik Alvin, who spent last season at Chipola Junior College down in Florida.

``He's got a chance to be special," Broadus said of Alvin. "I didn't realize he was that good. He's fast, can shoot and basically can do it all."

Look for Sean Watson, who has one year of eligibility left, to receive immediate playing time on the wing. The Brooklyn native averaged 22.1 points last season at Howard Junior College in Texas. Broadus is also excited about a late addition - 6-foot-9 Kyrie Sutton of the Boys & Girls (N.Y.) School.

``He's 6-foot-10, 250 pounds and runs like a deer," Broadus said.

Broadus envisions a team with depth and talent. One with Mayben and Allen in the backcourt, Watson on the wing and returning power forward Reggie Fuller (6.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg( and either Sutton or Yaan Montgomery up front. He also has Dwayne Jackson (8.5 ppg) coming back.

UC DAVIS COACH EXCITED WITH NEW LOOK

UC Davis coach Gary Stewart finally got a look at his new club.

In the Aggies first season as a full-fledged Division 1 member, Stewart & Co. should be more than just competitive.

UC Davis recently returned from a 10-day trip to France, Switzerland and Italy. Stewart didn't get a look at his freshmen or his junior college big man/former New Mexico player Derek Oestreicher, who has dropped about 30 pounds since last season and has three years of eligibility left.

The Aggies averaged 89 points per game and went 3-1 on the trip. Vince Oliver led the team in scoring at 22 points per game, Notre Dame transfer Joe Harden put up 17.9 points per contest, junior forward Dominic Calegari averaged 14.7 points and 6-foot-7 point guard Mark Payne averaged a near triple-double on the trip.

``We're much better than we were last year," Stewart said. "Much deeper and more versatile."

Stewart said that Oliver, the team's leading returning scorer from last season, has improved significantly since the end of last season. ``He's vastly improved," Stewart said.

Former Hawaii guard Todd Lowenthal, who sat out last year along with Harden, made plays and was in the game down the stretch.

Harden actually scored the first nine points in the first game and finished with 26.

``That was indicative that maybe this season's going to be a little different than last season," Stewart said. "Joe adds toughness. When we put him on the floor, the other four guys get better."

RANDOM NOTES: Tulane coach Dave Dickerson has hired former Green Wave player Kim Lewis to replace Chris Hawkins. Lewis spent last season at Duquesne and was hired by Greg Gary at Centenary a few months ago. ... Boise State coach Greg Graham has hired Coffeyville Community College assistant Ryan Hellenthal as the school's first-ever director of basketball operations. ... According to the Long Beach Press-Telegram's Frank Burlison, the 49ers received a commitment from 6-foot-9 power forward Jules Montgomery of West Hills Chaminade. It was the third pledge in the last week for Don Monson's program, which also picked up Mayfair High's Kyle Richardson and 6-foot-9 Lin Chang of Mira Costa Community College.