Southern Illinois and fourth-year head coach Bryan Mullins return three starters and two double-digit scorers from a year ago to go along with four returning letterwinners. In addition, the Salukis added key pieces with six newcomers, including three division I transfers to make for an exciting 2022-23 season.

Leading the returners for SIU is senior forward Marcus Domask who led the Salukis in scoring (15.1), rebounding (5.2) and assists (3.9) a year ago -- only the third player in school history to do so, joining Darren Brooks and Desmar Jackson. A Second Team All-MVC selection in 2021-22, Domask scored 20+ points eight times and converted .352 from 3-point and .824 from the free throw line.

Guard Lance Jones was second on the team and eighth in the MVC in scoring (14.8) – scoring 20 or more points in eight games -- after starting 29 games for the Salukis last season. An All-Defensive Team honoree a year ago, Jones led the Missouri Valley Conference with 1.93 steals per game.

Also returning for SIU is forward J.D. Muila who started 24 games averaging 3.1 points and 4.1 rebounds. Back for Southern are Dalton Banks (4.6 points per game), Trent Brown (2.2 points per game), Chris Cross and Troy D’Amico. Guard Foster Wonders and center Scottie Ebube will look to make an impact after redshirting a year ago.  

Four transfers will look to make immediate impacts for the Salukis this season as Clarence Rupert, Xavier Johnson, Jawaun Newton and AJ Ferguson join the team. Rupert, a Saint Peter’s transfer with three years of eligibility remaining is coming off an Elite-8 run with the Peacocks. The 6-foot-8 forward appeared in 30 games, averaging 4.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in 13 minutes per game. Johnson, a George Mason transfer, averaged 7.7 points and 4.1 rebounds his junior season after playing in 28 games including 23 starts. His team-high 4.6 assists per game ranked eighth in the A-10. Ferguson comes to Carbondale after a season at East Central University in Oklahoma where he averaged 11.1 points and 3.7 rebounds.

Newton, who Saluki fans will be familiar with comes to SIU after four years at Evansville. Over his career with the Purple Aces, he averaged eight points, 3.6 rebounds and one assist in 103 games including 65 starts. True freshmen guard JR Jacobs and forward Cade Hornecker also join the Salukis this season.