You may know Minneapolis resident Jason Koffman from his job as one of the movers and shakers over at prime Minneapolis venue Cedar Cultural Center. You may even remember him for his Reviler contribution to the review of the recent Here We Go Magic review. Jason recently traveled to Hoboken to go to some of Yo La Tengo’s legendary Hanukkah shows. Jason didn’t just go as a spectator though – he won the chance to lead a tune onstage with the band, which was videotaped and later posted over on Pitchfork! Koffman chose to sing a cover of jonathan Richman’s “Astral Plane,” as as you can see from the video below, he absolutely slays it. Kudos to Jason – it couldn’t have happened to a better dude, or a bigger YLT fan for that matter (dude even wears the same shoes as Ira Kaplan).
Redbirds wary of wounded Salukis
The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL February 4, 2009 | Jim Benson CARBONDALE – Southern Illinois will be without its heart against Illinois State today. Senior guard Bryan Mullins was ruled indefinitely out on Tuesday because of a stress fracture in his right foot. here fox sports midwest
Yet the Salukis still have a pulse for the 7:05 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference basketball game at SIU Arena.
“I wish he was playing because my experience has been if you’re the first game a team plays after something like this happens you’re normally in the worst position in the race,” said ISU coach Tim Jankovich. “I’m going to try and convince them of that.” The Redbirds (18-4 overall, 7-4 Valley) know what can happen when a team loses one of its top players. It was about this time last season when Dom Johnson came down with tonsillitis.
ISU didn’t fold without Johnson, who eventually needed surgery. The youthful Salukis (11-13, 5-6) will try to do the same without a four-year veteran and last season’s Valley Defensive Player of the Year who is only the second player in league history with 500 career assists and 250 career steals.
“We’re glad we’re playing a good team. It allows us to get up for them and overcome the fact Bryan is not able to play,” said SIU coach Chris Lowery.
“You’re talking about a kid who is an extremely hard worker, the best teammate I’ve ever been around and the most unselfish and willing-to-give-to-the-team person we’ve ever had in this program.” Justin Bocot, a Bloomington High School graduate, will make his first start in place of Mullins. Bocot, a 6-foot-4 sophomore who sat out last season because of academics, led the Salukis with 14 points in a 70-63 loss at ISU on Jan. 24.
“He’s earned it at this point. He’s played very well the last four or five games,” said Lowery.
SIU doesn’t know if Mullins will be able to return this season. He suffered a stress fracture in his left shin at the end of last season that kept him out of two games in the National Invitation Tournament.
ISU chances might be better to break a four-game road losing streak without Mullins on the court.
However, the Redbirds weren’t approaching it that way before Tuesday’s practice at home.
“It’s unfortunate for them Mullins will not play. He’s a very good player. But we’re not really worried about their team,” said ISU senior Champ Oguchi. “We’re worried about how we play. Our focus is more on us.” The Redbirds played their best road game in the Valley last week. They went down to the final minute against league-leading Northern Iowa before suffering a 59-55 loss. ISU then survived a tight battle with archrival Bradley at Redbird Arena, pulling out a 69-65 victory.
“Coming off a big rivalry we feel like this is the time for us to make a statement on the road,” said Oguchi.
What would help the Redbirds’ cause is making some baskets, especially from outside the arc.
ISU is shooting 43.3 percent from 3-point range in Valley home games. It’s a different story on the road where the Redbirds slump to 30.1 percent.
Among the Redbird regulars, only post players Dinma Odiakosa and Brandon Sampay have shot better on the road than at home in Valley action.
“I don’t want to panic, but it’s something we’re addressing and not ignoring,” said Jankovich of ISU’s road woes.
———————————————————– Redbird essentials Illinois State vs. Southern Illinois Time: 7:05 p.m. web site fox sports midwest
Site: SIU Arena, Carbondale Television Fox Sports Midwest Broadcast WJBC-AM (1230), WJEZ-FM (98.9) Records: Illinois State 18-4, 7-4 Missouri Valley; Southern Illinois 10-12, 5-6.
Series history/last meeting: Southern Illinois leads 71-61 (ISU won 70-63 on Jan. 24).
About the Salukis Southern Illinois has dropped its last three games against ISU after owning an 11-game winning streak against the Redbirds. The Salukis were sixth in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage at .409 through Jan. 19 before going 8-of-41 from outside the arc in the last three games. Kevin Dillard was shooting 53.3 percent from 3-point range, but has made 2-of-14 attempts in the last five games. Tony Boyle has picked up the pace offensively in the last eight games, averaging 10.5 points on 28-of-46 shooting. Freshman forward Anthony Booker scored a season-high nine points with six rebounds off the bench in a 60-54 loss at Evansville last Saturday.
Next up ISU meets Indiana State at 6:05 p.m. Sunday at Redbird Arena.
Probable starters (Scoring, rebounding averages) ILLINOIS STATE F – Champ Oguchi, 6-6, Sr. (15.0, 5.9); Dinma Odiakosa, 6-8, Jr. (9.4, 7.2); G – Osiris Eldridge, 6-3, Jr. (14.1, 6.1); Emmanuel Holloway, 6-2, Sr. (10.0, 4.3); Lloyd Phillips, 5-10, Jr. (11.5, 2.5).
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS F – Tony Boyle, 6-8, Sr. (9.0, 5.6); Carlton Fay, 6-8, So. (10.9, 4.3); G – Kevin Dillard, 5-11, Fr. (12.3, 2.0); Ryan Hare, 6-4, Fr. (6.7, 3.0); Justin Bocot, 6-4, So. (4.0, 2.5).
Jim Benson
wow, awesome. Cool stuff Jason!