Saluki Salute

When Troy Hudson thrust himself into the NBA spotlight with a career-high 37 points in Game 2 of Minnesota’s Western Conference playoff series with the Lakers, he also helped shed new light on other Southern Illinois University guards who have played in the NBA.

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The Saluki Six: WALT FRAZIER, DICK GARRETT, NATE HAWTHORNE, MIKE GLENN, CHRIS CARR, TROY HUDSON.

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WHAT’S A SALUKI?

On March 19, 1951, the Southern Illinois student body approved “Salukis” as the symbol of the school’s athletics, replacing “Maroons.” The Saluki is an ancient Egyptian hunting dog known for its speed and hunting prowess. Why is the name Salukis relevant to Southern Illinois? The city in which the school is located, Carbondale, is in a region known as “Egypt.”

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GONE LOCAL

Of the 438 letter winners listed in the 2002-03 Saluki basketball media guide, 350 -- or 80% -- were from Illinois. Forty-five were from Carbondale, including Hudson.

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MORE T-HUD

Hudson’s regular season (RS) and playoff per-game statistics:

Points 14.2, 27.3

Assists 5.7, 5.5

FG Att. 12.1, 18.3

FT Att. 2.9, 8.3

FG% 42.8%, 43.8%

3PT% 36.5%, 48.1%

FT% 90.0%, 97.0%

Compiled by JIM RHODE