Southern Illinois' basketball program dates to 1913, and the Salukis have been one of the Missouri Valley Conference's strongest programs. The Salukis reached national prominence in the 2000s under coach Chris Lowery and Bruce Weber, making deep NCAA Tournament runs.
The Salukis name was adopted in 1951, replacing "Maroons." The Saluki is an ancient Egyptian hunting dog breed, chosen because southern Illinois is known as "Little Egypt."
Reaching the 2007 Sweet Sixteen as a 4-seed, beating Holy Cross and Virginia Tech before falling 61-58 to top-seeded Kansas, the program's second Sweet Sixteen run in six seasons.
The region of southern Illinois is nicknamed "Little Egypt" — a reference dating to the 1800s — which inspired the choice of the Saluki, an Egyptian dog breed, as the school's mascot.
The Southern Illinois Salukis compete in the MVC and hold an all-time record of 978–790 (.553 winning percentage) across 60 recorded seasons dating back to 1966-67.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 16-16 | 10-10 (MVC) | Scott Nagy | |
| 2024-25 | 14-19 | 8-12 (MVC) | Scott Nagy | |
| 2023-24 | 19-13 | 11-9 (MVC) | Bryan Mullins | |
| 2022-23 | 23-10 | 14-6 (MVC) | Bryan Mullins | |
| 2021-22 | 16-15 | 9-9 (MVC) | Bryan Mullins | |
| 2020-21 | 12-14 | 5-13 (MVC) | Bryan Mullins | |
| 2019-20 | 16-16 | 10-8 (MVC) | Bryan Mullins | |
| 2018-19 | 17-15 | 10-8 (MVC) | Barry Hinson | |
| 2017-18 | 20-13 | 11-7 (MVC) | Barry Hinson | |
| 2016-17 | 17-16 | 9-9 (MVC) | Barry Hinson | |
| 2015-16 | 22-10 | 11-7 (MVC) | Barry Hinson | |
| 2014-15 | 12-21 | 4-14 (MVC) | Barry Hinson | |
| 2013-14 | 14-19 | 9-9 (MVC) | Barry Hinson | |
| 2012-13 | 14-17 | 6-12 (MVC) | Barry Hinson | |
| 2011-12 | 8-23 | 5-13 (MVC) | Chris Lowery | |
| 2010-11 | 13-19 | 5-13 (MVC) | Chris Lowery | |
| 2009-10 | 15-15 | 6-12 (MVC) | Chris Lowery | |
| 2008-09 | 13-18 | 8-10 (MVC) | Chris Lowery | |
| 2007-08 | 18-15 | 11-7 (MVC) | Chris Lowery | AP #19 |
| 2006-07 | 29-7 | 15-3 (MVC) | Chris Lowery | AP #11 |
| 2005-06 | 22-11 | 12-6 (MVC) | Chris Lowery | |
| 2004-05 | 27-8 | 15-3 (MVC) | Chris Lowery | |
| 2003-04 | 25-5 | 17-1 (MVC) | Matt Painter | AP #15 |
| 2002-03 | 24-7 | 16-2 (MVC) | Bruce Weber | |
| 2001-02 | 28-8 | 14-4 (MVC) | Bruce Weber | |
| 2000-01 | 16-14 | 10-8 (MVC) | Bruce Weber | |
| 1999-00 | 20-13 | 12-6 (MVC) | Bruce Weber | |
| 1998-99 | 15-12 | 10-8 (MVC) | Bruce Weber | |
| 1997-98 | 14-18 | 8-10 (MVC) | Rich Herrin | |
| 1996-97 | 13-17 | 6-12 (MVC) | Rich Herrin | |
| 1995-96 | 11-18 | 4-14 (MVC) | Rich Herrin | |
| 1994-95 | 23-9 | 13-5 (MVC) | Rich Herrin | |
| 1993-94 | 23-7 | 14-4 (MVC) | Rich Herrin | |
| 1992-93 | 23-10 | 12-6 (MVC) | Rich Herrin | |
| 1991-92 | 22-8 | 14-4 (MVC) | Rich Herrin | |
| 1990-91 | 18-14 | 9-7 (MVC) | Rich Herrin | |
| 1989-90 | 26-8 | 10-4 (MVC) | Rich Herrin | |
| 1988-89 | 20-14 | 6-8 (MVC) | Rich Herrin | |
| 1987-88 | 12-16 | 6-8 (MVC) | Rich Herrin | |
| 1986-87 | 12-17 | 5-9 (MVC) | Rich Herrin | |
| 1985-86 | 8-20 | 4-12 (MVC) | Rich Herrin | |
| 1984-85 | 14-14 | 6-10 (MVC) | Allen Van Winkle | |
| 1983-84 | 15-13 | 7-9 (MVC) | Allen Van Winkle | |
| 1982-83 | 9-19 | 5-13 (MVC) | Allen Van Winkle | |
| 1981-82 | 11-16 | 7-9 (MVC) | Allen Van Winkle | |
| 1980-81 | 7-20 | 0-16 (MVC) | Joe Gottfried | |
| 1979-80 | 9-17 | 5-11 (MVC) | Joe Gottfried | |
| 1978-79 | 15-13 | 8-8 (MVC) | Joe Gottfried | |
| 1977-78 | 17-10 | 11-5 (MVC) | Paul Lambert | |
| 1976-77 | 22-7 | 8-4 (MVC) | Paul Lambert | AP #17 |
| 1975-76 | 16-10 | 9-3 (MVC) | Paul Lambert | |
| 1974-75 | 18-9 | MVC | Paul Lambert | |
| 1973-74 | 19-7 | Ind | Paul Lambert | |
| 1972-73 | 11-15 | Ind | Paul Lambert | |
| 1971-72 | 10-16 | Ind | Paul Lambert | |
| 1970-71 | 13-10 | Ind | Paul Lambert | |
| 1969-70 | 13-10 | Ind | Jack Hartman | |
| 1968-69 | 16-8 | Ind | Jack Hartman | |
| 1967-68 | 13-11 | Ind | Jack Hartman | |
| 1966-67 | 24-2 | Ind | Jack Hartman |
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| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
|---|
Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
|---|