On our season premiere, we overcame some early technical difficulties (2020!) and got to spend a few minutes with Saluki athletic director Liz Jarnigan.

Matt Varney got on the phone with several area basketball coaches Tuesday evening when the news came out that Governor J.B. Pritzker and IDPH had raised basketball from a medium-risk sports to a high-risk sport.    Take a listen to how area coaches reacted to the news:

0:16 - Murphysboro Basketball coach Daryl Murphy

4:24 - Benton Basketball coach Ron Winemiller

10:21 - Nashville Basketball coach Wayne Harre

17:27 - Herrin Basketball coach Sayler Shurtz

23:37 - Pinckneyville Basketball coach Bob Waggoner

27:25 - Sesser-Valier Basketball coach Shane Garner

33:00 - Harrisburg Girls Basketball coach Jake Stewart

40:01 - Carbondale Basketball coach Jim Miller

[caption id="attachment_41112" align="alignnone" width="447"] (Photo Credit: Saluki Athletics, siusalukis.com)[/caption]

We talked to Saluki senior center Barret Benson about the Dawgs' current win streak, his history with the Mullins family, and his role as a senior leader on a club full of newcomers.