Sorry, folks: SIU isn't Gonzaga. Might not ever be.

Chris Lowery's biggest mistake might not have come on the basketball court. In fact, it appears to have come in the court of public opinion.

Back in the day, the biggest fear on the Carbondale campus wasn't plagiarism, deer or the revolving door of chancellors. It was whether or not the SIU men's basketball team was going to keep its head coach or not.

And after Bruce Weber and Matt Painter left for the greener pastures of Big Ten Country (Illinois and Purdue, respectively), the University and athletic department put its collective foot down in an effort to leave college basketball's newest rising coaching star from leaving.

Now, Lowery is among the highest paid coaches in the Missouri Valley Conference. But his comment referencing "Gonzaga money" seems to be haunting him.

It wasn't that long ago when Southern Illinois was considered to be the next Gonzaga. The Salukis, Bulldogs and Memphis Tigers were among "mid-majors" threatening "major" status. Now, it looks as if schools such as Saint Mary's and Butler have surpassed the Egyptian Hunting Dawgs in that category.

Gonzaga makes the Sweet 16, it's almost expected. It's a disappointment if the 'Zags don't make it. The former tournament darlings are now the big boys. Southern earned a No. 4 seed and a Sweet 16 appearance in 2007 ... and it's considered the greatest year in modern Saluki history. There's a difference between the expectations from fans and what the team can deliver.

Belive me, Lowery wants to be in the Sweet 16 every year ... but it's not going to happen.

There's a common thread between Butler, Saint Mary's and Gonzaga. Actually, there's two.

1. No football.
2. Private schools.

It's a fact like the sky is blue and water is wet: private schools have more money to play with. And if they don't have football ... which is one of the most expensive sports in college football ... they're saving money. And with the success Jerry Kill (and now, Dale Lennon) and the SIU football program has built, the pigskin isn't going away.

That's the No. 1 and No. 2 reasons SIU can't be Gonzaga.

And you know what, until SIU gets an NBA player to go through it's program (i.e. John Stockton, Adam Morrison), it won't be.