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Wood, Armstrong granted transfers

By Todd Hefferman, The Southern

Wednesday, April 16, 2008 6:16 PM CDT

CARBONDALE - Two backups will not be returning to Southern Illinois University's men's basketball team, the team announced Tuesday.

Freshman guard Brandon Wood, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard, and 6-6 sophomore forward Jordan Armstrong are leaving the program at the end of the school year.

Wood played in six games, scored 22 points and averaged 11.3 minutes per game. A stress fracture in his leg ended his season in mid-December.

"The timing of the injury was unfortunate for Brandon, because it set him back," SIU coach Chris Lowery said through a release. "He is clearly a very gifted offensive player, and I am confident he has a bright basketball future ahead of him."

Armstrong, a Muncie, Ind., native, played in 11 games. He played 16 minutes, missed all four shots he attempted and grabbed one rebound. Armstrong redshirted in 2006 and played in 10 games in 2007.

This season, Armstrong likely would have played behind Tony Boyle, Nick Evans, Carlton Fay and incoming freshman Anthony Booker. This past season, he played behind seniors Randal Falker and Matt Shaw, Boyle and Fay.

"Jordan has a great attitude and has been a positive role model for our program," Lowery said. "He found himself stuck behind some very talented players in our frontcourt and didn't get as much playing time as he would have liked. We wish Jordan and his family all the best."

SIU finished 18-15 last season and will return four players who started at least one game: point guard Bryan Mullins, guards Wesley Clemmons and Joshua Bone, and Boyle.

Wood and Armstrong's departures gave SIU two more scholarships for the Class of 2008. The Salukis have already signed three for this winter, which leaves the team with three left.

Two of those may be spoken for. Freshman Justin Bocot, a Bloomington grad who didn't qualify academically this year, is expected to be eligible at the end of this semester. Chicago Marshall guard Ryan Hare verbally committed to the Salukis on Sunday night and is expected to sign his official letter of intent today.

todd.hefferman@thesouthern.com / 351-5087