bauman Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 Maybe I've had too much kool-aid today, but reading through the 17/18/19 recruiting threads brought to mind something I think I posted a few years ago. That is, why can't we become a national basketball, top 25 type program? I used Nova in the heading because they are outstanding currently and have a number of similarities to SLU, such as metro location and private Catholic school. I am mainly thinking of us, vs. other large metro area schools, but some of them have obvious differences. Louisville and Syracuse, for example are for the academically challenged and have HOF level coaches who can get into any recruit's home. (However, they both need to be concerned about the fact that their HCs are close to retirement) Other large metro schools have regressed in basketball rankings probably due to one common issue, that being the loss of big name coaches, e.g. Cincy, Memphis, DePaul, Temple and Georgetown, most of which are still good but not great. Other metro schools are very good, presently, but I think we can set a goal at least a bit higher than them; e.g. "X", Creighton and Dayton. I'm sure I have left a few out, such as Marquette, Butler and Gonzaga, the latter for geographical reasons. Which takes me back to Nova, a school, which has many of the same qualities as SLU: a mid-sized Catholic school, in a large metro area, with a new HC who has had some success at a major conference school, which had a number of big-time basketball programs to compete against---Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma or Ky and Florida. If some of the targets in the 17/18/19 recruiting threads sign on to the previously announced signees and JG, we can quickly reach the Nova level and become a desirable location for recruits, especially the locals. Standing somewhat in the way is the 2016-17 team, but it seems that TF is recruiting at a higher level, clearly highlighting the 3 transfers and JG as the future that recruits will be playing with. Hopefully, TF can get us to the point of being a name other schools are concerned about, with regard to recruiting. Can we do it? I don't see why not, but it all depends on the next couple of years recruiting classes. I'd like to see us get to the point that we would only worry if Duke and UNC were after the same recruits as us. Hey, if we don't think big, it will never happen! Maybe then we can use Mizzou as a buy game! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quality Is Job 1 Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 It can be done, but if it's going to happen in the next five to ten years, Coach Ford is going to have to grow beyond the characteristics that led to his dismissal from Oklahoma State. He's got to be able to attract some quality bigs out of high school (I don't think he can count on landing a transfer like DJ Foreman every year or two) to keep from constantly having undersized rosters and getting crushed on the boards. He's also going to have to figure out how to get to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament before we can start salivating about possibilities of competing for a National Championship, as Villanova has. The 2019 class will be big, because -- as of now -- he will have five scholarships to distribute for that class. Fortunately, the 2016-17 season that we reasonably expect to be lackluster at best and dismal at worst won't necessarily be the most recent impression for 2019 recruits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiseAndGrind Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 TL:DR: Answer is yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBFan Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 34 minutes ago, bauman said: Maybe I've had too much kool-aid today, but reading through the 17/18/19 recruiting threads brought to mind something I think I posted a few years ago. That is, why can't we become a national basketball, top 25 type program? I used Nova in the heading because they are outstanding currently and have a number of similarities to SLU, such as metro location and private Catholic school. I am mainly thinking of us, vs. other large metro area schools, but some of them have obvious differences. Louisville and Syracuse, for example are for the academically challenged and have HOF level coaches who can get into any recruit's home. (However, they both need to be concerned about the fact that their HCs are close to retirement) Other large metro schools have regressed in basketball rankings probably due to one common issue, that being the loss of big name coaches, e.g. Cincy, Memphis, DePaul, Temple and Georgetown, most of which are still good but not great. Other metro schools are very good, presently, but I think we can set a goal at least a bit higher than them; e.g. "X", Creighton and Dayton. I'm sure I have left a few out, such as Marquette, Butler and Gonzaga, the latter for geographical reasons. Which takes me back to Nova, a school, which has many of the same qualities as SLU: a mid-sized Catholic school, in a large metro area, with a new HC who has had some success at a major conference school, which had a number of big-time basketball programs to compete against---Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma or Ky and Florida. If some of the targets in the 17/18/19 recruiting threads sign on to the previously announced signees and JG, we can quickly reach the Nova level and become a desirable location for recruits, especially the locals. Standing somewhat in the way is the 2016-17 team, but it seems that TF is recruiting at a higher level, clearly highlighting the 3 transfers and JG as the future that recruits will be playing with. Hopefully, TF can get us to the point of being a name other schools are concerned about, with regard to recruiting. Can we do it? I don't see why not, but it all depends on the next couple of years recruiting classes. I'd like to see us get to the point that we would only worry if Duke and UNC were after the same recruits as us. Hey, if we don't think big, it will never happen! Maybe then we can use Mizzou as a buy game! I like this thread and post and believe SLU can have similar success as Nova and Xavier. When trying to hire a new coach I believed that SLU would be a good place for a good up and coming coach to land. I also believe that St. Louis is a good place to live and feel Coach Ford's family will like living here and if there is success he will stay as long as Coach Ford is paid what a successful coach should be paid. The current body of work by Coach Ford has been excellent and has been above my expectations. Coach Ford's recruiting, use of social media, and charisma has created excitement for the basketball program that was turned into a total buzz kill by Coach Crews. If Coach Ford learned about what went wrong at OSU and does not make the same mistakes and keeps up the current pace in recruiting players then SLU will be a power again in the A10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmith19 Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 If you're looking for decent reasons why it's possible, Nova plays in a gym about half the size of Chaifetz and has an endowment about half as big as SLU's is advertised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierPal Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 I see where Ford is having a Walk On Try Out meeting Sunday at Chaifetz. Do you have to be a student? I got a year or two eligibility left, and I once touched the bottom of the net with a running start. I think my Chuck Conners are still around here. Set shots are okay, right? Bet Nova doesn't do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3star_recruit Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 You have to give Jay Wright his props. He's a really good recruiter and a really good coach. Only about 7-8 of those guys in any given era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billiken Rich Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 On 9/22/2016 at 4:14 PM, HoosierPal said: I see where Ford is having a Walk On Try Out meeting Sunday at Chaifetz. Do you have to be a student? I got a year or two eligibility left, and I once touched the bottom of the net with a running start. I think my Chuck Conners are still around here. Set shots are okay, right? Bet Nova doesn't do this. Chuck Conners? What are you planning on shooting up the place? I think your looking for Chuck Taylors maybe... Although I'll be damned if Chuck "The Rifleman" Connors also played pro baseball and basketball according to Wikipepia..... Did he have a line of shoes I didn't know about? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Connors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmith19 Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 No idea on the shoes, but I have heard the story about Connors turning cartwheels and running the bases backwards after hitting a home run for the Cubs. Another '50s TV star who started out as a ballplayer was John Beradino, who had a pretty decent career with the StL Browns before General Hospital. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slufanskip Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 I knew about the baseball and basketball but he was also drafted by the Bears. Hell, he didn't even need to dunk to break a backboard. I still watch Rifleman reruns. Great show During his Army service, Connors moonlighted as a professional basketball player, joining the Rochester Royals and helping to lead them to the 1946 National Basketball League championship.[6] Following his military discharge in 1946, he joined the newly formed Boston Celtics of the Basketball Association of America. Connors left the team for spring training with Major League Baseball's Brooklyn Dodgers. He played for numerous minor league teams before joining the Dodgers in 1949, for whom he played in only one game. He joined the Chicago Cubs in 1951, playing in 66 games as a first baseman and occasional pinch hitter.[7] In 1952, he was sent to the minor leagues again to play for the Cubs' top farm team, the Los Angeles Angels. He was drafted by the NFL's Chicago Bears, but never suited up for the team. He is also credited as the first professional basketball player to break a backboard. During warmups in the very first Boston Celtics game, on November 5, 1946 at Boston Arena, Connors took a shot that caught the front of the rim and shattered an improperly installed glass backboard.[8] In 1966, Connors played an off-field role by helping to end the celebrated holdout by Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax when he acted as an intermediary during negotiations between management and the players.[9] Connors can be seen in the Associated Press photo with Drysdale, Koufax and Dodgers general manager Buzzie Bavasi announcing the pitchers' new contracts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taj79 Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 The sneakers, I believe, were "Chuck Taylors" not "Chuck Connors." Converse made them in the dark ages...all canvas hightops. I wore them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taj79 Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 What we don't have is Nova's history which includes 36 NCAA appearances with two national titles,one runner up, five Final Fours, 13 Elite Eights and 17 Sweet Sixteens. Plus the Big Five. Plus it plays in a city where basketball is hallowed ground (The Palestra) and where some will swear basketball was invented. Plus a vacated year due to Howard Porter. But it's a nice dream ......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierPal Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 Thanks guys. Looks like I 'up-chucked' on the shoes. But one heck of an athlete and not a bad actor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierPal Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Apparently Nova's 5* recruit Omari Spellman has been ruled ineligible. Looks like the lad attended 4 schools in four years. Wright didn't cross all the t's or dot all the i's. http://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/ncaa-rules-five-star-villanova-freshman-omari-spellman-ineligible/ The issue here is that the NCAA doesn't believe Spellman graduated on time with his high school class, mostly because he was once reclassified in the process of attending four different institutions before enrolling at Villanova. And I have but one question: why? I don't know even one normal person who has ever attended four different high schools, and yet basketball prospects do it on the regular. It's always unnecessary and often harmful. And it's something the adults in these young prospects' lives would be wise to help them avoid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmith19 Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 18 hours ago, Taj79 said: The sneakers, I believe, were "Chuck Taylors" not "Chuck Connors." Converse made them in the dark ages...all canvas hightops. I wore them. I still have several pairs. But the new ones wear out a lot faster than they used to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierPal Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 I didn't want to start a new thread for this, but Coach was on 1120 yesterday morning. Two maybe new, or interesting topics not covered in other interviews. First, he wants to press 94 feet and be an up and down offensive team. To me that will be a challenge with the short roster we have. Second, when asked, he said, 'Yeah, I'm probably the best three point shooter on the team'. But then he said that of course Crawford can hit the three, but added that Zeke and Jalen have also demonstrated they can stroke it. I was not aware that Johnson had that range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3star_recruit Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 http://m.slubillikens.com/mobile/ViewArticle.dbml?atclid=210934803&DB_OEM_ID=27200& Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmith19 Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 2 hours ago, HoosierPal said: I didn't want to start a new thread for this, but Coach was on 1120 yesterday morning. Two maybe new, or interesting topics not covered in other interviews. First, he wants to press 94 feet and be an up and down offensive team. To me that will be a challenge with the short roster we have. Second, when asked, he said, 'Yeah, I'm probably the best three point shooter on the team'. But then he said that of course Crawford can hit the three, but added that Zeke and Jalen have also demonstrated they can stroke it. I was not aware that Johnson had that range. I wonder if he will let Roby let her rip from 3, or if he sees him as a slasher or just a defensive specialist. I think I'm one of his bigger fans on here, but still have no idea what kind of player he is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slufan13 Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Roby has one of those line drive shots that barely makes it over the rim yet it goes in at a decent clip. I always think it's not sustainable so maybe he's been slumping this year. I could see Roby being one of those guys who shoots it better in games than he does in practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmart23 Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 2 hours ago, HoosierPal said: I didn't want to start a new thread for this, but Coach was on 1120 yesterday morning. Two maybe new, or interesting topics not covered in other interviews. First, he wants to press 94 feet and be an up and down offensive team. To me that will be a challenge with the short roster we have. Second, when asked, he said, 'Yeah, I'm probably the best three point shooter on the team'. But then he said that of course Crawford can hit the three, but added that Zeke and Jalen have also demonstrated they can stroke it. I was not aware that Johnson had that range. Just clarifying, who claims to be the best three point shooter on the team? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestCoastBilliken Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 1 minute ago, hmart23 said: Just clarifying, who claims to be the best three point shooter on the team? TF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmart23 Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Just now, WestCoastBilliken said: TF Got it. just wanted to make sure that's what was being said Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmith19 Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Unfortunate initials. Every future Billiken's parents really need to be on alert for this stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slufanskip Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 3 hours ago, 3star_recruit said: http://m.slubillikens.com/mobile/ViewArticle.dbml?atclid=210934803&DB_OEM_ID=27200& Jalen seems to be flying a bit under the radar with all of the transfers and then Goodwin's commitment. Most years we'd be talking him up as one of our best recruits. How many times in the past 20 years have we not signed a player ranked any higher than or with more credentials and upside than him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowboy Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 -not sure this is the best thread for this, but here goes. Stu tweets 'little things can change the atmosphere at practice like music playing during warmups and stretching at SLU' - player friendly while still getting the work done seems like a great approach and probably a big change from what used to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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