In Cougatown on the MD couch .....

[Taj79]

.... a win. But not the only positive point by which to measure. I agree in the GDT with whomever said JM didn't "suck as bad as usual" but will not add that he had a "good" game. For his size, six points, six rebounds and three blocks seem like that should be a given each and every night. He still doesn't grab balls well enough, have good hands, or box out well enough to keep that 6'10" stiff from put back dunks or the South Afrikaan from solo dunking. Again, the opposition had more dunks and were more entertaining. Old joey flugel and "so it goes' ringing in my ears. But still, without JM, likely another frustrating loss.

Positives remain MY and AG. Yarbrough was limited by two fouls committed in the first half one of which was his out-of-control, head down crash into the stationary defender. Foul of commission, which I can live with. Gillmann got six points on 3-of-3 shooting and some nice work rebounding and passing. He is a quiet achiever compared to Yarbrough who is definitely noticed. MY's ability to have his way inside against lesser opponents will likely end in conference play. We shall see. And the TL sighting was nice to see. He looked a hell of a lot better but as a shooter, Tanner's 1-of-3 from the line is totally unacceptable. Scott Highmark said no one individually should be below 70% so all have to improve. The even referred to the RA attempts as "haq-a-shaq" attempts. Between MY/RA/TL a dismal 4-for-12/33% night. Didn't Reggie go 5-for-5 recently? Only goes to show the inconsistencies of youth. Reggie's determination was also a plus last night. He and MY on the blocks seem able to become beasts down low. Again, just consistency. All three sophs showed a little better last night.

The negatives: Ash made three shots but were all layups? Where is his outside game? McBroom can shoot but the problem is as many have said he is playing point. I am a firm believer that only an exceptional player can take on dual roles and AM is not that. MB is the true point as he looks for others; AM is definitely better suited for SG but his size is a restriction there. However,Marcus has yet to demonstrate an ability to score or shoot. He made what, the first layup of the game and then disappeared from the scoring column. It was noted by Highmark that down the stretch, that AM remained on the bench, only coming in late to ensure better FT shooters on the floor. That does not seem to bode well and if it means nothing, it means Crews is not fully aware of the numbers sitting on his bench down the stretch. Jolly is regressing; can't really say what his strength might be. Roby right now is occupying space --- 19 minutes, no points, four rebounds with four turnovers.

From the team perspective, once again, horrendous FT shooting is our norm. We left 10 points on the books and that does not count three or four front ends of a 1 + 1. Yes, we won the rebounding battle at home by 1 over a height-challenged team. Big whoop! We made Keaton Jackson look like Blake Griffin. JC still remains TO-impaired which, while maybe I get last year for a veteran team, I don't get this year for a such a nubile group. The use of "12 men averaging 12 minutes per game" (Highmark) has to stop but I am content to let that play out until conference season starts. With the Wiz, take the under; another loss/failed to cover. But all th emore indicative of the inconsistencies of youth. And the box score says over 6K in attendance ----- bullshite! Looks like crap in terms of attendance to the viewer at home.

Trending up: MY, RA, TL and AG.

Trending down: BJ, DR and MB.

Treading water: AY, AM, JM, MR and MC.

Grandy provided his usual rock solid benchwork once again.

From around the A10 --- the Bonnies went into Pittsburgh and gave Pitt a game, losing only by 4. Sweatervest U. got spanked at Arkansas. Our version of the Dookies lost crosstown at Bobby Morris. Davidson improved to 8 and 1 and perennial bad boy Shaka and the Gimmicks downed #23 Northern Iowa in two OTs in Richmond.

[JettFlight5]

Small point of contention: Marcus Bartley is trending up. He's the best PG this team has.

[Dwayne's_World]

Small point of contention: Marcus Bartley is trending up. He's the best PG this team has.

Agreed. He's still really, really thin and I think this impairs his ability to defend against bulkier guards. But this offseason will provide a good opportunity for him to put in the work and fix that, and he is already demonstrating his terrific passing ability. I think he will turn out to be an excellent point guard for us, especially with his height.

[cheeseman]

I agree MB is not trending down. He can shoot but finds himself trying to take care of others. He had a nice 3 pt that should have gone in but sometimes they just don't. Had he hit that one he would have had 5 pts and all would be singing his praise.

I do agree that JM did not have his usual sucky game - his performance was what you would expect the minimum for him given his size and years of playing. He started the game and had to be taken out because he was doing nothing and not until the end of the game when JC put him in did he finally step it up. He has to play well more than 5 minutes a game but I do agree his clogging the lane at the end was the difference. You wonder if he had been in for SD State if things would have been different.

Jolly - who knows what is going on with him. He really seems to be lost especially on defense. Maybe finals and playing are a bit much for him. Hopefully he will get it together from here on out.

AG - he is a player - not a banger but he has a nice touch with the ball. He should be playing a stretch 4 not 5.

RA - not sure what all the giddyness is about his play - he did not look that great to me - yes he had flashes but you can not count on him yet for any consistent play.

Everybody else is doing well enough although I do agree that DR has to get under control. AY may not have any outside game. AM has to stop playing the point so he can at least try to get free for an open shot. At this time we have no other shooters so I am not sure how next year will be any better. I would have played TL more given his performance - he can produce offense but he has to be in to do it.

All in all I am glad we won - disappointed by how tough it was, after all SIUE was 1-6 so lets not go overboard. We may have lost this game on the road.

Crews has to figure out how to get some flow going - all this running kids in and out every 3 minutes makes for a herky jerky game.

[Cowboy]

-41, the number of substitutions we made in the first 35 minutes of the game, I don't care if we play 12 guys because I guess the coaches don't see a separation between number 7 and number 12, but I find it hard to believe a player and a team can get in rhythm with this many substitutions happening

-our best rebounder on a boards/minute basis MY was on the bench the last 6 minutes of the game

-DR is having a struggle on offense

-RA needs to develop a right hand and AY needs to finish at the rim

-I hope we can use the time over Christmas to get better

[almaman]

.... a win. But not the only positive point by which to measure. I agree in the GDT with whomever said JM didn't "suck as bad as usual" but will not add that he had a "good" game. For his size, six points, six rebounds and three blocks seem like that should be a given each and every night. He still doesn't grab balls well enough, have good hands, or box out well enough to keep that 6'10" stiff from put back dunks or the South Afrikaan from solo dunking. Again, the opposition had more dunks and were more entertaining. Old joey flugel and "so it goes' ringing in my ears. But still, without JM, likely another frustrating loss.

Positives remain MY and AG. Yarbrough was limited by two fouls committed in the first half one of which was his out-of-control, head down crash into the stationary defender. Foul of commission, which I can live with. Gillmann got six points on 3-of-3 shooting and some nice work rebounding and passing. He is a quiet achiever compared to Yarbrough who is definitely noticed. MY's ability to have his way inside against lesser opponents will likely end in conference play. We shall see. And the TL sighting was nice to see. He looked a hell of a lot better but as a shooter, Tanner's 1-of-3 from the line is totally unacceptable. Scott Highmark said no one individually should be below 70% so all have to improve. The even referred to the RA attempts as "haq-a-shaq" attempts. Between MY/RA/TL a dismal 4-for-12/33% night. Didn't Reggie go 5-for-5 recently? Only goes to show the inconsistencies of youth. Reggie's determination was also a plus last night. He and MY on the blocks seem able to become beasts down low. Again, just consistency. All three sophs showed a little better last night.

The negatives: Ash made three shots but were all layups? Where is his outside game? McBroom can shoot but the problem is as many have said he is playing point. I am a firm believer that only an exceptional player can take on dual roles and AM is not that. MB is the true point as he looks for others; AM is definitely better suited for SG but his size is a restriction there. However,Marcus has yet to demonstrate an ability to score or shoot. He made what, the first layup of the game and then disappeared from the scoring column. It was noted by Highmark that down the stretch, that AM remained on the bench, only coming in late to ensure better FT shooters on the floor. That does not seem to bode well and if it means nothing, it means Crews is not fully aware of the numbers sitting on his bench down the stretch. Jolly is regressing; can't really say what his strength might be. Roby right now is occupying space --- 19 minutes, no points, four rebounds with four turnovers.

From the team perspective, once again, horrendous FT shooting is our norm. We left 10 points on the books and that does not count three or four front ends of a 1 + 1. Yes, we won the rebounding battle at home by 1 over a height-challenged team. Big whoop! We made Keaton Jackson look like Blake Griffin. JC still remains TO-impaired which, while maybe I get last year for a veteran team, I don't get this year for a such a nubile group. The use of "12 men averaging 12 minutes per game" (Highmark) has to stop but I am content to let that play out until conference season starts. With the Wiz, take the under; another loss/failed to cover. But all th emore indicative of the inconsistencies of youth. And the box score says over 6K in attendance ----- bullshite! Looks like crap in terms of attendance to the viewer at home.

Trending up: MY, RA, TL and AG.

Trending down: BJ, DR and MB.

Treading water: AY, AM, JM, MR and MC.

Grandy provided his usual rock solid benchwork once again.

From around the A10 --- the Bonnies went into Pittsburgh and gave Pitt a game, losing only by 4. Sweatervest U. got spanked at Arkansas. Our version of the Dookies lost crosstown at Bobby Morris. Davidson improved to 8 and 1 and perennial bad boy Shaka and the Gimmicks downed #23 Northern Iowa in two OTs in Richmond.

holy s**t the Valley had 2 top 25 teams this week??

[Dwayne's_World]

holy s**t the Valley had 2 top 25 teams this week??

Trending up: Missouri Valley, Big East

Trending Down: A10

[Basketbill]

while I agree that Marcus Bartley is trending up, McBroom is becoming a better PG too. I still like him as a shooting guard though.

[Tonka]

Trying to focus on the positives here:

- AG is totally shocking me. I don't what I expected from him, but it wasn't much. The kid is going to be a really nice player. He may be the best passing big man since Ian Voyoukas.

- MB - agree with others - he is not trending downwards and he continues to impress.

- McBroom - hard to say anything negative when there are only 14 other players in the country with a better 3p% with his many attempts or more

- Ash - showed a couple moves last night that really showed his athleticism - he has to develop an outside shot (which we were told he would have) and he needs to consistently get to 12 - 13 points a game

- Manning - I'll take it! If he can score 6 points, grab 6 boards, and have 4 blocks a night - I will take it!

Not so positive:

- you can not let three players score in double digits from SIUE - cannot and should not happen

- we need to get our defense going and I believe the offense will eventually catch up

[waldo027]

May be the best passing big man since Rob Loe.

[SluSignGuy]

May be the best passing big man since Rob Loe.

I would not be surprised if he was better than Rob by the end of his career.

[slu72 fan]

Trending down: our defense, can't keep any opposing guard out of the paint.

[jimbofive]

May be the best passing big man since Rob Loe.

www.rawblow.com - may be the best raw blow since rob loe.

NSFW, don't say i didn't warn you.

butt enjoi. i did.

[Billikenboy]

Trending down: our defense, can't keep any opposing guard out of the paint.

+1000

I am all onboard with Crews and staff but this is a huge concern. Very sure the extreme emphasis by the staff on taking charges by our bigs and very little emphasis on contesting shots in the paint has to do with smalls finishing against us. Big frontline with over 30 fouls to give and it occurs to no one to use a few of them to discourage drives into the paint. Direct carryover to not controlling the glass. (Manning is only big that actively contests while on the court)

[Taj79]

Point/counterpoint:

@Jett with MB: He is average about 3.5 PPG and 2 APG -- I am not prepared to offer him as trending up with that. Maybe treading water. Yes, he apepars to be the best PG on the roster but is still shooting 35/31% from two and three. Plus his FT% is rather low for a ball-in-the-hands PG right now at 69%. Five guys on the team are better than that and if he's in at the end, he has to be better.

@Dwayne on MB: I don't care whatthe off season will bring, as I hope it brings improvement and bulk to all our freshman. Right now, if the kid's a liability on defesne, so it is and you have to work around it. You can pass allyou want and be great at it (see H Waldman) but unless there are finishers on the other end, all it is is pretty in terms of aesthetics. Have to finishand we don't have many of those so I can let his 2/apg slide fo rnow. I also think he'llbe great in the future.

@cheese on MB: shoulda, coulda woulda. I like MB a lot, he's just a rail-thin freshman right now, that's all.

@Cowboy --- if MY can't hit free throws, you betcha he'll be on the bench come crunch time. That folks, sums up the whole "starting is for high school" comment from Majerus. The best guys down the stretch for FTs are AM and MR, and neither can be counted on much for defense right now. It would appear to be the offensive-for-defensive switch right there. And WOW! 41 changes in 35 minutes. Nice stat! Explains a lot but makes the wholethreadon who's out in the 8/9 man rotation seem comnpletely unaswerable.

@basketbill: how do you define AM's "becoming a better point guard" statement? He is averaginbg less apg than MB. Just curious.

Again, all part of everyone.s growing process. I agree with the post that says to play some guys and just get them somne consistency. I am curious --- over th elast few years, I've watched both Crews and Majerus. Both are absolutely focused on the floor (or so it seems). Yet, when there is a timeout or somethign that enables us to send a sub ion, that sub comes, but who on the benchis doing that? Is it Crews? I just don't know.

[Tonka]

May be the best passing big man since Rob Loe.

Agree with Steve, he will be better than Loe in passing

[brianstl]

Agree with Steve, he will be better than Loe in passing

Let's hold off on that for just a little bit.

[Littlebill]

I would not be surprised if he was better than Rob by the end of his career.

So you're saying he's gonna be the best Billiken big man of my lifetime? Also, Rob's passing skill was one of his biggest strengths. I mean how quick one forgets....

[SluSignGuy]

So you're saying he's gonna be the best Billiken big man of my lifetime? Also, Rob's passing skill was one of his biggest strengths. I mean how quick one forgets....

Loe definitely was a great passer. And even if Gillman proves to be a better one - Loe will likely be the overall better player simply due to his shot. But I encourage you to watch Gilliman when he is at the top of the key. He is almost point guard like at times. He is not better than Loe, but we are only 10 games into his career.

[brianstl]

Loe definitely was a great passer. And even if Gillman proves to be a better one - Loe will likely be the overall better player simply due to his shot. But I encourage you to watch Gilliman when he is at the top of the key. He is almost point guard like at times. He is not better than Loe, but we are only 10 games into his career.

I think it is a little too early to say he is going to be better than Loe passing the ball. It is fair to say that he is the best passer on the team right now and appears to have the best court vision. The kid really has some nice tools.

[SluSignGuy]

I think it is a little to early too say he is going to be better than Loe passing the ball.

I agree. But the potential is there.

[hsmith19]

I don't see Gillmann ever averaging a made three pointer per game, but his shot looks good enough to me that I wish he would attempt more. He should at least be able to top Loe %-wise.

[brianstl]

I don't see Gillmann ever averaging a made three pointer per game, but his shot looks good enough to me that I wish he would attempt more. He should at least be able to top Loe %-wise.

Probably top Loe's jr and sr year %. Loe had a great percentage for a center his first two years.

[Basketbill]

@Taj

First let me clarify that I think McBroom is playing better as a PG than he played earlier this season. Second, his ceiling is lower than Bartley (not a knock on his height). I like Bartley and see him as the future PG, but his turnover rate is much to high. (although to be expected)

McBroom in the last two games has had some nice plays where he has looked to get others involved. In the last two games McBroom had 6 assists, 3 TO and 6 steals. He has started to drive and look for the pass, and has done so successfully to Manning, and Lancona. I do not think this comes naturally to him and he did not have to do it last year as he had MM and JJ to rely upon. I am not saying he is a stud PG, just saying I am seeing effort to improve and I think he is improving.

[kmbilliken]

Yarborough is as good a passer as Gillmann.