Bay Area Billiken

My first SLU game in person was 2/18/1978 at Kiel Auditorium. The Billikens of Coach Ron Coleman defeated Tulane 83-79. We sat in folding chair seats on a ramp from the stage on the North side. SLU players included #32 Ricky Frazier, Carl Johnson, Howard Jackson, Everne Carr, Mark Alcorn. The SLU Jazz Band played “Three Blind Mice” for bad calls by the refs.

https://x.com/AdamZagoria/status/1932603766986965046 Jay Bilas has an interesting view, thinks the transfers will end, mentions longer term player contracts.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/the-biggest-winners-and-losers-from-house-v-ncaa-settlement-amateurism-is-dead-and-the-class-divide-grows/

https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/07/house-vs-ncaa-settlement-gonzaga-big-east-and-billable-hours-the-biggest-winners-fans-bloat-olympic-sports-among-the-losers/ This is a good assessment from this longtime San Jose Mercury News PAC-12 scribe.

https://x.com/cbb_central/status/1931369125634318732?s=46&t=jikm5nKg-NlIUjy2c9C9zw

https://x.com/on3sports/status/1931158940970053792?s=46&t=jikm5nKg-NlIUjy2c9C9zw

I am wondering if the high level NCAA system is about to blow up. I don't think so, not yet, but it is at least within the realm of possibility. This being said, I still expect some deal with the College Football Playoff will be hammered out. Everything else trickles down from there.

Yes, Willie Becton transferred to Memphis State after the following season, Ekker's last year, my Senior year at SLU.

I was a Junior at SLU. LaTodd Johnson was a sophomore, lived on our 6G, used to come to my room to watch Sanford & Son on my little black and white Admiral TV, also played 2B and led off on our intramural softball team. That night's 6th man, Monte Poole, was 6'5", roomed one floor below on 5G, hit a mammoth home run lefthanded against us in an intramural softball battle. He looked like Dave Parker hitting that ball. I really liked SLU's home uniforms, seen in that Metro Magazine photo vs. Virginia Tech, with the Columbia Blue letters and numerals, navy blue trim, and the offset numbers. David Burns was Metro Conference Co-Player of the Year that season (9-18), Ekker Year 3 of 4. Bill McDermott was the PA announcer at the home games at The Checkerdome (St. Louis Arena). I can hear McDermott right now saying after a basket, "David Burns."

https://x.com/brett_mcmurphy/status/1927360390830420185?s=46&t=jikm5nKg-NlIUjy2c9C9zw

https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/article/with-college-sports-in-limbo-and-key-issues-coming-to-a-head-the-spotlight-is-on-the-sec-its-going-to-get-heated-130018106.html

https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/breaking-news/article/power-conferences-working-on-contract-to-bind-schools-to-new-enforcement-rules-with-strict-punishments-005652210.html

Billikens Men’s Basketball: Chaifetz Arena, Enterprise Center (Kiel Center, Savvis Center, Scottrade Center), Dome at America’s Center (then TWA Dome), St. Louis Arena (The Checkerdome), Kiel Auditorium, West Pine Gym, UMSL Mark Twain Building, Sprint Center (KC), Gentile Arena (Loyola Chicago), Western Hall (WIU), Rose Hill Gym (Fordham), Barclay’s Center, Capital One Arena, War Memorial at the Sobrato Center (War Memorial Gym, USF CA), Toso Pavilion (now Leavey Center, Santa Clara), Gersten Pavilion (LMU), Haas Pavilion (Cal), Spanos Center (Pacific), Pauley Pavilion (UCLA); NCAA Tourneys: Baltimore Arena, Georgia Dome, Cleveland State, Columbus, OH, San Jose SAP Center, Orlando. Men’s Soccer: Hermann Stadium, STL Soccer Park, Busch Memorial Stadium, Francis Field (WashU), Lindenwood, SIUE, Jack Mackenzie Field at Legends Stadium (Quincy), USF Negoesco Stadium, Santa Clara Buck Shaw Stadium, Cal Edwards Stadium, Stanford. Baseball: SLU, Heine Meine Field, Santa Clara Schott Stadium, St. Mary’s (CA). Women’s Basketball: West Pine Gym. Softball: SLU.

Believable, Yes, but is he worth it? Evidently that is the market price. But we saw him play in the A10 Tourney in DC. Is he that good of a player post-injury?

It seemed to be quite a contrasting leap to go from playing for Randy Bennett to playing for Dan Hurley, that along with a big difference in climate and culture.