Corner3 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 We'll see how Crews does without Majerus' players. Not talking about recruiting rankings. Talking about the way Majerus developed those players in the 2 years that he coached them. Personally I think Crews is going to do a great job going forward, but you can't make any judgments based on the last 2 years. Probably harder to coach guys you didn't recruit than guys you did recruit. Majerus started the process but to get these young men to continue down the road to success takes a true leader. Also backing off a little and allowing them to teach him their system takes a special person. Jim Crews will be successful at SLU. No doubt in my mind. Majerus was a legend and recruited these guys but Crews led them the last 2 years and did an unbelievable job. Those are the facts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billikenbill Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Probably harder to coach guys you didn't recruit than guys you did recruit. Majerus started the process but to get these young men to continue down the road to success takes a true leader. Also backing off a little and allowing them to teach him their system takes a special person. Jim Crews will be successful at SLU. No doubt in my mind. Majerus was a legend and recruited these guys but Crews led them the last 2 years and did an unbelievable job. Those are the facts. This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billikenboy Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Probably harder to coach guys you didn't recruit than guys you did recruit. Majerus started the process but to get these young men to continue down the road to success takes a true leader. Also backing off a little and allowing them to teach him their system takes a special person. Jim Crews will be successful at SLU. No doubt in my mind. Majerus was a legend and recruited these guys but Crews led them the last 2 years and did an unbelievable job. Those are the facts. Right on it. +1000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slufan13 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Probably harder to coach guys you didn't recruit than guys you did recruit. Majerus started the process but to get these young men to continue down the road to success takes a true leader. Also backing off a little and allowing them to teach him their system takes a special person. Jim Crews will be successful at SLU. No doubt in my mind. Majerus was a legend and recruited these guys but Crews led them the last 2 years and did an unbelievable job. Those are the facts. He did a great job. But I quite simply disagree with the rest of your post. It's happened a ton of times in college basketball. A coach brings in good recruits, leaves for whatever reason, and the guy who takes over does really well with those recruits and then flames out when it becomes his whole team. Yes it's happened the other way too. I think Crews will do really well here, but I don't think that the last 2 years are necessarily proof of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffinMH Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Next season the Billikens will be competitive but this will be a season for developing talent. And the most definitely have talent on the roster for next year. It will be interesting to watch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clock_Tower Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 I am truly looking forward to next year. As much as I have enjoyed watching our Seniors' journey these past four (4) years, the beauty of college basketball is that all players, both the good and the bad, move on. Our Seniors, of course, were good and it has been a pleasure. Like the rest of you, I did enjoy the present. Frankly, I saw good in each of our Seniors when they were Frosh but did not realize that JJ would become the A10 Player of the Year. I knew DE had skill but I did not realize that he would be the warrior that he was. I knew MM was quick and talented but did not realize he could play such shut-down defense. And I knew RL had such potential and all the skills but there have been many SLU big men who have never fully put it all together. Thank you Seniors!! At the same time, our Seniors did not win the NCAA Tourney and are not headed to the NBA. Each of them have flaws in their game and are not irreplaceable. I would argue that their value was possibly greater collectively than individually. The best teams/NCAA Tourney does expose each team's/players' weaknesses and we sure had weakness/flaws which showed down the stretch and in the Tourney. As good as JJ was, his outside shot never developed, teams found ways to contain him and his FT's remained an issue. As good as DE was, his lack of height/size caught up with him and he never developed an outside shot. As good as MM was he did not take over games down the stretch for us with his offense. And as great as RL played this year (I would give him team MVP), his lack of consistent physical play and 3 point shooting hurt us. I say the above not to criticize but to say that while our incoming Frosh and Sophs may lack many of the skills and abilities of our outgoing Seniors but they also may bring to the table issues which our Seniors were lacking. Bring it on as I am already ready for next year!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wgstl Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Anybody else think these freshman could set the wins record? Didnt jett and co start with 11 wins? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bills By 40 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Anybody else think these freshman could set the wins record? Didnt jett and co start with 11 wins? Well seeing as we're going to go undefeated for the next four seasons of course they will set the wins record. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deutschkind Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Anybody else think these freshman could set the wins record? Didnt jett and co start with 11 wins? Likely the new record will be Grandy and John, assuming we win more than 12 games next year. This class went 12-19 26-8 28-7 27-7 So for the incoming class to have more than than Grandy and John, they need to win more than 26, 28, and 27 their Soph-Senior years. Totally possible, of course, but still a tall order Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dabills Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 New to the forum, but I've been following SLU basketball carefully for the past two seasons. I have to say, I am not confident that Crews is the man for the coaching job at SLU.Yes, the Billikens had two great seasons, but a lot of that was just based off of the foundation that Majerus left (players, playing style, attitude, etc.). Crews did a great job helping the team navigate through the difficult circumstances of his first year, and the rapid change, but it seems that the team dwindled as Crews hand on the team began to show. SLU didn't show up when it mattered in the tournament in 2013, and in late in the season in 2014. You can't always blame the coach for the team not showing up, but he doesn't have a proven track record of being able to get a team of mid-level talent to perform at higher levels (he didn't do much at Evansville, or Army). I really like SLU's approach of signing under recruited players and developing them over 4 years, but for that you need a coach that has a proven track record of getting the best out of his players. Honestly, the rising sophomores, and incoming freshman don't look so great, and I am worried about SLU's future. I know we next season is expected to be a restructuring year, and I understand that one has to be patient, but I don't think Crews has put SLU in a good position for years after that. I look at a comparable program like VCU who has signed 3 ESPN top 100 recruits and I am worried that SLU is just not competing. I hope I am proven wrong, but I don't think he is the man for the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basketbill Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Miles Reynolds a guy who scores 19 of his team 46 points in the Illinois State Championship does not look so good? We have talk and long guards coming in, Multiple Bigs, and multiple bigs with a year or more experience. Sure there are question marks, but fewer questions than when this last class came to SLU. If you are a fan just relax and enjoy the new young talent.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dabills Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 I'm really looking forward to doing that! Don't get me wrong, I am for Crews proving me wrong, and I am all for seeing these players develop over their time at SLU. I concede that I am a fairly new fan (wouldn't consider myself a bandwagon fan) , and I am somewhat spoiled compared to older fans who have seen all of the ups and downs (mostly downs) of SLU basketball history. I also understand that the 2014 senior class faced a similar situation where they were thrust into a young team, but I have been doing some research on perceptions of these 5 players compared to thee incoming Freshmen and rising Sophomores and there are clear differences. I totally get that recruit rankings and ratings are suspect and questionable, and do not always determine how a player will perform, but i do think there is some validity in them. Here is what I found: Espn gave the following grades to the graduating seniors when they were recruits (on a scale of 100) Rob Loe 91 Jordair Jett 90 Mike McCall 88 Dwayne Evans 80 This are the grades ESPN gave to the incoming Freshman class: Brett Jolly 75 Davell Roby 74 Austin Gillman 71 Miles Reynolds 69 Marcus Bartley 69 Elliot Welmer (no grade) Now again, I accept that these recruit grades are absolutely suspect, but there a very clear difference between the type of players SLU was attracting then, and the types of players SLU has attracted the past 2 years under Crews. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianstl Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 I'm really looking forward to doing that! Don't get me wrong, I am for Crews proving me wrong, and I am all for seeing these players develop over their time at SLU. I concede that I am a fairly new fan (wouldn't consider myself a bandwagon fan) , and I am somewhat spoiled compared to older fans who have seen all of the ups and downs (mostly downs) of SLU basketball history. I also understand that the 2014 senior class faced a similar situation where they were thrust into a young team, but I have been doing some research on perceptions of these 5 players compared to thee incoming Freshmen and rising Sophomores and there are clear differences. I totally get that recruit rankings and ratings are suspect and questionable, and do not always determine how a player will perform, but i do think there is some validity in them. Here is what I found: Espn gave the following grades to the graduating seniors when they were recruits (on a scale of 100) Rob Loe 91 Jordair Jett 90 Mike McCall 88 Dwayne Evans 80 This are the grades ESPN gave to the incoming Freshman class: Brett Jolly 75 Davell Roby 74 Austin Gillman 71 Miles Reynolds 69 Marcus Bartley 69 Elliot Welmer (no grade) Now again, I accept that these recruit grades are absolutely suspect, but there a very clear difference between the type of players SLU was attracting then, and the types of players SLU has attracted the past 2 years under Crews. Two things...........ESPN is always questionable on player grading. ESPN no longer uses the same grading system they used four years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slufan13 Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Yeah ESPN totally revamped their player grading system a couple years ago. I would say that the players ratings are probably similar if they were on the same scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dabills Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 I did not know that! thanks for clearing that up! So the general consensus around SLU basketball is that Crews is the man for the job? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianstl Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 I did not know that! thanks for clearing that up! So the general consensus around SLU basketball is that Crews is the man for the job? That is to be seen. Hard to argue with the overall results, but I do have some reservations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slufan13 Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 I did not know that! thanks for clearing that up! So the general consensus around SLU basketball is that Crews is the man for the job? I'd say that it's probably the consensus. I'm not totally sold on Crews yet, but it's hard to argue with his results. This upcoming season will be telling. If we have another really good season, it'll be pretty hard to doubt Crews at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRN Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Miles Reynolds 69 That right there shows you this ratings system is a joke. Did you watch Reynolds online at all or read any stories about him? Just looking at an arbitrary rating made by some "expert" isn't fully indicative of a kids makeup. I'll defer to our coaches instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slu72 Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 That is to be seen. Hard to argue with the overall results, but I do have some reservations. I think this is the camp most fans support. His two years have been great in terms of recent Billiken history, but, and a big but, he did it with RMs players who were well schooled in RMs style. JC even said more than once, he'd defer to the seniors. So, we don't know what we've really got in JC. Had it not been for RM, I'm a 100% certain SLU wouldn't have brought him out of retirement to be the HC. As stated his stints at Evansville and Army weren't earth shattering. On the plus side he's a good man and good for the school. He's earned at least two rears. However, he will only last here as long as he puts arses in the seats. If it appears we're slipping back to the Soderberg years, we'll all be calling for his head on a platter. It's the way it goes these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billiken Rich Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 I also credit Crews with the fact that Evansville (and Army) did a hell of alot worse after Crews left there........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bills By 40 Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 ESPN ratings are practically useless. It's fun to speculate over, but in the end they don't truly dictate anything. I think the general consensus over Crews as a coach is uncertainty. We have faith and expectations, but we don't have proof. We'll have to wait and see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Box and Won Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 I also credit Crews with the fact that Evansville (and Army) did a hell of alot worse after Crews left there........... Definitely. When we hired Crews, I visited Evansville's forum to get a feel for what they thought of him. The general consensus seemed to be that he was a good coach who was given no budgetary support for recruiting from the administration. I got the impression that he did the best with the hand he was dealt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archy McNally Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Definitely. When we hired Crews, I visited Evansville's forum to get a feel for what they thought of him. The general consensus seemed to be that he was a good coach who was given no budgetary support for recruiting from the administration. I got the impression that he did the best with the hand he was dealt. Count me as one of those impressed with what he did at Evansville. He took them to 4 NCAA basketball tourneys. They have been terrible ever since he left. One more thing, I don't care who there coach is, there is going to be a big dropoff next year, I'd be happy if they are 0.500 or above in the conference. Too many "ifs" out there. --Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archy McNally Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Count me as one of those impressed with what he did at Evansville. He took them to 4 NCAA basketball tourneys. They have been terrible ever since he left. One more thing, I don't care who there coach is, there is going to be a big dropoff next year, I'd be happy if they are 0.500 or above in the conference. Too many "ifs" out there. --Jim And then I messed up my joke. "--Jim Crews" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zink Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Good reading here! Cool heads actually talking about the topic at hand. Personally, I think Crews has earned about a three year leash. He deserves the chance to see "his guys" get to their senior year (Crawford, Lancona, Agbeko). Next year is a total question mark. My expectation is above .500 for this group. Anything less and the leash is tightened a bit. Two years down the road, we need to be back in the NCAA conversation. If we have a decent season, but come up just short then three years from now is do or die for his tenure. If we crash and burn the next two years, then Crews will probably be out. I think next year the baseline is finishing above .500, top six in the league and seeing growth throughout the year from our underclassmen. Two years away, we need to be a bubble team at the minimum. Anything less will be below my expectations. If we miss out on the tourney, three years down the line is do or die for the Crews era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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