johnbj14 Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 http://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/slu/billikens-remain-positive-in-another-sinking-season/article_1ce20765-d0c8-5904-8f4a-0ef14107a189.html Good article serving as both a rumination on the season and a brief preview of the VCU game. Probably the line that stuck out the most is this: "The bottom line: the Billikens are 11-31 in calendar years 2015 and 2016 and they are in the midst of another losing streak — this time four games — as they play at Virginia Commonwealth on Saturday." 11-31 Another record line: "SLU has gone from a regular spot atop the A-10 to 6-23 the last two seasons, often struggling to keep scores close." 6-23 Not apples to apples but stats for the three transferred players: "The Billikens lost three players to transfers after last season, and all have gone on to have productive years, albeit at lower-level programs. Austin McBroom is averaging 20.6 points at Eastern Washington to lead the team. Grandy Glaze is averaging 14.6 points and 8.3 rebounds at Grand Canyon University. And Tanner Lancona is averaging 13.5 points and 5.9 rebounds at Division II Point Loma Nazarene." But perhaps the most telling theme of this piece came from lines that were littered throughout it. This theme was that of inconsistency; the things we are familiar with from the offense, defense, and rotations. Overall, I like this type of piece detailing the numbers from this slide (aside from the fact the slide has occurred in the first place) because it really takes us out of the moment and see the big, ugly picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slu72 Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 I feel very good about their prospects because Miles Reynolds said, "we could make a run in Brooklyn". A run for what, the team bus waiting to take them back to the airport? Seriously, I'm glad to see some of them haven't given up on the season, but it's so unrealistic at this point it's almost laughable. 11-31, 6-23 tell us what we already knew. This program has gone to total s*&t under Jim Crews. Just remembering how fired up we were two years ago for the games against VCU and Shaka's havoc. Now, it's just a big blah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidnark Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 No big surprise, but I have heard from several sources that a coaching change will take place as soon as the season is over. What direction should we take with the next coaching staff? I may be an outlier, but I would like to see us move to an athletic, offense-driven style like VCU. Winning is most important, but I am tired of 3 decades of half-court defense-focused teams. I think it is going to be a struggle for a few years no matter what, but it would be nice to struggle with an exciting, athletic team. I would like to move past the days of "buy" teams bringing in superior athletes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbj14 Posted February 13, 2016 Author Share Posted February 13, 2016 No big surprise, but I have heard from several sources that a coaching change will take place as soon as the season is over. What direction should we take with the next coaching staff? I may be an outlier, but I would like to see us move to an athletic, offense-driven style like VCU. Winning is most important, but I am tired of 3 decades of half-court defense-focused teams. I think it is going to be a struggle for a few years no matter what, but it would be nice to struggle with an exciting, athletic team. I would like to move past the days of "buy" teams bringing in superior athletes. I too am in the belief that SLU should shift towards an offensive approach. The narrative that defense wins championships is true to an extent, but elite teams in college basketball have efficient offenses. Great teams have a combination of both, but in today's game you cannot win with an elite defense and no offense. Even Virginia of the past couple of seasons was very efficient offensively, they just had lower output because of pace of play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soderball Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 Majerus teams were very efficient on offense. Style of play is what it is. Talent and skill win in the end. Teams that play offense and no defense get owned like Davidson did last year in the tournament. Looked like a bunch of children. I am in favor of playing both good offense and defense, and rebounding well. To win: Defend. Rebound. Jim Crews has produced a staff and team that is just garbage, dont make the mistake of comparing any of this to serious basketball. What we have now is just a cruel joke and a farce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NextYearBill Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 Im in favor of winning games Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slufan13 Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 With Majerus you can win with "defend and rebound". With a good but not Hall of Fame coach, you need to be able to score the ball Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidnark Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 Maybe I should re-frame the question. There are less than 10 programs in the country that can just recruit big, athletic, strong, skilled, and versatile players. Everyone else has to determine what type of player they want to fit their system. Programs like Davidson and Butler emphasized superior skill and shooting over strength and raw athleticism. VCU was built with speed, quickness, and raw athleticism. Izzo built his system around being stronger and tougher than most with good athleticism. Wisconsin likes size and strength with skill. Majerus recruited undersized but quick and athletic guards paired with very skilled big men. I don't think their is a "right" system and ideal player, but programs fail when they don't have an identity and/or don't bring in good players that fit their identity. If you are hiring the next coach, what kind of system and identity would you target? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBFan Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 I am for the type of play that Rick Majerus coached teams played, defense, rebound, and offense. Playing good defense can lead to easy break away baskets. What fun is it if the team cannot stop the opponent? I feel not playing defense is just as frustrating as not scoring. I hope that Coach Crews and the other coaches are dismissed as soon as the season is over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Metzinger Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 No big surprise, but I have heard from several sources that a coaching change will take place as soon as the season is over. What direction should we take with the next coaching staff? I may be an outlier, but I would like to see us move to an athletic, offense-driven style like VCU. Winning is most important, but I am tired of 3 decades of half-court defense-focused teams. I think it is going to be a struggle for a few years no matter what, but it would be nice to struggle with an exciting, athletic team. I would like to move past the days of "buy" teams bringing in superior athletes. This - but we have never landed the type of recruits VCU does on a pretty consistent basis since Anthony Grant landed in Richmond. There's a reason VCU plays an athletic (key word), offensive-driven brand of basketball - they can. We just cannot. We don't have the bodies. I'm all for that brand of basketball, but right now, we have players and coaches so inept at the game of basketball, they might have a hard time grasping Pete Carril's Princeton offense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milwaukeebill Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 Don't care what type of basketball we play if we win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slu72 Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 I loved Rick's systems; good D and a very efficient half court offense. Offense is a tricky business. When it's on it's great, when it's not you struggle. Defense is there every night and will keep in you games. Today during the USC v KY game, one of the announcers said the good coaches always stressed D in the practices, because you could rely on it to keep you in games when the O wasn't clicking. Ideal for me would be the Rick Pitino approach. UL relies on their D to produce points, not the majority of them but enough to win a lot. I like David's suggestion as well, but not at the expense of ignoring defense. Mostly, I want the new coach to be able to recruit. Get us better talent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianstl Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 I think we need to worry about hiring the best coach that we can regardless of his style of basketball. You shouldn't limit your search to a certain style of basketball. More important than the style to me is a guy that has a track record of successfully recruiting players that fit his system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majerus mojo Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 McBroom sucks, but it is galling to see him put up 20 ppg at EW. Glaze always looked like he had some semblance of talent (or at least a motor), so those numbers are perfectly fine at a place like GC. Lancona.. I skipped over whatever he's doing now. Who cares. Yada, yada, yada... Each day Crews has a job I hate my alma mater a little bit more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheeseman Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 No big surprise, but I have heard from several sources that a coaching change will take place as soon as the season is over. What direction should we take with the next coaching staff? I may be an outlier, but I would like to see us move to an athletic, offense-driven style like VCU. Winning is most important, but I am tired of 3 decades of half-court defense-focused teams. I think it is going to be a struggle for a few years no matter what, but it would be nice to struggle with an exciting, athletic team. I would like to move past the days of "buy" teams bringing in superior athletes. Perhaps you have spoken to the same little birdie that told me the same thing 3 weeks ago. I know many did not believe me but I was not kidding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billikenfan05 Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Perhaps you have spoken to the same little birdie that told me the same thing 3 weeks ago. I know many did not believe me but I was not kidding.I figured this would be true but I'm not so sure anymore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slufan13 Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 As long as we have a donor ready to buy-out Crews, he's gone. I struggle to think that the AD can and will buy out his contract on their own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NextYearBill Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 As long as we have a donor ready to buy-out Crews, he's gone. I struggle to think that the AD can and will buy out his contract on their own I am willing to buy him out, i might be a little short though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wiz Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 As long as we have a donor ready to buy-out Crews, he's gone. I struggle to think that the AD can and will buy out his contract on their own No decisions on JC will be made till after the season. The buyout is not an obstacle to Crews leaving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pelican Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 No decisions on JC will be made till after the season. The buyout is not an obstacle to Crews leaving. This... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slu72 Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 You have to wonder why they're waiting. Are they expecting some Miracle in Flatbush? Glad to hear these rumors that he's gone but seeing is believing. I certainly hope if this team scrapes out some Ws against the other conference bottom feeders doesn't save his arse. For those seemingly in the know is that a possibility? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billikenfan05 Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 You have to wonder why they're waiting. Are they expecting some Miracle in Flatbush? Glad to hear these rumors that he's gone but seeing is believing. I certainly hope if this team scrapes out some Ws against the other conference bottom feeders doesn't save his arse. For those seemingly in the know is that a possibility?Why? What if you fire crews and whoever is named head coach leads us to an A-10 tourney title...how do you not name them head coach? You're in the same spot as you were with Crews Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pelican Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 You have to wonder why they're waiting. Are they expecting some Miracle in Flatbush? Glad to hear these rumors that he's gone but seeing is believing. I certainly hope if this team scrapes out some Ws against the other conference bottom feeders doesn't save his arse. For those seemingly in the know is that a possibility? Because a lot of movement and discussion occurs during the Final Four weekend. Firing midseason makes the angry fanbase feel good temporarily but makes the department and school look bad when they are trying to hire a new coach. In addition, that is not how you treat someone who took over when your program was between a rock and a hard place. Regardless if the team has tanked, you have to allow him to retire gracefully. Other people of significance will notice, especially when looking for a replacement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheeseman Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 You have to wonder why they're waiting. Are they expecting some Miracle in Flatbush? Glad to hear these rumors that he's gone but seeing is believing. I certainly hope if this team scrapes out some Ws against the other conference bottom feeders doesn't save his arse. For those seemingly in the know is that a possibility? Not from what I have heard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheChosenOne Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 you have to allow him to retire gracefully. Why would Crews retire? Unless that is just what gets communicated publicly or he is offered his buyout to announce his retirement, there is no reason for him to retire. He would have to be the dumbest person in the world to retire and give up over $500k to not do a job. If you want me gone, at least have the sack to fire me and eat the buyout in my contract; after all it is a contract SLU signed. The idea that Crews will be around next season is astounding to me. There is no chance that anyone in power would believe keeping him around for two more seasons is a better financial decision than just eating his buyout a month or so from now. No reason to see how much further Jim Crews and this staff can set this program back. Beyond that, you have to believe the big donors have already made their opinions known. I mean, is there even anyone on this message board or a season ticket holder who still believes Crews should be given another season? It really should not be a discussion beyond who delivers the news to Jim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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