HoosierPal

Hit the link in the post if you want to find out. It’s all there.

There are many players in this same category of expiring contracts in 2027. Plus any player whose contract extends through 2027 now will have a shortened season. Does that mean a reduction in the salary? I will assume that the players association, team owners and players agents will come to some form of agreement. Lot's to talk about.

Are the Billiken's looking inward (current roster) or outward (portal) for Abonnel's replacement between the pipes for next season?

KMOX Sports on a Sunday Morning, Coach Schertz with Tom Ackerman, 12/14 Game was a tale of two halves. Adjustments at half time 'getting back to our identity'. Made the adjustments immediately, don't wait for half time. For some reason we couldn't make the changes stick in the first half. Got to the rim in the first half okay, but made bad decisions at the rim. Took too hard of shots and missed open guys. Second half 14 for 18 from 2. Shared the ball better. Got the ball downhill. Defense in stretches was really good. The five guard lineup turned the game in the second half. When Thames is on the floor, things happen. Had his fingerprint on this game. Played within himself. The five plus Brown have great cumulative size. Thames and Dion rebounding makes the five guard work. Dion is a unique player with a very high motor. Has a nose for the ball, he isn't always aesthetically pleasing, but is a good player. Plays fearless. Elite defender. Finds his way where he needs to be. Down the stretch, they cut it 77-73, he got a three point play. He created a lot of the finish. Dunlap took a hit and busted his lip open. He hit two massive threes in the second half and did a good job defensively. Been through a ton. Had three surgeries last year. He and Ish are low mistake guys. Rarely turn it over. Defensively they both can hold up on the five switch scheme. SF tried to isolate on Dunlap and drive on him. He did a great job defending. Coah has talked to Dunlap a lot, his floor game has to be good enough that we can play you through variances in your shooting. The more things you do on both ends of the floor the more playing time you get....ball movement, screening, cutting, spacing, guarding the basketball. Tom A : "Do you pay attention to the NET? SLU is 31." Coach: I don't really look at it until Feb. Too much water still to go under the bridge. Certainly aware of it, but NET is so fluid. In Feb you can look at it and see where we are to compete for an At Large. Internally we don't talk about it. If you win, the NET takes care of itself. Doesn't mean it works out in your favor, as ISU found out.

McCottry was 10 of 26 from the arc last season. That's a healthy 38.5%. He is 2 of 17 this season for 11.8%. I'm betting the three's will start falling for him soon. Keep shooting them, particularly in these next three games, Amari.

Could have played a decent alumni team tonight. Saw Highmark, Jimerson, AB, Lenard (I think) and Troy Robertson

Ticketmaster through the Billiken's website: $29.25

@courtside what is your assessment of Abonnel's chance to get drafted by an MLS team, and/or prospect of playing professionally anywhere. Also, same question for Blair. I know the MLS College Showcase ran from Wed to today (strange timing - why not wait until the College Cup is over) but I assume scouts have seen both play numerous times.

We have seen Fuchs three times when he played for Rhode Island; once in 2025 and twice in 2024. His final game against the Billikens was last season, 2/20/25, when he went for 7 points and 5 boards in a Billiken win. I trust Schertz and/or his staff have reviewed that game film. As a frosh he went 6 and 3 in one game and 8 and 5 in the other.

Congratulations to Jerromi Abonnel for being named Third Team All-American. This is a fantastic reward for the remarkable year Abonnel has put had. Congrats also to the coaching staff and the entire athletic department on this brilliant national spotlight for SLU Athletics. https://slubillikens.com/news/2025/12/12/mens-soccer-abonnel-named-third-team-all-american.aspx

Rammer's best call, ever, linked here. Earl had his back. https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/st-louis-play-play-man-hilariously-tells-off-021506346--ncaab.html

OOC Attendance: 2025 to date: 4584 2024: 4591 2023: 4653

Schertz discussed Thames' minutes in the attached interview. He said that Thames could go up to 20-22 minutes in the near future, but he doesn't see him playing 25+. In the blowouts he has put in the 'younger players' to soak up some of the minutes. Look for any bump to start in Conference games.

A great interview by Frank Cusumano which was posted on Monday.