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Like losing a pretty, high-maintenance girlfriend who you knew was going to dump you eventually anyway?

It was indeed very rare for family to show up to his games over the years but I have seen his family a few times. Gordon has always been tough to handle. He has obviously had success in his young basketball career doing it his way....but he has burned bridges along the way. He has NBA dreams but he also has a problem with authority and to many enablers willing to give him chances because of his talent. SLU took a chance. Coaches and players were growing weary of him. I talked to him briefly at a game right before he signed...he seemed like he was changing for the better. Hope he wakes up before the chances run out.

Makes sense. At that point, since it'll all be one municipality, you might as well move to east of Skinker/McCausland.

Is Gordon the next Cameron Biedscheid?

Until Hankton does something like this, Anthony maintains the advantage.

that's not true. Can we just wish the kid well wherever his next stop is and just move on

There was a Lenny Cooke documentary that got pretty wide distribution on cable/streaming. It shows just how quickly it can all come unraveled for an elite player if his development stalls.

If you are a program that currently has a scholarship spot open, Gordon is actually a low risk high reward guy to take a chance on right now. Get him on campus for the spring semester and if he doesn't do what he needs to you cut him loose at the end of the semester. He doesn't take a scholarship away from another potential player. If he has his act together, well then you have a hell of a player.

He just takes the team that is at the top of the conference standings and plugs them in as the auto-bid for every league. They are the only team with a win so they are the auto bid. Has nothing to do with what he thinks about them actually being good.

Respectfully disagree. CG is a high level talent. He was a force on D as freshman and his offensive game had a very high ceiling. From a pure talent standpoint, he is far more talented than Evans.

Agreed. I think we all should take a step back and breathe. It definitely sucks losing the potential of CG's future and what could've been. However, I think team chemistry is way more important than a lot of people realize. CG leaving can actually benefit both parties. If the hearsay about altercations with teammates and missed practices are true, then CG departure will not be a detriment to this team. If true, it seems like irreparable damage was done and he was not entirely interested in changing. Anyone who's been a part of a team probably realizes that removing a problematic member of the team usually creates a much more productive and focused environment, regardless of the importance of the detractor's role. The chemistry has been notably out of sorts compared to last year, and I would not be surprised if the team uses this moment as a rallying point and we see the same energy we saw toward the end of last season coming into conference play. This team does have great leaders with Ford, Bess, and Goodwin after all. As for CG, it appears the rumors have it that there are some bad influences in his ear in STL. He's young and impressionable and I believe it's possible that getting out of this city and into an environment where it's sink or swim and these influences are not readily available may be character-building for him. Wishing him nothing but the best. Next man up. Let's Go Bills!!

sooooooooo glad Ortiz no longer has his sports column. in that regard we are all winners

I agree. TFord will rally the team, and I think we will see it this Sunday. Everybody will be motivated up their game. Foreman is the guy that needs to step up the most, and I am confident that he will.

I actually don't think the academics would be the issue at a school like Duke/ND/Stanford etc. They weren't the issue at SLU either. These programs all have isolated and well defined programs for athletes who struggle in the classroom and give them every resource/opportunity to succeed. They are essentially placed in a bubble that minimizes their risk in the classroom to a maximum degree. Gordon's issue will always be his attitude - no matter the level of academics he is challenged with at his next school.

-does this include afro?

I dunno but even if they liked those guys, which I suspect they did, they would probably choose to wish them well privately rather than do it via social media and have to deal with the #metoo mafia complaining that they are wishing rapists well.

As he is a 19yo young man with a long life ahead of him, I hope he figures out who he is, what he wants, and goes and gets it. with that said, there exists no honor in walking out on your teammates. Abandoning those who battled with you, and those who had your back. Done with this. Next up.

-I saw him as a frosh and his game was very impressive but he showed some attitude I wasn't a fan of, if he loses that or gains maturity he could be a very good college player

i agree with davidnark. it seems all fair and honest. exactly what gordon needs to hear. i sure hope the young man wakes up and realizes he is an adult and doesnt waste his god given gift. everything he needed to become all he can be he just left behind at slu.

Ya know, if Mason continues to hit 54% on threes like they did last night, 15 of 28, I'd vote for them too. They hit 3's about as well as we hit 1's.

Lunardi just watched them beat SJU. Such a kneejerk reaction.

I feel like Coach Ford knew he was taking a calculated risk when CG signed on. It didn't work out, but I don't fault him for trying. The signing certainly energized this fan base based off the potential. If CG was a poor teammate, it's actually way better this happened now, instead of trying to force him into the picture and having the internal drama prolonged. Cut bait, develop the young guys, and sign a replacement who wants to fit in with #TeamBlue

Feel oddly good about the Gordon chapter of SLU history finally being over.

I think in comparing Bess last year and Bess this season, the difference is immense. He's turned into a legit CPOY type player.

Hopefully French will return to form. He’s best as a low-post player, and when he and Gordon were both on the floor, French often ended up at the high-post instead. He’ll be far more efficient staying close to the basket. Hankton will get minutes and this will will help us spread the floor. If teams try to target him as a defender, I could see us playing more 1-3-1 zone with him at the point to utilize his length, while making his lack of strength matter less. Foreman needs to get back to what he was. One dribble from the free throw line and up and hard cuts to the hoop. None of the isolation dribble drive stuff that’s gotten him in trouble. Bess will step up to the plate, too. He can play more of the 4 on offense, and Thatch plus Jacobs will get more minutes. I like the idea of pressing more that some have mentioned. Let the dogs loose. Gordon was probably the most talented player on this team, but he was also a square peg. This team still has enough to compete for an A10 title though, and our offense might even improve now that we only have one ball-stopping post-player to feed touches.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Since the season started there have been instances of CG missing practice, sometimes without communication or warning to the team (this is the reason there have been inconsistencies of CG starting over DJ and vice versa). He’s struggled to mesh with some of the players. He’s struggled with class and attendance. It can be very, very tough to take a kid out of a rough neighborhood and expect him to fit into a program with lots of structure and academic expectations. Remember, CG grew up in a tough area and a cruel scene - his best friend was murdered, his father absent, and his mother mentally lost. The drug scene is prominent where he grew up. It’s hard for some kids to leave the streets behind, and this decision (whichever way it goes) is not 100% basketball related. No one wants to see the Billikens lose the basketball talent that CG is, but I believe whatever happens will ultimately be best for the team. No official decision has been made and/or announced, but the picture should become clearer in the next 24 hours.

Lisa Stone has done a fantastic job. Losing Kemph and others to graduation isn't the ADs fault. The baseball team made the NCAAs last year. The womaens soccer team had an unprecedented shutout streak and had the best season of they're history. Kalish appears to get a step in the right direction. An AD can't control a player transferring or tell a coach who he can and can't recruit.

I like KC, but Anthony was a big body that gave our bigs a breather while guarding the 4/5 spot. He wasn’t anything special, but our front line today is thinner than last year at this time. I don’t think that’s debatable at all.

Funny how it takes 24 hours and everyone else says the same sh** i do and Ben Fred copies it with slightly better words. Everyone on this board who switched ships overnight after attacking me can get a life