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Play the damn game. There is no better opponent out there than Xavier and it's a perfect match up of teams needing the game. I for one don't believe we are at a 50% chance of getting in right now, but even if we were PLAY THE DAMN GAME. Far better to put your future in your own hands than to let someone on the committee make a decision for you.

1. Drake played no one, and I mean no one, other than Loyola Chicago. Drake lost twice by double digits to Loyola, once on its home court by 27 points, the other on a neutral court by 10 points. 1a. Drake's non-conference schedule was an unmitigated joke, filled with cupcakes and cream puffs, the very type of non-conference schedule supposedly frowned upon by the NCAA. 2. The Mountain West is only the 12th ranked conference. The Mountain West deserves a maximum of 2 NCAA teams, not 3 and not 4. 3. Duke is not an NCAA Tournament caliber team. This assumes Duke is still in contention. I read that Duke believes its season is over, that it does not expect an NCAA bid. But beliefs and expectations are not definitive. Duke has not said its season is over to my knowledge. Duke is 51 in the NET, still a threat for a bid. 4. The Big East does not have 4 NCAA worthy teams, only 3. Seton Hall, St. John's (even if it's located in Jamaica, Queens, New York City, NY and styles itself as New York's team), and Xavier are not NCAA worthy teams. 5a. Michigan State does not deserve something akin to a Lifetime Achievement Award gift bid. A team that finished 9-11, even in the Big Ten, with a NET of 67 should be in the NIT, not in the NCAA. 5b. A 9-11 Big Ten Maryland team is not NCAA caliber either.

Okay a week later I’m putting it out there that the A10 ‘missed the boat’ on moving the tourney. The two finalists haven’t reported any Covid issues. It looks like for me the main thing that happened was that teams like SLU were denied 2 additional games. By all accounts we could use two more games. Perhaps we would not have had the 4th seed but looking at that now, no big deal.

Don't ever doubt me and @slufanskip

Even a post covid SLU team would run Xavier and the MWC teams out of the gym. Disappointed to be considered their peer

it's always been my belief that if the ncaa / nit is going to limit the number of berths to their respective tourney's the entries should at least be a 500 team in their conference.

Huh? A loss to Davidson and we have 0% chance at an NCAA bid. A win barely moves the needle. A win over Xavier though is likely enough to get us in whether it's played in St. Louis, Cinci or Evansville. Since I firmly believe we are a better team than Xavier and I also firmly believe we aren't currently sitting at a 50% probability of getting in, why would you not want to play the game?

Yikes if true. We'll never know the full story on the SLU side but it's going to be a hard sell if Xavier found a game so quickly and if they would get into the NCAAT because of it. That being said, I think Davidson could run Xavier out of the gym

remember i live in one of the worst political states in America. if there is a way to F things up Illinois can do it.

Play Xavier wherever they want to play - Cincy, St. Louis, the moon, wherever. Based on what I saw yesterday, we would manhandle those frauds. Put that as the last memory of us in the committee's minds.

PLAY THE GAME. LETS GO

Is this the time to say Zip Em Up?!

Coach Travis Ford at one point in his interview earlier this week with Bob Ramsey did say SLU would play in the NIT. From being aware of the SLU program since the Bob Polk days in the early 1970's, and there are posters on this Board who are my seniors, from following the program closely since 1978, I say if it comes to it, SLU definitely should accept an NIT bid, would be nuts not to accept. Consider there are 20 NCAA Tournament Automatic Bids that go to one bid conferences, whose automatic bid recipient would not get an at large bid. That quickly lowers the real NCAA field from 68 to 48 teams. The NIT is usually 32 teams, but this year is reduced to 16 teams. Thus, the NIT field is what the powers that be (NCAA Committee, NIT Committee) think are Teams 49-67. (Three of those 20 at larges would be NIT worthy). This year 347 D-1 teams are listed in the NET. Thus, 263 D-1 teams will be done playing basketball by this coming Sunday; only 84 will still be playing. The NIT is not the goal. The NIT is never the goal. But in my opinion, the NIT is not a loser tournament to be dismissed. I'd rather the NIT be abolished all together, but with the NIT field included in the NCAA Tournament. But that is not the current system, not the current rules of engagement. I sketched out a possible NIT bracket. There are some very good teams that will be playing in the NIT, that promise to play some very good games. The NIT plays on the ESPN stations. The NIT does provide national TV exposure. I'm not giving up all hope for SLU and the NCAA, even though SLU appears to be on the wrong side of the bubble. But at least we know that all is not lost. This season has not ended, one way or the other. As Coach Majerus said after doing what he previously said he wouldn't do, namely accept a CBI bid (and after he made a heck of a deal in doing so, 4 CBI home games and participation in a later year in the CBE in KC): "You want some ball? We'll give you some ball."

No reason for Russell to get a scholarship ..... Unless he is the best point guard available. Which I seriously doubt.

No, Xavier simply said publicly they are looking to play more games against quality teams. The "debate" on here is whether we should try to play them.

I think most of us trust the NCAA as far as we can throw them.

Probably not but it's better than them getting a win. I think it was you who said this yesterday but our fate probably comes down to what happens in the MWC tournament. If we could even get one of Boise St, Colorado St, and Utah St to lose today, it would be a big help but preferably 2 of them lose. Ideally we get total chaos but trying to be realistic.

My opinion is similar. What’s the point of the whole season if it’s not to win games with the goal of getting yourself in the NCAA tournament. I don’t really care about the math, the rankings, the quadrants, etc. We should be jumping at any opportunity to play Xavier any year, especially when it could get us in the tourney. And if we lose, and it was a bad move in hindsight, then at least we lost playing as opposed to waiting.

If we would have just scheduled Loyola when we were looking for a non-conference games instead of looking for a big name opponent earlier in the year, we wouldn't be worried about the bubble right now. We would have won that game and we would be in the tournament.

The problem with SLU Xavier is that it’s not a Q1 game for SLU unless it’s at Xavier. If it’s at Xavier, it becomes a Q2 game for the Musketeers. if they go play at Davidson, that’s a Q1 game for Xavier (so theoretically better on a resume than a neutral site win vs. SLU - though it’s impossible to know how the committee really values all these designations)

My bigger fault with the A10 was their inability to reschedule missed games rather than moving up the A10 tournament. I at least understood the reasoning behind that one

Drake is in because they are 19-1 with their leading scorer Shanquan Hempill in the line-up and he will be healthy for the tournament.

I heard that both Willie McCarter and Willie Wise have used up their eligibility, so Drake isn’t as tough as they once were.

I don't know much about him. There is a decent highlight package from his freshman year. Listed as a guard at 6-7, looks like he handles the ball well for his size. Appears to be a decent, but not explosive athlete who is capable of creating his own shot off the dribble. I suppose a guard at his size can create some mismatch problems. The video shows several blocks, he averages more than 1 per game, which is nice plus from a guard. Looking at his stats - a sub 30% shooter from 3 is a problem. Not sure how he plays D. Assists and turnovers both 2.3/game. Not sure about this one, excellent size for a guard and a pretty versatile skillset, although I don't like adding poor shooters to the roster. I think what we need most is a combo guard, who can help Yuri at the point, but is also a scoring threat. Basically, we could use another Kwamain or Mike McCall.

You were 15 miles away from my hometown of Quincy, but across the River. Welcome to the Tri-State Area. Canton, MO is the Home of the NAIA Culver-Stockton Wildcats, a potential SLU future opponent if Drake gets IN after playing that cupcake non-conference schedule.

The NCAA should come out right now and say how a team postponed by Covid will be looked at. I say you get a break on your first game back. If you sit out as long as SLU you should get a 2 game break. If you have the answer to that fair question then it would be clear if we should play or not. Not knowing how it will be treated is crap. Keep in mind, the Kenpoms of the world are not factoring Covid in and we are right there. Factor it in and we are solidly in the tournament.

The Dilemma We are still 50-50...as we have been since the St. B game and we will continue to be if we don't do anything. Bubble team games will cancel each other out going forward as they have to this point. So if we add a game ...let's say Xavier... If we play them at the Fetz...we have a 60% chance of winning....we gain a slight edge but we are still in the subjective bubble where the Committee can still snub us. If we go to X's arena and win , we will get a bid...if we lose ...we are out...Probability to win ...about 40%...X is one of the toughest venues to play in. The Dilemma...stay with 50 -50 or go all in with a 40% chance to win.

I received moderna right when it came out. Didn’t feel the needle, didn’t have arm soreness, didn’t have any follow up trouble. Crazy how different individual responses are- but what I think is really cool- they’ve made needles so insanely sharp now- that aside from big needle that are for I’ve and such- you really can’t feel them!

I think we are reading too much into Fords comments. If he says we "need" a game, that is telling the committee that we haven't done enough. With a game being probably unrealistic, you can say we don't "need" it

Of course it was. I'd put a large sum on it being Coach K's grandson. This isn't hard to figure out. https://goduke.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/michael-savarino/16340

NOTE TO THE COMMITTEE: we have already hit herd immunity. No worries about us dropping out, or causing a Covid outbreak.

hmmm, could have been the case.

I got this feeling too. Has someone been in their ear? I am on the other side of the coin. I have no confidence whatsoever.

this and screw miz

Had they lost to Florida last week, I'd agree. I dont see anyway they finish lower than an 8/9 seed. Way too many Q1 wins.

Under the bus 101

Coach K flipped a coin: Heads, COVID outbreak; Tails, in-game back pain. It landed on heads. Season over.

What in gods name would want them to root against SLU getting in. This is like the overrated chant.

The fact Duke just bowed out of the ACC tournament because of 1 positive COIVD test has me rethinking the likelihood of a team dropping out of the NCAA tourney between selection Sunday and 6 PM on Tuesday when the reserve teams could be added. After 6 PM it will just be viewed as a forfeit. The 5 player thing isn't really a major factor, as basically once you have one positive test among a group that has been practicing and playing together, it's going to be hard for the rest of the team to continue playing if there is a chance they have COVID...

Would rather have seen a healthy Duke lose to FSU, but it helps SLU regardless. We got a favor from Butler. The biggest help we can get today is in the MWC - hopefully Nevada really has Boise State's number. UNLV over Utah State isn't unreasonable. Fresno State has been playing well lately, could take CSU. These are basically all 60/40 games in my eyes. Good chance to get one, I'd be really happy with two, and beyond thrilled with all three. We need Wisconsin to take down Penn State. Probably need Michigan State over Maryland, with whoever wins losing the next game. Virginia over Syracuse, Ball State over Toledo, Miami-OH over Buffalo, Georgia over Mizzou, South Carolina over Ole Miss, probably Rutgers over Indiana. I'm torn on Kentucky-Mississippi State and St. John's-Seton Hall - I think the most important thing there is the winners losing tomorrow. We need the locks to beat any potential bid stealers in multi-bid conferences. We're not going to get all of this, but hopefully it's a chaotic day with a lot of upsets.

Is Tim Doyle a bonnies guy? Because thats the most bona fans ive seen all on one tweet.

I think since Xavier, Butler, and Temple moved on it hurt the strength of the league. I think the selection committee has gotten it right the last few years. This season the A10 is strong and more than 2 teams should get in. Your team and VCU are in and we will see soon by the seedlings how bias it is. I am very interested in what your Bonnies will do in the big dance. It would be fun to see your Bonnies in the final 4.

that was like watching fordham GW... Okay not quite that bad, but wow! Way to go butler! Those are four words I never thought I would say.

Do I hate myself enough to watch 5 more minutes of this disaster? Yes. Yes, I do.

People do realize the MWC is more impactful for Slu’s hopes than the cuse and X game right

IMO more Billiken basketball is never a bad thing. I hope they get a game this week and I hope if they don't make the NCAAs, they'll play in the NIT. I'm not sure if you're saying this is a "senior dominated" team or not, but I'd argue that it is definitely not. French & Goodwin 4 year seniors are 2 of the most important players. Perkins is another one of the most important players, but he's a JUCO so this is his 2nd DI season. Jacobs is the only junior. The rest of the guys who get minutes are all soph or freshman (Jimerson) eligibility-wise. We're 121st in the nation in experience per KenPom. This is not the 2013-14 team where all of our starters were seniors. Also NIT games are still on national TV, right? More exposure is a good thing regardless of the tournament initials.

Ford on 101ESPN - "Not looking good" for a game this week - Taking advice on who/if they should play - Advice leaning towards "don't need to play a game" - If it comes down to 3-4 teams, "we all look alike". "We are the team nobody wants to play. That should say a lot" - Smallmon asks Ford for his pitch to the committee....."7-1 and go on a 23 day pause with no practices. 11 players test positive. ....Every year someone gets in because their best player is hurt. We had 11 players sick...just take out 1 of the bad losses (Q3) and we're for sure in....Hopefully they take this in consideration being a different year....Won 7 of our last 10 games....Multiple quad 1 wins....St Bonaventure was the #1 seed. We beat them. Beat LSU. Beat NC State. We've proven ourselves...Graphic going around "the Twitters" showing the average of all rankings. We lead the bubble teams and it's not even close" - Karraker talking about "bad luck" in Ford's career. Ford says you always need luck and things to go your way but generally non committal to the topic - Goodwin/French - "They've meant a lot. A whole lot. They took a chance and believed in the vision/dream we had here. They have all the records and a lot of wins. Last 2 seasons have been different. - Talks about Goodwin needing to be great at one or two things to make the NBA. - Likes the balance of our team. "What you're about to see changes recruiting, rosters, etc where transfers don't have to sit out. Going to be completely difficult to build a roster. Especially in today's society guys want to play so it will be easier to leave. Going to be the same for everybody" - Ford asked if he'll have a watch party...."Ask me on Saturday...Not a big fan unless you know you're in. We'll have a better idea by Saturday or morning. A lot needs to go right for us starting today. I'll make that decision late Saturday. If I don't feel like we have a great chance - probably not...If we don't make the Tournament, most likely in the NIT. We have been practicing hoping we have another game" - Smallmon/Karraker - "So many things have gone against them that are out of control. That has to be taken into consideration. Played 1 game between December 23rd and February 3rd. They did pretty well under some tough circumstances"

If today was the end, we as fans have 2 guys to thank for making this program relevant again...Jordan Goodwin and Hasahn French. I don't know what their future plans are (we'd all love to see them back I assume), but those two young men put a program on their backs when we were coming off the "He who shall not be named" years. Today hurts for fans, but I imagine it hurts a hell of a lot more for those two college basketball warriors who put it on the line for 4 years. They chose SLU when it was way down, and were a big part of the revival posts Rick Majerus. I hope to see them play more basketball for SLU, but I feel like a "Thank You" to those two young men is in order.