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McKissic was told that there will be 3 zoom calls made to potential guards but that Self will be bringing in only two for next year. Brandon did the virtual tour and Bill Self analyzed his game. They had a good conversation. Self will be calling him again tomorrow. Brandon also picked up offers from Florida and UCONN. Brandon also heard from SLU today. Also heard today that there is a possibility of Goodwin returning next year.

Unpopular opinion but I am ready to move on from Goodwin/French. They are both great all-time Billikens and they lifted the program from a dark place. I certainly wouldn't be mad if one or both came back but I want the underclassmen to have a chance to grow and develop and I want to see us move away from bully-ball. Yuri, Thatch, Jimerson, Perkins, Okoro is still a heck of a lineup and add in Hargrove, Strickland, Jacobs, Linnsen, Bell, and probably some impact transfers and I think you have a NCAA tournament team that also oozes upside in future years. Again I'm not going to be upset if Goodwin and/or French wanted to come back but personally I am ready for a new era of Billiken basketball.

Carter is a young guy who is still learning college basketball and how best to cover a sports team. I’m sure anyone in his position would make slip-ups. Even when he says things I disagree with, I still feel lucky to have someone who seems to truly enjoy covering Billiken basketball

@Pistolis

Former SLU recruits in the transfer portal, updated. Current school in parentheses, followed by next year's class status and expected remaining eligibility, including COVID bonus year. Had an offer from SLU at some point: Madut Akec (South Florida) - Junior, 3 Years Christian Brown (Georgia) - Junior, 3 Years Nimari Burnett (Texas Tech) - Sophomore, 4 Years Michael Christmas (James Madison) - Junior, 3 Years Cam'Ron Fletcher (Kentucky) - Sophomore, 4 Years DaJuan Gordon (K-State) - Junior, 3 Years Elijah Joiner (Tulsa) - Grad Transfer, 1 Year Jamal Mashburn, Jr. (Minnesota) - Sophomore, 4 Years Ismael Massoud (Wake Forest) - Junior, 3 Years Markquis Nowell (Little Rock) - Senior, 2 Years Mickey Pearson (TCU) - Sophomore, 4 Years Xavier Pinson (Mizzou) - Senior, 2 Years Joseph Reece (Old Dominion) - Senior, 2 Years Jared Ridder (Missouri State) - Senior, 2 Years KyKy Tandy (Xavier) - Junior, 3 Years Symir Torrence (Marquette) - Junior, 3 Years Qudus Wahab (Georgetown) - Junior, 3 Years Dallas Watson (Saint Peter's) - Senior, 2 Years Aaron Wheeler (Purdue) - Senior, 2 Years Keshawn Williams (Tulsa) - Freshman, 4 Years Wyatt Yess (Yale) - Grad Transfer, 1-2 Years (Yale didn't play this season) Had SLU interest at some point: Lenell Henry (Prairie View A&M) - Grad Transfer, 1 Year Tray Hollowell (Wofford) - Grad Transfer, 1 Year Cooper Neese (Indiana State) - Senior, 2 Years Rashad Weekly-McDaniels (Central Michigan) - Sophomore, 4 Years Others that have been contacted by SLU: Donovan Clay (Valpo) - Junior, 3 Years Mason Madsen (Cincinnati) - Sophomore, 4 Years Brandon McKissic (Kansas City) - Grad Transfer, 1 Year

Regarding injury risk for players that come back vs. those that go pro...I think it all depends on what level pro you are playing at. The likelihood of injury should basically be considered the same whether you are playing professionally or in college. At one end of the spectrum you have 1st round NBA draft picks that have major, guaranteed contracts that can't be terminated if they get hurt playing. On the other end of the spectrum you have season by season, maybe even game by game, contracts in smaller European countries where you could get hurt and they'll cut you the next day (and maybe wouldn't even help pay your medical expenses). It's brutal on the lower-end of the pro spectrum. Goodwin would obviously be in the middle and that is for him and his family to figure out just where in the middle, but he's not going to be getting 3 year guaranteed salaries for $400k+ like Ratliffe. Getting a $40k scholarship plus NIL cash may be fairly compelling for him at this point.

Thanks for starting this thread. Sad day for Blues Hockey and St. Louis. Everyone likely has their own story, and I would like to read them, but I will always remember going into the hockey locker room at the old Hardee's Ice Complex, in Chesterfield, crowded with about 20 kids (ages 5 to 6 years old) on the benches and 20 Dads kneeling on the floor untying skates and keeping track of their sons' equipment from ending up in the wrong bag, following my then 6 year old son's 1 hour "Learn to Play" ice hockey session, his second time ever on the ice for a practice, when this older guy, I assumed a coach but I did not turn around to see him, came in to the crowded locker room, and in that deep, distinctive voice, asked the boys: "OK, who in here is tired? Is anyone tired?" The boys all stopped what they were doing, gave full attention and yelled back "No" and "No, I am not tired." Then, the voice asked, "Ok, who can skate another hour?" The boys all raised their hands or yelled that they could. And then, this voice said: "Well, if you're not tired, that means you didn't skate hard enough. Next time, skate harder." and out he went. For a few seconds, silence. Finally, I spun around on the floor but the voice had let the room and I said to the guy next to me, I recognize the voice, who was that? And was told: Bobby Plager.

He has an equal chance to see a big time football game going to SLU as he does Mizzou

This is pretty cool

I think the coronavirus situation is the main reason you're seeing so many players seriously consider the 5th year option. The transfer portal is here to stay. But having so many 5th year players in it or playing a 5th year at their present school is an aberration. Players need somewhere to play. Does anybody think the NBA will have pre-draft camp in May? Or a summer league? I don't. And without them, there's no way for guys outside the lottery to improve their standing in the eyes of the NBA and the G-League.

Oh man, it's great. Priority recruit. Maybe I should start tracking my all-name guys once they get to college. I bet there is a strong correlation between production and cool names.

Strength of schedule is extremely relevant though, especially in this case. For example, Weaver's only games in double figures as a Sophomore were against SEMO (15), Tennessee State (14), UT-Martin (12), and Belmont (14). Cone had the following totals as a Sophomore: Duke (14), Notre Dame (18), Louisville (23), Miami (12), Longwood (18), Coppin State (18), and Penn State (11). Notably, these performances all occurred in Va Tech's first 9 games. Weaver was a nice bench piece. Cone is a potential all-A10 player.

If one of those guards is averaging 15 ppg and is the best combination of ballhandling and shooting on the team, yeah. Cone was relegated to instant offense off the bench at VTech when he's capable of more than that. Probably why he's leaving.

If the offense hits more shots there is less need for a few of those rebounds.

Cone could put up some crazy offensive numbers in the A10. On the rebounding side, you won't be able to completely replace Goodwin and French, but in conference play Fred Thatch averaged 9.5 rebounds per 40 minutes compared to Goodwin's 11.5. Not Goodwin's level, but better than what SLU is going to find on the market right now.. Okoro over his career has averaged 9 rebounds per 40 minutes compared to French's 11.2. We are losing some rebounding, but I don't think the drop is going to be as dramatic as most people think.

Kruger is one of the best coaches of the last 40 years. Took four different programs to the the Sweet 16, 3 of those to the Elite 8 and two to the Final Four. As a player he won BIg 8 conference player of the year and played in two Elite Eights.

From what I have heard you don't get the bonus year plus another year if you redshirted. So no extra year for Gabe or Okoro.

I'd only be interested because of the Gus Phillips factor.

Hope, for our sake, English learned alot fro Haith...

If Goodwin comes back, his role would have to change. Continue to be the best rebounding 6'3 player in the country. But let the combo guard to be named later do more of the creating off the dribble.

Kimmie is probably a pretty good guy and I'm sure I'd be happy with him as my coach if I was GM. But he's still got a lot of Mizzou stink on him and I won't forget he basically told a local radio station that he/they thought of SLU as their little brother when asked a question about playing us. Payback will be fun.

The whole playing and extra year vs risk of injury is really only for the select few who get to go to the NBA.

This is why it would not surprise me to see Goodwin come back. He is on the cusp of being able to make big money playing basketball if he can take one more step forward. French is who is and who he has been the past 4 years, so he may as well go start cashing checks.

There's always the Army, we're hiring. 2nd Lieutenant Hasahn French sounds good just need a haircut and shave. We'll send ya back home to Ft. Drum NY. Coached a guy in Kuwait who played at one of the CUNY schools and pro in Japan. Big like French also couldn't FTs. French could try to pull a Rico Gathers and become an NFL TE.

clock that is a hell of a story! great memory and i hope you remind your son of that still. not just for hockey but everything he does. we can all learn/ be reminded from that!

justin love no longer had to work after his foreign basketball career was over. it is my understanding kevin lisch is taking it easy spending time with his family since his australian career is over. i.e. these players at the level of hall of fame like goodwin and french undoubtedly are, will make a lot of money overseas. i am not sure if a sociology or communications degree make that kind of potential money.

Someone, just glad it's not my decision. For example, whose Penny gonna run off at Messphis. He's way overcommitted isn't he. It's just the way it is these days. I don't like it. It reeks of a broken contract, but this has become a cutthroat business.

The only thing I’d worry about is an injury that could cost them money in any sort of professional scenario. There’s a flip side to the coming back coin. And being SLU fans, you expect the snakebite rather than the pot of gold. Almost like we’re pre-conditioned to expect the worst.

I think Jordan and Has have some unfinished business. I could be wrong but after the announcement they were both moving on and after the graduation ceremony I still feel that they were coming back. I would really like to see the Goodwin family for another season at Chaifetz interacting with Jordan and the team.

Good post you made me laugh. My wife asked what are you laughing at and as usual the answer was a post in Billiken.com.

Lets hope he doesn't like hookers

Haha haha. Ok

Chapley has never broken any news. He is anything but inside.

Just report the news. He hasn’t earned the right for me to give a about his opinions. 9/10 times we already heard it from Stu. I respect the passion but it’s rarely anything new.

I really like Carter, but I understand why some people wouldn’t like him. That being said, Carter writes/tweets about the Billikens 1000% more than Stu does. I like Stu too, but if he isn’t currently working in a story, he completely disappears. But I’d bet you can find at least as much genuine Billikens info by reading this board as you could following Stu and Carter combined.

It no wonder why we don’t have a Rivals writer cause of A-holes always attacking our insider writers. Give them a damn break or do it yourself.

The story out of KU tonight is McKissic wanted to commit to the Jayhawks today but they were not ready to bring him on yet. They have their eyes on TyTy Washington and McKissic would need to wait for that situation to play out 1st. KU feels confident about a few of their recruits and would rather have a multi year commit over a one year. It’s not a shot at McKissic, but many pieces would need to fall for him to be in Lawrence next season. The current offer he received was not a commitable offer.

He’s the best Person who covers the Bills. I have no problem with this

Or French. He lives 70 miles from Syracuse. Just sayin'.

That would be the “not encouraging” that I was thinking surrounding not getting a Summit league transfer.

Maybe I’m missing something about McKissic, but if he doesn’t come to SLU, whatever. I’m sure he’d be a nice add to SLU, but I’m not going to get discouraged by it if he goes somewhere else. If this is the big “not encouraging news” for SLU fans, I’ll take that as a win.

Because the Romar era was such a resounding success for SLU? I wouldn't rank youth or charisma as good indicators of future coaching success. Enthusiasm is certainly important, but a coach can be enthusiastic at any age. We've have more NCAA Tournament bids, have played in more NCAA Tournament games, and have more NCAA Tournament wins under Chris May than any other AD in school history.

I don’t know if we have enough briefcases in stock to compete with KU.

Stu is

I fully agree that Romar was NOT one of our better coaches and I don't subscribe to him being close to some great West Coast pipeline for us. Romar lacked the contacts, and I suggest experience, and did exactly what RM said was the worst thing you can do -- come in second place on recruits. At the same time, Romar had been a young charismatic coach who had some good years and good teams at Washington in his backyard - the West Coast and PAC 10. At the same time, are you saying that Romar was not good for us so therefore all young coaches are bad? I hope not. And no, young, charismatic coaches does not mean greater success but also does not mean worse. At the same time, Chris May knew that he had an old school, abusive coach stuck in the 1980's who had never won much as a coach. Are you disagreeing with this statement? Chris May knew the players did not relate to him or respect him. Are you disagreeing with this statement? And Chris May kept quiet while the team won despite Crews and underperformed b/c of him. Are you disagreeing with this? And Chris May used the success of being the Interim head coach for RM's stacked team as the criteria to hire Jim Crews as our permanent head coach. Do you think that was a good test? Maybe a better test would have been how Crews could teach and recruit his own players: Lancona, Agbeko, Crawford... Yes, before Ford, our better coaches have been older guys at the end of their careers: Spoon and RM as opposed to Brad and Romar. And yes, best man for the job of any age, any race, etc.; however, when faced with a guy like Crews - yes, I would have gone with anything I could in a different direction. I remember rumors or our players and recruits (J Love and Marquee Perry) re-thinking SLU after Charlie left but they stayed b/c of Romar. And then the players wanted Brad when Romar left, and they stayed. And no one left when Brad was fired. And likewise, I doubt our team would have broke up and the guys left for different directions before their Senior had we named someone other than the National Coach of the Year. And as to the winning success under Chris May, RM and Travis Ford can make an AD look good but longevity may be just as big of a factor. And you do know that many of the best AD's leave basketball only schools for those with basketball AND football. Debbie Yow was great and Cheryl Levick would have been really good too... but for Fr. Biondi.

None. The argument was we needed to hire Crews to keep the team together. We did hire Crews, the team stayed together but my point is that the team would have stayed together with someone else as well. Then, maybe we win more... and we don't have the subsequent disaster years.