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Just secured my first year of season tickets for the billikens. While it sucks that Javonte lost this year to injury, I was a billikens fan before, and will be a billikens fan after. THIS WILL BE A GREAT YEAR FOR BILLIKEN BASKETBALL!

Perkins going down hurts I feel terrible for him and his teammates. That said I think it helps that this happened now as opposed to game 10. It gives them more practice time without their all conference stud. A loss of Perkins caliber in the middle of the season can completely derail a team. Happening in preseason game 1 gives them plenty of time to regroup and have a NCAA tourney season.

Was nervous for most of the second half, til the late tying goal. Women worked hard all game. Deserved a much larger margin of victory. mhg

was indeed gorgeous.

Billiken Women win 2-1 on a golden goal in the 2nd OT on a gorgeous header off a corner!

Japan has really stepped up the last few years to bring in high level import talent. They now pay players up to a million a year and base pay for import players is well into 6 figures. Average pay for imports is 200-400k. Very competitive with any league in the world. They lured Nick Fazekas to play there, he's been one of the best euro players for the past decade. It is a very veteran league. Their imports are pros, most have at a minimum 6-7 years of experience. Justin Harper, Isaac Fotu, Perry Ellis, Josh Harrellson, Brice Johnson, are some players you might know. There is a significant gap in ability between the Japanese players and the imports. I would say their imports are better than Australia but the rest of the league is not. I would think an average Aussie team should beat a Japanese team. Hats off to Evans. He's had the most stable and lucrative career overseas of any of the Majerus players.

Jordan was on loan to Swansea City. Let's see how he does in the next two games. With Reyna out, and Pulisic TBD, we may need his energy off the bench. This is Mexico we are talking about.

SLU #14

For those that think that Coach Ford and the staff can only recruit, and cannot coach, I throw the gauntlet down. This team has now lost its top 3 players from last season. Let's break that down. We lost our top 3 rebounders (Perkins was 3rd). We lost our top two shot blockers (Perkins was tied for 2nd). We lost our top three minutes guys. We lost our top 3 point shooter (Perkins with 38 made). Goodwin, French, and Perkins scored 838 of our 1507 points last season (56%). If Ford gets this team to 20 wins, no one should ever complain about his coaching again. I don't care how much hope we have and potential the players have, the above numbers don't lie. Go prove the naysayers wrong, Coach Ford.

But can he do it over a trash can?