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I'm sick of the negativity. Look at Jimerson. He's not even the best player on the team. We have two big time stars and two of the top scorers in the NCAA coming back next season. We have the best big man in the A10. We have a couple awesome two way players in Pickett and Thatch. We have the human highlight film Hargrove. We have another sniper in Sincere Parker working into the rotation. Parker scored the MOST POINTS in JUCO last season and he won't start for us. We have two nice freshman in Thames and Kramer hungry to push for PT. We have Larry Legend JR walking on!!! Most talented walk on since Jeff Leuchtefeld. We need 2 guards who can handle the ball and compete for playing time with the freshman. We need a serviceable backup big, maybe 2. You think Ford isn't going to bring in impact transfers? What year hasn't he done this? This is a team that will still contend for the A10 championship and make the NCAA tournament. We have 6 guys and counting all from the STL. The city will be behind this team. Forget about all the rest of the BS. When we win, which we will, all that will take care of itself.

Also this video scared the shite out of me when it dropped

It's MBM speculation. We've advanced to the third stage of grief -- bargaining.

I sincerely hope we are NOT doing this. If SLU taught me anything, it is the importance of the Jesuit values and being "Men and Women for others." I love SLU basketball and want them to win more than I want most things. However, there is more to life than winning. I may be in the minority, but I'd rather see SLU be mediocre and ethical.

Huh? I ain’t buying this higher level competition crap. In the OOC he gets shots against the bigs. And if he’s NBA material he’s good enough to lead his high mid major team to the dance. Larry Bird came from a mid but led them to a Final 2 game. It’s what the scouts see in YOUR game not who you’re playing. The NBA had had plenty of mid major players who have made it playing against lesser competition. And today from top to bottom the competition is better than ever before. I am not buying that scout thing about show us against a higher level. Total BS.

A PG equal to or better than Jones (who was solid to be fair), Jimerson, Perkins, Thatch, Okoro, Parker, Hargrove, and 2 depth pieces is still a sweet 16 level team. Convince me I'm wrong

Not me. I'm not on Twitter and not that big of an ass. I've been lurking and not signing in or posting for a good long while as it's better for my mental heath. Thanks and good bye again.

When it comes to basketball, I just want to win. I don't care how the sausage is made.

coach, i have grown to like your billikens.com participation, but the last few days you sound more and more like the street agents so many of us detest. this response has a tone that is patronizing and sarcastic and it seems like you condone all that has went on with this whole collins clustermess. crymdg has provided the context where ford details the gray area action by unethical programs that seems to fit this whole thing. and your comment is "sounds good"? what does that mean? why do you even bother to respond if that is your comment? look i think most of us dont blame yuri for the end result. my gosh it's likely more money then he ever imagined if the rumored figure is correct. our real issue is the whole way it was handled and the disrespect and non courtesy collins showed to coach ford, saint louis university, the rest of the coaching staff, the great fans of the billikens. it was not the way to handle this and all concerned deserved better than that. imo, it is unfixable. at this point collins should probably just go ahead and head to tennessee and not look back. we as billiken fans are somewhat used to being treated as such so we will all survive. but for him to expect a ticker tape parade if he indeed does change his mind for some ungodly reason (that reason might have a good deal of zeroes attached) well it isnt going to happen imo. to the rest of the billiken fandom. help a common mbm out. why in the world do these young players think it is needed to publish their intent on twitter, or instagram or wherever for all the world to see? why dont they just transact the "negotiations" privately and when it is a definite ending, then at that point if you want to publish your little goodbye letter heartlessly explaining your decision and result and hollow thanks and apology for all everyone did for you? instead all this venom that has been heaped upon the player surely is understood. the player brought it on himself. not that it wouldnt have come out later, but you wouldnt have subjected yourself to all that leading up to the end. maybe that was the intent? generate enough bad blood you have more of a reason to turn and run? dont matter you got the money. that's all that mattered right?

I think that's [redacted]. EDIT: He says it isn't him so I untagged him. I'm sure he's not the only one. I just assume there's a lot of it out there and try to ignore it. There is nothing to be gained from directing negativity at these players. Bridges can be burned, other players see it, recruits see it, coaches might see it - it adds up to a bad look for your fan base. It's also why I never participate in the "tool" thing when recruits go elsewhere. I normally tweet something positive. Again, guys remember bad/good vibes from places. If you're going to put something in writing or video/audio recording, be positive or say nothing. If you're going to be critical, be constructive and find the right tone - although I don't have faith in most people on social media to be capable of this. It's fine to be disappointed. Don't attack.

I went back and watched Sports Plus where Frank sat down with Ford on April 10th. Watching it now, the knife twists a little further. Like most have said, this process with Yuri has been going on for some time: Frank [regarding SLU current players] : "Do you have to constantly call and check in with them with the options and power they have? " Ford "Well, what's unfortunate is that you have some college head coaches and staffs that will call your players even if they're not in the portal. I totally disagree with that. That's not something I allow my coaches to do so you've got to be on top of those types of things because when you have good players people are going to come after them unfortunately. They do that in the wrong way at times.

Jay Wright took the Yuri news pretty badly.

Rammer on with Frank C today Courtney Ramey will get paid. He is talking to Kansas, Illinois, and Gonazga. Can SLU compete? Will any of the other teams give him the ball and tell him to run the team? He would get the 'keys to the team' here but not likely at the other three. Would he take a little less $ to be 'the PG guy' in his hometown. He has been away from STL for 4 years. Is coming home a positive issue? He does work out with Drew Hanlen here in town. He will go where he gets paid the most. Rammer: don't call it NIL, as the players don't have to do anything with their Name, Image or Likeness to pick up the check. The SLU NIL system will use Enterprise Bank behind the scenes. SLU 8 man rotation: Okoro, Perkins, Jimerson, Pickett, the PG TBN and then Thatch, Parker and Hargrove. Thatch can guard anyone. He was a "2" last season who guarded 4's. Position numbers are dated and don't mean what they used to. Thatch can do anything. Look at the Golden State Warriors play small. You put your best five out there. Frank talked with an SEC coach (likely football) who said it is important that every team member get a cut of the NIL. Would O'Loughlin want to carve out some of the $25M for the new center and give it to a player fund? They have already started constructions, so it is doubtful any of the donors would pull out now. Brock Bonner, Anthony's son, 13 yr old at 6'6" is learning ball handling skills. He isn't on the block.

when they said that rich was complimentary to mi$$ouri, i knew it wasnt you. you and i have always been on that same wave length! good to see you alive and well rich!

Wonder why NBA scouts didn’t tell Smith he should move to a P5 for better competition.

I have no problem with Yuri's choice. I have no connection to any of these local kids in terms of being an advisor or influencing their decisions. I coached Javonte and Javon. But that was over a decade ago. I still chat with Javonte occasionally...he was one of my favorite players. I get it. You guys want a successful program that can be tournament bound every year. In the pursuit of doing that, they brought in Gordon and Nesbitt despite the red flags. The staff knew about Gordon's issues and his baggage. They knew about how it ended at Memphis under Penny with Nesbitt. Getting mad because Yuri ended it with a text doesn't even compare. But it is interesting the behaviors some will tolerate as long as it benefits them. The staff made a choice that they felt was best for them. Yuri has done the same...and he has that right. If you want the program to be a top 25 program.. players transferring are going to be something that the staff will have to factor in. How they build a team will have to change. Every transfer won't be just the ones you "love" but don't mind losing. As for this gray area that they allegedly don't cross...they have. I typed sounds good because I thought it was funny that he would say that.

If I was another player on the team and realized Yuri got all this money because he threatened to leave, I'd be pissed. I would guess this would be bad for team chemistry...

Noooooo

I mean if we’re being genuine here and we all know what we’re talking about, Lillard wasn’t an NBA guy when he got to Weber State. He built himself up to that at that level. He didn’t transfer up. He got better at that level and was a lottery pick because if you can play, they find you edit - when are we/local hoops Twitter going to stop pretending this is about anything but money? This was going to be a top 20 team. Top 20 teams play big games against good teams. The non-con is full of HM opponents. Then (obviously) the tournament. The biggest stage of all. I’ll support my man Yuri until (god forbid) he chooses to go to a different team, but to pretend that this is about anything other than going and getting six figures is naive. Or people are lying to themselves to diminish this level of basketball. It’s lazy and insulting

Everyone make sure you are following our guys on Twitter and liking/retweeting their stuff. Everything helps.

I think we're looking into the video a little too much.....

bc his agent didn't help push the agenda

He's more of a high usage combo guard I think rather than a point

I also want to see Gus Phelps's head spin when both us and Dayton have a Malachi Smith on the roster.

Or in denial.

I have an incredible amount of faith that we will find a PG who can give us contribution, Im not worried. I'm far more worried abut losing another player(not that im saying we will). Heck I'll be honest, im more worried about finding a good back up big than a PG. PG's who are *aware* of our situation should be lining up.

I'm just as angry if not angrier than anybody, but let's not get carried away...Yuri Collins is really fuoking good at basketball. One of the best PGs in the nation and had he stayed (**if he stays?) in St. Louis he would be (**will be?) competing for recognition as the #1 at his position. I still believe that to be true.

I get criticizing guys for their play (I recognize that Williams didn’t provide what we hoped) but I don’t get going after their character. I don’t personally know Rashad but we do have mutual friends and he is very well liked not just by his teammates but by everyone around him.

Now that we’re eliminating the headcases and locker room cancers from the roster, not that I think Strickland, Lorentsen, or Traore were any of those, hope they’ll consider scheduling one of the 3 or 4 game preseason trips to see what we’ve got and work on team chemistry.

Terrible. Not even close. Kroenke is a scoundrel with no soul who sold us all out when we tried every trick we had in the book to placate him and he knew it. He is scum. He will never be welcome in this town, and like someone said earlier I'd throw my drink at him if I had one, glass and all. Yuri who?

On our last tourney team, our point guard was who? Isabell 3.6 apg or Goodwin 3.4 apg? We didn't have a classical point guard at 7.9 apg, but we had four pretty darn good offensive players with Bess, Isabell, Goodwin and French. No reason we can't have a great team without Yuri. We don't need Yuri to be a great team with Perkins, Jimerson, Okoro and take your pick - Parker, Thatch, or TBD.

One guy married a Walton broad and then got richer by f-ing people over with impunity like a strip mall Daniel Plainview. The other is a ~21 year old struggling to find his place in this world. As much as Yuri might disappoint us, he's not Stan Kroenke.

I wouldn’t throw my drink at yuri if I came across him in public, so not the same.

Oh I know. I have no issue with him leaving. It's not at all comparable.

Except Scouts don't really say this. Never really have. They have this thing called analytics now that can measure your value as a player against any competition. They also have a thing called Synergy where they can see every play a player has ever made at the college level. It isn't a disagreement because this "I need better competition" is complete fiction.

St. Mary’s is 12 grand a year. I don’t know his financial situation but I wouldn’t make any guess based on his high school.

In a word, No.

Updates on some transfer names the staff has been following: -Jerrell Colbert (LSU) - Committed to K-State -Kasen Harrison (Lamar) - Committed to Winthrop -Dexter Dennis (Wichita State) - Visited Indiana, going to visit Clemson now -Grant Basile (Wright State) - Visiting Notre Dame and Wisconsin -Zach Wrightsil (Loyola-New Orleans) - Committed to Marquette -Carlton Linguard (K-State) - Committed to UTSA -Norchad Omier (Arkansas State) - Visited Miami and Florida State, heading to Texas Tech and Georgetown next -John Camden (Memphis) - Down to LSU and Virginia Tech -Tyler Beard (Georgetown) - Visiting Pacific, also considering Murray State -Juwan Gary (Alabama) - Just visited Nebraska, looks like it's between them and South Carolina -Morris Udeze (Wichita State) - Narrowed his list to Maryland, Virginia Tech, Ole Miss, Texas, LSU, New Mexico, UNLV, Georgia Tech -Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Tennessee) - Visiting SMU, Auburn, Louisville, Arizona State, Wake Forest

One thing that has to help us in the transfer portal: Ford just developed a 3* nobody into the best assist man in the country and a transfer up. From not hitting an FTs and barely any 3s, to an all around decent scorer and obviously, a floor runner. Who would not want to develop into that?

All three players made the NBA. Two are currently starring in the NBA. How about Steph Curry? I live in the same census designated place where Steph Curry used to live (or Steph might have technically been across the street in the neighboring city) before the Golden State Warriors moved from Oakland back across the Bay to San Francisco. Steph Curry played for Davidson College, then in the Southern Conference, and Davidson is now in the Atlantic 10, the same conference as SLU, and still has the same coach, Bob McKillop, who coached Steph Curry. Steph Curry is the prototypical NBA point guard, who literally revolutionized the game. He reached the NBA from Davidson College, not from the Power 5 and not from an SEC football school. Any claim that a player cannot reach the NBA from a school outside the Power 5 is simply without merit. If a player is good enough, the NBA will know about said player, and the NBA will find him. Plus, SLU played LSU two seasons ago and played Auburn last season, is expected to play at Auburn this coming season. Both are in the SEC, strong competition.

My heart dropped at first.

The way I look at this is as a business decision. If you were earning 50k per year working in St. Louis and a different company offered you 200k a year to do the same job for them in Tennessee, how many of us would turn it down out of loyalty to either our current employer or St Louis? I wouldn’t and I suspect neither would most of the other people on this board. Now is the time for the current employer to offer the same to keep their employee in St Louis. Yuri can’t turn this down. It may be the most he will ever earn playing basketball. He is not an NBA player and can’t make that kind of money in the G league. Whether he could make it overseas is up for debate, but he may not want to go overseas.

Honestly don't think I want him to stay anyway. He made his decision. Rather not beg him to come back but I guess we will.... Let him go. He had his chance to cement his legacy. Find someone to replace him.

I should be able to get you in contact with him, if needed.

Willie, you are absolutely right with regard to NIL. It is a legal issue that is out of the NCAA's control. But the related, and compounding issue-immediate eligibility (IE) is under that organization's control. They just don't want to fix it-afraid of the big boys. W/O IE, we would probably be seeing less than 10% of the players changing schools-kind of like just a couple years ago. NIL caused transfers would be very few if "schools" knew that giving $$$ to a player would not help them until after a player sat out for a season. We keep seeing the amount $200K being thrown around with no known facts. But let's assume that figure is right. Do you think TENN would be paying Collins $200K to come and sit out next year? I am pretty sure they would not, so as I see it, it is the IE policy implemented by the NCAA that is the main source of this situation. I think you. or someone early in this thread, suggested limiting IE to situations when a Head Coach leaves. That would certainly much improve this mess.

To be clear, I contacted the Athletic Department inquiring about NIL deals with players. If I am remembering correctly, this would have been some time during the season, but I will add that it has been several months. My basic question at the time was whether or not SLU had any rules relating to NIL and whether or not they could put me in touch with players. As far as my question about the rules, I did not want to start contacting players and cause an issue that could land the program in hot water. I also wanted to confirm whether or not there could be an issue if another business in my industry already had a sponsorship deal with the ADept. Often sponsorship deals will include an exclusivity clause that states that a particular business will be the only - fill in the blank - that can sponsor the program. I realize that sponsoring the ADept and sponsoring a player in an NIL deal are two very different things, but I did not want to be the cause of any problem for the university. I would not say that I was ignored, but it was difficult to get a response out of them at first. There was a lot of phone tag. In the end, I was told that the University and the Athletic Department did not have any rules in place about NIL and could not intervene directly as far as putting me in contact with players. That was the end of the communication. Now that I have read the rules that they have come up with, I believe that the position they took at the time was in line with the rules they just published. They will not intervene or act as any sort of intermediary between players and potential NIL sponsors. I believe that there are probably very valid reasons behind this. I also understand the delay that may have occurred in getting back to me since the rules were probably being worked on during the same time that my phone calls were placed. At the time, my business was just spitballing about this idea. When I explained to my partners that there were not any rules in place for this sort of thing, the initial interest tapered off. We did not want to enter into a deal where the parameters were somewhat unknown and we did not know who we might be causing problems for. Now that there are rules in place, we will have to decide if we are interested again. I would be, but I am not the only person who is a decision maker at my business.

This is what really grinds my gears. Why is their no talk of tampering? If Tennessee is doing it I’m sure other schools are too. Are “mid-major” coaches afraid to bring up tampering with the NCAA? Are they worried that bringing up tampering charges will be used against them later on? Are programs even allowed to make complaints to the NCAA? Has the NCAA just decided to completely turn a blind eye?

I’d like to change my vote.

This transfer b.s. will be the end of college basketball as I think us Hardcores love it. It's changing for the worse and this one will prove it