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That is correct. The NCAA had started its own championship several years earlier. In the early years of the NCAA championship, the good teams all still went to the NIT, because it was the known commodity and it was a big deal to go to NYC at the end of the season for the NIT tournament. By 1948, things were in sort of a gray area. Within a year or two after 1948, the NCAA tournament was clearly exhibiting the best competition. In 1948, SLU won the NIT and Kentucky won the NCAA tournament. Teams in the 8 team NCAA tournament were Kentucky, Columbia, Holy Cross, Michigan, Kansas State, Wyoming, Baylor, and Washington. Teams in the 8 team NIT tournament were SLU, NC State, DePaul, Texas, NYU, Bowling Green, LaSalle and Western Kentucky State. The best argument we have regarding why SLU won the national championship in 1948 has to do with how the teams were ranked the following season. I realize that teams the following year were different, but looking at the rankings shows the strength of the fields the two teams played. Also, I should note that the AP NCAA basketball poll taken at the beginning of the 48-49 season was the first ever AP ranking. In that first ever AP basketball ranking, SLU was #1 and Kentucky was #2. That is interesting in and of itself, but looking further down the list provides more. Western Kentucky State (48 NIT team) was #3. Holy Cross (48 NCAA team) was #14. Bowling Green (48 NIT team) was #15, and NYU (48 NIT team) was #20. There were only 20 spots in that first poll. So, of the 20 teams ranked in the 1st ever AP poll, four had gone to the NIT the year before and two had competed in the NCAA tournament. One final note, that I think seals the argument. By the end of the 1948-49 season, Kentucky was ranked #1 in the AP. SLU was ranked #3. Guess where Kentucky went that year? After finishing #1 in the AP poll, Kentucky participated in both the NCAA and NIT tournaments. They won the NCAA tournament and, still to this day, claim that they had back to back national championships. However, they lost in their first game in the NIT that year to Loyola Chicago. I think its crazy to claim you won the national championship in a year where you lost in the 1st round of the NIT. I know why they claim it as a championship. I just don't think it is legitimate. I think it also helps prove which tournament was stronger at the time. Moral of the story: SLU was the national champion in 1948.

-and the banner in the arena should proclaim such

I love this Forrester kid. He said all the right things.

SLU has released its Fall Schedule and, as usual, it’s good: https://slubillikens.com/sports/womens-soccer/schedule Non-Conference: Home: Arkansas, Notre Dame, Nebraska, SIUE. Road: Drake, UMKC, Missouri State, Xavier Conference: Home: Loyola Chicago, George Mason, Rhode Island, VCU, St. Joes. Road: Lasalle, Richmond, Duquesne, UMass, Dayton. …………………… Some Highlights include: Arkansas is the 3 time SEC Regular Season Champions. (this will likely be club night) They advanced to the Elite 8 this past season. In doing so, they defeated Notre Dame 3-2 in the NCAA Round of 16 to get there. They were a number 2 NCAA seed. Notre Dame was a number 3 NCAA seed. Both schools are recruiting at high levels as well, to be among the NCAA’s best, moving forward. Xavier is the defending Big East Regular Season Champions, something they have won multiple times the past few years. Nebraska had wins this past season over Mizzou, Baylor, Loyola Chicago, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota. They had only one loss of more than one goal on the season, playing in the rugged Big 10. SIUE has won the OVC Tournament each of the past 2 seasons, advancing to the NCAA Tourney. New A10 team, Loyola Chicago, won the last 4 straight MVC Regular Season and Tourney Titles. ………….. SLU will open with two exhibitions, home for Lindenwood, and at Evansville. Non-Conference opponents include teams from the ACC, Big East, Big 10, MVC, OVC, SEC.

The second leading score for MU goes to SLU, the leading scorer for MSU goes to MU. Interesting musical chairs in the state.

Would love so see Ramey + Bell win in the B12 together

“Hair Jordan” makes buckets.

They need to put up a banner for the NCAA Elite 8 appearance, too.

Good grief, that defense. For real, though, if Kizer can shoot like that he might be worth a hard look. I like the Mid-Pro (AAU) trio of Kizer, recent PG offer Brock Harding, and wing Ty Pence. They're a lot of fun. Pence is a kid I wish we'd recruited a bit harder earlier on.

14:55 mark

you're all probably right, but i will wait and see. as an experienced billiken fan i say we are the masters of the bad luck syndrome and nothing is as expected. and no way i would put a out for a year guy on an expected all league team without seeing him even play again.