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I haven't done a full-scale update in a while. Here are all the former Billikens suiting up overseas this season. Kwamain Mitchell - In his 11th season as a pro. He is playing this season for CSO Voluntari in the Romanian National League, the top league in Romania. This is his 2nd season in this league. Voluntari is currently 11-4 in the Romanian League and 5-1 in the North Atlantic multi-country league. Mitchell is coming off the bench but getting good minutes. In league play, he is averaging 10 points, 4 assists, 2 boards, and a steal. In NABL play he is averaging 9 points, 5 assists, 2 boards, and 2.5 steals a game. Awards in Mitchell’s career 2014 Czech Republic All Star & League MVP 2015 Polish League Hon Mention All League 2016 Latvian League Champion, League MVP, Finals MVP 2017 French ProB Finals 2018 French Pro All League Hon Mention 2019 Russia Superleague MVP, Regular Season Champion 2020 Russia Superleague MVP, Regular Season Champion 2021 Adriatic League All League 2nd Team 2021 Serbian League All League 2nd Team, League Champion 2022 Swiss League All League 2nd Team, League Champion Ian Vougioukas - He’s back. 38-year-old Ian hasn’t played in nearly 2 years but signed with the Greek Tier 2 League Panionios Athens. He is working his way into the lineup and is averaging 6 points & 4 boards in 13 games. Panionios is 12-4 on the season, 1st place in the Greek Elite league. This is Ian’s 16th season as a pro. Reggie Agbeko - Agbeko is starring in the Norwegian League for the Tromso Storm. The Storm are in 4th placein the league with a 13-8 record, Agbeko is the starting center and averaging 17 ppg, 11 rpg on 58% shooting. He was the Player of the week the first week of the season, when he had back-to-back games of 21/19 & 26/13. Javon Bess - Bess is playing for 10-5 fifth place Wuerzburg in the German BBL. Bess is averaging 10 ppg and 5 boards as a starting forward. This is Bess’ 2nd season playing in the BBL. Dwayne Evans - Evans stars for 15-15 Hiroshima Dragonflies in the Japan B1 league. This is Evans' 2nd season with the Dragonflies and his 4th season in Japan. He is currently averaging 15 ppg, 8 rpg, and 3 apg. Evans is a multi-time All Star in the league and has been on all-league teams all 3 seasons he has completed. DJ Foreman - Foreman appears to be injured currently. He was playing for Cordon in the Uruguayan League, averaging 8 points and 4 boards in 5 games but he hasn’t played since November. This was Foreman’s 2nd year playing in Uruguay after starting his career in Iceland. Last season Foreman was a star in Uruguay, averaging 17 and 8 for Larranaga and was recognized as an All-league player. Jake Forrester - Plays for Artland in the 2nd tier German ProA league. Artland is 4-14 but Forrester has done well his first season. A consistent starter at forward he is averaging 10 & 6 while shooting 57% playing 18 minutes a game. Demarius Jacobs - Currently playing in the top league in Cypruss for 10-3 4th place Apoel in his first pro season. Jacobs is averaging 10 ppg, 4 apg, and 3 rpg. Jalen Johnson - Also in his first pro season, Johnson is in Portugal playing for Alianca Sangalhos in the 2nd tier Portuguese league. Johnson is faring well averaging 19 ppg and over 8 rebounds, both top 10 in the league for his 7-5 squad. Marten Linssen - Plays in the same league as Forrester. 2nd year playing in German ProA. Linssen now plays for Trier, the top team in the league. He’s in a backup role averaging 6 ppg and 3 boards. Linssen and Forrester will only play each once, on 3/9. Rob Loe - Loe currently plays for Melbourne in the Aussie NBL. Melbourne is in 1st place in the NBL and Loe has been a steady backup center averaging 6 & 5. Melbourne is led by former NBA star Matthew Dellavadova. Loe had a rough time playing with injuries during COVID but has rebuilt his career quite well. He played in the NBL finals in 2022, averaged 15 & 9 for NZ in the Asian FIBA World Cup Qualifiers last year, then went on to win MVP & Defensive POTY in the New Zealand NBL, leading his team to the league finals averaging a stunning 19 ppg, 11 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks while shooting 39% from 3 before going to Melbourne. Francis Okoro - Okoro started off the year in France, but left Rouen after 5 games. He averaged 6 and 4 there. He has now caught on with Nevesis in the Lithuanian league and is doing well. Okoro is not starting and averaging 8 and 8. His last game he scored 18 points on 7-7 shooting. Nevesis is 4-14 on the season but 3-4 since inserting Okoro in the lineup. Luis Santos - Santos also plays in the Uruguay league for Aguadado. He dominates the league, he’s the 2 time reigning MVP. This season he is averaging 19 & 13. Santos plays year-round in leagues in Central & South America and the Caribbean and is one of the top players in Latin America. Brian Conklin - Conklin recently signed to play in the Japan B League for 2-28 Iberaki Robots. I haven’t seen that he has played yet but next week the Robots will face off against Evans’ Dragonflies. Conklin is coming off a good season in Mexico for Panteras averaging 11 ppg and 5 boards.

Successful teams come in all shapes and sizes. The problem isn't the size of the guards. The problem is the collective skill set of Coach Ford's teams. You can press with a small team but you need ball hawks. We are in short supply. You can counter length with good passing. We're the worst passing team the conference. You can win on the road but your leaders need to be road warriors. We don't have that either. Even if Meadows would have been healthy all season, his career stats say he's not the 5-6 apg guy we need at the position. Dalger is an effort guy but he's not a ball hawk. Our underclassmen are probably our best defenders but they are our worst offensive players. Jimerson and Hargrove's performance in road games make it almost impossible for us to win against good teams in their building. This season is all about making a run in February when we have some winnable road games. That's all it's ever been about ever since Parker went down 4 games into the season. We have too many weaknesses in the roster that can't be masked against good teams. It's nice that Coach Ford is addressing these weaknesses with recent offers but damn it he should have done a better job of addressing them in the off season.

i beleive that ford recruits himself. waterbug size point guards. yuri, medley, now this kid. never understood him not developing goodwin as the point guard. his advantage size, along with his natural instincts would have been an overall improvement for the team. there are tons of wings out there that could have easily replaced goodwin there.

Ford repeatedly attributed his team’s offensive woes to VCU’s “length.” Good he’s pursuing a 5-10 JUCO who can dribble through people’s legs for easy buckets.

“make another thread calling out Chris May, but couch it in ‘genuine’ concern for his well-being”

I want to know who signed off on giving Travis Ford his annual salary and buyout? That contract could be one of the dumbest/worse in all of sports right now. I think this is a valid ask too. IF Chris May recommended that Fred and BoT should sign off, he 100% needs to get fired too. I don’t care if he’s healthy or not, May could be in greatest shape of his life and running marathons each week, if he’s behind this mess, he’s gotta go with Travis. I hear buyout is anywhere from $5-7 million! Which slu has to pay to get rid of Ford. Yet, you have programs like baseball, softball, field hockey, track, tennis, swimming all under funded and counting pennies for their budgets. How is this acceptable? If he as the AD was on board with Travis Ford contract, plus hiring Crews, how is he allowed to hire a third coach? Please give me one good reason why he has earned that responsibility? CC not paid off, ALL students still can’t eat there, just soccer and basketball, that was a lie, dropped ball on Big East, hired Crews, hired Ford, no NIL money raised or real plan except I bet hope one or two “big” donors step up and save the day (my guess but I bet I’m right). We need an AD that takes program in a more focused, strategic, business savvy, creative, successful direction. Chris May isn’t that guy.

He needs to be gone permanently!

You have to sell what you know, right?

Ford guarding the perimeter better than the team.

I don’t get it. Shaka Smart did a double- team the other night. They need to be liberal with the coaching box, but then enforce it. On the court, during play, should be an automatic T.

They should have to coach the rest of the game from the locker room… ridiculous

Oh, it’s as bad in real time.

lol I need to see this Archie video. No way it looks as bad as this still. Also, Ford wasn’t trying to disrupt Bennet’s shot, he was telling him to ask Grant if he can have a job on his staff next season.

Nate Oats is really lucky the Mizzou kid didn’t punch him the other day.

That’s the other way to get coaches off of the court. Imagine a Bonner type throwing one punch at an opposing head coach, they’d no doubt stay off of the court going forward seeing a peer wheeled off on a stretcher. It’s just so bizarre to see, almost like another defender at times. In general, head coaches are allowed to act like complete maniacs and I will never understand how it is just accepted.

I would welcome the players pushing back if the coaches get out of line.

Women beat GW 66-56. McMakin 21, Kennedy 20 points. Had some ups and downs but a nice road win.

What does a turtle do when it is under attack - hide in its shell

Gordon calling T Ford and asking for a second chance.

I was teaching in London one semester, years ago, when my kids were young. We signed our boys up to play with one of the local youth "football" teams (our older son had some talent, but we're talking about when they were still under 10 years old). Fulham was still in one of the lower divisions at the time. My older son's team was selected to play a scrimmage during halftime of one of their games. What a great experience and great memory. He can say that he's actually played on the field at Craven Cottage. The Billiken connection makes the memory even more special.