billiken_roy

you dont deserve the moniker of one of the greatest billikens ever. not with your attitude. what did jill run over your dog or steal your boyfriend or something?

the problem is that no one including frericks with the exception of saturday nite, has shown a "i am so much better" performance to send ross to the bench. therefore the tie breaker more or less is attitude, knowledge, practice habits, etc go to ross for p.t. if any of you know the secret to waking justin johnson up to play up to his wonderful potential, please e-mail brad so he can utilize your secret to coaching that dynamite in a bottle that cant apparently be opened.

ace, at the last billiken club meeting angres told us what was holding justin back was his practice habits. so taken from that and simply from the fact that justin is obviously the best athlete of ALL of our inside players, what else could it be? but i guess technically since i was not in the coaches meetings or the pre-game huddle i would be speculating. while i want to see he younger more talented players develop, i think what most of you are missing is that for that talent to actually "be developed" it isnt going to happen by showing up for the games only. they have to develop the attitude and focus that brad is preaching day in and day out every second of his practice. if they dont, they are not going to develop. granted they might give us better immediate results on the floor, but i agree with brad's "tough love" approach. what else does he have to motivate them?

if so, what did lisch do?

go look at the schedule the billikens played during ekker times and the rosters the billikens used. imo while it has not been a constantly moving up arrow, the long term trend continues to be on the rise. remember, we play a much tougher schedule than bonner and company played or claggett and company played. as much as we complain about our talent, the fact is from the end of he bench to the first player, this is still a more talented roster than what we say even with our top teams. spoon was famous for having a 7 man team. same with grawer. the next 5 players in those years were nothing. not saying that phillip hunt and ross varner are nba hopefuls, but they at least have use. and our other bench warmers, justin johnson and darren clarke are extreme potentials. the billikens have continued to improve. the problem is that our competition has gotten better at an equal or even a greater rate. still i dont know if rpi for example was around in the bonner days, but you want to bet that bonner's very good team's rpi would have been worse than our billikens from last year?

it makes me wonder if the coaches have given up on trying to get justin's attention. my gosh, after 15 months he still doesnt understand he has to play hard all the time? that's a problem.

baller said, "rome was not built in a day, week, or year." everyone needs to keep that in mind when watching the billiken program progress. remember we will not cut corners.

john, wasnt the top ten for 2003 not about the best, but about the most newsworthy? perry had a great year, but as we all know the media has ignored the positives of the billikens for years so why expect anything less. besides, i dont know if i want marque mentioned on the same list with the likes of snyder, clemons, tino martinez etc. imo, most of those on the list were there for negative reasons not good.

cheeseman said, "Varner can not hit a foul shot to save himself" have you watched frericks shoot free throws? right now our inside players are not the players we want shooting free throws period. so you cant pick on ross for that without mentioning the others as well. cheesman said, "if he continues to play 20-22 minutes a game, then he will be in there during critical times and he end up hurting us" i said he should be limited to around 15 minutes per game and those appearances would be to give sloan and frericks their needed middle of he halves breaks. i agree i dont want him in the game at the end either. that said, at this point i dont want johnson in the game at the end as well. frericks and sloan got to stay out of foul trouble so they are there down the stretch. cheeseman said, "His rebounding is weak and he gets beat or has to the ball or has it taken away from him by the other team on a consisten basis." well again, until frericks stepped up the other nite, i dont think you can say that anyone else playing inside didnt fit into that description as well. cheeseman said, "He can set a screen but he is slow to pass the ball when he is outside so sometimes we miss an opportunity for an open 3pt shot because by the time he passes it the defender has recovered and is on our once open man. Too much down side with him in the game - period." actually, he one of the things ross does well is come to the ball when there is a problem finding an open man. watch and see how often when there is a pass to the wing and that wing has no options and the screener has to step out to get the ball ross does it and frericks and johnson do not. i agree he isnt a larry bird type passing forward, but he knows the game and makes safe decisions imo. cheeseman said, "If Brad wants to play him to go in and hack people than fine but if left in too long then his weaknesses will be exploited and we will be hurt." i totally agree with the point that varner should not be left in the game for long stretches. i have said on numerous occasions if he comes in for 3 minute stints to give frericks and sloan breaks, comes in and throws himself around, maybe hit a 3 or knock a pass away and then gets out of there. i think he actually would be an assett. but if left in for 10 minute stretches, the opposing coach will have time to focus on his slow feet and attack him. that is where he really becomes a liability. again, i dont understand the attacks on a player that is out there giving his all and doing what he can and reacting as the coaches tell him to, when we have superior athletes that are sitting out because of no focus, stupid fouls, turnovers, etc. the emotions should be directed at frericks, izik, johnson and clarke as they are the players that are underachieving and holding the team back from reaching the potential the billikens have.

actually ross while he didnt add to the bottom line much in his 4-5 trips into the game, i thought he gave credible defense and pick work while in there that allowed the needed breather for frericks, sloan and izik to come back strong. that is exactly how i would use ross. only maybe cut his stints by one or two minutes each time to give him about 12-15 minutes for the entire game. imo, he would be effective with that. you do make the correct point about frericks though. he was fantastic last nite. let's hope he keeps it up. he is one of the difference makers on this team imo.

explain how justin johnson would have won those 4 games or how one player lost those 4. there are other players that underachieved more so than ross did in those losses imo. ross is ross. isnt going to get much better. but had some of our better players stepped up to there higher ability potential in those losses there is the real chance to win. there is where the focus should be not ross varner.

it is obvious that justin is a better athlete. but brad has made the decision that justin has to put out in practice to get the times. until he does, he sits. what amazes me is that it is now going on what 15 months? justin still hasnt figured out that he busts his butt in practice he plays.

reggie's shot sure is something to behold. is he the best shooter since claggett on the billikens? i think so. in fact, i am not sure he isnt better, plus he drives better than claggett as well. closer to a better shooting love. love was stronger, but even as good of a shooter that love was, reggie is a better shooter.

my guess is that brad was going to use only 8 players assuming no foul trouble no matter what. he was probably making a point. which he did imo. not sure i agree with it as i love the upside of clarke and johnson, but he has to stick to his guns or his word is worthless with his players.

while josh may not get the ball to frericks directly from the top of the key, i remember 4 very nice passes that josh had to frericks and izik last nite on drives to the basket that he passed off to them. izik missed one and frericks missed one when he was fouled. frericks converted the other two. so half of josh's assists last nite were on passes to the inside. also, i purposely watched josh on drives last nite since a few of you made a big deal about saying he doesnt go right. while it is obvious he would rather go left, he indeed did score once on a drive right and he also went right enough that i wouldnt say he is soley a left hand player. remember, there is nothing wrong with going with your strong hand if you beat your man. in fact if you do or can, you would be foolish NOT to take your man with your strongest stuff. i was upset we put josh back in the game after he turned his ankle. we had the game in hand, why risk agravation? i just didnt get that. in fact he obviously couldnt jump or cut after that so what was the point? izik was having a gold star night, i would have given the time to izik. frericks was fantastic last nite. if frericks does that the rest of the way, that alone might be enough to guide the billikens to a 20 win season. heck that would be all-conference numbers. the problem is that it is really the first time he has had such a dominating night. izik was great defensively last nite. shut down their best player. who'd a thought? now why cant we get that every game? plus, i would bet that izik would also get the scorers touch back as well. another reason the billikens played the best game of the year thus far. now the question is, which izik and frericks are the real one? other points from last night. it is hard to pick out as there have been so many of them, but i truly think that last night might have been guy phillips worst ever. what was with the engagement thing? how many names did he screw up last nite? and the sarcasm towards contestants and the crowd last night was unbearable. why do they think we want that guy behind the microphone? how about the athletic dept taking down the "butler is stoopid" sign? i thought that was great fun. and in reality clever since it came back to the student with the sign with the wrong spelling. and they wonder why the kids dont want to come. anyone else think the high school baby blues were better in all ways? if guy hadnt given that kid the bike i would have been upset. steve, great job on the hardees race? that said, is that the worst promotion in the world? however, it was neat to see thicks honored on the shirt. our own thicks is famous. back to basketball, what was the deal with brad's preseason message on the scoreboard with the goat wiskers? he had them cut off for the game. might have been a different look brad. of course if mrs soderberg didnt like them, you did what you had to do! ;-) drejaj had a nice all around game. man the kid is a battler. i thought brad came closer to using varner correctly last night. still about 8-10 min too much, but if you noticed, it seemed he was only in for bursts to give frericks and sloan breaks. again, highlight of the night for me was the play of frericks and izik. if those two play like that the rest of the year and our 4 tops play as usual, we will be ok.

if marque starts keeping those turnovers in the 2-3 per game range, he will be there.

i saw kevin at the game last nite. he was in the second row behind the billiken bench with his high school coach, greg lieb, and yes, his 8th grade brother, daniel. daniel is fast as hell. maybe faster than kevin was as an 8th grader, but he doesnt have the guts and floor presense kevin had as a grade schooler. in fact, kevin probably isnt the best on his grade school team. patrick young plays wing on his team and has more of the kevin skills than daniel. that said, daniel is a very good player that could turn into something special as well. i did not know the other kid sitting there with them. the other game kevin was at, i was told he was invited in the lockerroom before and after the game to get in on chalk talk. if belleville althoff does get to the semi's against east st louis tueday nite, i would advise those of you wanting to see that game to get there early. there will be a crowd. i am planning to sit on the end in the upper deck. i will be wearing a billiken blue pullover windbreaker if anyone wants to sit and talk hoops during the action. i read this week that shaun livingston turned his knee and may not even make the trip down. that would sure even the competition out a little and give east side and althoff a fighting chance. regardless, for those of you that havent seen livingston play, i have seen him 5x and he is worth the trip alone if you get to see him play. he is one special player. imo, i think duke is actually the perfect place for him to go since he really doesnt care about scoring much. at a place like duke, there will be finishers galore that also like to run the floor. it will be magical. had he went to a lesser school, the odds are they ask him to score more and it just wouldnt be the same. what makes this kid fun to watch is his awesome floor vision and passing.

i would love to go, but my daughter has a tourney game that day i believe. personally i love the town of memphis. great food, and beale street is as fun as any entertainment area i have ever visited. i wish that the conference tourney was still there. maybe next year in our last season in cusa the tourney will be back in memphis. i am pretty sure the louisville/cincy thing runs out this year.

john, just curious, were you by chance sitting next to stu durando at the butler game. as you look at the court, stu was on your right?

slufanskip said when commenting on josh's ability as a point guard, "I don't think he is creative." as my research shows, in the last 15 years, there have only been three players with more assists per game than josh in a season than what josh has averaged this year. let's also not lose sight of the fact that josh is closing in on the billiken all-time assist record for a career. not bad for someone not creative. or does this just say we havent had any point guards to speak of for the last 15 seasons?

belleville althoff is at collinsville high school. they play the first game monday morning at 9 am. then assuming they win, tues at 9 am then assuming they win that, tuesday evening at 7 pm which would probably be against east st louis and tommie liddell. the winner of that game wins the right to get to play peoria central and what i consider the best high school player in the country, duke bound shaun livingston weds after noon.

josh fisher maybe isnt flashy, but he does a very good job. like i said above, there is a big reason that slu does such a great job with turnovers. and josh is it. for every wild exciting play a non-josh fisher point guard might make, there also might be an extra turnover or two as well. i have never been a big eric snow of the sixers fan, mainly because he sent larry out of philly more or less. but the fact is he is a very effective point guard that more than gets the job done. besides the turnovers (or lack of them), josh is shutting down the opposing star on defense. then couple that with the fact that currently for players that have shot at least 30 free throws this year, josh currently ranks 4th in the nation with 95% made. btw, 30 is a lot of free throws apparently at this stage in the season as well, so another aspect he is doing a great job at, getting to the line. i went back the last 15 years and looked at our point guards over that time span. as i suspected, this season for josh is on pace to be a season that can probably only be compared with waldman's two seasons at the point and charlie newberry's senior season. charlie of course played two other seasons as the billiken point guard, but they were no where near his senior season. i am not considering marque last year as a point guard, because he simply did not play there. however he did play point exclusively his freshman and sophomore seasons and split time with josh there his junior season. but even then, those 3 seasons of marque dont compare. here are the previous point guards over the past 15 years which i have somewhat ranked. we could argue the spots down the list forever. but you will see the trends. now tell me, where does josh's current pace of 13.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.9 apg, 2.3 spg, 1.8 topg, 95% ft's 45% fgs and 32% 3's rank? imo, there is little doubt he ranks near if not the top. one note, steve doesnt have the 96 season of stats for us, however i doubt carlos mccauley's return for his senior season at the helm after h's two seasons, would change this argument. player............season..ppg...rpg...apg...spg...topg..ft%...fg%..3% C Newberry.......89-90...12.8...2.9...5.7...1.5...2.8...87...44..41 H Waldman........94-95...11.3...2.4...4.8...2.4...1.7...77...45...43 H Waldman........93-94...10.3...2.7...5.2...1.8...2.4...80...44...41 K Footes.........90-91...13.9...4.3...4.5...1.4...3.0...68...49...35 M Perry..........01-02...14.1...2.7...3.3...0.9...2.6...76...43...25 M Perry..........00-01...10.1...2.7...3.4...1.2...2.6...76...42...31 O Stewart........90-91...10.1...2.8...3.4...1.3...2.0...68...40...40 J Winfield.......91-92...9.5....5.8...3.0...1.0...3.7...55...48...16 J Fisher.........02-03...8.2....2.6...3.7...1.2...2.2...72...44...34 C Newberry.......88-89...6.8....2.2...3.6...0.9...2.0...79...49...41 J Fisher.........01-02...6.3....2.2...3.3...1.5...1.0...65...38...37 D Ferguson.......98-99...9.1....2.1...1.9...1.0...1.7...77...39...31 J Walker.........97-98...6.1....2.1...3.9...1.3...2.1...62...36...35 J Biles..........96-97...7.4....2.6...2.0...1.4...2.0...65...31...28 D Ferguson.......99-00...6.7....2.1...2.2...2.2...2.1...79...44...33 J Walker.........96-97...6.0....2.3...2.6...0.9...1.7...53...34...24 C Newberry.......87-88...5.7....1.5...3.5...0.6...2.3...69...52...33 M Perry..........99-00...6.0....1.1...2.0...0.4...2.3...69...46....9 J Walker.........98-99...3.2....2.5...2.7...1.0...2.2...52...32...21 C McCauley.......92-93...3.0....2.0...2.9...1.1...2.8...67...34...18

she tore up another knee. out for the year.

well a good staff or just a lot of money to buy the best players money can buy. but you are right, you dont have to be a good coach. that has been proven. just killing time till the kids go to sleep to finish getting out everything for tomorrow morning or trust me, i would be in bed as well.

just think of all the walmart gift certificates under his xmas tree tomorrow morning! the best money can buy.