jjray

+1 I've lost count of the # of games our starting shooting guard put up -0- points. He should be coming off the bench.

Depends on the 4 losses and we are likely on the bubble even with only 4 more losses. 3 should be the target # and, looking at our schedule, it will be difficult to achieve despite the fact that we are projected to win at least that number.

I think this is an excellent point. Our A-10 schedule is much tougher than the majority of A10 members. No need to gnash our teeth about the MVC ranking. Our A10 schedule will be stronger than what we would have played in the MVC even though not every A10 team can say that. Still, our margin for error based on where we sit at this point is slim for an at large bid.

I think we should revisit this discussion after the Dayton game. Losing @ UNM means we have to win at Dayton. If we win there, then what we need to accomplish in conference to attain an at large bid is manageable. Lose at Dayton and we are not in a good place.

Kyle is really a role player. Leading isn't his gig. I don't think we should expect him to change during the last semester of his senior season. That's not to say he isn't valuable to the team but he'll never take charge of a game and alter it's course. Every team needs players like Kyle. I guess our problem is that we need more from him in tight games like UNM but it's not there. McCall showed signs of life at the pit. Lots of energy. Too bad he fouled out.

Dayton will eventually be an improved team over what we saw in the Gregory era. Archie Miller will get that ship headed in the right direction. I miss Gregory already. The Dictator just ate him for lunch, Idi Amin style, every trip to Dayton.

Thanks. The Lobos hung tough down the stretch and we couldn't get shots to fall at the end (probably our players had no legs at that point in the altitude). Hats off to you for the victory. Best of luck to you for the rest season as well.

I'll have to catch some this game later tonight. Gonzaga at Xavier (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2) It is hard cheering for X against any opponent but the conference could use an X win against Gonzaga.

I'm willing to grant that the NM team that takes the court tomorrow has matured since the early losses but I think you should go back and look at the tape of the SLU v. Washington game. If your success depends on speeding up the game, then we will win despite the pit. Our guards handle pressure very well. We run a disciplined offense and defend the 3 well. To win, you have to beat us with a half-court offense. Game planning to run on us plays into our strengths.

I would expect nothing less. The place KM has been taunted the most is Dayton and he thrives there. I'm not worried about Kwamain but am worried the team will come out of the gate cold and never recover. We have a history of this. If it is close at half time, then we are in good shape.

KM only one left from the train ride. All the other passengers have departed the program. StL police investigated. No charges filed. KM had to leave school for a semester but was readmitted later. Old news.

That was the friggin worst defense I have ever seen in the last 10 seconds of a one bucket game. OK loses by 1.

They probably missed the travel but great no call on the drive by OU at the other end.

OU back up by 1 with :20 to play.

OU down 1 with 39 secs to go w/ the ball.

Tied with 1:11 remaining.

Thanks for the analysis. Defending the 3 is something SLU is very good at. Glad to hear you think this is a key to the game. Defending the paint, we are not outstanding. I have not seen NM play this season so I don't know what sort of post players you have. It might seem counter intuitive at first look but game planning to attack SLU with an uptempo / launch 3's offense is a recipe for disaster (as you saw in the Washington game). You have to beat us in the half court. If you are patient and can pound it down low, that will make it difficult for us. We have guys who can defend the paint but we're just not as deep nor talented with bigs as we are at guard. Rob Low is improving as a post defender but isn't there yet. Cory Remekun is a much better post defender but gives you next to nothing on offense. We trade substantial offense for defense when Cory subs for Rob. We often play without Rob or Cory on the court and, in that case, we are small up front. We have a 7' freshman center (Manning) who is not ready yet. Rick steals a few minutes with him occasionally but I think that is about the extent of what he can give us right now. I think a key for SLU will be Dwayne Evans, our SF. He has been up and down this season. We need him to show up in the Pit. He's the best rebounder on the team and capable of scoring in double figures. He made the All A10 freshman team but has disappeared on us a few games this season. You can count on our guards being solid. Rick plays 4 with a 5th getting minutes on occasion. Conklin is another key for us. Can he score in the paint against the Lobos? He's a bruising presence despite his listed height of 6'6". If he does, the floor opens up and our lineup is stacked with shooters. We have multiple bigs who can shoot it. Can't wait to see how this plays out.

I've been to Albuquerque once to visit a girl many years ago. Enjoyed my stay! As you say, every team has its fans who say things we cringe at. This will be the toughest game of the season for the Billikens and we've already played several quality opponents. This team went to Duke last season so the intensity of the crowd shouldn't be a complete surprise. Nothing phases Majerus so we know he will remain calm come what may. The altitude may be an issue though. We have a deep, quality bench so perhaps that will help us deal with the altitude. I think most of us are concerned about getting behind early and then the team getting out of its disciplined offense. I like our chances if the Lobos don't get up double digits early. If they do ... not good. We only played from behind with a substantial deficit once all season and weren't able to come back against Loyola in that one.

Rob has room to grow this season as a player. He's only averaging 14 mpg. All he needs to do to get more minutes is play bigger in the paint. He can do it.

We didn't make Birch's list of 6 possible transfer schools. Xavier is on the list. -- Florida, UNLV, Gonzaga, Washington, Xavier or New Mexico State. Would have been cool to at least be in the running. Lots of minutes @ forward up for grabs after Conk graduates.

That's cool for Mike.

Nice site. They have us losing @ NM in a close game then winning every regular season game thereafter. That's highly unlikely. There is no information on that site that in any way changes my point. These next two road games are extremely critical to our hopes of an NCAA at large bid.

I know the thread is about conference play but the biggest game is always the next game for a team like SLU ... a team that projects to be on the NCAA bubble if we don't win our conference tourney. Realtimerpi.com currently has us @ 52. We won't make it if we end the season there. In my view, the game @ New Mexico in few days is critical. After that, we have to win the games we are supposed to win. The first conference game @ Dayton is a game we can't lose and it will be a difficult road win. I would say those are probably the two games I am most concerned about. If we split the two road games against New Mexico and Dayton (a very real possibility) then our road to the NCAA becomes a much harder climb.

We're they the fans patting Cody on the back when he was trying to inbound the ball?

Don't count out the possibility of SLU meeting Mizzou in the NCAA this season. We have work to do to make the tourney but, if we get in, I like our chances of being placed in the same opening bracket as Mizzou.