bart

Schaz -this Bud's for you.I hope this game doesn't go into overtime. I started celebrating a bit early today.Thanks man. This could be a big win.

Thicks: Thanks a million man. I'm having a tall cold one on the florida sands in your honor. I hope my laptop battery holds out.

Can you guys help me out regarding tonights score and game commentary? I'm down in the Florida keys. All I have is my trusty laptop (well 80 degrees and no humidity on the ocean isn't all bad), so I would greatly apppreciate any info I can pick up off the board. Much thanks. Go Bills! P.S. is Belmont an NAIA school or an NCAA school? I loved the CBS Sportsline piece on Quin being one of the most 'Unproductive" D-I coaches in recent years. Keep up the good work Quin.

SLU lead Maryland 2-0 in the first half. In the second half Vedad received a red card. All in all, a good season given only 3 seniors and 1 junior were on our roster. However, the sad thing is UCLA was upset 3-1 by Indiana in the quarter finals.

I saw Bryan at today's game and he has written an excellent article on the Bills for tommorow's Post-Dispatch. Check it out.

This morning Tim McKernan said, "what's the best clue that a professor at mizzou has that a "weak" student is enrolled in his/her class? Answer - There's a guy in the back row that's wearing a Barton Community College sweatshirt." He went on to suggest that he believes Pulley will never play at MU and that in convesations with someone from SLU after Pulley first committed to MU that they felt it would be almost impossible for Pulley to regain his elgibility. Why do I have the feeling that if the NCAA was not snooping around in all the basketball dirt piled up in Boone County that Pulley would somehow, someway (can you read "Beginning Welding" on a transcript)be playing at old mizzou? Quin Snyder said in a recent interview that MU has an outstanding "academic advising and support program" for "student athletes." Ricky Clemons could not originally play at a DI level because of academic deficiencies. He dropped out of classes at Southern Idaho the minute bb season ended. Did the "outstanding" academic advising program advise a kid with serious academic deficiencies to take 20 something hours at 3 schools simultaneously to regain his elgibility and be admitted to MU or did Ricky work out that plan all by himself?

Playing this game off campus in Charleston, W.V.rather than Morgantown should help us a bit. A friend at WVU said he thought the on campus arena was being rehabbed.

My take on today's game. THE GOOD: JOSH is playing much better at point guard than I expected. He goes to the bucket tough. I think he scored or was fouled about 2/3's of the time he drove to the bucket. If he could hit a couple outside jumpers it would help open up things even more. AT 205# he is a load for 180 pound guards to play against for 40 minutes. SLOAN is playing with so much more confidence. Even though he had no outside shot today, he does so many other things well. FRERICHS is one tough dude. He needs to play a bunch of minutes for us or the Cincy's of the world may pound us on the boards. I hope his breathing problems improve over time. I really like our effort on defense and am sold on Brad being able to recruit and coach kids to play D. THE BAD: DREJA has lost all confidence in his outside shooting. He works hard and is a very good defender, but we struggle so much to score as a team, if Bryant doesn't play lots of minutes and score lots of points for us this could be a trying season. I just hope Reggie can stay focused on defense or his minutes will be limited as will our offense. I understand Reggie has yet to play, but we are a very poor 3 point shooting team at this point. No one has shown any consistency. Overall, this team has shown limited offensive capabilities. THE UGLY Having to watch Savannah & A&T. Ugh!

Man we had some tired dudes on the floor at the end of the game.With virtually no bench, several guys logged some big time minutes - Josh, for instance, played 40 minutes. Let's hope we can hang in there until Reggie returns. Even Ian will help if he can get 5 minutes a game or so. Hopefully, those two may help us generate some offense. We have to work really hard to get a bucket.JJ sure is a good athlete. Let's hope some Brad coaching can get him on track and he can be a contributor. I know Clark looks like a good athlete but he appears to be in awe out on the court from time to time. Twenty pounds would also help.

What does everyone think about tommorow night? On the positive side, I think this team plays very good defense. With few exceptions, it appears they have bought into Brad's defensive philosophy. They are tough to play against. On the negative side, I worry that we will struggle to score points. I really think we will miss Reggie and Ian in that regard. How bad are IO's ankles? He seems to be having a tough time getting the sprains behind him. I am confident that this team will develop as the season goes on. Brad convinced me last year of his ability to develop a team. We simply can't afford some early losses that will kill our post season hopes.Go Bills.

SLU will be playing all sports in the A-10. The A-10's tourney is this weekend and Richmond is riding an 11 game winning streak into the tourney.

I wonder at what point other schools begin to effectively use all the smoke continually blowing around the MU basketball program in their recruiting pitch to prospective rectuits. Negative recruting is an art form with certain coaching staffs, always has been always will be. What I wonder is how much smoke are recruits willing to ignore before one or two of them begin to worry just a little bit that where there's smoke there well may be a fire smoldering. If recruits begin to ponder that "maybe I don't want to be part of a program that is always seems to be getting poked at by the NCAA and that might even be put on probation some day" then the image of a program begins to change. Maybe all it takes is for a reluctant witness or explayer to be willing to squeal. By the way, I thought the Post-Dispatch was out to get poor ole Mizzou. Seems like the KC Star also finds interest in the never ending Mizzou bb saga - we didn't know the rules, we couldn't get the paperwork in on time,we can't comment on who transported Clemens to the President's house for his party leave, etc., etc. On the other hand, maybe the NCAA is a big paper tiger and unless a coach at one of the high profile, big $ programs - the type that asks $30,000 donations for good bb seats - is absolutely caught red handed nothing ever materializes.

O Lord, there goes maintenance on the Billiken Board!

Interesting take on next year ACE. It is something of a puzzling transformation. For example, Kenny was a very good defender and okay rebounder. But as we all know his free throw shooting was unbelievable. I remember on one or two occassions praying late in the game that he would not be fouled even when we were done, fighting the clock, and scoring while the clock was off was exactly what I should have been praying for. Do the pluses and minuses cancel each other out? Marque was a better all around player than Reggie. Reggie will be a better shooter than Marque. Frierichs will shoot free throws better than Kenny (I have never seen him shoot free throws but I KNOW he will be better). If Morris is a true point guard that will be great, but he has never played in Brad's system. Every + I come up with may be balanced by a -. I think the key will be, as you suggest, is how much have the returnees improved? IO, JJ, Fish, Anthony, & Reggie have been out there scrimmaging very hard all summer.( I hope I'm not missing somebody on the seldom AWOL list). Husek and Floyd started late but also have become regulars in the scrimmages. Everyone else is a sometimes participant. This is not a criticism of anyone by the way. SLU, thank goodness, still requires actual attendance in summer school courses, in internships, etc.

I usually watch the scrimmages while I am running around the track on the second floor (waddling around may be a more accurate term. the track encirles the courts on the first floor at the Simon rec center. I run late in the afternoon like after 4 or 5. The boys have not been there of late so I asked a couple guys who I know usually watch the scrimmages and they said the resurfacing of the West Pine Gym floor was completed and they were moving back over there. Anyone can walk in over there and go sit up in the stands to catch a scrimmage. However, I also heard several of the boys IO, etc. were heading home one last time before classes start in the fall.

Thicks - I liked your post. No matter what conference we play in, we must make this $70 million investment payoff in at least two ways -better student support at games and better recruiting. If this occurs, we will have taken a step in the right direction with the program no matter what conference we end up playing in. That said, I too would rather run with the big dogs.

It seems to me for a private university to commit to what may be a $70 million arena project in the midst of a deep recession when their endowment has fallen by about 1/3, like private universities all over the country, is one heck of a commitment. What more could we realistically ask for? Hopefully when they go public some of us will step up to the plate to pitch in to whatever extent possible.

Roy, I was wondering the same thing regarding getting Larry involved with the program in some positive way. Does Brad even know Larry's around I wonder. By the way, please reread my original post. I indicated how well Kenny Brown runs the floor. He is a very good athlete for a guy 6'9" and about 260. I really hope he finds a spot overseas. He is a good kid. AD and Reggie both have been somewhat streaky shooters in scrimmages. Don't read too much into that however. On some afternoons there's a whole lotta hacking going on. In my mind every time I see Frierichs play I wonder how he will fit into the puzzle. He will no doubt play the bulk of the minutes in the middle. He can't run like Kenny, he can't jump like Kenny, he won't block shots like Kenny. That said he is far more physical than Kenny and seems to relish mixing it up under the boards. He works hard under the basket in getting defensive and rebounding position. He might even enjoy playing against Cincy. He does have some offensive skills, but not alot better than Kenny. He did make a real nice reverse layup in heavy traffic a couple days ago in a scrimmage. He strikes me as a kid you wouldn't mind going into battle with. I don't think we have had a physical force like him in the middle down low - who can actually play and isn't just a stiff - in some long while. I guess all I will say is when somebody drove the lane there was a chance Kenny might block the shot. Frierichs won't block the shot, he doesn't jump that well, but he well might commit a hard foul and the number of opponents coming at him down the lane might decrease.

I was able to catch a bit of Tuesdays and Wednesdays scrimmages. Sloan played. He looked a little rusty but i haven't seen him out for awhile. Two or three things stood out. Josh, JJ, Anthony, and Reggie, Husek are regulars. Frierichs is a physical presence and doesn't mind banging one bit. I hope he isn't plagued by foul trouble. If so, our backup center may take on added significance. If Reggie can stay focused on defense he will get his minutes. He brings alot to the table offensively. Josh has been playing the point almost exclusively. I don't know if that is what the coaches have instructed him to do or if it simply reflects the combination of players available to scrimmage. On Wednesday the cast of players was the largest I have seen all summer. There were enough players for 3 + teams. Larry the Legend, Kenny Brown, Tatum, Love, Ferguson, several new faces I have not see before plus all the current roster players in town - including Phillip Hunt who I hadn't seen for a while - with the exception of Frierichs and Sloan. Some great games! I was remeinded how good Larry can be. His court sense is impressive and has really improved. His cross over absolutely freezes people. Josh Fisher had the task of going one on one with Larry for a couple games. I also was reminded how good an athelete Kenny Brown is for a 6'9" center. He runs the floor well and gets off the floor very quickly. He should be able to play for somebody looking for a good defender and average rebounder and make some bucks somewhere overseas. He and Frierichs are really different types of players. Frierichs is a big power type player and Kenny is an athelete. Their strengths and weakenesses are almost the opposite. It will be interesting to see how Brad tweaks his system given the very different big man who will be starting for him next year.

Thicks, good to meet you yesterday. A couple of short comments on yesterdays scrimmage. I was not surprising that guys playing in Europe look at bit better than current roster players. Playing pro ball in Europe or anywhere is quite different than being in college. No classes, no papers, no exams. Much, much more time to practice team wise and to work on individual skills. I couldn't believe how much Mo Jeffers improve after his first year in Europe. I agree Reggie is going to make somethings happen this year. He's streaky and needs to stay concentrated on defense. How about his block on Love on that one drive! Reggie seems to be a streaky shooter but when he is in the groove he will score. Yesterday was the first time I Tsaw Frierichs. He is one beefy dude. He did run the floor pretty well. After playing against Tom one on one yesterday for much of the scrimmage, I'm sure Bryce is starting to quickly learn the difference between high school and college ball. Tom is a load. P.S. Josh told me that Marque played in a week long tourney in Germany recently and will has offers from Europe. I wish him well.

I've been watching the scrimmages - initally at West Pine - but now at Simon until on or about August 4 due to refinishing the West Pine floor. The scrimmages are interesting. There is a "hard core" of players who seldom if ever miss - Fisher, Drejaj, Johnson, Issac, Sloan, Bryant, Hunt - then you will see Husek, Clarke, and some of the others show up from time to time. There's also some ex-players such as Tatum and Heinrick and some possible recruits who also show up from time to time.I was simply going to tell you I haven't seen McClain there, but then I realized that there is always a guard or two who are often pretty good, who play. I've asked some of the bystanders who they are and nobody watching seems to know. Given that I and evereyone else in St. Louis has only seen Floyd play a couple times and would hardly recognize him, he could be on of the mystery players. I really don't think so however. The next time I get by one of the scrimmages, I'll ask one of the players if Floyd has been around at all this summer.

Sorry to see you go. You give voice to a point of view that is rather unique on this board. It adds to the conversation and that indeed is important, for when the conversation ceases learning diminishes. Please come join us again if the mood ever moves you.

Due to the refinishing of the West Pine Gym floor, the boys are scrimmaging at Simon Rec center late afternoons 3 or 4 days weekdays each week. I caught them yesterday. An interesting cast of characters including Chris Heinrich, Justin Tatum, Husek, (sp?) Fish, Johnson, AD, IO, a guard who a fan told me was Clarke, etc. Issac and Chris H.(who has been playing in Europe) were man on man as were Justin J. and Husak. I was told Frierichs (sp?) was in town but I have not seen him scrimmaging. Several things stuck out in my mind: JJ is quick and can run the floor. IF he could develop a consistent 12-15' jumper, he would be a threat. Issac has developed a better feel for the American game. He has gained some weight and is playing with much more confidence. Husak is every bit of 7'. I know he weighs 250#, but I sure hope he stays in town and Coach Lynn keeps him pumping the weights. I have heard a lot about how he is a stiff, etc. I watched him very closely -he cannot compete with IO or Chris H at this time. How many high school centers could? He will certainly be redshirted and probably won't contribute for a couple years. That said, I can see why Brad would take a chance on him as a "project." If we compare him with his peers - just graduated high school centers 6'9"+ I bet he runs the floor better than the vast majority of them. He has some court awareness, certainly better than most of his peers. He needs to develop his skills down on the block, offensively and defensively. Whoever worked with Kenny B last year on Brad's staff made remarkable progress, especially on defense. Kids like Husek are tough to project. I'm glad we took him. He could end up being 7'1 or 2" and 290# someday. I just hope it's when he is a junior at SLU and not when he is 50 years old. I also like the stylish haircut - white on top, dark on the sides. I was again reminded Fish and Anthony can be very tough on defense.

My concern is with soccer. The rest of our minor sports are nothing to brag about. I would think Sorber and Donnigan would not be upset with this league at all. St. Johns and and Seton Hall are very good soccer programs. Marquette, who beat us a couple years ago is not bad and Dayton is okay. Beyond that so - so. We could still keep SMU, Creighton, and our other good nonconference foes and we might be able to pick up a good non-conference match with UAB.

JJray - the dude playing on Monday was right handed