Schasz

Need some stops and clutch baskets. Cannot afford a slip up at home.

NM

The poor (0-8 in CUSA) old USF Bulls travel to play the Bearcats tonight and they are only 26 1/2 point dogs tonight. They are wondering down here if they will be the 1st team in CUSA history to do an 0'fer the season.

I have not really followed Collinsville basketball since the days of Kevin Stallings, and heck, he's the HC at Vandy these days. That was the last time that the Kahoks were any good and I'm wondering if that was their last state tourney appearance. I have not lived in St. Louis since '96 and seems to me the Kahok program isn't quite the same since Virgil Fletcher left. My guess is that Bobby Bone is HC...at least he was the last time I remember talking to anyone still living in CVille about the Kahoks.

BR, I LMAO at your last sentence, especially considering the name that I had to learn to spell.

The Billiken Roy that I know does not ascribe to being mediocre, but he also doesn't believe in cheating.

UCLA is another exception to the behind the basket seating. A few years ago I sat behind a basket for the USC VS UCLA game at Pauley Pavilion, as I purchsed scalped tix outside Pauley the night of the game. I sat next to some UCLA Alums and asked them how they felt about the students sitting in the prime center court seats and their comment might surprise some...that's where they belong because the games are really played for the students.

Our true PG decided not to get himself eligible from an academic stadpoint for whatever reason. Therefore, he is playing in Wisconsin while we play the hand that we have.

I we could do Thicks 7-1 scenario then we are right back into being a strong NCAA possibility. The worst case would put us as a NIT possibility.

Thanks for the report and it is interesting that Coach mentions the possibility of a transfer recruit. One might wonder...would we only be interested in a transfer if TL fails to qualify academically?

You have to play your best players.

I'm all set to see us string those 20 win, NCAA appearances together. While it won't happen this year, we are getting closer and I like the guy leading us now as I have a lot of confidence that Brad will get the job done. I also think that another winning season would be a very nice accomplishment by this Billiken team.

Amen to IO's comments...our team MUST excel at all the little things in order to have a chance to beat the best teams in conference. Taking better care of the ball is one of them, shooting FT's, blocking out for rebounds, etc. Let's hope that starting at home this week, they can become more focused. These next 3 games starting with DePaul are crucial.

Prayin that somehow Tommie can get the academic credentials to get admitted to SLU next year. It's painfully obvious that until we get more athletes that can consistently match up and play at both ends of the court that we will struggle to beat the very good teams. I think that a couple things have been happening recently with Reggie. He's struggling a little with his confidence and the other/better athletic teams we played recently are really making his life tougher too. Unfortunately, this edition of the SLU Billikens is not blessed with a dearth of other scorers. If Reggie is struggling then we are going to struggle as a team. Shooters do have slumps...let's hope that Reggie gets over his slump on this 3 game home stand.

Well SLU fans the road remains a very bad place for our Billikens. While we did compete in two of the three games, I fear our short bench did hurt us. Let's hope that we get well at home on this 3 game home stand. We are now in a position where any stumbles at home will leave our postseason aspirations on life support. Let's hope the friendly rims at Savvis will get our shooting touch back. The race at the top of CUSA is still wide open. Louisville is a different team with Garcia and Dean playing. Right now, DePaul has gotten very much into the race with a nice win over Marquette today. We get both of them and Charlotte on this home stand and we NEED 3 wins badly. Let's Go Bills!!!

I just hope that Coach Soderberg has a long and successful career as HC at SLU. I like the job that he has done so far and think much better days are just around the corner.

Actually, St. Louis has hosted two Final Fours and I went to both of them at the Arena. The first was in 1973 when Bill Walton went off on then Memphis State for like 44 points and UCLA won another title. Then in 1978 Jack Givens scored 40 as Kentucky beat Duke in the Final. No, St. Louis isn't a rookie but it has been awhile since the Gateway to the West hosted the Final Four. We have hosted a few Regionals since then.

I heard about this story on the drive home and had to pass it on...it interesting how this whole thing comes down on National signing day. http://gainesvillesun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...4/NEWS/40204017

Actually, it is really Tropicana Field...I wonder how long that name contract is for, as the Tropicana managment folks are moving/moved to Chicago. I remember that it was just last year (at least that is my recall) that the local folks were trying to make another pitch for Tampa...actually Tropicana is located in St. Petersburg. I have lived here since November '00 and never been inside the place as the D-Rays have just sucked as a baseball team and I never did enjoy watching baseball indoors from my Seattle, (King Dome days)...Safeco Field is a palace compared to the King Dome. I can't really comment about Indy, as I have never been to their dome, but the Edward Jones Dome is very nice and I'm sure that St. Louis does want to host the NCAA Final Four more than just next year. I'd agree that while somewhat spread out, there is plenty to do in downtown St. Louis and I am sure for an event like the NCAA Tourney that they will have beefed up security so people should feel safe downtown.

I was kind of thinking that St. Louis and even Tampa with the fruit dome might get in the rotation, but this makes that more or less a pipe dream.

I suppose that also means that if 3 No. 1's and one No. 4 make it, then the highest rated No. 1 will play the No. 4 rated school.

Every 5 years through 2039...see link. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/men...agreement_x.htm

Right now according to Jerry Palm's brackets in his RPI website...St. Joe's is one of the No. 1's along with Duke, Pittsburgh, and Stanford. I happen to think the Big XII is way down this year. I watched the 6-1 Jayhawks VS SPUMAC on Monday and I wasn't very impressed. I've seen both St. Joes and the Zags play this year and IMHO they can hang with the big boys. We'll see how both of them do in the NCAA Tourney, but I'll be surprised if the both don't do very well.

Gonzaga is a Top 10 team.

Having won 6 out of the last 8, I suppose one could say that Xavier has Cincy's number.