slu72

Busted, Broy's right about cheating to win. We'll get caught and bad things will happen. I don't think RM cheats. I don't think BC will contact Mr. Super Oregon in the future saying, "hey, they got new Escalade in the parking lot with your name on it." That will never happen at SLU. Neither will RM ever land a one and doner. It's not his style. In fact, I think RM likes taking it to biggies with no names who stick it out. That's the point Broy's never got about him. He's been upset ever since RM basically canned all of UB's recruits because he knew he could never win with those guys. But to Broy's way of thinking that was evil. We should have honored our commitment and let guys like KM, MM, BC, CE, et al go elsewhere why we tolerated guys like DM, the other Mitchell, Knollmeyer et al. And after they were done, ie 4 years, RM could have a free hand to build his team. I honestly don't believe Broy wants a loser at SLU, he just wants a truly honorable program. Tough to do these days.

We took a stick in the eye when we lost to RI. But, hopefully, winning the next 2, X and one on the road, will make our vision chart a little clearer to the committee. Still we've got beat LaSalle. I'm firmly convinced the committee has a strong BCS bias and the only way to counter that is by winning games you should win.

The neat thing about this is, RM initiated the call. Why? To get his man, BC, some hometown pub. And maybe, just maybe, he's got his eyes on a hot oregon cheer.... uh.... recruit that might think SLU would be a great place to come and play some basketball.

For all the posters knocking us doubting Thomases remember this is Billiken basketball we're talking about here. We've been so conditioned to falling on our own swords for the past 20 years or so, it's kind of hard to think the light at the end of the tunnel is anything but just another mf*&%ing fast moving big locomotive coming right at us. Yeah, I'm scared of the LaSalle game because since we've been in the A-10 we've sucked pretty bad in Boardwalk games. But it's a new age, so let's hope all this angst is erased on Friday night.

Therein lies the myth, Bay Area, there are really only about 15 at large bids. The other 22 are reserved for BCS runners up and their .500 teams. Heck, Lunardi had 28 BCS also rans making it, which would leave 11 spots open. The worst thing that could have happened to us today was CT winning over WVU. WVU's probably in regardless of the loss, but CT was on the bubble big time. They pull off another W in the Beast tourney, we're suddenly gonna find ourselves go from lock to bubble team. We MUST beat La Salle and keep our fingers crossed there are no major upsets in the BCS conferences. After beating X and closing out at DU with strong W's I thought, OMG, we're gonna make it. Tonight, I'm not so sure. I think that loss to RI is going be a major red flag, ie "Cripes they couldn't beat a sucky RI team?". We have to beat La Salle. No ifs ands or buts about it. I think a W over La Salle seals it for us, but even then who knows with the committee really thinks. I know the pundits are raising all these various possibilities to create and stir up interest (some would call it BS), but as we've all seen in it in the past, some teams just get outright screwed. And can't you imagine the outrage and the chest beating on this board if we don't make it? Someone's gonna have to go to Denver and stand watch over Jimbo.

Well, the 800 pound gorilla in all this is Texas. Had they moved to the PAC 12 when they were being wooed last year, you can bet the 4 16 team conferences would already have been a done deal. But since they've decided to keep the B12 afloat, at least for now, all we're gonna have is the Papal Speculation Conference.

Jeez, good question, Moy. Wish I'd thought to ask it.

We have no control over what happens in the other conf tourneys. We do have control over what happens to us. Just pound friggin' LaSalle, pound the next team, pound someone else in the finals and we'll take it out of the committees' hands. I don't trust the committee. I think they're politicians at heart and you know how low politicians rank on the "trust me" scale, about minus a gazillion.

Good point.

Hoot... hoot. Now let's ***** slap 'em for jumping ship in the tourney final. The A-10 now has to do some serious soul searching as they've lost a long time prominent member and downgraded the league's rep as one of the best, if not the best, conference outside the 6 power houses. However, prior to RM's interview with BM, where he said he's trying to position SLU for admission into the much fantasized "Papal" conference, I could picture him running and huffing his way up to Fr. B's tower office screaming, "that's it, we gotta jump to the MVC!" And what makes everyone so sure Butler wants to leave the Horizon. Save for this year, they're just about a lock to be the annual champs.

I knew they played in the MAC, as did Temple. Question is, why didn't the Beast pursue them as well? It makes more sense, at least from the conference's regional name, to bring them into the fold than say SD State. Plus they've got more final 4 history than Temple and they don't a crosstown rival, ie Nova, probably unhappy Temple was picked.

I made it up, Cheese. Actually I read it in the post about RM and BM's interview. I didn't listen to the interview, so if I mis-spoke, mea culpas. However, Ecklecamp said he heard it as well. Maybe you should revisit the playback. But it makes sense as Charlotte is starting its FB team and the A-10 is no longer a good fit for them. My guess is Charlotte would be the most likely to bolt to CUSA. UMass will need an invite from the Beast to make the jump.

Agreed. And maybe I'm naive but I just don't see X or Dayton getting the call from the Beast anytime soon. One big reason is UC not wanting them in the conference. It's bad enough they stage one UFC contest a year, they won't want to hold 2 of them.

yeah, but it would make the Conklin family happy if we ended up playing in Portland. As for which #1 we get stuck with, I'd prefer we avoid KY and Cuse the most. KY's a beast with Davis. Cuse w/ the zone and Melo, probably just too strong. UNC's had it's ups and downs but we all know Roy Williams doesn't waste much practice time on D. We could possibly frustrate them, but RL would have to dig deep to stop Zeller. And KU did lose to Davidson, so at least we'd have that going for us. It seems to me the top 8 seeds this year are the best we've seen in awhile. And it's gonna take a 5 or 6 seed to avoid the big 8 assuming we get by the first round. For us to get a 5 or a 6 seed, we'll need to win the A-10 tourney.

Not sure about this, but I think NC State did it the year Valvano coached 'em.

My money's on either Charlotte or UMyass. Both have FB programs. UM, I read somwhere, has CT envy and may be looking to make the leap to BCS status. This is understandable as years ago they were big rivals in the Yankee conference until CT bolted for the Beast. Is there room for UM in the Beast, or would they be full up if Temple makes the move, which is probably a behind closed doors slam dunk done deal already? And where will Charlotte's new born FB program find a home? CUSA is a likely spot, since most of the remaining schools are Southern based. I don't think X goes anywhere w/o Dayton as well. Also, does the Beast really need more non FB schools at this point? RM also stated he's positioning us to get into "the all Catholic" league, he thinks will come once the Beast finally uses up all its nine lives. Watch for the ACC to make a grab for CT and Rutgers for more TV exposure in some pretty big markets, actually the biggest of them all, NYC. It just makes no sense for the ACC to leave a hole that big in their TV exposure. I'm visiting my daughter this week in ATL and one of the radio stations said that eventually the ACC tourney wants to stage their annual extravaganza in the Big Apple in addition to Greensboro, ATL, and Miami. They're probably not going to the MSG until they finally decimate the Beast. And here we go again.

C'mon, we can beat the Explorers.

Way to go, Jacob! Apply to SLU today. You're in. Financial aid, Scholarship, you name it, buddy. Get ya some o' Jacob, Kentucky!

Like I said, Cowboy, I can't figure it out, so I don't have an answer for you. Other than the fact, Broy thinks RM's lower than pond scum as a person.

Just shoot me. Puhleeze. And, God, let Temple go. And if X and Dayton want to follow them, good.

It's simple, add VCU and Geo Mason. Charlotte's checking out pretty soon as well. Don't know where they're going but they're gone given the big time FB commit they made. It's either that or someone in the AD grow a set and propose a new conference. The Beast is going to collapse once the biggies in the BCS put their heads together and say, "do we really want Boise, Temple, San Diego, CT and Rutgers et al crashing our bowl parties"? Game over at that point.

My guess is that was a difficult year for all involved. Remember, we still hold the NCAA record for fewest points scored in a game.... 20. That alone should tell you how bumpy and long this road has been.

I'm sorry about the Oregon Cheerleaders. That's Jimbo's territory. I don't even know how to import the pics. Anyways, I forgot MP played his last year under UB. He's definitely a starter along w/ KL, CS, IV, and BC. Why CS? He was a sniper in hs and in AAU ball. Under RM he would have played the 3 and not the 4. He only did that because UB couldn't recruit his mom to SLU. And what's up with all the hate for KL? He could defend, shoot, hand out assists, and lead. Are you forgetting some games he won for us when he was our only option? And RM would have been praising him til this day as just a gutsy smart BB player. KL would have flourished under RM. As for Broy's hate of RM, well, Broy's a great Billiken fan, but I can't figure it out either.

Since we can only project so many brackets, play what if scenarios, and wear out the worry beads, I was thinking about the past 10 years of Billiken hoops. If you took all the players over the last 10 years 2002-12, who would RM give his 13 scholies to, who would start, who would get minutes in a 10 man rotation, and who would fill out the roster. One rule, players like WR, Cotto, Obi, etc aren't eligible. Starters: PG- KL 2-Fish (RM would want a D player like fish on the floor) 3-C. Sloan (believe RM would have loved him) 4-BC 5-IV Rotation: Reggie Bryant- he was a sniper TL III- Not sure here as he may well have transferred out after his FR year KM CE L. Meyer 3 Freshmen MM, RL, DE If TL left he would have offered JJ

Agree, Tarheel, and supposedly he's got a possible on the West Coast. I don't want to get Taj Mahal too excited to the point he's projecting who's scholly he might take, after all TM79 had JJ outta here last summer, but I think someone said he was a big. We need more bigs. As for JB, he better work his arse off over the summer or he's gonna be PO'd he ever left the sunny climes of Toledo.