slu72

I think the smartest move for the Big 12 would be to try and lure UL and UC away from the Beast. If Mizzery does go to the SEC, they add Memphis as well. Still the worry in the Beast is does Uconn make a serious move to get into the ACC and try to bring Rutgers or WVU with them. If Uconn and someone else leave, the Beast is very much a watered down and disjointed conference no matter who they add.

Agree totally. If we lose our opener then to make the dance we probably can only w/stand 1 more ooc loss and finish at least 2nd in conference. I didn't realize they were decent until this post. I don't like playing these OVC schools as they always seem to be toughies and surprises.

Maybe he just really liked "Hoosiers".

Kind of senseless waste of time to post why I think he chose Butler, because I really have no idea. But hey, it's early and I'm tired of reading about how my Giants knocked off the Pigeons this Sunday. My guess is NB chose Butler primarily because of their recent David v Goliath past, they've featured two PF's similar to him, Stevens is an affable young loyal Mark Few kind of guy who's likely not leaving for a BCS gig, the enthusiasm of his future teammates, and proximity to St. Louis. Obviously he felt very comfortable there. And while I don't want to sound like Broy here, maybe his parents read the horror stories about playing for RM and said, "our son's a top 50 player and deserves to find a comfortable home." But it's good to know NB will still be rooting for good ol' SLU. Good luck, NB.

We knew we weren't his 2nd choice. Am surprised to learn Santa Clara was above us, however. That was a weird mix of schools he was considering. The coaching staff not being a good fit is a little disconcerting. What's RM teach that's so different than other big time coaches? Defense is what all D1 coaches stress the most. And RM's developed some really good bigs over the years. Maybe he just missed PM going to Loyola.

Wow! Since he's a 2013 grad I figured he'd wait awhile to see if Duke, UNC, Stanford, and other bigs came a calling. Not knocking Butler, how can you, but given the extra special family tie, almost like a legacy, to lose him to Butler is troublesome on many levels. Butler gets TV when it goes out of conference and bracket buster time, does St. Lou get a lot of coverage of Horizon games? TV couldn't have been a major factor. Leave home for a more non midwest location, eg Duke, Stanford, FL, AZ, couldn't have been a factor. What's the distance from St. L, about 4 hours? Hats off to Stevens who appears to be not only a very good coach but a great salesman as well. A big wet willie to SLU's staff unless NB told them to forget it right from the get go or just lost interest in us during the process.

They're po'd because they think they invented College Football, and when history showed SLU invented the forward pass they immediately took umbrage.

Katz said UConn wants into the ACC and if that happens then the ACC will have to pick up another school. Could be anyone of half a dozen. But right now everything appears to be on hold, except in the SEC where they may have to bring in another school to even out their divisions. Now that OK and TX schools are back in the B12 fold, you have to wonder if the B12 doesn't go on the hunt for 3 or possibly 4 new members. Would guess TCU will be in their sights along w/ some Conf USA members. And why not go after Boise ST? As for the BE, the Newark Star Ledger's article on last night's meeting said they will look for new FB schools, but the quality of those schools will not be up to the Beast's past standards. So once again, thanks to the PAC 12 and Texas' greed, the Beast finds a way to live another day. And, at least for now, effectively blocks X from being invited as UC would block them. This temporary lull in musical conferences is good for us as it allows us time to strengthen our resume. Are you paying attention, Fr. Biondi?

I don't think an internet poll's going to decide who goes where and who gets left out. Besides, they're probably still po'd that Josh Fisher shut down their favorite son, D.Wade, every time we played 'em. Broy has this right, if such a conference would ever come to be, Biondi has to be our torch bearer. Outside of BC and ND, this conference would largely be made up primarily of the top Catholic schools in the nation. It would be shameful if weren't part of it and would hurt us in more ways than just athletics. The remaining Beast FB schools are meeting in NYC this evening to discuss their options. Probably the most inviting one is to pick up the remnants of the Big 12 and keep all the hoops schools in the fold. That's a 20 team conference. The problem with this scenario, however, is the raids will begin again. If ACC and PAC 12 both go to 16 teams won't that make the Big 10 and the SEC want to do the same, since this is really all about football and TV coverage? So, if they do pull off this merger, it will probably be a band aid approach for a cut that really needs plastic surgery. And even though CT and Rutgers will be there, can they be believed they'll be faithful to the Beast/Big12 while all the time hoping for a call from the ACC? All this said, it's hard to feel sorry for what's happening to the Beast. They put BB at the top of their product line, while the rest of the conferences knew it was FB that was really flying the plane. How the Big 12 fell apart, since they were a FB first group, has to be the subject of a book. Did they just simply fall asleep at the switch?

Bottom line for SLU on all this speculation is nothing, unless the 7 or 8 BB only schools suddenly find themselves alone in the Beast. They're not saying anything about an all hoops conference until the dust settles because no one's inviting them to join since it's all about FB. And of course Pitino wants to keep a hybrid Beast alive otherwise he may find himself coaching in CUSA or the MWC. That's too small a stage for slick Rick. Who doesn't think that if the ACC or Big 10 called the UL AD and said come and join us, Rick wouldn't even know how to spell merger.

I just watched outside the lines. Katz said, the interests of the FB schools vs Basketball only schools was bound to go up in flames at some point. That's why the Beast has been easy pickings for the ACC. So are the days of the hybrid conference over. This talk about UMass entering the Big East is kind of over the top. UMass to compete on a regualar basis with BCS FB teams? What year does that happen? You just can't flip on a switch and say, "Hey, we're a BCS FB school!". They'll get killed. And what kind of a TV audience is UMass v South Fl gonna pull? The big domino's going to fall when the 4 Big 12 teams bolt for the Pac 16. Then you'll see CT and Rutgers in the ACC (good luck Rutgers). Obviously the SEC will have to do something with 13 teams and there may well be some competition between them as they fight over who gets MO, KU, KSU, UL, and UC. As for us, who knows at this point? We've heard nothing from the BB only schools of the Beast. Are they hoping to keep their hybrid conference together by adding the Big 12 leftovers? Do the big 12 orphans even want that?

This will be very interesting indeed. If ND is part of it maybe they're still thinking independence in FB and are not scared they'll be cut out from any future plans by the expected 4 power conferences to exclude them from the major Bowl games. So that would make 8 hoops only teams left in the Beast. It's almost a forgone conclusion that the ACC will invite UConn and Rutgers. In the Newark Star Ledger there was an article that said the ACC had 3 options: 1. Add TX and OU. 2.) Add Tx and Tx Tech 3.) Add UConn and Rutgers. Options 1 and 2 appear dead as the Pac 12 will take those combos. Sooo, if UConn and Rutgers depart, then the only hope for them is their remaining FB schools and the Big 12's get together and form an Alliance. This would be MO, KU, KSU, ISU, Baylor, WVU, UL, UC, TCU, USFLorida. That's 10 teams in FB, + 8 in hoops= 18 teams. That could happen, and if you'll recall Nova may be trying to go big time football. I can also see them pulling in Temple and, say, a team like UCF, or maybe even ND goes w/ them in FB to make a 12 team FB league + the 8 hoops only for a 20 team conference. Problem would be how long would a Mo, KU, KSU, or an ND stick with this if the SEC or Big 10 comes a calling? Then it starts all over again and the Beast/Big 12 is kaput once again. I don't think these schools today will come out and announce anything startling w/ regards to starting or reforming into a new hoops only conference. But if they do intimate they will go after other BB only schools to form a CYO league, we'd better do our damndest to make the final cut. Otherwise SLU's going to be viewed as a lightweight Catholic University.

This will be very interesting indeed. If ND is part of it maybe they're still thinking independence in FB and are not scared they'll be cut out from any future plans by the expected 4 power conferences to exclude them from the major Bowl games. So that would make 8 hoops only teams left in the Beast. It's almost a forgone conclusion that the ACC will invite UConn and Rutgers. In the Newark Star Ledger there was an article that said the ACC had 3 options: 1. Add TX and OU. 2.) Add Tx and Tx Tech 3.) Add UConn and Rutgers. Options 1 and 2 appear dead as the Pac 12 will take those combos. Sooo, if UConn and Rutgers depart, then the only hope for them is their remaining FB schools and the Big 12's get together and form an Alliance. This would be MO, KU, KSU, ISU, Baylor, WVU, UL, UC, TCU, USFLorida. That's 10 teams in FB, + 8 in hoops= 18 teams. That could happen, and if you'll recall Nova may be trying to go big time football. I can also see them pulling in Temple and, say, a team like UCF, or maybe even ND goes w/ them in FB to make a 12 team FB league + the 8 hoops only for a 20 team conference. Problem would be how long would a Mo, KU, KSU, or an ND stick with this if the SEC or Big 10 comes a calling? Then it starts all over again and the Beast/Big 12 is kaput once again. I don't think these schools today will come out and announce anything startling w/ regards to starting or reforming into a new hoops only conference. But if they do intimate they will go after other BB only schools to form a CYO league, we'd better do our damndest to make the final cut. Otherwise SLU's going to be viewed as a lightweight Catholic University.

The word down here in Dixie is the ACC's going to 16 teams. They'll likely add UConn and WVU (to maintain the Pitt rivalry in FB). ESPN reported this am that TX now will likely join OU, OSU, and TTech in the Pac 12. Another rumor from Big 10 country has Rutgers and ND joining the Big 10. Evidently, ND has figured it out that being an Independent is hurting them re recruiting wise and not helping their national status. It will be up to the remnants of the Big 12 and the Beast to see if they can scrape together a combined conference or just fold their tents and let the powers that be pick over their bones. Bottom line is there will likely be 4 power conferences of 16 teams each. Where will MO end up? Big 10 or SEC in all likelihood. Another twist that could complicate matters is that FSU and Miami would rather be in the SEC than the ACC. But the bottom line in all this is it's going to get sorted out sooner rather than later. Chris May better be on his toes. I'd hate to see us left out in the cold if a powerhouse BB only conference made up largely of Catholic Universities comes to fruition.

Add this one to the WTF is up list. ESPN reported this morning TX has made a pitch to join the ACC. Also, the ACC says they want to go to 16 teams after they add Pitt and Syr. If this TX news is for real, I can see them picking up CT. You could then see the Big 10 picking up WVU, Rutgers, possibly MO, and KU. UL and UC have to be worried. UC won't get in the Big 10 because OSU won't have them. UL will face the same problem w/ KY in the SEC. It may be in the Big 12's interest to start wooing them as it's pretty much guaranteed they're gonna be down to 6 teams or less in the very near future. Might want to add TCU to that list as well. If every conference is going to go to 16 teams it will be musical chairs and there's gonna be some BCS FB schools left standing outside the circle. The losers will come from the Beast and the B12. As for SLU, it's time to start talking to someone, don't know who, about their future conference possibilities. At least get with Dayton and X to make a pitch to the hoops only Beasters.

We are in a vacumn right now. We've only seen what they do against each other in practice. And, hopefully, what happened at Carleton was an abberation caused by injures, fatigue, etc. But really think that if we are an NCAA talent level squad we wouldn't have lost those 2 games by such large margins even w/ CE playing the point. We've got a really tough non con road to travel. What's disconcerting is how quickly can RM get these guys to play together and how quickly will they play good team defense. We are not a powerhouse up and down the court scoring machine, so playing good D is an absolute must for this team to win some of those games. If we don't show the committee we can beat a UW, a NM, a BC, maybe a 'Nova, our resume's gonna look weak. The only thing that will propel us into the dance will be winning the reg season A-10 title or the tournament. And remember it's tough to win on the road in the A-10.

Yeah, hopefully it's not in the CBI, though.

FDL, I respect your inside knowledge of the team and recruiting. However, and I'm guessing here admittedly, X and Temple's last five guys would have probably put a whupping on Carleton. All I'm saying is those two games cause me to wonder if this team is really talented enough to get a dance invite. It's gonna take something like a 24-6 record to do it and a couple of quality W's; UW, Nova (if we get that far), BC, New Mexico at the pit. Plus, we can't lose to some of the weaker teams like SIUC. And even under RM we've done that. Again, it's gonna take something like 24-6 to get a bid. That's a tall order for any team other than the bullies of the NCAA.

Let's hold off on this squad being the best team in many years until around January 15, 2012. We lost two games to a Canadian college team by a lot. That should leave more than a shred of doubt in all our minds.

Still, he got in extra practice against some pretty tough competition. Can't hurt him, can it?

Still, he got in extra practice against some pretty tough competition. Can't hurt him, can it?

The contract will keep him here thru next year, unless he decides to call it quits. SLU's not paying for a coach to sit at home. I don't think he'll leave on his own accord if the team does well. If the season goes South, who knows what he'll do. This whole thing boils down to the Admin's sincerity in having a top 50 program. How much does the Arena's financing enter into the picture? Is it paying for itself with crowds of 6,000 or so during the season? Or does it rely more on other events? And Dr. Chaifetz? Does he want his name on a building that will bring him little or no recognition? Does he step in and demand Biondi do his utmost to make Billiken hoops relevant? Then there's the business of conference reshuffling. Does SLU do it's utmost to align itself with the best basketball conference outside of the BCS'ers? A lot of factors to consider here. But there's a lot more riding on this season than an invite to the dance.

Broy meant there never seems to be a legit PF on our lists. We're all the time getting guards where we happen to be overstocked right now. We need some strong inside help. Along those lines PM signed what seems to be 2 PF's at 6'7" and 6'8".

Not even a lousy hat? That said, that Mizzery model's pretty shabby.

If they did only go to 10 teams I'd see us having a better chance than Dayton. Bigger market, new arena, etc. Still, we'd be no shoo in as UD has unreal fan support. But from a performance standpoint they haven't done all that much to distinguish themselves. Yes, more than us, but that's not saying much. X obviously gets in as UC would leave and they have started a great tradition there. I hope I'm not grasping at straws, Kshoe, because it would hurt if we weren't included in a conference like this. We'd likely end up in the MVC or the Horizon. By the way, I think Butler's perfectly content where they are and wouldn't move. They dominate the Horizon which hasn't hurt their recruiting, have a sound OOC schedule, and just about guaranteed an invite. They start messing with the GU's and Nova's of the world all bets are off for them.