slu72

Good point, Billikan.. But w/ KM back on the floor you have to figure maybe the growing pains won't be that painful. As someone pointed out this is a good year for the foreign trip. Gives them extra practice and game time to figure out where the pieces fit best. Since RM has already given us his for sure 3 starters, BC, RL, and KM, the competition for playing time at the other positions should be intense. It wouldn't be a surprise to see KC maybe get the starting nod because of his knowledge and cautious play with the ball, but you have to see MM and JB pushing him hard. Clearly if one of those two step up and show they can score some points that will take pressure off KM and our inside guys. With KC in there you have to think defenders will play off him to help stop KM. Can't wait to see how that trip up north plays out.

CR definitely is the mystery man for improved inside play. Who knows what to expect from him. Toward the end of his FR year the arrow was up. Thru most of last season it was down... way down, although there were the rare occassions where he'd give us a glimpse of his potential. What are reasonable expectations for him this year? A solid 10-15 mpg of rebounding and D is my best guess. I don't think he's going to be much of an offensive threat other than getting us Offensive rebounds and kicking it back outside.The inside scoring load will fall to BC, RL, DE and hopefully CE. And when you look at those 4 only BC at this point can be considered a true inside scorer. Not saying we have a huge hole inside, but we'd better hope guys like JB, KM, and CE are hitting 3's at around a high 35% to 40% clip. They're gonna need that one extra point on a lot of possessions to meet our high expectations for this season.

Emminently fair. I would expect those footing the bill for RM's salary feel the same. He got some slack last year because of the situation. Granted, I'd feel a whole lot more comfortable had WR not crashed and burned, but that's water over the damn and his time at SLU has passed. Still, even w/o WR, we've probably got the most potentially talent laden roster since the '93-'95 years so let's hope for the same kind of results. It would be great seeing the Chai filled to the rafters with loud and boisterous crowds once again. For this to happen, we've got to see some real development by our inside guys like BC, RL, CE, and CR because we can't expect much from the frosh. From the rare reports we get from the locals, however, off season training and development seem to be going well. Hopefully that's a sign these guys realize this could be a big year and are working hard to make it happen. All signs are pointing north and the stars seem to be aligning themselves for a resurgency in Billiken hoops. Taj Mahal 79 is correct by saying, This is it. But should have added Now show us it really can happen at SLU.

Broy, this one post proves how seriously you despise the RM era. From people in the know we've garnered that NB received an early offer from SLU (Da Love), he seems to like PM, and we know he's rapidly rising up the scouting charts. We also know the bigs are calling/offering with probably the real heavy weights to enter the fray in the near future. We also know his grandfather is a Billiken great, who's probably telling the kid it's your career not mine go where you'll be happiest. We further know that other than Larry the Legend, albeit with special considerations, was the last big time recruit to sign with SLU. My guess is just like all the rest of St. Louis's very elite players, NB wants the bright lights of the BCS. RM could pitch a tent in his back yard and deliver him pizza and free movies every nite but it wouldn't change his mind about coming to SLU, yet you think RM is failing us again because he's backed off the kid and recruited some SG from Greece. Who you've deemed to be "soft" yet you've never seen him play. Where dd you get that from? On your visit to the under 16 game in Thailand? A better question to you would be how would UB have handled this situation? Fought tooth and nail against all odds to land NB like he did the big PF who went to Mizzery (his name slips my mind) and in the mean time lose Shaw to SIU? And then tell us it's wise to bank scholies. Don't you think that if NB gave RM any indication SLU was high on his list that SLU would have continued to maintain a relationship with him regardless of who his Grandfather is? Jeez, you may not like the guy for whatever reason(s) but being insane can't be one of them. Here's what will knock my socks off re the recruitment of young Mr. Berry: He signs with Loyola of Chicago. If he does, I guarantee I'll be right behind you screaming for RM's head on a platter. And you heard it here first, this kid's going to a big time BCS program.

This article again begs the question have we or have we not offered him a scholie? If not, why not? Where's the harm in offering? I think we understand that RM shuns kids who show no serious intrest in a SLU offer, eg Beal and McElmore. Is this the case with Berry, ie that he's clearly not interested in playing for his Grandfather's alma mater? If he's truly a top 50 kid, it won't be too long before the real biggies come a calling, like Duke, UNC, UK, FL, Kansas etc. Then it becomes really tough to convince him to stay home. This is a perplexing situation when viewed from afar. It would seem we have a built in "quiet" influential recruiter in his grandfather who is still considered a God at SLU. But I'm sure Easy Ed's staying out of the picture. So it would seem RM and staff has to do some serious schmoozing which doesn't seem to be happening. Calling Da Love, Pdiddy, and Billikan to give us some rational explanation for what's going on here. I'm thinking one reason might be that RM has told him watch how we do the next 2 years before you make a decision since you've got plenty of time. If we do well, ie make the dance and create some serious local buzz like selling out every game and earning a little more TV time, you might find SLU a more attractive option. Then again, NB may very well have told RM he wants out of St. Louis like al the other 4 and 5 star recruits over the last 10 years have done. If that's the case, then we should stop mentioning him as a serious SLU recruit.

Gee, I'm sorry I misread your post. Instead of basically though, I should have wrote you intimated since you claim he's unathletic, weak, can't shoot, can't play inside.... blah blah blah blah. I think if you watched any of the later games CE played last season he was making strides toward becoming both an inside and perimiter player. I wouldn't be writing him off so quick if he's working hard this offseason. I still believe he's one of our more skilled players and will be a major contributor this year.

I expect CE to bounce back as well. Look this kid walked off an airplane and laid 12 or 14 on Richmond in his first game. For NH to say basically he's a waste of a scholie is laughable. I'll admit I'ld love to see CE work on his inside game and become more of a Howard type player. I think he was working on doing that last season until the shoulder injury.

Or the song Wake up Little Suzie

First, prayers and best wishes for RM's mother. There are more important things in life than SLU hoops. That said, was a little disappointed to not see CE mentioned as a possible starter. Granted, starting doesn't mean that much on the D1 level. Kind of like a symbolic honor. And he may have tossed this out to motivate CE just a little more.

Good article in CNNSI about this year's incoming batch of Aussie's. Nothing about SLU. Butler's got a PG coming in and some WC conference teams are bringing them in as well. Looks like we got shut out this year with the down under crowd.

Broy, I didn't misread you. What I meant to convey was it doesn't matter if they're all high character types like Paul Eckerle, KL, or Luke Meyers if you have a chance to better the team you bring in a better player than what you have. Now granted you don't want to lose kids like PE, KL, or LM but that shouldn't prevent a coach from bringing in the best talent he can land. Let's put it this way, what if UB had recruited two guards better than KL in his SO year. Say KL saw limited minutes, ie a role player. He wants more and transfers out. Is this the coach's fault? What I think you're saying is you don't recruit over a KL type in order to keep him from leaving.

He's a product of the SC public school system which ranks just ahead of last place Mississippi in terms of educational quality. Trust me, odds are better than 50-50 that he could hardly read. Oh, he may have been able to put together letters and pronounce the word comprehension, but most likely would have no clue as to what it meant. As for WR, just guessing, but based on his classroom performance he'd have trouble "reeding" War and Peace as well. But mea culpas for making those unsubstantiated charges about Dixon. However, I think it was common knowledge on here that when UB picked him up he'd struggle mightily with SLU's academics. Fact: His struggle lasted one semester. Also, my post was in response to another of Broy's carefully disguised and crafted slams on RM, and I suddenly lost all reason and sensibility. Not B'roy's fault, the blame for implying young Mr. Dixon was an illiterate dolt falls squarely on my slumped shoulders. And I apologize sincerely. Your calling a foul on me is fair.

So you wanted to see UB's recruits stay on the team thereby filling valuable roster spots with NAIA quality players, save for Relphorde?

This is exactly what cost UB his job at SLU. And since you admire UB so much, how'd he do coaching up Obi and Dixon in making them all they can be? Dixon never should have been admitted to SLU the kid could hardly read. He was a needed body despite UB's claim of being the best athlete on the team. You're just never going to get over your desire that SLU should remain in the "little engine that could" category.

I'm not sure but didn't both players announce they were transferring before the situation?

Other than the 4 UB recruits, most of our transfers have been due to RM recruiting over players. CS is a prime example. He knew his minutes were going to go down significantly this season so rather than ride the pine he opts for a DIV II school. Can't blame him if he wants to play rather than sit. Same with JJ and JSmif they saw what was coming in and wanted out. Granted Thompson just wanted away from RM. Cotto was a hot head who thought he knew better than the coaches and in all likelihood would have left his next stop as well. I have no problem with a coach recruiting over kids. It's done all the time by just about everyone. The reason schools like Duke and UNC don't have many transfers is because they're big time winners and kids don't mind sitting on the bench if they're going to be part of a national championship.

Finally! A good thread that is somewhat objecive about our chances this upcoming season. First though, I hope MB 73 doesn't go into exile. Although, I disagree with the idea that the loss of WR is going to doom us to the CBI. At a minimum this team has got to be NIT material. At the maximum, a potential run to the sweet 16. What supports this after only an 11 win season? In large part it is due to the return of KM. Granted he's no Legend, but he maybe the best player we've had since him in terms of leadership, guts, and talent. And unlike KL and TL, he does have a better supporting cast around him. Yes, no doubt, having WR in that cast would have been huge. With WR this would have been a very strong team. But he's gone. But all is not lost. RM will have these guys playing good D regardless of who's on the floor. And college ball isn't loaded with a bunch of good bigs who can dominate even a good defensive team. We will probably run up against maybe 5-6 teams this year that will cause us major problems with their inside game like Portland did last year. And keep in mind, toward the end of last season we saw more of RL playing ineterior D and showing progress. No, he's not a WR and never will be, but he doesn't need to be either. The way I see it is KM is a given as far as being a quality PG, KC is a given as far as an efficient manager of the floor. BC is a given as to a tough interior guy who will grab some boards and on occassion provide some inside scoring. The expectations come from the development of the rest of the team. Have MM DE, JJ, CE, and RL all improved over the summer will determine whether we are NCAA caliber. Will JB live up to the RM hype as being all conference caliber? No doubt if JB, CE, RL, and KM prove effective from 3 pt land that will more than offset the loss of any points we're sacrificing from WR's departure. As for our frosh, temper your expectations early and hope for development with 1/3 of the season left. Bottom line is we don't have a game changer Frosh. The guy who would really be a surprise and an added bonus would be CR really stepping up and giving us valuable inside minutes. But he's a believe it when I see it factor at this time. So, while I disagree with MB 73's projection, I can see where he has justifiable doubts about how well this season will go. But if all these pieces fall into place as we expect, and they are not unreasonable expectations, we should be dancing.

To Captain Buzzkill: aka TajMahal79 I understand where you're coming from, Cap BK. Too many years of "wait until you see Vashon Newborne, the guy's a vocal leader and a stud in pickup games at WP!" followed by "why is the stud riding the pine?" But we are talking about a different breed of cat here. We're talking about a guy who was all Freshman A-10 and a 2nd team A-10 his soph year. We're also talking about a guy that could have easily have told SLU to f off after being caned,, not canned, for one night of consensual sex with a friend of a big donor. I'm counting my blessings, and that of SLU, that KM isn't wearing the maroon and gold of the Minnesota Gophers this season. Bottom line is KM had the cujones to take his undeserved punishment like a man, got his butt back to SLU after a semester of exile, helped the youg'uns in practice, and will be wearing Billiken blue and white for 2 more years. KM seems to be a driven young man who's ready to make a lot of people forget about that unfortunate May night. So, stop pi**ing in our blue kool aid. If none of our preseason great expectations come to fruition this year, at least we will have had these past few months of grandiose dreams of greatness to come. Hell, it won't be the first time Billiken fans have looked down at the water from a high vantage point and considered making that final leap because of unfulfilled expectations.

This past season got off to a bad start when everyone knew our top 2 players were basically done for the year. Once the L's started piling up apathy set in. Why go to a game when they're likely to lose. No one likes watching the home team lose again and again and again. Once more, it only takes racking up W's to cure a program's ills. And unrelated to SLU the guy on a really hot seat is Cuonzo Martin, if UT loses and they revert to their 4,000 fans of Buzz Peteson days, the new AD, who didn't hire CM, may be tempted to pull the plug on his tenure real quick. We have a lot of UT alum here and to a man everyone of them thought CM was beneath a UT standards hire.

Glaze may have come as a surprise to the coaching staff since he was released from his commitment to UNLV. I don't know how JHB is finding out who we're recruiting, which would seem to be the difficult part, the follow up phone calls not so hard as I think a lot of these kids enjoy the celebrity type treatment.

Yeah, as in, gee why didn't I think to do it since I'm such an objective and credible journalist.

Still want the 6'8" 240 true PF slasher. We could get by with RL and JM manning the 5 with a beast PF.

Yeah, and Metz is such a reliable source.

When was the last time, if ever, we got this much recruiting info about the Bills for free (sorry, Nate)? Way to go HTB and keep it up. Much appreciated.

I don't know that move along the baseline looked strong. The kid's obviously done his work in the weight room.