ACE

Of course he wants to lock another thread.

brian, look at the way a good fan like slu72 has been branded. He has brought up several reasonable criticisms and gotten branded for it. As for the political stuff, if you weren't here at the time, you can't make an informed comment about it. I bring it up because it is very similar to some of the witch hunts we are seeing now on this board.

Thanks for keeping me in line Rich. This board is so much more civil without politics. LOL!

>evaluating Stemmler too long. I can see why he did not >jump to offer, he may improve, but it is not like we missed >the next Corliss Williamson (sp ark juco that led them to >the national champ) > >we filled stemmlers spot with HD in four next year I think >we will see we are better off. That's not the point. I think we would be better off with Stemler than an open scholarship - you know, the one we had available and gave to a walk on. We could've had Stemler and Dixon. I think we could use a guy this year who played 35 minutes for Indiana. I think we could use another guy who can knock down 3s. We aren't exactly loaded with good perimeter shooters.

>When did I get thrown into the Anti-Brad group? I think we >have a very good team going into the season and I think 72's >opinion is the same as mine. I have been critical where I >see it is warranted and have been very complimentary of what >we have heading into this season. I just feel it is >necessary to hold people accountable and when I see someone >falling short of what I feel is acceptable I am going to >talk about it. Why do people have to label us as negative >when 72 and I are just being real. I am very happy with the >team going into the season, however we did not bring in a >quality 4 and this has been an issue from day 1 and we have >no committments to this point for this years recruiting >class. I think you can point out the positives and still >see the negatives without being labeled a negative person. Congratulations Cajun. You've been branded too. Some people are incapable of debating ideas. It's easier for them to demonize and name call.

It certainly is amazing the intolerance some people have for those who hold different opinions. I always thought it was a great American tradition that people could debate different ideas. For a vocal few, everything is framed in such overly simplistic, black and white terms. And if you disagree with somebody, throw a label at them like "anti-Brad." Poster #1: "I'm excited about this season, but disappointed that we didn't land any recruits this fall signing period." Response: "Oh, there goes the anti-Brad crowd again. We are about to have a great season and all you can do is bash Brad. Some people are so negative." Poster #1: "I don't think Iraq has WMD and had nothing to do with 9/11. Going over there is an unnecessary diversion which is not addressing the war on terror. I'm also concerned that a civil war could break out considering the religious and ethnic divisions in that country. This is something BushI warned about back in 1991." Response: "Oh, so you hate America first. Hate, hate, hate. Why don't you burn a flag. This is a just war and those who don't agree need to shut up. I'm going to run to the principal now and suggest that we ban political talk, even though I merrily participated in it a few years ago."

Those in-state battles are usually good. Butler made a great run. Too bad the cowards in the middle of this state are too chicken to play us. The three Mizzou/SLU games were all hard fought and went down to the wire just like that IU/Butler game.

>Brad said that Adam K. was practicing at full speed on >Tuesday. So he sounds like he is ready to go. How is JJ?

>ace, i think it has the workings of being better than the >claggett highmark teams simply because of ian. spoon never >had a center. > >lisch and liddell have what it takes to be at least the >equals of any spoon guard tandem imo. We don't have the shooting those teams had, but WHEN we crack the top 25 this year and earn a #7 at-large seed into the NCAA Tourney, I will be very, very, very happy to agree with you.

>"It's in UB's hands not ours...so, let's just sit back and >enjoy what should be a very good season for us" > >Exactly, 72. > >I don't understand the people who say we accept mediocrity, >we strive to be mediocre, we don't hold the staff >accountable. We can't do anything about the fact that Brad >hasn't signed a recruit. I don't think anybody can. I'm sure >Cheryl has discussed her concern with Brad about recruiting. >I'm sure there is a sense in the AD that fans are concerned >about no signatures. But I gotta say, Brad has to have a >plan. He has assembled arguably the greatest Billiken team >of ALL TIME. One pundit has us going farther than any team >in Billiken history. I just don't see how that is a fluke. >College basketball is a very rough industry...a bumbling >idiot can't just stumble upon a NCAA tourney team. The greatest Billiken team of all-time? I hope you're right. I only go back to the Spooball era and I know some of the guys on here go way back in SLU history, but I find that statement hard to believe. Spoon had three teams that got at-large bids and a couple of teams that spent quite a bit of time in the Top 25 during the regular season. I'm not sure this team is as good as Clagget, Waldman and co.

We gotta make sure that we take care of business in those first two games and not stumble like we have in recent years in some of these early seasone events against lesser opponents.

Well said Blengend. This team has talent. We're in the Show Me state, so let's show em. Now it's time to go out there and pile up wins and make the Tourney. I think we had plenty of positive press during much of the Spoonball era. I'm more concerned about how well we'll play over the weekend and who if anybody we're recruiting right now than what the PD is doing.

Does the fall signing period end Wednesday? Where's pdiddy when you need him. The streets are way too quiet.

>B, I said this two weeks ago and was blasted for suggesting >such a combination. Play both at the four and redshirt >Knollmeyer. I actually think that idea has a lot of merit. Adam is already going to miss about a month or more of the season. JJ will be back to go along with HD and Obi. Also, we will have other options based on match-ups - we can go with Bryce and Ian or Luke and Ian in small doses. I haven't seen Knollmeyer, but I think it might make sense to have him redshirt so he's not in the same class as HD and Obi and so he can start his career next year with a full healthy season. Also, maybe he can be groomed to help take over for Ian at the 5 next year. Perhaps he could develop into a more skilled Tom Frericks.

>You're a moron. > >Those three have posted more than anybody else on this board >the last 2 days. We all know you're trying to get political >discussing going, but give it up. you've had one post >deleted and another locked. > >We're all Americans here. Nobody won or loss. In the end >we're all on the same team. But thanks again for an attempt >to further divide this country and the board. That last sentiment is certainly nice, but I didn't see a whole lot of that on this board in 2003 and 2004. I repeatedly had my patriotism questioned and was accused of "hating" America for sharing an opinion that the majority of Americans now share with me.

It looks like Obi and Horace have put up some nice numbers, albeit against weak competition. For those who have seen them in game action, do you think that combo will be able to get the job done at the 4? How many minutes do you think they will get?

I think for a program like SLU, it would be advantageous to identify up and coming high schoolers who are maybe flying a little below the radar and land them prior to their senior season (in the fall). You hope the kid goes on to have a big senior season and be the kind of player who would've started to attract interest from the so-called "big boys." You would be set because you already got the kid locked up. Of course this requires being a shrewd talent evaluator, but I think this is our best bet at hitting the jackpot. The problem with waiting until the spring is that if a kid has a huge senior season, NOW the secret is out and you are competing with the Big Boys. One theory I've heard is that the top programs tend to fill up all their schollies early, but that's not necessarily true either. They always seem to either have players transfer out due to lack of playing time or have players jump to the NBA, so they are still fishing in the spring. I think it becomes more difficult for us.

That Alexander kid sounds like he would be a good one. Hopefully he is one of the two.

>I think we should fire him right now!!!!! Nice straw man. Why so bitter today Rich? LOL!

I'm not saying this because I don't think the kid can contribute this year, because I don't know. I haven't seen him play. But I'm bringing up the possibility because he's already going to miss a few weeks with injuries and we already have two other freshmen who play the same position. It seems like it might make some sense to spread one of those kids out by a class.

The streets are way too quiet. I'm tired of holding scholarships for the class of 2012 or whatever. The future is now. Tommie and Kevin are already sophomores. We need to add players to the program who will be able to contribute quickly and help Kevin and Tommie make the Big Dance. This program is due. I already think Brad missed a golden opportunity last recruiting period. If he can't bring in the players to help us get there during the TL/KL era, then he needs to be shown the door.

>not necessarily. how soon we forget marque perry and josh >fisher dictating tempo against far better teams. and as the >likes of second ranked louisville tried to turn up the heat >they only p!ssed down the side of their legs even more. > >as to your john wooden comment, thanks for the great laugh. >let me know when we have lew alcindor, or bill walton or >sidney wicks or keith wilkes on the team. not saying wooden >wasnt a great coach, but he had teams that no one else came >close talentwise as well. > >while uab played an exciting brand of ball during the mike >anderson years, they didnt make it to any sweet 16's either >did they? > >your martelli comment is more akin to making my argument. >not sure why you bring that up in your debate. martelli is >more the master of dictating tempo than anyone i ever saw. >when he had the horses like west and nelson, he ran, when he >didnt like last year, he could effectively take the air out >of the ball. > >i agree the st joes game was defined by no made shots, but >you could also say it was defined by no second shots. give >us a few putbacks and the tone of that game changes. Roy, UAB made the sweet 16 in 2004. As for the press, Tommie's quickness and wing span seem to give opponents fits any time we use a press.

Good point about dictacting tempo. We don't do it enough. I think we have the depth and athleticism to press more and try to create some turnovers.

>In my initial post, NO WITCH HUNT AND NO BITCHIN. Just the >truth - let them play the games. > >I se the glass as half full, even with the injuries. I see >writers and coaches giving Brad and staff a tip of the cap >this season, and I like seeing many people outside the >program respecting us for being an honest and clean program >in Missouri, even honest to a fault. I see my own posts >generally being positive, even to a fault. I like to present >the university, and its sports program, as a positive. > >Others often don't. There's certainly nothing wrong with being positive and you weren't as harsh on 72 as some others have been. I'm more optimistic about this team than I have been in several years, but not everybody thinks alike. If people want to express some unease about the 4 position, I think that's perfectly reasonable. There still are some questions surrounding this team. Fortunately, the games are right around the corner and we will start to get some answers as the season unfolds. If people want to speculate about potential deficiencies with this team, so what. Let them. This would be a very boring board if everybody thought the same way.

>Ace, give me a frickin break! "Chill out, dude" becomes a >witch hunt? > >I look at the season like I approach work. I would love to >have 10 McD AAs sitting on the bench, but we have who we >have. We have to win with our players and our time, and >bitchin is just that. > >I complain also at times, but I won't moan about where I sit >at the arena, or how cold the beer is. > >Some people do all their bitchin and moaning where it is >least effective - here - and never talk to the AD or >coaches, where organizational change is leveraged. > >Read 72's forecast and then read his thread starter. It is a >textbook example of the term "cognitive dissonance." It seems you are bitchin about somebody who is bitchin. This is a message board. Since when has some bitchin' not been allowed? This should be a place to have a little debate. You stated that it normally takes 2-3 years for 4s to develop. I completely agree with that, which is why I'm critical that we have 3 freshmen at the position, rather than adding a juco. I hope I'm alllowed to express that opinion without being labeled somebody who "******* and moans."