NashvilleBilliken

Finally, something to be excited about. I know...its just one game, but we haven't had a whole lot to be excited about with this recruiting class. Not only did Ian lead his team in scoring in a big game, but he stepped it up a notch when he had to. His coach told him to make a difference this game and Ian accepted the challenge and rose to the occasion. I think Ian could be a major contributor this year.

nm

About 2 years ago, I was working for catering while i was still in school. We would be responsible for serving the team its meals before games. Generally, it was a chicken dish with potatoes and vegetables. Sometimes we would serve a pasta dish. As for the rest of the time, the players could be seen eating in the cafeterias...which doesn't exactly have the healthiest of foods. I remember Hienrich always being in the pizza line my sophmore year. However, I'm sure that we are getting on the kids about eating healthy. That is a very important part of staying fit and maximizing energy.

"By the way didn't Meyer verbal to SLU?" Did I miss something?....I don't remember Meyer verbaling. From everything I have heard, I think that would be a good pick up for SLU and sure hope its true.

There are obviously some very talented players on this team. The fact that they are finishing so low probably has to do with the fact that they have never played together before. They also may have the typical US mindset that we are better than everybody else so we don't have to try. I'd have to disagree with you Roy that the teams final placement is an indication of the skill. The main reason being how the US team faired in the olympics and other recent world games. We used some of the most talented players in the NBA on those teams and could not win...we actually got embarrased at some games. But, I do think that those "dream teams" talent was as good if not better than any of the competition.

I also think that Fish could emerge as a major contributer next year. Over the past few years, he has shown he has the ability to get to the hole and hit the mid range jumper. He has a great move where he cuts across the court and pulls up at the free throw line...almost always makes it. The problem is, he picks and chooses the games when he wants to be a factor. I think with Marque gone and the leading scorer slot open, he may be the man and step it up. The guy is jacked and i've seen him dunk before, so we know he's got hops. I really think he has the ability to be a force next year...

OK, now I get it. If they let Humphries go without penalty for no reason whatsoever, I think it would be a mistake. This would more or less make a NLI the same thing as a verbal commitment. It would set the precedent and recruiting could get rather ugly. IMO these kids should have to honor their NLI regardless of the situation (except for possibly a family tradgedy) or else they have to suffer the consequences. Its just a fact of life.

Oh, ok...thanks for the clarification. If this is the case, why is it that the article states the college bball world is keeping a close eye on the case? Seems like it wouldn't make much of a difference whether he plays or not.

I thought I would post this http://espn.go.com/ncb/s/dailywdarchive.html I find the first paragraph to be a little disturbing. It gives me the impression that they are going to give Humphries the go ahead to play this coming year for the Gophers....what's up with that? I'm not an expert so somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that if one is granted a release from an NLI, they must sit out a year (like JJ). So why is there even a question that this kid could play next year?? There were NO coaching changes, NO family tradgedies, just a kid that wanted out of his NLI. This happens every year and I have not heard of a kid getting to play the following year. If he is allowed to suit up, it just goes to show how currupt the NCAA is. The kids a McDonlald's AA and a Duke recruit and now the rules go down the toilet cause Coach K gives it the ok?? It sounds fishy to me....thoughts??

I agree with you on this one, AJ. I also am not an expert in the tourney, but looking at other rosters, I gotta think that the competition is pretty good. Ian is playing behind a first round draft pick and still producing. He is going against the TOP competition from every country that participates. With europe pumping out NBA players like it is, I have to think that the competition is on par with C-USA...both the lower and upper tiers. Based on the fact that Ian even got chose for this, along with his production in limited time, I expect Ian to contribute next year more than CB did....but who knows.....

I'm very excited to hear that McClain is looking healthy and can contribute next year. From what I hear, he is very athletic which is definetly something this team needs. Based on the limited time we saw Floyd play, I remember him having an ugly shot. How did it look yesterday? Also, did he show signs of the athleticism we have all heard about? Thanks for the report!

Yeah, playing these games at the beginning of the season is a dumb move IMO. We are coming off a season where the attendence was a real problem. If we were going to schedule cupcakes, at least schedule a team close to STL so that we could see more bodies in the seats and maybe get the fans to come back. Momentum, confidence? Sure, I think we can win these games, and sure it will give us confidence. But it will be false confidence. This is in NO WAY preparing us to face Arizona. This team could take a blow losing to arizona at home by 40 worse than losing to siu by 5...not to mention the national embarassment that it could become. I think the schedule could be worse, but it sure could be better...

I was wondering if anybody has read or heard any news on how Polk and other locals did at the Nike camp. I can't seem to find much information about the camp on the net. Anything would be great...

Not much here....but i guess its something. http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/st...ptive%20strikes

nm

I really like this set up. It seems like a win win situation for both conferences. Both C-USA and the BE get to retain all of there teams and add a few top opponents. One thing I'm not clear on is how the division will work. Will it be called the Big East with say an east and west division? Does the C-USA name get thrown out? The name really doesn't matter IMO, i'm just curious.

Roy, I did the same thing yesterday and did not see Marque's name anywhere. I was positive that he would get picked up by a team for the summer. I do not see how he could go from a potential second rounder to not making a summer team. He is lightning quick with the heart and work ethic rarely found in the NBA. Perhaps Marque thought it would be more beneficial to play overseas and did not stick around to see if he got picked up. Anybody know??

I agree. I wasn't a big Diener fan and wish we had somebody more athletic....but we didn't. Drew played hard and represented the school well. IMO he did not help the team very much last year, but he does not deserve this kind of disrespect from Billiken fans. He's gone now and you will never have to watch him play another ball game in your life. Give it a rest...

Looks like Ian scored another nine points for the greek team in a win last night. At least the kid is consistent. I would take nine points a game out of a freshman center. Plus you gotta like the fact that he is getting some decent competition over the summer and the opportunity to play with many different styles of players. http://www.basket.gr/wcj2003/press.asp?id=134

I remember the game we played Louisville and Mo completely dominated. Some of the dunks in that game were absolutely unbelievable. Our own team was even quoted as saying they had no idea he could do that. I still remember watching SportsCenter and seeing our very own Mo in THREE plays of the week. Ah, that was fun....

Obviously none of us know the rules here, but I honestly don't have a problem with it(and i dislike mizzou very much). DJ had the right to pick any coach in the country and chances are most of those coaches have kids that play basketball. Who's to say what schools are looking at what kids and how young do u go? What if they guy kid is eight years old then he becomes the next MJ? 15 years later is the school in question gonna have NCAA sanctions?. I think there is a very fine line here, one too small to define a rule or penalize a program for.

You do realize that Mo was drafted by the Kings and IMO was the most athletic player in a Bills jersey since Hughes? No way we drop Mo for williams...

Whoa, calm down buddy. What is Blake ur son, cousin, boyfriend?? I believe the key phrase in that sentence was "Blake was clearly the best player on the floor that night"...THAT NIGHT. Blake scored 41 pts in an all-star game where offense dominates. Nobody has ever disputed on this bored that the kid can shoot. And thats what he did in the game. Clarke on the other hand is a 2 but was forced to play the point. He was taken out of his normal position and required to run a team of guys he's never even met before, let a lone play a game with. Is Clarke the better player, who knows...that will be decided in a few years. Is Ahearn the best player in the entire all-star squad? I seriously doubt that. If he was, he would be going to a more prestigious program than SMS (not a knock on SMS, btw). From everything I have heard about Darren's ability to handle the ball along with his apparent athleticism, I am not too worried. And Clarke has scored 40+ in a game also, so I wouldn't read into it too much...

I know a few people on the board were going to possibly check out the pickup games yesterday on campus. Did anybody do that? I'd like to hear how the new recruits look (if they are even on campus yet) or any of the players for that matter. As always, any info is very much appreciated by this out of town Bills fan.

A few years ago, I would have agreed that hoping for bars and restaurants to be successful in the midtown area was impossible. However, times are changing. With the newly restored Coronado and the Continental building being renovated, along with new lofts near the Drake, there are potentially a large amount of tenants moving to the area. These new apartments are very nice and will therefore bring in people who have some money to spend. With the arena being built, it will undoubtedly clean up the area. The Fox is very nice, but go a block in either direction and some will fear for there lives. Now that SLU will own the property, there will be constant security and well lit areas. Now, add a few bars and a nice restaurant and before you know it the place will be hopping...