NashvilleBilliken

"Yes, I'm saying he'll be so up for a big crowd and a big game that he'll treat Pulley and Clemons like Clemons treats women." Hahaha....good simile.

I really like those comments on Ian. A Vlade clone would sure put to rest all doubts we have about Brads ability to evaluate talent and sign top recruits (even if they aren't top to recruiting gurus).

I feel the same way. I liked Kenny, but I don't think he was all that much better than Heinrich. Chris was much bigger than KB, which is huge when your talking about post players. I have stood next to each of them and there was a very noticable difference in the two. I also remember Chris' defense being very good. I do not know if it was as good as KB's, but it was close. Chris had a good touch on his free throws and inside shooting. Now, on the other hand, i don't think i've ever seen a seven footer miss so many dunks and layups. I remember every now and then Chris would go for the reverse dunk in the post. I only saw him make one of em, but Kenny never tried anything like that. I do not see how he much THAT much more athletic than Heinrich....

Coincidence indeed. Thanks Stu, great story on Marque. Sounds like a long shot, but maybe he'll get lucky...

I was wondering the same thing Steve. I could sure go for something about the Bills. Maybe a story on the progress players are making over the summer, an interview with Marque about playing pro, or I'd even go for a story on Brad's thoughts about the conference realignment. Just something to break the monotony....

"Izik I guarantee will score 15 a game with 5 or 6 boards and 3 or 4 assists." Thats a hell of a guarantee....I sure hope your right.

I completely agree with your comments on Perry and KB. We'll have to wait and see, but I guess I'm placing a lot of stock in Brad's coaching and player development abilities. You are right about Hughes leaving and the team going down the crapper, but I don't think Marque was quite on the level of Hughes. He was incredible last season, but I honestly don't think he made the rest of the team that much better. We won by playing offensively slow team basketball. Marquee took over at the end of games, but the rest of the time, I do not think he had that big an impact on the players around him. Hughes made Baniak look like a superstar, but Marque couldn't quite do that to his supporting cast. Again, I loved Marque and thought he was spectacular, but with work and enough added firepower i think we could be OK. But then again, I am an optimist...

I disagree. Marquee and Kenny meant everything to that team last year, but I believe we WILL be better this year for the following reasons: 1)Most of the team has had one year of practice in Soderbergs system; that alone will improve our play at the beginning of the year. 2)Sloan/Drejaj: Sloan's offense really came together towards the end of the season. With the summer to work on shooting and having confidence as a senior will add to his offensive production. Drejaj played very well for a freshman and I think he will only get better. 3)Overall athleticism is significantly improved. Bryant, Johnson, and Clarke are reportedly very athletic. This athleticism, IMO, can only help this team out. 4)Although KB was our rebounding and post-defense machine, I think with the added athleticism and offensive fire power, we will be able to negate his loss. Obviously this means nothing until we see the first practice, but I think we could have a half-way exciting season ahead of us.

I don't like the sound of this at all. I do not know if Katz's sources are reliable, but if so, we could be in some trouble. I'm sure marquette and xavier would bolt...I don't know how strong the supposed agreement with marquette to stay together really is. If Louisville and Marquette leave, C-USA losses virtually all its prestige. We got major recognition this year with Marquette in the Final Four and Louisville being #2 (until we beat em ). No way we can snag some teams that could replace them. Looks like the Catholic Conference could be a long shot. Too bad, I was just getting excited....

http://espn.go.com/ncaa/news/2003/0606/1564113.html Apparently the five schools being left in the Big East after the proposed ACC expansion are taking it to court. I don't know if this is such a great idea. If they are trying to get BC and Miami to stay, this is NOT going to help matters. After seeing this, I don't think there is anyway those schools don't bolt to the ACC...

Found this at Chris Monter's NBA draft site. http://collegebasketballnews.theinsiders.com/2/47068.html I don't see Marque on the list. But was very suprised to read the first paragraph and see Mo's name there. Has anybody kept up with him lately? I wasn't aware he was playing ball anywhere...D-league?? Anyway, i guess somebody's interested in him. But I am dissappointed not seeing Key's name. Anybody hear if he got invited to the draft camp in Chicago....that starts tonight.

I don't even think these are Too's real opinions. Some of the things that he posts are soooo utterly ridiulous that not even somebody as deranged as Too could actually believe it. I think he just tries to stir up controversy and belittle the Bills anyway possible. It definitely works...no Billiken fan can let this kind of stuff go on OUR board. But he does make me laugh sometimes, no doubt about that.

That is great news. I am really pulling for Marque. It seems our NBA prospects over the past few years have gotten some bad breaks. I hope Marque can stay healthy (unlike Mo in sacremento) and catch on with a good team that needs him (unlike JLove and pheonix). Keep us posted Bart..thanks.

I have been searching the net for a list of those invited to the Chicago draft camp, but am having trouble finding it. Does anybody know if it has come out yet or when it will? I am interested to see if Marque made it. I know the camp is in early june, so I assume the list would be out by now. Any information would be great. Thanks

Too, your posts get more and more ridiculous as time goes on. Segregation and bigotry? Gimme a break. Every NCAA conference is formed with some sort of commonplace in mind. Is the Big East geographically racist because they only have schools from the east? There are acedemic and religious similarities in they proposed "Catholic Conference" that could only benefit the schools involved. I doubt ESPN will boycott these games if the conference was every formed. And do some research before you bash SLU athletics. We already have a softball team. And why in the world would you claim that softball would have a better a fanbase than baseball?? What women's sport generates more money than a men's?? Maybe UT/UCONN women's basketball, other than that i doubt many more. To propose that we should devote more money to softball than baseball is ludicrous. And as far as the students attending softball games, i doubt it will ever happen. Randy Pulley, Newcomer of the Year...Missouri in the final four....you gotta let me try whatever it is your smoking....

http://theinsidershoops.theinsiders.com/2/111649.html Valley Schools Chase Shaw Hard By Dave Telep Date: May 20, 2003 Centralia forward Matt Shaw is one of those guys who can play multiple positions. Right now, he’s also a guy who is hearing from schools at multiple levels. You could probably fairly categorize Matt Shaw as a throwback. He plays the game with intensity and purpose. He plays hard, smart and gets things done. He’s multipositional. And, he’s a great student. The Centralia forward has over a 3.5 GPA and posted a 24 on the ACT. He’s a popular recruit, especially in the Missouri Valley. Shaw indicated that most of the MVC schools are all over him. Creighton, Southern Illinois and Southwest Missouri State are chasing him hard. St. Louis, Virginia, Mississippi and Nebraska have inquired. “I haven’t even really narrowed it down,†Shaw said. “I haven’t thought about it that much. Probably at the end of the summer I’ll start narrowing it down and take some visits and go from there.†Shaw indicated that he’s being recruited as a combo forward. “I’d like to go as high as I can. But, I won’t be disappointed if I don’t sign with an elite school. I’d rather get some playing time and experience as a freshman than sitting at a big school.†He’s already taken an unofficial visit to St. Louis.

Is it just me or does Cincy have at least 1 or 2 of these per season? http://espn.go.com/ncb/news/2003/0519/1556500.html