Billikan

I deleted my original post! It was not productive and I should heed my own words a see the glass as half full! I got caught up in the frenzy and the hope for a really special season where we might be ranked for months and ultimately get a high enough seed in the big dance that we would be playing a seed lower ranked than we were. We definitely can still make the NCAA tournament but we need to stop the bleeding this weekend and pound on Portland! Go Bills!

I have been watching the Bills for over 40 years and this 6 game stretch--against very good competition-- is the best combination of suffocating defense and excellent offense and shooting that I have ever seen from a Billiken team. I am in shock! It is absolutely amazing how difficult it is for these good teams to score on our half court set defense. They have to make a heroic shot or get an offensive rebound but the first shot is always highly contested and many of the passes are tipped or forced out of the pattern. On offense, we look so good it is like a miracle. I predicted before the season started that this could be one of the best shooting teams ever for the Bills if Ellis could return to form and Loe could hit some 3s. Ellis looks like a different player on both ends. Loe is playing tougher and Conklin is like an old time NBA low post player who is clever and just finds a way to score against much bigger players. I really feared a letdown tonight but the team was great. Go Bills!

I am amazed at how little your really know about basketball. Obviously, you have never played or coached and you just spout out your opinions like you are the oracle of basketball. This team just won 6 games by double digits and dominated teams with your so called superior athletes. Washington has three or four NBA first round draft choices and yet we absolutely destroyed them. Villanova is big and strong and tough and we won big. Oklahoma looked like world beaters in their early games but we beat them by 20 points. The fact is that good tough smart players who can defend and shoot will always be able to compete at a high level. look at Larry Bird and Kevin McHale--they would never meet your definition of great athletes yet they were great players who knew how to compete and win. Even Magic Johnson was not a high flying athlete but he was a brilliant player who saw things that no one else saw. Even last year's NBA champs had an MVP who is not a great athlete but he is a smart player who can shoot who competes hard. Ellis and Low are getting better every day. Conklin is playing fantastic. KM, KC and JJ have proven they can compete with your so called athletes. This is maybe the best set of game performances by a Billiken team in 40 years when you consider the competition and the level of dominance. I want these kind of players not your pie in the sky new recruiting focus for athletes.

I taped and watched the game with Santa Clara. Oklahoma is very athletic and strong. They have some very nice inside players with Osby as a big challenge on the boards. Their point guard is super quick and very tough and they play tough defense. They do not seem to be as disciplined as we are on offense but we will have to play very well to beat them.

I think Rob has the fire but he just needs about 20 pounds of muscle and another year of hard coaching on positioning in the low post. It is remarkable how much better Cody is playing and he still has room to get stronger and better. With our younger guys on the bench like Manning pushing Loe he will need to get better and I think he will. Wow, do we have a great group of guards and they defend like crazy and take care of the ball beautifully. I do not think we have ever had a team with the quality of talent at the 7-8- and 9 positions like we do now!

This is already one of the most interesting teams we have had in some time. We have played some pretty good teams and we have blown out several early and gone down early to others but it is very impressive that even when we were down 10 today and Villanova was looking strong and tough we came back and won by double digits. Early in the game I was have a heart attack because I thought we really needed this game for national recognition. After the game the talking heads are really giving us some nice pub with Gottleib saying that we were definitely an NCAA tournament team. I am not sure that is the case but we sure look like a team that would be dangerous to play. Our defensive intensity is good and can get better and if we shoot like we did today from the 3 we can literally play with almost any team in the country. JJ had a great offensive game but I think the key to the game was his defense on Wayans after he got off to the huge start. JJ made it very tough for him to get open looks. The great thing is that this team has terrific depth and virtually every player has room to improve in one or more areas so with this veteran coaching staff we may be better in March than we are now. WOW! Go Bills!

I agree that a win would be big for a team that has received some nice publicity in the early going but needs to get another big win to keep the momentum in the press. We will need to really play a great game to beat this team. Maybe our travel rust or turkey fatigue will have worn off and we can play like we did in the first half against Washington. Their big guys are big and tough and their guards are big and tough so we need to strap on the helmets and push back! If Loe or Ellis can get hot from outside it would be huge. They are getting wide open shots! Go Bills!

You are right but I did follow the score last night and TS stayed in the game and was only down 10 with about 15 minutes to go in the game but then they got blitzed as they got tired late.

Conklin, imo, is a classic example of a smart hardworking player who can be "coached up" by a coach like Rick M. He came in with almost no low post cleverness--but a lot of energy--and he now has some of the moves of classic drop step and go around players like the old Celtics. Cassidy is another example-- except on the defensive end--he arrived as a smart and energetic player who could not guard anyone off the dribble. Now he is as fundamentally sound a defender as we could have and he runs the offense with KM beautifully. If you give RM and this staff 2-3 years with players who are smart and have an intense dedication to get better they do not have to be 5 star recruits for them to be very good players by their junior and senior years. I actually think losing our two assistants may have been a blessing in disguise because you now have two more very experienced head coaches to really work with and teach our kids in addition to Coach M. Go Bills!

I also watched that game and the difference is that Washington is a dramatically more talented team with great athletes and shooters. I was shocked at the lack of athletes and general bad play and fundamentally flawed defense by ND. Abromitas was the only person who could hit an open shot and the guards from MU went around the slow footed ND defenders like they were standing still. When you have no fear that the other team could ever rally in a million years it is easy to free wheel and gun up shots!

UMass murdered BC 82-46--How could that game be shown as even!!!!!!!

The replay showed that it was a great clean block--against a 7 footer who they say will go to the NBA!

We have had many debates on this board about our team the past few years, particularly last year when we lost by far our best two players just before the season started. We have had to play with freshman and sophs playing big minutes and taking on important roles on the team. The results were predictable with many mistakes including turnovers and lapses on defense. The teams did not consistantly execute on the offensive or defensive end. Fast forward to this year and although it is still early and we could still fall on our collective faces, it is much more unlikely that will happen because for the first time in many years we have high quality depth and some fine senior and junior leaders. As a diehard fan I was very disappointed that I could not attend yesterday because I was out of town but I watched the game on TV and several thing really stood out: 1. Kyle C had a fantastic game. If you watch the tape he was playing the game of his life on defense, in the face of bigger and more athletic guards and he chased them all around the court-and he had 4 steals!. On offense, he was senior steady with his ball handling--7 assists and no turnovers against a team that was very tough. 2. Brian Conklin, our second senior has improved so much it is almost hard to believe he is the same player. His footwork is masterful and he is tough as nails going to the basket. His free throw shooting is much improved and he fights hard on defense. He is a completely different player than he was as a frosh and the staff gets huge credit for helping him become a truly effective low post threat. 3. KM had his best game yet since he came back and his confidence and assured demeanor was obvious to all, including his own teammates. As a redshirt junior he now has the savvy and toughness of a seasoned vet and he really played good defense as well. 4. Cody Ellis is a much tougher and more disciplined player both on offense and on defense. He is starting to really play big and can crash the boards--he also has become a very effective big on the blocks when he gets position and blocks out for rebounds. The part of his game that is yet to come around is his long range shooting but the other aspects of his game have really come along. He is only a year and a half into his career but he is so much better and tougher on the inside. This is not intended to minimize the contributions of our other 5 players who are all making excellent contributions but the fact is that we now have seniors and juniors who have demonstrated what we have been missing--the toughness, leadership and court awareness that comes from working in the Majerus system for two or more years. Go Bills!

Please tell us all of the names you have used before--you are an idiot troll that no one wants to hear from. Go away!

I don't know which of the trolls you are with a new name but please go away. We have enough flamers and we do not need another idiot.

I could not agree more. The year that Tommie and Kevin were playing so well they were absolutely mugged on numerous occasions and the refs called nothing. We need to get out of this game without any injuries. I am sure the refs will do everything they can to keep it close. I hope we are in a comfortable lead at the end and can send in GG to be our policeman!

We play SIUC on the road and then host Washington and then play BC, maybe Villanova and possibly New Mexico and then we go to Loyola Marymount-- a team that tonight easily handled top 20 ranked UCLA on their(temporary) home court. This early schedule is really tough!!!!!!!

Just got back from the game and I must say that a number of us who were there thought this was the best overall game we played in many years. The defense was absolutely fantastic. I was concerned that the defense we demonstrated in the exhibitions would carry over but they looked like a completely different team tonight. The effort was just outstanding. TSt. is a very athletic group which will score plenty of points but we just closed them out at every turn. Our depth will really help our defense because everyone will be fresh all the time as we rotate players in and out. Offensively we shot the ball fantastic in the second half and overall the shooting was fine. KM is still rusty but he hit a couple of pure 3s in the second half off of great passes. Cody Ellis looked like the guy we recruited and the Cody who played two years ago. But he is a much improved defender and rebounder. Wow--if he can play like that it will be a huge boost to this team. McCall looked like the player from last year and made some absolutely brilliant finger roll layups from mid range. His defense was much better and so was his passing. It is almost impossible to describe the difference between our team tonight and the team I watched in the exhibitions. I give the coaching staff huge credit. They really had this team ready to play tonight. Go Bills.

I agree that you cannot call a two player class "great". I know the coach and staff are very happy to get these two players but time will tell how good they can be.

I think the quality of our recruiting has improved dramatically since Coach Majerus arrived-- in terms of two things, the ability to close the deal with good players and the good planning to always have a back up plan if some of our targets decide that they are interested in another school. Brad S could identify good talent most of the time although Shaw and Harrelson are two exceptions, but most of the time we finished second on the players he liked and we seemed to have no plan in place to find really good players to sign so we stretched a lot to sign others who did not seem to have the talent or the basketball IQ to play in our league. After we signed Tommie and Kevin we never really signed any players to match their talent and fill out the roster. Lorenzo R got in the door of a bunch of players like those he has signed in Washington but he could not close the deal so we were left with a questionable group when he left. NH is a semi informed and biased fan who seems to think that every school signs all of the players they want and if they miss on some then the players they sign have to be lousy. The fact is that every team in the country misses on a lot of players. Even the holy grail of Kansas this year has missed on almost all of their top targets and most of their secondary targets. We have been fortunate to sign two players who the staff believes to be excellent with a lot of potential. I love the idea of having another Evans type player who is taller with a long reach and can shoot the three ball. I love the idea of having another Chicago point guard like McCall who is a pure passer and can keep the defense honest as a penetrator and shooter of threes. But the fact is that this year we have talent. The key question in my mind is how quickly the "new" players, including KM, can shake off the rust and fit in. JB looks rusty. Chemistry will be a big issue as well. These kids obviously like each other but they also need to play together effectively on the floor. The huge unknown is whether Loe and Ellis can shoot the ball effectively and be tough enough to compete on the inside. I think before the season is over our guards will be fine but beyond Evans and Conklin I see our bigs as potential question marks. I hope like heck this is the year but a lot of things will need to fall in place for us to make the big dance. Go Bills!

I think I was confused by some of the earlier posts-- I think everyone realizes that he has to be a starter. My bad!

It is absolutely shocking to me that anyone could leave DE out of the starting lineup. He is our best rebounder, our most clever inside scorer, our most athletic big man and our best hustle guy of all the bigs. The comparison between him and CR in terms of overall impact on the game is not even close. Cory seems to be trying hard and he can block a few shots but DE is a much better and effective all around player by far!

I know this sounds stupidly simplistic but the bottom line is that if we can shoot the ball at a decent percentage and defend effectively without unnecessary fouling we have a chance to win our fair share of the early games. If we shoot poorly from 3 we will have to be incredibly good on defense to win and I do not yet see this team as incredible defenders. The glass is still half full but I am in a bit of a show me state sort of view right now!

I have been with the team several times at events and practices and once at a barbecue and they all looked fitter and stronger. ET is pretty thin but he just got here. KC is clearly bigger as is Evans. Cody Ellis looks like a new person who has shed his extra weight and put on muscle. Same for Loe although he is only a soph and big men take more time to bulk up. Cory is bigger and stronger as is McCall and Jett and KM look very strong. I know the staff is extremely high on the strength and conditioning coach so I don't think they agree with you.

I think the decision to redshirt ET is a good one. He clearly needs a year in the weight room and he is a similar player to KC so next year he can come in like he was a new recruit with 4 years of eligibility and fill in his spot. I have only seen him a couple of times but I like his shot and his release and he appears to be quick. He also looks to be about 6'6" when you stand close and talk to him. With the others I think the decision is more difficult. GG is clearly strong enough to step in and play and if we get in foul trouble, which is definitely possible then I can see him getting some minutes in relief. He will have to learn the offense and the defense but he seems to me to be the kind of player who is not pretty but gets the job done. We have an awful lot of tough strong inside guys about his size in the league and after Conklin has battled them for a long time it would be nice to have a tough guy to give us some minutes. The problem now is that no one knows whether Cody is ready to mix it up like we need him to in the paint. If he cannot hit the open shots--and he missed several wide open shots last night-- then GG, particularly after a few months of coaching from this veteran staff, may be better able to hit the defensive and offensive boards and defend tough 6'7" guys. Manning is really difficult to figure. Any 6'11" big man frosh just out of high school would benefit from a year hitting the weights and learning how to play a more sophisticated low post game. Yet in practice and on the trip to Canada we have seen moments when JM seems like with a little more coaching he can give us some productive minutes off the bench this year. It seems like it is unfair to the player to tell him he is going to redshirt and then take off the redshirt in the middle of the season because someone gets hurt. He then loses an entire year. In any event, we will be a pretty deep team compared to the past. I was shocked to see that it appeared we had a team of McCall, Loe, Ellis, Barnett and Dwayne Evans as the second team coming off the bench last night. Of course, Loe was injured but that would be a fine five players, possibly a starting five last year. I hated our sloppiness last night but we do have players!