courtside

12 year $500 million goes to $600 million if 12 teams. The deal is about half way through right now. The Big East also does a sub licensing agreement with CBS for a limited number of games in addition to Fox. Madison Square Garden deal goes to 2028. http://www.bigeast.com/news/2019/5/9/mens-basketball-big-east-cbs-continue-broadcast-agreement.aspx

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jppelzman/2018/11/14/big-east-still-surviving-and-thriving-without-big-time-football/

Dain Dainja a name favorite with a SLU offer (among a ton of others) committed to Baylor yesterday. It will be interesting to see if Dawson Garcia goes with him or elsewhere.

Agreed with the above few posts. Some recruits have little to no local school(s) interest, some have some and move on, and some keep them in it to the end or choose a local school. Each recruit is different. And of course some recruits either blossom more over time, peak younger or have steady improvement as well. There is some value in my opinion to observe the path of some, especially ones good enough to play at SLU. The staff is well aware who is interested and isn’t. A random player example that comes to mind in the 2020 class is is Jaden Ivey. While Jaden is not from St. Louis, his mom is as well as lots of family. Jaden was something of a late bloomer. He has no big offers at all until he went to a Purdue camp and Matt Painter offered him when no one else did. By the time Mike Brey (the local school where his mom is a former player and ) became interested, as well as others, it became too late. Jaden picked Purdue. It’s an apples to oranges comparison. But it was an under the radar later blooming player with St. Louis ties.

84 teams are in this year’s tourney. I believe 97 last year. Fellow USL team New Mexico United also made the quarterfinals with a 2-1 over MLS FC Dallas. .....upsets happen once in a while. .....Speaking of amateur teams, Bavarians of Milwaukee are the reigning men’s national champions and therefore received an auto invite to participate. (their 7th in about 40 plus years) The tourney in various forms is 105 years old.

Chris Bruch announced his transfer from the University of Wisconsin to SLU. He has 3 years remaining. He played his first two high school years at Peoria Notre Dame before before playing two years with St. Louis FC Academy. Had a breakout goal scoring year there. Former U Wisconsin camper. John Trask has had a lot of success recruiting St. Louis kids over the years at his various stops. Prior to St. Louis FC academy, Bruch spent several years with St. Louis Scott Gallagher. He will be playing with several familiar teammates and coaches. He will provide depth up front at forward as well as midfield for SLU.

Cam’Ron Fletcher was offered by North Carolina today. He has also been offered by Vanderbilt and NC St. last week.

You’re welcome.

I’m not sure. The older version of Brian “BJ”Johnson was a former MLS-er out of Fresno St. Assisted at West Virginia briefly. Coached about 5 years in U.S. National team youth system, most notably head coach 14’s as well as scouting various age groups. For the past several years he has been Youth Technical Director with the Indiana Fire .....The SLU commit Brian “BJ” Johnson is a long time Houston Dynamo Academy player, for many years.....cerebral, high motor, vocal, defensive midfielder organizer ball winner type of player.

Brian Johnson, 2020 Midfielder, trains with the Houston Dynamo Academy, attends Strake Jesuit, verbally committed to SLU over the weekend

http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=211804500

2019 Oton Jankovic, 6’9 forward from Monteverde, FL, by way of California Prolific Prep, and his native Croatia, committed to Vanderbilt this morning. He had visited SLU and Georgia Tech, and considered some others.

Rick is the oldest son of Rich. He played at DeSmet, then Division II in college at Regis and Rockhurst. He graduated high school the same year as Anthony Bonner.

Love has never shown interest in SLU. But, he is a local player, offered by SLU. Dainja, SLU isn’t getting in early for him. Some were able to get in early and saw his promise. He continues to blossom in a big way. He took unofficial visits to Baylor, Illinois, Marquette, Minnesota, Northwestern. He is taking official visits to Ohio St., Louisville and others. His teammate is Jalen Suggs, a 5 star recruit whom many regard as the best point point guard in his class. Suggs has been offered by a who’s who of schools. So, a who’s who of coaches regularly attend their games. (Suggs is also one of the best football QB’s nationally) Dainja would be a great get. Competition will be steep.