courtside

Gotcha. Take Alex Kohnen...big kid, so awkward and out of shape as Frosh, he couldn't catch a ball if you threw it to him, and couldn't run up and down the floor once without oxygen. Kid worked his butt off, went on to star at Navy, one of so many stories..nice 33 ACT btw too. The point I was making to Torch, was DeSmet over the past several decades have won with overachiving team playing smart fundamentals etc...Not the superstar talented kids...sure a Keppel or Stipo come along once a decade. But so many kids are like the one above. Now if you go by this year's team, they turn it over a lot because they have ZERO point guards on the roster. Not a one. And really lack strong guard play to consistently knock down 3's so Brandenburg doesn't face 3 collapsing defenders every time he touches it. DeSmet has little else...couple of serviceable post players, a hustling soccer stud who does the little things. It was a post more for him who couldn't be more wrong about the history of DeSmet basketball. Only the V has been more successful in the area. As for Ahearn, he at least is a great shooter, Polk isn't. And he gets to the line more...still not enough for my taste...and obviously leads country in percentage. He obviously would have helped SLU a lot...something many choose to ignore on the board outside of you and a few others.

>> you may want to try up the road at Chaminade. > >Remind me again -- Stipanovich transferred from where to >where? I knew you were disguised as Mimlitz Tell him hello. Is he still collecting money "Teaching gym."....wishing he had more summer camp $$.

>AlumniFan's right. I'm lucky I didn't have DeSmet as a >choice. If I'd only been able to get into UMSL (or Meramec), >I never would have built up such a strong allegiance to SLU. Perhaps Brandenburg should take his 30 ACT and play elsewhere?(JR is a good friend though)

UW loaded with impressive Frosh and Sophs...tough game for Dentmon, ...UCLA is a team that can win in half court or uptempo, something a lot of teams can't do, and they can defend. UW also has yet another good class for next year too. Back to back years with impressive local kids...Romar got Brockman to stay home instead of Dukle, and Hawes to stay home instead of UNC. UW is a nice top 25 level team, that teams need to beat this year, because next year, if Hawes stays, they will be among nation's best, and elite.

Depends on year and where I am etc.....I travel a lot and that factors into where and when I get to stuff.

I am not sure I understand the joke...but I know he was a me first player who didn't play defense in school etc....I just have to laugh hard out loud at the notion DeSmet recruits...DeSmet and SLUH don't. And that DeSmet somehow wins with superior talent but less on team players who overachieve with hard work and fundamentals...that is exactly how they have done it for 30 years. Wish more area teams did it that way...and some of the more athletic teams could become great teams and not just very athleticly talented teams. There have been some really bad coaches for some very talented players over the years. Couldn't resist the Bobby Keppel comments..who has overcome years of minor league bus rides and shoulder problems to pitch in majors last year. The guy has Kramer Soderberg fire.

>You'd think a school with that kind of recruiting budget >could do better, wouldn't you? ;) 52-29 my friend. Unfortunately DeSmet doesn't recruit for basketball or any sports...you may want to try up the road at Chaminade and CBC however. ;-)

>courtside is likely distracted today after that huge >marquette win vs savanaugh state. I'm not much of a fan of that type of scheduling for any school, but every school has their handful of non-conference cupcakes, SLU included. There are maybe 5 schools in the country with strong teams from major conferences that have very few of those games, and have tough schedules, and they still have those games. The difference is that SLU has to schedule as tough as possible non-conference because of their conference this year. Most coaches who have a Frosh/Soph dominated team like Marquette are going to have those games early on, especially when the conference play is the Big East. They won a tourney over T Tech and Duke, and lost a close one to Wisconsin as well, but looking at it still could have scheduled a bit tougher. And when their conference rolls around, the RPI top 50 games will be there. Florida is currently barely in top 50 RPI for example. Mizzou, another young team with new players, new coach, building confidence in pre big conference play. SLU has much improved scheduling, not sure it is improved enough, but it has improved a lot. And they are right where they were expected to be. If they can finish top 2 in conference and not lose early in A10 tourney, they will be in good shape.

>No offense to any of the DeSmet brethren on the board but >that is a school full of headcases. DeSmet's coach doesn't >run a real disciplined program, consistently there are 12th >guys off the bench for DeSmet who think they are Jordan. >Brandenberg doesn't strike me as a headcase. He simply >knows he is head and shoulders better than his teammates and >they have the gall not to defer to him. He has >inconsistencies in his game but I like his emotion on the >court, too many guys are just smooth and refuse to play >intensely. Brandenberg certainly doesn't fall into the mold >of prima donnas like Ahearn and Keppel that DeSmet usually >churns out. He has some fire in him though, which Baniak >never did which caused him to backup a player with half his >skill most of his college career. I think you are letting Ahearn, an atypical DeSmet player cloud your judgement. Ahearn is the exception. You completely lost me when you called Keppel a prima donna ...not close to accuracy. He played point guard, out of position because of his unselfishness and led a team to a state title over the V. You are kidding me right? Same prima donna who after signing a pro baseball contract for 7 figures, still attended classes at Notre Dame in the off-seasons. DeSmet just lacks talent at other positions...talent they had in past decades and at turn of this century. They have simply been down in talent past few years. All the fundamentals in the world won't make Peeples even serviceable, won't make Wessling any fitter, won't make Kroeker any tougher. The next best player is Will Bruin on their team. DeSmet doesn't have any players on their team that think they are Jordan??? Not this year's team. Couldn't disagree more on DeSmet overall. Baniak played on two Final Four teams in high school, not too many other high schoolers can say that...and it wasn't because he was supremely talented, it was because he was fundamentally sound and a smart player. While Ahearn would be the one exception I can think of as being more of a me first player...you then discuss fire and effort, of which I don't think anyone can question with his limited athleticism, his fire and effort took him to a state title game in high school and a successful D-I college career against bigger more athletic players. Other than the past few years when their talent is down and thus fundamentals decrease...DeSmet is always in the mix and by far best program in Missouri next to the V the past several decades because of the effort and fundamentals going up against much more athletic kids from other schools. Perhaps they should recruit like some other schools? Perhaps they should look at the coach? or perhaps in cyclical fashion that will come back around again.

>courtside is likely distracted today after that huge >marquette win vs savanaugh state. Can't take the Roy out of Roy, old timer. Always trying to instigate with others. Enjoy life, it is a wonderful gift. I am going to watch the Washington game today as well, should I root hard for UCLA?...lol.

>courtside said....."KS lacks athleticism....."first year on >bench adjusting to D1 pace, strength and size"......"his >handle isn't strong enough for major D1"..... > >and then courtside says....."he(KS) is already better than >Polk"..... > >Thru 13 games of the 2006-07 season Polk is shooting FGs at >a 41% clip, FTs at a 77% clip, has 38 rebounds, 6 blocks and >13 steals, averaging >7 points per game and has 36 assist and 20 turnovers. > >If KS is already better than Polk....why will his first year >have "alot of bench time"? It was sarcasm...but seriously let's break it down...what you didn't point out was that Polk doesn't even average two free throw attempts per game. He hasn't attempted very many two pointers or three pointers, and is hitting an abysmal 29% from three. His assist to turnover ratio has improved steadily, but he again in 3 seasons has not averaged 3 or more asists per game. His asset is quickness but doesn't finish the break the few times he starts one or is a part of one and doesn't create for others. He is at a large size disadvantage against many bigger players and the very good teams can match his quickness. Where do you see his best contributions to be a starter? Is his defense that exceptional in your opinion? I am assuming and hoping SLU's recruiting will progress and get better....that is the idea isn't it? Perhaps because he is the only quick player on the team, and people get excited by that? Not sure what you see that I don't. Even if he drastically improves for his senior year, that is one year of being a good solid player, and I thought people wanted more than that?? I posted the poll and people said NCAA's every year. SLU needs to upgrade if that is to happen. As for KS...obviously he is at a disadvantage athletically, and height-wise. His work ethic, extraordinarily tough demeanor, and shooting ability are his assets. He needs quicker feet.(the biggest difference between recruits at all levels) He can learn ball handling. Not sure if he will attend SLU. We shall see how he does rest of this season and summer. Obviously he will need to work on his handle and develop his passing skills because that is his future at next level. On paper he isn't a major D-I player but I wouldn't count him out. His basketball IQ is high, his shooting exceptional,(from two and three and draws fouls) plays hard all the time and makes good decisions, and he is a winner. Will be interesting to see what happens with him when he stares down much bigger more athletic kids that he isn't facing in STL are high school ball this year.

Fair enough, we will agree to disagree. I thought much of the post play was well called, the block shots vs fouls called well, didn't call Polk for the transisiton carry late...but called one each way to emphasize the point to both teams. Officials seemed to correctly confer on out of bounds plays under basket and sides, to get the right call. ...etc...People seem to be upset about the same two calls, and somehow that escalates I suppose in their opinion...or maybe it is just the thought of tiny DP being triple teamed by much bigger players...and that is one that will standout with emotions of the local fans at the game. And it didn't help that SLU once again struggled in full court trapping pressure. I think if emotions are left out of it...tough for many to do, I was very satisfied with the officiating. I don't think ANY SLU fan can say SLU got jobbed in this game and had to overcome the officiating and Ole Miss...imo that would clearly not be an honest assessment of the game. In short, they were fine.

Had Ole Miss gotten anything out of their big men offensively, would have been different outcome. They struggled finishing near the basket on good looks. Meyer found ways to get open for an in-between game, to be a 3rd offensive contributor to Liddell and Lisch. Surprised at just how open Lisch got in 2nd half of of the pass many times, and to his credit hit his shots. Poor decisions by Ole Miss last 5 minutes, not running offense, forcing bad shots. SLU definitley defended much better in 2nd half as well. Polk with another poor game, doesn't make quality decisions in transition...what few chances he gets in transition and in the half court. Liddell the only player to get easy baskets for SLU based on his ability to take it to basket and finish and play in the lane. Full court pressure once again hurt the Bills, but Miss got away from it in 2nd half. Any win is a good one, and SLU had just enough at home against a similar level club.

> Sorry, but you missed that game. 2 charges and a block >from Ian all shown again on the video ... the mugging a Polk >mentioned above ... that is quick just off the top of my >head. > > > Official Billikens.com sponsor of H >Waldman > >Official Sponser of the Stemmler and Ahearn could and would >have helped club. Only one replay was shown on the board in first half, a complaint of mine. I thought IV's block late in game looked clean. I agree with that one. You mentioned just a couple of plays...the same couple of plays others are talking about over a 40 minute game.....Like I said, I thought the officiating was a non-factor most definitely in this game, for reasons above. ....name many games where you or a lot on the board don't get upset at the officiating? I understand some are like that. But I have my opinion, and I can say without hesitation, that the officiating was fine. Plenty of times I will rip an official(Tim Higgins, Ed Hightower) generally not favorites of mine but when they do well or poorly or in between I will notice and judge individually each game. No official will get 100% calls correct. Today's officiating was very solid imo. I was content with it. You can hold a different opinion, that's fine.

>Have to disagree with nate and agree with 3star here. > >Brandenberg has tons of potential but he's not a SLU starter >at this point and might not be his freshman year. It is a >fallacy that Desmet does not play a style that fits >Brandenberg, they do very much so. Brandenberg is a little >too wired up, he's herky jerky in his motions in the post. >He's very athletic for a kid so young and so tall, but he >can't handle the ball and drive to the basket to utilize it. > DeSmet has another post player, a chubby 6'6 kid who gets >tons of touches in the paint. He gets touches cuz he has >much better footwork, and much better touch on his shot. >Brandenberg at this point can't shoot better than 30% on >anything other than dunks. He is top 100 on potential. >That said i'd love to have him. If he and Thompson come >together brandenberg is probably Thompson's backup from day >one till graduation. Unlike Brandenberg Thompson has >footwork and clean moves around the hoop and can finish. I'd agree with some of that...some I know think Brandenburg is a head case that won't figure it out...does some strange things at odd times, but then shows the great athleticism as well. I know he has been frustrating to plenty. But with all of that potential, if and when he figures it out, he would a big time player. Bigs always take longer to develop, and bigs with athleticism are tough to find.

Also took another look at K Soderberg last night against a solid Webster team. Two 3 guard offenses going at it. Liked how KS got his points, because Wrickerson made him work for every one. He plays smart, extremely accurate from deep, off of pump fakes..shoots most of his shots top of key...still doesn't go left well, surprised he kept trying it late. If you leave him alone, he buries you. He deferred to teammates late in game in tight game. Doesn't turn it over or try to do too much. He was matched by Hanlen for Webster...though they didn't guard each other...KS guarded Hanlen, but Hanlen guarded others. KS lacks athleticism, and will find it tough going to create his own shot off dribble vs bigger more athletic guards. His handle isn't strong for major D-1, but that can improve. I think there is a place for him on the team, and as he gets a little stronger etc...would be a nice 3 year contributor, seeing his first year as a lot of bench time adjusting to the pace, and strength and size. He is already better than Polk...much different players of course. SLU would also need a bigger shooting guard and wing that can shoot. He knows how to win and competes every possesion, etc...best thing he can do is keep improving his ball handling. He didn't get to the line much against an equally matched Webster group. Hanlen does all of his scoring in transition to the basket or free throw line, did nothing in the half court. He would be another shoot first point guard...but if you can shoot like him and play as smart, that is okay...if he can improve some of the other areas...can see him being crafty enough at next level to get time.

>I know how much you like Brandenburg Nate but his scoring is >actually down from last year and his field goal percentage >is surprisingly low for a player his size who rarely shoots >outside of 7 feet. His rebounding has been just OK. Unless >he really picks it up in the 2nd half of the year, he may >have played himself out of top 100 status. Last night would be a typical example of DeSmet playing a solid Troy team...Troy triple teamed Brandenburg the entire game. DeSmet's guards are not strong to feed him the ball, and Steiner needs to run more plays to him. He hasn't successfully developed him all that much. His development has been in summer ball. I know Dresler is no longer assisting Steiner, and it shows. DeSmet was down 3, not playing well at all in 4th quarter and lost by 13. Brandenburg had terrific summer. He does not have a great supporting cast. His best teammate is an All American soccer player who plays hoops as second sport. Easily the worst fundamentally sound DeSmet team in long time..regressing in recent years. They don't have a point guard on the roster. Steiner sat him a long time in the game after he had hard foul on a Troy player. Steiner is a little soft and I couldn't believe how long he sat him. So...with all that said, Brandenburg had a lot of nice shots go down and out...he has nice touch anywhere 12 feet in and free throws. He is still somewhat of a headcase at times...freaks out every once in a while, but he is long, soft hands, good passer, good rebounder, shot blocker, runs floor extremely well. Big men always take longer to develop. He is legit 6'11 and gets 1.5 yrs more of high school ball.

> you are kidding? > > > Official Billikens.com sponsor of H >Waldman > >Official Sponser of the Stemmler and Ahearn could and would >have helped club. No, not at all. It wasn't one sided either way, it was consistent, and other than a few calls at most, I thought they did well. Officiating cost SLU nothing in this game.

Flame and torch all you want, but for those that didn't see the game, I thought for the most part it was very well officiated. No problems with zebras today.

When did Alton become a great team? For the record, the competition was not as extremely pathetic as scheduling bottom level Chicago teams in recent past seasons...but not cream of the crop teams either. Union City is not ranked top 10 in Nashville area, let alone state of Tennessee. They are decent however. Can't say the same for Tulsa Science and Tech. The teams from Arkansas and Miss or solid clubs if Vashon will be playing them. Some of the teams mixed in the event are a lot better than others.

Not sure I would call St. Joe's two point loss to Hofstra as that bad. Hofstra has been very good past few years, and is at least respectable this year.

I wouldn't even go that far Skip. Liddell is a natural wing and Polk is a natural two guard. Polk could be an acceptable two guard playing the point, but he can't shoot. If you can't shoot, can't create for others, and can't finish in the lane on your own, and are undersized, not accomplishing enough out there for me. He can be undersized if he finished more in the lane, and shot better from deep. It would be more acceptable. IMO, SLU needs two point guards.

I have no doubt the copy desk wouldn't get it right nor care nor take the time....but any decent sports fan should know it is simply Wisconsin .....and to others it can also be called Madison or Bucky. It is if not knowing about the War Eagle at Auburn, etc..or even more simply not calling Boston College BC,....or that kids who go to Notre Dame are Domers. Ole Miss....is a lot shorter than M I crooked letter crooked letter I crooked letter crooked letter I hump back hump back I.;-)

Florida's RPI for example jumped 25 spots with a win at home over Ohio St. Wait for conference...all of those cupcake scheduling big conference schools' rpi will shoot right up in their conference play. Some of those teams schedule early for wins...and fight it out in conference hoping for 8-8 or better in conference play, to get 20 wins, a nice rpi, and dance invite. Clemson was forced to win 12-13 games before being ranked at least. But they will have great opportunity in ACC to get a few high quality wins to help them out.

>I disagree on the PG comment. Right now Kevin, Dwayne, and >Tommie are 10,13,14 respectively in the A-10. In my PG, I >want the ability to bring the ball up the court and find the >open man. These guys have all demonstrated beyond a doubt >the ability to do this. > >A Brandon Wright is still at the top of my wish list. Couldn't disagree more, and we will agree to disagree.