courtside

>This is a super opportunity for our team with the first >sellout in quite some time. If our guys can deliver with a >big win (I realize we will have to bring our A game and UNC >will have to have an off night) it would be huge for the >program. I will be rooting at a local sports bar if I can >find one that will put it on. Just call around...ANY place that calls themselves a sports bar would get ESPNU...and Friday nnight shouldn't have too much other programming.

Only a matter of time with you Roy. You get into it with 90% of the people on this board and the other 10% ignore you. You only like people who do rah rah cartwheels with blue colored glasses on the board, or hold the same opinions as yours on other topics. You are an extremely opinionated person, as am I and many other people, but the difference is you can't handle opinions that differ from yours without emotions getting the best of you. If you have read oh about a dozen of my posts before and after the game, I predicted SLU to win, and said a win is a win several times, and that is all that matters. As I just said in my post, it was a good win for SLU. I didn't find a lot attractive about the game. It was a good win for SLU, but an ugly win. If you can't see that beyond your bias, I can understand that. Wouldn't be the first time nor last. SLU played poorly, and MSU, like it or not let them back in the game on their own many times, as well as SLU creating their own opportunities. What "bothers the hell out of you" is when anybody on the board disagrees with you. That is your problem, not mine. You won't be affecting my posts. I don't seem to have this problem with other posters, just you. And you seem to have this problem with a lot of posters. SLU found a way to win an ugly game, which was an important win for SLU. MANY other posters metioned the anemic offense, or turnovers, etc... I do my rooting at games, not on a message board. I go to plenty of SLU games in multiple sports for decades and root just fine. Funny, we don't get these problems in our soccer threads. Everyone roots for the team, speaks intelligently, objectively, and even disagrees from time to time in a respectful manner. You won't find me writing dollar signs when I spell Missouri etc...that just isn't going to happen. It isn't objective. I'm objective, you're not. And that is fine. I was disappointed with IV's 6 turovers in a yet another game, needs to be cleaned up, but he did some other things very well.

Why do you listen to Kevin Slaten if you dislike him so much. It can'tbe entertaining for you. Just don'tlisten to him. ...As for the game, 22 turnovers, not a lot of flow, very low scoring, it was an ugly game. And it will not be a game that will generate much interest from non-observers or even casual observers. It was a good win for SLU. But it was ugly.

Make sure you hit Stanley's Kitchen for brunch the next day, longtime favorite of mine. It is excellent.

Just saying it is a different experience. If you have never been to Chapel Hill...just sayin'

>sure they called fouls, but not enough. you cant let >mi$$ouri play like that. pushing, pulling, holding, >slapping, that isnt basketball. but sadly it has become >closer to the norm. > >i have always said, call EVERYTHING. the rule book defines >fouls, call what is in the rule book. if you want a copy of >the rules courtside, i am sure i can find it for you on the >internet. why cant refs call the rules as written? Sad and unneccessary that you have to be a dick with everyone on theboard at one time or another. Gee BillikenRoy could you please please explain the rules of basketball because I don't understand them...oh goody gee. Thanks.

Not sure how many Carolina fans would show couple of days before Christmas vs SLU....but often times bars in that neighborhood...colleges have their own bar and it get pretty raucous and crowded with that school's fans...if it isn't something you want to deal with....you could try a Kincaid's or wherever....etc..Not sure of UNC's support there....if it were Big Ten or even the likes of Dayton etc..and others, wouldn't want to go to opposing school's bar. Not worth the hassle. But UNC, ...perhaps some recent co-ed grads in the house, and that DEFINITELY isn't SLU. ;-)

>I don't know what will happen. I would guess that they >would sign a similiar deal since Bo is in favor of playing >those games. I would guess that Wisconsin would get a >similar deal. > >Marquette finally signed a similar deal (5 year with UWM >hosting one year) with UWM. >I don't know what will happen. I would guess that they >would sign a similiar deal since Bo is in favor of playing >those games. I would guess that Wisconsin would get a >similar deal. > >Marquette finally signed a similar deal (5 year with UWM >hosting one year) with UWM. Yep that is what I was looking for. It is somewhat misleading to say all of the UW schools play each other etc...not on equal footing. They ae 4 and 1's. UWM didn't want to play Marquette on a 4 and 1 and wanted more money than Bucky, so they didn't play for a while. UWM wanted a better deal than what UW gives and Marquette offered same deal. UWM said no. i.e. ..Regardless, I don't think Missouri St. would play 4 and 1's etc...with SLU or Mizzou. It is rather easy to come on hear and say a school or schools play the other teams in state when they are 4 and 1's.(Missouri, SLU, Missouri St. are more ideal for home and homes) I have a question Bucky. When Soderberg coached at Madison, he had one year as head coach, made the NCAA's. Prior, as assistant to Dick Bennett, team made the Final Four, albeit with 6th place conference team and cindarella run...but every time I hear from Madison people, they are relentless with their dislike of Soderberg (as coach, not person). I was curious why this was so. I know when he was assistant Badegers won 20 games for first time EVER in school's program.(found that stat hard to believe myself, never haveing won 20 games prior) He had all of one season and was run out of town, coming off of the 6th place season prior to his being head coach.

>that wasnt basketball at the scotttrade last nite, that was >championship college rugby. > >welmer and burr must be getting old or maybe those new >whistles just didnt work. Are you referring to to Missouri/Illinois game? I thoughtit was called incredibly tight myself.

So when is the last time Wisconsin played AT UWM or UWGB??? Just curious. Not in Madison.

Well if this is the official post-game thread...SLU won with rebounding and defense. Somehow with only 2 bench points, 10 percent 3pt shooting, playing roughly 6-7 guys...22 turnovers. But a win is a win as I said before. And I expected SLU to win this game, as said before-hand. It is a good solid home win for SLU. MSU doesn't have enough inside to get easy baskets when they aren't getting it from elsewhere. And they didn't take advantage enough of the 22 turnovers, just 9 pts off of turnovers. And blew a big lead and let one get away. Lisch and Polk with strong games, IV continued his pattern of too many turnovers for a big man, 6 again, but contributed in other ways. This was not the kind of game that will get many bandwagon fans to jump aboard, ugly, low scoring, etc..but it is a win over a similar team trying to make the tournament. A good win for SLU in the Loyola category...only Xavier and Dayton loom as possibly potentially close to similar level wins, slightly less...left on the schedule...besides of course UNC. SLU can hope that MSU and Loyola can go on to win a lot of games and keep up their early season level of play. MSU has had a pattern of recent years of falling back in conference play when expected to do more. I know they beat a legit Final Four contender Wisconsin, and played Oklahoma St tough, hope they can keep it up and get near top of Valley.

I enjoyed the game, as I do most games I attend. I do my cheering at games.

>I have a cousin in Madison who is a Badger Fan. When Brad >was hired she said that she was just glad that he is not >their problem. > >Tonight I felt compelled to advise her of tonight's score >along with Brad's Christmas wishes to all his friends in >Wisconsin. > >This may not have been the most charitable note, but, if it >is a sin, there must be a Jesuit out there who will forgive >me without the need to express sorrow. Soderberg still pines for U of Wisconsin, but he enjoys SLU. It is rather extreme just how many people in Madison that aren't fans of his.

>i think he is typically overly conservative towards the >billikens. Conservatism and athletics do not mix with me. And when did we cut it to top 25 RPI?

>courtside, i doubt if the billikens win both of the games >this week and finish in the top 2 in the conference that the >billikens rpi is only top 50. it is that high now without >the benefit of the unc and mo st games. > >my guess is the scenario you describe (both wins and a >second place finish in the conference) would have an ending >rpi of around 25-30. that would mean an 8 seed at worst not >best. > >i am not saying that is what is going to happen, just trying >to rationalize your thinking. to stay the same in the rpi >as they are now with those two big wins and a second place >conference finish would undoubtedly be a higher finish. > >your more negative than usual attitude is noted. not sure >what has crawled in, but you are sure down on this team >considering how well things have went so far. > >sure there are no fantastic terrific wins to date, but on >the other hand, there are no bad losses either. the best >start in almost 10 years has merit. a win tonite makes the >best start since 94. i hope you come around soon. Not sure where you are coming from? Someone said SLU would get a 5-6 seed if they won both this week and finished top 2 in conference. I merely said that there is imo a good possibility SLU could drop a couple of seeds from that and be overlooked and a large school 4-5 team would possibly slide into that spot and bump them down a spot or two. How is that a reflection on SLU? It is a refelction on their conference this year(a conference I support) I never said that would only get them in the top 50. The NCAA doesn't seed in exact order of RPI. How else am I down on the team? Read the threads. If anything I am one of few who don't go crazy negative when SLU doesn't play well in close wins to lesser teams. A win is a win to me, and a good thing. I do however refuse to do jumpingjacks with a win over UT-Martin. I am well aware every school in the country plays these games to help win totals. And I am fine with that. I am neither positive nor negative with those games. I expect wins in those games and move on. I credited SLU's win over Loyola, and picked them to win tonight's game, something I haven't seen from anyone else on the board. I have repeatedly said SLU has done fine so far...not great imo and surely not poorly. They are right at expectations so far. I don't get too carried away by wins or losses...especially so far. The Texas A&M debockle didn't see see me fly off of the wall in that non-competitive loss. SLU hasn't yet done anything to make me think they have exceeded my expectations nor let me down at this point. I think you should start with a number of other posters before you reach me. You are also a blue kool-aid poster who doesn't like it when anyone objectively debates anything regarding SLU. And you cannot objectively debate on the other area schools as well without clouding your post's reasoning with animosity toward said school(s). As you said, no big wins, no bad losses, and my temperment relfects that. Steady is the course, not too negative, and not over the top gushing either. If you want me to be gushing because it is the best start in 10 years...maybe my standards and yours differ. Even with this best start, SLU is not a definite NCAA team yet. Has a good chance...but that is what everyone is looking for. I have been very patient of the coach, and the time it takes to build a winner, especially with one year of D-1 head coaching experience coming in....despite perhaps my different philisophical view of coaching.

I still think even if that happened, SLU would not get a seed much better than 8...fair or unfair. I think a bigger conference school with slightly worse RPI etc...leapfrogs them in seeding. A school with zero big time wins in 2007? Just don't see the seeding. Is this team capable of going 14-2 or so in the league, sure. I think it will split this week. We'll see.

What you are not taking into consideration are games vs the likes of the Bonnies, LaSalle and Rhode Island etc...and the 200's RPI...and watch SLU's RPI fall after wins. I think it will come down to SLU finishing 1-2 in confeence even if it doesn't win confeence tourney. But even finishing 3rd would be bad for SLU. SLU should roll through their conference, but conference road games are tough anywhere. You never know. If SLU finished 3rd in conference, and didn't win conference turney, they aren't dancing. That is 3rd in a conference of 14. No slip ups, no mistakes. SLU has scheduled better non-conference, but their conference is down even more this year to help offset some of that. It is way too early to follow RPI. SLU is doing what they are supposed to do so far, and we will see how it goes. Getting i is one thing...getting a really good seed is not likely under most circumstances...and who cares, people just want in.

>from a poster on that board - > >"NIT team for sure, with chance at NCAA if they can win both >games this week and dominate their conference, and have a >top 50 RPI" > >the poster is not a "hater", per se, but hayzeus crease-tay >are we looking for a #1 bid in the tournament or just a >bid??? > >if we won both of these games and dominated the conference, >we'd be looking at a #5 or #6 seed at lowest, am i wrong? Off of the top of my head, yes you would be wrong. The conference is that bad this year. If SLU beats Mo St only...and finishes say 3rd or 4th in conference instead of 1-2, getting in at all..tough at best. If beat both UNC and MO St and finish top 50 RPI...and dominate conference...they'd get in...but I'd say 8 seed at best. Why? Conference RPI won't help a lot. Some power conference 4-5 place teams will get better seeds than SLU. I find that post legit in the other thread. SLU is NIT/NCAA bubble team. How many teams will go from A-10? one, two? That poster said if SLU wins both and dominates conference i.e. going 1-2 in league and finishing top 50 RPI, they get in. 5 or 6 seed would be a dream.

Yep that game played in Texas...but Wisconsin beat Pitt and Marquette in same week. They are a legit Final Four candidate.

>Yeah, I did catch that...but didn't believe it. Who knows. >Someone ought to send this article to someone at Duke. You >can bet the Dookie Student section will be tossing nail >files and emory boards on Coach K Court. Indeed. Sign Guy should have a sign too.

>What is his major? Wow..."drama class was canceled. His >others take place on different days: English, >African-American jazz music and Swahili". Many many kids don't declare a major until the end of their second year of school...at many private schools let alone public schools. Don't know his situation, but I find nothing wrong with the class schedule he has in the article. > > >I imagine that one would be hard pressed to get this same >schedule at SLU...lol.

Exactly which home win should I be excited about so far? The one over Houston by a couple when Houston was missing three starters? SLU is doing fine, exactly where I thought they'd be so far...and I have them beating MO St. and losing to UNC. I will not gush over a voctory over the fine UT-Martin Skyhawks. For those not following the Skyhawks this year, this is their schedule and results: http://www.utmsports.com/schedule.cfm?spor...7s%20Basketball SLU's biggest win so far has come over Loyola Chicago. No other win has impressed me yet. Will I get struck down by your Kool-Aid? SLU is doing fine. Nothing to be upset about(you don't see me bashing the close wins over lesser teams like the others, because a win is a win to me) and you don't seeme going crazy positive over wins like the above. The issue at hand, is SLU's conference unlike the other teams you mentioned that play all those home gaes, is much weaker than the other big conferences, and pressure is higher for SLU to win some big out of conference games. If you want to get crazy excited over the UT-Martin win, go ahead. And if others don't, that is their right too.

>There are some zanies on here who just like to make fun of >the program and even more fun of the real positive posters. >Why do they do it? Really, who cares? You know who they are, >ignore them. For the most part we all bleed blue. But there >are serious doubters, of which, I am one. We scratch our >heads and wonder, "why not SLU", when it comes to the >success similar schools are having versus our mediocrity >over the past few years. Yes, this year is shaping up to be >something else. Great. Keep it up. But it's still too early >to be crowing about it. Now, after this home stretch, we've >got an opportunity to make some noise...to make that next >step. Take our opponenet tonight, MoState. They had a good >season last year and are following it up with a better one. >They've done it for the most part with local home grown >talent, and, I'm guessing here, with no one that highly >recruited out of HS. Yet, they go to Wisconsin and beat a >top 10 biggie in their own house. Impressive indeed. The >doubters are saying, C'mon, Bills, c'mon UB impress us. The >difference Billikan is you don't need to be impressed. We'll >back this program no matter how they do, just like you. But >we'll also criticise when we think it can do a whole lot >better. To my way of thinking, this makes us better fans >than you. And to whoever it was who made the silly >recommendation above about taking the verify test...what are >you, a retired Gestapo interrogator? You think every sports >journalist in the country played sports, coached, lived near >their favorite program/team? Jeez, the Goose Step mentality >some of you guys have is laughable. Don't mean to nitpick your good post...but MO ST. beat Wisconsin in South Padre Texas in front of a couple of thousand people, not in front of 17,000 crazy Badger fans...but still a great accomplishment for them. UW is a top 10 team and Final Four candidate.

People just aren't going to get excited about a win over Tennessee Martin, nor should they. Every team has pad the win total games, and SLU is no different, and those schools' message boards are pretty quiet against Cupcake St. There is a difference between rooting for a team at games, and being objective on the board.(Sure some are over the top negative and some are over the top positive and some in the middle) You think people should post nothing but gush about BS and the program because they try hard. Most would disagree with putting blinders on like that. This isn't high school ball.

The completely random thing is I was in the Santa Clarita Valley this summer and went past the high school and college in Canyon Country Canyon several times...it is a few miles from Magic Mountain area. It was about 114 degrees one day. There was an absolutely gem of a place to get lobster rolls in nearby Valencia,(Origami) and that was about it...it was about 35 miles or so N of LAX. ...due west of Ventura and Malibu.