courtside
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"Facts are facts, sorry." Exactly. Once a troll always a troll. Thanks for playing.
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In the game I saw he did both, DeSmet ran a lot of high lows, and he gets double teamed and feeds easy passes for lay ups from the free throw line into the post to teammates. Spent more time facing the basket, top of key free thrown line. DeSmet's guards had lots of open 3's on the perimter, off of screens, and knocked them down, and Ritter was content letting it continue. Would have liked to have seen Brandenburg get even more touches on offense, but Ritter pressed the entire game, full court, so many of Brandenburg's looks were put backs and lay ups and dunks. DeSmet didn't have to even run a lot of half court offense in the game, so it wasn't the best to judge his post skills. Lots of DeSmet breaking the press with little problem and filling the lanes on 3 on 2's or 2 on 1's...etc..
He didn't really need to post anybody up in the game. Ritter is tiny. 6'0 guys playing against a front line of Brandenburg and couple of 6'5 players. Many lobs.
He isn't polished by any means. But he has good hands, works in a system where back to the basket is well coached. When the opportunity came for him, I was expecting more offense to go through him back to basket and him getting doubled, but it wasn't a feed the post from the wing back to basket kind of game.
He has more size and athleticism than a Baniak, but needs to continue to improve.(and I am sure he will) He played within the game, didn't force stuff. Tremendous rebounder and shot blocker. And is very good passer. Would like to see more post moves in a different type of game. Plays with intelligence.
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Once a troll always a troll. Big surprise.
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College Soccer needs full leagues in SEC, Big 12 and Pac 10, and 64 team event not 48 and more games played.
Pro teams here need soccer specific stadiums. i.e. Your New England Revolution need a smaller city venue. 20k The league is run much better than in the past. Salary cap is doing well,unlike Europe. Eventually when the league gains more revenue, it can increase its cap steadily to keep more top players or attract better foregin born players in their prime and not past it.
More national training facilities and national junior teams. i.e. each MLS team should have a junior level team affiliation.
Currently the MLS all stars play an English Premier League team each season.
BTW...was announced Gold Cup semis and Finals next year will be in Chicago. Other sites include Jersey, Boston, Houston, Miami.
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I had seen some posts and threads with regard to Brandenburg, so I took a look. DeSmet played pre-season small school #1 Cardinal Ritter.
Brandenburg: He's a player. Last year he was best described as out of control at times with potential. As has been documented with his improved play with the Eagles over the summer, he can play. He isn't polished yet. But that is why it is only the beginning of his junior season. Long way to go.
What he does well: Catches and seals his defender, good hands if ball is anywhere near him. Terrific passer for his size, soft touch with shots and free throws, rebounding beast, and swats everything near the lane defensively. He even brought the ball up court a handful of times and twice dribbled from half court to the basket drawing fouls. Holds ball high at all times. Has athleticism for a kid his size.
Improvement areas: Polishing his game, more aggression with offensive positioning, and needs to work on defensive positioning when better teams and players present themselves.
As for the game, it was a nice first half, very sloppy second half. Don't let the final score fool you of 57-45, DeSmet could have won by 25 or more. Ritter is very quick and very small. Ritter knew they would be in for a size disadvantage in the half court, so they pressed DeSmet from the opening tip which led to easy baskets and looks for DeSmet. Brandenburg had at minimum 15 rebounds at my count, several blocks, but played within his team's system and offense. He was double and triple teamed and fed the open players who knocked down shots.
Refreshing to see two well coached teams with discipline, that don't rant and rave and ***** etc...don't get that much in high school ball.
I came away highly impressed with Brandenburg's improvement and he still has two high school seasons to go, as he needs to continue to polish his game during this time. Mike Dressler long time DeSmet assistant has long had success coaching up bigs at the school. DeSmet played their entire roster during the game. I think the water boy checked in a couple of times. One night Brandenburg will get 20 pts and the next 10. They are just looking to play their system and win games, instead of individual ball, showcasing kids. DeSmet's coach Bob Steiner let a lot of reserves play a lot of minutes to test out early season to see what he has to work on, and give kids valuable minutes in an early season game. It is definitely not the Dale Burgman short bench approach. But Steiner has always been this way. Everybody plays, and scores and stats won't be run up.
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Steiner can coach fine at DeSmet, better than a lot of teams in the coaching department. The talent level of the players surrounding Brandenburg may be an issue, haven't seen them yet. DeSmet and SLUH remain the only two teams in their conference that don't recruit for sports. It is the battle of play and compete a certain way vs...you better recruit to keep up with the Jones'....which is the way to go? That is the question. And those two schools prefer to do it the old fashioned way, right or wrong, depending on your opinion.
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It weas a Thanksgiving weekend crowd.
SLU has a LOT of work to do to establish a quality student cheering section, let alone regular people in the building.(I am not counting Holiday break games)
SLU's fan base are parents with little kids, or blue hairs. Not a lot of 20 something 30 something alums in the house for games.
When were you cheering and what were you cheering? I think I may have heard you a few times at the top level of the 100 level sections,(opposite of 115 etc..) center court, standing wearing blue shirt? Was that you? If it wasn't fine...if it was, that person wasn't endearing himself to anyone because of all of the ranting against the refs. Hey if refs make horrible calls fine, but that didn't happen in that game at all. The timing and types of things yelled weren't appropriate for the time. Maybe it was someone else.
I am all for raucous student sections...which then carry over to the general public. Gotta start there first.
See how other schools do it. I can give you some some names for road trips if you like.
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>LOL. I'm color blind and always thought they were blue!
Nashville,
Actually they were ALL purple when first installed. People bitched, so now the actual back and seat on the "inside" ...meaning where you put your back and butt are in fact blue. The entire outside of the seat is purple.
So it looks like a hideous ble/purple mix. And when there are empty seats that automatically fold up when not used....those look 100% purple.
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The Edward Jones Dome is no better.
Ahem...memo to anyone listening...TWA no longer has naming rights, and the Cardinals play baseball, not football here anymore. Red Seats? I don't even like them for baseball(that is another debate for another time).
Why is it the Rams scoreboard is this small thing surrounded by ads on the board for pepsi or bud or whatever...when the entire horizontal board is a videoboard in other stadiums? Spend some money cheapskates.
Cheapos...paint the seats in both arenas the teams color, or gasp a neutral color like they do at the Pepsi Center in Colorado.
Your St. Louis Purple Billikens and Purple Blues, and St. Louis Red Rams.
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I am trying to attend. Not definite yet.
Wanted to know which games was first
UCLA vs Virginia
or
UCSB vs Wake Forest
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Thanks Joe.
With the purple ScottTrade Center logo on the floor, and the purple seats...either SLU or the St. Louis Blues needs to change their colors to purple.
The advertising all over the place is minor league stuff, but if bills need to be paid, fine. It just isn't first class imo.
I have preached this for years, ...the athletic dept needs to go on a few road trips...some schools really have a dynamic atmosphere before, during and after games...and all the timeouts, half-time etc...electric at a few places out there. Scout a few out, take those ideas and create your own unique atmosphere from it.
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Thanks for ths information.
Vedad attended Roosevelt I believe for all of one year, his Senior year.
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I thought Penders' comments deserved a paste job.
On how SLU has changed over the past few years... "They're not playing keep away. That is the main thing. We played them two years ago, and it seemed like when we were up 20 they were holding the ball. They are attacking more now, and I think its going to help Saint Louis recruit better players and they will become more of a television-type team. That is what is going on today. When I said that 20 years ago people though I was nuts. People don't want to throw down 30 dollars to watch a keep-away contest. Their guys are so much more aggressive offensively than they were. Saint Louis is a better offensive team and a better defensive team than when we played them two years ago, no question. I think they are a legitimate NCAA type ball club. I read Sports Illustrated, they picked them in the tournament and second in the Atlantic 10. I know most of those teams in the Atlantic 10, and I wouldn't disagree with Sports Illustrated. I think they are a top-50 team. I think the Billikens have a very good basketball team. They may not be the quickest team, but they are strong and have good guards. I think Lisch is kind of a poor man's Manu Ginobili. Their point guard doesn't turn it over, they've got size and strength inside and are very solid. They are now playing 21st century basketball. I think that is good for the Billikens, good for their fans, and will put people in the seats. It's a good program.
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Excellent post!
Don't want to be a ***** poster..but the scoreboard at the Scott is embarrassingly bad. It isn't SLU's fault, but this needs to be changed immediately. Somewhere in the building should be individual player stats of those in the game, ...individual points, fouls etc...for both teams.
I can put up with the ...there is more advertising than a Cardinal Baseball game for now. Start with the scoreboard.
I was hoping someone would post that...I just can't take that problem anymore myself.
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I'd be happy to settle this from my viewpoint at the game. Love Tommy Penders, true gym rat, and he is great for the game. Problem with Tommy Penders is his teams though always athletic, make poor decisions all too often,every stop he has been. Houston does not currently have the talent to overcome those poor decisions. I have no doubt that talent level will go up with Penders' recruiting ability, and he will win there, but also lose games he should win too.
Houston settled for way to many early deep jumpers before settling in to take the ball to the basket more off of the wing. SLU is much more disciplined, less athletic by a lot. SLU opened strongly and ready to play, knocking down three's off of the extra pass. Where was the scouting report from UH? Guarding Lisch on three's. He had all day to shoot too often.
UH got back into the game with a 2-2-1 zone press. It forces strong decisions, and break finishing, SLU did neither in the first half. UH was much quicker to every loose ball and put back. Instead of physically dominating the boards, Voyoukas was pillow soft. UH out quicked and outhustled SLU the entire first half and late in the game. In between SLU was better in the half court.
UH didn't press as much in 2nd half and when they did SLU made the adjustment finishing the break. Maybe that is why Penders backed off of it more in 2nd half? I would have mixed some other traps in there because other than Lisch who played very well and makes intellignent decisions, I would pressure ANY other SLU guard all day. Polk may be quick but his decision-making is average at best under pressure. The rest below that.
Shocked UH couldn't make an adjustment for Lisch even just a little to force someone else to beat them, or they win the game going away. Credit of course to Lisch and SLU for getting him the ball in various places at various times.
The much more athletic team lost to a more disciplined team, a team that had just enough ability to finish breaks to hang on for a win. Certainly nothing for either team to get excited about...perhaps UH because they were missing three starters but played wire to wire on road.
I really don't care what SLU's annoucners said, they are biased, period.
SLU desperately needs more than Lisch and Liddell to make jump to next level. Voyoukas' play is declining, some nice and perhaps lucky tips at best, horrible FT shooting, catches ball way too far from basket for his size, needs to work much harder on positioning in the post, and using his body to his advantage, and finishing much much stronger in his play. Has potential, but after all of this time, surprised he isn't better than this. Plays way too slow, and smaller than he is. As I said, Lisch and Liddell are players, but that is all SLU has on this team, perhaps an inconsistent Voyoukas flash. They need a talent upgrade even at role player positions to go to next step in the process of getting better.
Penders almost stole one on athleticism(and frankly this is one of least athletic Penders team I have seen in long time)...that just shouldn't happen anymore. Big teams will push SLU around inside, and smaller quicker teams will give them lots of trouble with athleticism. The teams in the middle that play half court, SLU will handle.
One good class isn't going to get it done. Need another, one at worst every other year, to advance to another level...to get over the hump. Gotta have two classes.
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I am out of town more than in town. So I have the unique experience of seeing both home and road Billiken men's soccer and men's hoops at home and road each season. It is really rewarding to take in the differences of playing at home v the road in any sport in the same season.
I attend those two the most, but I have been to baseball(wish it was bigger time with bigger time facilities, ...think it could be too), women's soccer.
Most of my appearances away from the two big sports at SLU are through people I know coaching or playing, etc..I wouldn't be a regular in the other sports at SLU, as I am the big two. But I always make it to something.
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Tom Penders and uptempo, that is quite the understatement. Houston will want to run SLU out of the gym and SLU will want to play half court ball. Houston is not quite there yet in ability, so this would be a nice game to play uptempo for SLU and see what they can do against a similar level team. But Houston is definitely getting better and on the rise.
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Class AA
1. Simeon (13) 233
2. St. Joseph 187
3. Marshall 161
4. Peoria Richwoods 148
5. Thornwood (1) 147
6. Lincoln Park 131
7. Loyola 119
8. Washington 103
9. West Aurora 101
10. Decatur Eisenhower 98
11. Crane 58
12. Homewood-Flossmoor 49
13. Warren 40
14. Bloom 33
15. (tie) Thornton 31
15. (tie) Von Steuben 31
Others receiving votes: Champaign Central, Alton, Bloomington, Rockford Boylan, East Moline United Township, Edwardsville, Schaumburg, Thornton Fractional North, Proviso East, Lincoln, Hales Franciscan, East St. Louis, Leo, Rock Falls, Whitney Young, Peoria Manual, Thornton Fractional South, Farragut, Carbondale, Bloomington, Hillcrest, Lockport, Batavia.
Class A
1. Pinckneyville (9) 248
2. Maroa-Forsyth (6) 237
3. Seneca (1) 183
4. Granville Putnam County 181
5. Teutopolis 159
6. Farmington 144
7. Minonk Fieldcrest 97
8. Macomb 81
9. Bloomington Central Catholic 74
10. Mount Sterling Brown County 67
11. North Lawndale 64
12. Forreston 61
13. Riverton 59
14. Orion 51
15. St. Joseph-Ogden 50
16. Nashville 48
Others receiving at least two votes: Tolono Unity, Warsaw/Nauvoo-Colusa, St. Anne, Bismark-Henning, Winchester West Central, CICS-Longwood, Cissna Park/Crescent-Iroquois, Effingham St. Anthony, Hardin Calhoun, Savanna West Carroll, Warrensburg-Latham, Macon Meridian, Eureka, Mount Carmel, Metropolis Massac County.
....in largeschools, Jesuit Loyola Academy features quite the interesting roster including Jeff and Marcus Jordan, sons of Michael, Matt Suhey's son, and Bill Wennington's 6'8 Frosh son.
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It may not ever happen, but I would like to see SLU dominate the A-10 in sports as I thought they would. Build it up a while and hopefully at right time down the road, have bigger aspirations. Much better choice than the Valley...can't even believe that is still a discussion. Media and money people, exposure.
Temporarily it is VERY frustrating to come "down" in competition is a lot of sports. I am not a fan of hammering lesser foes...yawn. Play with the big boys and if you get nicked up a bit...that's okay.
I was just glad to see Texas A&M on the schedule. At least you know where you stand. You don't always know where you stand against weaker foes.
I wish SLU got into the Big East...but without hoops tradidition and timing of opportunity, frankly SLU wsn't an attractive option for Big East. If and I say IF...SLU can make the NCAA routine in hoops, play some attractive ball, get the superior talent and do it several years...then they will become attractive to someone.
A-10 is where they are right now, and it is the best of the choices. Gives SLU more East Coast media exposure, potential for increased enrollment applications etc...so many things the Valley never would have created.
A-10 for now is the answer.
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I will start With SLUballs, Last year Johnny D was put up top a lot and scored goals. They were so desperate they tried it. I too think he needs many more touches per game and was invisible in many. More touches means better service to...can't expect a great service if you never touch it. I'd be fine with him in the middle and Sweetin outside, so as to protect Sweetin a little more from injury too. I do not like Dado on the outside either. Matteson has nice passes and touch in the box and near it. I do not like Matteson's fitness, and do not like his full 90. His roll on a better team would be those touches in the box. If that kid could finish better he could have played up top. Speiss got a lot of time there because he is taller, faster, and frankly works his ass off. He isn't as talented for this level offensively. Especially with first touch. On an ideal team Johnny D is playing right side mid up and down the flank. He was needed more elsewhere because as proof is in the pudding...too often the best offensive player didn't get touches.
Kwyjibo...I appreciate the remarks and ask did you see SLU play Rhode Island too? I ask this because UMASS is not a strong club...against far superior teams, SLU the pace is much faster and time allowed with the ball less...simple terms, SLU can do moer things against a weaker opponent, try more things, play with more confidence and flare. I would argue that SLU couldn't keep possession against top teams, could keep it well in their league and against NU.
There are "target" forwards and "Space" forwards as I like to call them. Either you are a forward who likes to receive the ball, back to goal, shielding defender, turn and play...or you prefer the pass of the ball to go into space and run onto the ball. Brian McBride is classic target forward. You will not see many if any balls played into space for him. You play it right at him. Others like it in space. A few great ones can do both.
Matteson, Speiss etc...are not strong target forwards imo.
Yes finishers as we call them are tough to find. One of the reasons Taylor Twellman is so good, another target forward btw...is that he has a nose for the goal. He anticipates way in advance and is always in right place at right time. It isn't luck folks. It is like how Brett Hull used to play hockey 1-2 plays ahead of the opponent. He slides into correct spot sometimes. And he can finish. Vedad Ibisevic was exceptional at this, Will John was good at this, they went pro early.
In the NU game when you are down 1-0 late, you put the ball in the box and see what happens. SLU worked some nice things on the outside...but SLU's problem is their finishers his year lack size, lacked a good first touch etc....some wasted pretty plays at times.
I personally am not a fan of the long ball England game. SLU didn't have the big strong aerial players for this anyway. When SLU lost 3-0 to SMU I don't think SMU played one long ball all game.
When you are losing and desperate like v NU...all bets are off and it is a quicker way to advance the ball to the box. That is different and not ideal.
Just because a kid doesn't play a lot Frosh year, or especially in playoffs or late in year...doesn't mean they won't be good next year...Aranda, Holmes have a lot of upside.
Some players throughout the years in the past, a Shane Batelle,or Matt McKeon OWNED the back line, very skilled athletic kids, beasts...SLU has had solid back line, but not a guy you can say, okay breakdown in d and he needs to save us. Perhaps Viviano could turn into that. He isn't there yet. Guffey, worked hard, leader etc..but isn't skilled enough for what I like to see in back. Only aerial option for SLU and really improved this season.
Guys like Dado bug me, because I question their game intelligence...sure you always need a couple of guys who can beat guys of dribble, always. But he has no purpose with the ball after he does this. He like many others were tried up top and din't finsish.
If you keep recruiting talented kids, upgrades,..you have options to move people around. ZERO offense to Guffey, Matteson etc...but these are big time high school kids who at SLU really only had the maturity and leadership senior year, and skills were solid. I am seeking guys who can come in and get experience early, more versatile players too. Tim Ream. And all that is , is getting high level recruits. I liked this class of Frosh. We shall see if another one is coming.
And I should make a billboard for Will Bruin fan club, the beast forward from scott Gallagher/DeSmet who will be senior next year. Two straight years, the best shut down defender in the state said Bruin is toughest player they have played against past few years. He is big, very strong, skilled, and can finish, and in High School ball has little help, but comes from the solid discipline and coaching of DeSmet. These are once every few years players.
How about a Mark Filla etc...from yesteryear...
I would have had most faith in John D up top this year for SLU, not where I'd like him, but he is best they had.
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I think questioning DD use of players and style of pay can be, an should be more the foucs here with player development. Recruiting is going okay for now.
I am curious what this person said to you regarding utilizing players. I am always open to explore that side further. It is obvious that SLU had a lot more talent than NU sure. Would be interested to hear other takes. I have my own too.
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Perhaps she will go to...insert your ACC school here....and win back to back field hockey national titles this year, be defending men's soccer national champs, win national titles in men's and womens hoops, and strongly upgrade that weak football program....oh wait that is Debbie Yow...adding yet more hardware this week. I will have to check but I believe as I type Maryland is winning the national title in full contact underwater basket weaving.;-)
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I haven't been over to Bigsoccer.com in a long time ...what are they saying over there?
College/US Soccer Ideas
in Billikens.com Main Board
Posted
troll:
1. A large, brutish creature of European myth, often lacking in intelligence. Sometimes compared to the Japanese oni.
2. A dumbass who makes idiotic posts in message boards newsgroups for the sole purpose of pissing people off, often lacking in intelligence.