courtside

I am not an RPI expert, but I do know that your opponent's strength of schedule is important, and that winning on the road counts more than winning at home.

Over the weekend, MLS draft....Danny Wynn did not get drafted. He was among about 50 players invited to pre-draft camp. 4 round 48 person draft. He still has a chance to catch on with someone. Noteables..... A couple of non college u-17 players taken. St. Louisan, DeSmet High School, Indiana U Senior Mike Ambersley was drafted by Dallas in the 4th round.

Self's remarks are really nothing earth shattering...just typical of a coach whose team is struggling under high expectations. Be it radio, tv, print, now internet....lashing out when the pressure gets a little much.

You have to do what you can with what you have. It is tough for SLU to get home and home with a very good team. Take em when you can. It all depends on the conference. SLU needs the UNC, Gonzaga, etc...Iowa games...and a couple more...because of the conference. If SLU were in the Big East...I wouldn't suggest a Syracuse or Louisville non-conference schedule, but ...not say a DePaul one either this year. Part of attracting recruits is saying you play such and such and beat such and such. This is why getting the best local and regional kids first...have some success, schedule named schools...then expand out to other areas. Gotta go inside out recruiting, no choice. Can't sell the conference as strongly as some of the top ones....

I can assure despite the recent negativity...this board is extremely tame and rational compared to most. Intelligent debate and discussion with regards to the program is always welcome. Admittedly some bad eggs. I do think if done in the right manner, there is nothing worng with holding a higher standard for the program. It has to start somewhere. As someone who would like to see the SLU basketball program elevated to much higher heights at more consistent levels, ...you gotta start somewhere. Outside of this message board, where else is there any buzz of concern either way if SLU improves the basketball program or not? I think it is realistic to have a long term goal of building a top 25 level program. Maybe not every year, but in the mix most years. I think it is very doable, challeneging, but doable. The more people who care if that happens, the better.

How in the wrold can you compare 20 years ago to now??? The situations were ...uh...er...uh...just slightly different, don'tya think?

For the most part, it shows you just how tough it is to win on road in any conference, or any road game.

Dude get a history lesson. Look at SLU before Grawer came on board and what he did while at SLU....considering the everything else going on at the school, admin-wise, aesthetically, facilities, on and on...Rich Grawer=Miracle worker. Period. Can't compare that time to now. Beyond silly. Read some of the other threads ...I commented on what SLU needs to be successful. Soderberg is a big part of it...but not the only one. Why does Tommie Liddell get a free pass???? He gasp makes mistakes. Just because SLU doesn't have any other player near his potential on the team, doesn't mean Liddell gets a free pass on mistakes. Enough already. Do you watch hoops? How about this quote I read scoping the college landscape just this week. U Wisconsin-Milwaukee(UWM) coach Rob Jeter was asked why he yanked star player Joah Tucker late in a 1 point big game....after Tucker had made a a couple of mistaks in a row......Answer: Jeter matter of factly states simply..."We went with someone else." If I had a nickel for how often I see this..... Liddell is a Freshman, promising talent...will be a difference maker....he has a hard time currently with consistency, shooting, and finishing near the basket. Liddell is a good solid top 100 recruit...he is not MORE than that, i.e. superhuman. He makes mistakes. Has bad games. etc....it happens. If you want to discuss the dire need of multiple two to three in a rown recruiting classes or many other things, I'd be happy to do so....

One of the following must happen for SLU to attract more students, and also a younger fan base: 1) Fr. Biondi wants to win in hoops, andsees the value of winning hoops for the overall school. (this has not happened in his tenure) 2) The coach sells the program to anyone and everyone, while also coaching the team. It is a business, big time business. The coach cannot defer those things to the Athletic dept and administration. Coach must have a vision for the whole experience. Soderberg does not want to do more than coach...as if he were at a D-III school. I admire his passion for pure hoops, but it doesn't work that way...gotta enbrace the rest too. 3) Win games, and not by 50-48 scores. Dynamic non-conference shceduling(the conference itself won't drsw extra folk). and recruit better players. Not just one class. 4) The AD needs to have that vision that the coach does not have. Levick for example, came from a long winning tradition in multiple sports at Stanford. Seriously, for anyone to go to Wake Forest, Marquette, Villanova, Xavier etc...go to a Thurs night or Sat game against a decent opponent. Observe all the things going on...you would be amazed at the difference. I am telling you...that kind of atmosphere extends past the handfful of great games on a schedule and dips into the average games on a schedule, or still exists if your team is merely decent, once the atmosphere is created.

On a practical level for recruiting right now. I see no reason Soderberg can't go into a Chicago and get talent that is under the radar, or late bloomers. In large markets, there sre pften times eventual great players who who can fall through the cracks...get a few...or even less talented but athletic kids who can improve....and add this to competing for the local top players in the STL area...and some central Il kids. Or find another spot in the region....and work your way out. Win win win. Then get a conference tv contract, or get in a conference with a good tv contract eventually after a lot of winning. Long long gone are the days of grabbing random NYC or wherever kids...The Big East Conference and other stook care of that when they formed over 20 plus years ago. SLU's hope is that they can start winning some ball games, that the conference improves...gets some tv play...and once recruiting is established, then go get some big East coast market kids.

Fabulous post SShoe. Fabulous!

Okay...now we're talkin easily one of my favorite topics that never gets enough attention. In NO particular order: 1) Ripping the few people who do go, is a head scratcher for me. It takes balls to go out there when your group is only 20 or so. And not the 4000 of Marquette or Xavier's crowd, or whomever. 2) Not having the tradition mentioned above is a major disadvantage, no question. Not to offend any fans, but objectively a lot of "peer" schools have better traditions. 3) Not winning lately or consistently ...combined with such a BORING brand of hoops...again, no offense to Brad or anyone...but that doesn't help either. I say if you do not believe in seeing thousands, yes thousands of students at games...and much more 20-30 somethings at games...then just cancel the program, and make it intramural. I'm not kidding. Throw in the towel, move on. The constant excuse making...and the SLU can't stuff ...enough is enough. Okay...how does one make it better? ....well....for a long period in time, everyone can agree SLU was considered a commuter type school, or local STL kids school. This obviously has changed a lot for the better....so capitalize on that. Kids living on or near campus....all they need is a reason, an EVENT to go to. Even if your team is not top 25 cailiber, gotta start building traditions, rock concert like atmosphere to most games. Obviously no school is getting packed for Bethune-Cookman, God bless 'em. Wehn Joe random kids look at SLU, or commit to SLU...Hoops, Hoops Hoops ...they need to know that going is THE thing to do....which means it has to be a can't miss event. Why can't Levick park herself at an above mentioned team home game? Notre Dame/Marquette's sell out tommorrow night on ESPN U or tonight's Xavier Cincy game are good starts to stop in. Wake Forest in recent years....dramatically has changed their ATMOSPHERE at games. It is an event. Last time I checked, none of those teams were ranked. Yes they all have had better traditions and better recent years...but many of their home games are THE thing to do at school. Where does it start? IMO....one of two ways...1) The COACH...yes, COACH. the coach's is job is NOT to recruit players and coach the time. Sorry Charlie, or in this case Brad. No, period, no. IMO, Romar had the right idea, and may have re-strategized his recruiting among other things, before leaving. A coach who embraces the selling of the program to incoming students, current students, and alums. If you do not have a dynamic presence...i.e. Brad.,...you MUST have it in your Athletic Dept somewhere. or a basketball power agenda administration. SLU certainly doesn't have that, and the verdict is still out on Levick's new reign. IMO, if SLU is to make a positive upswing in this area, it has to be Levick, cuz the others aren't gonna do it. Perhaps in 2-3 years a new coach will come in and get that ball rolling immediately, then get the administration on board and ad's office on board for support. Some effective recruiting, leads to hiring an expert in EVENTS. You need a school commitment to it. But that commitment may have to begin with a big idea coach. An on campus arena will help...And, give me a break, whining how far it is from dorms. DUDE, this is freakin college, kids can walk to the new arena in droves. hop skip and jump away. And about the booze...you are aware that most college teams play on campus where booze is not allowed and snuck in. In those exceptions off campus, most of those kids are boozin well BEFORE game time...can't afford and don't buy booze during game...and just go back and drink after the games. So, this is a non-issue. I do admit, if I am a current undergrad, yawn city...bad team, low scoring painful games, arena that need seffort to get to....ZERO excuse not to have several buses going back and forth all night long on time etc...Kids don't need much, just a nudge. But freakin give them a reason, a nudge. How about 5 Tommie Liddell's? (actually hopefully they will reach higher than that) An on campus gym? Technological display of excellence, event like atmosphere. This can easily be created. Sorry old-timers, you'll dig it if you give it a chance. How are people gonna donate and get major players involved, if you have a PResident and administration NOT committed to winning hoops? If the coach has zero interest in selling the program, just x's and o's coaching? Somebody needs to take the SLU administration on a tour of other schools. Make them talk to university officials so they can understand the impact on all aspects of your school that a winning hoops program can have...You can increase enrollment, you can increase selectivity of that enrollment, you can increase school exposure all over the place and attract many more successful undertakings. Make them go to a game, on a Wed, Thurs, Fri, or Sat....all of those days are rockin in other places. Make em meet the boosters too. Get all perspectives. That's it....oh and btw...the schedule...keep NAMED non-conference opponents, make them home and home only....and get WEEKEND dates. This means Thurs, Fri, Sat. More of those. ZERO Sun and Mondays. Obviously with a new arena, play when you want. While still sharing....Sat afternoon games, mixed in with occasional fri night, mixed with Wed and Thurs. No more Family Arena. The new arena is a big piece, but just one piece to the puzzle.

I know Enterprise has owned the Boone Valley Senior Golf Tourney. Annd, they have spent a lot of money with the Rams. The President of their company is a huge SLU and hoops fan in general. At present time the company's founder and son are worth north of $6 billion. They aren't the sports fans that the company President is however. It takes a really rich dude with a passion for hoops or the school. There are some Bill Laurie's out there all over the country in respective to their schools. ...let's save the jokes and LAurie commenst, and not make it a Mizzou thread etc...just pointing it out for reference.

Hey if you can afford private lessons, go for it I say. Obviously carefully choosing the pro. I am well out of that loop these days....as some here know I have lived in different cities since, and travel frequently...but check in with the Lou when I can, sometimes it is a lot more or less than others. I was fortunate to exxcel at other sports, but I was behind the curve a bit techically, and repitition-wise way back then...and needed to catch up fast....and took a pounding for a while, before eventually dishing one out too. so many talented D I players in my age group back then with that group, male and female. There was a lot of flexibility with the program and always people to hit with then. I never did have the private lessons, formally back then....went on to "give" more than I care to mention however over the years of all ages....I am very loyal to those who reach out to me, or others, that "get it" in life. Sandvig is definitely one of them. Knowing I was looking at a few different sports to play in college, Craig without my knowing, wrote some letters for me to some coaches, perhaps a notch above my playing level, at elite schools, reaches if you will, and said you gotta look at this guy...stuff like that. All the while knowing I was looking at other sports, perhaps even more seriously at the time for the next level and beyond. Doug Smith for example, good guy, , would never do that...he goes straight for prodigy and younger stars and grooms them. He was always decent to me...not bashing him......he was very close to a girl I dated's family back then but guys like Sandvig, Richie...some others out there...salt of the earth people, just grindin'....people worth knowing away from the court too. Playing there made a huge difference in my ability, confidence level, made some good unexpected friendships. Definitely the right fit for me. Now, today, I have no idea how it is there or elsewhere...I hear things, check in a bit...but day to day in the know, not close. As I said before, some good people at other places too. A few I could do without or didn't care for, but more good than bad.

Best advice I could give VTime is to seek out SLU's players or coach...express your interests and ask to hit with somebody on the team or the coach for 30 minutes or so...they won't even need that long to know if you can play with them or not. You have to be aggressive and assert yourself, whether that is someone's personality or not....and locate them, ask and give it a try.

I was fortunate enough to be able to play 4 sports at the Big D, couple beyond that a step or two...... back when it was more accepted and probably easier to do, multiple sports ...and yes, tennis was one of them.....although many of DeSmet's finest athletes excelled in multiple sports. Nowadays certian coaches have rules for double dipping ...if you are good enough to do it...or playing a club sport while in a high school season...example of this would be...Bob Steiner would never let a kid overlap club soccer after DeSmet's season with hoops. No chance. And perhaps rightly so. ...my background in other sports helped me a lot...to be decent, because I wasn't a little kid prodigy in that sport...and picked it up later than that.......my backrground was year round heavy travel playing other sports as little kid on up......... .....in the Lou, if I had to recommend the best way to get better, at a junior age, grade school, high school....at least back then, was go to Sunset Tennis Center...I took a pounding from some great players, future big time college players in the warm weather schools...but it was a well structured diverse group of people, great program. Craig Sandvig, he's the best, such a good dude, Richie, those guys. Very flexible with $$(of which I didn't have)...class schedule, late nights, weekends...groups etc...Some great national players came through there for tourneys and play. laid back vibe too. Dug it. If I was going to play competitively, I needed to re-learn the game, and did it there and busted as at weird hours, whatever it took around my other schedules. Bookstore Bob Kelley was long time coach, then I think it was Coach Dress, then Ripplinger...then I lost track after that.....I know an old buddy of mine, Mike Kaiser helped out some...perhaps in your hs years? Mike's a good kid.

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/football_news_latest_6988.html McBride is having his best European season, leading his EPL team Fulham in scoring....playing terrific ball, leader of his team, is wildly popular for his toughness, skill and flair...fan popularity can be a tough thing to achieve in the EPL. Will be a fixture for U.S. once again this summer starting in the World Cup. Side note..Reyna still out several more weeks with broken ankle...and lots of injuries in U.S. camp so far...no major STL related ones.

All the more reason to ignore national rankings for high school sports.

Well...how far back are we going? I would say when John Stockton played there... under Dan Fitzgerald....Fitzgerad, also responsible for grooming Monson and Few to great success there. So...I would say early 1980's or a bit after for me...to pay them attention. so, a couple of decades.

Biggest thing I would like to see is more students at games. This falls squarely on Soderberg and Levick. It is first and formeost the place to start...then do your homework and go to other places and see the atmosphere, the sound systems, everything else that goes into the event, It should be an event, win or lose, where people are highly entertained. Soderberg seems to be having enough trouble winning ball games, and scoring 70 points. Part of Levick's job is to get more students at games, period.

IF I or someone I knew had chance to play tennis in the Pac 10 or SLU, it isn't much of a thought. If that person also had a HUGE passion for other aspects of SLU, I would say fine. But from a tennis perspective, it isn't even a conversation. Ever been to a Stanford for example and seen the facilities?...UCLA, etc... Some Big ten schools can compete...not all, but that is it in Midwest. college tennis is very much a West Coast Southeast sport.

Mike Miller? He's a friend of mine. As for womens' tennis, Skip Salzenstein was the previous coach.(his nephew Jeff, probably recognize as current tour player from Stanford) Skip is also a friend of mine. Skip would gladly provide any info needed for this discussion, if asked. Terrific guy. He is former teaching pro, now in private business. Mike and dad Larry Miller , were long time owners of Creve Coeur Racquet club. Skip left SLU because of lack of commitment from the school, combined with his minute compensation. He loved coaching SLU womens' tennis and did a great job. I would recommend any decent level player to try SLU as a walk on to play on back end of the team. ...to give it a shot. I can safely say that at most random D-I schools, even if they have little or no depth, therefore being a dormant program, ...most always have a solid number one player.

Thanks. Big market clubs looking for immediate impact players with pressure to win each year. Ward has the potential to be an elite player in MLS, no question. He needs experience and a good environment. He played one year of college soccer, and this was his first pro season. He has more potential than Will John, due to his size, speed, skill and position he plays. John doesn't have the size, has great quickness good enough speed, but plays in a crowded position. IF he is going to make it, KC is the place for him. Very few college players come in and make an immediate impact in MLS. Some do, sure, but many others need a couple of years. McBride, McKeon, Brad Davis some exceptions....and only Davis played less than four years of college ball.

First of all, no, there is no scholarship waiting for him. There would be enough money to give a full scholarship to MAYBE the top two or three players at most schools ike SLU.And these are comparible in money, size etc...schools that havc far greater tennis programs than SLU. Either one or two kids get all the money, or a handful or larger group of kids split some money. Top schools are the exception in tennis. At a SLU, you get meal money for home game day matches, and obviously full meal/hotel/travel expenses on the road. Some trips are air, others bus. Usually a warm weather trip for Spring Break playing different teams. You obviously get free attire, shoes, etc...whenever need be and rackets with sponsors. Not all players get the racket deals, but all get the rest. There are usually anywhere from 8-10 players on a team. Top 6 at most would get any kind of partial scholarship money or full ride. At a school like SLU, probably more like a couple of people, tops. It is a non-revenue sport, and at a school like SLU...it is a part time coaching gig, while the coach is making money other ways or is also a club pro. I believe the former women's coach, a good friend of mine, made less than 10k to coach the women's team at SLU. This would have been 5 plus years ago. As is the case with any sport, the division I college level is a major MAJOR jump from small college or high school, even in tennis. And as one could imagine, there is are MANY MANY different levels of play on the DI level. Sure, SLU's program is not strong at all, creating more opportunities, but the top couple of players at any d-I school can play, no question. To say that SLU would take anybody, or that it still isn't competitive to play there is an uneducated remark on the sport, that simply isn't true. My question for Vtime would be, what was your local, state, Mo Valley, or regional ranking as a junior player, or how often have you competed against D-I competition? If none of the above apply, you would have to be number one on your team and have an impeccable record of match and tourney play to even have a chance. Sure, there are exceptions, very very few ....Dipsy was from another country, a bit different, but there are exceptions. If you are serious, contact SLU's coach. If you need playwr evaluation of yourself and how well you can do, I have many STL local tennis professional friends who would hit with you and know immediately if you were good enough to play for SLU. As for Nate's comments, colleges use athletes as pieces of meat all the time. I would have to ask Nate how his D-I college athletic career went, and to share his experiences. ...and experience in the recruiting process and playing. You have to look out for yourself first, and do it in an ethical manor. I wouldn't advise anyone to transfer for one year of college anywhere unless they were extremely unhappy, or had a great opportunity to fulfill an interest or dream otherwise unsatisfied. In this particular situation, no, SLU's program imo isn't good enough to warrant the interest for one year, to make that kind of change. However, if you are also considering a degree from SLU, one could transfer to SLU and graduate, and have a SLU degree on their resume, despite only going there for a year plus. I am a big fan of loyalty, but as long as you carry yourself in a professional manor and are honest with people, change is a part of life, and it isn't a bad thing either.

Wichita St beating MO St is to be expected. Mark Turgeon ahs done a good job there. UWM is going to lose a conference game or two, but are likely to win that conference and conference tourney. UIC etc...are down this year. Always tough to win on road in any conference...gonna lose a couple no matter who you are.