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courtside

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Everything posted by courtside

  1. Simply put SLU needs more Tommie Lidell's, very athletic players who can also play. We could end the discussion right there. You need two to three classes IN A ROW like that to build something. UNC was good on transition defense....with that said SLU needs to get players who can put more pressure on in transition. Polk's play...well on the one hand a lot of people are saying good things relative to his past performances which is encouraging. On the other hand, year two for him, and he is playing point guard. He needs to get into the lane and distribute the ball much much more. If this is something he can't do, he needs to be a lights out long range shooter, and scorer, which he isn't. He is a nice back-up point guard, who brings speed and energy to the game. Unfortunately at SLU he has to start a lot right now. Lisch as Roy has commented often times seems to be playing without a purpose, either passive, wasting dribbles(if you aren't going anywhere, don't dribble the ball while standing there) or forcing things. He will be a good player...just shows you how hard it is to make an immediate impact as a true frosh at big time D-1 level. AD's play down the stretch, ugh...oh well. And of course, a nice effort for the V but obviosly SLU needs a power forward desperately, or anything in the front court. Getting better athletes and players will contribute to getting easier transition points, free throws, put backs, etc...that make the difference in the game. It is too difficult for SLU to score too often, especially against good offensive teams. Nobody is questioning Soderberg's ability to coach, but gotta get the players who can play at that level. A great effort and good game. Sure SLU received the short end of the calls, but it didn't decide the game. As was mentioned a player the caliber of TL, ...the good teams have several of those at different positions.
  2. You can do well by pretty much reading the few posts right above this one starting with Roy, Cheeseman, Tonka... Regardless of what anyone says on this board, SLU would have LOVED to be invited to join the Big East, even though it is too big and eventually may change. In a millisecond. Conferences should have 12 teams. As a school, SLU is looking to continue to advance academically, and also geographically. A LOT of folks live in the Northeast. Programs like Temple, St. Joe's etc...when doing well get coverage, a lot of it. No disrespect to the nice people in the towns of the MVC, but if you want to be big time, academically, athletically, or in any way...gotta reach big markets. I could have simply answered: Money, Media markets, TV. I would also agree to some extent with AJ's comments about SLU perhaps thinking they are bigger and more important than they are. With that said, SLU needs to push for more exposure, to be better and better and bigger and more big time in all facets of the school. It is doing that slowly. I am sure folks on this board would prefer a hoops conference that looked something like this: SLU Marquette Dayton Xavier Creighton Georgetown Villanova Providence St. Joe's Seton Hall DePaul Notre Dame Marquette? Who can blame them for joining the Big East? Strong hoops traditon, have had history of East Coast players/coaches etc...also, they are a little over an hour from the nation's third largest tv market...common knowledge that the Chicago Tribune Sports editors went there, big alumni support there, and they are covered perhaps 1st in local hoops over UI and the local city schools...the only college team it covers more is ND football, just down the road in South Bend. Off topic but since I folow college soccer...Marquette recently fired its men's soccer coach and replaced him with a guy who took the job primarily so he can compete with soccer powers UCONN, St. John's, ND, etc...and he probably would not have taken it if it was C-USA or something else, a big success of a hire for them. The A-10 is not ideal for SLU, but one, SLU has to prove they can become a consistent NCAA tourney team year in and year out, something they haven't done. The A-10 was the better alternative in basketball than the MVC for the above reasons. Hopefully years down the road SLU will be a perennial top 25 team, playing in bigger road gyms on bigger stages. The school in the past has NOT in any way shape or form from an administration standpoint, had any inkling of a commitment to major college hoops. The school has in the past ten years plus made a commitment to academics, campus quality, etc...and hopefully will be in the same breath of Georgetown, BC, etc...down the road when kids or adults think of the jesuit schools, when it comes to the college experience.
  3. What part of finishing first in conference(tied, but defeated the 1st place tied teams and technically first) and tying the conference title game did you miss this season tseugnekillib? It's all the more reason to discuss the weakness of the conference. Why don't you point out to me all the teams that did go unbeaten untied in their conference this year? I don't think anybody is questioning SLU's need to improve, but by the same token I personally believe SLU would be better off in a much tougher conference finishing 5th or 6th in the league, than playing each year to just win a conference tournament.
  4. I don't think anyone on here dislikes Warming...at least I have yet to see any posts from anyone to the liking. Creighton had a great run in the NCAA tourney after getting a very fortunate first round draw, Lafayette at home. They won two quality games vs Duke and Penn St before falling to Clemson. This, after really a nothing to write home about regular season. The difference between Creighton and SLU this year were two things: 1) Creighton won their conference tourney, and 2) After a fortunate first round draw, they won two more quality games once they got in. After losing to SLU and Stanford in exhibition season, Creighton turned in a solid year against a mediocre schedule....losing to the likes of Tulsa, UIC, W Kentucky, Drake, and tying SMU. Their "big" wins on the season...well against an NCAA opponent it would I believe be only Bradley...who lost in NCAA first round to UW Milwaukee. They did also have wins over Memphis and MO St. Creighton also benefited from being pre-season ranked rather high. As I said to their credit, they made the most of their NCAA appearance once getting in. Teams such as James Madison, Providence and a few others very questionable to get at large bids didn't fare as well. ..................As for the NCAA itself, any of the final four can move on, but New Mexico and Maryland are the favorites. SMU, whom SLU handled 4-2 this year has landed in the Final Four after a slow start this season. There was a nice piece in the NY Times on New Mexico's program, referencing some of the things I referenced a while back...that STL doesn't have the stangehold on youth soccer...a small community of Alberquerque produced 9 players on their team, and two more on the ACC Final Four teams are from there...to give just one example. Banditos has had a top youth club team there. ...a top STL area recruit is going there next year, as they are increasing national recruiting as well. As has been exhausted before...STL still produces good players, as do many other areas, some years STL area produces more elite level recruits than others. In women's soccer, about 8 teams were good enough to win it, and Portland, one of them did. SLU women seem to still be in the building a program mode, and finally took care of the conference tourney...(playing in a weaker conference helps) and got an NCAA win. They still have a ways to go to be a consistent top 25 team...need more speed and fitness, and skill at that pace. Something to build on for next year, but as with the men, the A-10 conference is NOT a help for soccer, and can be said after year one, a mistake in soccer. But, SLU is there for men's hoops reasons. I will say on a seperate note that the NCAA is rewarding too many little conferences in soccer with undeserving automatic bids. At least make it 64 teams in the tourney. That would fix it more.
  5. At the very least, SLU should have ALL of their games on tv somehwere on campus, if not a neighboring off campus bar. Eventually with some success they can work on a much better tv deal...I would have to imagine this is a high priority under the new AD.
  6. You guys both beat me to Tucker...not knowing that or witnessing last year's NCAA's...is as bad as the UWM board. UWM is still a commuter school...a D-1 version of UMSL...so I wouldn't expect much from their board...though their past coach Bruce Pearl went WAY out of his way to single handedly create fan support and atmosphere at games. Can their new coach sustain and increase it?...well...we'll see in a couple of years. I am curious to see how Rob Jeter does, which I think will be solid considering his background. I will also be interested to follow how Pearl does in a few years at Tennessee. UWM does return some talent. As recently as this summer, Soderberg told me he was still not over what happened at UW. Instead of animosity, he seeemed like a guy who would still want that job, though happy to be at SLU. He is what he is...refreshing from the standpoint that he is low maintenance on facilities, perks etc..but imo you have to get out and sell and up and coming program or recently struggling program perhaps even more than he does. He flat out told me all he wants to do is coach, and doesn't get involved in the other stuff. Refreshing, but perhaps a little close-minded too. Of course Soderberg will be known in WI and UWM...etc...but does anybody know who he is outside of those two states...probably not...and who cares...as long as he recruits and wins. He very much needs to follow up this class with 1-2 more back to back classes to build something. People will overlook the low scoring games only if you win a lot. He is a nice guy, and I am rooting for him to see if he can get it done. But the bottom line is building a consistent winner. He is fine as long as SLU doesn't slip next year or year after. He has the pass of a recruitng class this year...if SLU is .500 next year, he should be scrutinized highly.
  7. In no order....of the above posts...it never ceases to amaze me how often Kevin Slaten gets time on this board. Wow. I would have to concur about Majerus...he wanted the ND job, had it, then ND said no, becuase of his comments. His reasons for backing out of the USC job were a combination of health and other things with the AD, not just health. He does travel a lot for analyst and studio work, but he bought a condo in downtown Milwaukee this past year to be close to family, and that is where he lives. ...if he isn't working...wouldn't surprise me one bit if he showed up for the SLU/UWM game and popped in...he is a gym rat, always taking in practices and games. As for Miklasz...as I have said before, a friend of mine, but he admittedly doesn't follow college or high school sports closely enough to get that kind of info from him...pro sports yes, college, absolutely not.
  8. There isn't any one player whom he resembles to me...maybe a combination of Jackie Jewsbury and McKee. He won't be playing forward or up top. But he will quietly, with tenacity, and steadily control the midfield and he brings more skill than some others. His high school team plays a tight system, not wide open like CBC or somebody else. He is capable of finishing from the midfield position. He could either be an attacking midfielder or defensive midfielder. Very cerebral player as well. I don't see any reason why he wouldn't come in and get time immediately at SLU off the bench, eventually starting. IMO, as I said, DeSmet produces a couple of kids each that can play at a major D-I level. Now, with any kid making the transition, the first year is always the challenge, not sure how long it will take him to make an impact, but he will make one. Great character, etc...Zero concerns about him as a recruit.
  9. Finally....Timmerman finally writes an article of merit. About time! Thanks for the link.
  10. Aranda's #...at DeSmet ...I want to say "10" going off of memory.
  11. First of all, I grew up in both North County and West County, and have relatives in South County, so I can take all comers on this one. I have to ignore ignorant comments like which part of town has better athletes than others....athletes are anywhere and everywhere, period. I would disagree with Torch's assessment that STL is still some sort of soccer capital. If STL was soccer royalty, why did teams with arguably a worse 2005 resume get into the NCAA tourney this year and not SLU??? STL still produces good talent in soccer, better than many other areas, but in no way shape or form is there a monopoly of players in STL vs other areas. There are areas just as good as STL...and, do to some other markets' MUCH larger size, there is a lot more depth in other areas. One needs support to back up discussion. Okay...why isn't there ONE kid currently from STL in the younger age national team pool of players, U-17, U-18...the only ones who were in U-20 PLAYED AT SLU. I also would say, go look at a roster for the top 5 or 10 ranked college teams in America, and look at the hometowns. Look at UNC, UVA, etc...the kids are from Carolina, MD, VA. Look at Cal not a single kid from outside of CA on the roster....and so on and so on. There are plenty of teams out there doing it regionally. There are also teams out there with more of a national following and more diverse geographies as well. IU is typical this way ND, etc..some times. When Bob Warming and others coached SLU, Pat Noonan and Chris Klein still chose Indiana. When Joey Clarke coached, Kevin Grimes still chose SMU, Tim Hudson as well went there. I would definitely argue with a lot of facts to support me that STL area gets a handful of immediate impact, college difference makers each year, and NO more than that...some years it may be more on good years. STL does have good depth of quality players, but not players who will be top 10 top 20 star difference makers. Look at teams, ...take a Chaminade, DeSmet, SLUH, CBC which most recently have by far had the best hs teams in STL. Vianney is coming back but fell off for a while after being exceptional prior to that. This year, DeSmet for example has exactly 3 good players to the level that can play at a SLU level....and that may only be two, one of which is only a Soph...look at SLUH, same thing....CBC and Chaminade have had the most talent in recent years because al the Gallagher kids go to CBC and Fusz kids go to Chaminade....look at Danny Wynn, Cooper Mckee both went to SLU....both good solid players, who in high school, played on mythical national title teams. They were the best of the best, Mckee went from high school scoring machine, to defensive midfielder, a solid good one, but he wasn't good enough to be a forward at SLU. Wynn has improved each year and has had a fine career at SLU...but even he needed a year or two to get playing time. TJ Novak is reigning MO high school player of the year, he couldn't start as Frosh at Stanford, who had losing record past few seasons. He did play a lot and he will be a very good player.... All of the above mentioned have good to very good players...etc...no question....but I am telling you, there is a difference between having a solid college career at middle of the road state...and being a top 10 or 20 team...or level player....it is hard stuff. So, how good would SLU be if they got all local kids? One, that just isn't going to happen. The days where every kid wants to stay home for college left in the 1970's. Welcome to 2005. So take one of the above examples, DeSmet, SLU got Matt McKeon, Craig Corbett, a couple of great ones, but didn't get Noonan, Klein, Ambersley, all going to IU. And in plenty of other years, they don't have anybody good enough to play at that level of school. This is the same at other places too. Joe Germanese from SLUH is at Vanderbilt, a non-soccer school, and would a starting forward at SLU, he wanted to go away and find a different fit. Some will stay, some will go....sure Donigan needs to get a few more elite ones to stay...but he also needs to get elite ones from elsewhere too, and not just good ones. A lot of the Texas kids he recruited haven't turned out to be much. He has had better success with a few good transfers, Brannan, Wick, Hutton, etc...from top schools. What I would ask Torch, or AJ or some others....how much do you see of other college soccer teams each year...in person, tv, or tape....? not against SLU? And how much youth club ball so you see? Take Chicago for no reason in particular, they have excellent club teams, multiple two ior three really strong ones, like a Gallagher or STL Soccer or Fusz. And Chicago didn't produce that kind of talent in the 80's or even 90's...it has changed dramatically. Soccer is good everywhere. Sure some areas like STL have more depth, but CA, Tx, Mid-Atlantic, NY/NJ/Ct, areas have that depth too. And almost any area has a handful of top kids. STL area just has more of the very good solid players than a lot of areas...that doesn't mean all are good enough to play on top 10 or 20 teams. If SLU got every great player to stay home, sure they would be very good, but it is insulting to everywhere else to think they would automatically steam roll people too. Soccer is still not the same as coaching hoops or bigger revenue sports and shouldn't be...Sure STL job is different and I would agree. If you recruit kids who leave early and go on to be successful pro players, it should be taken into consideration as part of your success. Donigan was recruiting high level kids, and he got unlucky with a bunch unexpectedly leaving early. And a few others with injuries who haven't panned out. Anyone on here knows he does not get a free pass with me, but let's be fair. Kids also didn't leave early in the past...let's stop living in the past. Now, a better discussion would be style of play, or if you even wanted compare how STL kids who went elsewhere are doing now. I can think of Ambersley, Germanese, ...maybe a Novak or McKee, maybe the kid at Northwestern...a few others...who are in a 4 year Frosh through Senior window right now from STL who are playing on a different college team than SLU ...who are any good at all. Please help me fill in the rest Torch. Where are they?
  12. Do I even have to reply to this thread? sigh. All I will add for Skip is the missing name of David Peplinski to be added. High School All-American, had a knee problem, and unfortunately got into some off field trouble. He was highly recruited by top schools, a great get, came from great background, was coached by former teammate of Donigan's. It was unexpected he would get into trouble. He has since transferred to New Mexico and plays a lot for the current top 3 Lobos. As for recruits, I just haven't seen Holmes play recently. From all accounts is is a "player," and dramatically improved. But we are talking about SLU being a top 25 or better team. I think it is safe to say Holmes could have played big school STL area soccer and done well...but a lot of kids from big time STL club teams and high school teams ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH to play big time college soccer. Josh Aranda out of DeSmet was mentioned. Skilled, tough, hard nosed midfielder, a leader, captain as an underclassmen in past, something unheard of at a place like DeSmet,... lacks height, but physically stong unlike a Dado or Sweetin. He was also looking at Harvard and a couple of others. He is definitely good enough to play for SLU. He isn't a Frosh difference maker, but will eventually be a starter and good player. If he were 6 feet plus, he'd really be something immediate. I would say Aranda/McKee comparisons aren't too bad, though I think Aranda can do more things than Cooper.
  13. This is very very very tame stuff. Is there more I am missing? Wow! And as cheerleaders and dance teams go, only Memphis had it going on in C-USA....maybe a distant distant Cincinnati or something...but Marqette, SLU etc...no thanks.
  14. For soccer folks...the NY Times is reporting that MLS has made it a done deal for Toronto to join the league. There is a $15 million dollar fee deadline for another team to join as expansion. The deadline is in December, then the price goes up significantly. The cities mentioned were, in no order: Atlanta, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Tulsa, and for whatever reason the 5th city is escaping me this second, but nothing near STL. KC and San Jose have been up for sale for a year...and the report said their fates will be decided in a a couple of weeks. ...lastly I read online Donigan's article/reaction and I was floored at what I read. ...considering a "softer" non-conference schedule to get more wins/results.????? It did say only "considering".... wow...the problem is the conference reputation, and the need is to schedule tough non-conference games to overcome that low margin for error in conference. Perhaps a discussion would better be to see if they could play some of those non-conference games later in the season, instead of so early. I wish I read something that said, "We have to get better players and better results against top teams....We want to be a top team so we will continue to play top teams" Obviously Providence was rewarded for playing in a tough conference despite not so good results. Seems to be better to be a 5th or 6th place club in a top league.
  15. There are a lot of African American leaders, coaches, mentors in many communities throughout the U.S. who do a lot of great things for kids, without the grand-standing, questionable methods, without the arrogance, and most of all, without the need to make race the first and foremost issue all too often. Nothing gets under my skin more than racism of any kind to anyone. And Floyd Irons has long been in a position of power to be a lot more than he has been to a lot of people. It's really a shame. Instead of people mentioning his name as a great contributor to kids, athletics etc...there will always be the baggage that comes with his name. He created it for himself by his own actions and behavior.
  16. Well, As I said, nothing surprises me in NCAA soccer. I have glanced at the brackets a few times, and sure there are places where SLU couple and should have gotten in over some others. People on here know I am pretty objective and am in no way a sour grapes person when it comes to this. Those are just facts. With that said, SLU certainly didn't help their own cause. Hosting the conference tourney and having to go to pk's twice against solid but nothing special teams wasn't a strong result. I will be the first person to say upsets occur all the time in conference tourneys just like other sports. Is it too late to not join the A-10? Maybe SLU can play soccer in another conference? If you win a share of your reg season title(and techincally beating the other two, you win it), and losing in pk's in your conference tourney title game,...and you can't get in? This of course was the concern going into the A-10. And yes as I stressed pre-season, the early non-conference games are everything...SLU had 4-5 big ones early in back to back weekends....I guarantee you, if they beat ND instead of losing in 2 ot...ND is out and SLU is in, or they both are in...that is just one example... Pre-season, SLU was not ranked, with some of it having to do with last year's season. So it was imperative to get results early on. SLU hammered SMU at a time when everybody else did. They did tie IU 1-1 a good result, but losing to Tulsa and ND hurt them. Tulsa and ND faded. Speaking of SMU, goes to show you how much more the NCAA thinks of the new C-USA than the A-10. I also think the NCAA was looking for SLU to dominate the A-10, and they had to fight and scratch in most A-10 games, and this was somewhat surprising. Realistically they could or should have gotten in, and played either a play in game, winning and losing to a top ranked fie second round, or losing first round. It wasn't as if they were going far, but you never know once you get in. As for the recruit mentioned...are you talking about the Holmes kid from Priory? Nice story for Priory, winning state small schools undefeated, etc...I know some sour grapes folks cried they played a soft schedule.(this means they didn't play any large school powers and take their lumps like a Trinity does, etc...) but they won every game they played, first school in MO soccer history at any level. Holmes finished with 43 goals. The positive is he has played recently with Scott Gallagher the past few years...the negative..his high school competition was not top notch, ....their coach seemed even surprised at how much he improved his senior year...prior to that ...he was looking at Loyal Chi, UIC, etc...not exactly strong soccer schools. He verbaled to SLU last week. You may be talking of someone else I hope. To be honest I am just uncertain if he can play at the big time D-1 level. Maybe he can...I'll have to talk with some old Gallagher friends and see what is up with him. ..at least it's a forward...lol. It is a solid commitment, but I wouldn't even begin to expect results from him until junior year. It would be a pleasant surprise to get more than that. Oh, btw ...last year's MO plyer of the year, couldn't even start most of the season at non NCAA team Stanford, although played a lot. What I am saying is there are hits and misses everywhere, and very few kids can come in and make an immediate impact. SLU didn't have any this year, Dado and Sweetin included.
  17. As I said, you break it down for days if you want...does SLU deserve to get in...imo yes. Would it shock me if they didn't, no based on a number of things. Do I think they will get in, yes. As for SLUballs question....I have no idea why Duquesne was ranked throughout the season. It certainly wasn't based on their schedule. Sure, Dan Diego St is a good opponent, but Duquesne lost to them 3-0. I am at a loss to see why they were ranked, other than beating lesser teams. I will take SLU's schedule and results of tying then #1 and current top 5 Indiana 1-1, and crushing top 10 SMU in non-conference. ...two traditional powers. Maybe the A-10 only gets one team...but if they get two and one isn't SLU...maybe I should stop following men's college soccer.
  18. Thanks Bob. Well, it wasn't a good draw. The win over Stanford is solid. SLU lost 2-1 to SCU in reg season in tight game. There were plenty of other choices closer to home to send them. Notre Dame would have been a similar result...but Nebraska or Tenn/Miss area ...etc.. Certainly a great season, and they finally made the NCAA's and won a game. Something to build on. Next step is to keep scheduling Duke, Santa Clara, etc...during reg season. Good ranked teams, and gotta beat one or two of them, and it changes your draw and seed. SLU needs to jump into the top 25, and will only do it with beating ranked teams home or road. Again a great season, and somewhere to start.
  19. I realy try hard to be objective on this topic or any other for that matter. I have seen a lot of soccer this year from other teams in other markets, let alone SLU. I can say without hesitation that SLU is good enough to make the NCAA. Will they? They are clearly a bubble team. I do think they will get it, and get a fierce, tough road game, round one. It would say absolutely little of the conference if only RI got in. SLU beat Duquesne, and Duquesne lost in conference semis. If Duquesne gets in over SLU, it will be wrong, mostly due to the above mentioned but also that Duquesne doesn't have a standout elite non-conference resume. I for one was down right puzzled and shocked how the adidas poll had SMU 10 last week. Did I miss something? Sure, SMU had been rolling lately...but their big wins are Memphis and Tulsa. SLU crushed them as did everyone else early. I will give them credit for a fierce non-conference schedule, but they lost all of those games. I digress. Back to SLU. If you win your reg season conference(yes, #1 when you beat both other co-teams)...and go to conf tourney finals and lose in pk's and not get in....there is something wrong and you need to sit down with the NCAA committee and get it done or play soccer only in another conference. Reading some of the posts here, first, Donigan will be back. It is a non-issue, end of discussion. He is as likely to return to SLU as Kevin Lisch is in hoops next season. It is a non-topic. Done finsished, the end. If SLU doesn't make the NCAA this year and next year, I will entertain discussion and he will get one more after that. Donigan has earned the right to return, and will, answers both questions. The inability to have effective interior passing and possession, and attractive attacking soccer, has caught my attention for sure. The team...it just isn't a great team talent-wise. Let's repeat that. A few elite players can change a team. SLU needs a stud elite central midfielder, and someone who flat out scores goals in any way shape or form. You can work with role players in other areas. I know people get caught up in some things...but SLU is a top 40 team, not a top ten team...and frankly, not a top 20 team....somewhere between 20-40. As for the former coach, it was Joey Clarke, and what happened to him was a case of the old guard not up with the times. Clarke didn't even have a full time assistant coach. SLU admin and ath dept were slow to recognize that the rest of the nation has caught up in soccer. Freakin New Mexico, for example is a soccer power. NEW MEXICO...say it out loud. And a top local player has sen this and is going there next year....and a lot of their kids are local and regional there...there are many other examples... He never had the resources that Warming or Donigan had. SLU needed to beat ND, lost in 2 ot. and one or two more solid ones...early to get an early ranking. They didn't. Conf tourneys can be crap shoots....the amazingly good ACC was decided today when the 5th seed and 6th seeds played...yes 5th and 6th seeds, Duke beat Carolina 5-4 on pk's. Neither was a top 4 seed. SLU is bubble bound. I think they should and will squeak in. Will they? ...nothing the NCAA does surprises me anymore in soccer.
  20. This probably better on the other board. But for many years now, Kansas City and Columbia have had a stranglehold on HS football. STL generally produces a few very good skill position guys, and some others, but it isn't by any means a football hotbed. average. Hoops, again similar....with exceptions as well...for the state as a whole. Not a lot of major D I talent most years. Enjoyable high school games. DeSmet beat SLUH for the state hoops title in 1982...and until I believe last year or year before from at least 1986(or possibly earlier than that) SLUH played DeSmet minimum twice a year and lost every game. They were good in the early to mid 80's and before. But they have not been good since. Long time coach since Mimlitz retired, Don Mauer was let go a few years back, and went out and landed at MICDS and won a small schools state title immediately after zero success at SLUH. John Ross has been the coach last so many years...and he prefers up tempo ball, plays with smart scrappy, less talented kids up til this point. All of the MCC coaches know each other and all of their systems and tricks backwards and forwards. Frankly the conference has been down for a few years.
  21. The Dallas Morning News has always had a good sports section. I would agree St. Louis' is very poor. And I would agree also on Vahe. I read a lot of papers...I usually can't say I like someone's section completely, so I have to pick and choose and sift through.
  22. Well...Without getting a chance to look at the full brackets yet...based on the four teams mentioned, I don't like the draw. One, it is a long trip. Two, it is a local game for Stanford, though not at home field. Stanford is solid, some close tough 1 goal losses to to ranked teams...which would put them similar to SLU's results...with a giant "but" in there. They beat Santa Clara, who defeated SLU...a top 5 team at the time. And they tied another top 5 teamin UCLA. They play in a tougher conference, and have some strong opponents on their schedule. Are they beatable, sure. SLU can beat any non top 10 team imo. And if the stars align, a top 10 team. Not sure they could do it more than once. I am not a fan of Santa Clara in 2nd game if, if that happened. I would be pretty pissed if I was Stanford having to play them again, if they beat SLU. And though SLU played and lost 2-1 to Santa Clara in close game....I am more of a fan of getting someone new and different for them to play. Sure it could have been worse...the draw...but I think better too. SLU could win both games, but has to play mistake free in both, especially against SCU, or they will lose a 2-0 type game. It is a great opportunity for SLU women to show they belong by winning both games. I think SLU would get crushed by Notre Dame, UNC and some others,(teams with much different styles, UNC skilled fast everywhere, ND has some big strong girls etc..) so ...in that regard a decent draw, but by no means will they be favored to beat Stanford. Even matchup ability-wise, slight edge to Stanford, and big edge to Stanford in results against better competition. SLU can play with both teams...that isn't the issue....if they come back with a hard fought 2-1 loss...it will be same ol same ol...but, something to build on by making the tournament, and thus a successful season. ...would be nice to feel better about yourself after steam-rolling the A-10 however to beat some tough CA schools.
  23. SLU defeated Richmond 3-0 today at Richmond and Duquesne lost to Charlotte 1-0. SLU earns at least a tie with Dayton, who didn't have to play SLU or Duquesne. Dayton is playing Temple right now. Also congrats to SLU women. SLU women will have won both reg season and A-10 crown. This will get them in the tournament and hopefully a home game first round. To be objective, SLU didn't register a win over a ranked team, and this will and should hurt them in post-season seedings. Wouldn't surprise me at all if they didn't get a good draw. They are in, which is what's important. They now have an opportunity to prove themselves in the NCAA tournament. Their chances to beat Santa Clara and Duke fell short both times, add in unexpected loss to OU...Duke lost this weekend in ACC semis to Carolina, after finishing the reg season 4th in the powerful ACC. Santa Clara is strong. I have seen enough of women's top 25 teams this season to comfortably say SLU women on any given day can play with most ranked teams. IMO, they can be as good as a 15-25 ranked team this year. Nothing better than that...but that is pretty good. They unfortunately get a few ranked opponents a year. And despite hard efforts, they are still coming up short against the ranked opponents 2-1 etc...they have rolled the A-10, but level of competition will change quickly soon. They definitely have a chance to win a couple of games in the tourney, as they can play with most teams if they play mistake free.
  24. For SLU to win the reg season conference, they need a win at Richmond today, and a tie or loss for Duquesne at Charlotte. A Duquesne win, gets them the reg season title outright. Dayton who has neither played SLU nor Duquesne this year can tie for first with a win at Temple, a SLU win, and Duquesne tie or loss. It would help SLU's cause to win both the reg season title and the all important conference tourney next weekend in St. Louis.
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