courtside

Look at all the names that come up in the Post for the Mizzou job that are no way applicable to Mizzou. Not saying BS is a candidate....because I don't think he would be one....just saying...just because something is or isn't in a newspaper doesn't make it true. Did it come from Pollard's mouth? Or is it some newspaper guy speculating or hoping....etc.. And yes, Soderberg attends Mass almost daily at SLU. Sometimes more than once a day even..... I believe they have churches in Iowa, Wisconsin with altars and everything. For better or for worse BS isn't going anywhere anytime soon. That is good or bad based on your opinion of him as SLU's coach.

Teams that win with consistency, are teams that can win when games are in the 90's, 70's 50's, a variety of ways. Matchups are obviously everything in the NCAA's as opposed to seeds. Soderberg comes from a slow prodding system...and he hasn't exactly shaken that stigma at this point. If he wins, it won't/doesn't matter. It does matter in a few aspects...fans will come if you win, ...they will come more and quicker if it is at least attractive ball. Same with analysts....they will come quicker so to speak as well. ...coaches will use it against him in recruiting....etc... But if he wins he can overcome some of those obstacles.

I would agree that he won't be strongly considered, and I would agree he feels comfortable at SLU. Brad's dream job was/is the Univeristy of Wisconsin. A 50,000 public school. Why woudln't his dream job have been Marquette or whomever else??? Let's not be naive. If Brad had greater first few year success...and if SLU wasn't building new arena ...etc...don't kid yourself.

Okay....let's see here...this btw is also on the other board in different thread fyi.... Some folks in Iowa were also throwing out some Valley coaches. ...N. Iowa, Creighton, SIU...on top of the above, Tom Moore, Rob Jeter, etc.... First I will take the last...no, BS wwouldn't leave SLU for UWM. I believe Rob Jeter makes 300k not including extras ...i.e. radio/tv...shoe deal etc...camps...It is Jeter's first year, after playing D-III and coacing D-III with wild success inder UW's Bo Ryan, Jeter was asst at UWM and Marquette, ....he has never left Wisconsin. He is however connected to Pollard. Iowa St. is better job than UWM. So with the connection I can see the possibility...but Jeter has one year of head coaching experience...despite a lot of assistant success everywhere he has been. Jeter would take it if he was comfortable with Pollard and no scandals there etc...and he was willing to leave WI.....Jeter would be a top candidate for the UW Madison job down the road when Bo Ryan hangs it up....Ryan is still only 58, so that will be a while. But Jeter would be a likely top choice, and he would likely take it. Altman didn't have interest 3 years ago...so why would he have interest now? ...if convinced the school is getting cleaned up...new AD etc...but I don't see that one. N. Iowa...I can see him taking it...if offered. Doesn't have to leave state, and gets to move into Big 12 with more $$...challenege etc...Definitely can see that one... Lowery at SIU...possible...but with the other connections already in place, don't see him being considered over the above two guys. BS? Hasn't shown the sucess yet at SLU. The Catholic school stuff is BS. That is nice and all....but BS would be more than happy to coach a state school too. Coming from the guy who still isn't "over" his dream job at Wisconsin. Can't see him being considered too strongly. Moore...Conn has produced assistant coaches with success, Leitao, Hobbs etc....in head coaching jobs. They will most likely hire a guy with ties to Pollard.....or a regional coach imo. ..... BS, I don't think would get serious consideration...if he did......not sure what his interest level would be...having coached and lived in Iowa....being more of a rural guy....with the resources, fan support etc....it is the kind of place that would fit BS. I don't think the hire will appease ISU fans...no offense to BS. ....so it is moot to me...with plenty of candidates out there. Bs is not likely to ever coach one of the four D-I schools in WI...so a return there is unlikely. ....SLU is a better job than UWM. Depends on what type of coach/person Pollard wants.

Interesting....no, you won't land every recruit....AND you have to build something for a long time to land most backyard recruits too. I do think there is something to be said for style of play to some extent. Obviously playing behind Dee Brown would have been an issue for him too. I think the biggest factor is relationship with the coach in recruiting. Other factors are schools close to home(Il kid playing at IL)...or being able to play at national elite power...UNC, AZ, etc.. Style of play and recruiting were always going to be my issues with BS coming in....because his sysem even has a reputation for a slower game. Other people will hammer that in recruiting. And, it will lose some kids to other places. There are plenty of other kids out there though. Is it a tougher challenege to recruit, yes.

Yes on KU....A nice win for BU...a good matchup for them. Credit to BU for the d...but 18 to's with the yonng KU group. For entertainment purposes only...just for giggles....round one: ACC: 4-0 SEC: 5-1 Big East: 5-3 Pac 10: 3-1 Big Ten: 3-3 MVC: 2-2

Bradley didn't have a strong resume to get into the NCAA's this year. They were a legit bubble team that easily could have been left out. In this particular season, you would have to go down more than the 1-2 spots for Bradley...sure on any given day Bradley could play some higher level teams. If you go by their resume to get in...they didn't finish near top of their conference and didn't win their conf tourney...and they admitted they were very unsure if they would get an invite. I actually almost picked them to beat KU...considering KU's youth and the matchup....so BU pulling off the upset didn't completely shock me, for one. If the MVC needs to play 2 for 1's or play those teams on the road....against the ones who will play them....Syracuse isn't the only school out there. And, even if they can't get a top conference team...they surely could do better than what they scheduled. There is a middle ground. Bradley wouldn't have finished in the top 8 of the Big Est this year. ....and I would be curious as to where they actualy could/would have finished in that conference this year.. They won their tourney game, that's great. But playing the rigors of Big East play night in and night out....this particular Bradley team would have had to fight to qualify for conference tourney in Big East this year. There are no night's off in that conference, and even beating bottom tier teams on the road is tough. Sure, could Bradley pull off an upset against someone higher? But hanging with any team in BE after 1-2 on a regular basis...this year, not a chance.....Sure every once in a while that will happen...but no way BU can finish in the top half of BE this year. Your post said hang with....and insinuated with regularity. Let's put it this way, BU wouldn't beat those mentioned teams on mor ethan a once every while basis....and if they were in that league, they would have gotten devoured this year. They have had a nice conf tourney run, and won an NCAA game...but I am not getting carried away with BU...based on their season performance which wasn't overly impressive.

Ronnie Chalmers, father of Mario Chalmers...and his former hs coach in Alaska....is the Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Kansas. Somewhere Ed Manning is smiling.

Hey Metz, Ronnie Chalmers, Father of Mario Chalmers, his son's former high school coach in Alaska.....I'll give you one guess at his current job titlle. Here's a hint, Drew Diener has the same title at UVA. You seemed to be infatuated with the job title recently.

Okay...two cents. I would agree with Skip. I'll add: Obviously there is more and more parity in college ball. So seeding is important. Syracuse frankly is my favorite example. They got a 5 seed. If that shot doesn't go in dsay one conf tourney, they don't make it in perhaps. Syracuse finished 9th in the Big east. Somehow their seed was better than West Virginia, Marquette, Georgetown, etc...same as Pitt...Conference tourneys should be for one last chance miracle to dance. Syracuse received theirs...but how about a 10 seed? At best. It affects even their own conference seeds let alone others. And changes matchups and outcomes. I would also add the bottom teams in comparison....meanig...some, ...some people out there hootin and hollerin for the MVC....as has been said, the top team in their league should be able to play with and beat a middle of pack or worse top conference team....but also not included by some people are the bottom teams....is Drake gonna go out and take it to Cincy, Louisville, ND? etc... Packer and Nacne's comments were ridiculous and lacked information in a lot of areas. However, for this particluar season...4 teams in, wasn't bad. Lesson learned for the MVC I hope is...other teams will catch up to the scheduling...so you better go out and schedule and beat some strong non-conference foes soon...or that 4 # will slip back to two or so. Wichita St. 7 seed...if they won their conf tourney, or at least did better in it...they would have gotten a 5 or so. Bradley was lucky to be in the tourney, period. They won, good for them, zero complaints on their seed. As far as the NIT goes...the only thing people remember about the NIT, ...if they do remember anything at all..is one, making it, and two winning it. In between doesn't really matter. Most people know winningin the NIT is a crap shoot sometimes. Teams upset over not getting in NCAA either tank it or play well...other teams disinterested, some excited to play games....so I don't get too carried away with the NIT. And, where are the games played? How did ND get a home game vs Vanderbilt? for example. Random.

Spoon and Huggy are close. They often would spend time together during conference tourneys etc...they are tight. Huggins does have his grooup of friends in the college hoops community just like anybody elee.

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Coming from the same kid who tried to somewhat compare Leon Powell and Derrick Rose. Two vastly different levels of players who play drastically different positions. While the info is nice. Often times you over-vakue the ability of a lot of players about which you post. There is some potential sure in some players...some more than others too. I am not sold on the quantity of high level national caliber players in that group. Maybe local regional level....so far. The thoght that several or many will be High major conflicts with what I have seen...so therefore I am cautiously optimistic onthe quantity part of quality.

HAd Iowa losing in second round, and considered them strongly to lose in first round. Northwestern St. can play....but also Iowa wasn't a strong 3 seed imo.

Last time I checked Arizona played in a "Big" conference. And the SEC and Pac 10 has done well so far. Two of the three Big East losses yesterday were to big conference schools as well. I am not getting into the whole MVC thing etc...Packer Nance... Again, you are seeing a conferecne shampion, Witcita St., Bucknell, etc...play in games against teams middle of pack in conferences. I just don't get overly excited one way or another. I wouldn't call it a ...gee this will shut up so and so thing....like I have seen from different boards etc...

Sure I can Roy...and Nate Lasch is very vocal about it too. Edwardsville can be faulted for not playing tougher non-conference opponents. They are a very good team. And they may very well win at state....but they will definitely have to win without really being previously tested, a disadvantage imo.

This if what Edwardsville will be trying to overcome. Their schedule. Can a good but untested team beat some schools who have played much stronger teams? With all do respect to their record, they start playing serious teams today. Fri, 12/2/05 7:30 p.m. L vs Collinsville (6-8, 19-10) W 55-42 Wed, 12/7/05 12:30 p.m. L vs Belleville East (8-6, 21-9) at Savvis Center W 52-44 . Fri, 12/9/05 7:30 p.m. L vs Belleville West (0-14, 4-22) W 78-37 . Tue, 12/13/05 7:30 p.m. N vs Jerseyville (2-8, 11-20) W 78-36 . Fri, 12/16/05 7:30 p.m. L vs Granite City (3-11, 7-21) W 52-21 . Tue, 12/20/05 7:30 p.m. L at East St. Louis (6-8, 16-16) W 59-45 . Wed, 12/28/05 1:45 p.m. T vs Paris at Charleston W 76-25 . Thu, 12/29/05 1:45 p.m. T vs Olney at Charleston W 62-37 . Fri, 12/30/05 T vs Metamora at Charleston W 77-51 . Fri, 12/30/05 T vs Teutopolis at Charleston W 65-52 . Fri, 1/6/06 7:30 p.m. L at O'Fallon (7-7, 20-11) W 61-42 . Tue, 1/10/06 7:30 p.m. N vs Waterloo (7-3, 21-9) W 68-43 . Fri, 1/13/06 7:30 p.m. L vs Alton (12-2, 27-4) W 41-37 . Wed, 1/18/06 8:30 p.m. T vs Triad (2-8, 5-22) at Salem W 83-34 . Fri, 1/20/06 7 p.m. T vs Charleston at Salem W 72-43 . Sat, 1/21/06 9 p.m. T vs Mount Vernon (7-3, 18-8) at Salem W 53-39 . Fri, 1/27/06 7:30 p.m. L vs Belleville East (8-6, 21-9) W 67-59 . Tue, 1/31/06 7:30 p.m. N vs Civic Memorial (5-5, 19-11) W 66-49 . Fri, 2/3/06 7:30 p.m. L at Belleville West (0-14, 4-22) W 73-58 . Tue, 2/7/06 7:45 p.m. N at Highland (5-5, 14-16) W 62-33 . Fri, 2/10/06 7:30 p.m. L at Granite City (3-11, 7-21) W 49-34 . Tue, 2/14/06 7:30 p.m. L at Collinsville (6-8, 19-10) W 61-54 . Fri, 2/17/06 7:30 p.m. L vs East St. Louis (6-8, 16-16) W 60-46 . Tue, 2/21/06 7:30 p.m. L vs O'Fallon (7-7, 20-11) W 68-55 . Fri, 2/24/06 7:30 p.m. L vs Alton (12-2, 27-4) at Alton West El W 43-35 . Tue, 2/28/06 7:30 p.m. P vs Jerseyville (2-8, 11-20) W 65-48 . Fri, 3/3/06 7:30 p.m. P vs Sacred Heart-Gr. W 48-36 . Tue, 3/7/06 6 p.m. P vs Mt. Zion at Prairie Capit W 72-46 . Fri, 3/10/06 7:30 p.m. P vs Quincy (0-0, 6-3) at Prairie Capit W 58-39 . Tue, 3/14/06 7:30 p.m. P vs East St. Louis (6-8, 16-16) at SIU-Carbondal W 53-41

It's Scheyer vs. Rose Glenbrook N. senior duels Simeon junior By Bob Sakamoto Tribune staff reporter Published March 17, 2006, 12:23 AM CST For all Jon Scheyer has accomplished, you would think his legacy is complete. Not according to sentiment in the Public League, which has it that Simeon's Derrick Rose, Crane's Sherron Collins and Marshall's Patrick Beverley are all better than the 6-foot-6-inch Glenbrook North star. "I'm aware of it, but I can't worry about what other people think," Scheyer said. "This is my third time going Downstate, and to me, it's all about winning. I feel like I don't have anything to prove." The 6-4 Rose, rated among the nation's top five juniors, will go head-to-head with Scheyer when Simeon (30-4) battles Glenbrook North (29-2) in the 6:30 p.m. Class AA quarterfinal Friday at Carver Arena in Peoria. Rose, averaging 20 points, 8.5 rebounds and eight assists and shooting 40 percent from three-point range, has been dominant in the playoffs. "As he matures, he is becoming more aggressive and confident in his game," said Simeon coach Robert Smith, who has banned interviews with his players. "He is doing whatever it takes for us to win." Scheyer, who averages 29.4 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals, played against Rose at a basketball camp last summer. "He is a great player, and Simeon is a really great team," Scheyer said. "It's going to be real fun playing them." While Rose's explosive penetrating and soaring athleticism presents a matchup nightmare for Glenbrook North coach Dave Weber, Smith believes he has a remedy for Scheyer. Simeon's 5-10 defensive specialist, Dexter Williams, who often guards Rose in practice, will harass Scheyer in a box-and-one scheme. "As long as we win, it doesn't matter if I score two points or 30," Scheyer said. "Other guys like Matt Shamis, Zach Kelly and Tyler Cullitan have been stepping up in the playoffs." Nobody has risen higher than Thornwood (24-6) in the postseason. The Thunderbirds have sprung consecutive upsets over Thornridge, Washington and Homewood-Flossmoor to reach Friday's 1:45 p.m. quarterfinal with Schaumburg (21-7). They beat Washington in five overtimes and H-F in three. "A lot of people are saying we don't belong here and we're supposed to lose on Friday," guard/forward Cameron Snelling said. "Stuff like that just makes us play harder." Marshall (30-2) has overwhelmed its postseason competition, winning five games by an average of 34 points. Edwardsville (30-0) will face a fast-breaking, zone-pressing attack featuring Patrick Beverley (32 points, six rebounds, six assists, five steals), Ryan Hare (23.6 points, 8.3 rebounds), Mike Stovall (16.7 points) and Darius Smith (12 points, eight rebounds, 5.5 assists) in the 8:15 p.m. game. With a defense that is holding opponents to 44.4 points per game, West Aurora (29-1) is expected to emerge from the top bracket. The Blackhawks will have to contend with Peoria Richwoods (24-6) and 6-9 Billy Cole in the noon quarterfinal. Cole (16 points, nine rebounds) has orally committed to Illinois. [email protected]

Nick Fazekas is that player for Nevada. Your Marquette buddies may have told you his final two choices were Nevada and Marquette....and he picked Nevada. His surrounding cast is not as good as past years, Kirk Snyder etc.... Their former coach Trent Johnson was Stanford assistant, did a great job....now has the Stanford job and has the two 7'0 twin studs...coming in already for Stanford next year. Fox picking up where he left off at Nevada. Fazekas will play in NBA. Needs to bulk up, because of his foot condition runs strange to many...but has never stopped him.

Matchups are everything... As opposed to this conference di dthis and that conference did that. Syracuse should not have had a 5 seed. Maybe, maybe a 10. This conference tourney lightning in a bottle stuff gets too much factor in seedings. Marquette for example loses in conf tourney and falls to a 7...gets tough matchup and loses. That is the way it goes. But Syracuse getting a better seed than G-Town, WV, MU, same as Pitt....makes zero sense. Wichita St. should have beaten Seton Hall. And they did. Wichita St. would have received a better seed had they fared better in conf tourney..... Nevada, again, a 5 seed, becasue they won their league and league tourney...as opposed to other factors...they weren't a 5 lebvel team this year...like their stronger recent year teams.

I believe I went 12-4, disappointed. I would only change one pick if I had to do it all over again. The four wrong were: Marquette/Bama....knew it was tough matchup with Bama's athletes, but when a kid has the game of his life 31 points, 8-11 from three, etc...and avg's 8 a game, 20 something % from three. Marquette even had a few game winner looks, couldn't knock em down. But I wouldn't have changed the pick. Winthrop v Tenn. Wouldn't have changed the pick. sometimes again, it doesn't go your way. The one that hurt the most, San Diego St. v Indiana.....VERY disappointed. I still cannot believe San Diego St. lost that game. Wouldn't change the pick in a million years. Too many defenseive lapses late and SD ST really couldn't hang on after being in control. Very surpised at that one. Monatana v Nevada...this one I possibly would have changed so that one bothers me in the sense I should have given it more thought. The rest I wouldn't have changed the picks.

It isn't that I don't buy in for one...I am just saying, these kids need to improve a lot, and perhaps they will, to be national level ball players. They could easily go the other way too. Promising potential for some and we shall see where it goes.

If these kids are so good...then they wouldn't/shouldn't be concerned with little old SLU and will get plenty of offers at different places, not just SLU. Point being...the idea that he is the local D-I coach's son, so let's put him on team, is a tad far fetched. I for one am not overly excited with some in the group. There will need to be some major development. And I am not talking Soderberg...more so about the others.

How about the kid from Bama Felix...welcome to the dance. Averages 8 points a game, and in the twent something percent range from three and goes 8-11 from 3. WOW. Bama shot the lights out at times. They are capable...crazy team...beat teams like Florida, Tenn, then lose to Miss and Miss St...shows what an athletic team can do when given a chance.

Had UWM...had Montana in many other pools. Nevada isn't a major, and if anything critics will say what were they doing with a 5 seed?...so that one isn't a big deal. And Bama is an SEC major team. Wichita St. was supposed to win. Unfortunately I also had Winthrop. That one bites.