SShoe

Well, if they're in the game at the same time the opposing team would be stupid to not go to zone.

We gotta be able to penetrate into the lanes and then kick out or drop off for shots. We also are going to need to knock down our otuside shots. Side to side passing is just going to get picked off repeatedly. If we get into our usual passing around the outside working for the good shot routine, we're going to have problems. I'm hoping we're going to get one of those "Drejaj's on fire nights". He hasn't had one for a while.

totally agree, the discussion about the team, it's future, Ian, etc. Good stuff.

Charter's picking it up as it is on ESPN Plus.

>I would like to talk game planning for our weekend match up >with the Flyers, hope someone is game because I don't know >much about them. > >1. Haven't heard much about an inside threat from them, is >this a game that IV, playing as aggressive as he has been >lately should be able to dominate? Do we give him a touch >on every possession, particularly early on? > >2. With the 5 starters solidified, and assuming (hoping) we >have no one in foul trouble, how do you utilize DP in this >game. He played so well in the last game that it would be a >shame to waste him on the bench Saturday. But then again, >the way TL, KL, and AD have played, he may have trouble >squeezing in. > >3. Defensively do we have anyone we need to key on. If so, >who is on that person? Is it a guard KL can cover? > >4. With DP in game we push the ball a bit more. Is this a >game that maybe we sacrifice a few minutes apiece from KL, >TL, AD, and LM to make sure DP gets 15-20 minutes to change >the pace offensively and pick that full court intense ball >pressure? This would seem to depend on the quality of their >point guard and the overall athleticism of their team in >comparison with ours. > >Any other thoughts of people that might be a big factor for >us or them or strategies we might see from either team? > >Just looking to focus everyone and the next "biggest game of >the year" for the Billikens and distract everyone from >talking about Mizzou and Illinois for a few minutes. They're second and third leading scorers are inside players. They're not overly big, but solid offensively. One of them is Monty Scott, who may or may not be playing on Saturday as he has been hurt, but rumour on their board is that he might play. DP will be a great guy off the bench to put pressure on their point. If Dayton has a weak spot, it's at the point position as they really are not the best ball handling team. We need to pressure their guards as much as possible. Their best player is a 6-2 guard named Brian Roberts. Scores a lot, but also shoots a lot. I could see KL on him, but wouldn't be surprised if Drejaj guards him.

> >Yes there is a lot of doubt. MU struggling doesnt make SLU >more talented. If Harris-Stowe beat SLU in 2 out of 3 >games, we still know SLU is more talented and a better team. > MU has way more talent. How many of SLU's guys were >heavily recruited or came close to being top 100. Most of >MU's players were. v-time, talent and athleticism are often different things. I won't argue about who has better athletes, but I'll argue about the "talent" levels.

There's no doubting his scoring ability...

Often the coach who wins the league is immediately considered, hence Karl Hobbs. I would think if we finish in the top 3 or 4, Brad would be the other consideration.

Temple is an enigma. When they're on, they can beat a lot of good teams. When they're off, well they lose to UMASS by 30. So when we play them, I'm more concerned which Temple team shows up rather than which SLU team shows up.

>Interesting that several centers on list have Missouri ties. > >8. Ian > >13. Anthony Tolliver, Creighton (went to Springfield >Kickapoo) > >16. Paul Miller, Wichita State (from Jefferson City) > >18. Kevin Young, Missouri > >23. Zac Schlader, Austin Peay (from Columbia, Mo.) > >37. Sky Frazier, Missouri State (Borgia) > >60. Brian Cusworth, Harvard (Burroughs) > >103. Jake Byrne, E. Illinois (Elsberry) > >- Nate I finally got to watch Wichita St. the other night. Miller is a helluva player. He hits the turnaround J as well as anybody in college b-ball.

It's alumni weekend at Dayton so all the looney graduates can return and drink themselves silly in the student "Ghetto" before and after the game. Rumor has it that student attendance has been crappy this year.

>.... and I will be chastised for it, but despite the fact >that DP is obviously a stand up kid and a great component >for any program .... the overall situation still begs to the >question .... how come the St. Louis Area Metro Player of >the Year cannot bust the lineup of an (arguably) bad (c'mon >.. last year's record and continuing debates over a general >lack of talent provide proof) Division 1 basketball program >and must be contented with being a five-minute-a-stretch >role player off the bench? > >Again, ignore the kid and the person and just apply it to >the overall situation (yeah, yeah, Lisch, Liddell and now >Meyer seem to contradict it) considering this is another in >a long line of suspect players. I think it tends to support >why St. Louis is not a recruiting hotbed. And it adds to >questions ... like if St. Louis is really this weak, then no >way all the "studs" supposedly coming down the line are real >deals. The track record says otherwise. I think if you go back 10 years or so and think of all the St. Louis players we did not get and take out the Ross Varners and Floyd McClain's of the world you would put together some great teams. Top 25 or higher teams. I'm going to throw out some names and their solid careers. Just imagine adding these guys to the mix over the past 8 years or so: -Ryan Robertson - St. Charles West - KU (drafted NBA). -Loren Woods - Cardinal Ritter - Wake/AZ (drafted, but don't know if still playing in the NBA) -Chris Carrawell - Cardinal Ritter - 3-year starter and team leader Duke -Darren Brooks - Jennings (I think) - SIU - 4-year starter and team leader -David Lee - Chaminade - Florida - NY Knicks -Kent Williams - Nashville (I think) - SIU (all-time Saluki leading scorer?) -Blake Ahearn - DeSmet - MO State (we've had this discussion) -Darius Miles - East St. Louis - NBA straight (just an example of St. Louis talent) I'll even throw in guys like Joe Ries from DeSmet who played substantial minutes on a solid Wyoming team that played in the tourney a few years back, or Philip Gilbert from East St. Louis, Bradley's leading scorer a few years ago. Point is, there's talent in the STL region and we need to make sure they stay here. Some will go, but they're priority #1 and just because a few don't pan out doesn't mean others won't. I'm also not ready to close the book on DP. He is only a sophomore. A lot of players struggle as underclassmen and then turn it on as upper classmen. Chris Sloan and Josh Fisher are two who immediately come to mind in that regard.

>Courtside - this is why you need a 13,000 seat arena. Then >the students will get their 2000 seats in a good location >for them and all the current ticket holders will be >accomodated with about 2000 or so seats for sale to the >general public - this will make SLU a hot ticket. good post. and keep the students on the baseline.

>>At this point it has to be MO ST, SLU, MU, UMKC, SEMO. >> >>I would like to see what the Bears could do against SLU and >>Mizzou, because I think they're over-rated. > > >SLU is not better than Mizzou. Guys on MU's bench like >Dandridge and Lyons would start for SLU. If Matt Lawrence >showed he could hit a shot he would be starting for SLU. I would love to have some of the players on Mizzou's squad (I can't understand why Dandridge doesn't play more), but 8 talented guys don't always make for a good team. As a team, Mizzou plays poorly together, doesn't play defense, and becomes complacent on offense while waiting for Gardner to shoot. SLU on the other hand has guys who play tough D, work together for the better of the team (see Dwayne Polk), and has a great inside player (better than any of Mizzou's inside guys). Brad's coaching ability in comparison to Quin's is the icing on the cake. A great example of how talent doesn't always win games was the U.S. Olympic team two years ago. Obviously the most talented squad in the field, but also obviously not the best team. Argentina was. At this point to suggest that Mizzou is a better team is ridiculous. Yes, they might (and I stress might) have more and better talent, but as a team they have gotten their butts kicked 6 straight. By the way, I would put TL, KL, IV up against any 3 Mizzou players.

Burrell is a little bigger and Drejaj matches up better with larger guards as he is stronger, yet slower than KL. Also, KL gave Finn fits in the first game so I guess you stay with what's working in the second.

He's small. 6-2, I think. Shoots a lot. We also need to pressure the ball consistently. They lack a good ballhandler and that has been their achilles heal all season.

He's one of their better bigs who's been hurt. Was averaging around 10 a game. Dayton is very dependant upon their guard Roberts. Averaging around 16 a game. Good guy for Kevin to shut down.

> >Also do you really think Brad is going to redshirt McQ? I >definitely think he should but SLU is so starved for outside >shooting I don't know how he can. But this proves my point >in a way because a Red Shirt on McQ would be perfect. Let >him settle into the program and the speed of D1 ball and >then bring him in ready to go when Polk graduates. If you get Stemler, you probably can afford to redshirt DM, because from it sounds like he is one helluva shooter.

> >In a perfect world (realistically), this spring we would >land one big to redshirt, have Maguire redshirt, get a >juco/prep school 4 to start, and a freshman point guard who >can shoot and back up DP. Next year, DP is already probably the backup pg.

He's a senior this year.

Bilas is fine until Duke is in the picture. Watched some of the UL/UC game tonight and of course he was spending time talking about tomorrow's UNC/Duke game while the other game was in action. I like how Digger's highlighters match his tie.

show some faith.

I don't mind Katz. Bilas on the other hand.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2320297

If we were to go say 6-1 over the next 7 and get a couple in the tourney, we'd have a very convincing resume. The tourney commitee, does like a team that's been playing well late in the year and with our strength of schedule, we could have a case. 6-1 means we beat at least Temple or Charlotte. One game at a time, though. Who am I kidding, let's run the table.