Bay Area Billiken

The Anderson Brothers came through for SLU tonight. #7 Seth assisted on both SLU goals, including the second, a header by his brother, #23 Tanner. Max Floriani scored the first SLU goal, also a header.

SLU 2 @Portland 0 - Final. That’s a good Win for the Billikens in the Great Northwest.

A key is what happens to the ACC, and if Cal and Stanford become available to "return" to the PAC, although I don't see that happening. The PAC-2 are sitting on boatloads of left behind PAC-12 money, can afford this move. The newcomers to the PAC may not have the biggest names, but Boise State, San Diego State and Fresno State have good football programs, and San Diego State, Boise State and Colorado State have good basketball programs. The new PAC-6 needs at least 2 more schools to reach the required 8. The PAC-2 (Oregon State and Washington State) have another year in their 2 year grace period to get at least 2 more to join the new PAC. They have a number of options from both the Mountain West (UNLV) and the American. There is speculation about expanding into Texas (North Texas, UTSA, good TV markets). Memphis and Tulane have also been mentioned.

I hope the games will be on ESPN+. If they're not on Bally Sports MW or ESPN+, the many out of the region out of towners like us might be in the dark. I hope not. Dan Caesar's article does say the MVC has deals with ESPN, et al. So hopefully the ESPN+ part will continue. We have watched the SLU home games on Bally Sports Midwest via DirecTV, have ESPN+ for some road games. We've been spoiled, fortunate. I watch SLU home soccer games and some road games on ESPN+.

I heard the interview out here on the KMOX Audacy app. Steve, you gave an excellent presentation!

https://x.com/mhver3/status/1828414431425921526?s=46&t=jikm5nKg-NlIUjy2c9C9zw UConn appears to be in demand at the commissioners’ level, Big XII vs. ACC.

I’ll be there, expect the Billikens will be road underdogs. It’s usually good to be the underdog.

SLU NCAA Tourney 2025.

Marquette and Dayton agree to a home and home, starting on 12/14/24 at Dayton, then date in ‘25-‘26 at Marquette.

Yuri Collins started and played 26+ minutes in last night’s Golden State Warriors’ Game 3 in the California Classic Summer League, had 4 assists. Warriors beat Sacramento 91-90. I tuned in the game in the 4th Quarter on NBC Sports Bay Area, and Yuri, wearing #99, was on the screen. The play by play announcer said he spent 4 years at “Saint Louis,” the “Billikens.”

https://hilltophoops.home.blog/ Per the above USF related blog, USF is playing Memphis on 11/21 at Chase Center. The SLU game on 12/5 is listed as a USF home game, meaning it will likely be at USF's on campus facility, War Memorial at the Sobrato Center. USF power forward Jonathan Mogbu is still in the NBA Draft. I have seem him dominate some games and be less visible in others. If he goes pro, he would be a big loss, but USF had a number of players last season with returning eligibility. USF lost a close game on a last seconds 3 pointer at Cincinnati in the '24 NIT, after missing a key free throw that would have iced it.

Yes, alcoholic beverages are sold at the venue.

Yes, the USF Dons play at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center on Golden Gate Avenue on the USF Campus. The former doubledecked 5,300 seat rectangular seating arrangement has been renovated. The lower level 7 rows on each sideline are plastic chair seats. The East sideline upper deck remains permanent bleachers. The upper decks of both baselines, south and north, are 10 row deep new bleachers. The old bleachers from the West sideline upper deck were removed and now that whole side upstairs is a high end club, with 3 rows of chair seats in front that go for approx. $300 per seat. Two or three rows of folding chair seats remain on the 2 baselines. USF great Bill Cartwright, 7'1", now a USF Administrator, sits in a lower baseline seat behind the north basket. Capacity has been reduced after the above to 3,000. The place can be a tough venue. I once saw Coach Digger Phelps' Notre Dame Fighting Irish, with LaPhonso Ellis, lose to the resurrected, post-program cancellation USF Dons. Phelps said he would never be back to "this CYO gym." Well, it wasn't that then, and it isn't that now. But it is similar to assorted A10 venues. USF has also been playing a game each season at the NBA Golden State Warriors' Chase Center, played Minnesota and Gonzaga there last season.

Billikens @ USF (CA) on 12/5/24, playing the Dons in San Francisco for the first time since Coach Spoonhour's last year. Come out to the Bay Area. This is going to be great, 2 Jesuit schools with good teams facing off. Southwest flies non-stop from STL to SFO and OAK; I just read today United is resuming non-stop SFO-STL flights in August.

I liked Bill Walton’s PAC-12 game commentary, thought he was hilarious. He was unique. We saw him at the USC @ Cal game in Berkeley on 2/7/24, where he was in his element. He talked to the fans, high fived with Cal’s Straw Hat Band. Having just seen him only 3+ months ago, I was surprised to receive the news yesterday of his passing. I watched on TV his incredible NCAA Championship Game performance for UCLA from the St. Louis Arena. He was the starting Center for the NBA Champion Portland Trailblazers. His backup on that Portland team was the late Robin Jones from SLU.