Bay Area Billiken

Well, there's a bit of a silver lining for a dreary Monday morning. Per realtimerpi.com, SLU's RPI is 197, SOS of 67. As of last TH, SLU's RPI was much worse, 263. So at least something positive, an admitted stretch there, came out of the Duke game. As Majerus said, RPI is not relevant this season. I think he meant re NCAA Tournament at-large purposes. But in a sense it still is, that is other teams will be looking at SLU's RPI re future scheduling.

No, I'm not saying a week before practice started. That would have been far too late. And agree, that could have been damaging. My point is the right arm knowing what the left arm was doing. There had to have been warning signs earlier than Oct. 14. I don't even know if even September would have been adequate time to scrap the game. So maybe there was just nothing to do but play the game and try to make the best of it. This being said, the second easiest way to ensure against national TV appearances is to be completely noncompetitive in the rare ones you get and thereby be unable to hold a TV audience. I hate to type this.

Hopefully,you're jesting there. I can't go as far as a forfeit.

Suffice it to say, I hope the players are reinstated. A couple of good players can make a huge difference in college basketball, as can a Coach for that matter. Look at Fordham, which has arisen from the deep abyss after hiring a good Coach. Majerus is an excellent coach. Now SLU needs to reinstate his players so he can do the job he was hired to do.

My opinion is that SLU should have canceled or deferred the game, if there was any way to do so. Being completely noncompetitive throughout and losing by 37 points was not the type of publicity that was needed. Fortunately, very little was said about The Situation.

Taj knows about basketball.

One really wonders if the proverbial right hand knew what the left hand was doing at SLU. I think if there was any way, this Duke game should not have been played this season, either canceled or deferred. Further, without knowing, perhaps there was nothing that SLU could do once the game was scheduled and moreover to be on CBS as the lead-in to the Army-Navy game. But it is too bad this game had to be played under the circumstances. For instance, the "highlights" were on the TV and seen throughout the nation, the score with some type of game summary was in most papers nationally, since Duke is ranked and #1. I received a text from someone who knows very little about SLU Basketball (as if I didn't know what happened). Sorry and I don't want to be negative. But I am concerned about what has happened to the SLU Basketball Program.

Regrettably Villanova rallied from 14 down to win at LaSalle. Zebras played a key role to the Big East team's benefit at crunch time- what should have been an obvious 2 shot foul on Nova was not called and then lesser contact was called on LaSalle on the ensuing drive at the other end. Even ESPNU analyst Len Elmore commented. It was a tough loss for the Explorers to take.

Fordham has 2 good players in 6'8" Soph. PF Chris Gaston, last year's A-10 newcomer of the year, and 5th year Senior Brenton Butler, who has rediscovered his outside shot. Also, guard Alberto Estwick has been hitting his outside shots lately. The big difference is 1st Year Coach Tom Pecora, a proven winner who came from Hofstra, and is instilling a more positive attitude in this team. Last night's win over St. John's at Rose Hill Gym, 84-81, was huge for Fordham in New York City. The game was an advance sellout, and the Fordham students stormed the court. The game was on the YES Network. Fordham is 5-4, has won 3 straight, with wins in the last week over City rivals Manhattan and St. John's, and has equaled its win total from the two previous seasons combined. Fordham, St. Bonavanture, and LaSalle are all improved this year.

Since when? That is not even close to being correct all-time. I can think right off the top of my head of some road non-con wins- SMS, SIU, WIU, UOP. Under Rich Grawer, SLU won at Wisconsin and New Mexico in the NIT.

I hope the Missing Two get reinstated, are eligible, and play this season. I do not think either should redshirt, and hope they don't. Conference play has not yet started, and I see no point in playing shorthanded and risk not even making the A-10 Tournament, much less anything else. If WR and KM are reinstated, SLU still has a chance in the A-10 Tournament, as the A-10 is down this season (#9 Conference RPI). Of course, Temple basically getting to play at home in Atlantic City doesn't help the chances, but that is always going to be the case as long as the A-10 plays its tournament there.

It is the situation, the totality of the circumstances IMO. SLU was really expected to contend for the NCAA Tournament this season. This was to be our year. Today's won-loss result was expected. The 37 point slaughter was not before Oct. 14. After that and after SLU lost at home to the likes of Austin Peay and allowed Luke Sikma, of all people, to morph into George Mikan, today's slaughter was expected here. Sorry, but that's the way it is.

I mentioned at lunch to the better half, a fellow SLU alumnus herself, about how the Aussies, who came to SLU as good shooters, now can't shoot. She attributed it to the (difference in) the gravitational pull (from Down Under)! Agreed re McCall, Jett, and Evans. Those three need to play; all three have upsides and games. Sorry, but overall this game was an embarrassment. It very regrettably reminded me of the hopeless days of the Ekker Era.

What a great humanitarian he is, absolutely above all reproach. Maybe he can become the first canonized Saint while still living. After all, there's a first time for everything.

All three should be playing more minutes. McCall and Jett should be the backcourt. Evans is a good 3. The game is so 3 point shot oriented, but what good does it do to shoot them if you can't make them?

Romar is a very good coach IMO. He has the best team in the Pac-10, and one of the best teams in the West.

Evans has some game too. He should be getting more minutes.

Not according to the ACC Touch Foul Rule Book. Thou shalt not call a charge on the Duke Choir Boys.

Agreed. There are so many if's re the two players returning, but my hope is they are reinstated and eligible, and if so, please no redshirt for either. Let them play and let's try to salvage this season. The A-10 is there to be had, including that A-10 Tournament, although the latter is a tall order because the venue makes it a de facto Temple home court.

McCall is good. He has good experience in the Chicago Public League, and it shows. From what I've seen today, he has the most natural talent on the current SLU team. Leave him alone and let him play.

I would estimate SLU would have 8-10 more points with them. Both are really missed, obviously IMO.

I support Majerus, but what exactly is he teaching? The game at the higher levels is played at a faster pace. Most of SLU's players seem to be thinking too much, mental overload. The ones that can play ball are McCall and Jett. Make them the focus of this team.

Start them both (McCall and Jett), take off the reigns, and let them play ball. They have some game and could be a good guard combo. The rest of the players are thinking too much, too afraid to make a mistake, which leads to mistakes and TO's. It's like the famous Yogi Berra line, "You can't hit and think at the same time." Mental overload. Absent getting both missing players back for the conference season, this season is basically lost anyway. Is the A-10 Tournament format the same, meaning the bottom two don't make the A-10 Tournament? If so, you know what I'm thinking there. Hey, the much maligned Fordham is 4-4 and just beat Manhattan. Right now SLU will have its hands full with Fordham on Jan. 19 at the Izod Center. Chris Gaston is better than anyone on SLU's current roster. 40-16 at half.

McCall and Jett show some game. Take off the reigns and let them play. This half court slow down stuff doesn't work against a taller, far more talented team. If you're going to get blown out, at least score some points. 37-16.

Agreed. With the full roster perhaps this game could be played. But not now. SLU should not reduce itself into buy, cannon fodder games, getting totally schooled on National over the air TV. I knew this was coming, but I still don't like it. 31% shooting, 13 turnovers, down 33-10- a total embarrassment. That score would be awful if this was football.