Bay Area Billiken

Why is SLU so tentative in the offensive set? Are they afraid of making a mistake, missing a shot? They keep passing up open shots.

This is typical A-10 zebra rubbish that SLU has faced on the road since joining (getting parked in) this league. Technical came after ref called foul on SLU on defense early in shot clock and way away from the ball. After the T, Majerus could be heard barking at the ref, "That was wrong." No over the back was called on Richmond when Conklin had position for offensive rebound. Now SLU is turning the ball over against the Richmond press- that's at least 3 TO's against the press.

Evans missed the shot, from short range off the backboard. SLU led 75-68, but lost 78-77. LaSalle hit 2 big 3's and LaSalle's offensive rebounding at crunch time was the difference, including the game winner, which was a second chance shot. LaSalle has talent, takes plays off on defense, but played tough defense at crunch time.

Yes, KM is very much missed. That's why I hoped he would not redshirt, as I was just not ready to concede this season. And WR is very much missed too.

It's a paraphrase of Yogi Berra: "You can't hit and think at the same time." I think the same premise applies.

Ok, so I was off by 2+ minutes. My opinion remains that the missed alley oop is when this game turned. SLU led 34-31 at the time, and GW came right down and scored to make it 34-33. I thought the tempo of the game changed there in GW's direction. Yes, SLU expanded the lead to 38-33, but then completely collapsed, and that was with about 14 minutes left. Per the Comcast announcers, SLU went over 9 minutes and scored 1 point. Now you might not buy my theory, but what is your explanation? Lack of talent? Lack of ability? I don't buy either of those based upon these players' prior track records. No, I think it is something other than lack of talent or lack of ability. I do agree with another above that the lack of a go to guy is huge. And that is directly attributable to The Situation. But I don't think that's the only factor, not this late in the season. I still think there is cerebral overload, which makes the players play tentatively. And I've never agreed with the make 1 mistake, get yanked out of the game stuff. My opinion is that leads to players playing tentatively, afraid to make a mistake. You cannot shoot and think at the same time. When good 3 point shooters cannot hit their shots, there has to be a reason. Even more so, when players can't make layups and bunnies under the basket, there has to be a reason. I recall one incident in which Cody Ellis was called for a foul on defense and was immediately looking at a player coming in from the scorer's table. He knew what was coming next.

I don't know what Majerus said, only what the Comcast announcers said he said. They were talking about catching with 2 hands, bringing it down, and going back up. I don't agree with that. Now if Coach said to catch with 2 hands, but still dunk, then ok, I don't have a problem and would actually agree with that. But another point is the team went in the tank right after that. How about saving the instruction for practice, not in the heat of battle in the game? This team seems so fragile this season. This is where the overthinking becomes overload IMO, and just my opinion as a fan. And I support the Coach, definitely don't want him to leave or to run him off.

The team seemed to be moving better in the first half and until this game's lull struck with 14 minutes left, that started with the missed alley oop. I can tell you, I made a mental note of oh no, here we go, right there. Then the missed shots ensued, followed by the stand around stuff. Even when there were moves to the hoop, the layups were missed. I really think some reigns from the bench need to be loosened. And also if the team overall can't shoot, can't hit outside shots, then allow a guy like Jordair Jett some dribble drive penetration. Let Dewayne Evans play his game. Those guys are going to be good players- that is if they are allowed to play their games. Maybe we get blown out, but we are losing anyway. A loss is still a loss. I'd rather they were playing to win than playing not to lose.

I'm looking forward to Taj's eyewitness report. This game was lost on offense IMO (understatement), that and playing scared on offense after taking that 5 point second half lead and missing the alley oop. The defense overall was good. Re that alley oop, the Comcast announcers mentioned that Majerus told Evans to catch the ball with 2 hands. Hey, let the kid play. He catches the ball with 2 hands like what the announcer said Majerus told him, comes down and tries to go back up, and he very well could have gotten swatted by the GW 7 footer or someone else. Evans missed 1 alley oop, that's all, the Coach said what he reportedly said, and right after that the team went in the tank. Let the kids play ball, especially a player with the talent of Evans. Those aren't programmed robots out there.

From my limited experience playing the game, when you think too much, try too hard, it messes up your shot. I think that's what happened today.

The Situation unraveled this season before it even started. Many of these games that are going in the book as L's would have been wins; I have little doubt about that. At least with Kwamain, there was someone that took charge on the floor. That is what is missing during these horrible Lulls and most importantly at crunch time where this team just disappears. This team fell apart right after the missed alley oop with what, 14 minutes left. What can you say?

Quite frankly, it has been this way, with some short lived exceptions, for over 3 decades. These Billiken Lulls on offense just kill us. SLU can't buy a basket right now, missing one bunny after another. I still say there is too much thinking, cerebral overload. Just play ball and don't worry about making a mistake. And far too many guys that don't want to shoot the ball.

Time out finally. 38-33 SLU lead is now 44-39 GW. After the missed alley oop, the team has gone in the tank.

They miss layups, they miss wide open 3's, and they can't guard the dribble drive penetration. SLU has scored 1 free throw in a seeming eternity- 9 minutes!

The dreaded SLU Lull has struck again. Sometimes this team just can't score.

We should win this game, must avoid the lull in the second half and finish at crunch time.

SLU needs to guard the 3 pointers.

A-10 refs are at it again. 2 over the back no calls on GW, both obvious, especially the last one. Conklin mugged on offensive rebound, no call.

For those with DirecTV, the SLU at GW game is on Channel 642.

SLU's RPI went in the wrong direction in 1 day from 145 to 153. Strength of schedule is 32 today, after being 26 yesterday. More wins are needed. As Al Davis said, "Just win baby."

This one won't help the SLU RPI either. I saw Portland lose at USF last night 81-74. Watching that one, I wondered how our SLU team lost at Portland. I did watch much of that SLU at Portland game, and Luke Sikma had his career game against SLU. He had 18 points and 10 rebounds last night against USF, but was in some foul trouble and did not seem to dominate the game. He is 6'8", but he's not Bill Walton out there, or even Jack Sikma. I think the Portland game was one game in which SLU not getting up and down the floor played into the opponent's hands because USF was quicker than Portland. Portland couldn't guard USF's fine soph guard, Michael Williams (a Kwamain Mitchell type ...). Also, SLU was very concerned with Jared Stohl, Portland's 3 point shooting guard, maybe too much to the point that Sikma had too much free reign inside. Anyway, Portland loses 4 Seniors, its 3 bigs, including Sikma, as well as the shooting guard, Stohl. So here's hoping Portland is returning the visit to SLU next season.

St. Mary's survived at home last night, beating San Diego 67-56. Vanderbilt in Nashville will be a load for the Gaels. We're headed to another night of TH Night WCC hoops, Portland at USF. Portland (RPI 42) is in the WCC hunt. Will Luke Sikma have another big game like he did against SLU? That was a big unwelcome surprise for yours truly. But I have a feeling the Dons will find a way to contain him. Gonzaga plays at Santa Clara tonight on ESPNU, 6 Pacific, 8 Central. It will be a madhouse down there.

Yes, but our SLU team has had success against URI in St. Louis. Here's hoping that continues. As for Akeem Richmond, guard him, get a hand in his face, but that's easier said than done. He can shoot.

Yes, add IUPUI (RPI 110) to the list. SLU has played an impressive schedule this season. It must have been designed with the thought that this was going to be SLU's year. Those close losses to Austin Peay and Georgia haunt too in terms of the won-loss record. Every game counts.

Re SOS, here are the RPI's of some SLU opponents already played: 7 Duke, 37 Temple, 39 Mo. State, 42 Portland, 44 Georgia, 67 Dayton, 68 Southern Miss, 82 Ole Miss, 94 Austin Peay, 104 Duquesne, 116 Jacksonville. Add to this games to be played: 29 Xavier, 63 Rhode Island, 73 Richmond, 86 UMass, 112 St. Bona. Oregon State actually won the CBI 2 years ago and entered with a losing record (13-17, finished 18-18 after winning the CBI). It probably doesn't hurt that Oregon State is coached by President Obama's brother-in-law. Relationships are important, and SLU seemed to form one last year with the CBI.