Quality Is Job 1

>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. Why do you call Dustin McGuire "McQ"? Should that be McG?

>If only the NCAA took 64 teams back in the 80's... > >27-10 - 88-89 >25-10 - 86-87 >21-12 - 89-90 Are you serious? The NCAA Tournament contained 64 teams each of those years. Keep in mind that in the 1988-89 and 1989-90 seasons the Billikens' win totals were inflated by 5-1 runs in the NIT. In 1989 they were 22-9 on Selection Sunday, and in 1990 they were 16-11 (assuming the records you've listed here are accurate).

>What I really like is that the defense has started to jell >with this team. That will be the key to their success. >Good defense often leads to better offensive execution. >Confidence is growing, the future is bright. > >Imagine what we'd be thinking now if the Bills had pulled >off that GW game? Coach Soderberg discussed the improved commitment to defense by the team in his postgame interview with Bob Ramsey. That's the key to this team's success. Besides imagining what we'd be thinking if the Bills had made the one or two more plays (or free throws) necessary to win the George Washington game, imagine if they hadn't laid an egg against St. Joseph's? 8-1 and in first place by a half game over GW. The national media would be taking notice. This team has potential to ruffle some feathers this year and to make some noise next year. What I want to see is for a power forward to step up (Justin Johnson will be a senior next year, and maybe Obi Ikeakor will be pretty good -- and who knows, maybe the staff will land an impact player) and for Bryce Husak to become, as a junior, a player who could start. The Billikens could be a Sweet Sixteen squad if all those things came together. Ian Vouyoukas might be on the Wooden list. But let me finish enjoying this season first.

I'm pretty sure that Mutumbo and Mourning played simultaneously for significant minutes every game. Also, don't forget Shaquille O'Neal's freshman year at LSU when he and Stanley Roberts were twin towers for that squad, which also had Chris Jackson (who changed his name to something like Mamuud Abdul-Rauf). I believe that squad played in the Sweet Sixteen or Elite Eight.

...really not even worth responding to.

...it's Cusumano, not Cusamano.

Don't Mr. Wright and his fellow lawmakers have more important concerns?

The next broadcast of the Brad Soderberg show on KFNS will be January 9. That's what they said on the show Tuesday, December 27.

SLU fans have nothing to complain about. The Bills played a very good game against an elite team, and it took a spurt from an All-American to beat them. I think the Bills will play in the postseason this year and will make the NCAA Tournament next season, barring injury to key players. Why complain? It could be worse: you could be a Missouri fan, like me (wah!!) It has been a joy to follow the .500 Billikens; it has been torture to follow the .500 Tigers. They're about to put me in asylum.

He's got all the best gifts and is the brightest superstar ever. No one in the universe gets more hang time. He can take it to the hole like no other, and there's never been a better finisher in history.

It will be on Fox Sports Midwest, joined in progress at 8 p.m.

Wasn't Justin Love basically a 6-0 shooting guard?

I've addressed this trend before. Other than Anthony Bonner, what Vashon star has thrived in college? Did even Sean Tunstall live up to the expectations? I do like Dwayne Polk, though, and I think he'll have a good career. He's still just a sophomore. Quin Snyder messed Jimmy McKinney up at Mizzou, and Nick Kern (NBA body & skills) messed himself up.

Kevin Lisch is a freshman. So is Tommie Liddell. It's too early to expect these guys to dominate and never falter, especially on the road against very good teams. I think the fact that the Bills didn't get blown out by 25 or more indicates that they could be a decent team this year. We need someone between Newborne and Johnson to step up to take some of the load off of Ian, but I don't think anyone will embarrass the Bills this year.

Maybe we ought not bet, but if SIU is young and playing on the road, I like the Billikens' chances of winning the game.

Indeed. It will be interesting to see how long the Bills stay in the game. How will it play out? Will Hawaii put their foot on the Bills' necks right away ("We had a chance to win... and then the game started!"), or will the Bills be competitive for 10 minutes, a half, or 30 minutes before Hawaii takes control, or will the Bills have a chance until the final minutes? I won't know until late tomorrow afternoon or early tomorrow evening. The game is on so late that I'm going to record the radio broadcast, and I won't be able to listen to the recording until after I get home from church. That means this site will be off limits to me from the time I go to bed tonight until after I've finished listening to the recorded broadcast. Enjoy.

>...the former UCLA coach >whose name escapes me at the moment but went on to get in >deeper trouble at Georgia. ...Jim Harrick

...we'd like to see her get the arena done.

...that Cheryl Levick is an alumnus of Mizzou, so she might love to get there.

I refuse to listen to one word of that junk anymore. Tim McKernan's mind is more in the gutter than metz's.

The delay may be a good thing, especially if those of us who do make it to earlier practices get good rumors started, getting folks salivating about how good and exciting Tommie Liddell and Kevin Lisch look. Also, don't be afraid to suggest that Dwayne Polk and Luke Meyer appear to be vastly improved. It would help if Frank Cusumano gets some video of an early practice -- capturing Liddell throwing down an emphatic alley-oop dunk tossed by Polk.

He responded to the wrong thread, and when he looked here for it, to see if someone responded to his distasteful joke, he didn't see his post and thought a moderator had removed it, so he said, "It was just a joke."