Quality Is Job 1

How can this guy come off as such a knowledgeable and objective observer regarding the national scope of who gets in and who doesn't and then turn around and make such ignorant statements about the Billikens' postseason chances? There's no way that SLU hasn't already locked up an NIT bid (regardless of what happens in the Conference USA Tourney). I can think of no explanation other than the suggestion in my subject. RPI ranking isn't the only factor to consider. Missouri is 15-12, including 9-7 in the Big XII, and Saint Louis is 16-11, including 9-7 in C-USA. SLU has a better overall record and (arguably) a better conference record (considering how much tougher C-USA is than the Big XII this year and how much tougher the Bills' conference schedule was than Missouri's conference schedule). Yet Gordon thinks SLU has yet to earn an NIT invitation? There must be something about Billiken blue that triggers the basketball dope in the connection between his brain and his pen-holding fingertips

...Ian Vouyoukas and Bryce Husak.

I (vaguely) recall Coach Soderberg saying something along those lines regarding John Seyfert. You say, "Soderberg was hired on April 12, 2002." Well, that's when he was hired as the head coach, but he'd been here as an assistant coach for nearly a year prior to that. The assessment of Seyfert by Brad that aj_arete is speaking of was made when Brad was an assistant.

I promise a full report -- tomorrow. Right now I'm sick and exhausted.

>If we advance past the first round, I'd rather play Memphis >than Cincinnati, especially since the tourney is at "the >Shoe". Besides, we kept it close with the Tigers in Memphis >(until a run by them in the second half) and even led at the >half. Of course we gotta get by Southern Miss first. The Tourney is not at First Third Arena (f/n/a Shoemaker Center), Cincinnati's home court. It's at U.S. Bank Arena.

I know some Billikens fans that post here have developed a strong dislike for Marquette in the wake of the Golden Eagles' 2003 Final Four run, but I believe it would benefit the Billikens if Marquette beats Louisville. First, a Louisville loss would mean SLU would finished tied with Louisville in conference play. While I'm sure Louisville's RPI ranking and non-conference record would get the Cardinals in the NCAA Tournament while the Bills would have to settle for the NIT, it would be some consolation that we could say SLU tied with Louisville. Second, a Marquette win would bring the Golden Eagles' conference record up to 8-8, meaning that the Bills didn't suffer a conference loss to any team which finished below .500 in conference (boy, that loss at Marquette hurt!).

..."Tiger" Tim McKernan of KFNS? Maybe it's just me, but someone let me know if the same thought crossed your mind.

>.... because he knew that without Reggie, this team was >limited? Never mind, I answered my own question. > >But that begs to next year .... all we have is RB back. >What do you know about Meyer? You're a local guy with >coaching ties and I respect your opinion. I haven't seen Luke Meyer play, but I hope to get a chance to see him tomorrow. Doesn't Borgia take on Vashon at Maryville at 8:15 tomorrow? I have responsibilities at the 3A District 5 Tournament at MS-Berkeley, so it's iffy that I'll make it. I asked our head coach (who's coached against Meyer's team) about him, and he praised him for his toughness (physical and mental) and all-around game. >What do you think >about Drejaj as our main point guard? I don't think Anthony Drejaj will be SLU's main point guard. Dwayne Polk will probably shoulder the load. If Tommie Liddell qualifies, he'll log time at the point. I also think Dwayne Clarke can provide some help at the point. Drejaj will also help at the point, but I don't think he'll be the primary point guard. >Are our foreign >import motors (IO and IV) potential Mercedes or Fiats or are >they Yugos? They are potential Mercedes -- potential being the key word. Izik Ohanon will be a double-figure scorer next year, but it looks like Ian Vouyoukas won't provide consistent considerable contribution until his junior season (I hope he makes me eat those words). >Realistically, you can't work the ball around >for 33 seconds of the shot clock and hope the one guy on >your team that can shoot gets open to take the shot and make >it ... and then add that everyone will know who he is before >next season starts. And couple in how the pressure mounts >.... I think with Polk, the ability to push the ball and get good shots much earlier will become apparent. If Liddell is eligible, there will be other scoring options, so it won't all fall on Reggie Bryant's shoulders. >While one might argue we don't lose a lot in Sloan, Fisher, >Hunt and Varner ... Sloan and Fisher, while not stars, were >important cogs on an atheltically-challenged team. What's >your opinion on two freshmen (maybe three) and a JUCO coming >in for next year? The great thing about college basketball is that every year you lose someone and some new players step in. I believe the 2004 offseason transfer will see an increase in team athleticism.

...Brad Soderberg scheduled three really bad teams to start the season. While it does hurt having Tom Frericks out, without Reggie Bryant, these Billikens are just handicapped offensively.

I believe I've discussed this before and said 7-1 for last year. I believe it was 5-1 last year. Added to 3-0 this year, Brad Soderberg's Billikens teams are 8-1 in (in-season) rematches. (Unfortunately, they're just 2-7 in the front end of those rematches -- 2-4 last year and 0-3 this year.) It might bode well for the C-USA Tournament except against Cincinnati (virtual home team/host), UAB, and Louisville.

Isn't there a provision for schools to be able to go one beyond the 5/8 rule if they lose a player who's on pace to graduate? Perhaps the Bills have been allowed to use it. Didn't Brad Soderberg say on the air recently that he has one scholarship offer out?

Kansas State withdrew its scholarship offer (after he'd signed a letter of intent).

I'm tired of Stanford, Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, Illinois, and probably some others (any ACC school, with the possible exception of Maryland), so I choose to dislike them. Must it be a rational/logical decision? I'm not sure I could explain why I like the teams I like, either (aside from Mizzou and SLU).

>Anyone think that St. Joe's or Stanford could be the first 1 >vs 16 upset in NCAA history? In fact, I'm rooting for both Stanford (even though I don't like Stanford) and St. Joseph's to go undefeated an meet in the National Championship game. College Football would have egg on its face!

I played some around-the-yard Whiffle Ball during my childhood and adolescence in the '70s and '80s, but I didn't know that brand had been around much earlier than that.

Blank post?

Conference USA is really strong this year, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the conference get six teams in: UAB, Cincy, Memphis, Charlotte, and two among SLU, DePaul, and Louisville, depending on who makes the most noise in the C-USA Tourney. During the Kentucky-LSU game yesterday, they put up a graphic suggesting seven for the SEC, six for Conference USA, and five for the Big XII, among others.

>hmmmmm. one would think he couldnt play at all then. but >maybe that makes sense. however, that said, jeremy felton >dresses for the varsity games. The Missouri rule specifies varsity. The kid who is the son of Rams coach who played at Clayton and was the central figure in Clayton's having to forfeit game and a chance at the football playoffs could have played junior varsity legally. Having said that, though, I would think that if Felton dresses out for varsisty, then he could only do so if he's eligible to play, so I conclude that it must be a coach's decision.

I have trouble imagining that SLU's St. Louis alumni outnumber Mizzou's St. Louis alumni. What is your source?

While Coach Soderberg said on his show tonight that he's more pessimistic about Tom Frericks's ability to play Wednesday than Anthony Drejaj's, he thinks it will take doctor's orders to keep Tom out. He certainly didn't say anything about Tom's being out for the season. Maybe Highmark was speculating.

I don't know about the IHSA, but I know that MSHSAA doesn't allow certain transfers to play varsity sports for 365 days. If there's a similar rule in Illinois, perhaps Felton doesn't play varsity because he's a transfer (rather than his not being good enough).

You're saying the the Selection Committee has said that RPI is not a factor in the selection of the NCAA Tournament field (at-large). I've never heard that. I've always heard that RPI is one of the factors in the selection -- a very significant factor.

it's too bad they reneged (or changed their minds). Did Charlie Spoonhour actually try recruiting them, or was he content to just let the fact that he got Larry Hughes do all of the work?

Not a pretty game at all, but two Bills scored more than 20 points (Bryant and Fisher). Fisher got his career high of 23 points. I think Drejaj is hurt.