Quality Is Job 1

I suspect that SLU wouldn't be able to redshirt Vouyoukas after the 10-game suspension, because 10 games is too many for a player to play and still redshirt. Those 10 games would have to count as 10 games, otherwise, when he came in as a redshirt freshman next year, he'd then have to sit his 10 games. This is my belief, not in-the-know information.

I sent e-mail to Doug McIlhagga and Stu Durando asking for confirmation or denial of Reggie Bryant's three-game suspension and Ian Vouyoukas's 10-game suspension. To: Doug McIlhagga, Stu Durando From: Terrance Hicks Subject: Game penalties for recruits? Gentlemen, I have read on a message board that Reggie Bryant will have to sit out three games this season for misdeeds that occurred at Villanova and that Ian Vouyoukas will be docked 10 games this season for the games he played with or against professionals on his club team in Greece. Can you confirm or deny these suspensions and their duration? Thank you, Terrance Hicks ______________________________ To: Terrance Hicks Subject: Re: Game penalties for recruits? Terrance, At this point, I can't confirm or deny either because we haven't received the rulings yet. We will have an announcement on both situations eventually, hopefully soon. Thanks, Doug McIlhagga Sports Information Director Saint Louis University _________________________ I'm not willing to ASSUME that Vouyoukas will miss 10 games until SLU makes that announcement.

Complaining about people posting a lot? Check out my site, then. NOBODY posts there :'( . Yes, books are expensive -- VERY expensive. Have you paid $100 for a book yet? I think the highest I've had to go for ONE book is around $60, but it's been a few years and my field isn't science or math.

I think Marquette fans are entitled to dish out a little garbage talk, since they made the Final Four last season, but if they go overboard, they'll just make it that much harder for themselves when they are brought back to reality in the next couple of years. While it's true that the Golden Eagles have owned the Bills for the last six games, except for the Dwayne Wade era (two seasons), they've been about SLU's level or below. We'll be sure to remind them of that in the next couple of years when the tables are turned.

According to this page, http://tinyurl.com/leh1 , the Atlantic 10 is I-AA (mid-major). However, the same page lists the Sun Belt as I-A (high major). I've never thought of the Sun Belt as a high-major conference. At this point, I don't know what to consider high-major or mid-major.

If I'm wrong, I'll admit it. Does anyone know where I could find that information?

I thought so. Marquette and DePaul to the Big East isn't a given.

Pell Grant, student loans.

>Due to the conditions of his parole, Ricky is stuck in Boone >County unless he receives the consent of the court to move >elsewhere. Since you are an attorney, I would have thought you would have been the last person to make such a mistake. Clemons is not on parole. He's on probation. To say he's on parole suggests that he was sentenced to a term of longer than 60 days but was granted parole after 60 days. Furthermore, I thought the condition was that he can't leave the state without permission. I don't think he's limited to Boone County.

As far as BASKETBALL goes, the Atlantic 10 cannot be cosidered mid-major. Furthermore, Xavier is not head-and-shoulders above schools like Dayton and Temple in its conference. You're acting like Xavier is still in the Horizon or confusing it with Butler.

We already knew that the Big East is attempting to gather information on Cincy, Louisville, Marquette, and DePaul. That's not a formal invitation to those schools. They may have also requested information on some Atlantic 10 schools, but we can't expect that to be reported by East Carolina's president. Also, as Roy said, the Big East is going to have to build football for the sake of the BCS, which still drives the athletics departments of its football programs. In the final analysis, will the football schools feel comfortable with their position having just eight football-playing schools? And they need to have the plan in place before the end of THIS football season. I still believe there will be a divorce.

There have been so many times I've seen Steve's signs on broadcasts of SLU games! Now that he's no longer the SluSignGuy full time, what will be the source of visible fan spirit (other than what comes from the students)?

Thank you for providing a forum for me to talk and read about Billiken hoops (as well as college basketball in general). You belong in the Billiken Fan Hall of Fame. May many blessings come your way during college.

Don't take this to condone cheating, but not everyone looks at Missouri with the smug self-righteousness of many SLU fans. Missouri has four commitments for the 2004 class. They either are sure that Missouri is innocent or have no problem with the alleged activities (i.e, there's something in it for me).

You said that Tim McKernan didn't get what Frank Cusumano was saying. I heard the segment, and McKernan "got it," but he just didn't agree, on the basis that not as many fans would attend the games.

It might be a non-issue in the LONG run, but don't you think Fr. Biondi could persuade Marquette's president to BRING IT UP? If Marquette brings it up, with the suggestion that they'd be less likely to join the Big East without the other schools being considered, then the Big East would have to negotiate. Perhaps the Big East would be willing to call their bluff, but maybe not. Maybe in the process the other Big East schools would see benefits in having a Midwest Division (which would include SLU) and an Eastern Division. (All of this presumes a BE divorce over football, because I don't believe 16 teams will work and if they add just Cincy and Louisville, the non-football schools would balk.) My point is, DON'T GIVE UP. This is the time to SELL. Salespeople who just throw up their hands don't make money.

Giving Hunt a scholarship won't count against against the 8/5 rule. Then offer four scholarships to the 2004 class and have four for the 2005 class (SLU will lose three players in 2005 -- Bryant, Ohanon, and Frericks -- and be able to fill the one that has to remain vacant because of the 8/5 rule). With McClain gone, Lorenzo Romar's "legacy" looks even more dubious (and I hate to say that, because I like the man). Romar brought in 9 players (Josh Fisher, Chris Sloan, Ross Varner, Jason Edwin, Floyd McClain, Kenny Brown, Randy Pulley, Nick Kern, and Ryan Hollins), and only two (Fish and Sloan) will have completed four years as significant contributors. I don't intend to slight Varner here, and I appreciate the contributions that Brown provided the past two years (however, programs are built on four-year players unless you're Oklahoma), but that's only 25 percent of the four-year recruits. How Soderberg fills these next eight schollies will go a long way towards demonstrating whether SLU will become a Top 50 program or remain a Top 125 program.

There has been no new news (that's redundant!). The report out of East Carolina isn't much different from what was reported in early August, and as far as I know, there haven't been any more meetings yet. Look, they requested information on Cincinnati, Louisville, Marquette, and DePaul, but that doesn't mean they've extended invitations to any of those schools OR that those schools have accepted. In other words, the Big East is looking at options, but they haven't asked Marquette and DePaul their feelings on the matter. I'm sure the Big East feels that schools will leap 14 feet in the air to join them, but that's just SELF-esteem. No negotiation has taken place. What if Marquette and DePaul express misgivings about playing in a conference that 1) is dominated by BCS considerations, 2) lacks a significant Midwest presence for basketball and olympic sports (i.e., poor balance between East and Midwest), and 3) leaves long-time partners Charlotte, Saint Louis, and Memphis (among others) in the cold? Really, what financial gain would Marquette get out of this far-flung, overwrought 16-team conference that would offset those things? When (or if) Marquette and DePaul express those misgivings, the Big East will see that they're not so big after all and will have to negotiate, rather than dictate terms. In the meantime, the football/non-football balance falls apart and the two sides divorce. A 16-team conference WILL NOT WORK.

...this is just a quick note of appreciation for what you and all your fellow soldiers do for our country. While I know you'd like to be doing other things rather than be toiling in the desert, and I wish it weren't necessary for anyone to do it, but while you're out there missing out on what you like, be assured that those of us who benefit from your services TRULY appreciate your sacrifice. Maybe one day that will make you feel a little better. Sincerely, Terrance Hicks

When Frank Cusumano had Brad on the show a couple of weeks ago, Brad said that Floyd had one more class to pass -- one more hurdle to get over -- to be eligible to play. Perhaps Floyd didn't make it.

Here are some notes Bernie Miklasz included in his column this week: Tyler Hansborough, a 6-foot-8 junior from Poplar Bluff High, already is one of the most heavily recruited high school basketball players in state history; virtually all of the major programs are on him. ... Former SLU guard Marque Perry has signed with Skipper Bologna in the Italian Basketball League, and former SLU center Kenny Brown is playing pro basketball in Portugal. ... St. Louisan David Lee, a star at Florida, is saying that he is likely to declare for the 2004 NBA draft if he has a successful junior season. Congrats go out to Marque Perry and Kenny Brown.

(Silly me! I forgot to make, in the last post, one of the most significant points I intended to make.) The failure of Brandon Morris to qualify could be a blessing in disguise because it could help to balance out the Bills' classes. Due to graduate in: 2004 (3) Chris Sloan Josh Fisher Ross Varner 2005 (4) Floyd McClain (assuming the NCAA doesn't grant him a hardship) Reggie Bryant Izik Ohanon Tom Frericks 2006 (1) Anthony Drejaj 2007 (4) Justin Johnson Darren Clarke Ian Vouyoukas Bryce Husak (if he doesn't redshirt) 2008 (4?) Dwayne Polk other recruits (?) If Morris had come, there could have been as many as five players completing their eligibility in 2005, meaning that Brad Soderberg would have had to fill five scholarships that year. If Husak redshirts and no member of the 2004 recruiting class redshirts (assuming they're all high-school recruits), that would make five players in that class for Soderberg to replace. How does Brad balance out the classes so that every year he's going after just three or four players?

During the spring, I was a fairly vocal advocate of saving one of the five available 2003 scholarships for the deep 2004 local class. I felt that it would be better to have four roster spots available to this bunch than just three. But then Brad Soderberg got Ian Vouyoukas, who may develop into a steal. From what I've read here, in addition to what i saw with my own eyes at the DJCF all-star game, Darren Clarke has been successfully converted into a point guard, having played that position during his senior season in high school, teaming with the recruits who reneged on committments to Duke and Boston College. Capital D may wind up being somewhat like Missouri's Keyon Dooling. This year Clarke will see time backing up the point behind Josh Fisher and Anthony Drejaj, and there will frequently be times where two of the three are on the floor at the same time. Really, I don't know if Brad knows how much Clarke is a point guard, and if he's disappointed that Morris didn't qualify (as far as we "know"), then I think his spirits will be lifted when he sees what Capital D can do.

If the SLU marketing department isn't savvy enough to incorporate Valentine's Day into the game festivities, its employees aren't worth their salaries!