STLfan

If it weren't for sports I would have already dropped the TV service. But since I like sports (college sports in particular) too much to not have them I really hope a la carte TV does happen relatively soon. I put together a list of TV channels I would want and came up with 44 and 15 of those are HBO or Showtime channels, so just 29 regular TV channels. Right now I'm paying for U-Verse's U200 package + HBO. That's a lot of channels I'm paying for but not really using. One downside to people dropping TV is that our TV providers are often also our Internet providers. If enough people drop TV to watch online all that will happen is the cost of Internet service will go up and the providers will get their money regardless.

Here is a similar article from another site that shows before and after pictures. http://nextstl.com/preservation/biondi-before-after-images It really is a shame they couldn't find a use for some of those buildings and renovate them. They would look a lot better than empty lots.

If the Big East really isn't expanding anytime soon then the A10 doesn't have to worry about Dayton and us leaving. I really hope that means the next expansion team or two are more from our neck of the woods. Bradley Belmont Detroit Loyola Wichita State One or two of those or something like that.

I was thinking the same thing. To the networks we have to be one of the most desirable TV options left in the league and since we haven't heard anything about the TV contracts changing with the loss of X, Butler, and Temple hopefully that means we get a good chunk of our games on national TV.

No idea if we have any shot but if we could get him Wiltjer would be a great addition. How nice would it be to have both Yacoubou and Wiltjer practicing with the team this year and playing next year? That would help keep the momentum going.

Tulsa is joining the new AAC in 2014. Tulane and ECU are also joining at that time. The AAC is going to be: Central Florida Cincinnati UConn ECU Houston Memphis Navy (football only) SMU South Florida Temple Tulane Tulsa

Interesting to see where all of the old CUSA teams have gone since we moved in 2005. Charlotte - Left to join the A10 and is now rejoining CUSA Cincinnati - Left to the Big East and is now going to be in the American DePaul - Left to the Big East and is now in the new version of the Big East East Carolina - Is just now leaving to join the new American Houston - Is just now leaving to join the new American Louisville - Left to join the Big East and is now joining the ACC Marquette - Left to the Big East and is now in the new version of the Big East Memphis - Is just now leaving to join the new American Saint Louis - Left to join the A10 South Florida - Left to the Big East and is now going to be in the AAC Southern Miss - Has stayed with CUSA TCU - Left for the MWC and is now in the Big 12 Tulane - Is just now leaving to join the new AAC UAB - Has stayed with CUSA Crazy that only Southern Miss, UAB, and now Charlotte are all that remain from when we were in CUSA CUSA is now going to be: Charlotte FAU FIU Louisiana Tech Marshall Middle Tennessee State North Texas Old Dominion Rice Southern Miss UAB UTEP UTSA Western Kentucky

Considering the conference they have been playing in Davidson for the most part actually has pretty good RPI numbers: 2013 - 61 2012 - 64 2011 - 182 2010 - 179 2009 - 69 2008 - 23 2007- 49 2006 - 95 2005 - 51 2004 - 120 I still think the additions of George Mason and Davidson is a sign the A10 doesn't expect us to stick around much longer.

A Conversation with Seton Hall Athletic Director, Pat Lyons - Q&A I guess that answers the question of whether or not they would just stay at 10. Hope we are one of the next two teams in. The way the A10 has chosen to expand makes me think we are but you never know..

Nothing big but here is a thread from an Evansville forum with their thoughts on Crews. It is 5 pages but it covers from when he first took over for Majerus to the announcement that he would be the head coach from now on. http://thepurplecode.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=850

Not a bad addition. They were a program I thought the A10 might want to keep an eye on. If Dayton and ourselves end up sticking around they were one of the teams that I thought would make sense for the conference to rebuld in the midwest. Their arena is a little small but it looks good. On a side note the MVC now has 4 schools in Illinois: Bradley Illinois State Loyola Southern Illinois

Some schools looking for games next season that could be fun. Seton Hall - We are looking to start a series on the road against a high major team on Saturday, December 7th. We are open to all options. Cincinnati - We are looking for games on November 22/23 and December 2/3. We offer competitive guarantees. We are also open to a home/home with a High Major beginning in Cincinnati on those dates. Oklahoma State - Oklahoma State is looking for the following games for the 2013-14 season 1.Neutral/Neutral Series starting in Oklahoma City at Chesapeake Arena on December 14, 2013, would return game to neutral site in 14-15 2. Guarantee games in Stillwater on following dates-November 8, 16, 20 and December 21, 2013. Will pay good guarantee and and possibly rooms. Call or email with serious interest Texas A&M - exas A&M is looking for a high major opponent for a home/home to kick off the 2013-2014 season. Willing to discuss starting on the road. Please contact if interested. Detroit - We are looking to start a home and home series(possibly four years). Have many options open!!If interested please call! Murray State - Murray State is looking to start 1 home/home series in Murray, KY. Flexible dates. Please call Southern Miss - Southern Miss is looking for a Top 100 opponent -- preferably a BCS school that is willing to start a Home & Home series in Hattiesburg next year. If interested, give me a call DePaul - DePaul is looking start at least one more H/H Series. Could start it on the road potentially. 2 airports close will make travel easy. Date to be on the road: November 19th. Dates to host: December 3 December 9th or 10th December 13th Georgia - We are looking to start a home and home with a BCS school. We have dates available. St. Mary's - Saint Mary's is looking for guarantee games at Saint Mary\\'s. Also looking for a home and home starting at Saint Mary's. TV likely. Charlotte - Looking for H / H starting in Charlotte. Many dates available. I'd like some of those more than others but any of them would be good additions to our schedule. Not sure Big East teams would start a series with us since we might be joining them in a year. Game listings came from here http://www.basketballtravelers.com/game-schedule-board/?e_type=1

22. Saint Louis Billikens: Jim Crews earned strong consideration for national coach of the year honors for leading the Billikens to a 28-7 record and the outright Atlantic 10 title just months after the passing of Rick Majerus, who had left the team before the season for health reasons. Saint Louis hopes to carry that momentum into 2013-14, when it could be just as good -- if not better -- thanks to the return of three of its top five scorers in Dwayne Evans (14.6 points), Mike McCall Jr. (9.3) and Jordair Jett, who averaged nine points and a team-high 3.2 assists. The battle between Saint Louis and VCU for the A-10 title should be intense once again. http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9147684/very-early-top-25-2013-14-season-ncaa-men-college-basketball? A10 also has: 12. VCU New Big East has: 9. Marquette Butler, St. John's, and Villanova are also listed in their 15 others to watch.

Both have facilities issues. At least DePaul has a pretty good history. DePaul - 18 tournament appearances with 2 final fours Rutgers - 6 tournament appearances with 1 final four (surprised they went to a final four) This is Rutgers arena - 8,000 seats (looks more like a large gym) Hard to compete against the Big East with that and now against the Big Ten. Honestly it looks more like a middle of the road A10 arena. I do agree both jobs do have potential though. If they can fix their arena/facilities issues.

Your probably right but the longer this drags out the more I wonder if we aren't going a different direction. Other schools have fired and hired coaches but we can't seem to hire a guy that has been on campus and coaching the team for an entire year? I hope Crews gets the job if he wants it but if not I'd love to see us get Howland. UCLA shouldn't have fired him and some school is going to cash in on their mistake.

Agree it's hard to make the tournament every year. In fact right now according to Wikipedia only 11 programs have made the tournament each of the last five years. Consecutive appearances - School 24 - Kansas 18 - Duke 16 - Michigan State 15 - Wisconsin 15 - Gonzaga 8 - Marquette 7 - Louisville 6 - Temple 5 - Missouri 5 - Ohio State 5 - Syracuse Some big name programs aren't on that list. Hopefully we can get to the point where we make the dance far more often than not but I wouldn't expect to make it every year.

I doubt they can get Stevens but I'm not as sure about Shaka. If VCU was going to the NBE I think they would have a much better chance at keeping him. Still he is young and has a pretty sweet deal where he is so he might be content to wait for something better. I belive it was just last season he turned down Illinois and a boat load of money. If I were in either of their positiions I would think twice about giving up what they have and what they have built to go to a program that just fired a coach that took them to 7 NCAA tournament appearances, 3 Final Fours, a NC runnier up, and just won his 4th conference championship.

I don't know if we could get him but some one like this would be great. http://www.gomarquette.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/053012aaa.html Known as a good recruiter, has AAU connections, from Chicago, Spent 4 season not too far away in Kentucky, and 1 year as an assitant at Mizzou so he knows the area. Young up and coming coach. We'd probably have to pay him more than he is making now and offer him a promotion. Something lke Associate Head Coach. IF Crews gets the Job an assistant coach like the one above is what I hope we can find a way to add to our staff.

Agree, I thought he would be a good candidate if we don't go with Crews. Can't blame him for taking that job though. 10,000 seat arena, Mobil AL, 8 NCAA tournament appearnaces includeing some relatively recent ones. There are certainly worse places to get your first HC job.

Makes you wonder doesn't it. Either the A10 knows we are gone soon, thinks we will be leaving soon, or less likely wants us to leave. Otherwise why add Siena of all teams over a bunch of midwest schools? If they do add Seina the two new A10 additions will have had these RPI's last year: 162 - George Mason 295 - Siena (Worse than Fordham)

If he wants the job I think he has earned a chance. It's always a bit of a gamble anyway when you hire a head coach. At least with Crews he can keep the current system in place and the players seem to like him and respect him. I do hope we add a real good young assistant for recruiting.

Not a bad addition for the A10. Hopefully we are moving on to bigger and better things but since we aren't immediately I'm glad the league we are in is being proactive and looking for quality additions to help rebuild. I doubt we stay at 13 so I think the next addition for the 14th team will be interesting. If they add another eastern team I will assume the A10 knows Dayton and SLU are out the door and they want to consolidate and be an eastern conference. If the 14th team is from the Mid West then maybe they think there is still a chance we aren't moving and want to keep us all happy and not have conference members far away from everyone else. I'm guessing the potential expansion candidates are: East - Davidson or Siena. West - Loyola, Valpo, Bradley, Belmont, or Detroit.

If Crews doesn't get the job Howland is at the top of my realistic wish list. He turned Northern Arizona around, Built Pitt into the program it is today (Dixon continued what Howland started), and other than three bad seasons out of ten did a pretty good job at UCLA. Took all three programs to the tournament. Northern Arizona Went 9-17 his first year there. The last three they went 21-7, 21-8, and 21-8 with an Nit appearance, a NCAA appearance, and two conference titles. Pitt In his four years there he went in order 13-15, 19-14, 29-6, and 28-5 with 1 Nit appearance, 2 NCAA sweet 16 appearances, a conference title, and a conference tournament title. UCLA In his ten seasons at UCLA he took them to 7 NCAA tournaments, 3 Final Fours (One they were the NCAA runner up), 4 conference titles, and 2 conference tournament titles. So to recap - Turned around 3 programs - Taken all 3 programs to the NCAA tournament - Has been to the NCAA tournament 10 times (SLU has been to the tournament 8 times in our history) - Has 7 conference championships (SLU has 6 all time) - Has 3 conference tournament championships (SLU has 2) - Been to the Final Four 3 times - Been in the National Title game once - All time record of 398-205 with a winning record at every stop. - Big Sky Coach of the year - Big East Coach of the year - Pac 10 Coach of the year - Henry Iba Award - Naismith Coach of the year. - Can tell recruits he helped 11 players into the NBA. Only potential downside I see is that he is 55 years old and we would probably only have him for 10 to 12 years at the most. Of course in the college coaching world 10+ years is pretty solid. Howland would be another home-run hire if we can get him. I'm sure more than one program will be after him.

If Crews doesn't want the job or we decide to go another direction I hope we make Ben Howland a strong offer. Apparently things aren't great for him at UCLA and despite being a tournament team again he might be let go. Howland is the one who built Pitt before Dixon took over. I would link to his wikipedia page but I'm on my phone. I think if we could get him he would be a home run replacement.

Looks like we are here for at least one more season. Hopefully off to the Big East after that. With the loss of Butler, Charlotte, Temple, and Xavier here is what we are looking at. Dayton (Glad they are still in the same boat as us) Duquesne Fordham George Washington La Salle UMass Rhode Island Richmond St. Bonaventure Saint Joseph's Saint Louis VCU I wonder if we will have two divisions? Northeast Fordham La Salle UMass Rhode Island St. Bonaventure Saint Joseph's Southwest Dayton Duquesne George Washington Richmond Saint Louis VCU Current RPI for the 12 teams 16. Saint Louis 25. VCU 46. La Salle 55. UMass 82. St. Joseph's 91. Richmond 114. Dayton 139. St. Bonaventure 143. George Washington 201. Rhode Island 227. Duquesne 229. Fordham We will probably need a stronger out of conference schedule next season. Do you want the league to expand next year or are you good with a 12 team A10 for 2013-14? If the worst happens and we are here longer than one year what teams would you want the A10 to look at? Bradley, Valpo, Drake, Wichita Sate, Siena, Loyola, Detroit, Davidson, Belmont?