pompeytir

Griffey is not coming to SLU. When Griffey was playing at Lafayette, Majerus was asked on his radio show why he did not recruit Griffey when he was a high level recruit in his backyard. What Majerus said to paraphrase was "there is something wrong with a player of his supposed skills who cannot get his team out out districts or into the state playoffs." Basically he said that he didn't think he was that good and the fact that they never made it to state was evidence of that.

The object of the game is to put the round ball in the round hole. You can blame the recruiting of players for this one but it has nothing to do with the offensive system. This team can't hit open 3pt shots, finish in transition or create their own offense in a breakdown situation. They got an open shot pretty much whenever they wanted and they missed them. Who can knock down an open shot when you need it for this team? Which of the guards were dead eye shooters in high school?-None of them. Jett and McCall are slashers who can knock down an occasional shot but they aren't going to pull it consistently or make it consistently (I don't care what McCall is shooting, SLU would be running sets to get him open if he was really a 40% shooter from 3pt). They don't have a post that can score in the low block doing anything but drop stepping to their right hand. If you lose 2 possible 1st team conference players and replace them with 3 star freshmen...this is what it is going to look like. 5 star freshmen are kids who can put the round ball in the round hole. Give Coach K the same team over at Duke and they'd have the same record-its just not very good players right now.

Brrrruuump...Anyone?

I'm looking to get a copy of the tape too. The dukes ran Dribble Drive Motion tonight and I don't think there is another chance to get the game footage. I'm willing to pay for it.

I've seen him three times now...He's not explosive off the dribble if that is what you mean by quick. I think he has some of the fastest hands I've seen in a High School Basketball player, seems to get a few steals every game when players dribble up the court. He is not going to blow by guys and score going to the basket in the 1/2 court, I haven't seen this once from him. On the break he's magnificent as a passer or as a finisher-he has a mess of different moves.

Also, I have seen Cassity on mulitple occasions, and I don't think he would be the start of getting "better" talent for them. What exactly is his game like? I know he plays outside, why wouldn't he be a good fit at Michigan?

Cotto is not good enough to play the two at SLU. I think if he isn't the focus of the offense he'll be fine. I don't know if he has the ups or the speed to create his own shot off the dribble. BTW, Big fan of Brandon Hogg, I wonder if he'll get an offer to Div-I. I haven't heard.

I'm already at Cotto fan, he's electric in the open court. As for not being a 2 guard, I mean at the college level. As for being better than Polk...lol, I know I would not have thought that after Polk dropped 30+ in the state championship game.

I've seen Cotto play twice. He's exciting and a legit talent- he has quick hands, a rainbow jumpshot and great court vision. However, Cotto, is not a 2 guard. He's not capable at this point of scoring off the dribble against a taller player who has the same quickness (Kenny Leverette shut him down when Cotto had the ball in the 1/2 court). Also, If he's 5'11 that's being generous. I really think he's on the 5'9-5'10ish size. He's small for a high school basketball player, and he plays even lower because he keeps his center of gravity so low. He's like a thicker version of Polk, maybe an inch or two taller.

The 41 point loss made me think about the heart of this team. Majerus hit the nail on head when he said this team is just a bunch of nice kids but there isn't anyone who really want to win badly. Last year after the Duquense or St. Bonaventure loss Soderberg basically came out and said I don't know how to motivate these guys, he stated he wanted a Drejaj or a Newborne back because they had the 'Fire' in them and were always out to win. Maybe those loses by SLU weren't because Brad was out coached but because the kids were outplayed, I think UB was criticized a little too much about his coaching ability and everyone should have been taking a long and hard look at the players. You can't teach kids to have a competitive edge, to want the basketball and to win more than anything...that is something they have to have inside them. I think Majerus is going to beat himself up this year trying to get these kids to that point...and if they don't get there, he'll have 5 or 6 players that might step up next year.

How was his defense? Was he a facilitator in the offense by making the pass before an assist pass? Just because his numbers don't end up in the box score doesn't mean he didn't add more positives than negatives. There are 4 guys who should be getting most of the shots. Whose numbers would you like Polk to take away from? Majerus has stated before that he wants his best offensive players taking the shots. I think Polk taking 1 shot is probably a positive for this team, he is after all a career 35% shooter.

Tubby recruits much like Bruce Weber up in Champaign...Self's recruits got to with one win and Tubby got it done. I think both are great coaches...but don't have it when it comes to recruiting.

I have to agree with Brian, Harrelson's basketball IQ is pretty low-he started playing as a sophmore(?). The times that I have seen him play he seemed out of place... I think Majerus would tear him a new one if he came on board, besides I think SLU has bigger fish to give a scholly to than Harrelson.

If this team doesn't make the NIT and at least stay competitive towards an NCAA bid then we should be calling for Soderberg's job. Wait...we hired Majerus to win now. This team should be in the 23 win range, the schedule is full of nonconference cupcakes and our conference isn't necessarily better or worse this year.

What is the difference? I see from a 2 minute clip a kid who needs good teammates to get him the ball. He's shooting over guys who are smaller than him. The speed (and size) is a huge difference for these shooters once they get to college both offensively and defensively. Every college needs 3pt shooters but I'd like to RamJam's offense to see where another set shooter would fit in. Looks like Dustin except for the fact that his start point looks much smoother and his release is probably much quicker than Dustin's. BTW...Dustin tinkered with the initial setup of his shot last season which might have been the reason for so much inaccuracy when he did shoot.

Luke Wynn article from last week talk about the top 10 classes from 2003 and sees what success the teams and players had. Might suprise everyone a bit. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writ...ucky/index.html

He carries his weight well if he's really 6'7'' and 250, what was IV last year? IV looked thick for his size, Eberhardt I don't see the same thing. As for the Newbourne comparison, I always saw Newbourne as a huge fat ##### too so I'm biased on any comparison to him. I think BE is going to be a help to this team, there will be a bench this year. Also, if a perimeter player gets cold or tired we will have someone to bring into replace him.

Would have opened the post more for him to operate. Less double teams also because there is more ground to cover on a kick out from the post.

Watched a couple of the Eberhardt videos of his Juco stuff, totally different player than I expected from the bizzare 6'7'' 250 rumors. Plusses -Has 19'9''Range on his shot -Has a back to the basket game, more of a turn around jump shot or a very low release baby hook. -Very comfortable with the basketball outside the post. -Is capable of driving and pulling up from anywhere inside the 3pt line. -Can take it coast to coast. -Seals in the post against similar size players extremely well. -When he was out of any game, his team's offense structure broke down-he was the key part of this team and its offense (whether or not he was getting the ball). -Very good at initiating the offense from the center out position at the top of the key, confident albeit not always successful hitting cutters or backdoor cuts. -Looks like a man among boys when guarded in the post by smaller players, supremely confident in going up with his shot. Would love to see him against smaller/quicker players to see how he handles this. Minuses/Misconceptions -Vertical leap is not there, he is not an explosive leaper. Is NOT a dunker, he's not that type of player. -He is definitely not 250, probably close to 225 maybe 215. -Low release point on his jump shot, shoots from his stomach not from his highest point. Same with his jump hook. -Reluctant to extend outside of the post on defense -Foot speed on defense is questionable, can be beaten by taller slower players off the dribble. -Very passive in the post, not a lot of denial or work to keep offensive player out of the post. -Not a truly physical player, more finess than power (can't overstate this) Overall-Eberhardt is not a power player by build or game. His offensive game is very much inside/outside finesse. He isn't a banger. Offensively he can shoot from the outside with success and he has a few moves in the post. He fits in with what we have seen from other A-10 teams having inside outside players that are not necessarily power post players. He is a huge upgrade to the 4 position for this team offensively. Defensively he's very similar to Luke Meyer as far as athletic ability although I haven't seen any indication that he is as tough as Luke. He will struggle against PF's that can play in the post and have some bulk. However, there are very few of these players in college basketball and in the A-10. I really liked his game offensively; this is what this team needed last year. He is someone who is capable of giving a tweener approach to the offense that can exploit matchups. A slower player he can take outside and a smaller player he can enter the post. His game doesn't compare to anyone SLU has had the last few years, the Vashon Newbourne comparison is way off. The only fair comparison would be to Dolleman from Xavier (or Monty Scott of Dayton). He's the type of A-10 player that would come out of nowhere against SLU and drop 15 on them.

This is a move designed by the coaches of the major school conferences. The 3pt line (in their minds) has enabled teams to beat more athletic/"talented" teams in bigger conferences. Butler would be an example of that this year, the princeton/air force teams would be another. Personally I like the idea because it opens up the motion offense more along with allowing post players a bit more room to operate. I don't think it is going to have the effect that big time schools are hoping for becuase it is also going to stretch the shooting range of the big time schools' players. Anything to keep the success of the top 15% of college basketball. I won't be suprised when they move the number of teams making the NCAA tournament to the +80s with an extra full day of the tournament.

From my count these are the only scholarship players left after the 2007-2008 season ends. SLU has an ##### load of scholarships to give out next year. 13-6= 7 scholarships for 2008. Maguire, Lisch, Liddell, Knollmeyer, Relephorde, Mitchell,

Hard to believe that at 6'11'' you guys can fault the guards for not getting him the ball when he should be getting put backs and atleast garbage points. But Vtime the same reason you keep touting all of these players for SLU to sign is the same reason that he is getting huge looks. He can do something that a normal person/player can't with the bonus he's 6'11''. I saw him on CCIN vs. St. Charles West, he had a ridiculously sweet hook shot (a true hook shot) from the free throw line that swished in. I was amazed and kept the game on eventhough it was a brutally sloppy high school game. The rest of the game? Nothing but one other basket. The kid is completely unpolished but he has enough hand-eye coordination to make scouts drool. I would love for him to go to SLU. He reminds me of the a player like Chris Richards for Florida this year, a high level recruit that blossoms on a BCS school in the latter part of his college career. He won't do much for anyone for a while unless he makes a huge leap his senior year but we'll probably hear about him some time in the future.

I think it is legit to bring up Majerus's health issues. He's obese, had several heart surgeries and has diabetes. Everyday he gets out of bed is a major health risk. Aside from dropping dead from a heart attack, he could lose a limb from the diabetes if he doesn't keep it under control (with his weight issues, he's probably not). I'm 100% behind hiring him (upgrading the season tickets if he is) but I realize that with his health, he is a time bomb unless he gets/has his health together.

"Fraschilla exposed himself inside the Alumni Hall locker room to his team on two occasions last season to illustrate, well, the coach's opinion that his players were missing a couple of things he apparently possessed." The ESPN job is shuck, whenever there is a camera someone is acting. You can't judge someone by watching them on TV, his body of work speaks enough about him.

I would rather have a coach that I can like or actually believe is doing what is best for the program and not himself. Adrian Wojekowski (now on ESPN.com) wrote that article above. I just don't like FF, I want a coach I want to win and succeed at this university.