FromGreeceWithLove

I would also be surprised if student managers at any school would be the ones actually making the travel arrangements and running the basketball camps. Those are not assignments that should be delegated out to a student and I would view it as extremely busch league to have your student manager basically running the show as you claim UNC and the other top programs do.

I believe he is joking due to the fact that he is friends with Brian Bertucci.

TK, potentially a little of the dancing cigarette?

TK, did you see that Sloan is an investor in a bar that is opening this summer? I can already hear the "Sweet Caroline" playing throughout the room.

BMetz, aren't you facebook friends with him?

I get a sense that Pistol and TKBilliken are fairly well connected to the program.

I disagree with you. Soderberg's only post season runs were with teams led by Romar players. His first season he got to the NIT with a team led by Perry, Fisher, Brown, and Sloan. I think one could make the argument that was a team that had the ability to be a tourney team. His second trip to the NIT was fueled by Sloan and Fisher. Not sure how you could say he inherited a team that was in shambles when he has only had success with that team that was "in shambles."

Pistol, I have heard similar things to what you are posting. Apparently Drejaj was called out pretty harshly after the season ending loss to St. Joe's by Soderberg (as reported by TKBilliken I think). I can understand this kind of behavior from Soderberg and the other coaches during the season, but after the last game of a players career, that is unnecessary. Anthony Drejaj played his heart out for four years and for Soderberg to do something like that is uncalled for and disrespectful. I remember hearing rumblings last year that the seniors were very unhappy with Soderberg as a coach and pretty much hated him. These are all rumors I have heard, but it seems a little disconcerting to hear about players moving on with considerable dislike for the program. This could end up being a case of karma biting SLU in the ass.

I don't understand how you could say that SLU has no shot at this kid. A couple of weekends ago when his AAU team was on FOX Sports the announcers said his short list consisted of KU, Memphis, and SLU. His father was seen at several practices earlier in the season and I think somebody posted that Alex was at the Midnight Madness. There has atleast been some interest shown from his side. Whether or not he comes to SLU, now thats a different matter. But the interest is atleast there and this is the type of kid that we need to make us more than an average college basketball team. If we want SLU to become a big time program then this is the type of talent we need to start recruiting and going after hard. He is going to get a lot of interest from a lot of top programs, but only one program can offer him the chance to play in the city he grew up in. How fun would it be to watch a team of Tyus, Liddell, Lisch, Meyer, Polk, and Maguire. Thats a team that pretty much sells itself to the St. Louis fans.

This is a post that I found on Tigerboard. Chad Ford's NBA Draft Update - Underclassmen very unlikely to be drafted: Morris Almond, SG, Rice Renaldo Balkman, F, South Carolina Mike Efevberha, SG, Cal State Northridge Carl Elliot, PG, George Washington Brandon Heath, PG, San Diego State Thomas Gardner, SG, Missouri Trey Johnson, G, Jackson State Danilo Pinnock, SG, George Washington Blake Schilb, SG, Loyola Ian Vouyoukas, C, St. Louis

I dont know if a full court trap would have been the answer, however if we are going to start and play a four guard lineup for the majority of the game, they better be athletic enough to do so. Thats how most teams succeed with a smaller lineup. They utilize their speed and quickness advantage and we dont do that. I hate hearing people say that we dont have the athletes and that we can only win a game if the score is in the 40s or 50s. We do have the guys that can pick up fullcourt and play uptempo. Drejaj, Lisch, Liddell, Polk, Brown, and Meyer is a lot of depth at the guard position and are all guys, minus Meyer, who thrive in that type of game. We needed to open it up more this year and we didn't. We have a lot of guys who can thrive in a transition and uptempo game.

The free student tickets are still available at the Savvis Center prior to the start of the game.

I am sorry I didn't get a chance to post anything from the big win against Xavier till now. That was a huge victory for a young team. They went into a hostile arena against a top 25-30 team and came out with the win. We didn't play a great game, but we were the team that made the plays when they needed to be made. This time it was our guys making the big shots at the end of the game and coming up with the big defensive plays. It is great to see Kevin Lisch showing the confidence to take a step back three when we need a basket, anyone who has seen him play in highschool knows that is a shot he will hit more times than not. I am not going to write anymore on the game since I am sure it has all been said, however I would like to say it was a great site seeing SLU fans mixed into the sell-out crowd at Cintas Center. Props to all the fans, and Blue Crew members, who made the trip to the Nati and cheered the boys on. Next up is St. Joe's and its finally at home at the Savvis Center. Hopefully we can finally end the alternating wins and losses streak and go on a much needed winning streak. I think we will finally break the streak and win this one, however I can't say that I know much about their team. So what are everyone's prediction for Wednesday night and anyone with any insite on what to expect from St. Joe's would be appreciated.

Obviously everyone is down right now after our loss to Richmond, but I just wanted to see what people think our chances are against Xavier tomorrow night in the Nati. This team is so hard to predict and is a team that will play up to a quality opponent and down to mediocre and bad teams. Xavier has a quality team and is coming off of a big win against their crosstown rivals. I don't see us winning this one, but who knows with this team. Also, just for fun and debate who does everyone think the top team in the state of Missouri is right now?

I don't think we are necessarily just bashing the Blue Crew. However, I don't see how anyone honestly can defend them. It is just the complete lack of student support at games that frustrates me. I don't think I have ever heard a uniformed cheer from the student section. That is pathetic. Have some pride in the school you go to. Forget cheering for Xavier or Marquette or Mizzou, they may be better programs, but the fact of the matter is you go to SLU, show some pride. It seems like all of the students at SLU cheer for another school. I don't understand it. I went to the SLU/Gonzaga game with friends from Vanderbilt, Arizona, and Mizzou and they could not believe the complete lack of student support and overall cheering at the game. Granted it was winter break, but there are a lot of students from the area who should be there and its the biggest home game of the year. I just wish there was a way to get students to the games. Having a winning team that is exciting to watch is hopefully the answer. I just can't stand hearing all of the students from Wisconsin who root for Marquette and other students who root for teams other than SLU. What happened to school spirit? Hopefully, winning is the answer. Why isn't there a group like the Antlers here at SLU who make it a point to make the opposing team uncomfortable every night. I look forward to the day of an oncampus arena where the students come out and where opponents can't stand playing.

All I know is we're screwed at Xavier, if Xavier can win at the Cintas.

How is this Blue Crew Regime the best we have had in a long time? It is an absolute joke and it makes our program look Busch League. Go to a game at UD Arena where Dayton plays and there is no comparison. This is an off-campus arena that has rowdy crowds for every game and for a team with similar success to ours.

I am sorry, but the Blue Crew and the student support is absolutely pathetic. How can you consider 15 nerds with blue shirts and limited basketball knowledge a quality chearing section. I dont know where blame can be placed for the lack of student support. Maybe its the fact that we play in a large off-campus venue or maybe its because there is a complete lack of marketing of the program. Something needs to done. The coaches and fans talk about wanting this program to be legitimate, but go to any MCC game tomorrow night and you will find student sections that make the Blue Crew look like a joke. Nobody is intimitated about playing at the Savvis Center. Don't kill billikenmetz because he is stating the obvious.

I am a long time reader and first time poster. I am a big fan and excited about the prospects of the SLU program in the future. However, I have left Savvis Center with a biter taste in my mouth the past couple games. I am glad to see SLU compete with some of the elite teams in the country, but there comes a point when you need to go beyond just playing teams close and pulling one of those games off. I think its important to not become comlacent with keeping games close. SLU seems to be lacking that killer instinct. I would agree that the games against UNC and Gonzaga were a step in the right direction, eventhough they were still loses. However, the Iowa game was a game the Billikens should have won. Iowa is a good team and a team that is very beatable, especially when playing them at home. My friends and I discussed the game at length and came to some common thoughts: Why does Dwayne Polk play so much? All I ever see Polk do is rush the ball down the court and then pull back. I never see Polk make plays or create shots for his other teamates. I think he is solid, but his complete lack of a shot hurts us. I think Tommie and Lisch should get more time at the point and they need to get Luke Meyer into the game. Against Iowa we had nobody who could hit an outside shot and who is sitting on the bench, but your best shooter. He needs to get some time. Danny Brown is overmatched and should not be playing over anyone. We also need to make it a rule that Ian Vouyoukas touch the ball everytime down the court. He is our best offensive threat and getting the ball into him will get shots for everyone else. When he gets the ball down low; if teams play him straight up let him go to work and if they double down he is a great passer for a big. We need the offense to go thru him. JJ has benefited from these open looks and has been knocking them down. Ian and Tommie are our only true offensive threats right now. Tommie is a great playmaker and I see him as really prospering in roles where he has the ball and creates for others. Thats all I got for now. I really enjoy the site and reading what people have to say about the team and program.