WVBilliken

If there is one thing SLU doesn't need is more shooting guards/small forwards ...... at least this year.

Ford is not 1 in 6 for the NCAA at SLU. THERE WAS NO TOURNAMENT IN 2020. So 1 in 5. You going to count his first year? He came in late and had a Crews roster. 1 in 4. Give a coach at least 2 recruiting seasons to get his system and players in. Now 1 in 3. That is more close to reality. Ford is one of the best 3 coaches SLU has had in the 4 plus decades I have followed them. Continuity will bred longterm success.

Agree 100%

Not necessarily true. Rosters are likely to be in flux for months. I can see key, young, hotshot players leaving A10 teams for greener pastures just like last year (see Tre Mitchell, others). Assuming squads will be stable is very naive. NCAA has brought "free agency" to college basketball. Hopefully Ford can hold the key pieces of SLU's roster and maybe pick up an impact big. Would love to have a real power forward and Okoro.

But what is our roster for next year? Given the new NCAA transfer rules almost every player is fair game to transfer, even our star starters. Many mid-major stars left their teams last year for a chance for more exposure with a Power 5 team. Thinking it will be mere weeks until we know who or if key players leave. A roster for next year ...... may be in the air for months, just as it was last year .

LOL. No. Nesbitt is by far the choice. Both are somewhat prone to mistakes ..... but Nesbitt's defense and rebounding trumps Hargrove hands down. Glad Ford makes those decisions ........

TJ looked dang happy and enthusiastic in the video clip of the walk-on, Brandon Courtney, when he hit the 3 at the start of the game. I think you are just trying to stir stuff up ,,,,,

This is Ford's sixth season at SLU. Not counting this season since it is not over yet, he has had 4 opportunities to get to the Tourney since there was no tourney in 2019. Throw out year 1, he had Crew's team, and he has made the Tourney 1 in 3 years. Damn good for a mid-major. And we barely missed in both the other 2 years ...... SLU was in the conversation. Ford is what this team needs NOW AND IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

Seems that this thread is way premature. Maybe we should wait for the players to enter the transfer portal before going wild on how they fit on the Billikens ..... but that's just me.

Must be regular season only because in the year they went to the NCAA's they beat 3 of those teams (Dayton, Davidson & St.Bonaventure) in a row.

Ford is a good recruiter. Among the best in the A10, but given the facilities and resources he has, good recruiting should be expected. Dayton is probably consistently the best in the A10, but SLU, Davidson, St. Bonaventure, Richmond and maybe one or two others are consistently mid-major good. Now the class he has coming in may end up being great, but I for one, am in the wait to see mode. Seems like he is missing some critical needs. I think a shooting big is needed, a point guard, and of course a Linssen replacement (really don't see Lorentsson ever panning out). Of course, what do I know! If certain bench players transfer out, he may yet fill those needs.

Agree, more games have been lost by players not making the shot, or from a lamebrain turnover, than from coaching. Yes, sometimes the coach screws up, and Ford has ...... but more often the players fail to execute the plan. IMO.

Traore is more of an athlete than Linsson, also a better shot blocker and rebounder. Linsson is far better in all offensive and team play aspects. Can Traore make a giant leap over the off-season? ..... maybe. But my guess, Ford brings in a transfer to fill the gap.

My guess is Kramer sees very few minutes next year ..... too many experienced players who play the same positions in front of him. Say that Perkins is back, plus Hargrove, Jimerson, Nesbitt and the arrival of Parker .... they all play wing, Kramer sits.

Better leagues get many NCAA bids ..... the A10, now seems to be a 1 or 2 bid league. In a better league you do not have to win the league to make the Dance. And that is the difference. And of course, in a better league recruiting would get considerably better.

Ford is doing just fine. The best move for SLU is not to fire Ford, but to use SLU's dollars, facillities, influence and Market size of St. Louis Metro to get to a better league. That would solve a lot of problems Ford faces as a mid-Major program. SLU is consistently among the top 10 mid-Major programs thanks to Ford and Staff. They are doing a good job IMO.

But my understanding is that Okoro choose not to play last year to get healthier. Perkins was injured prior to his extra year and could not use it this year.

I wonder if Perkins might still not count against the limit given the fact that he did not get his "no count" year this year. Seems a reasonable possibilty?

A disciplined team in the mode of the old Princeton coach Pete Carril's teams can make better athletic teams look silly. Davidson is that kind of team.

Now that, is a hoot. Successful 13U coach! Now that makes you an expert ..... LOL. You can't be serious. Far too often team failure is blamed on the coach. I guarantee you the players were taught how to bust a zone and lots more. These are young men, not professionals. 3 for 18 second half on 3's. Many wide open shots .... that and turnovers lost this game. And the Bonnie's hit the open 3's SLU missed. Bad games happen occasionally. I've seen many great teams lose to a greatly inferior team. In this case, SLU lost to a talented, veteran team. It happens to many, not just SLU ..... and it's not always the coach's fault.

I love the old Villanova style of play, a big and 3 to 4 wings that can handle the ball, play D and score at multiple levels. I can see Yuri, Okoro/big and 3 wings playing at once ...... Jimerson, Nesbitt, Hargrove, Parker, Perkins rotating in and out all during the game keeping constant pressure on the opponent.

What a job Coach Ford and Staff have done after losing SLU's top player, player of the year candidate Perkins ..... a week before the start of the season. Collins, Jimerson, Hargrove all made giant leaps in development. Team FT shooting improved for nearly every player. Okoro has developed quickly into a multidimensional player. Same for Nesbitt. Both keep getting better, their ceilings are high Players seem motivated and accepting of their roles. And tenacious rebounding, hustle usually shows on the court. Taore, Linnson, Jones and Williams are great off the bench. New leaders ..... Thatch, Collins, Hargrove, others have stepped up. Coach deserves a lot of credit for a season that could of tanked after the injury.

Looks like ESPNU games are available on ESPN+ on demand for replay after game is completed. Can anyone verify this???

I've seen Jimerson get the last shot at least twice this year and he missed it. Get it to the open man. Now last night, with 5 seconds ...... Collins did the right thing. Go straight to the basket and hope for a foul or a layup.

SLU can't sleep on George Mason. Beat ranked Maryland, beat Dayton, beat Georgia. Played KU well. SLU needs to bring their "A" game. George Mason playing UMass on USA Channel today at 2pm EST.