WVBilliken

Sorry, but I would take a cool college town over a big, crime ridden city any day. And in a college town you are the big ticket.

Otis is thinking SLU fetches this game ...... and brings it home!

Don't forget Parker, hecould explode next year. He just needs to settle down a bit. But the kid can score. Don't hear much about Rivera's recovery but a 6'6" guy who is quick and can score is interesting. Wonder if he is recovered enough to practice with the team? Anyone know if he has been with the team on game day? Then of course Hargroves could be back. Collins? Doubtful, but you never know. And that redshirt shooter Kramer, a year practice with the team could be big. Finally there is likely 2 or 3 scholarships available for transfer portal players.

If that post qualifies me as a “hater” then I guess I’m a hater of anyone I’ve ever mildly criticized. Pickett has single-handedly cost this team games within conference play with his head-down bulldozing drives into bigger and stronger defenders, lack of passing, and turnovers. The team is much better when he’s not on the floor. There, that’s hating. Tonight he definitely was needed on the floor .... he played an excellent game.

Hughes plays damn good D. Impressive this game.

Damn, don't let me down says Otis! Go Bills!

Okay, Otis is ready now for the game to start! And my brother-in-law went to Davidson so there's a few beers riding on the outcome as well! Go Billikens!

Well, interesting opinions ...... but if read through this thread you will find many Billiken fans that are fans of both programs. And it's fine if you can't be a fan of both ...... some folks are just incapable of that. Like my boy Otis; he's for SLU and only SLU! Glad I'm not.

LOL. To say you can't be a fan of both programs is just plan ridiculous and narrow minded. I have been posting on this board for 17 years. I graduated from SLU. Yes, SLU is my favorite college basketball team by far. But I also follow Mizzou and want them to be successful unless they are competing directly against SLU (which almost never happens).

I am first and foremost a Billiken fan, SLU is where I went to undergrad and grad school. But I root for Mizzou as well. Yes, there are ignorant Mizzou fans. But you know what, there are ignorant fans of all schools ..... even some SLU fans. I've got close friends and family that went to both schools; so since childhood I followed both teams, long before I enrolled at SLU. So I will continue to root for both teams ..... and the ignorant fans, well they can spew their hate. I will just choose to ignore them and enjoy cheering for the schools of my choice.

Must admit, watching them play Tennessee. Very energized, entertaining team to watch. Hate to say it as a SLU grad ...... they are very good team.

I have consistently been a Ford supporter. But this game has turned the tide for me. I have been a ardent SLU Billiken fan since I was a student at Saint Louis University in the early 1970's. I was a season ticket holder for a decade until I moved out of state. So I have seen many coaches and coaching changes over the years. Typically after a coaching change the team would go through several difficult years rebuilding. Then if the new coach was a poor recruiter or poor technician of the game, SLU would wallow in mediocrity for years until another coaching change was made. Seen them all from Polk, Albrecht, Ekker, Soderberg, Romar, Crews ..... and yes, a few good ones like Grawer, Spoonhour, Majerus. So why did I support Ford so long? I see his shortcomings but he does put a winning product on the floor. Given that I gave him the benefit of the doubt, believed he would get the program over the hump. He would give the program a chance for long-term success. But after last night ....... UGH! So watching Mizzou succeed quickly with a dynamic new coach, pulling talent in from the transfer portal, has changed my mind. Get the right coach and the program can be a good or at least decent team year 1 with the transfer portal. Lord knows SLU has a nice campus, great facilities ..... a lot going for the program. So given all that, I'm in finally. It's time for a change and the program doesn't have to struggle for years after a coaching change.

Wish I could read this but the lead in sentences sound good regarding SLU's point guard for next season ...... https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2023/02/from-quiet-freshman-to-vocal-senior-medley-has-meant-everything-to-no-2-camden.html

IMO the biggest problem with this team is not the coach. Yes, he might be an average coach technically, but that is not why this team is struggling. The reasons IMO in no particular order .... - Perkins was expected to be an all-conference type player. He is struggling with his injury recovery. He is a liability on the floor most of the time. Love Perkins but he can't be more than a role player, start Parker. - Lost the "glue" guy and best defender, Thatch. - Pickett is hurt. At the beginning of the season he was awesome, now average. Back injuries are difficult to fix. - No point back-up point guard is killing this team and two Bigs is not enough. Need a real power forward. Add all that up plus having an average bench coach = an average team. This team needs either a healthy Pickett or a rejuvenated Perkins to have a chance in the A10 Tourney.

Actually wrong .... win the A10 tournament and SLU is in. No computer can help any team this season. Only one way into the NCAA Tournament.

The Bills have talent, but not a lot of margin for error. Got two bigs, but only one who can dominate. Then there's one point guard and a bunch of wings. That would be fine if the wings were shooters, but only a couple are really good shooters. Given that composition there is little room for error against most teams they face. And if the other team plays two bigs, they take advantage of of SLU's weakness inside. Without the shooters to space the opposition team's bigs out .... SLU is screwed.

He's a walk-on. He can leave anytime he wants, no strings attached.

Interesting how 2 ranking systems can be so different. Rankings as of today. SLU RPI Ranking ........ 41 SLU NET Ranking ....... 89 Can a computer geek out there explain this huge difference? Oh, and KENPOM has SLU at 80.

Ford ..... A10 Coach of the Year! Okay, just messing with the Ford HATERS.

When I lived in St. Louis I split season tickets with a friend. Half the cost, half the games to attend in person.

Agree 100%. Ford is not going anywhere IMO thank the Lord! He is in his 7th season. He started with a horrible roster and no way to quick fix it (no transfer portal with immediate eligibilty). He has a scandal, not his fault, that screws up two more seasons. Then he has covid that maybe robbed him of an NCAA bid (no NCAA Tournament in 2020). The next year the team goes 14-7 losing like 10 games from the schedule to covid. Some on this Board forget these facts, or want to ignore them. These situations screwed up the opportunity to dance in 4 of Ford's 6 completed seasons. Yes, the team could dance in year 7, this year. I am thrilled with Ford. He has this program going 100% in the right direction. It's only going to get better. Let's not screw it up with another coaching change. Luckily SLU ADMINISTRATION is making the coaching decision, not a bunch of clueless Billiken Board posters!!!

The Big East got 6 last year.

If SLU was in any of those leagues their recruiting would be very different...... high 3 star and 4 star players with the occasional 5 star, a whole different roster.

Okay, yes Ford is coaching his 7th year. This year is not complete, there was a covid year with no NCAA tournament ...... so he is 1 appearance for 5 seasons. I toss year 1 as he came in late and had no opportunity to retool the roster. So he has made it 1 in 4 years. I'LL TAKE THAT FOR A 15 TEAM 1 OR 2 BID LEAGUE. AND THEN CONSIDER THE PLAYERS LOST DUE TO THE PLAYER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT CLAIMS. THAT BRINGS YOU TO 1 APPEARANCE IN 3 ACTUAL OPPORTUNITIES. And I didn't even claim the 2020-21 season when SLU had a great squad but ended up 14-7, had a month they didn't play due to covid, and missed the NCAA's.

Watched a lot of WVU basketball this year. Bell is "floor-bound and not very quick" and a liability for WVU. But he is the best they have for the center position and as a result WVU is going nowhere. WVU is traditionally a top rung team in the Big 12 but are languishing at the bottom of the Big 12 this year. Lack of an athletic big is their major problem IMO. Jimmy is just the best they have this year. WVU will try desperately to recruit over him and Jimmy will return to 10 minutes a game next season.