OC

Forde is a Missouri Tiger. Gillespie is about to roll in KY. If you can recruit to El Paso and College Station, I think he'll fare well there. As for Harrellson, at least he is close to his home situation...(don't judge me, I'm still pissed).

You guys should check out Nate's site. There are some PG plays out there. I'm a little worried about the point situation--for THIS year. I think KM is the player we could least afford to lose to injury. From the sounds of it, the kids we've talked to/offered are good PG finds, as was Mitchell. It's amazing how a talented PG can make a solid-but-not-great Post look like the real deal.

Don't get me wrong--I'm certainly not saying they play 'great defense'...but the no defense thing is somewhat overstated bc there are SO many possessions per game when you play this team. Also, while they did indeed give up many baseball passes for layups, they stole a ton of cross-court passes too. Are they sound defensively? No. But they actually dictate defensively quite a bit, believe it or not...and caused many a Fontbonne turnover.

I was there--and it was awesome to watch. Grinnell had a minimum of 3 very, very good guards. One had 27ish at halftime, another had 21. At HALFtime. The third is the coach's kid. They routinely passed up on quasi 2on1s, 3on2's to kick out to a spot-up three. I've been to many SLIAC D3 games and never has a crowd gotten into it like this (and it was a 5pm start for some reason). It was 88 to 75ish at half, and Grinnell was 50% from 3.

1) Because of Nate, we--the billiken board readers--learned of this earlier than we would have otherwise. 2) He reported it was one freshman. So let's not hold him repsonsible for the craziness that ensued where others bandied that it was Liddell, two freshmen, Guy Phillips, and the ghost of Carlos Toomer. Thanks Nate, for your dedication to all things Billiken. You enhance being a Billiken fan.

About Caleco's in the 1993-95 era... My friend worked the door there, and "checked" IDs. He was not 21 yet, and *got* the job using a fake ID. Good times.

Six Inches!!!

..at some point. We guarded ballscreens down the stretch as if the screener was a viable option. Fisher was King, but man...make him kick out. When was the last time someone other than Fisher shot it? No one else would've been able to knock down that next shot attempt--it had been forever and a day. Frustrating, but my hats off to Al Fisher.

It is him. His style. It's not forced. I may not love it, but I'll take it--as part of the package. Do you break up with an incredibly hot girl because she has a snaggletooth? I don't. Give her my number.

No, I agree on the extra motivation from the underdog, just not on the 'lesser effort' from the DI. If a coach is drastically changing his rotation/minutes like Footes said, then sure...but it doesnt seem that way at most of the exhibitions until the game is out of hand. I realize the extra motivation thing is human nature, and not a myth...but if a kid is 'turning it up a notch' for selective foes, that may help explain why he and his on/off switch didn't go DI. This reminds of when Bobby Knight was asked about whether a kid had his 'gameface' on before the game, and the ever-eloquent Knight basically said--in his own style-- that there wasn't such a thing.

Mike Taylor was eligible for last year's draft bc he left school early and signed a professional contract (non-NBA)...which makes you automatically eligible for the next NBA draft. He had to be drafted, not eligible to be signed until after the draft process. I think you guys are buying too much into the "practice game vs 'their super bowl' " stuff. How do we know how each team/guy approached the game emotionally? I believe DI teams go into the game trying to win. If they don't, I'm not going to rationalize it by saying they weren't compelled to give a great effort bc of the opposition's classification. How does that work? In mid-dribble drive, does Kwamain say to himself: "wait, wait, slow down--this defender was not recruited regionally as I was, he is merely a local kid gone NAIA". If SLU loses to the Tritons/Riverpeople, I want to see how many posters still give it the ole' "hey it was practice" brush off.

...on dairy.

This isn't the answer, but I just wanted to type this name: Dallas Comegys

They didn't weat their 'practice' uniforms..... I'm not saying they are all big deals, but DIII Westmin over SIUE is a big deal both ways. Not a smooth transition to DI. I, too, am glad that teams are playing local allies instead of NBC Thunder and Marathon Oil.

WashU did indeed beat UMSL as I predicted--albeit not a major upset. It was a great 2ot game. UMSL is at least very athletic, so the Bills will be semi-tested in terms of getting to te rim and defending. SLU will again be much taller as UMSL often had 4 guys on the floor below 6'3ish. The have a Samford transfer and a former AAA outfielder among their new players.

I'm not so certain that next friday is a great barometer either...I think WashU will win at UMSL Sat night. Had they not graduated their post player i'm sure they'd win.

My only beef with Conklin was that he went up with his inside hand twice when the situation clearly called for his left--and the reason that surprised me was because he was otherwise very fundamentally solid looking. Almost all of these guys have some 1on1 game to speak of. And some bball IQ. Unlike the last couple editions, I think this Bills team will be fun to watch even in losses. I'm excited to watch them grow within the program.

Hollins and Haley are nice freshman. Stowe gave minutes to a few guys that McKendree and Columbia (conference foes) wouldn't make eye contact with. Boykin looks solid, and the Texas DI kid is athletic...but H-S sure didn't finish last night. But seriously, McKendree brings a starter from Three Rivers off it's bench, and Stowe brings... SLU: I think every single one of those guys has a game to speak of. No one is limited to a "role player" status (long term). I don't want to pile on the guys who were asked to leave, but we indeed upgraded the roster. Cotto, Kwamain and Cassity excited me the most--these 3 ooze confidence. Reed is ahead of where I perceived him to be. Tommie was frankly not very impactful last night. I don't mind that he didn't score 30pts, I just wanted to see H-S have fits trying to guard him. Not the case.

STLHI, Did Mike Niestat from Tower Grove make H-S? jv team? I didn't see him on the roster. Who do you think will start/play alot for your Hornets? Like I have said, Haley was a steal.

Man, I hate to say I-told-you-so, but I knew Pilz should've offered Josh at UMSL....

Speaking of DI SIU-Edwardsville, their transition is off to an inauspicious start. They lost their opener to DIII Westminster Blue Jays of the SLIAC. And perhaps the most famous Oneonta Yankee of all time? Outfielder John Elway. I'm guessing teams did not tag up on sac flies his way...

Everyone assesses the quantity of strong teams, but forgets they have to play (beat) each other. I'd love to see a rule that says you have to be at/above .500 in conference play to make the Dance, no matter your RPI, etc. Would eliminate some of the money-driven decisions to have conferences with 32 teams...and would make a random Mon night game between Providence and Villanova that much more meaningful.

Apparently I'm ready for the Stowe game--I lowered myself to looking up You-Know-Who's stats in Kentucky's Blue vs White game: http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl...09/b-w1101.html

OK, I'll be the first to say it: Soderberg to SEMO In all seriousness, I think he'd be a great fit there. And perhaps/probably son wouldv'e joined him had this happened before summer. Not only is he qualified, but I'd surely hope SEMO would be looking for the ying to their recent yang...and Brad is the respectable, cerebral, clean coach that the SEMO program needs to replace Edgar (whom i saw at a coaching clinic and immediately had to wonder about...he is a character to say the least).

Is this the college bball referee? Paul Janssen does a ton of Valley games in particular. Tall, dark hair.