billikenblue
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Posts posted by billikenblue
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5 hours ago, The Wiz said:
Post season A-10.....NCAA...Day 4th seed (unch)....NIT chances....VCU...76% (up)...Rich...60%(dn)...St. B ..54% (new)...Loy...50%(new)
General Outlook........We are slowly being locked into the PIG pen. While we still can escape (2 games out) we need to win some games to do so. While Duq is a decent team(15-10 ) they are only 1 game away from the PIG sty...so they are beatable. At the beginning of the A-10 season , I said there is no team we can't beat in the conference as long as we can match that team in TOs. I will stick to that statement going forward. Once we match TOs, regardless of the spread, the game becomes an even game.
Let's take a look at the game
Game Preview....The Bills continue to cling to a C- rating...a team with an improving offense and a faltering defense. Duq on the other hand grades out at B . ...a poor man's VCU. Like VCU, Duq has a weak offense and a good defense. The difference between the 2 teams is that Duq is a step down from VCU both in offense and defense. You could call Duq ...VCU lite. Grant and Clark are their go to guys. Unlike a lot of A-10 teams, Duq will come at you with a more traditional lineup of 2 guards and 3 forwards. Much of their scoring will be inside. As I mentioned above and you will see below in the report card...Duq has a weak offense EXCEPT if you leave them open. They don't take many shots but when they do they try to make them count. Bother them and we have a chance to win.
Let's look at the card....
Report Card....
The Card is down.....2 up ( Off ) and 3 down (1 Off & 2 Def)
.................SLU............DUQ................SLU...................DUQ
...........................OFF........................................DEF..........
PPG............C..................D...................F........................B+
FG%...........C..................D...................D+......................B
3P%...........A-.................C-.................D........................B-
FT%...........B...................D.............................
Reb...........D...................C..................D+......................C
OFF Rebs = total rebs...DEF Rebs = opp reb
UP...............Off....PPG...FG%.....Def...none
Down.........Off...Reb......Def...PPG...3P%
Top 100 In The Nation
SLU
Min /gm...Jimerson ...56th...dn
Duq
Blks...Dixon...45th
Stls...Clark...29th
Injury /Illness report and misc
The Bills...
Meadows...Quest...2/16...back
Duq..
None
Keys to the Game.......Control Grant and Clark and you control the game. If you can tamp them down they will look for Dixon as the escape hatch. Don't dribble into Dixon, he is looking for the block and if Clark is guarding you protect the ball as he is looking for the steal. Get some rebounds...no second chance shots for Duq.
WWN2D2W...Target slash--Beat Duq across the slash line.....Match them in TOs and Rebs....Hold Grant and Clark to 25pts...
Bottom line.........
Grab a rebound
And put a shot back in
Bother Duquesne
And we can leave town with a win.
We are not 2 games out from PIG Tuesday ...first day has 6 teams/3games this year ...we will be playing on the first day
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2 minutes ago, thetorch said:
I agree.
This is no fault of Ford's. Our guys just can't play defense.
Not surprising that the players Ford brought into play aren't able to play the defense he designed with them in mind. Once Ford brings in new players and devises a defensive system fit to their strengths we will be back to being a top 75 defense like we have been for 30 + years.
No fault of Ford's? Who coaches and recruits ...the players?
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10 hours ago, The Wiz said:
A couple of points here....First , let me say , I am not a defender of Ford BUT I am a defender of the facts and based on his latest interview (last night -post game) he said the following..... the first statement he made was that last night's poor play against DART "is on me"....which means he takes responsibility for the loss... The second major statement he made was ..."I can fix it"....He did not say I alone can fix it. Let's not make things worse than they are.
During that interview last night , he was upset.... as mad as I have heard him publicly. Things are not going as planned. Some of it his fault...some of it not. Right now we are an above average team BUT not good enough for post season play. But it is still early...we haven't even reached a minimum data size yet. Generally , the time to review the season prospects are after the OOC play is complete....usually by then ...you are who you are. The Bills are currently B-...they need to get to B by Xmas to keep on the right path.
You are not even close …this is not and will not be a B team anytime this year . Your numbers are based on subpar competition and the “eye test “ and the team composition is headed for exactly what Kenpom shows .
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3 hours ago, RUBillsFan said:
Trying to throw some facts out there for this pissing match:
Here are some articles around the time Crews was named interim coach:
https://unewsonline.com/2012/08/new-head-coach-jim-crews/
https://unewsonline.com/2012/11/jim-crews-feature/
I don't see anything saying Crews was Majerus hand picked successor. The U News article "The Odyessey of Jim Crews" says that when he hired him Majerus basically needed an AC to fill in last minute for Alex Jenson who left to coach in the G League, so he called up Crews who was basically retired and told him it would only be a 4 1/2 month job.
The rumor that Majerus wanted Crews to be interim HC while he was away may or may not be true. Any rumors that Crews was his hand picked successor are totally bogus.
This is correct . Alex wanted to be assigned as the associate head coach before Rick's health getting worse which Rick did not agree to actually giving it to Jim Whitesell obviouslt taking for granted his relationship with Alex would make him stay . Rick viewed Alex as almost his son and their falling out was very unexpected by Rick which led to Alex moving to Canton Ohio as the head coach of their G league team .
DOC, SluSignGuy and thetorch like this -
Just like division in the country right now, being on either side of the ledger doesn't correlate to only love or hate for Travis. Focusing on extremes tends to obstruct the actual facts.
Travis has coached for 25 years with the same weaknesses present today:
1.Roster construction and understanding the importance of match ups..
2.Making quick and thoughtful decisions on game flow and substitution patterns happening in real time.
3. Playing an offense that's utilizes the strengths and hides the weaknesses of your team
4 a system of strong fundamentals of screens and defense
5 His management skills are omnipresent on game day and his flaws are so obvious it has a big impact on results. During the VCU blow out I wax right behind the team. Duting the second half melt-down He personally "shutdown " ,which a great coach doesn't do. For 15 game minutes he fumed and walked back and forth . No engagement with the team...we can do this .ideas to turn it around .etc ...no interaction with the coaches who stoucally sat with arms crossed taking the beating.. .especially no adjustments to try SOMETHING...no press ...etc . With 4 minutes left we finally woke but why then ...to look good? act like we are trying? ..baffling to say the least.
After the game he was quoted telling Hargrove sorry you didn't start but you will start every game next. What head coach says that especially to a player who really has no true position ...no handle so not a 2 ...not a great shooter so not a 3 ...too small so not really a 4 ...probably a great energy 6th man but once again shows Travis struggles with roster construction and match ups
Yes he recruits great players but his weaknesses offset the advantages those players bring to us . So for the fans on the love side .Yes Talent will always be there ...Yes 20 wins will happen ...but for a program to aspire to be great the whole package is needed..that's all some of us on the other side are saying . We all care about the program and it's growth and success. 25 years of similar coaching is like saying I have seen this film before and didn't like the ending ..hard for us to see the change happening.
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On 3/14/2023 at 9:59 PM, Schasz said:
Thanks almsman Shari will start Keytruda the end of this week.
I had a friend who had great results with Keytruda. Shari is in my thoughts ...be strong for her . All my best to both of you.
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1 hour ago, Soderball said:
He watched him play all year.
Give me a "low character" coach who wins any day.
You can go watch the Gorloks or Uncle Brad or whatever. Sad. Pathetic. $2,400,000 for "feel good" stories.
Agree with Soderball. The entire Billiken fan base could see he wasn't himself. Continued to start and play while Parker and even Hughes sat without developing as the season went on. That's why it's called coaching and Travis lacks the ability to " read the room " for some reason. After 25 years that ability will not just develop magically . Perkins role needed adjusting early and it never did at the expense of the teams results .
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1 hour ago, billikenfan05 said:
No it's not. You and I work for the same boss, except the boss is your Uncle. You automatically have a closer, more frank relationship with the boss.
I agree with Zach. I sat behind the bench yesterday as usual . Virtually no interaction between the coaches on the bench who sat in silence the second half while Travis did little to “coach “ us through the adversity. Along with no interaction between the players and coaches to provide a “spark” it was if we were resigned to the outcome.
majerus mojo likes this -
15 minutes ago, billiken_roy said:
very good post! thanks and i cant disagree with anything you wrote.
Agreed but I would take it a step forward . He also fails to recognize that the talent he assembled is better at a fast pace and either due to his lack of using the bench properly - they are gassed later in games or just him and his approach we stop doing what we are best at. I have friends throughout the A10 and after we play them they all say you were on a roll then you totally slow down .
“What’s up with that ?” I can’t respond with why because it makes no sense and that is the pattern of Travis and his coaching.billiken_roy likes this -
5 hours ago, The Wiz said:
General Outlook.... Tough loss against DQ. That loss complicates things for the double bye but it is still very doable. If we beat Loy as we should then our magic number will be 1....a win by the Bills after Sat or a loss by DQ will give us the double bye. DQ will have to win their remaining 3 games including their finale at Fordham where they will not be favored. Their next game will be at DQ against Dav on Sun at 1PM CST on USA Ntwrk. DQ will be favored by 3 but it will a tough battle for them.
Game Preview....We remain at an overall grade of B. And while Loy is a bottom feeder in the A-10, they are not a horrible team. In the big picture they grade out at C-. They have a few nice players but they have some problems...The good news for them is they have 3 nice players...the bad news is they only have 3 nice players. And that is their issue ...no depth. We need to wear them down.
Report Card....
Coming into this game we are up in 2 categories (3P% Off & Def Reb) down in 2 (Def PPG & Def 3P%)..We are back on the honor roll on offense but are slipping away on defense as PPG is now at D+ and 3P defense is down a full letter grade in just a week.
Let's look at the report card...
...................SLU......................Loy........................SLU.............................Loy
.................................OFF..........................................................DEF.............
PPG...............B.......................D-.............................D+..................................D+
FG%...............B+.....................B..............................A-..................................D+
3P%...............B-.....................C-.............................C-...................................C
FT%...............B-......................D-..................................................................
Reb...............A........................F..............................C+.....................................B
OFF Rebs = total rebs...DEF Rebs = opp reb
UP...............Off....3P%...Def.....Rebs
Down.........Off.......none....Def....3P%...PPG
Top 100 In The Nation
SLU
Assts...Collins... 1st...unch......26th all time D1 list
Assts/TO ratio...Collins...16th...up
Reb...Okoro...41st...up
Off Reb...Okoro...29th ...dn
Def Reb...Okoro...96th...up
Blks...Okoro ...85th...dn
Dou Dou...Collins...62nd...dn..
3P%...Jimerson...56th...up
Loy
none
Injury /Illness report and misc
The Bills....
2/8...Thames....Out indefinitely....undisclosed......unspecified issue with no time table to return
Loy
2/10...Dawson...hand injury...out till late Feb
1/18...Thomas...Personal issue...out indefinitely...unknown when he will return
Keys to the game.. .
Alston is their main man....need to stop him...Loy is not a particularly good shooting 3P team. Norris is their 3P guy...we didn't do a great job on him...overall Loy shot 44% from 3P land when we played them last month...way to much...they go hot (when you leave them open )and cold (when you guard them) from the arc. I choose guard them.
WWN2D2W...Stop Alston , Norris and Schweiger ...hold them to 27 pts ....Make the slash...47/35/73.... have 1 less TO then Loy...Beat them on the boards by 7........Hold them to less than 35% on 3P shots. ....less than 70 pts total.
Bottom line....IF we play 2 consistent halves of offense (make the slash) and defense (less than 70 pts) then we can blow them out (23pts)...but if take them for granted and let up we can make this a close game. Let's not Ramble...let's Drive them off the road.
Think you mean tough loss against Richmond ...
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23 hours ago, billiken_roy said:
i was most disappointed we didnt see the ball in perkins or jimerson's hands much in the last 6 minutes. it was time for walk the ball down, dribble in circles and yuri try to drive if not throw to anyone not named gibson or javonte and pray for a miracle shot. box score says yuri had a great game. i say he lost the game for us. sadly at about the 14 minute mark i was thinking this is yuri's best game. he is playing point guard only, he is keeping the pace up, and we got a decent lead. gradually it all went to hell and while yes, give richmond credit for capitalizing on our lazy defense, but collins then got more and more selfish every time down the floor. you could just see it coming.
It's on Ford . He lets it keep happening.I saw 2 top 20 teams bench their point guards for bad play the past week.. UCLA put Tyger Campbell down and Providence sat Bynum ...both teams came back late without them and won .
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The Billikens had won 70 straight games when they were the first to 69 points .. the steak is over . Travis needs a math lesson . 3 is more than 2. He will then say we had a team shooting lights out and NOT realize it is our lack of defense. Most of the 3s were wide open as usual. Infuriating.
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12th annual Father Son trip except for Pandemic. I was on the way to the airport when my son talked me out of going. Went to the airport and Delta gave me a credit . We get an all session pass and go to all the games not missing one game in 12 years.Yes we are crazy but it has become a wonderful tradition for my son and I . Brooklyn ..Pittsburgh Washington DC and even Atlantic City . In 2019 the hotel had a blackboard in the room where we wrote Survive and Advance ...cool to see it come true. See you there
Bay Area Billiken likes this -
Travis was really vague on Yuri's condition and why he did not play before the game with Rammer. His quote after was the same . " Hopefully he will be back soon" " We don't know when that will be . It could be a little while. We'll see."
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Just now, Bay Area Billiken said:
Please don’t blow this game.
You could see it coming . Slow down Travis strikes again. We were flowing and running offense . Team let down on defense . It is so predictable
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This is a game you win defense and toughness ..we have no defensive fundamentals and lack toughness . Will be tough to win without great shooting
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25 minutes ago, The Wiz said:
After the SIU-e game...
Current rank ...102...moved up 12 spots
Current assist total...688
Tied...
Delvin Arrington...1999-2002...Fla St
Passed....
Jalen Pickett (again)...still playing...Penn St....now 6 ahead of him
McKinley Wright IV...2018-21...Colo
John Crotty...1988-91....Va
Shaheen Holloway...1997-2000...Seton Hall
This is aptly named yawn..much like Russell Westbrook's triple doubles it just is a stat that hasn't led to success as a team
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8 minutes ago, BC1764 said:
They won’t with this attitude from the fanbase, which let’s keep it real, is a reflection of the program and has been for a long time. If VCU, Loyola Chicago, friggen George Mason can get past the second weekend and beyond, then so can SLU.
The fanbase has nothing to do with the programs success or failure.
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1 minute ago, JettFlight5 said:
You are probably right. I hate being DOA by Christmas.
As do I ..reality stinks
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Just now, JettFlight5 said:
The resume now is a strange one:
Good W over Memphis and possible good W over Providence. Maryland and Auburn are not bad losses. Iona on the road is damaging…but Boise at home is flat-out bad. Gotta right the ship against Drake.
You can right the ship all you want ..only way this team gets in is by winning the conference tournament
billiken_roy and Bizziken like this -
Let’s see if I can do what the Wiz does .,,if we hit our slash we win …if we didn’t that’s why we lost . Not sure why everyone thinks this such a brilliant analysis every game . It’s called BASKET ball for a reason …
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37 minutes ago, gobillsgo said:
If you’re insinuating that this is on Travis, you hate SLU basketball (blue font)
The team we are playing is 7th in the country on defense and like a slow pace. We are a better team playing fast and are the HOME team..who dictates the pace…Boise State and we played right into what they wanted . No game plan or in game adjustments ..let’s just do what happens ? Not on the players ,,,it’s called coaching. .
mrjoelabs likes this -
1 minute ago, slu72 said:
This is when we Need STOPS.
Hard to get stops without playing solid defense
GDT: SLU v. GW
in Billikens.com Main Board
Posted
No lead is ever safe with this defense or lack thereof