Clock_Tower

You are changing topics. Broy's post was to question why you wanted Roundtee but not McCoy who apparently are close to the same size and play similar positions. You're response is nothing. Next, you indicate that SIUC is taking all the St. Louis kids we should be getting. Other than Falker, no one else. Shaw is somewhat a St. Louis kid and I will give you that. Now, they get Roundtree. Sorry, but I don't see this pipeline to the exclusion of SLU. Have we not taken many kids from the East side? Liddell, McGuire and now the new East St. Louis kid? You're response is nothing. Don't let arguments and logic get in the way of your hatred and bitterness for Brad.

Excellent post.

Go back and read your posts. You are correct. You did post something stupid. Now, this post is also stupid. SIUC gets a few recruits from St. Louis and now this city is their own little walmart? Get real. SIUC has always and will always get some local recruits. Brief history. SLU during the Spoonhour years did not exactly keep all local recruits. Instead, he relied heavily upon this strengths he developed prior to SLU: JUCOs. I recall many years at SMS where he would literally bring in 5 - 6 new recruits each years - many of them JUCOs. Guys like Robinson, Walker, Love, Jeffers come to mind as well as transfers like H, Johnson, Pederson. Then, during the Romar years, he got Chris Sloan but missed on many local guys. Shaw and Grimes are only 2 of the guys during the Romar/Sodie transition. Instead, we got Diener, McClain, MaCauley, Varner and the guy from Iowa who did not pan out and then transfered. Sodie's first 2 years - admitedly - were weak and consisted of out of state/country guys (Ohanon, Ian, Johnson, Drejaj, Frericks, Newborne) but since then he has gotten local guys: Polk, Meyer, Lisch, Liddell, McGuire. Knollmeyer is not St. Louis but central Missouri. Truly, you would have to go back to the Grawer days when SLU relied heavily upon St. Louis guys. Even then, we did not get everybody. Guess we'll put you in the category with VTime. Even he, though, only wants to OFFER everyone who can dribble a ball from St. Louis. You, though, expect to SIGN every St. Louis guy and if we don't, then rip the Coach.

Yes. DePaul would have been chosen over SLU even in your example. Chicago's TV market and recruiting base for both players and students is something St. Louis cannot and will not be able to match. Every conference wants a school from a city like that. Just look at the Big 10 and Northwestern. It's nice to have New York, DC and Philly represented in the A10. The trouble is we have 3 from Philly.

Agree 100%. I hopeful and watching to see what connections Jamaal Walker has with KC and the western Missouri/Kansas - both highschool and JUCO

Drew. Your extreme animosity for "Brad the Coach" is clouding your judgment. For you to judge our upcoming recruiting class so negatively is not only unfair but intentionally misleading. Spring signing is over a month away and yet we already have 2 recruits. With the loss of IV and JJ, we obviously need immediate help inside - hence the need to get JUCOs - and yet the JUCO season is not over yet. I have no doubt that Brad will sign at least 1 JUCO and at least 1 other recruit. Whether these additional guys will be the ones we want and hope for is another issue but we will have more recruits. Some might say this program is heading in an unexpectly favorable direction - toward a promising incoming class - if we can land 2 good JUCOs. If that does not happen, then you can write the above post. Not now. BTW, give us your insight as to why our 2 new guys will only be "role players"? How many times have you seen them play? Give us your analysis of their strengths and weaknesses, if you can. If, by role players, you mean that we can bring 6'7" and 6'4" wings of this ability off the bench to spell TL, KL and LM (hopefully will move from 4 to 3) and thereby keep DP and DB on the bench, then I'm excited for next year.

Leon Powell has not signed with anyone yet. Rumors persist that he may not qualify academically and therefore may go JUCO or prep school.

Cheer up Drew. Maybe you will get your wish (SLU loses) tomorrow. Also, unless SLU can win 8 more games in a row, their season will end with a loss and such failure will give you plenty of topics for another year of whining.

After watching the lowly Baylor Bears (11th place out of 12) nearly hang 100 points upon Mizzou (3 coaches in 7 years) in a nearly empty gym in the middle of Oklahoma, I cannot help but think that Mizzou does not belong in the Big 12. Maybe it was a good idea at the time, but ever since the league was expanded to 12 teams, Mizzou has not finished better than 6th in the Big 12. The Sundvold & Stiponovich memories are about as old as the Easy Ed memories. Back when the conference consisted of teams such Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State, it was a good "geographical" fit for Mizzou. Now, with the addition of all the Texas schools, I am concerned about the "travel expense" and "distance" for Mizzou. Wouldn't it make more sense for Mizzou and their fans to play its natural "geographical rivals" such as Missouri State and Illinois Carbondale instead of Baylor and Texas Tech. Also, wouldn't it be better for Mizzou to play in front of 20,000 screaming fans at the Scottrade (Arch Madness) instead of being stuck in an empty gym in Oklahoma City? Signed, Bryan Burwell and Randy Karacker

Nark. Not saying you are wrong but that I would think a competent AD would not need talking points and stats handed to her by the SID. Cheryl and SLU need much more air time.

UD arena may not be "on campus" however it is very close to campus which has been and is expanding toward it. Not only is it much closer to campus than SLU (more similar to the distance of a large public university from one end of campus to the other) but the team practices there, trains there, lifts weights there, coaches offices there, etc. You're comment is misleading.

Personally, I take the suggestions by these local media types as more of an insult to SLU and belief that SLU will never be able to be any better than a mid major with rivals such as Northern Iowa and Illinois State. No thanks. As long as Bruno is in charge of the A 10, I see little hope in the near future. Longterm, though, truly believe the A 10 has much more potential for greatness than the Valley.

SLUSER. Please, grow-up or you leave. No need for the personal attacks if your arguments fall apart and you look silly. As to the anti-Brad comments, please feel free to post. Roy was not trying to keep you from posting but just pointing out to you and others that anti-Brad comments lack thought. Please, collect your thoughts and post again. It's about time this Board discussed offensive schemes, whether the motion offense, set plays or this "new" scheme: just play. Seems more like when a football dominates all game long with its defense only to be shredded in the last 2 minutes by its "prevent" defense.

AJ. You are correct. Did not intend my post to be negative toward a 17 year old kid, in this case Leon Powell, who did not ask to be in the middle of intense recruiting wars. My post, and this one also, instead is directed at those who claim inside information, who post multiple times each day about a talented kid who goes to school only a mile from campus, who gives us not only this kid's personal stats from the date he turned 12 but also the year, height, position and scouting report of his current teammates, together with comparisons to recent graduates from the same high school while making statements that, for some unexplained reason, that Brad is not recruiting him. The inference, of course, is that Brad cannot judge talent, whether at all or not quickly enough for the Stemler crowd. Naturally, many on this Board presume that a poster has this information that he also has reliable recruiting information. Then, as our current team underperforms and we sign no Fall recruits, many buy into this notion that Brad does not know what he is doing, that he can't judge talent or recruit (not even as well as those of us on this Board) and call for Brad ouster. While I cannot speak for others, no one appears to be suggesting that we, instead, recruit MICDS, SLUH etc in lieu of Vashon. Instead, we just get tired of endless attacks on our program and coach from guys who mislead, quite possibly unintentionally, with personal agendas.

Just a thought, with no inside information: Powell has certainly shown more interest than most in SLU (playing with team over the summer...),Brad has shown considerable interest in him as well but it does not appear the kid can make grades for any Division 1 school. Maybe, Powell has not and will not gush over SLU if he doesn't think he can get in. Sounds alot like Nick Kern but hope Brad, unlike Romar, has a plan B. VTIME, Vashon's average season is over. Leon sure didn't lead Vashon very far. Can't wait for the explanation of how it's not Leon's fault. Please, give us a few more stats from his AAU games with Gameface. For nearly 2 years, you have posted that Brad has ignored Leon and has failed to offer him. Even to this day, you claim SLU has not offered the kid. Coming from a poster who has advocated that we offer half the area prep scene, your posts just aren't credible. Please explain how Brad's offer to Leon is not a real offer. If you were SLU's coach and have made all the offers you wanted Brad to make, which of these offers would be real offers. My point, if you make 12 offers for 4 scholarships, have you not conditioned your offers upon the first to accept? How is this different than conditioned upon him making grades.

Your endless and negative posts are noted. Contrary to your prior post in another thread, you don't think we will win four (4) in a row. Your only reason for posting the same is complain if it does not happen. Not that you have to only post positive things, that is what the Board is for, but try something new with your posts. Very boring.

No offense but teaching should not be needed for the 2012 Class. It's an embarrasment that "teaching" is required now but more an honest comment about a true reality. Also, I remember the 1990's and sudent support was poor then as well even as SLU was winning. The 18,000 who came to a game were not young people and students. Why the lack of student support? Not just the bus rides but also the time of the games - 1 pm (sometimes Noon) but never a 3 pm or 4 pm game and even fewer 7 or 8 pm games on Saturdays. Why? Arena availability - Blues, etc.. Student attendance would be much greater at 3 pm than 1 pm and even better in the evening - 7 pm would be OK but 8 pm even better for students. I'm still in my 30's yet closer to 40 than 30. With that said, I don't consider myself "old" but probably am by Jimbo's standards. With that said, am grateful for the "old" people. Without them, attendance would be less than 1,000 per game and then Jimbo would be crying about the lack of support, etc. Has anyone ever thought that it is not that there are so many "old" people as much as there are such few young people or students. Every school has its "old" crowd but most schools have young people and students as well. You would think that there would be a few since this is a college game. An on-campus basketball-only facility, with evening games and complete control over scheduling, combined with sell-out crowds, a little winning tradition and next thing you know, SLU gets regular commitments and enjoys winning basketball. All of this will draw and keep the students. Until then, thank god for not only The Band and Blue Crew but also the "old" people.

Agreed, but again, by all accounts AK had been ahead of both Obi and HD in the preseason and AK, himself, has contributed very little this year. Can't state if this is result of AK, Brad or combination of both (which I suspect) but again I truly believe experience cannot be overstated. I am still high on AK and believe he will be good for SLU, just not now. As such, I truly did not expect much from any of these 3 but, like fellow Bills fans, did hope that 1 of the 3 would have stepped forward. To that extent, am disappointed. While Stemler last spring would have been nice, I truly hoped we would have gotten a JUCO/tranfer the year prior. Without a JUCO/transfer 2 years ago, without Stemler, and then without a "Plan B" to Stemler, we were left to hope that 1 of our 3 first year players would step up - a tall order for most 1st year players. None have. Couple the above regarding our 4 and 5 positions with the lack of depth regarding the guard positions, could really have used a JUCO/transfer 1 or 2 guard the past 2 years, and you have the current situation where we are relying upon Danny Brown (has not stepped up this year) and another first year player, DM. Again, am still high on DM but unfortunately he has not been able to contribute and "hide" the recent holes in our recruiting. Yes, with a contributing powerforward, LM could be moved to 3 and our guards would then be deeper, but we have had real ballhandling and turnover problems all year long and more help at 1 or 2 would have really helped this year. SLU's best years in the past 30 or 40 years have been under Spoon and he relied heavily upon JUCOs and transfers.

Nice observations. I lack the insight to comment on your #2. Agree with Cheese that #1 and #3 are related. Never really expected IV, being a more passive type person, foreign born, etc. to be "vocal" team leader (your #1) as much as a strong, silent leader who "leads by example." In that regard, some blame for both your #1 and #3 can be placed upon IV. Also, your observation about lack of a real leader such as Drejaj, Brad has made similar statements, demonstrates that a leader need not be the best or even one of the best players on the team. This Board already knows, but IMO it is worth repeating, TL and KL are such special players that we forget they are only sophomores. As rare as it is for Freshmen, and now Sophomores, to be their team's best players, players relied upon to take the shot at the game's critical time, it is even more rare for such young guys also to be their team's leaders. With a disappointing IV, our senior class (IV and JJ) is poor. Not many teams have 20+ win seasons, win conference road games and make the NCAA with such a senior class. I believe you should also add #6 Lack of Depth/Players not on the team. Our Senior class should have 1 to 2 more guys - whether JUCO and/or transfer route.

Cheese. Agreed that Civic Progress as a group would not do anything and that there is/was no legal agreement. Instead, I had always presumed that that many consisting of Civic Progress were either alumni and/or probable donors who could and would step forward, individually, if SLU kept renting in the 90's and did not rock the boat when SLU eventually decided to build - now.

Reread the posts idiot.

The last few years average attendance has been closer to your 7,000 to 8,000 figure. Do you forget ten years ago when 10,600 would be a poor crowd. Not every game, of course, was 17,000 or more but believe 12,000 was more the average. Personally, I think 15,000 would have been too large as well but do question the 10,600. Believe 12,000 to 13,000 is what SLU needs and deserves. As far as the "extras", I don't have a list or a copy of the blue prints and instead am going on memory from my brother (SLU grad but not an avid basketball fan) who reviewed some of the original bid work v. the revised bid work on more of curious level and general discussion (his job was not architect, etc) but recall that the cutbacks were not obvious or big ticket items but instead were numerous small items along the lines of what would normally be done to bring a commerical building or even a house in under a reduced budget. Obviously, the single tier/bowl and roof construction reduced the price but also everything from the outside fascade/elevation/number of "towers" to number of electrical outlets and windows down to the building materials used. In fairness, many original bids probably start off many items or "extras" which would be cut regardless of the financial situation. At the same, I did hear that SLU told the builder to review each aspect/trade to find cost savings to bring the project into budget compliance with the funding reality. At this same time, recall the various plans and rumors swirling regarding the possible elimination of practice facilities, coaches offices, etc. As a result, I did not and do not find it hard to believe that a few "extras" were eliminated. Also, in fairness, I have no knowledge of what Fr. Biondi and the Trustees added back. In any event, I do not intend these posts to indicate that Fr. Biondi is building a facility that we should not be proud of or that I prefer a 2 tier arena over a 1 tier arena. Frankly, I will have good seats no matter what. Instead, the original post indicated that Fr. Biondi "went out on a limb...", is taking risk for basketball by building without the funding and is doing something unusual for a private school. Hogwash.

Apreciate your comments but I stand by my statement "reduced size and quality of the arena." As to the size, the new arena will be a 1 level/bowl instead of 2 with several thousand fewer seats. How am I inaccurate. As to quality, my brother is one of the accountants for the contractor and I understand that many "extras" have been eliminated to reduce the cost. This should not be surprising since CL and others did everything they could to add back in the coaching offices, etc. which won out in favor of size. Again, how am I inaccurate. As to donations, SLU has had many campaigns going on at the same time. Granted, some donors would only give the medical building and never to a basketball arena, and vise versa, but I have to believe that many donors who would normally contribute were already tapped out for the other projects. If anything, I question more the timing of the arena project than donor committment. Further, placing an incompetent AD, Woolard, in charge made things even worse. Just my opinion and could be completely off base, but I really don't believe Fr. Biondi is really out there twisting arms and calling in all his favors on the arena project. BTW, where is civic progress? Was there not an agreement in the 90's for SLU not to build its arena and compete with then Kiel which was owned by civic progress and which appreciated and profited from the rent paid by SLU?

In defense of JJ, he was probably worth the risk. Brad recruited him only weeks after being named head coach when we were desparate for warm bodies following the exits of not only Romar but his players and recruits as well. The guys is a 6'8" and athletic. Brad did all he could including red-shirting him that first year. Not all guys pan out and he is definitely in that category. Danny is another that has not turned out. Both have physical ability but lack qualities between their ears.

Truly an amazing and breaking news post!! Nark/3-Star. SLU actually has a head coach who treats his star players differently than his walk-on players. Finally, I am now convinced that we must fire Brad immediately! As far our new coach, we need to find someone like my 5 year old's soccer coach - a coach who plays all players an equal amount regardless of performance. Don't want to hurt feelings. That's it. Let's find a nice coach and not a "jerk." Greece. If you don't bench an underperforming "star" like Ian, you find it objectionable to bench him with only a few games left? Are you serious? That may be the dumbest thing posted in awhile. Do you not realize that there is still a conference tourney which SLU, with an inspired Ian, could easily win. If not, there is still the NIT, pride and recruiting at stake? Dribble, dribble, dribble... Sure, glad you guys ran BROY off.