Clock_Tower

SLUSER.Get serious and answer my prior question. Will SLU be in a better position to attract a new coach next year? Next year, the arena will be completed and hopefully SLU will have a new TV package, hopefully the A-10 conference package will be better and even SLU might have a radio package which can extend to 1/2 of the St. Louis area. Once again, we all want SLU to focus on St. Louis kids. Have no problem extending the terms "local" and "St. Louis" to Jeff City/central Missouri. If so, how can anyone (recruits, their families and friends) follow the Bills from Jeff City? Poplar Bluff? Internet broadasts on their laptops? Making a change now only to prove we won't accept mediocrity could make things worse. With all of these issues, most good coaching candidates might take a pass on SLU for the reason that they might think 20 wins isn't that bad for a program with little sustained success, little recent success and numerous inherent challenges. Also, any incoming coach would be a no name head coach from a lesser program or an unproven assistant. This guy would need to form a staff immediately, convince the 2 oral recruits to stay (they don't have to until they commit in May), get 2 to 3 more guys to fill out the roster and then make in roads with the 2008 class which, undoubtedly, will commit this fall. Most of these guys will not still be around next year at this time. These guys have built relationships with many coaches for years and I cannot see some no name or unproven assistant come in and land 8 - 9 guys in 6 months. Even if CL now believes Brad is not the future for SLU, making a change now would not seem to be in the best interest of SLU.

Basketbill. Very good post. As mentioned, I have a real problem with Brad not playing Freshmen. He didn't play DB, DP and Luke as much as I would like their first year. I find no reason why DM and AK could not have played 5 minutes a game for this team. BH also deserved more time. I understand that their games need work and that game time is rewarded by performance in practice but that would seem the difference between 5 minutes or more. Also, while I like the assets that DP brings to this team, his height greatly limits him in half-court conference games and defending the perimeter when we lack a legitimate 4. Hence, a 7 person rotation is not smart. Brad can compare our 7 man rotation to other teams with 7 or 8 men rotations, as he did all year, but I question how many of them had a 5'9" guard and a guy like LM playing the 4. Also, I blame Brad for not getting a JUCO these past 2 years. Yes, Stemler would have helped but he does not play the 4. Relying on OI and HD was not smart. Could he not have gotten another Frericks? Why has SLU gotten no transfers since Spoon? Are there not dis-satisfied St. Louisans who want to come home? Pederson and Jamal Johnson? As mentioned previously and extensively, Romar left the cupboard bare. Add to this Brad is not a household name and that his luster as being a hot and up-and-coming former assistant had worn off a year while being Romar's assistant coach, and that explains his early reaches at recruiting. JJ was in that first class along with AD and IO. Then came IV and BH. We are and have been paying for these reaches and mistakes. Since then, LM, DP and DB have been an improvement and step in the right direction. Then, TL and KL were great additions - though I have mentioned and believe this class should have had an additional player. Then, DM and AK seem good but we don't yet know. Relaphorde and Mitchell sound good but I am waiting for more. After this fall, we will know if Brad is right for SLU. How is this Kool-Aid? SLU has already addressed my 2 biggest concerns with the program: AD (Woolard literally destroyed this program - but that is another post) and the facilities/control over scheduling/home court advantage. Now, CL need to clean house in the SID office and get SLU a good TV/radio package. Brad need to complete this 2007 class over the next month and land some kids this fall. If Brad comes thru, these posts will become a distant memory. If Brad does not, let him go. With the new arena built, new TV/radio contracts in place, additional changes made by CL "behind the scenes" in place, will not SLU be in a better position to bring in a new HC ? I suggest, to all those who want Brad gone now, that waiting a year would actually be better for SLU.

Welcome to the life of the mid-major. Unlike the bigs, mid-majors don't have the opportunity to play Top 25 frequently. In another post, someone mentioned that SLU has not played a Top 25 team during conference play in several years. In the past we had the ability to pull an upset over at Top 25 team: usually Cincy, Memphis and Louisville and sometimes Marquette and Charlotte. These teams not only helped with RPI, gave us recognition/status but gave us the ability to demonstrate a signature win. How many years did Mizzou get in the NCAA pointing to their win over Kansas who had been ranked #1 or #2. Further, playing in such a conference with other talent and exposure/TV, made it easier to recruit. Who wouldn't want to play the above teams instead of either the A-10 or the Valley teams. Unfortunately, not a reality. Mid-majors cannot lose conference games to Duquesne at home and on the road to St. Bonnie and must win at either XU, UD and/or UMass. Did not happen. As far as 19 wins v. 20 wins, recall that Brad took a gamble and wanted an additional game to get ready for the Texas A & M tourney. Because of conflicts with the Scott, he could not get a date and went Division 2. For all those who downplay facilities as an excuse, that was the difference between 20 and 19 wins this year. Also, along these lines, we should not have played Houston twice this year. Recall that the second time we lost to them and their RPI really didn't help us that much. Again, we will never have to play a team like Houston - twice - once we move into our new arena. My point: often it is harder to win 19 in a "piss-poor conference" than in the Big 10. Michigan did not have the scheduling, recruiting and facilities challenges (not excuses) that SLU had. While I cannot speak for all who don't want to fire Brad now, it's not like we like and approve all of his decisions and methods.

My memory is more of Roland being 6'5" or 6'6" and that his outside shot improving each year. Maybe more out of necessity, he played inside at the 4. Always seemed better with his back to the basket. With more help at the 4 and 5, Grawer could have tried him at the 3 but probably not at the 1 or 2. Monroe, as I recall, was 6'4", and had trouble at the 1. Could play some but better when someone else could take the load. As far a production on the floor, recall frequent radio discussions explaining trouble with his girlfriend as the reason. Those were some some fun times.

Thanks for the post. Can't recall a 6'7" guard at SLU. Recall the last game when we had trouble with pressure by the tall GW guards. Maybe this is a step in the right direction. The write-up leads me to believe he will be good for SLU. Then, again, after reading this Board, he is not from St. Louis - not even from mid-Missouri and SLU72 has already called him a "role" player. Sure hope we get anymore guys like this.

Agree that this SLU team needed help at every position. Would have been nice to have played 8 instead of 7 deep. At the same time, I agree with Lou, Stemler would have provided little help to IV.

Now this has turned into a gossip page. You have no support for these serious charges. You have no idea why Brad wasn't there. Conveniently, it fits into your agenda. If Brad is after 10 guys, he could have 9 other places to be. Earl Austin does not.

We are also only a tenant and not the owner of the Scott.

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.