Clock_Tower

Again, the worst part of S2, according to my source, is that the paid, independent, expert law firm that inexplicably had their findings delayed for months throughout the season, then their findings and results which favored the players and the team and were made known to Coach Ford and his coaching staff who was told the boys would return that season but then SLU chose send Coach Ford a curveball and chose not to follow these findings and recommendations and expelled the kids long after recruiting deadlines. It’s very simple, if kids act inappropriately, are knuckleheads, are bad students or bad teammates then you cut your losses and move on. Coach Ford was not given the opportunity to cut his losses and move on. The news broke public prior the start of school in August. By November signing., Coach Ford knew or should have known to cut losses i. November but was told the opposite and S2 then affected two years. At the time I said this would be used against Coach Ford and him taking longer than some expected to turn our program around.

Taj. Assuming your source is 100% correct, and others have suggested it is not, the key is the intent of RM. Did he want a short term loyal trusted coach to maintain and be the caretaker of the program as constructed or did he truly think he was dying, not coming back and that RM thought Crews would be an excellent guy to lead SLU forward. I believe the former. And without more from your source, your statement that we all know that RM did not come back proves your point.

Yes. I like Taj but BLUF that may be his worst post in quite a while. Complete ignoring of the facts and circumstances. Goodwin and French were his first recruits and their opportunity as juniors were taken away from them after a great season. In fact, Goodwin has finished only one season, being his sophomore season, and we were dancing. Now, they are both trying to regain form after both recovering from, and having to sit out for a month while your competition continues to compete, COVID and a global pandemic. Terrible post And Dayton should get no credit at all for last season because the A10 tourney and NCAA tourney were canceled? Last year did not happen? Last year was a failing year for everyone because no one won a conference tournament and no one made the NCAA tournament? What a disappointing year for Dayton and SLU. They did not even make the NCAA tournament!!

Yes you may be right. At the same time, there are only five basketball players on the floor at a given time. And yes each have their own roles to fail which are much different. No comparison between a point guard and a center. With that said, this is not football, volleyball or these other sports world are you do is one thing.When one guy can only pass and dribble... and the next guy can only shoot within 5 feet of the hoop ... and the next guy can only shoot from the outside ... It becomes quite difficult to put a cohesive and successful team together.

Yes. Kwamain Mitchell was one of our best. And quite good as a Frosh too. When he penetrated the lane, he could finish or pass the ball. Unselfish but a scorer. By contrast, I see Yuri penetrating and passing but not finishing. Believe teams are sagging off him, guarding the pass and daring Yuri to finish. And KM could also keep the defenses honest by hitting a three pointer if left alone. When Marquis Perry’s outside shot started to drop, he became much more difficult to guard. I will be watching Yuri closer going forward. When his game is on, Team Blue is on.

Agreed

Alot of talk about player choices and performance... 1. What if its true that some were affected by COVID more than others? 2. Not saying Goodwin and French don’t deserve criticism and more time on the bench, Perkins had been very disappointing and Yuri doesn’t look like he used to. 3. And shouldnt we figure out our core players before we worry about playing the whole roster? Meaning playing Hargrove? Not practicing and not playing games for so long - while your competition is at the top of their game is not fair, not normal... No doubt in my mind that Hargrove not getting a chance to shine is due to this unusual year.

Yes. Everything you suggest. Has French is a great player and I’m glad he is on our team. With that said three additional comments: 1. French is one dimensional. He cannot shoot beyond 5 foot and fouling him works in that most middle school kids shoot better than him from the FT line. 2. French is also unknown commodity - especially in the A10. Other teams have scouted him for years and know his weaknesses. Other players and good coaches like Mark Schmidt can exploit him. 3. French is strong and talented but probably only 6’6” tall and already at a disadvantage. Mark Schmidt is a great coach. He reminds me of Charlie Spoonhour. some great athletes but not a full roster. Won with less talent. Disciplined teams who worked the clock and exploited matchups. If a program plays their (Spoon and Schmidt) game, their style, their tempo, they will win more often than not. The way you beat those programs is exactly what we did yesterday - use your superior and deeper talent to overwhelm them.

First of all, excellent observations by Dr. Kelsey Second, I will not post in the game thread the day after the game in that all of us are Billiken fans and emotions get to the best of us but I ask the simple question: does coach Ford get any credit when good things happen or only blame when bad things happen? We did win a huge, must win game yesterday after sitting out with COVID for so long Third, whether Doc is correct or not about a heart to heart conversation, the facts are the facts. Goodwin and French both sat for a long period of time when the game was on the line in the second half and others were given the opportunity to step up. Fourth, if our Billikens needed time to get the rust knocked off after sitting for a month while UD and LaSalle kept practicing/playing, improved, came together and were playing in midseason form, why is Coach Ford a bad coach for sticking with his Seniors who have carried this team now for a long time? Sounds more like a discussion about how long you stick with your horses. LaSalle game was brutal. But this game, Goodwin came out and had a great first half and carried our team again. Perkins did not but most likely we lose yesterday’s game without the play of Perkins in the second half with whom Coach Ford was patient as well as with French and Goodwin whom Coach Ford was not. Fifth, does Coach Ford deserve any credit for having a halftime talk with Goodwin which changed his behavior and for changing his lineups in the second half? Seems to me Ford’s second half decisions worked Sixth, the momentum was all St. Bonaventure at the end of the first half and yet we made changes i. The second half and won by a comfortable margin without French and Goodwin leading the way. Is this proof that coach Ford was outcoached again yesterday?

So will we finally play tonight? Is snow that bad? Team should be fine, and if no or few butts in the seats then what’s the issue?

Cannot help you with Japan... but we bundle with Charter. I am always intrigued at and enjoy the discussions of "cutting the cord" but we have not done so - and I don't that happening either. If we did, then U-Tube TV sounds the best. But our internet regularly gets speeds of 220 to 300 Mbps. With 4 heavy users of bandwidth and consumption of data from working from home, to Netflix, the cellphones and laptops, kids on Zoom during COVID... it has just become the new normal.

Prep school would seem ideal for Russell.

Good yes. Best beer in the world? Will have to say No. Agree with Major M - the best (certainly freshest) beer is found by sampling the local ones on tap... but the taste of those Budvar Budweisers, on tap and in their own glasses, followed closely by the Pilsner Urquels, again on tap, on my way from Germany to Prague is the best I have ever had. Yes, the taste has only gotten better in my mind these past 20 years - both far better than what is lost in bottling and in shipping to the States. On a related note, I love Guinness Stout, another beer favorite of mine, have had some far better than others- freshness, temperature, proper pour, but will have to wait a little longer before tasting a fresh one in Dublin. Again, I hear no comparison.

Cheese I know you’re no longer thinking of Johnny Parker but a quick google search found the prior Johnny Parker - his Dad - by our our KShoe.

Yes. But Make played for Grawer at DeSmet

I don’t recall. Can you elaborate?

Yep. And even UK may be starting to change and improve in football - the problem for them, of course, is their conference rivals — Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Georgia which remain at the top and other schools which may be back on the uptick - Tennessee, Ole Miss, Florida, South Carolina, A&M and Mizzou. Brutal.

No it wouldn’t. His son is his own man and can make his own decisions. Alot of pressure to follow a parent. Different times. Different circumstances. And Larry St came to SLU as a group with his fellow Eagles and to stay home with his sick/late brother. No doubt Justin Tatum encourages locals to play for SLU even though his son did not choose SLU and no doubt Larry Sr will always encourage locals to stay in STL regardless of what his his son chooses.

Yeah. We still have cable. I know we overpay - but we have over 200 Mbps for internet. For those with UTTV, how fast is your Internet and what do you use?

Curious how much $ the contract break penatly would be. Cell phone companies often/used to offer to pay these fees in order to have a new customer.

So you can go back to cable? Sounds like you might have to do that.

Jim Calhoun was a once-in-a-lifetime hire. There is nothing unique or special about UConn and it’s sports/basketball program. Rejoin the Big East and no guarantee. They can become the next DePaul or if they hire another top flight Coach - become the old UConn or Villanova. Easier said than done. Ling dry spell between Rollie Massimino and Jay Wright. Tough to relive prior glory - see St John, Seton Hall, and GTown. Alot of parity in Big East with X, Butler, Marquette and Syracuse too. The exclusive national/ESPN audience (lucrative $ and national exposure) of the 1980s is not coming back. There are simply not enough once-in-a-lifetime coaches to go around to all the various former powerhouse schools. UNLV has done nothing since Jerry Tarkanian. Indiana has been average in the Big 10 since Knight. Illinois has done nothing since Self. Kansas has remained strong by hiring Self after Roy Williams but blueblood NC was poor/average after Dean Smith until Roy arrived. Temple has been average since John Cheney. Eddie Sutton, Billy Giilispe and Tuby Smith were real drop offs from Rupp, Pitino and Calipari. It’s the coach - not the program even though winning tradition, conference affiliation and money help making the hiring process easier. Just not enough truly great coaches.

I still remember he non-funny commercial break/half-time insults to volunteers/participants trying to "win" free oil changes from Jim Trenary under the St. Charles water tower or a case of water from Shop N Save - yes these examples show my age...

No. Explain why you are against me wishIng Levi well. Different than if we should have signed him ahead of Okoro and/or Linssen. You have something against Vashon players? Urban kids? Yes. Disgusting. No place on this Board for such actions.

Simple. Don’t read. I dont read your posts either.