CMA

As I understand his situation, qualifying MAY be an issue, by that I mean the NCAA minimum

Nate, I think a Creighton asst was there as well (I know,easily confused but a different Blue Jay) I didn't see anyone from the MU or SLU staffs (but the SLU players as noted in my other post) Mike Anderson and his wife as well as two SLU assts were at last week's St Chas / Washington game, but you were as well. Why no story last week in the PD on Gene Bartow coming back to the Lou?

lots of "talent" at the game as well... both Lisch and Lidell were sitting in the stands in the north end. Standing there was Eagles teammate Torres Roundtree, and also about half of the Zumwalt West BB team including Ron Waller and Gavin Weis (sp?)the latter being a kid SLU should keep tabs on.... and of course Earl Austin who no doubt morphed in some fashion to allow him to cover the DeSmet Hazelwood Central game as well (let no game go unwatched quoth the Earl!) I have seen Suggs play better as well Torch, but the kid is really talented, ... a very smooth, effortless style, that will allow him to get to the rim at the next level, imo. A little like Hughes was in HS, but certainly a better jump shot than Larry had as a junior. Or to go back, Julian Winfield, but a much better shooter Both kids are going to play at the next level... but if I had to choose I'd take Suggs hands down

Wow, a little testy today gentlemen? I will freely admit I am not a died in the wool Billiken fan, although I have followed the program since the 60's. My passion lies with another program, but I am interested in the Bills. How's that for my cred? A couple of thoughts........ First, Roundtree is not going to play for the Eagles this year with Suggs and Kramer. He wants to play against them; Roundtree is a very good player that was attracting interest from lots of BCS programs, Lowery understood he had to move fast Illinois, MU and OU were showing interest among others; It is my understanding he was offered by the Bills as has L. Powell From what he told "another" school's coaching staff, he was blown away by Lowery It is my understanding Suggs is down to 2 schools (don't ask, you won't like the answers) It is also my understanding SLU is on to a number of mid sized wing players at the JUCO level that CAN be had, as well as a wider range of HS players. SLU is active with their recruting.(E Austin and 2 SLU assts were at Sugg's game last Fri as was Mike Anderson and his wife) I understand, based on prior years recruiting, this can be dumped on Brad, but these are kids; and it is difficult to come up with a "formula" that recruits sucessfully every time. Torres simply clicked with Chris. and kids change their minds

> > >Rule No.1 : No Sports Bigamy - you have to select one team >in each sport. Unless you live in Utah - you CANNOT root for >two teams at once to hedge your bets, and you CANNOT >unconditionally love two teams at the same time when there's >a remote chance that they might go head to head someday pass the Miller Lite Hey boy's I just can't agree with you here. Gordon was the #2 ranked recruit in the country (Rivals and Scout) This was a verbal (read non binding) commitment. If the Illini want to recruit this calbre of player, they have to stay in touch with the kid and make sure he remains on board... the kid has a right to change his mind Look, I'm not condoning Sampson's recruiting practices, but in this case, he did what he needed to do to get his kid--- and broke no rules, and as far as we know made no untoward claims about the Illini Weber doesn't have to like it (or him), but I would bet Weber and his staff had a little sit down afterward to figure out what went wrong and how to make sure it doesn't happen again. One more thing; your comment about Stemmler and all his IU recruits is a little off base. Let me give you an example of what I mean. The Robertson family is one of the finest around. Ryan was surrounded by good people who care and would not tolerate unethical or illegal recruiting practices. Yet today KU is on probation, in part for cash payments made by boosters both to recruits and graduating players -- some made during Ryan's era. In no way do I think he was involved, yet certainly others were (according to the NCAA) Now, would you lump him in and consider EVERY Roy William's recruit corrupt? Of course not. What happened at OU under Sampson has no bearing on Stemmler... and believe me I am no lover of IU, OU or Sampson. Now, if you are aware of specifc recruiting violations......

>"Matt Lawrence....to become a terrific 3 point threat >and play sound defense in the Big 12, I feel there is hope >that Maguire might be able to have similar results in the >A10 next year." I think Maguire will be a pleasant surprise in the future. Poor defense now... because is plays "up" and doesn't move his feet well (he will never be quick), imho...but that's not unusual for most freshman at ANY school. Not a lot of minutes to date (because of the above, which in turn prolongs the above) BS doesn't have the luxury of finding certain times for him. Better recruiting LAST year would have provided a better bench THIS year.. and his defiencies would not be as glaring. (imo)

>And that still doesn't matter. RPI isn't a be all end all. >If it were Florida wouldn't get anywhere near a 1 seed. And >so on...and I will be expecting a top handful seed for SIU. >...because the RPI is such a be all end all. Courtside, I agree RPI is not an absolute measure, it is a relative measure, and based on the trends below, it is not a favorable comparison; they are moving in opposite directions RPI Rank by Conference Year MVC A10 1999 8 10 2000 11 9 2001 12 9 2002 14 9 2003 12 9 2004 11 8 2005 8 15 2006 6 11 2007 5 10

honest and fair as his usually is... he columns are good reads, whether you agree or not with his viewpoint. Certainly he will change his mind at times, why wouldn't he, the story changes

The last 3 coaches have recruited in clumps.. some good years, some not so good. Romar and Spoon have had success recruiting before or after SLU, so just making a change in coaches may not guaranty success. Regardless if BS stays or the admin decides to make a change ( which would NOT be to an established D 1 coach IMO ) a number of issues need to be addressed, outside of academics, facilities and the other excuses real or imagined. For instance; salaries; both for coaches & assistants, are they in line with the programs SLU aspires to match? If not will they?; recruiting budgets; see above; recruiting approach (if BS stays) Is the staff in place to identify AND recruit (read that as close)the kind of recruit to suceed in the program or are all better developers of players as opposed to recruiters? Imho, the admin would be well served to look for an asst. (like Brian Gregory, who was an established recruiter for MSU)... and support him, IF they decide a change is in order. Of course, the coach must recognize the goal of the AD and the approach. Amaker and Snyder have many flaws, not the least of which was trying to sculpt their recruiting in the image of Duke. No coach (asst or HC) will leave a program if he doesn't KNOW he will suceed. The ducks gotta be in a row... and if a school takes the "cheap" approach they will never come or leave as soon as they have some success. Again, just my opinion.............

excluding the so called "big name" recruits from the state (Grimes, Hansborough, Steven Hill) as well as less well known but highly recruited guys ( like Tolliver now at Creighton), there are still a number of servicable D1 forwards from this "area". By my count, over the last 3 classes, there are 24 forwards, that have or are currently playing at the D1 level... that went to HS within a 250 mile radius of St. Louis (excludes Chicago, Indy, and KC)... and that excludes the guys listed abovet Warching SIU and Creighton last night, two teams that have 7 kids from what should be the SLU recruiting area (Tollivar, Watts, Boyle, Foster, Shaw, Tatum, Falker); 6 forwards, 1 guard

For criminy sakes...he's >getting paid to have the freaking answers. Is he in waaaaay >over his head???? This the coach's frustration over yet again a poor defensive effort. (and sound the same as comments by Mark Turgeon this week after WSU's 6th loss in 7 games, this time to Ill St) He plays DM to get offense, but the kid, just cannot guard in a man to man, if you noted the consecutive penetrations off the dribble in the first half. Same with Johnson, lack of athleticism inhibits him defensively. IMO the problem, on defense, is with the established guys (save Meyer) just not enough passion to play D - lots of road games ahead, UMass, Dayton, and the X are ahead