Adman

Thanks for the link. Wow. I think that’s the most bullish prognostication for any Billiken squad in my lifetime. Let’s go!

and by the way, wasn't aware Wide World of Sports will be ready to open in the next month. they are still closed due to covid-19. good info.

Brian! Sorry, didn't see your post when typing mine.

It'll be a tough decision for Disney to remain closed. The Thanksgiving holiday begins a very big holiday season for them through Christmas into the New Year. Secondly, staying closed could be a quadruple whammy for them: the entire tournament is a Disney production. The venue -- ESPN Wide World of Sports -- is a division of Disney. The tourney producer ("organizer" as you say) is ESPN EVENTS, also a division of Disney as is, of course, the broadcaster, ESPN. So cancelling would cause WWS and producer to lose the multi-day event, ancillary events, Downtown Disney, sponsorship fees, etc., ESPN to lose $millions in advertising, and Disney would of course lose the travel packages to Disney Resorts and Theme Parks. Disney will ultimately make the right overall decision for its business. But if they decide to keep the Parks and WWS closed, and as long as winter sports are a "go" from the NCAA, there are two big reasons they will be considering other options: Money. Even without WWS, theme park revenue (and corporate umbrella marketing messaging,) there's big money to be made here via event production, corporate sponsorship and broadcast advertising. Disney wouldn't leave it on the table. Because the travel biz is in a huge world of hurt, other destination-type cities and venues will be lining up outside ESPN's doors with open checkbooks. Might be less expensive to produce, helping cover some of the lost Disney venue revenue. Money again! ESPN EVENTS could still produce the tourney, and the worldwide leader in sports would still have it on its air with their paying sponsors in tow. Who knows, maybe Disney's travel agency would stay in mix to take a piece of travel packages. It would be disappointment for these Disney subsidiaries to be booking non-Disney properties / venues, but still plenty of money for them to move it - all else equal.

This is obviously good news. It was also not surprising. A hearing of this by the Supreme Court was an extreme long shot for multiple reasons, not the least of which was the Supreme’s rejection (at same time of Kroenke’s appeal) of an immediate stay Kroenke also requested. It was a harbinger of what was announced today. I was hoping for a trial late this year - and was getting popcorn ready for nightly pre-trial coverage on ESPN, etc. But turns out trial date is another year away — October, 2021. For anyone interested in the complete schedule/deadlines for discovery, witness lists, various motions, etc., here it is: https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/86/98652d1a-1c04-5723-8473-5f8cd80d8920/5e9dc59b07c38.pdf.pdf

A+ Right on. And an excellent beat writer would also be providing more context -- way more than a single sentence -- on the upside this may allow in Ford's recruiting. But getting actual recruiting reporting? Never see it. The real "news" is not Hankton's leaving. It's what his leaving sets in motion. Sad that it was missed. And only reported here.

Besides being #1 in A-10 on this list, also great there are only two Big East teams ahead of us: Villanova (#2) and Creighton (#7). What, no Hall? Marquette? Butler? Gtown?

Right you are. Meant to add that myself!

Seems really bizarre that in NBC Sports' bubble watch review of the A10 this evening, they include Rhode Island with a NET of 57, but don't mention SLU with a NET of 49. So if Rhody can't get an at-large without a victory over Dayton, apparently the Billikens don't even have that hope. These guys are asleep. https://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2020/03/08/ncaa-tournament-bubble-watch-northern-iowa/

Yes, with parents. Seemed to be enjoying the game throughout. Stayed through conclusion of post-game Senior Night festivities.

Yes, shot looked a bit funny, but he did have good pull up jumper - to 15’ or so - which helped in keeping defenses from over-playing drive to basket.

Clock, absolutely correct. I'll go one further. The biggest problem with the Crews hire is that it violated one of the University's two key strategies in the building of a Top 50 program: a top-flight coach. This is all about recruiting. Kids want to come play for high-level coaches. I know nothing about the behind-the-scenes deliberations on this. But Rick Majerus vs Jim Crews? No one would describe Jim Crews as a top-flight coach in any imaginable metric... nor find him comparable in most any way to Majerus. And said in most basic way, if you asked 100 top recruits if they'd rather come play for Rick Majerus or Jim Crews, how many would you guess would say Crews? There's your answer. As you say, end of story.

Agree. Just need the Bills to make teams pay dearly for it.

You know the book is out when Has only attempted a grand total of 3 shots in 35 minutes yesterday vs Fordham.

Of all the missed calls last night, the almost carte blanche the officials gave Toppin all night on moving screens was disgusting. He looked like an offensive tackle clearing out the key. Only one whistle. Could have been called a couple dozen times.