Adman

I’m a big fan of marketing. But it starts with product. We don’t have that. The reason Spoonball worked - and we averaged 16,000 butts in seats - was that we had an underlying product. If we have a winning and exciting product, Robbie can be a star. Just win.

SLU's alumni team is throwing a pre-game party. $30 admission. This was really good last year. Same location. On campus, it overlooks Lake Michigan. Very short walk to the game. I'll be there. https://alumni.slu.edu/s/1264/17/interior.aspx?sid=1264&gid=1&pgid=8724&cid=13962&ecid=13962&crid=0&calpgid=413&calcid=8723

McCottry is gonna lose this game for us if Schertz doesn’t sit him down.

biggest and best student section i've seen in many years. a 6th man.

Hey, another good piece of SLU content from Ben Hochman of the P-D yesterday. I must have missed it. Maybe Stu Durando's "Stu on SLU" substack is pushing the P-D to creating more content. Either way, good on the P-D. https://www.stltoday.com/sports/column/benjamin-hochman/hochman-what-me-worry-slu-hoops-now-seems-tough-with-a-healthy-robbie-avila/article_a7009068-c972-11ef-990d-4b4da4a0dd9f.html Now let's win Wednesday and create some real excitement.

Nice new video from the Post-Dispatch sports editor: https://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/slu/ten-hochman-like-cardinals-slu-basketball-rocks-the-lou-uniforms-looks-good-in-big-win/video_c5c238b5-260c-5299-9c7c-e31d1e3a57db.html?utm_source=stltoday.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletter-templates%2Flocal%2Fbenjamin-hochman&utm_medium=cio&lctg=fef30700a3ba01a4ba01&tn_email_eh1=76c7e0078b09f27515e5ae3d638417f90863c2c2b511ca00cdfa45b152e03ff4

Roy, I don’t have the quote handy. But Schertz was very clear in the post-game interview that while he wasn’t happy with his play in those last 9 seconds (and immediately talked to him about it at the end of the half,) that WASN’T the reason he didn’t play in the second half. Schertz said he didn’t play in the second half because he needed a better defensive player to counter UMass-Lowell’s crazy-good shooting.

Spoke to LH Sr at the USF game Thursday. He sort-of pooh-poohed LH Jr’s injury. Said he fell on his tailbone in practice the day before and would be fine soon. I can’t imagine him playing vs Chicago State, but should be back after.

See you there!

I have 2 tickets for tonight’s game. Section 104 near center court. Let me know.

Excellent!

Agree and disagree. Yes in post-season success/NCAA units. But in terms of basketball budgets and now in NIL budgets, they’re right in the middle - not the bottom. They just need to win.

Hah! Sedona!

I'll be there... after a quick trip to Sonoma.

Steve, it looks like the “view counter” may not be working on threads. On the Day in the Life of Kellen Thames thread, it shows 0 views. I’ve viewed that thread 3 times myself. I’m viewing it on mobile.

Swope totally lighting it up. From everywhere.

I agree with this and should point out that in addition, there are already multiple members of the current BOT that would fit that bill.

Willie, most of what I mentioned were commonly known things and educated guesses. And some intelligence. It is commonly known that SLU has been in touch with the Beast. This, I gather, has been a reasonably ongoing discussion. How often, how recent? Not sure. The Beast themselves recently announced they'd been in touch with various schools and decided not to expand at this time due to possible expansion candidates lacking in various criteria they'd established. This shouldn't be news. As to whether the Beast could sign a TV contract with the network(s) in the next month without a final agreement on the schools, that's my opinion based on experience in the advertising/media industry. There are always ways to cut a deal as the many lawyers on this board can attest. I have no list from the Beast nor do I know that one exists. That said, in the discussions SLU has had, it would be preposterous that the Beast hasn't been clear as to why we haven't measured up. This is educated guess... common sense. They know us. We know them. It's common courtesy. They know our facilities match up -- and in some ways likely better -- than many of theirs. They know our basketball budgets are in the middle of Beast budgets. We pay well for head coaches. They know our educational institution matches most of theirs. Catholic. Jesuit. They know our endowment is quite excellent. We're in a good TV market with a history of supporting our pro teams as well as the Bills. Don't forget: the Bills were #4 in the country in average attendance during some of the Spoon years. No NBA team. Our women's bball and both soccer teams compete at high levels. All good. We'd help create a Midwest branch of the Beast. Where don't we match up? (The "list" I mention.) Again, I'm not sure there is a list. But it should be no secret to anyone on this board what it would contain. Lack of NCAA appearances and the "units" that pay significant revenue into the Beast. We don't win when it matters. Every discussion I've ever heard from SLU officials on this topic starts and ends with "... we just gotta win." Lack of being an "important" program in the eyes of the national press, member schools and their fans. SLU has also been slow to NIL. That's no secret. Our budget for this in 2023-24 was nowhere close to the Beast. I would be shocked if that wasn't part of Beast discussions. We must compete for players. There's no way we could hang in the Beast without funding NIL. My information is that SLU's plan IS to compete at Beast NIL funding levels. Do you think we just recruited Robbie Avila and an almost entirely new roster this year on a relatively tiny NIL budget?? Absolutely not. I have no idea what any of them are being paid. But it's clear we're competing -- if not at Beast levels yet -- well on our way. And if I'm right, SLU is already beginning to change things - as we all know. We're making all kinds of national press waves with Schertz' hiring and Avila's signing. We're showing up in multiple pre-season polls. A real merchandising program. We're recruiting on a much higher level. We're competing. And I'm very optimistic. Now we just gotta win. Sooner better than later.

Brian, not sure the timing is accurate. While the deal may be signed in the short term (for 25-26,) it is possible the Beast does not need to be specific as to teams they must add at that time. There may be a clause allowing them to add schools at a later date from a larger list of possible schools (subject to FOX and other network approval.) If that's not the situation, then the game's already over. We know the Beast has said we "have to win." That hasn't happened and it won't by the end of July. I tend to believe the Beast has had significant discussions with our AD and given us a list of things we must accomplish to be considered. One of them is NIL funding and we're already well on our way to the thick of Beast NIL spending. Getting off to a great start in 24-25 would be another. Top 25 ranking would be another. Lots of good national press, too. We'll see. The clock is indeed ticking.

FYI, Ernie Hayes played Billiken games in the 70s and 80s, too.

Not sure anyone is repping them. But their ad agency is Paradowski in Webster Groves. Nichole Carpenter is PH's Director of Mktg. She used to be in charge of brand partnerships at Whole Foods. What about a brand partnership concept with Tatum and Avila?

We have the money. No worries.

Welcome, Amari!

Have no idea if this is it, but Sanford Pentagon has an event listed for Iowa Hawkeyes Men’s Basketball on December 21. No opponent announced.

This should also help in recruiting right away. A chance to play with Robbie? Gold.