Billfan78

Would Havoc consistently work at the highest echelons of college basketball? It seems like the best teams could pick it apart and get easy layups - same reason why pro teams dont press.

I have been reading this board since I went to school at SLU -- almost 20 years -- and I think you have been posting that whole time. I never remember you having such a sarcastically negative disposition until this year. Why do you have such a bug up your ass and why do you feel the need to call out anybody that posts positive feelings for this team? I am interested in you answer. The guy is optimistic -- he thinks we will win 20 games somehow. Why does it matter how? Are you keeping score? Let me assure you that only a crazy person would keep score of what people say on a message board and then post a long manifesto how everyone was wrong and they were right.

I am not getting my hopes up for Hardnett. He mentions schools recruiting him all the time on twitter and has not mentioned SLU at all that I can tell.

Is slufan13 EpicFailGuy on the A10 board?

Florida went to the Elite 8 during Beal's one season. He was the only NBA player on that team.

Is Old Guy for real or is he just with us? I can never figure it out.

In hindsight, Bonwich was speaking the truth.

Gillmann is a big *****. Sorry but its the truth. Dude must get tougher.

As for GiIlmann, I don't think his lack of playing time was by design. He was just horrible on both sides of the floor. He threw at least 4 atrocious passes that went for turnovers and couldn't guard the post. I agree that Jolly played tough.

I enjoy reading the weekly missive. However, I must say that you have to expect much discord when you post such a blunt and sanctimonious ramble on a messageboard. I have read the board forever and always thought you would make a fine talk radio type given your belief in your opinions. Could the inbounds heave be due to JCs desire to form habits? Why work on an inbounds play if we dont have full grasp of the offense -- lets just get into the offense and work on that. It maybe that and he doesn't think inbounds plays make much of a difference much like he doesnt think Much of having players try to rebound our own free throws. I thought I also read or heard JC say that he wants players other than the pg to bring the ball up as it puts pressure on the defense. MY just needs to learn that he cant dribble into trouble and back off when need be. Hes a freshman he has time.

Do you not agree??

Cassity played a lot... 2010-11 SLU 31.5 3.1-7.2 .428 1.4-4.1 .328 0.9-1.3 .683 2.3 3.4 0.1 1.0 1.7 1.4 8.4 As I remember, McCall and Jett had to play a lot so SLU could score. No Kwamain or Willie and Conklin was very very far from what he became his senior year. Conklins improvement give me hope for Agbeko.

+100

Freshmen...

Has any player since Hughes did what he did? A very high recruit (top 10) choosing the smaller hometown school over basketball powerhouse? I cannot think of anyone.

Barring a miracle, the NCAA and NIT are not gonna happen. Does anyone believe the CBI and/or the other 3rd tier tournament are a real possibility? Seems like a longshot. We would almost certainly need to finish with a record above .500 to have a chance for the 3rd tier tournaments and our RPI will still be very low.

On the band, has anybody noticed that the sound arrangement has been off lately? One game the bass is really loud (and completely off key - like playing a different song from everyone else off key) and the next the trombones are loud and the next the flutes. Something is up with the levels or the mics. After years of it being flawless, this year something is off IMHO. Although, last night I thought everything sounded great.

The McBroom quote is nothing. Worst thing he said in that blog: Anthony Bennett is playing terrific basketball. What is he watching..

I don't think Crews handles substitutions (like most head coaches) unless he wants a guy yanked immediately for bad play. Seems to be Tanner's job.

Not often but we took what the defense gave us. A zone is going to allow for open 3's.

I hope MY's ability to find the open man from the post continues - should allow for a lot of open shots for AY, AM, MC, etc... Also, many of those passes were very athletic plays - it is something we did not have last year. Dwayne was very good but sometimes robotic and never a willing passer from the post. A team total of 17 assists is great. Maybe this should get its own thread but I have a beef with SLU MBB. Why can't our AD post a highlight package of a game and the press conference within a few hours of said game's finish (especially home games)? It seems most other program do this for all games and it would only be a boon for the program.

Earl Austin Jr.'s story says he received a "medical release" from Mizzou and, as such, maybe able to play this year. Does anyone know what that is about? Is he truly a headcase?

I think many of these problems come down to a team needing time to gel. Everyone wants results now (including me). Look at Miami's first year with the Big 3 and Cleveland this year -- it took them 15-20 games or so to hit their stride - and these were the best players on the planet. Here we have 12 guys who are far from the best players on the planet and who have never played together as a unit. Even the upperclassmen never played "together" - they were small bit role players last year. It is going to take a lot of time and repetition before they become a TEAM. Remember the freshman just started learning our schemes 2-3 months ago. The coaches and players are trying to figure out players roles but, again, this takes time and 9 games is not a lot of time in the grand scheme of a program that is dominated by freshman and sophomores. If there is no improvement by February (not saying we will win 10 in a row here - just play a more consistent game on both ends), I will be concerned about development but right now we just need to relax, be patient and ride it out. My expectations are a .500 or slightly better team this year, NITish next and really good again in this year's Frosh Junior year. Now my humble thoughts on your concerns: 1. Unfortunately, I don't think AM is going to ever be a traditional team first pg no matter who coaches him. He is a high usage player and IMO his best role would be instant offense off the bench a la Vinnie "Microwave" Johnson/Dion Waiters/etc... It's possible he returns to this role by conference play if one of MB/DR/MR gains the confidence of the staff to run the team. 2. For reasons unknown, things didn't work out for Ash at Villanova. Perhaps it was his inability to finish b/c he struggles at the rim. I thought JC was speaking of him in that recent press conference when he stated they have guys going to the rim looking down when they shoot (could also be MR) -- Ash always seems to be looking down. 3. JM is JM. If he looked better to you last year it is because he had more experienced players surrounding him. 4. GG might be injured for the year. Who knows? 5. RA has shown some ability and improvement - he definitely puts forth effort. MC's defense isn't great yet and until it improves it will be tough to get minutes. TL is a complete anomaly and someone who I hope the staff works with to re-instill confidence (if they haven't given up on him) - he looks frightened of his own shadow when he has the ball - needs to wake up and start playing with purpose not fear. 6. I have thought the freshman bigs have looked good this year for freshman bigs in their first 9 games. They are not Anthony Davis good but I think we knew coming in they were not going to be dominant - they have to get stronger and learn the system.

+1 gagillion. Take a deep breath and RELAX. Expect there to be a lot of big ugly bumps in the road with such a young and inexperienced team