kmbilliken

This isn't a big enough spotlight for him. Its clear he could care less about the local media and local opinion. I listened to his one show with Bob Ramsey and his attitude sucked. He clearly couldn't be bothered with a local show and made no bones about it. Then to leave halfway through and put on the director of basketball operations as his standin was a slap in the face to Ramsey and the program. He's got four assistants that could have filled in. You don't need to be there, just phone in. He could do it, he just won't be bothered. I think he's a lonely man with a big ego and needs the national spotlight to fill his void. Now that he's had the job for 3 years he can see its not coming here. Sure he can build us into a top A10 contender and make the big dance every two or three years. To us that would be success, but thats not going to draw the big spotlight. This guy has an ego. He thinks he can turn DePaul into a top Big East team and he probably can. He can recruit Chicago and nationally. Look at the roster he's pieced together here selling a program with little tradition(no one else besides SLU fans think we have tradition), moderate local support, in a city that doesn't produce much top flight talent for its size and a middle of the road conference. Think of the players he could get selling Chicago, the Big East and a recognizable name like DePaul. He could get them to the top and the national spotlight would be back on him. When that's not on him the Chicago spotlight would be and thats a lot brighter spotlight than the one in St. Louis. If he brought them back he could be the toast of Chicago, which is a lot bigger than being the toast of St. Louis. He'd be living on the gold coast, not at the Chase. I think he wants the DePaul job. The question is, does DePaul want him?

I've got to think DePaul will take notice of this. Here's a guy from St. Louis who just stole a potential Chicago POY from under their noses and has no problem getting pub to promote his team on the the biggest radio station in town. Depaul is a team that could win big time if it could keep half the best players home. If I'm their AD I'd want to talk to him. The question is, will RM want to talk to them? I think he does. He's not stupid. He knows this will piss off Biondi and the local media, but he doesn't care. Maybe he got his buddy to give him a little air time to get DePaul to take notice and ask permission to talk to him? I didn't think he would want that job, but this makes me wonder. Its awfully coincidental.

Those attendance figures are bad. Only 3 teams average 6000 a game. Temple is less than 6000 when they're a top 25 team. Do most of these schools have small arenas or is it just lack of interest?

This is the first promising season since IV's junior year when he came into his own and I thought he might lead us to tournament. The thing that impresses me most about our team is its tenacity. These road games will put that to the test and let us know if this is still a rebuilding year or these guys are going to the postseason. 3 out of 5 and would be great. 2 out of 5 would be disappointing, but not a killer.

We didn't decide to leaves CUSA, we were shown the door along with UNCC because we were nonfootball schools. If we can get UD and X allied with us in a search for a new conference, then maybe it could be done. If we're on our own, the only viable move would be the MVC.

Spoon also had a commitment from Marquis Perry when he left. Romar had to resael the deal, but Spoon was the one who got him to sign on the dotted line.

Coaches don't last forever. I think Spoon was a success. Romar was a push. Grawer saved the program, then we screwed him. Soderberg was a mistake.

I wouldn't worry until someone with credibility says he's considering the job. Slaten is just a flamer. If there's no news, he'll make it up just to get some controversy going. That's how he gets ratings. I think that's exactly what he did here. There's an opening at DePaul. RM looks like he's got it going at SLU. Why not say Majerus is talking to DePaul? How can he be proven wrong? Coaches and schools deny mutual interest all the time until the deals are done. Slaten can just say of course they'll deny it, but I've got it from a credible souce they're talking. He creates a controversy, gets some ratings and keeps his job. Does anybody think Slaten would be above doing that?

What's Slaten's attitude toward SLU and Majerus now? Is he still pissed we didn't give his kid a scholarship?

I trust RMs judgment on this. I don't see Willie having a shot in the near future. He's been taken out of the game by decent, but not even good or great competition. Until he can assert himself game in, gameout against whoever we play he won't be ready to move on to the next level. Even then it will be questionable unless he puts on 30 pounds of muscle and improves his jump shot. Bonner was a dominant player and he only had a marginal NBA career.

KC is far ahead of where Chris Sloan was offensively at this point in his career. Chris was a 0 offensively his first year and a little better his second year. If KC makes the same progress we'll be talking about how are we going to replace him after his senior year. If he would stop passing up open shots, which it appears he has, I've got no problem with his play. He's shown he can shoot. If he takes the shots the offense gives him and drives when the opportunity arises, he's a real asset.

He really needs to develope a jump too. He has a hook shot, but no jump shot at all. It amazes me how he could get to this level without a jump shot. He's so athletic, I have no doubt he can develope one, but you would think one of his coaches along the way would have made him work on that.

I only recall one possesion where I thought he passed up an open shot, but that closed quickly. I didn't have any problem with his play yesterday.

That monster may grow a fourth head if Smith keeps improving.

Joey Meyer was a good recruiter, but a terrible coach. We always had a chance to beat the more talented DePaul teams thanks to Joey.

I agree. Why not play a zone from time to time just to mix it up and give the other team something else to deal with?

He also seems to have made great strides defensively enabling us to play 3 bigs at a time.

Looks like Smith has earned his way into our top 5. Conklin is still giving us steady play, but Smith has surpassed him with his quickness and nose for the ball. Reed, Smith, Ellis, Mithchell and Cassity are our best 5 now. I thought CS might come out of it today, his first 2 close, but the other two weren't. He's shooting himself out of minutes. JJ just can't quard another quick quard. He's definately a scorer, but his D kills us. Overall though, I can't ever remember having two classes in a row this good. Our sophomores have all improved from their first year and I think this years group will all do the same.

It was an off the backboard pass to Ellis for the slam, to recpricate for CE's fake hook shot alley oop, but CE blew it by not being in position to finish. They'll work it out next game.

If that was a pass, he's got fantastic court vision. I think it was a miss. It looks like his view of Willie was blocked. I don't think it was a set play either. What it does show is how his presence opens things up for Wilie.

That's ridiculous. RM wants to win. If Relphorde was a stud player, he would have played. Lisch and Liddell played. If RM would have thought Relphorde could help him win he would have tried to keep him. RM thought he could help us at power forward, but Relphorde didn't want to go for that, so he left. The other guys obviously weren't good enough to play at this level. I trust RM's eye for talent. Everyone he's brought in has been able to contribute.

Anyone have any insight into the supposed rift that has developed between RM and Biondi over charter flights? I thought that was one of the things RM insisted on when he signed up. That makes me wonder if they let RM order desert on the road or are do they give him the Spoon treatment?

Willie should appreciate the attention other teams will give to CE. That will keep them from focusing just on shutting him down and give him more space.

I ran into RM in December. He was very friendly. He talked about the Bills and how we needed CE because he was a shooter. He offered us tickets for the next game and thanked us for our support.

KM is not a selfish player. His goal is for the team to score. If he were playing with more capable scorers he would have more assists. Up to this point he has been our best scoring option. He recognizes that and takes it on himself to score. For this team to take the next step other players will have to show they can score consistently. If they do, he'll get them scoring opportunities. This isn't on KM, he's doing all he can.