TheChosenOne

Glad I could welcome you to the future haha (stupid typo), anything else you want to know?!?!

I have been posting this the past few weeks, at some point Dandridge needs to make a decision and we need to finalize our roster whether it is with him or someone else. It is July 7th, no reason for him to continue to be holding out on a decision. Does anyone know whether he has the option of returning to Memphis or where even he is currently? It is a bit odd to me how many guys we have added so late in the game with summer workouts and practices ongoing. Are the International kids on campus or will they be joining in the fall? It would be nice to have them on campus this summer with some time to adjust to life in the US and at SLU before school truly begins in the fall.

I was curious about this same thing the other week. I was somewhat forgetting who all we had lined up and couldn't find anywhere that accurately reflected all of our additions this spring/summer.

That is interesting. Also a bit different is that on the other end of it you have guys like Jimerson, Hargrove, and Dagler who will be playing in their 5th season of college basketball (two of those being JUCO for Dagler) and Parker will be playing in his 4th between JUCO and SLU (I know he played at a prep school, but I think that was his normal senior season). Dandridge would be another guy playing in his 5th season of college basketball if he ends up here. Somewhat unique having such a large group of guys playing in their 1st or 2nd season of college basketball paired with some guys who have been at this a long time. I like having that kind of mix assuming we are able to retain these guys.

I am so excited to see Goodwin continue to flourish and on a winning team now! The man put in the work, time to reap the reward. I don't know Jordan, but as a Billiken fan I am so proud of what he has accomplished, and this is just the start.

I like your take on Harriman getting us into the under recruited lnternational market and the other coach being credited with identifying under the radar talent. I think we certainly upgraded our coaching staff. However, not having money to play in NIL is unlikely to put us ahead of any sort of game even if we are seeing it at a potential high point (I have to believe that is the case like you, but I could certainly be wrong as this thing got out of control way faster than I imagined it would). We just seem to be recruiting guys not being as targeted with NIL offers, but it was probably relatively similar even before as the top guys tend to go to the top leagues and programs. The difference is that with NIL there is a factor in the decision making for guys that is more black and white with us seemingly coming up short on. With International players I have more of a belief that they could be flying under the radar since most schools don’t recruit International players nor have the ties like Harriman has. It will be interesting to see whether Ford and crew are able to develop and utilize some of the International talent we are bringing on board. I really do love the idea of targeting International players and ideally the local talent pickups because we will always be able to pull our share of local guys who aren’t like the top 50 type kids.

Torch, I would add the AD took a largely hands off approach from the kick and were ignorant to how NIL was evolving based on conversations I had in DC at the conference tournament in 2022. I was somewhat laughed at and then they got a rude awakening a few weeks later with Yuri entertaining offers, but they again took the approach of Tennessee is dirty, they can’t talk to our player. And then we lost a recruit to Xavier and folks were complaining about them playing dirty. All emphasized to me how clueless SLU was with regards to NIL. It appears not much has changed with a few former players expected to drum up support. I would never give to NIL, so I can’t complain, but it has been interesting to observe as someone who follows SEC athletics rather closely and gets a feel for what high major athletics looks like. I’ll never forget being essentially laughed at in DC and my friend who is an alum of a Big Ten school was like wow, they really have no clue. At that point we both knew a number of folks at Big Ten and SEC schools who had been in meetings with coaches and athletic department folks essentially educating them on NIL.

The idea of back loading NIL deals essentially contingent upon graduation is one of the dumber ideas presented on this board if our intention is to remain relevant in college basketball. If that is what the folks calling the shots are actually doing, good luck. I would imagine the only prospects we would have a shot at beating other programs out for would be grad transfers. No high school recruit with options would agree to that kind of NIL deal.

I agree overall and feel like the coaches have been not so subtly telling us as much. It is somewhat amusing that now the program is focused on team chemistry. Certainly was not a big factor in the past when they took on known risks that have tended to not work out very well, but maybe they have changed course a bit and are putting more value on some of those traits.

This is what I would love to know as the rallying cry from the powers that be this spring was that the season was a success and that we were well positioned to attack the transfer portal (many of us rolled our eyes in the moment, but what else are you going to say I guess). Assuming that was true, I have to imagine most of that money is still waiting to be spent.

I am all for it. I think Mitchell was the only one that stood out as making it a hot take for me haha, but who am I to say when we haven't even seen Medley's freshman season. Similar to Jett and McCall, Medley is stepping onto a roster likely needing him to provide big minutes from day #1 and Jett and McCall had more typical freshman seasons for solid recruits having to play early in their career.

Permission to use that? I would buy a t shirt that says that.

I don’t know what to expect, but if we are looking at proven production, there just isn’t much there. Now, that doesn’t mean folks can’t expect a guy like Parker to take a big step forward or Hughes (I have no clue, I don’t go to practice and candidly didn’t focus much on either guy this past winter) or even Ezewiro assuming he is eligible to play this season. I do think the lack of strength of the league is important to note though, I have a tough time seeing us being anywhere outside of the top half of the league. If you end up being right, the board is getting together at a local bar for that play-in game and I’ll buy your drinks because we will all need it!

Thank you, I had kind of lost track of the rules. Well, that could be interesting then.

Is Ezewiro safe due to the coaching changes at his previous two stops?

Right, calling that an 11 win team without any context is pretty useless. They lost their two best players the day before practice began in the fall. The team was already young to begin with, but to lose their top two returning players (Kwamain averaged 15.9 points, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals, and 3.0 rebounds and Willie 12.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocks as sophomores the season before) at that point killed the season. And then you had the injury issues to other key players basically putting a lot of pressure on freshman to produce. Talk about a promising season blown to sh!t before it even started.

Does Dalger have any eligibility after this season? Played two seasons at Independence Community College (2019-20 and 2020-21), two at Tulsa (2021-22 and 2022-23), and then this upcoming season at SLU.

Now that is a hot take. Those guys were all pretty damn good from the jump. I guess we will see with Medley, but Hughes was nowhere close to those guys in his first season. Kwamain Mitchell - started 31 of 31 games, averaged 32.2 minutes, 11.0 points, 3.6 assists, 1.2 steal, and 3.2 rebounds Mike McCall - started 29 of 31 games, averaged 29.3 minutes, 10.4 points, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 2.1 rebounds - team was dealing with the loss of two starters for the season and numerous injuries likely inflating his stats Jordair Jett - started 10 of 31 games, averaged 24.1 minutes, 7.5 points, 2.4 assists, 1.4 steals, and 3.1 rebounds - team was dealing with the loss of two starters for the season and numerous injuries likely inflating his stats Larry Hughes Jr. - started 1 game (played in 27 of 33), averaged 8.7 minutes, 2.5 points, 0.5 assists, 0.4 steals, and 1.1 rebounds

This would seem to be relevant, Dandridge just lost his starting spot at Memphis.

Haha, that’s fair Roy haha! I just don’t see him as a point guard, I want that to be clear. I liked what he brought as a freshman and will bring to the team going forward, I just don’t see him being the lead guard. And as just a freshman that could certainly change as he continues to work on and improve his game. I personally think too often guys try to play the point who aren’t really point guards and it tends to negatively affect their overall impact on the game.

Is calling SLU “The U” a thing? I would be curious to know what % of former student athletes give as compared to the general alumni base. I really enjoyed my time at SLU, but also don’t see a justification for giving the University money, so I’m not sure what exactly you can draw from any of that data. If I was a billionaire the story would be different I’m sure. I’m not sure many of our basketball alums over the past 25 years are really killing it financially, hopefully Goodwin is on his way to that.

I have a tough time understanding how anyone could feel confident in Hughes playing the point (I can understand folks being confident in him in general, but specifically to running the point). Obviously he can and will certainly improve, but his game has never been that of a lead guard.

No doubt about that. While our facilities were a joke when I was a student manager from 2001-2005, the improvements since then for the basketball program cannot be understated. Certainly huge credit to those who have contributed to those efforts over the past 20 years. One could argue that could factor into some donors potentially being less than enthusiastic about giving money to another endeavor, going to the same well over and over. I personally have a hard time finding a bigger waste of money, but certainly kudos to them.

Your point about SLU not needing to fund football as well as the above are really good and your last question is the one that will likely determine what sort of success we have in this new era of college athletics (basketball specifically). I think one problem SLU runs into is that without football and big time basketball for the most part, the students and alums don't develop that same passion as other college students/alums and likely aren't as aware of what is going on in big time college athletics. Like you demonstrated, the money is there, but are folks willing to direct it towards athletics and NIL specifically. I don't give a dime to SLU directly (with the endowment plus rise of tuition I can't justify it beyond being willing to allow the school to utilize my mug shot in any sort of recruiting literature), so no judgment from me, but that is the reality.

I think programs are finding ways to ensure International athletes are able to benefit from NIL beyond just that scenario which I agree would likely be the cleanest.