TheChosenOne

That is a level better suited for Dustin. The Norse of Northern Kentucky play in the GLVC (Great Lakes Valley Conference). The Norse welcomed James Cripe as a transfer from Dayton a few years back (not sure if anyone else remembers this guy). He will have a chance to play such teams as Bellarmine, Drury, Quincy, UMSL, and Rockhurst. SIU-E was in this conference as well. I wish Dustin the best of luck and I look forward to seeing him when they take on UMSL. It will be interesting to see where the others end up, but that conference in general has some teams that may fit these guys skill level.

What is your position? I have not read all of the posts, but I saw one where you said that your services are used by a lot of basketball programs in the NCAA and was just curious who you are what you do. I saw you live in Austin, I am currently in Las Colinas (Irving), TX and it is definitely one of the most interesting places I have ever been. I feel like Jim Carrey in the Truman Show.

Yeah, I guess it is the same thing, but I thought I would emphasize that these guys were cut and that it was a decision made for them.

Rick did not run these guys off, he flat out cut them. I am excited to see some guys coming in who have some ability and are legitimate D-I players. I just have to believe Rick is going to bring in his guys and make this program relevant. Keeping those guys on would do little to accomplish that. I was hoping a couple of these guys would be kept around for competition purposes though and to kind of balance the classes. If Cotto and Reed do not qualify and we don't add any other post players, things could be interesting next year. Looking at our roster heading into the summer, thank God we don't play in the old C-USA any more.

Pistol, Chaminade has a couple of impressive athletes to look out for. The first would be the manbeast o-lineman Jack Meiners who recently verballed to Mizzou. The other two are Bradley Beal and Brandon Hannah. They both started as freshmen for the baskeball team and Hannah started at receiver on the football field.

That is classic; sounds like a very angry Chaminade student. Coach Lee is a great guy, but not the best coach.

With recruiting being such big news these days and these kids playing against eachother in various tournaments and showcases on a regular basis there is much more comradory among recruits. This has become extremely apparent in football where recruits have become recruiters for their school. For Billiken fans this is the most excited we have been for a recruiting class in a long time, but these kids being excited means nothing to me. My only concern is that these recruits seem to be on this high and won't really be knocked off of it until games start because there won't be many upperclassmen to compete with. The big men won't experience going up against grown men day in and day out until the season starts. Barry is a big dude, but he is so soft. I just am a little concerned about their development. Having Tommie and especially Kevin will be great for the guards coming in though. Femi, Cotto, and Mitchell will see the intensity you have to bring every day when they start going up against Kevin. It is going to be interesting to see how this team comes together in the fall. At least we have capable players from top to bottom. And if a guy doesn't turn out he will be recruited over and shown the door quickly.

I would not be surprised in the least to see Leo Lyons get drafted next season. He has shown enough flashes for me to think there is a chance someone will take a flyer on him in next year's draft. He is 6'9 and athletic and he also has shown some perimeter skills and soft touch within 15. I think DeMarre is too small to play power forward in the NBA and lacks the perimeter skills to play small forward. Neither of these guys would be drafted this year and may not next year either, but I don't think it is overly ridiculous for them to go thru the evaluation process. These guys will both be pros, it is just a matter of where. Going thru the evaluation process and hearing from scouts can only help them as they prepare for a career playing basketball regardless if it is ever in the NBA. I also don't see how the success of the team has anything to do with them putting their name in the draft. Anthony Randolph will be a top 10 pick and his team was terrible. Looking at what the NBA has become, getting shot and being in a rap group can only help these two. If Leo does ever make it in the rap game or the league he would be wise to keep his boi Willy Mo by his side.

I would think it is getting near to decision time for Kramer and Brad. I hope things work out for both of them. Take this for what it is worth; about a month a guy I had lunch with a family who's father and two sons went to DeSmet and are fairly well connected there and they were telling me that Brad Soderberg put his name in the hat for the opening at DeSmet. That position has since been filled, but I found that interesting.

At this point I see nothing wrong with what these two kids are doing. They are taking advantage of a rule that allows them to compete in front of NBA scouts against other NBA caliber prospects and return to school if they do not hear what they want to hear. I find it hard to fault them for taking advantage of this rule. The football players did the same with many of their top juniors having a chance to hear where pro scouts rate them and what they need to improve on. I think it only makes sense. If for whatever reason either of these guys decide to remain in the draft, that is another story. Leo Lyons has performed for about a month of his entire career. DeMarre is a hustle guy and from all accounts a quality kid and teammate. He is not an NBA caliber player though. Ian Vouyoukas did this same thing. I think SLU and Mizzou both got what they wanted in their recruiting classes and it will be fun to see how they turn out. Mizzou got the athletic guards and small forwards who would appear to fit the mold Coach Anderson is looking for and SLU got some sound big men and quality guards who Rick Majerus targeted as guys that would fit his system. From what I have read Mizzou probably has a slightly higher regarded class, but I don't put much stock in that. I think both coaches targeted guys that fit what they are looking to build and got the majority of those guys. Coach Anderson needs to prove that he can win games in the Big 12 now that he has "his" guys. I have given him a break to this point because he has had mostly Quinn recruits and then was hampered with the penalties from the Quinn era, but that break is over for me. Mizzou has a nice group of players returning and a quality group coming in, so I am definitely interested to see how they do. SLU returns two all-conference caliber seniors to go along with a group of fresh faces, so at the least it will be fun to see how the kids perform and develop and mesh with Kevin and Tommie (kind of like the current Cardinals in my opinion). I have had the chance to meet the core of the recruits coming in next year (Mitchell, Thompson, Femi, and Conklin). They are all very quality young men and seem to have a genuine excitement to play together. They may have a bit of an inflated sense of what they will be able to accomplish from the start, but I don't mind that nor do I know much about their ability level. I think all recruits are going to be excited about things to come or they would not have committed to the school they chose so I am not into that cotton candy bulls**t Pistol. For me the majority of these kids are unknowns as far as what they can do on the court, but from what I have read about them they definitely give us reason for optimism. Now I just wait for the recruiting class to all make it on campus. Any news on Reed? Ruben is taking the ACT in the near future? I am assuming that will be his only shot with it being late spring?

Thanks Brian. I think that is a nice hire for them. Now I think one of his first orders of business should be to extend an offer to Kramer Soderberg and after that Kenny Leverette.

A coworker of mine and SMSU alumn stopped by and said that he has heard rumors that Missouri State will be holding a press conference this afternoon to announce the hiring of Cuonzo Martin. I am not sure if there is any validity to this, but thought I might as well spread the rumor.

I think an indoor paintball facility would a phenominal idea. My other thought would be to convert West Pine into an indoor beach like they have in Japan: http://www.impactlab.com/2006/03/02/japans...man-made-beach/

There is a link on the athletic website that says watch, but I do not have access at work so I can't tell you anymore than that.

I just think it is all about how this situation is being handled. If Majerus is sitting these guys down and letting them know that he does not foresee them having any kind of consistent role on this teams and that he respects whatever decision they make and if that decision is to transfer his staff will aid in the process if they want it I have no problem with that. That is being honest with your player and looking out for them. I don't think you ever tell them that they no longer have a spot on the team though. This is relatively major college basketball and I would think the majority of these kids will say coach, thanks for the opportunity I will be transferring to a program where I will have a more significant role. If a kid says coach, I really enjoy being a part of this program and attending school here and have no desire to transfer realizing I will be an end of the bench player here then I think you respect that decision. Majerus did not recruit these players so he is in a tough situation, but I think you honor the scholarship the prior coach gave the kid if they desire to remain with the program. If you follow any major college basketball program you will see upperclassmen on scholarship riding the pine. Look at Jeremy Case at KU or Marty Pocius at Duke. These were once prized recruits who did not pan out. I am sure their respective coaches have given them honest assesments and the opportunity to transfer, but for whatever a guy like Case decided to stick it out and cheer from the sidelines. The decision should ultimately be up to the player in my opinion. I think more times than not they will decide that they want to go to a program where they can play.

I remember talking to Brad Soderberg about this and he said that scholarships are year to year, but it would be extremely bad practice to treat them as such and to take away someone's scholarship merely for not living up to expectations as a player. Any coach recruiting against you would be thrilled to hear about you taking away scholarships. When you recruit a kid and offer a kid I feel like you are commiting to them for 4 years. If you make an error in scouting and the kid is not the player you had hoped he would become I think it is on you. I can live with sitting down with kids and giving them an honest evaluation, but telling a kid his scholarship is gone is not doing that. You can be a big time legit D-I program and have class. Look at the once heralded ND seniors who walk across the field every year on senior day who never amounted to anything more than glorified practice players. If a guy is not any good you recruit over him and sit him on the bench. If he is content riding the pine and still comes to practice everyday and is taking care of business in the classroom he should remain on scholarship unless he decides to move on.

Like I said if this is what has happened and these kids are making the decision to transfer after getting an honest evaluation from Majerus I have absolutely no issue. If we are playing the game of "your scholarship is year to year and needs to be earned each year" and we are thus taking away these kids scholarships I am not a fan of that. Adam Knollmeyer may not contribute anything in his next two seasons, but from all accounts he is in good standing in the classroom, shows up for practice everyday, and has kept his name out of the papers (as my mom would say) and because of that if he wants to remain a Billiken and get a diploma from Saint Louis University I believe he deserves that opportunity and we owe him as much.

Are Xavier fans as obnoxious as Ohio State, Bengal, or Dayton fans? At the Dayton game I had UD students telling me that Dayton was a highly regarded academic institution. I told them the only part of that statement that I would even consider arguing if I was them is that it is in fact an academic institution. Ohio State fans make me sick and Bengals fans talk about their team as if they have accomplished something over the past 15 years. I hope enjoy being a sell out Pistol.

Pistol, why would a Xavier alumn even consider joining the Billiken Club? If you read what Pistol wrote he said that Xavier has been a top tier program when looking at the recent past. The term top tier could be clarfied, but I would assume he meant a top 25 type program. I think it would be hard to look at their resume and really dispute that.

I know Pistol and that is why I addressed him when making the comment. I knew he would realize I was joking because we have discussed this issue at naseum and had this argument with so many people it is painful.

And you believe these coaces are paying the buyouts out of their own pocket? I don't have much problem with what is happening assuming Majerus has sat down with these kids and given them an honest asessment and basically told them that if they want a more prominent role they should probably look elsewhere. Telling them they no longer have a scholarship is crap in my opinion. When you recruit a kid and he picks you and your school you owe him better than that. I think it is extremely bad practice to start looking at these scholarships as year to year. I have no problem with the coach telling a kid he does not see him having a prominent role on the team in future and that he has brought guys in who will be getting minutes over him, but the decision should be up to the student athlete. I don't know the story so I will refrain from forming my opinion on this issue. When Soderberg was fired I wanted to hear how it went down before forming my opinion on it and when I heard how Biondi decided to go about it all I could think was shame on him. If Majerus is basically cutting these kids and showing them the door, shame on him. If these guys have heard what Majerus thinks and the role he sees for them in the future and they don't like what they hear and decide to go elsewhere then I think this is perfectly fine and honestly would be what I would want him to do.

That is not my logic. I am saying if you are going to base any part of your decision on a rating system that is not accurate and are thus putting less stock in it than before why even use it. Other measurements are not flawed Pistol. Looking at a teams record in conference, non conference, against top 50, 100 teams, recent winning trend are all measurements that are substantial and not flawed. Once you get to picking for the last couple of spots and picking one team over another for those final spots is where things get difficult and some deal of subjectivity will always come into play. I just think the MVC played the RPI game because that is what they believed would get teams in and then when they had the rankings it suddenly was not good enough. I feel like the committee is constantly asking mid majors to jump thru hoops to get a bid and when they jump thru those hoops they throw out another hoop. If Missouri State and other mid majors beat the system then correct the system, don't punish them for having the wherewithal to figure it out.

What do you mean by ESL connection? I assumed East St. Louis, but Marcus is from Chicago so that would have no impact on that connection. Anthony Mitchell is from the East Side and he apparently is one of the guys who will be on his way out. Mike Jones began attending SLU as a regular student taking physical therapy courses so I would doubt playing basketball and getting significant playing time is much of a factor for him. I think most would be in agreement with your line of thinking assuming that is the way it has in fact been handled. I see no shame in letting a kid know where he stands and what role or lack of role you see for him in the future and leaving the decision up to the student. That is being honest and something I would expect and hope most coaches would do.

I realize that the RPI is not meant to be the only part of the equation, but if it is a flawed ranking that can be "figured out" and is thus flawed why even have it? If you are already looking at overall records, conference records, looking at key wins, recent performance, why even use the RPI? If the RPI were a legitimate ranking system wouldn't it take into accout things such as "different schedules for everyone, overall W-L,etc?" The RPI seemed to be a really good measuremet as to who would get in up until the past couple years with SMS getting shafted and Stanford getting in with a RPI of 65.

I am all for Majerus bringing in top talent and players that he feels will give him the best chance to win. However, if this means continually running kids off who do not meet his expectations on the court, I am not sure I am a big fan of that. I have never been on board with the win at any and all costs mentality. I would like to think being successful and maintaining a certain level of dignity and class are not mutually exclusive. Granted these are not guys he recruited and I don't how this situation is being handled so I am kind of lukewarm on this news, but these kids were recruited and offered a scholarship to play basketball at Saint Louis University. As far as I know they have upheld their responsibilites in the classroom and on the court. Their only failure is not producing on the court at a level the current coach would like to see. This is not professional sports. When you go into someone's home and look their parents in the eyes and say I am going to make your son into a man and give him the opportunity to graduate from a fine university you are committing to that family and that kid. Just because he does not live up to your expectations as an athlete doesn't mean you should show him the door. If Majerus has sat these kids down and given them an honest assessment of their game and their future with the program as far as playing time and so on I don't have a problem with that. In that case he is being honest with them and giving them a chance to go elsewhere if they do not like what they hear. You would essentially be telling them that they have a spot on the team, but they have been recruited over. The decision would be up to the individual. If this is how things are being handled I have no problem with it and imagine that happens at every program. If he is telling these kids we are taking away your scholarship and you are no longer a part of this team (which I am not sure you can do anway) then that wouldn't be right.