TheChosenOne

Within the past half hour I went from why would we consider him to being quite intrigued. It is an interesting option that I would like to see explored whenever we move on Ford.

I clicked on this somewhat rolling my eyes, but hearing the interview and thinking through his background, if we do make a coaching change I would like to see Blake considered. At least gauge his interest and get a sense for how he would approach building the program. Typically I would prefer someone who has run a college program, but with NIL and the transfer portal changing the landscape a bit, consider this an intriguing name to me. There could be value in a guy who has that pro experience with regards to how professional teams run things from the top down as that might become more of the model at the college level.

Sucks to suck I suppose. They stink, so no need for excuses, but they are also dealing with their top two transfers either out with injury or trying to get back from injury. A Gates apologist could say maybe if those guys return the offense could get going. Although seeing Tonje try to fight thru his current injury, sadly I don’t see him being a factor this winter. Doesn’t overly matter, they missed in the transfer portal (how they needed to add two bigs and ended up with Vanover and the kid from Campbell is something else) and are going to have a tough go the rest of the way at least until they get Grill back and maybe Tonje. Gates will need to hit on some transfers this spring because while the prep class is strong, they aren’t obvious instant impact guys beyond one. Fun winter for us SLU and Mizzou fans! Check in on me every once in awhile if you don’t mind.

They swung and missed on their top transfer targets and then their backup plans appear to have been huge misses as they aren't getting much production from any of their transfers. Definitely missed evaluations on guys you would have had a lot of tape on. I think you could question the coaching as the team does not play sound (poor rebounding, breakdown a lot on defense, rely on a dribble heavy offense, shoot a lot of 3s despite not having any good shooters at this level, and struggle to finish in the lane due to lack of strength and athleticism), but they are essentially an average mid-major type team competing in a Power 6 conference. Whatever goodwill Gates built up in his opening season is likely to be gone at the end of this season as I am not sure where their wins come from with this group. Ultimately, a bad team that is overmatched in the SEC. Not sure how to discuss that in the context of SLU beyond both teams being fairly bad and now holding the same record, I guess Stu was asked to Tweet that so SLU fans were aware Mizzou sucks too?

Honestly, with how that kid was shooting the ball, in the moment I know I was so happy we fouled despite being largely torn on which direction to go on that debate. Even if things had gone differently, in the moment I felt like that was what I wanted us to do, so it would have been unfair for me to question the strategy if the result didn't go our way. The bottom line is we made every play we needed to late, so that was an earned win even if Saint Joseph's had some of the most baffling coaching/scouting I have ever witnessed.

For those of us who don’t follow it, is this just an inevitable down year with the coaching change? Injuries? Record of 6-11 and 1-3 in conference play and I am finding #185 in the NET (wow, the men are at #238).

And I do think his comments need to be taken with that understanding. He probably had to address it once it got out like it did and that was a "friendly" setting to do so, but also with him not knowing what exactly was going on I think he should have been advised to keep his comments concise basically acknowledging the situation, that his son feels terrible about it, and that he in no way condones the behavior. He is not dialed into what was going on and in his response he kind of started rambling, so likely speaking more generally than to this specific situation which he most certainly had not been following. So, for those of us who are paying attention when he starts talking about hiding behind screen names and taking personal attacks, that explains the behavior of his son, not the podcast and other account his son attacked who are not hiding nor making personal attacks that I am aware of. I am just so perplexed by the second account because in their defense of Ford, they have done the exact opposite really putting Ford on an island if this is assumed to be tied to Ford.

When is saying come say it to my face, I'm not hard to find ever not a tough guy act? The problem is that few (any?) fans had crossed any sort of line and his son decided to throw gasoline on the fire. Pointing out the deficiencies and ineptitude of the athletic department, program, and BVF has all been warranted and is what fans do. Unfortunately, I don't see yesterday making things better with regards to the relationship between fans and Ford and now the program is an embarrassment. The team better get hot!

At this point, Shane and this other account have succeeded in creating an incredibly embarrassing situation for Coach Ford and the University. I can only imagine the headaches this has caused at Chaifetz. I have to ask, we are confident this other account is in fact tied to Shane in some way? The comments are so over the top that it is hard to believe this person is acting to defend Coach Ford. The commentary also pits Ford against the administration, BVF, etc., so while it may have started with some defenses of Ford, it is blowing a lot of things up.

Shane just adding another excuse to his list of reasons the team has underachieved under his dad’s leadership! Would love to have been a fly on the wall at Chaifetz today! Hilarious! Dog and pony show!

Yeah, I don’t like the tough guy act. I haven’t seen anyone say anything that comes close to crossing any line beyond his son and his friend attacking folks on Twitter. But, I suppose I’d be willing to meet him and say it to his face if that is what he wants. I don’t have anything else to do next Monday evening. His behavior on the sideline is always quite poised, I’m sure he will be very receptive to criticism from a fan, but I guess let’s find out.

Shane, come on out my man!

Wait, he only acknowledged a specific account and actually said which one? This is too funny! I apologize, StoneCold69 is in fact my son and he behaved inappropriately and is aware that behavior is unacceptable, this is great! Wednesday evening just got a heck of a lot more interesting. Obviously the other account is tied to his son as well whether it is actually him or one of his friends doesn’t overly matter. And I was dreading the rest of the season!

Not sure, but this would be gold. And also good to know they take no responsibility for that season and that party, administration took it from them. The next few months are going to be fun after all!

That is Ford's kid? Hahahahahaha. The administration, NCAA, officials, and injuries have really hosed his dad, I feel terrible for him. But, I am now reassured knowing we should have been Dancing so many of these seasons, hard to be disappointed now. I would think he'd be rooting for dad to find a new employer instead of fleecing SLU for that new contract based on how they have done him wrong. I particularly love that anyone with a straight face could say the team last year should have been dancing. Ford's kid must not realize the difference in 20 wins from playing in the Big 12 vs. A-10. No doubt you are doing your dad proud fighting with fans online, keep up the good work, this really helps.

Thanks Wiz, I’m getting there! I’m sorry for going off, I just read that line and didn’t want to hear it haha. The data behind it certainly makes sense, I just couldn’t take that line right after what I watched and in my current head space! And these analysis do demonstrate the fine line between not only winning and losing, but winning and not being overly competitive. I really do enjoy the content though, I just didn’t need it right after the game yesterday as I was still cooling down from the frustration. My apologies. Better days ahead!

And behaves like a maniac. This is the 2nd game I recall him walking off of the bench. I wish I had a better replay, but when he slammed the trash can or whatever in South Carolina you could see a handicapped person sitting real close to where he lost it. Had to be great optics. Now we just hear excuses and it is tiresome. With the increased funding of the program since he took the job, how do the $ folks even listen to it anymore? If I wasted $ that I’ve spent a lifetime accumulating giving it to SLU hoops, I’d be a heck of a lot more banty than I already am.

Yeah, I’ve been sick all week and I’m exhausted and way too angry right now. And now I’ve taken it out on Wiz who doesn’t deserve it. At least I got to get out of the house once this week to visit you hahaha.

If we lose on Wednesday, meet at Hump’s after the game and start collecting $ for this billboard?

The game was never within reach after the first few minutes of the 2nd half. We had no offense and couldn’t defend. Obviously if we don’t turn the ball over it produces a different result, but we did and got blown out. I probably don’t need to read a computer breakdown of a game that I watched. TOs (both turning it over - 16 and not forcing TOs - 5) and defense continue to be problems for this team and until the final 3 minutes we did not hit enough 3s to keep the game competitive (we were 3-15 from 3 prior to the final 3 minutes, so those final 3 minutes completely skew that portion of the slash line). Wiz, I don’t mean to go after you, I’m just pissed off.

For sure, nice to see some 3s go down for him and Thames, but in no way was that “another potential win slipped away.” It was 74-53 at the under 4 media TO, that is where I’d stop any meaningful analysis of the game. We were hunting for 60 points as they approached 80. The game wasn’t within 10 points after the first few minutes of the 2nd half with their lead getting up to 23 multiple times. Most of us watched the game, so to read that line felt like Chris May propaganda. That might work for the folks paying his salary who know d!ck about hoops, but not us diehards.

It feels unproductive to analyze this as a 12 point loss. The end of game run produces flawed conclusions. That was not a potential win that slipped away, they ran us and when the result was decided Hughes x3 and Thames hit some 3s while they were content to run out the clock, but that was merely cosmetic during garbage time. We are one of the best garbage time teams I’ve ever seen though.

Thanks, I hadn’t heard anything. I’d certainly give him as much time as he needs at this point giving him ample time to work back to full strength in practice before playing him in games. Knowing nothing about his condition, maybe the Davidson game at home for his return to action? That would give him 2.5 weeks to continue to rehab and ideally get into game shape. And then he would be returning with 2 home games to begin working back. We are playing for a conference tournament run, so I wouldn’t rush him back. But again, I am going on no information beyond knowing foot injuries can be a ***** to recover from in season.

My wife has given up on me, so I think I can get that expense approved too! Who wants to run point on this? There are a ton of billboards along 40 near midtown, I wonder what sort of cost that is or if there are any we can jump on. Empty arenas and a billboard saying Fire Ford will get folks talking. Heck, even Martin K. questioned the direction of the program the other day on Fox 2, we could probably get him to give it some media attention.

At least we had another late run to put some lipstick on the pig….. This is what our losses will look like if we choose to walk the ball up the court until the final few minutes of garbage time. We just don’t defend at all, so there really is not a good answer in my opinion. And offensively we don’t have a lead guard or guys who can create shots for their teammates, it’s all one one one. I suppose by fouling and walking the ball up the court in the opening half we at least had them out of sync for a stretch. But, you likely aren’t winning many games that way with such a poor half court defense. The defense played the token pressure that didn’t do much and then when we got in the half court mixing it up some we just have no defensive fundamentals defending one of one making it largely irrelevant whether we drop into a zone or man. And always entertaining to have another unhinged Ford moment, dead man walking. Clearly without Parker we suck. Anyone know when we get him back?