bsheldon

He looks very adept at setting high screens and playing away from the basket--which RM's Offense requires. He also seemed comfortable guarding some pretty talented bigs. That Kanter (#11 in videos) kid is going to Kentucky and looks like he is going to be a force. RL definitely can shoot from the outside and looks like he has good hands. Plus he can play above the rim easily. He was going maybe 1/4 speed on his low post drills and easily dunks without hardly trying to jump. Does anyone know where some of these international players are going to go to school? The NIKE summit page only lists the schools where the US team players are going. There was some serious talent on the floor for this game. We really are lucky to be getting one of these players. I am real excited about Loe's future as a Billiken.

I saw on You tube last night someone on one of the Kentucky fan sights put together a highlight clip of one of their star recruits that played in that game. I know this is asking a bunch, as I don't have the ability to do it, but could someone who does, do a similar thing for those of us who didn't get to see the game? I know RL didn't exactly have a stellar highlight reel filled game, but maybe just a few sections of the game where he was in would be great. To whomever takes me up, you will be the new hero of the this board. Thanks in advance.

Excellent post. I especially like the idea that RM decides to stick around a few more years than anticipated. Again, good points throughout, we may be in the running in couple of years for many top-notch coaches. However, I like the idea of hiring someone who helped build the program getting the reigns. I guess that is the price of success.

Not if they knew what was good for them. There may be one in a pre-season game, but only one, after that, none would dare.

The only thing I can figure is, there must be something to this that we just aren't privy to. RM's comments about PM have been very PC and glowingly positive and I have no reason to doubt any of them for even an instant, but...perhaps there is something going on behind the scenes. Who knows? I for one do not. I truly hope PM is our next head coach, but he may not want it for some reason??...or??? He may just truly be ready to be HC again, NOW. This may just be a ploy to get a raise--can you blame him? He may not get along with someone in the program. He may have made the Rammer mad in one of post game interviews and the Rammer is running him out of town. Again, all of this is total speculation without knowing anything more. Again, I don't know why they don't wrap him up contractually, but there may be rules or even laws that prevent it. I have no idea. There is however, SOMETHING, but we don't know what it is. I hope it is nothing of consequence and it is just a silly rule or something and he rides out his time as Associate Head Coach. Here's hoping he stays a member of the Billiken family for a long, long time.

I'm not sure hiring the Rammer would be fair to the rest of the college basketball world. It would no longer be competitive. The Rammer would have SLU undefeated champs every single season.

BTW, D-nooner, very good article. Keep up the good work, hopefully next year will be a blast to cover the team in the U-News. Heck, there might actually be a buzz around campus about the team next year and you yourself may become a bit of a celebrity as you cover the team. Good luck.

I kind of had the same reaction that you did to that phrase, but to his defense--he is almost mostly right and his explination is pretty much right on. I charted and followed the RPI of conferences about twice weekly--usually Mondays--after the Saturday games and Friday--after the Tues-Thurs games, from the beginning of December through the first week of February (When conference play is in full swing and the rpi and sos are pretty much settled in to what they are going to be.) The A-10 pretty much hovered around #5, but had a couple of spikes where it WAS #4--ahead of SEC, B10 and P10 from the BCS conferences. It was still behind ACC, B12, and BE. The SOS was very interesting though, the A10 had several #1 rankings along the way. When averaged out, before conference play started the A10 was about #3 from a SOS standpoint--which helped the rpi hover around #5. By the time conference play was in full swing we settled in to #6 ahead of only the P10 from the BCS's. The conference had some really good wins this year, and there are no signs of the conference getting any weaker--the contrary will more than likely be true. X has a monster recruiting class coming in, as well as Crawford more than likely returning, Dayton more than likely will have its stars back, Temple will be back in the top 25--Richmond still has one the best guards in the country to build around, Charlotte will be getting a new coach to try to finish strong, RI will more than likely be solid again, heck even botton dweller Fordham is in the process of trying to resurrect the program. Of course SLU will be ranked MUCH higher all of next season. One thing for sure--it will be fun.

It has been stated on here many times that it would make sense to offer the job to porter in some sort of contract, but I personally don't know why that can't be done. It seems simple, though. Just add in some wording saying the job is yours if RM leaves within such and such a time frame--or even something as simple as: you are given first right of refusal or maybe even something as non-comittal (which may not be enough) as you are guranteed the opportunity to interview and are our first candidate upon Rick's leaving. Anyway they do it--it needs to be done, in my opinion. PM is a top-notch guy and it would be great if he were to become our next head coach. It would also validate all of the hard work and time he is currently putting into the program now. When the program does get the the level that we all know it will in the next 2 years he will have been a huge part of that. And if rick were to leave in say 3 or 4 years--Porter really just inherits the team he helped to build and run already--it wouldn't be a huge transition, just new business cards and print media. The only reason I can see not to do this is if the administration feels that we truly are headed in the right direction and in a few more years we may be able to get another "big name" coach. I disagree with this approach for multiple reasons. Bringing in another "big name" probably means another rebuilding time frame--a whole new approach to the game that RM's recruits may not fit and more than likely we would have to pay even more that we already to RM. I have no problem paying PM what we are paying RM if the program does in the next couple of years what we are all hopeful it is going to do. Again, I don't know if this is their thinking, but this is the only thing I can think of that would make the slightest bit of sense for not securing PM now. They need to find a way to make this happen before PM is gone.

Excellent analysis. I too agree that Willie will be even more of a force with more space to work. Plus with both of them on the floor at the same time the other team has choose who to put their best "big" defender on. Loe's ability to hit jumper really opens things up down low. If they put their best defender on him--he can just step outside and then Willie has a lesser defender on him on the block--He could score on just about anyone this year when he caught the ball on the block--another year in the weight room and at the dinner table and he is going to be a force next year on the blocks. Again, Loe's addition is a wonderful thing for this porgram. Now, lets just hope everyone stays healthy and plays to their potential and we can sit back and watch the W's pile up.

I found this this morning while cathing up after a long weekend. This is at least the third prediction in recent weeks that are saying what we as Bills fans have know for a while now: NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE AWESOME! http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1071934

I just read the article. Great stuff!! It really brought back some memories and re-solidified this past season as a truly special one. Hopefully this is a season we all look back upon as the turning point.

Excellent. You know what--he was #4 on one my previous top tens. I totally spaced him on that. He is very deserving. the Butler coach--wel they kind of did what they were supposed to do--win going away in the Horizon. Now as for making the final four that is whole other thing. coach of the year is for regular season (perhaps conf tourneys only)

Kentucky will be OK--maybe not 30 wins, but 25. They are still Kentucky. This article only reiterates what a GREAT job Majerus did with this bunch. Truly outstanding. It was a fun ride. Bring on Midnight Madness.

Someone needs to print this, highlight the effects that the basketball program had on the enrollment and nail it to Biondi's door. Any Frat guys or rugby players out there that can make a pledge or a rookie do that? It would be awesome. I double-dog dare ya.

JJ WILL get his time on the floor. He is spark offensively. It may just be that he plays about the same as he did this year. He may be fine with that if we are winning. I for one hope he stays.

Just looking at some numbers on how the playing time MAY break down it does get a bit dicey. KM is going to get 25 (but proably more like 30) a game give or take of course, but using that number that gives us 55 minutes to divide up between 5 guards--so even in a perfect world only about 10 minutes a game. Which isn't going to be the case because coach loves KC and CS has shown some real good signs dwon the stretch. Each of them played a TON this year and it will be doubtful either will be happy only playing 10 minutes a game. so for arguments sake and simplicity lets say each of them gets 20. That still leaves 15 minutes between the 3 guys. FJ if he can stay healthy may just earn all of them outright--and possibly even take minutes from either or both of KC and CS. That still leaves JJ and MM without any playing time. The only other wildcard/variable is the odd time when we go small or for whatever JS, CE, and DE are not /can not play and KC and or CS have to fill in at the 3. But still which ever one is at the three odds are the other will be at the two, so you really don't open up any minutes for our remaining 2 guards--MM and JJ. Again all of this is fun to contemplate. The depth that we now have is amazing and something we Bills fans haven't seen in... well I can't recall when.

I am so 100% convinced of this "Shrinking Majerus Roster" phenomenon. But maybe 90%. I have seen a couple of examples. The one thing that an D1 player buddy of mine always reminds of is: It is not nearly as important how tall you are, as it is how LONG you are. (absolutely no double meaning at all--no comments please) If you are 6'5" and have a flat footed vertical reach of 8'4" you essentially are "taller" than a player that is 6'7" and has a reach of 8'1." Reach is most important. You cover much more space with your arms than you do with you torso and head. I may be totally wrong, but if memory serves; Looking at JJ and KM side by side--there is only about 1 inch height difference, but I bet KM has significantly longer reach. See Allen Iverson--sure he is wicked quick, but at 6' it always amazed me how he could drive the lane agianst the trees in the NBA consistently. His reach is much more than an average 6 footer. Combined with his incredible speed his reach allowed for those extended arm layups in with the giants.

I was replying as if he meant only on our team--also taking into account that MM is only 6'0" also. KM will get his minutes--probably around 28-32 a game. CS, KC, MM, & JJ will all be splitting up the remaining 8-12 minutes of KM's time and a full 40 of the 2 position. Plus you have the 3 position thrown in which KC and CS may both see time at off and on. At the 3 we will have CE for sure, hopefully DE is good enough to garner a big chunk of time right away, and JS--who also hopefully will improve over the offseason. If he hits the weight room he can become a real goo player. There are several good small guards out there for sure and I wouldn't hesitate to put JJ in that category. Obviously some that have been mentioned are exceptional--both of the knucklheads at KST and Downey for sure. Heck OKSt plays two of them at the same time. JJ can play at this level for sure. He is a scorer first and foremost. If he works on the rest of his game he can be more than just a role player of minor contributor. As has been said many times--he outscores just about everyone on the team in a points per minute basis. Plus his D is VASTLY better now than it was at the beginning of the year. The last couple of games he was beyond scrappy and downright tenacious. I for one hope he stays a Billiken for 3 more years.

That is awesome. I was hoping he would get some love. I commented on several boards on the subject in the last couple of months. Taking a team picked to go 12th in the A-10 to 4th with the youngsters that he did it with, truly is amazing. I mostly agree with the list. I think Dave Rose at BYU deserves a little credit for what he had to go through and the year they had. I have no problem with the top three--although I probably would have had alford second and much closer to Boeheim--if I controlled the world. Jim rightfully deserved the award. Also a little surprised Chris Mooney didn't get any love--he had a great year Richmond. I really like that Dunphy finished high--he should have been 3rd in my opinion. Self and Calipari both are cop out votes by AP writers that don't know a damn thing about college basketball, in my opinion. Give any college basketball coach either of those rosters and see how they do--I bet they still reach 30 wins. Heck even with an average junior high coach they both still get 28. Anyway Drew's vote was VERY well deserved. Really the rest are all good picks. Here is my top ten: 1) Jim Boeheim 2) Steve Alford 3) Fran Dunphy 4) Rick Majerus 5) Dave Rose 6) Scott Drew 7) Frank Martin 8) Chris Mooney 9) Matt Painter 10) Jamie Dixon

After reading this, I may need to get over it and just focus on the future--with the recent good news and potentially more coming--next year is going to be great.

I am happy for Dayton--mostly for representing the conference very well. Not to rub salt into any wounds, but we did beat them TWICE this year and finished THREE FREAKING GAMES AHEAD of them in conference. I assume most of us are over getting totally kicked in the junk by the NIT by now, as no one else posted anything. I may still be bitter.

Well, actually a ton, if your name rhymes with Dwamain Fitchell. But beyond that...?

This is the goal, but a very tall order. Depending on how they do the seeding, it may be very, very difficult. Essentially you would have to be a top 25 team to get one of those spots--if they give conference winners automatic spots--who knows. Even if they don't and go by some arbitrary ranking system or some convoluted closed door session like they do now we would essentially have to be ranked in the top 32. I am not saying that is not possible, but a big jump from where were where last year--which is expected. Again, we don't know how it is going to shake out. I expect us to be a top 40 team for sure, top 25 would be very, very nice and a ton of fun. Here's hoping.

I completely agree that I love this line up we have now, but if we can add more talent... It is the age-old question, where do you draw the line. I think playing time is already going to be at a premium and harder than ever to come by for a lot of guys on this team now. Adding another stud to the mix will only make that problem worse for several guys. I personally, while I know it is a crappy thing to do and very rough on the guys involved, have no problem with bringing in more talent and letting the best man win. That is the way it has always been and will always be. Heck it starts that way even in JR high. Several elementary schools' worth of atheletes compete to make one team for the junior high--some players don't make the cut. It only continues yet again at High school. Why should it be any different at college? Yes i know it IS different at college, because of the monetary value attached to the scholarship, but the principle is still the same. The best players get to be on the team. This is my personal view. Also, the level of talent on this team right now top to bottom is good enough to play at many, many schools, that would be more than happy to have them--and they would more than likely get much more playing time and get to be more of a star. Yes, they may not get to be a Billiken, but honestly how many of the current guys on our team grew up dreaming of one day playing for SLU? If the over/under is 1 I am betting the under. DY may be the only exception--FJ perhaps. We are not an iconic program like KY, DUKE or UNC (where this stuff happens regularly btw.) I also understand that a degree from SLU is a bit more valuable than one from "West Eastern State" but, again even to be regular a student at slu you have to be at a certain level. If your grades and test scores aren't up to snuff you don'tget in. The same holds true for the athletic teams--you have to be a certain level to play on the team. This is the price of being a top program. It really is simple--the best players (not by default the ones we stumbled on first) get to be on the the team and the weaker players don't--just like it has alwyas been. As stated above I am all for recruiting above our current players--it makes the program better, and in the long run it will help many, many more people than the few displaced players along the way. If we have a legit shot at the Clyburn kid, (assuming he is as good as advertised) I say we need to go for it. From what I have read--which is limited, he seems to be the real deal. I read somewhere yesterday that he had verbally committed to IAST and that the rumors of the coaching position unrest hasn't changed his mind. That may not be true. That sounds like the very PC thing to say--especially to the local IA paper that printed the story. If he can help our program and add productive minutes right away, we would be a bit silly not get him. Better players=more wins=better program in the long run. That really is program--the players you get to come and play for it. KY is not KY without its long string of talented players playing for that team year after year. Jerseys don't win the games, the most talented players do. I know that this subject has been discussed at great length on here and many people are very passionate about the topic. I am not calling anyone names, purposely trying to stir the pot, nor do I wish to p**s anyone off--this is just my opinion.