bsheldon

Absolutely agree. Again, I want better competition and playing the 200 or even 150+ rpi type teams doesn't do anything for your rpi in the long run anyway. I just don't think we need to have 10 games against top 25 teams to start the season--it would never happen anyway. Also, you remind me of a good point that I haven't mentioned yet. I brought a couple of newbies to some games this year to experience the "Fetz." The one guy is a huge Mizzou fan. We won both games, but both were against teams that he had never heard of--Fordham and Belmont. I really didn't have an answer to his question of "who are these guys." Playing teams no one has heard of is a much tougher sell to attract new fans. That is why I really liked the UGA, NEB, and IAST games. They may not be the best teams to play, but at least people know who they are. I doubt seriously that the average fan can tell you where Kennesaw State even is. But, if we played Wash St or Miami (fl) people are familiar with those teams. UGA and NEB are the perfect examples--poeple definitely know those teams, but they are the bottom feeders in ther respectve conferences. I think if we have to play some buy games--these are better for our exposure--and better for the team. Granted we did lose to UGA last year which hurts, but that is the price of playing at a higher level--better opponents--even your buy games. Hopefully we can schedule 1 or 2 mid level BCS schools, but it doesn't look good. Playing mid majors: We run the risk that major BCS schools would take if they played us. If we play a mid level mid major and win--so what, we should win(assuming we are headed in the direction we all feel we are.) But playing a 130 rpi ranked mid major and losing--which is very possible is very detrimental. Playing some of the top Mid majors would be good though, but a lot of those are going to view us just as the major BCS programs do. Most of the top level mid majors are already playing some major BCS shools early in the season. Why? because they have a record of success and teams want to play them. Just as will happen with us in the next couple of years. We just have to keep winning. With the tourney at 96 next year (which appears all but certain at this point) we are in, if we play even close to our potential in conference. The scheduling isn't going to be as huge of a factor as it always has been(again assuming we play well in conference.) It is still important and we can't play exclusively 200+ plus teams and rack up a high, but really soft winning percentage--that will hurt us in the long run with rpi computations. Again if we can keep playing 4 or so BCS schools and then maybe add 2 to 3 more quality OOC (<100rpi) games we should be more than set--assuming we do well in those games. Say, 4-2ish. Now the goal is to get one of the coveted top 32 spots where you get the buy game. Essentially they are adding a round of 64 play-in games to get to a field of 64.

Fair enough, I simply said that because he did fill in time to time this year, but mainly when the other team was not applying preassure. KC usually got the ball in those cases when KM was not on the floor--not KC's true position either. With our motion high pick offense--once the ball is in play in the half court there really doesn't seem to be a ton of difference in what is demanded of the 1, 2, and 3 players. The 4 and 5 rotate up and down and do the picking. Again, our flexibilty and depth is going to be fun to watch.

I am whole-heartedly in agreement that we need to add some more quality opponents, but Rick has said many times that he just can't get anyone in the BCS programs to play us. I really liked the tourney we did last year with ND, NW, & IAST--it just didn't pan out for us--mostly because we lost both of those games, but also because IASt kind of had a bust year. Belmont is definitely a quality opponent that we should keep on the schedule, but they kind of had an off year last year also with only 19 wins--they are ususally good for at least 2 or 3 more than that. I like the Bass Pro State and Saluki series and hope we continue them into the future. Both are quality programs and both have had recent sucess, especially the Salukis at the highest level. I really liked the GA and the NE games last year--unfortuanately each of them finished at the bottom of their respective conferences. I would like to see us schedule a few more teams of that caliber though--Major conference opponents that are not necessarily the creme de la creme of those conferences--because we still need to win those games. Playing Syracuse or West Virginia doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but playing a St John's or Seton Hall type team does to me. However, I think we are having problems getting those type of teams to play us. We are kind of "tweener" for major programs. Beating us isn't really a huge feather in their cap, but losing is very detrimental. Plus we are good enough that we could sneak up and beat a top team. So they don't take the chance. They either schedule a top 25 and take a chance at a huge feather or a buy game where they are sure to win. Winning those OOC games is the most important thing. Looking at teams such as KS and TX--they both only really had 2-4 "real" non-buy games before conference play. Obviously Teams in the B12, BE and ACC have plenty of opportunity to boost their RPI in conference. I feel so do we. Up until the last 2 weeks of the season, the A-10 had 6 teams in the top 50. I think next year is going to be more of the same. Obvioulsy we have to play the anchor Fordham which drops us 10 spots even if you beat them by 20, but hopefully they will get better. So I think we really only need to add 2 maybe 3 quality games to our schedule. We had 5-7 "buy" games last year and we lost one of those (BG.) I have no problem with the local flair of the schedule though. SEMO , UMKC and EIL are fine buy games. Rockhurst is D2 and doesn't help us at all, so we probably shouldn't even play it. Heck, had we won all 4 chances we had at BCS teams last year (we went 1-3) (and not lost to BG) we would have been dancing. Again winning those opportunities is the most important thing. I feel next year we are going to be able to play with anyone in the country, the year after that we should be able to beat anyone in the country. Scheduleling, just like just about everything else, gets much easier when you win. Winning truly does solve a lot of problems and I see our problems getting fewer and fewer going forwrd. It is fun program and a great time to be a fan.

The other things to keep in mind about next year's line up is our depth and flexibility. As we stood this year--the coaches regulary switched guys in and out of the lineup--especially our bigs. With the addition of MM, DE and RL we now have many, many more line up / match up options as well as the ability to only run guys 20-25 minutes a game consistantly. Depending on many things we could have some serious match nightmares for opposing teams. IF Cody continues to work on his strength and post game--that would require the other team to have 3 legit bigs on the floor at a time and if that is the case both Cody and Rob can/should light it up from "way down under." Also, depending upon DE's development--he could be a true 3 that has kind of been missing. He and Cody may end up splitting time. The again Cody may split time at both the 3 and the 4. MM may be the sharp shooter we have all coveted for so long and he may see a lot of time as a true 2, but can probably be a 2 also. Heck CS may find his shot and be the 40% 3 pt machine we all hoped he would be, his D came a long way this year and he is now very good at that end. Plus, CS showed true grit on several occasions and sprinkled in the ability to take it to the hole. The same can be said for KC--a true competitor and our best "lock-down" defender. Plus, he has been our best assist man. He can be a 1, 2, or 3. JJ is scoring machine--he came a long way on the other end and hopefully he fully recovers and comes back beter than ever. He is best suited as a 2, but can fill in as a 1 also. We may run 3 or even 4 guard sets and conversely we may run 3 or even 4 big man sets. RM will truly have some major flexibility--assuming a lot of these things fall into place, but RL should be able to play a true big poisition--we all know that WR is going to dominate the lane next year, CR showed down the stretch that is going to be a force to reckoned with in the paint next year. How fun would this lineup be: WR, CR, RL, CE and take your pick on the guard--heck let cody bring it up and put JS in the game too. Then Cody can just shoot the ball from just inside half court and let the play above the rim take place. It is definitely going to be fun and I can't wait.

Billikan--Excellent post.

Fair enough. Good point--we couldn't hit water if we fell out of boat lfrom the outside last night.

My intention isn't to be mean, but last night's game was way out of character for him. If he truly was hurt, ok, but was he hurt? "Weary" isn't an injury. I understand that we were shorthanded, and I even forgive the turnovers, but mental lapses were a bit much. Again, he may just have been worn down from a long season and playing a TON of minutes and ALWAYS guarding the opponents main guy (which is extremely draining.) If that really is the case than so be it. I am fine with it. It didn't make it any easier to watch last night, though. Losing is rough enough. Losing at home even worse. Watching them hoist the trophy on our floor worse yet. Losing because of our own mistakes--the most painful of all.

torch Great post. thanks for the data mining. I am truly excited about next season. Tons of expectation. Let hope they live up to it. One thing I was thinking after reading you post is KM and WR are ONLY SOPHOMORES--that is truly an amazing fact. They were obviously the leaders of this team and during the season they were playing much beynd their expereince. KM played the leadership role as well as having to lead the way in scoring and WR is definatley going to get stronger down low. Next year is going to be fun.

Ok, I read through the dozens of other pages on here this morning and here is my take. (It changed just a bit from last night before I read everything.) During the second half of last night's game, Kyle's first shift lead directly to 4 points for VCU. He was sleeping under the basket on an inbounds play and then proceeded to turn it over that lead to a dunk. His next shift directly resulted in 5 points--two turnovers that lead to an easy two and an open three in transition. This isn't taking into account the fact that he was following all night and at least a step behind on defense--usually his strong suit, and giving up buckets he normally doesn't. At this point I only had 2 possible scenarios for his performance. He is suffereing from an acute case of Mono or He had money bet on the game, and not on the Bills. Again, this was my thinking last night. Now after reading everything on here this morning, he is supposedly injured? What is this mysterious injury? Out of gas? He looked like that and then some. He appeared to not have anything left in the tank--because he is a true hustler and role model for young players, but he also had major lapses in concentration. He just SEEMED to be very indifferent out there last night--which of course hasn't been the case all year. I have been on the fence with Cassity all year--usually being a defender, but last night I was anything but. Lackidasical doesn't begin to describe his effort. Now again if he truly were injured, then I fully give him a pass. I am just not aware of any injury other than being tired. Really? Is tired the reason? That is pretty weak--there were several other basekteball players out there that have been through just as much and didn't suffer the lapses. Maybe it was just an off night, but it was difficult to watch. I doubt seriously he is a gambler so Mono is what I went to bed last night concluding. Now, maybe he was palying hurt? He had a good year and that was a very rough way to end it. Luckily we don't have any seniors and we get to see this group come back again next year--hopefully rested and ready to dominate.

That is truly disturbing. Funny, but very, very disturbing.

hilarious.

I'll take the under, but hope I am wrong. The sparce crowds tht have been at the last 3 have been rather loud and rowdy though.

Let's hope we have to wait until Saturday to enjoy the news of RL. It would make the CBI champioship that more sweet. If the rumors are true, I am even more excited about next year, if that is possible.

the wings--yes. the game--not so much. I am sure they will wake up and play well at the Fetz.

Can't we all just get along? If RM was being covert in his anouncement it is understandable at this point, but as has been discussed--IF it really is Loe, than that is a great thing for this program. We have all talked at great lengths how much we could use a player of his caliber--assuming he comes close to living up to the hype. Again this is great news and we should all be thrilled. Of course it is not 100% yet, but here's to keeping our fingers crossed and taking RM's tease as good news.

As to your question--No, and I don't want to. That is the point. What would make them a good team then? They were something like 18-1. Just because they beat just about every team they played, does that mean those teams were better and just chose to let this team win? The last time I checked winning games is by definition what makes a good team good. Lets not even go there trying to compare the men's game to the women's game--there really is nothing to compare. The athletic and physical advantages just don't make it fair. That is not sexist, just facts. I am not saying that there is NO talent, just not nearly the supply of high-level talent as there currently is in the men's game. Heck, we have 2 #5's in this years final four. It wasn't an easy walk for the favorites like it seems to be for the best in the girl's game--because they truly are that much better than the other teams. In the men's game there were literally 20 teams that could have won it all--realistically. In the women's game--maybe 4? I also am not saying that the women's game can't be fun and enjoyable, but none of that is really the point. The point is, if given the chance to watch a men's game or a women's game--which would be more enjoyable? (assuming a realistic chance of a competitive game) I choose the men's game. It is my opinion. If I offended you with my obviously objectionable analogy, I apologize.

fair enough.

I have always been a huge advocate of women's athletics. (Athletics=sports: not cheerleading) I watched a lot of girls basketball in HS. I worked with my girlfriends that played quite a bit. Short story: The girls varsity team at my high school was ranked #2 in the area. They were in the sectional rounds of the state playoffs and were playing a team that presses. The coach asked my coach of my .500 JV/all sophomore boys team if we would help them practice against a press. Our coach asked us if we would scrimmage them. I honestly thought they would beat us. Boy, was I wrong. Literally within the first couple minutes, the coaches had to tell us we could no longer use our arms at all on defense--quit stealing the ball on every possession and making a lay-up at the other end. I was astounded at the difference of level of the game. We literally could have beat them 100-0 and we were not even a good JV team and they were one of the top varsity teams in the state. With all of that being said, I would watch just about any men's game High School Junior varsity on up over even the WNBA. It is nothing against the women as I have huge respect for their efforts but...(here comes the analogy that I once heard and I can never get out of my head) "Watching women's basketball is like watching old people have sex." No one wants to see that. I actually had this discussion yesterday while in the VIP lounge at the Edward Jones dome waiting for the game to start and they had ESPN on showing the women's tourney. There just isn't enough talent available. There truly is only a handful of elite players coming into the game each year--hence the same 2-3 teams win constantly. The best players keep going to those same schools year after year. The gap in talent is obviously huge from the very top to even just the number 10-25 teams in the country. UCONN has a 70+ game win streak going as proof. For those of you with daughters, keep them palying. There is some interest in the game outside of those directly related to the players. Some of the games get decent crowds.

thanks joe.

I keep waiting for him to flip out one of these time and flip everyone off, but he is too good of a person to do that. Honestly, it seemed to be working--last night wasn't great though. He was bad all year and had an AWFUL game agaisnt X at the line and it started after that. He has shot relatively well since that point--when the chant started. I think it is a good thing and should be continued. As you pointed out it is more than likely a mental thing (although I would question the quality of his form, but that is another discussion left to more experienced people. ie his coaches) and the chant definitely takes his head out of the situation. He won't be thinking about the act of shooting and every little intricacy that those goes into doing that, but thinking that we are a bunch of jerks for giving him a hard time--which I don't think is the intention. We all love him--which is more than obvious for the tons of cheers he recieves. I am sure he understands the chants. We are chanting "Willie, Willie" not "you bum-you can't shoot." Again, it may be distraticing, but I feel that is the whole point. Until he goes 2-9 again in a nail biter of an extremely important game, I think the chant is here to stay. I for one am in favor of it. Everyone gets very, very quiet when everyone else on the team is at the line--so we are not being disrespectful or disruptive.

I'll be the first to post the mandatory synopsis request by somone who got to listen to it. Please and thank you.

I wanted to post this yesterday, but talked myself out of it as i didn't want to overlook the Princeton. (Great game by the way for the Bills. Awesome offensive game. We scored 20 more than expected) So, is someone putting together anything special for a mass viewing of the first game of the champioship series on Monday? At the very least there needs to be several locations where a die hard Billiken fan can get together with a large bunch of fellow rowdy fans on Monday before the real fun starts next Wednesday. Again, a large organized viewing location or two would be great, but if not; where is a good place to gather that bleeds Billiken blue and will definitely have the game on?

WOW, that sucks. I didn't know that Students had to pay at all to attend the games. That is kind of a rip in my opinion. I know when I was in school--$5 was hard to come by and when I did happen to stumble on a few Washingtons Bull Feathers/BBC/Calico's/Humphrey's were the usual recipients. I agree the students shouldn't have to pay $10 to get in, but it doesn't seem like anything we say on here is going to change that at all.

There will be a spot for him. I don't know who or how, but it will get done--assuming he is anywhere near as good as we are making him out to be.

Holy s*%t! This is funny. Keep them coming. I am laughing my azz off.