Red Lion

I think the questions about the Bills and the future are credible. I know these conference alignments are all about money, but some of the huge questions regarding SLU may be one of the reasons why they are "on-hold" with the Big East despite being . While we are confident in our future, my belief is that when looking at our recent history there are plenty of questions that the new conference has. Creighton and Omaha, CU basketball is the biggest ticket in town and the second biggest in the state. They regularly sell out a 17000+ arena. XU and Butler also have a lot of recent basketball success. We have had not had that same attendance except when playing an attractive draw. Until we're filling the place when we're playing Harris-Stowe, there are going to be questions about Billiken basketball. People on the board have the passion, but we need thousands more people just like that. We need Chaiffetz filled with people who are there because it's the only thing to do, not because they have nothing else to do. We need to settle the coaching situation. My opinion, Jim Crews is a great bench coach, but I don't think he has the recruiting history that would indicate he is going to be the kind of coach that is going to attract the kind of players we need if we want to take that next step up. He may deserve it, but this is why the AD gets paid well, to do what is best for the university for the future.

Athletics in the current day are not the foundation of a university, but in many cases they are the front porch. Alumnae and other supporters of the university want this program to continue to upgrade. I feel certain that's a priority of Dr. Chaiffetz and others who help put a first class arena on campus. University fundraising will tell you that money that might be donated to the Business School will come with the good feeling folks have about the an athletic program. That said, I think it's really important to "cash in" on this season both in terms of conference affiliation and recruiting. Big East affiliation can only help with recruiting, and there are some huge shoes leaving this spring and most of the 2013 class is done.

The guys who lost their composure in this first game were Larry, Moe and Curly with the striped shirts.