dabills

Everyone knew this year was going to be a rebuilding year and that we weren't really going to be good. Most of the pre-season predictions (although i admit they are not gospel) had SLU near the bottom of the A-10. Our 5 starters were graduating, and the payers taking over were inexperience or had had little impact. This year has been a bit more disappointing than we wanted it to be, but the results have not been far off from what objective analysis said before the season. Crews has definitely made coaching mistakes, but he is also taking a risk and banking on giving the freshmen playing time as an investment. Although many may not agree with this approach, and it is true that it may have cost us 2-3 W's, I think that based on previous season's work, Crews has earned himself at least one more season. I understand and share everyone's frustrations-it has definitely been rough! I do think, however, that it isn't until the end of next season when we can really come to conclusions about wether Crews should be fired or not.

Or maybe he is his own person? I'm sorry he doesn't fit your expectation of what a black guy is.

no live stream for today?

Any update on a live stream?

-1 WTF

does anybody know anything about jordair?

wtf was wrong with the site? could not access

can someone provide a halftime box score?

Yeah so? Evansville never made it out of the first round, and Army has never transcended as a team at this level. SLU is a program looking to make a jump to a next tier (whether that looks like going to the big east, make a big tournament run, i do not know). He has not proven he can take a team to the next level. I know evansville is a small school, but there have been schools in that context that can do big things (Davidson is a good example). taking evansville to the tournament and loosing in the 1st round every time is not impressive, especially since he as not been able to do well in tournaments with SLU.

Yes. I do not see the two having to be contradictory. I understand SLU's position as a mid-major, and it is crucial that they continue to bring in player who are a little under the radar but have great potential. This should be our base. Yarbrough is a great example. At the same time, however, it is important to shoot for some top rated players. I get that prospect rankings don't guarantee anything, and in many cases top rated players turn out to be busts. But GENERALLY, higher rated players are actually better players. My reason for bringing up VCU and their high rated recruiting classes is to say that they have visible signs or improvement in recruiting, and that highly regarded players WANT to go there. I think that starting to mine players from top 100 lists would at least be a good sign, but definitely not define out success. To answer your question "So you want us to recruit under recruited top 100 players?" directly: No. because top 100 players are obviously highly recruited (the sarcasm in your question is not lost upon me). I want us to have a solid base of under recruited players with potential as we have been, while ALSO shooting for a few highly regarded players. We can mock player rankings an ratings all we want, but at the end of the day those lists do provide at least some framework of where player skill levels are at, and it is no coincidence that the top program get players that are more highly rated. He did an incredible job in managing the situation he was in. As he guided a well practiced, experienced, and talented team through a hot 19 gam streak, but towards the end they really struggled in the last few conference games, the conference tournament, and the ncaa tournament (yes, i know they had that come back win against NC State, but SLU's struggles were still on display). Yes, most of this freshman class is performing well, but it is still too early in their careers to give a verdict. I put more weigh on seeing how players have DEVELOPED (or not developed) under his tenure. What i would like to see is for the team to improve on concrete things that have been a problem since last season, mainly 3 point shooting and free throws, and I will ad turnovers to this season. I know the team is young, so there was a bit of a reset from last year to this year, but I would like to see an upward trend game to game, an that is something I am not seeing. I do not know who SLU could hire. I will not try to answer that questions because honestly I am not knowledgeable enough about coaches to be able to give a firm answer. I am simply saying that from a fan that has earnestly been supporting the Billikens for a short 2 1/2 year stint (short compared to the vets on this board), my observations tell me that Crews is not someone I have confidence in. I hope he shuts me up and proves me wrong.

I'm from the St. Louis , but I will say I love St. Louis's skyline, including the arch. I visit STL at least once a month (I have a significant other that is a SLU student), and I really think the city doesn't need a big change, they need an upsurge in pride in what the city already is. I live in Nashville, which is one of the country's current "hot cities", and although it is a cool city in many regards, I would trade it and move to St. Louis in a heartbeat.

I do not think he is the long-term answer, and I say that hoping I am wrong. Here is something I posted last spring when I was new to the forum, and for which I got a lot of instant backlash: "New to the forum, but I've been following SLU basketball carefully for the past two seasons. I have to say, I am not confident that Crews is the man for the coaching job at SLU.Yes, the Billikens had two great seasons, but a lot of that was just based off of the foundation that Majerus left (players, playing style, attitude, etc.). Crews did a great job helping the team navigate through the difficult circumstances of his first year, and the rapid change, but it seems that the team dwindled as Crews hand on the team began to show. SLU didn't show up when it mattered in the tournament in 2013, and in late in the season in 2014. You can't always blame the coach for the team not showing up, but he doesn't have a proven track record of being able to get a team of mid-level talent to perform at higher levels (he didn't do much at Evansville, or Army). I really like SLU's approach of signing under recruited players and developing them over 4 years, but for that you need a coach that has a proven track record of getting the best out of his players. Honestly, the rising sophomores, and incoming freshman don't look so great, and I am worried about SLU's future. I know we next season is expected to be a restructuring year, and I understand that one has to be patient, but I don't think Crews has put SLU in a good position for years after that. I look at a comparable program like VCU who has signed 3 ESPN top 100 recruits and I am worried that SLU is just not competing. I hope I am proven wrong, but I don't think he is the man for the job." I think we have seen more of this trend this season. I EXPECTED this season to be tough, and it is not the win/loss columns that i see as concerning. I would have expected this record with really any coach. Here is what I DO find concerning: -As Crews has had his hand with players, we have not seen improvement/development (I will exclude the Freshmen because many of them need a natural adjustment period and are just not showing their floor). McBroom was not able to make a big jump, and Yacoubou didn't really turn into a difference maker with that year of practices. The Sophomores, which are the class that has seen really only Crews is the class that we are talking about not showing any signs of improvement. -There are extremely frustrating parts of the Billiken's game that one would expect to see improve over the years and as the season progresses. Our big problem last year was 3 pt shooting. One would have thought that this would be addressed in the off season, and we can see that its still an issue. We have struggled with free throws all season, and the frustrations continue. I think he is a great game manager. I will not take that away from him. I do believe, however, that it makes more than that to build a successful program. A coach has to be able to recruit well, develop, AND THEN be a great game manager.

i do.

I wonder if it's a attitude. The game after he had his 19pt game he tweeted something like "you can't teach determination" and he was never the same after that career high. Maybe it made him cocky and it showed in his practices, so jc is sending him a long hard message?

We aren't playing as terribly as the score may suggest.... The problem is they get 3 for every 2 we make.

only 14 down at the half? I'll take that given how we've played.

made an account on live stream. any update on potential stream? or should i play it safe and pull the trigger on buying it?

Is it free to stream through the A 10 digital network?

I assumed so. The last games this season on FSMW were streamed online with high quality, so I am banking on that.

I would take Tatum in a heartbeat. However, I actually think it would be better for the program to land someone like tyler cook in the long run. Tatum would give SLU instant attention, but everyone would know his stay will be short. I would prefer to see the program build brick by brick for the future, slowly attracting better and better recruits.

NO. I think there are too many other factors to take into account.

i apologize in advance for the off thread topic question. I welcome any redirection to an appropriate thread. if a game is not listed as being broadcast on cbs sports, nbc sports and ESPN doesn't specify any other network, where will it be broadcast? (asking specifically about the upcoming davidson game, but extends to later games as well).

mine gave out too…..were in the same boat on both fronts

yarbrough…..NBA?

same