NYBilliken

Stef Van Bussel (SVB) is backup freshman center from the Netherlands. He was used sparingly for most of the 2023-24 season, still recovering after major leg surgery earlier in 2023. Increased playing time in February and March, and moved up from third to second string. He showed improvement in adjusting to US D1 basketball, defending and passing and scoring at the hoop. In his best game he played 26 minutes at Rhode Island and helped get that win. Evidently not a long distance shooter, but showed he can be effective in other ways on the perimeter. High-effort player and still developing. Will either stay at SLU or transfer to another high-mid major.

Maybe better question would have been to ask about the A-10 and how it differs from MVC, how he might adapt.

"And thanks to all the billikens.com posters who guided all of our efforts."

I watched second half of the Memphis win at Milwaukee. I hadn't watched Goodwin play in a while but had seen his 3-pt % was fading, plus he only plays some of the games as Grizzlies need to slowly use up his maximum game allowance as (technically) a prorated two-way contract player. But last night it was clear how valuable he was. In the second half, he came onto the floor about midway through the third quarter and played the rest of the game, which was close throughout. He played well as point guard and scored opportunistically, and Memphis announcers raved about his rebounding, said he is one of the best defending and rebounding guards in the league. While J. Jackson was MVP of the game, Goodwin was clearly also key to the win.

Ambitious coaches (and their agents) who want to reach the top of college basketball are looking for the best path to that top level, destination, hall of fame job: top dollars, top players, ranked almost every year, ncaa tourney and wins almost every year, high-quality organization/school, and good place to live. For Schertz, right now, Saint Louis looks like a good next step. He could elevate Saint Louis to Gonzaga status, or he succeed here and move on in a few years to power conference job that is not a shambles or perennial loser. He can bring top players from his system at ISU to Saint Louis, win here, and then he could take his future all-conference players from Saint Louis to the next level.

Good crowd at the Hulman Center in Terre Haute

So far Billikens outplaying RI handily - it would be 28-12 if Ez had hit those 4 foul shots.

Would hypothetical possibility of Billiken victory knock Dayton out of their at-large spot? (signed) Juan Bid.

I attended the game yesterday in Rhode Island, which was entertaining battle of evenly matched teams, the Billikens played hard and it was great to see a win. Here are a few impressions from sitting behind visitors bench and watching Bills at this stage of this lost season: Gibson Jimerson found new dimension in his game, put the team on his back in the second half to secure the win. The new dimension was driving into the thick of traffic. Previously he had added to his perimeter game by driving to the outside then cutting into basket, but last night he not only did that, he drove directly into narrow gaps between defenders to get fouled or score. He scored 30 points - one of his best games. A funny moment happened late in game when Jimerson drove toward basket, was fouled by three different RI players - and the crowd howled in protest when the foul was actually called. Sincere Parker continued to play inspired basketball when he was on the floor but then was absent for most of second half. I will go back and read this thread to find out what happened to him - and also whatever else I missed. van Bussel also made a major contribution to the win. He showed great hustle throughout his time on floor, and made a couple of key plays toward the end of the game. He was constantly sprinting to get back on defense and set screens. The Billikens offense found a good pattern with van Bussel on the perimeter getting the ball, and finding a cutting playmaker who would either shoot or pass further. In this game, this pattern seemed to work even better with van B. in the game rather than Ezewiro, who passes then cuts to the basket with expectation of pass to him. Van B. seems to have moved up to second on the depth chart for center. Hughes also had one of his best all-around games as a Billiken. Medley still mistake prone but had some clutch steals and high degree of effort throughout on both ends of the court. Hargrove had an up and down game - made some great plays but also a couple of airballs and missed dunk at end of first half. Thames and Ezewiro also played well and contributed to the win - but Ezewiro in particular was foul prone. In general the Billikens committed too many early fouls, which put them in penalty and enabled RI to shoot many foul shots in first half and keep it close. That was starting to happen in second half too but then Bills turned it around and managed to stop fouling, so they may have wound up with more foul shots in second half. On the negative side, RI had too many open drives to the hoop and uncontested three pointers, which kept them in the game. The Billikens seemed like the better team throughout, but allowed RI to keep bouncing back. It was great to see Billikens persevere and get the win, the offense looks better, and some of our players have improved during this season which will help them in their future careers whether at SLU or elsewhere. Billiken fan presence was minimal - noticeably fewer than normal.

11 point run by Jimerson and Hargrove. Billikens take the lead!

I guess the DNP was caused by more Grizzlies on the 15-man roster returning from injury. They will play their contracted players in preference to Goodwin. There is not so much emphasis on winning as they have not much of hope of making playoffs. They already have 15 contracts so it's not an option to sign Goodwin on regular contract without releasing one of those 15. Gilyard had the same issue and he had run out of games a two-way player is allowed to play. The two-way deal seems an OK deal to keep Goodwin playing and working on his game. He has done great to establish himself as NBA player, but needs to convince the league he has higher ceiling and earn a new deal. I believe he has three years of NBA service now, so he qualifies for some pension etc. If this is third year, it is the last season he qualifies for two-way contracts, so will need to earn a full contract somewhere next season.

Slowing down the game with a lead is not working.

The DUQ announcers are laughing at SLU performance tonight.

The Knicks were good in the 1990s - 8th best record in the league for the decade - but the two losses in the Finals were painful. Riley should never have benched Anthony Bonner during the playoffs in '94.

This year's contract became fully guaranted as of January 10, so as of now Brooklyn must pay Goodwin the remainder of his 2023/24 salary. If he signs with another team, the amount Brooklyn must pay is reduced but not by that full amount, so Goodwin can potentially get more than if he wasn't waived. https://www.spotrac.com/news/2024-nba-contract-guarantees-to-watch-2113/

That makes sense, I didn't see that. Partisan fan here. So no-call either way. Still I think refs leaned St. Joe's way in second half and especially down the stretch.

The crowd reacted when that (non)foul was committed. They knew it was a foul.

Ridiculous no-call by the refs - Parker got body-slammed at mid-court. That is the WORST CALL I HAVE EVER SEEN!

Refs taking over down the stretch. Two no-calls on Bills' last possession - Hargrove on the drive, Thames on the rebound.

Last few games, Billikens are finally improving after hitting their lowest point. It's a team of projects, and some of the projects are making progress. Learning from mistakes - though still making too many. By my count in the first half, Ezewiro made 3 bad plays, Hughes 3, Medley 3, SVB 1, Parker 1. But good plays also by the same players - and the fact that despite those blunders we came back, played better defense, and took the lead is positive sign.

On the fast break of Curcic to Jimerson to Ezewiro, wasn't that a three-point play? I thought Ez made the free throw. Maybe should be 52-39, not 51-39.

Nice recovery by Curcic after terrible start. Good pass to Jimerson to start a fast break that led to Ezewiro 3 point play. Then Curcic hits the three pointer. Now if we could only guard the three point line.

Good start. Ezewiro with layups although a couple of turnovers. Medley and Hughes finding good shots and making them. Keep it going for 35 more minutes!

To avoid the law, college sport would need to be organized as clubs - as they first began. The football or basketball club would pay its own way, pay their own coaches, and make their own TV deals, then the students would make all the money. Create nationwide relegation system where club teams compete in their region at different levels and can rise to national level. No transfer limitations, you just need to be enrolled student to play.

Fordham is 3-1 on the road in conference play, 0-4 at home. So far, they have defeated GW, RI and SBU on the road.