SShoe Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 As always, WH does his homework and presents a very informed synopsis of this year's team. He does indicate in a post on the A-10 board that he thinks there will be a serious log-jam in the A-10 and nine teams could seriously compete for the A-10 championship. Enjoy... A-10 PREVIEW – 8th PLACE SAINT LOUIS Last year: 20-13 (8-8), 7th Place ARENA Savvis Center Seats: 20,000 Average attendance: 9,667 COACH Rick Majerus: 1st year (20th overall) Record at Saint Louis: 0-0 (422-147 overall; 74.2% winning percentage) ROSTER 00 Dwayne Polk SR PG 5-9 160 St. Louis, MO 1 Danny Brown SR WG 6-4 200 Houston, TX 2 Anthony Mitchell FR WF 6-4 205 East. St. Louis, IL 4 Dustin Maguire SO WG 6-5 205 Bethalto, IL 10 Paul Eckerle FR WG 6-1 175 Washington, MO 15 Barry Eberhardt JR PF 6-7 250 Inkster, MI/Coffeyville CC (KS) *21 Kevin Lisch JR WG 6-2 180 Belleville, IL 23 Marcus Relphorde FR F 6-7 220 Homewood, IL/American Christian (PA) *25 Tommie Liddell JR G 6-4 200 E. St. Louis, IL/Hargrave Military (VA) *32 Luke Meyer SR G/F 6-5 200 Washington, MO 43 Adam Knollmeyer SO F 6-9 235 Linn, MO 44 Bryce Husak SR C 7-0 260 Mt. Vernon, IA *Returning starters OVERVIEW When 10-3 St. Louis lost back-to-back games on the road at St. Bonaventure and at home to Duquesne, coach Brad Soderberg’s fate was sealed. Those losses destroyed hopes of getting to the NCAA tournament and set in motion a train of events that led to the hiring of Rick Majerus. Rarely have crushed hopes so quickly turned into unbridled optimism. The new coach needs no introduction. A future Hall of Famer, Majerus has piled up 422 wins to just 147 losses, a gaudy 74% winning percentage. Just as impressive, Majerus has never suffered a losing year in 17 full seasons of coaching. He’s not about to start now. Two reasons Majerus can expect to continue his winning ways are juniors Tommie Liddell and Kevin Lisch, arguably the best backcourt tandem in the A-10. The Billikens also return four seniors, making St. Louis one of the oldest teams in the league. What the Bills lack in numbers and sheer talent, they make up with stellar wing play, experience and coaching. To win 20 games for the second straight season, however, Majerus needs sizable contributions from the program’s two little-used sophomores or a quartet of newcomers. A smallish Billikens squad especially needs help upfront after the loss of 6-10 widebody Ian Vouyoukas. If the 300-pound Majerus can find a way to plug the hole in the middle with someone other than himself, St. Louis will be a strong contender for the postseason birth that eluded the school in Soderberg’s ill-fated final season. DEPARTED PLAYERS Ian Vouyoukas – If the failure to reach postseason can be blamed on one thing, the performance of Vouyoukas might be it. He put up good numbers but did not dominate like he did as a junior, when he was named to the league’s First Team. He scored less (12.4 ppg vs. 13.9 ppg), shot at a lower percentage (51.7% vs. 55%) and got into frequent foul trouble (101 fouls). Vouyoukas was easily frustrated and sometimes disappeared, a nearly impossible trick to perform for a 6-10 270-pounder. Poor officiating didn’t help. Referees called a number of ticky-tack fouls on him. The regression of Vouyoukas cost the Billikens and former coach Brad Soderberg dearly. Justin Johnson – Enigmatic 6-8 forward (2 ppg, 2 rpg, 44% FG) remained inscrutable till the very end. Though strong and athletic, with seemingly above-average skills, Johnson never found a role. He averaged just 11 minutes as a senior on a team desperate for inside help. Not even Mystery Inc. could solve this caper. Obi Ikeakor – Once considered the Billikens’ bigman of the future, the 6-8, 240-pound freshman left the team after the first semester. Ikeakor redshirted his first year to recover from a knee injury, but he never lost all the weight he gained after surgery. Horace Dixon – Highly athletic forward struggled academically and left the program after the first semester. He played in only two games. RETURNING PLAYERS Tommie Liddell – The do-it-all junior (15.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 47% FG), a Second Team All-Conference selection, is one of the leading candidates for A-10 Player of the Year. He can score anywhere on the court, break down defenses with passing and penetration and rebound better than any guard in the country. Playing all three wing positions, he’s difficult to defend and requires constant attention. During one midseason stretch Liddell scored 20 points or more in six straight games, two shy of the league record. At times he looked like a carbon copy of George Gervin with his silky spin moves and gorgeous finger rolls. What makes Liddell so dangerous – and what makes him an NBA prospect – is his much improved outside shot. He added the 3-pointer to his repertoire as a sophomore and drained 45.4% of his attempts, quite a turnaround for a player who hit only 2 of 21 treys as a frosh. Liddell canned 8 treys vs. Temple and 5 each vs. URI and St. Bonaventure. He’s not a great outside shooter on the fly, but he’s taller than most defenders and gets his feet set. If opponents get too close, Liddell can blow by them to score himself or create layups for teammates. He’s long and quick and an explosive leaper. In his third season, Liddell still has plenty of room for improvement. For one thing, he needs to increase his stamina. Liddell played almost 36 minutes a game to lead the league and his performance tailed off near the end of the season. He failed to score in double figures in only five games, but three of them came in late February and March, when Liddell shot 3-17 (17.6%) on treys. He also turned the ball over 99 times, the second highest amount in the A-10. And while Liddell is a good defender (27 steals, 19 blocks), he should be a great one. Kevin Lisch – Although Lisch is a fine all-round athlete, he’s no Tommie Liddell. He doesn’t dunk very much or wow opponents with his physical tools. Instead he relies on grit, great fundamentals and finely honed skills. The result is no less impressive. Lisch (14.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg) is one of the best two-way players in the league and is just as important to the Billikens’ success as his more gifted teammate. When Lisch got hurt last season, St. Louis struggled. The Bills played their best when he was relatively healthy. The starting point for Lisch is his shooting (41% 3PG). He’s doesn’t need much time to get his feet set and releases the ball quickly. His quick trigger forces defenders to guard him tightly, but Lisch is very aggressive and will try to shoulder his way to the rim if he can’t find space to launch a trey. If he gets to the line, he’s an 82% free-throw shooter. Lisch scored in double figures in the final 14 games, including 28 vs. Charlotte and 26 vs. Richmond. Lisch is also very smart, like a coach on the floor, and he’s the player who should have the ball in his hands late in the game. He dished out a team-leading 111 assists (3.6 apg), but only turned the ball over 59 times. When the Bills needed a clutch shot, he was usually the one to deliver. No one in the A-10 has hit more big shots in the past two years. Amazingly, all the time Lisch has to spend scoring and organizing the offense does not detract from his other responsibilities. He’s one of the best perimeter defenders (32 steals) in the A-10 and should be a preseason selection to the All-Defensive team. He gets so close he could probably brush the teeth of his opponents. Expect Majerus to give Lisch more opportunity to gamble in his high-pressure man -to-man defense. Lisch was made to play like that. Luke Meyer – Senior forward (9.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg) is one of the unsung heroes of the A-10. Though just 6-5, Meyer constantly battles bigger forwards in the paint, often to a standstill. He’s strong for his size, positions himself smartly and uses quick hands to strip careless opponents (33 steals). At times he gets overwhelmed, but Meyer mostly does a good job. He’s such an overachiever that he’s certain to become a Majerus favorite. Meyer’s offense is similarly workmanlike. He’s in constant motion, makes clever passes and does not take many bad shots (49% FG). He sneaks in for offensive rebounds and finishes well near the basket, sometimes using the glass to bank shots. What would help is if Meyer could shoot more accurately from distance to help stretch defenses and pull bigger defenders from the paint. Meyer has a nice looking shot, if a somewhat slow release, and he regularly cans midrange jumpers. It’s hard to believe he cannot do better, but he’s only a career 27% 3-pointer shooter. Dwayne Polk – Senior point guard (5.1 ppg, 2.4 apg) has never developed into a frontline starter, but he’s a solid reserve and sometimes is part of a three-guard offense with Lisch and Liddell. What he gives St. Louis is a good on-the-ball defender whose quickness can change the tenor of the game, especially at home. Every now and then Polk will have a scoring outburst and he can generate baskets with his defense, but he’s never been a regular producer. Polk does not shoot well (38% FG, 31% 3PG) and he’s too small to finish consistently when he penetrates the lane. He only scored a total of 6 points in the last six games of the year. Polk has speed and talent. The question is whether Majerus can milk it out of him every game. Danny Brown – The 6-4 wing guard hit a plateau as a junior. He averaged 4.8 points and 2.1 rebounds a game while shooting 33% from the arc, the same numbers as his sophomore year. He’s stronger and more athletic than many guards in the A-10 and does not lack for skills, but Brown has never performed up to his capabilities. Like Polk, he has a big game now and then, but often disappears. He only scored in double figures once in 19 conference games. What Polk and Brown are both about to find out is whether it’s them or the prior coaching staff. Soderberg kept tight control over his players. Perhaps more freedom and responsibility under Majerus will set them loose. Before that can happen, though, Brown has to get healthy. He had knee surgery in the offseason and might not be ready by the first game. Bryce Husak – After nearly five years, the Billikens might receive a modest return on their investment in the slow-developing 7-footer. He played his best basketball at the end of his junior year, highlighted by a career high 10 points and 6 rebounds in the team’s victory over Massachusetts in the A-10 Tournament. Husak also gave the Bills quality minutes in an early-February win at St. Joseph’s. Husak (2.1 ppg, 2 rpg, 47% FG, 14 blocks) won’t regularly score down low or fill the lane on the fastbreak. He does not have great hands and is not fleet of foot. What the fifth-year senior can do is set picks, grab a few boards, clog the paint and block shots. Majerus knows how to deploy bigmen as well as any coach in the country. He’ll figure out the best use for Husak, even if it’s just a few minutes a game. Early on, that’s probably all Husak be able to play. He suffered a stress fraction in his left foot and was unable to practice. He needs to improve his conditioning and acquire first-hand experience with the new system Majerus has installed before the coach trusts him on the floor. Dustin Maguire – Recruited as an outside shooter, the 6-5 Maquire only sank 1 of 8 three-pointers in 70 minutes of action. He’ll have to prove himself quickly to Majerus or lose out to freshmen Mitchell and Relphorde, both of whom are far more athletic and better defensively. Adam Knollmeyer – Second-year power forward barely played as a frosh (83 minutes), but he’ll get another chance on a Billikens team short of post players. He seems to know how to play with his back to the basket and has decent hands. Yet Knollmeyer lacks sufficient quickness to pose a major threat down low and he’s likely to have trouble defending more athletic forwards. If he improves his footwork and conditioning, Knollmeyer could find a role. At 6-9 and around 240 pounds, Knollmeyer brings plenty of beef. He could give St. Louis a physical presence in the paint if he learns to toss his weight around. NEWCOMERS Anthony Mitchell – Tough and tenacious, the 6-4 Mitchell is an athletic slasher with a quick first step who's active around the glass. He thrives in transition, rebounds very well for his size and has above-average potential as a defender. Michell is not a great shooter, though, and needs work on range and consistency. St. Louis has plenty of time to give newcomers. Figure on Mitchell and Marcus Relphorde to earn major minutes if they show a ready ability to grasp coach Majerus’ schemes and supply the effort he requires. Marcus Relphorde - Rangy 6-7 swingman from the Chicago area received late looks from major programs and reportedly was offered a scholarship by several other A-10 schools. He is a good 3-point shooter who can also take defenders off the dribble. During a year in prep school he expanded his game and added some muscle. The Billikens need another shooter with the athleticism to defend, so Relphorde could get plenty of minutes if he stays focused. He has a reputation as an up-and-down player. Paul Eckerle – A top player in the St. Louis area, Eckerle is the cousin of Luke Meyer and one of two players added after Majerus was hired in April. The 6-1 combo guard is a dead-eye shooter, hitting 44% of his 3-pointers and more than 80% of his free throws as a senior. He’s not a great athlete, but he gives St. Louis additional firepower on the bench. As a bonus, he’s such as good student that he’s also eligible for an academic scholarship. Majerus can free up his scholarship if a good recruit becomes available. Barry Eberhardt – Stout 6-7 forward is the heir apparent to Vouyoukas. While he’ll give up height to opponents, the 250-pound Eberhardt has the girth to carve out space inside. And he can be difficult for bigger players to guard because Eberhardt is a good outside shooter (40%-plus 3PG) and passer mobile enough to put the ball on the floor. The prospect of St. Louis competing for the league title could well depend on whether Eberhardt generates similar production in Division 1 ball – no sure bet based on the recent performance of jucos in the A-10. Yet the Billikens don’t have much size or skill upfront and need Eberhardt or one of the returnees to elevate their game at both ends of the court. SCOUTING REPORT The Billikens only have a few high-level Division 1 players, but no one in the country is better than Majerus at making lemonade out of lemons. Fortunately Majerus has just enough sugar (Lisch) and honey (Liddell) to sweeten the St. Louis pot. In different ways each player puts tremendous pressure on opponents. Both are triple threats who can shoot, dish or attack the basket off the dribble. They just need a little more help from their teammates. St. Louis was the third lowest scoring team in the A-10, averaging just 66 points. Although Soderberg repeatedly promised his team would run, he was a conservative coach at heart who had no stomach for wide-open offenses. Majerus is not a disciple of Paul Westhead, but he likes to put pressure on opponents. He plans to take advantage of the ball-handling capabilities of Lisch, Liddell and Polk to speed up the tempo. “We want to push it,†Majerus told Rivals.com. “We want to break. We want to get out in transition.†The Bills need to generate easy baskets in transition because the inside game appears nonexistent. Even though he did not play up to par, Vouyoukas regularly attracted two, three and even four defenders, freeing up space for the perimeter players to shoot or drive. Now that’s gone. Husak, the 7-footer, has shown very little ability to score, while sophomore Adam Knollmeyer doesn’t look like the answer. Majerus hopes the 6-7 juco Eberhardt can give the Billikens some scoring in the paint or at least pose a threat from the high post with his shooting and passing. A more critical worry is rebounding. The Billikens frontcourt players as a group are not especially quick and will have to rely on good positioning and boxing out to win the battle of the boards. Fortunately they’ll get a key assist from Liddell, a one-man fastbreak once he snares a rebound. The defense is less of a concern. St. Louis finished first in field-goal percentage defense, barely allowing opponents to shoot over 40%. Majerus is also a stickler for defense, though he takes a very different approach. Instead of packing the paint like Soderberg did, Majerus favors high-pressure man-to-man and ball denial. The Billikens won’t finish last again in steals. “We're going to put a priority on defending and rebounding,†Majerus told Rivals.com. PREDICTION Rick Majerus is raring to go after years of battling health problems and it would be foolish to underestimate him. Even though he did not inherit a roster full of talent, his coaching ability alone should make St. Louis a factor in the race for the A-10 title. He’s won at least 20 games in 13 of 17 full seasons and has never lost more than 14 games in one year. Nor is Majerus playing with an empty deck. He has a pair of aces in Lisch and Liddell and can build a winning hand around them. It’s vital that they stay injury-free, however. The Billikens have precious little depth and it’s worth noting that the team’s struggles last year coincided with an injury to Lisch. There is no one on the roster who can pick up the slack when one of the two L’s are away from the table. Meyer is a Jack of all trades while Polk and even a healthy Brown are a pair of wild cards. The big coach’s bigmen are, well, the biggest concern. Majerus doesn’t need a superhuman effort from them, but they have to be able to contain the better frontcourts in the A-10. That’s where Husak could be huge, literally. He’s not easy to move or shoot over and he disrupts foes with his shotblocking. Getting offense from the bigmen would be a bonus. The Billikens hope Eberhardt can add some scoring punch down low or draws big defenders away from the paint with his outside shooting. If he can do that, Lisch and Liddell will be tough to contain – and the Billikens hard to beat. Expect some rockiness early on, however, and an increasingly competitive A-10 will be no picnic in the park. The Bills should get close to 20 wins again, but it will take some good health, good luck and a little bit of Majerus magic to finish among the top four in the league or get an NCAA bid. Record: 18-11 (9-7), 8th place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billikan Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 I had some issues with WH the first year we were in tha A10 but I must say this analysis is exactly right on in virtually every respect. He obviously has done his homework! I hope we can do better than 18 wins but we will need a big year from at least one of Husak or Knollmeyer to be much better than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
worthington Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 Great article. Accurate and insightful write-ups is a primary reason I read Billikens.com. IMHO, Eberhardt, Mitchell, and Relphorde's play this season are the keys to a March Madness invite. Their upside appears to be greater than the other role players. I can't imagine (except Meyer and maybe, maybe Polk) anyone else that can contribute to the level that is needed for us to win past the first round of the tourney. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACE Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 What an outstanding analysis of our team. I'd say it's just a little better than the crap from Ty Metz(Hansborough dominated Ian?!?! hahaha!!!) The author really captured a couple of criticisms I had of Soderberg. I'm excited to see Majerus won't be employing that ultra-conservative pack defense approach. More steals can lead to more good scoring opportunities in transition. I especially like these two blurbs. "What Polk and Brown are both about to find out is whether it’s them or the prior coaching staff. Soderberg kept tight control over his players. Perhaps more freedom and responsibility under Majerus will set them loose." "Majerus is also a stickler for defense, though he takes a very different approach. Instead of packing the paint like Soderberg did, Majerus favors high-pressure man-to-man and ball denial. The Billikens won’t finish last again in steals." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjray Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 Excellent fair and balanced analysis WH ... the strengths, the weaknesses, the wild cards. He even had info on the offseason injuries (Husak and Brown). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbofive Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 Best article I've ever read about our team. Quite flattering that he says Liddell can "rebound better than any guard in the country." Probably true. I'm going to stay optimistic and say 22 wins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowboy Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 fantastic analysis and look at our team Ace, I second your views presented here hopefully the change in defensive style will generate more t/o's and thus more easy scoring chances that are converted i am ready for this to start Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bauman Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 As always, WH does his homework and presents a very informed synopsis of this year's team. He does indicate in a post on the A-10 board that he thinks there will be a serious log-jam in the A-10 and nine teams could seriously compete for the A-10 championship. Enjoy... A-10 PREVIEW – 8th PLACE SAINT LOUIS Last year: 20-13 (8-8), 7th Place ARENA Savvis Center Seats: 20,000 Average attendance: 9,667 COACH Rick Majerus: 1st year (20th overall) Record at Saint Louis: 0-0 (422-147 overall; 74.2% winning percentage) ROSTER 00 Dwayne Polk SR PG 5-9 160 St. Louis, MO 1 Danny Brown SR WG 6-4 200 Houston, TX 2 Anthony Mitchell FR WF 6-4 205 East. St. Louis, IL 4 Dustin Maguire SO WG 6-5 205 Bethalto, IL 10 Paul Eckerle FR WG 6-1 175 Washington, MO 15 Barry Eberhardt JR PF 6-7 250 Inkster, MI/Coffeyville CC (KS) *21 Kevin Lisch JR WG 6-2 180 Belleville, IL 23 Marcus Relphorde FR F 6-7 220 Homewood, IL/American Christian (PA) *25 Tommie Liddell JR G 6-4 200 E. St. Louis, IL/Hargrave Military (VA) *32 Luke Meyer SR G/F 6-5 200 Washington, MO 43 Adam Knollmeyer SO F 6-9 235 Linn, MO 44 Bryce Husak SR C 7-0 260 Mt. Vernon, IA *Returning starters OVERVIEW When 10-3 St. Louis lost back-to-back games on the road at St. Bonaventure and at home to Duquesne, coach Brad Soderberg’s fate was sealed. Those losses destroyed hopes of getting to the NCAA tournament and set in motion a train of events that led to the hiring of Rick Majerus. Rarely have crushed hopes so quickly turned into unbridled optimism. The new coach needs no introduction. A future Hall of Famer, Majerus has piled up 422 wins to just 147 losses, a gaudy 74% winning percentage. Just as impressive, Majerus has never suffered a losing year in 17 full seasons of coaching. He’s not about to start now. Two reasons Majerus can expect to continue his winning ways are juniors Tommie Liddell and Kevin Lisch, arguably the best backcourt tandem in the A-10. The Billikens also return four seniors, making St. Louis one of the oldest teams in the league. What the Bills lack in numbers and sheer talent, they make up with stellar wing play, experience and coaching. To win 20 games for the second straight season, however, Majerus needs sizable contributions from the program’s two little-used sophomores or a quartet of newcomers. A smallish Billikens squad especially needs help upfront after the loss of 6-10 widebody Ian Vouyoukas. If the 300-pound Majerus can find a way to plug the hole in the middle with someone other than himself, St. Louis will be a strong contender for the postseason birth that eluded the school in Soderberg’s ill-fated final season. DEPARTED PLAYERS Ian Vouyoukas – If the failure to reach postseason can be blamed on one thing, the performance of Vouyoukas might be it. He put up good numbers but did not dominate like he did as a junior, when he was named to the league’s First Team. He scored less (12.4 ppg vs. 13.9 ppg), shot at a lower percentage (51.7% vs. 55%) and got into frequent foul trouble (101 fouls). Vouyoukas was easily frustrated and sometimes disappeared, a nearly impossible trick to perform for a 6-10 270-pounder. Poor officiating didn’t help. Referees called a number of ticky-tack fouls on him. The regression of Vouyoukas cost the Billikens and former coach Brad Soderberg dearly. Justin Johnson – Enigmatic 6-8 forward (2 ppg, 2 rpg, 44% FG) remained inscrutable till the very end. Though strong and athletic, with seemingly above-average skills, Johnson never found a role. He averaged just 11 minutes as a senior on a team desperate for inside help. Not even Mystery Inc. could solve this caper. Obi Ikeakor – Once considered the Billikens’ bigman of the future, the 6-8, 240-pound freshman left the team after the first semester. Ikeakor redshirted his first year to recover from a knee injury, but he never lost all the weight he gained after surgery. Horace Dixon – Highly athletic forward struggled academically and left the program after the first semester. He played in only two games. RETURNING PLAYERS Tommie Liddell – The do-it-all junior (15.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 47% FG), a Second Team All-Conference selection, is one of the leading candidates for A-10 Player of the Year. He can score anywhere on the court, break down defenses with passing and penetration and rebound better than any guard in the country. Playing all three wing positions, he’s difficult to defend and requires constant attention. During one midseason stretch Liddell scored 20 points or more in six straight games, two shy of the league record. At times he looked like a carbon copy of George Gervin with his silky spin moves and gorgeous finger rolls. What makes Liddell so dangerous – and what makes him an NBA prospect – is his much improved outside shot. He added the 3-pointer to his repertoire as a sophomore and drained 45.4% of his attempts, quite a turnaround for a player who hit only 2 of 21 treys as a frosh. Liddell canned 8 treys vs. Temple and 5 each vs. URI and St. Bonaventure. He’s not a great outside shooter on the fly, but he’s taller than most defenders and gets his feet set. If opponents get too close, Liddell can blow by them to score himself or create layups for teammates. He’s long and quick and an explosive leaper. In his third season, Liddell still has plenty of room for improvement. For one thing, he needs to increase his stamina. Liddell played almost 36 minutes a game to lead the league and his performance tailed off near the end of the season. He failed to score in double figures in only five games, but three of them came in late February and March, when Liddell shot 3-17 (17.6%) on treys. He also turned the ball over 99 times, the second highest amount in the A-10. And while Liddell is a good defender (27 steals, 19 blocks), he should be a great one. Kevin Lisch – Although Lisch is a fine all-round athlete, he’s no Tommie Liddell. He doesn’t dunk very much or wow opponents with his physical tools. Instead he relies on grit, great fundamentals and finely honed skills. The result is no less impressive. Lisch (14.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg) is one of the best two-way players in the league and is just as important to the Billikens’ success as his more gifted teammate. When Lisch got hurt last season, St. Louis struggled. The Bills played their best when he was relatively healthy. The starting point for Lisch is his shooting (41% 3PG). He’s doesn’t need much time to get his feet set and releases the ball quickly. His quick trigger forces defenders to guard him tightly, but Lisch is very aggressive and will try to shoulder his way to the rim if he can’t find space to launch a trey. If he gets to the line, he’s an 82% free-throw shooter. Lisch scored in double figures in the final 14 games, including 28 vs. Charlotte and 26 vs. Richmond. Lisch is also very smart, like a coach on the floor, and he’s the player who should have the ball in his hands late in the game. He dished out a team-leading 111 assists (3.6 apg), but only turned the ball over 59 times. When the Bills needed a clutch shot, he was usually the one to deliver. No one in the A-10 has hit more big shots in the past two years. Amazingly, all the time Lisch has to spend scoring and organizing the offense does not detract from his other responsibilities. He’s one of the best perimeter defenders (32 steals) in the A-10 and should be a preseason selection to the All-Defensive team. He gets so close he could probably brush the teeth of his opponents. Expect Majerus to give Lisch more opportunity to gamble in his high-pressure man -to-man defense. Lisch was made to play like that. Luke Meyer – Senior forward (9.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg) is one of the unsung heroes of the A-10. Though just 6-5, Meyer constantly battles bigger forwards in the paint, often to a standstill. He’s strong for his size, positions himself smartly and uses quick hands to strip careless opponents (33 steals). At times he gets overwhelmed, but Meyer mostly does a good job. He’s such an overachiever that he’s certain to become a Majerus favorite. Meyer’s offense is similarly workmanlike. He’s in constant motion, makes clever passes and does not take many bad shots (49% FG). He sneaks in for offensive rebounds and finishes well near the basket, sometimes using the glass to bank shots. What would help is if Meyer could shoot more accurately from distance to help stretch defenses and pull bigger defenders from the paint. Meyer has a nice looking shot, if a somewhat slow release, and he regularly cans midrange jumpers. It’s hard to believe he cannot do better, but he’s only a career 27% 3-pointer shooter. Dwayne Polk – Senior point guard (5.1 ppg, 2.4 apg) has never developed into a frontline starter, but he’s a solid reserve and sometimes is part of a three-guard offense with Lisch and Liddell. What he gives St. Louis is a good on-the-ball defender whose quickness can change the tenor of the game, especially at home. Every now and then Polk will have a scoring outburst and he can generate baskets with his defense, but he’s never been a regular producer. Polk does not shoot well (38% FG, 31% 3PG) and he’s too small to finish consistently when he penetrates the lane. He only scored a total of 6 points in the last six games of the year. Polk has speed and talent. The question is whether Majerus can milk it out of him every game. Danny Brown – The 6-4 wing guard hit a plateau as a junior. He averaged 4.8 points and 2.1 rebounds a game while shooting 33% from the arc, the same numbers as his sophomore year. He’s stronger and more athletic than many guards in the A-10 and does not lack for skills, but Brown has never performed up to his capabilities. Like Polk, he has a big game now and then, but often disappears. He only scored in double figures once in 19 conference games. What Polk and Brown are both about to find out is whether it’s them or the prior coaching staff. Soderberg kept tight control over his players. Perhaps more freedom and responsibility under Majerus will set them loose. Before that can happen, though, Brown has to get healthy. He had knee surgery in the offseason and might not be ready by the first game. Bryce Husak – After nearly five years, the Billikens might receive a modest return on their investment in the slow-developing 7-footer. He played his best basketball at the end of his junior year, highlighted by a career high 10 points and 6 rebounds in the team’s victory over Massachusetts in the A-10 Tournament. Husak also gave the Bills quality minutes in an early-February win at St. Joseph’s. Husak (2.1 ppg, 2 rpg, 47% FG, 14 blocks) won’t regularly score down low or fill the lane on the fastbreak. He does not have great hands and is not fleet of foot. What the fifth-year senior can do is set picks, grab a few boards, clog the paint and block shots. Majerus knows how to deploy bigmen as well as any coach in the country. He’ll figure out the best use for Husak, even if it’s just a few minutes a game. Early on, that’s probably all Husak be able to play. He suffered a stress fraction in his left foot and was unable to practice. He needs to improve his conditioning and acquire first-hand experience with the new system Majerus has installed before the coach trusts him on the floor. Dustin Maguire – Recruited as an outside shooter, the 6-5 Maquire only sank 1 of 8 three-pointers in 70 minutes of action. He’ll have to prove himself quickly to Majerus or lose out to freshmen Mitchell and Relphorde, both of whom are far more athletic and better defensively. Adam Knollmeyer – Second-year power forward barely played as a frosh (83 minutes), but he’ll get another chance on a Billikens team short of post players. He seems to know how to play with his back to the basket and has decent hands. Yet Knollmeyer lacks sufficient quickness to pose a major threat down low and he’s likely to have trouble defending more athletic forwards. If he improves his footwork and conditioning, Knollmeyer could find a role. At 6-9 and around 240 pounds, Knollmeyer brings plenty of beef. He could give St. Louis a physical presence in the paint if he learns to toss his weight around. NEWCOMERS Anthony Mitchell – Tough and tenacious, the 6-4 Mitchell is an athletic slasher with a quick first step who's active around the glass. He thrives in transition, rebounds very well for his size and has above-average potential as a defender. Michell is not a great shooter, though, and needs work on range and consistency. St. Louis has plenty of time to give newcomers. Figure on Mitchell and Marcus Relphorde to earn major minutes if they show a ready ability to grasp coach Majerus’ schemes and supply the effort he requires. Marcus Relphorde - Rangy 6-7 swingman from the Chicago area received late looks from major programs and reportedly was offered a scholarship by several other A-10 schools. He is a good 3-point shooter who can also take defenders off the dribble. During a year in prep school he expanded his game and added some muscle. The Billikens need another shooter with the athleticism to defend, so Relphorde could get plenty of minutes if he stays focused. He has a reputation as an up-and-down player. Paul Eckerle – A top player in the St. Louis area, Eckerle is the cousin of Luke Meyer and one of two players added after Majerus was hired in April. The 6-1 combo guard is a dead-eye shooter, hitting 44% of his 3-pointers and more than 80% of his free throws as a senior. He’s not a great athlete, but he gives St. Louis additional firepower on the bench. As a bonus, he’s such as good student that he’s also eligible for an academic scholarship. Majerus can free up his scholarship if a good recruit becomes available. Barry Eberhardt – Stout 6-7 forward is the heir apparent to Vouyoukas. While he’ll give up height to opponents, the 250-pound Eberhardt has the girth to carve out space inside. And he can be difficult for bigger players to guard because Eberhardt is a good outside shooter (40%-plus 3PG) and passer mobile enough to put the ball on the floor. The prospect of St. Louis competing for the league title could well depend on whether Eberhardt generates similar production in Division 1 ball – no sure bet based on the recent performance of jucos in the A-10. Yet the Billikens don’t have much size or skill upfront and need Eberhardt or one of the returnees to elevate their game at both ends of the court. SCOUTING REPORT The Billikens only have a few high-level Division 1 players, but no one in the country is better than Majerus at making lemonade out of lemons. Fortunately Majerus has just enough sugar (Lisch) and honey (Liddell) to sweeten the St. Louis pot. In different ways each player puts tremendous pressure on opponents. Both are triple threats who can shoot, dish or attack the basket off the dribble. They just need a little more help from their teammates. St. Louis was the third lowest scoring team in the A-10, averaging just 66 points. Although Soderberg repeatedly promised his team would run, he was a conservative coach at heart who had no stomach for wide-open offenses. Majerus is not a disciple of Paul Westhead, but he likes to put pressure on opponents. He plans to take advantage of the ball-handling capabilities of Lisch, Liddell and Polk to speed up the tempo. “We want to push it,†Majerus told Rivals.com. “We want to break. We want to get out in transition.†The Bills need to generate easy baskets in transition because the inside game appears nonexistent. Even though he did not play up to par, Vouyoukas regularly attracted two, three and even four defenders, freeing up space for the perimeter players to shoot or drive. Now that’s gone. Husak, the 7-footer, has shown very little ability to score, while sophomore Adam Knollmeyer doesn’t look like the answer. Majerus hopes the 6-7 juco Eberhardt can give the Billikens some scoring in the paint or at least pose a threat from the high post with his shooting and passing. A more critical worry is rebounding. The Billikens frontcourt players as a group are not especially quick and will have to rely on good positioning and boxing out to win the battle of the boards. Fortunately they’ll get a key assist from Liddell, a one-man fastbreak once he snares a rebound. The defense is less of a concern. St. Louis finished first in field-goal percentage defense, barely allowing opponents to shoot over 40%. Majerus is also a stickler for defense, though he takes a very different approach. Instead of packing the paint like Soderberg did, Majerus favors high-pressure man-to-man and ball denial. The Billikens won’t finish last again in steals. “We're going to put a priority on defending and rebounding,†Majerus told Rivals.com. PREDICTION Rick Majerus is raring to go after years of battling health problems and it would be foolish to underestimate him. Even though he did not inherit a roster full of talent, his coaching ability alone should make St. Louis a factor in the race for the A-10 title. He’s won at least 20 games in 13 of 17 full seasons and has never lost more than 14 games in one year. Nor is Majerus playing with an empty deck. He has a pair of aces in Lisch and Liddell and can build a winning hand around them. It’s vital that they stay injury-free, however. The Billikens have precious little depth and it’s worth noting that the team’s struggles last year coincided with an injury to Lisch. There is no one on the roster who can pick up the slack when one of the two L’s are away from the table. Meyer is a Jack of all trades while Polk and even a healthy Brown are a pair of wild cards. The big coach’s bigmen are, well, the biggest concern. Majerus doesn’t need a superhuman effort from them, but they have to be able to contain the better frontcourts in the A-10. That’s where Husak could be huge, literally. He’s not easy to move or shoot over and he disrupts foes with his shotblocking. Getting offense from the bigmen would be a bonus. The Billikens hope Eberhardt can add some scoring punch down low or draws big defenders away from the paint with his outside shooting. If he can do that, Lisch and Liddell will be tough to contain – and the Billikens hard to beat. Expect some rockiness early on, however, and an increasingly competitive A-10 will be no picnic in the park. The Bills should get close to 20 wins again, but it will take some good health, good luck and a little bit of Majerus magic to finish among the top four in the league or get an NCAA bid. Record: 18-11 (9-7), 8th place I don't know who WH is but he should be writing for the Basketball Preview mags. I have 3 of them at a cost of about $6 each and none are even close to this writeup. An example of the cr@% in those "expert" previews is the CBS Sportsline mag that talks about Justin Johnson as one of our starting bigs for this coming year. With errors like that why would you believe anything else you read in that mag? Great job WH, but I am much more optimistic about our year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clock_Tower Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 I don't know who WH is but he should be writing for the Basketball Preview mags. I have 3 of them at a cost of about $6 each and none are even close to this writeup. An example of the cr@% in those "expert" previews is the CBS Sportsline mag that talks about Justin Johnson as one of our starting bigs for this coming year. With errors like that why would you believe anything else you read in that mag? Great job WH, but I am much more optimistic about our year. WH is an avid fan of not only UMass but also of the A -10. Unknown to me (and most likely most on this Board) until after SLU joined the A -10, WH has developed quite a repution within the A-10 with respect to his "full-time" hobby - following and breaking down all the teams of the A 10. Apparently, WH reads everything he can find, watches as many games in person and TV as he can, talks with the A 10 media and writes a detailed analysis/projection of each A 10 team before the start of each season. Am sure I left out many details but he spends months writing his analysis and it shows. Thanks WH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SluSignGuy Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think the WH is a former reporter, but not necessarily of sports. He got out of the business but picked up this hobby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmbilliken Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think the WH is a former reporter, but not necessarily of sports. He got out of the business but picked up this hobby.That guy knows his stuff. Great assessment of this team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3star_recruit Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 Thanks for the informed write-up WH. The only mistake you made was the statement about Eckerle not being a great athlete. He's just as quick and jumps better than Lisch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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