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Former Billikens Updates


thetorch

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20 minutes ago, Old guy said:

Nothing wrong with the G league, it is a valid way to get to the  NBA (if you are lucky). I would much prefer this that going to play for a team based in Irkutsk or Vladivostok.

Depends on the money for me. As someone who lived overseas for 4 years, it can be a great experience if you get out and meet people. 

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On 2/11/2020 at 12:11 PM, cheeseman said:

Look, everybody gave Crews the POY out of respect for RM and sentiment.  May could have made a viable case for not hiring Crews based on his past performance - he could have given him a two year contract to see if it would work out instead of a 5 year one - Crews was not going anywhere except home if he was not hired.  Sorry I never bought the POY thing as a reason to hire the wrong person.  

Agreed.   We won the games we were supposed to win but did not over-achieve during the season or in the NCAA Tourney.  Caretaker -- not great, hot commodity coach.

 

On 2/11/2020 at 12:42 PM, Billikenbooster said:

RM stated he was one of the best X’s and O’s guys he knew.  He was caught short when his asst coach left suddenly right before start of the season 

mhg

Yes.  And I believe RM had full confidence in Crews (as opposed to Whitesell) keeping the team together/without changes while RM recovers and then later return.  Short-term caretaker -- not permanent replacement coach.   RM likely gave his wishes to go with Crews back in August when school was starting and RM fell ill.   Remember, RM had been suffering with chronic heart disease for years -- and I do not believe RM thought in August/September that he was going to die in December/never return when RM spoke with SLU officials/Chris May in August/September and when SLU/May appointed Crews interim coach.

 

On 2/11/2020 at 11:59 AM, dlarry said:

If you don’t sign him it would also be used against you.

What if they were fighting for a coach with another school. The other school would definitely use that against The Bills.

”You’re thinking about coaching Saint Louis U? Do you like job security? They just let go the national coach of the year. what will they do to you if you have a bad year”

The extension was a disaster but they were kind of caught between a rock and a hard place.

Athletic Directors are paid good money to make these hard decision.  Decisions have consequences.   AD Chris May took the easy way out -- he put his head in the sand and did nothing.   Then, public sentiment flowed in.  By the Spring, it was tougher to not hire Crews. Instead, Chris May should have gotten ahead of the situation and control the events -- instead, he let the events flow however they wanted. Chris May took care of Chris May -- and continues to cash his paycheck. 

I love that we have Travis Ford, but to say that no one else could have lead out team and kept the momentum of Rick Majerus is ridiculous.  We really needed the program to hit the embarrassing rock bottom it did for 2 years in order to hire a good and competent new head coach?  I don't recall Xavier, Butler, Gonzaga, VCU and now Dayton having to do this.

No one was going to hire Jim Crews and no way does our tight, cohesive Junior class all disband and not return for their Senior class if Chris May hired someone other than Crews.

 

On 2/10/2020 at 11:32 AM, Littlebill said:

When Evans was on the Rick built pod, he hinted that the whole team was surprised that the replacement was Crews and not Whitesell. I don't think those guys hold a lot of respect for Crews (probably more than us), just based on how they've talked on that pod. Crawford did somehting similar

Chris May knew the players did not respect/like/want Jim Crews - but Chris May put his head in the sand and did what's best for Chris May.

 

On 2/10/2020 at 11:17 AM, glazedandconfused said:

I would venture to guess some of the veteran players (kwam, ellis, loe, jett etc.) had higher opinions of Crews at the time than we do in hindsight. Those were winning teams that were really close and went through a lot. I doubt they would've pushed for Crews to be fired for a different assistant or outside hire.  

Secondly, I would bet May wanted to keep Crews (in part) to keep some consistency in the program. Is there a chance one of Jett/McCall/Evans/Loe transfers if Crews isn't retained? I doubt it, but no one would've blamed them for trying to take their talents to a bigger program for a year.  

 

Well, you would be wrong with your venture.  Then, again, a month ago you were trying to tell us how good of Coach Jim Crew was.

As to your second point, keeping consistency... that is why it was good/smart to name Jim Crews as Interim Coach - not permanent head coach for 5 years. They were a tight group and didn't want to go their own ways - and sit a year out.   Easier to leave a program after your Freshman or even Sophomore year -- but much harder to leave the older you get and the more attached you get.  Getting your degree, staying with your non-basketball circle of friends, staying where your girlfriend goes to school, comfort of remaining at your new "home"....

 

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6 minutes ago, Clock_Tower said:

Agreed.   We won the games we were supposed to win but did not over-achieve during the season or in the NCAA Tourney.  Caretaker -- not great, hot commodity coach.

 

Yes.  And I believe RM had full confidence in Crews (as opposed to Whitesell) keeping the team together/without changes while RM recovers and then later return.  Short-term caretaker -- not permanent replacement coach.   RM likely gave his wishes to go with Crews back in August when school was starting and RM fell ill.   Remember, RM had been suffering with chronic heart disease for years -- and I do not believe RM thought in August/September that he was going to die in December/never return when RM spoke with SLU officials/Chris May in August/September and when SLU/May appointed Crews interim coach.

 

Athletic Directors are paid good money to make these hard decision.  Decisions have consequences.   AD Chris May took the easy way out -- he put his head in the sand and did nothing.   Then, public sentiment flowed in.  By the Spring, it was tougher to not hire Crews. Instead, Chris May should have gotten ahead of the situation and control the events -- instead, he let the events flow however they wanted. Chris May took care of Chris May -- and continues to cash his paycheck. 

I love that we have Travis Ford, but to say that no one else could have lead out team and kept the momentum of Rick Majerus is ridiculous.  We really needed the program to hit the embarrassing rock bottom it did for 2 years in order to hire a good and competent new head coach?  I don't recall Xavier, Butler, Gonzaga, VCU and now Dayton having to do this.

No one was going to hire Jim Crews and no way does our tight, cohesive Junior class all disband and not return for their Senior class if Chris May hired someone other than Crews.

 

Chris May knew the players did not respect/like/want Jim Crews - but Chris May put his head in the sand and did what's best for Chris May.

 

Well, you would be wrong with your venture.  Then, again, a month ago you were trying to tell us how good of Coach Jim Crew was.

As to your second point, keeping consistency... that is why it was good/smart to name Jim Crews as Interim Coach - not permanent head coach for 5 years. They were a tight group and didn't want to go their own ways - and sit a year out.   Easier to leave a program after your Freshman or even Sophomore year -- but much harder to leave the older you get and the more attached you get.  Getting your degree, staying with your non-basketball circle of friends, staying where your girlfriend goes to school, comfort of remaining at your new "home"....

 

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
11 minutes ago, thetorch said:

 

Ian Vougioukas - Ian is the elder statesman among active ex Billikens and the oldest player on Panathinaikos.  Pananthinaikos plays in the Greek A1 league where they went 18-2 and they also play in the Euroleague, the best league outside of the US.  Among the notables on Ian’s squad were Coach Rick Pitino, Jimmer Fredette, Nick Calathes, Georgios Papagiannis, Tyrese Rice, Wesley Johnson & Deshawn Thomas, all former NBA players.  Ian plays 7 minutes a game and averages 3 points and 2 boards as a backup center.

Thanks for these great updates. 

Too lazy to look it up, but was Ian on the team that upset Louisville when Pitino was coach? 

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42 minutes ago, thetorch said:

Billikens Updates 5/1/2020

Kevin Lisch - Lisch finished his 9th pro season and 7th in Australia with some decent numbers for the Sydney Kings.  Kings ended the season in 1st place with a 20-8 record.  Lisch was injured early in the season and only played 13 games, starting 10.  Whether it was injuries or old age Lisch changed his game this year and became more of a 3 point specialist but still played high level defense.  Lisch averaged 9 points a game and shot 42% from 3.

Rob Loe - Loe had an interesting year.  He fractured his skull in late October and that injury really hindered his play.  He played in 20 games for the Breakers and averaged 9 points, 4 rebounds, shot 56% from the field and 40% from 3.  He ended up signing a new 3 year contract to reup with the Breakers.  After the NBL season was cut short he went to Japan and played a couple games in their B league for the Kagawa 5 Arrows before coming back to New Zealand after flight restrictions were placed.

Kwamain Mitchell - Mitchell is still playing in Vladivostok but for a new squad, Spartak.  Mitchell is the 6th man but leads the team in scoring and assists with over 13 ppg and 5 apg.  Spartak was the top team in the Russian Superleague before play was suspended at 21-5.  Mitchell has shaved his head.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1204737225990250498

Brian Conklin - Conklin spent the year in the top French league playing for Limoges once again.  His team went 2-8 in the Eurocup and 12-13 in league play.  Conklin played in 31 games total averaging over 12 ppg, 4 rpg shooting 54% from the field and 42% from 3.  Conklin has a man bun now.  

Willie Reed - After being released from Olympiacos Reed went back to the Salt Lake City Stars in the G League.  Reed played in 8 games while starting 3.  Ended up scoring 12 points, grabbing 6 boards, and shooting .667 from the field.

Reggie Agbeko - Reggie took a year off and returned to basketball this past season playing in a C league in Spain for Argos Albacete.  Agbeko backed up in the post playing 16 min a game with 5 points and 4 boards while shooting 51%.  His team finished the season 12-13.

Grandy Glaze - Grandy continues to play to augment his “modeling” career.  He’s been bouncing around in some semi pro canadien leagues and this year caught on in the Mexican league just before Covid restrictions occurred.  He only played in one game for Cabellerros and filled up the stat sheet with 9 points, 5 boards and 5 assists.

Mike McCall - McCall went to Hungary after excelling as an all star in the British Basketball League last season.  McCall was signed by a B league Hungarian team.  He played 20 games for this team but stats are hard to come by for this league.

Dwayne Evans - Evans continued his career in the Serie A league in Italy for Sassari.  Evans put up 14 points and 7 boards in Italian League play and his team went 16-5 good for 2nd place.  Sassari also participated in the FIBA champions league which is an international competition a step below euroleague but above eurocup.  Evans averaged 15 & 6 as Sassari was 11-3 in group A.  Besides Reed Ian & Bess, Evans currently plays on the best team in the best league of any ex-billiken.

Ash Yacoubou - Started the season with the Long Island Nets in the G League.  Played in 20 games and started 10 averaging 7 and 5 while shooting 39% from the field and 34% from 3.  Ash was released by the team on January 21st.

Javon Bess - Bess had an up and down year with the Erie Bayhawks in the G league.  He started hot out of the gate playing heavy minutes and averaging over 15 points.  He was injured for almost a month in late November, early December and missed several games.  He continued to start but his role on offense continued to decrease.  He was demoted to the bench the final 11 games of the season and only had 1 game where he scored more than 3 points in that span.  For the year Bess averaged 7 points a game, 3 boards, while shooting 33% from the field and 29% from 3.

Davell Roby - Plays for BRNO in the Czech Republic, the same league Kwamain started his career in.  THis was his 2nd year with the club and he proved to be their best player and an all star in the league for the 2nd time.  Roby averaged 16 points, 4 assists and 5 boards, shot 49% from the field and 40% from 3.  BRNO went 8-19 in league play and also participated in the Alpe Adria cup, a tourney for central european teams in which they went 1-5.

D.J. Foreman - Foreman plays in the top Portuguese league for SC Lusitania which plays in Angra De Herosimo on the Azores Islands.  Besides getting to live in paradise Foreman also dominates the league.  He averages 18 points, good for 8th in the league, and 7 rebounds, in the top ten in the league.  Lusitania went 9-13 for the season.

Ian Vougioukas - Ian is the elder statesman among active ex Billikens and the oldest player on Panathinaikos.  Pananthinaikos plays in the Greek A1 league where they went 18-2 and they also play in the Euroleague, the best league outside of the US.  Among the notables on Ian’s squad were Coach Rick Pitino, Jimmer Fredette, Nick Calathes, Georgios Papagiannis, Tyrese Rice, Wesley Johnson & Deshawn Thomas, all former NBA players.  Ian plays 7 minutes a game and averages 3 points and 2 boards as a backup center.

Milik Yarbrough - Milik signed on with the Argentina pro league but was bounced off of two teams in a matter of weeks.  While down there he averaged 10 points and 4 boards in 10 games.

Tramaine Isabell - Isabell first signed with the Antwerp Giants in the Belgium league.  He quickly left that team and signed in Cyprus with Etha.  He lasted 7 games averaged 12 points, 4 boards, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Truely an international sport.

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1 hour ago, SluSignGuy said:

Thanks for these great updates. 

Too lazy to look it up, but was Ian on the team that upset Louisville when Pitino was coach? 

No Ian's freshman year was the following season.

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1 hour ago, Clock_Tower said:

Thanks for the updates!!

Jordair Jett?  

He didn't play this past season.  He spent his time here and Minnesota.  He has had chronic injury issues.  Don't know if he has hung it up or is just healing.

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  • 1 month later...

Sad to see Kevin go out due to injuries, but an incredible career nonetheless!  Best of luck moving forward. 

https://www.sydneykings.com/news/kevin-lisch-announces-retirement

 

PS, my greatest athletic feat to this day is still defeating him in a free throw contest on the way to taking the district championship in 6th grade. Still have the trophy. My Billiken Brainwashed son thinks I'm somewhat awesome because I beat a Billiken.

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not only did crymdg win the contest, he did it with virtually no sleep as he attended a sleep over the night before and obviously there was little sleep involved.  kevin appeared to be very well rested.  

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2 hours ago, billiken_roy said:

not only did crymdg win the contest, he did it with virtually no sleep as he attended a sleep over the night before and obviously there was little sleep involved.  kevin appeared to be very well rested.  

Ah, a proud father!!!  Did you ever go up to Rusty and say, "Hey buddy, my kid can beat your kid?"  Probably not.😉

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55 minutes ago, bauman said:

Ah, a proud father!!!  Did you ever go up to Rusty and say, "Hey buddy, my kid can beat your kid?"  Probably not.😉

no because obviously a one day free throw fluke was likely the best it was ever going to be.   😄  from the first time we saw kevin, it was pretty obvious he was a special athlete.   so far advanced then the rest of the boys in his class.   it was really fun watching him grow up.  

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46 minutes ago, billiken_roy said:

no because obviously a one day free throw fluke was likely the best it was ever going to be.   😄  from the first time we saw kevin, it was pretty obvious he was a special athlete.   so far advanced then the rest of the boys in his class.   it was really fun watching him grow up.  

The real question is why SLU hasn't hired @crymdg2 to coach Hasahn and J-Good with free throw shooting! Heh!

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