Former Billikens Updates

[dlarry]

3 hours ago, thetorch said:

Jordan Goodwin Update

He's been benched.  Hasn't started the last 4 games and his numbers have taken a hit.  3 of the 4 games he has come off the bench they have lost.

His last game he ended up playing 30 minutes with 14 points. 5 boards, 6 assists, and 3 steals.

Well that’s odd? 
From the box score it seems he was playing great.

Any idea what the deal is? 

[almaman]

He's still being paid to do what he loves so until he's cut this is better than looking for a job in  his major field.

[Compton]

4 hours ago, thetorch said:

Jordan Goodwin Update

He's been benched.  Hasn't started the last 4 games and his numbers have taken a hit.  3 of the 4 games he has come off the bench they have lost.

His last game he ended up playing 30 minutes with 14 points. 5 boards, 6 assists, and 3 steals.

I wouldn't categorize playing 30 minutes as "benched."

[thetorch]

1 hour ago, Compton said:

I wouldn't categorize playing 30 minutes as "benched."

First 6 games he averaged nearly 35 minutes a game.

Next 5 about 21.

And he's not starting.

That is called being benched.

[thetorch]

Hasahn French - I believe French is hurt right now.  He is still on the roster for KRKA but hasn’t played since Nov 20th.  KRKA plays in 2 leagues, the top Slovenian League in which they are 10-1 and in 1st place.  They also compete in the ABA League, which is a Baltic Superleague comprising top teams from several countries. KRKA has one of the worst records in that league at 3-9.  In ABA league play through 8 games played French averages 20 minutes a game, 6 points, 6 boards, 3 TOs, shoots 54% from the field.  In Liga play French fares much better with averages of 11 points, 7 boards, 2 steals, 2 blocks, and 64% shooting.  From the FT line in both leagues French is 2-14.

Willie Reed - Competing for Buducnost the top team in the Montenegro league.  They are not participating in league play right now, currently only playing in the ABA league and also Eurocup competition. They are currently 9-3 in ABA play, good for 4th, and 6-2 in Eurocup which is 2nd in their pool.  In ABA competition Reed carries averages of 13 points and 6 rebounds, while shooting .650 from the field & 70% from the line.  In Eurocup play he has nearly identical stats with an uptick in shot percentage.  Buducnost played KRKA last week but French did not play.  Buducnost blew them out 110-64.  Reed had 17 points on 8-9 shooting.  Would have been interesting to see two different generations of Billikens big men match up.

Dwayne Evans - Evans is playing at a high level for 20-3 Ryukyu Kings in the Japan B League.  The Kings are the top team in the league and Evans is their leading scorer at over 17 points per game, 7 boards, 3 assists and 1 steal while shooting .550/.360/770.  He was recently snubbed out of a berth in the All Star game and responded by being named the league’s Player of the Week in week 22 with a 26 points 12 rebound performance.

DJ Foreman - Foreman has become the Shaq of the Icelandic Division 1 league, a step below the top Subway league that Javon Bess plays in.  Foreman suits up for Fjolnir, which sits in 5th place with a 7-6 record.  Foreman is 2nd in the league averaging 27 ppg, 3rd with over 10 rebounds, 3rd in blocks and 6th in steals.  The league is on a break till the 2nd week of January.  Foreman’s last game on Dec 17th he notched career highs in points with 40 and rebounds with 20 in a 100-90 victory.

Kwamain Mitchell - Mitchell is leading Fribourg Olympic to a first place 10-1 record in Swiss league play so far.  Mitchell leads his team in scoring with 13 ppg, assists with 4, steals with 2, while shooting .724/.324/.652.  Fribourg is the leading squad in Swiss Hoops with 17 total league championships.  The team qualified for a play in to compete in the Basketball Champions League but was bounced in the early stages.

Brian Conklin - Signed with Yalova in the Turkish League.  Yalova currently sits at 4-9 near the bottom of the league and out of playoff contention.  Conklin has regained his starting role and is averaging 10 points and 5 boards, while shooting .488/.266/.767  through 11 games.

Javon Bess - Bess also plays in Iceland for Tindastoll but in the top league, known as the Subway League.  Tindastoll is in 4th place with a 6-4 record.  Bess leads the team in most categories.  He is one of the leagues top scorers with over 19 ppg, 5 boards, 2 assists, and nearly 2 steals.  He shoots .425/.333/822.

Reggie Agbeko - Agbeko continues to play in the Spanish Silver league, a 3rd tier minor league for Zornotza, located in NE Spain about 20 miles from the coast.  Many worse places you could play basketball.  Zornotza sits in 1st place in the West division with a record of 9-2.  Agbeko has been a steady contributor, averaging over 11 points and 7 rebounds a game starting at PF.

Rob Loe - Loe continues to play for the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian league.  Loe has struggled with working back from injuries and so far has seen only backup duty.  The Breakers are 0-6 on the year.  Loe has appeared in 5 games, averaging 12 minutes a game but has only attempted 3 FGs.

Mike McCall - Recently signed with the Iranian Superleague team Kouchin.  He’s appeared in 2 games and is still working his way into the rotation.  His last game he played 18 minutes and scored 6 points.  Iran has been known to be a difficult place to play for foreigners so we will see how long McCall can hold on.

[billiCAN]

On 12/26/2021 at 10:08 PM, thetorch said:

Hasahn French - I believe French is hurt right now.  He is still on the roster for KRKA but hasn’t played since Nov 20th.  KRKA plays in 2 leagues, the top Slovenian League in which they are 10-1 and in 1st place.  They also compete in the ABA League, which is a Baltic Superleague comprising top teams from several countries. KRKA has one of the worst records in that league at 3-9.  In ABA league play through 8 games played French averages 20 minutes a game, 6 points, 6 boards, 3 TOs, shoots 54% from the field.  In Liga play French fares much better with averages of 11 points, 7 boards, 2 steals, 2 blocks, and 64% shooting.  From the FT line in both leagues French is 2-14.

Willie Reed - Competing for Buducnost the top team in the Montenegro league.  They are not participating in league play right now, currently only playing in the ABA league and also Eurocup competition. They are currently 9-3 in ABA play, good for 4th, and 6-2 in Eurocup which is 2nd in their pool.  In ABA competition Reed carries averages of 13 points and 6 rebounds, while shooting .650 from the field & 70% from the line.  In Eurocup play he has nearly identical stats with an uptick in shot percentage.  Buducnost played KRKA last week but French did not play.  Buducnost blew them out 110-64.  Reed had 17 points on 8-9 shooting.  Would have been interesting to see two different generations of Billikens big men match up.

Dwayne Evans - Evans is playing at a high level for 20-3 Ryukyu Kings in the Japan B League.  The Kings are the top team in the league and Evans is their leading scorer at over 17 points per game, 7 boards, 3 assists and 1 steal while shooting .550/.360/770.  He was recently snubbed out of a berth in the All Star game and responded by being named the league’s Player of the Week in week 22 with a 26 points 12 rebound performance.

DJ Foreman - Foreman has become the Shaq of the Icelandic Division 1 league, a step below the top Subway league that Javon Bess plays in.  Foreman suits up for Fjolnir, which sits in 5th place with a 7-6 record.  Foreman is 2nd in the league averaging 27 ppg, 3rd with over 10 rebounds, 3rd in blocks and 6th in steals.  The league is on a break till the 2nd week of January.  Foreman’s last game on Dec 17th he notched career highs in points with 40 and rebounds with 20 in a 100-90 victory.

Kwamain Mitchell - Mitchell is leading Fribourg Olympic to a first place 10-1 record in Swiss league play so far.  Mitchell leads his team in scoring with 13 ppg, assists with 4, steals with 2, while shooting .724/.324/.652.  Fribourg is the leading squad in Swiss Hoops with 17 total league championships.  The team qualified for a play in to compete in the Basketball Champions League but was bounced in the early stages.

Brian Conklin - Signed with Yalova in the Turkish League.  Yalova currently sits at 4-9 near the bottom of the league and out of playoff contention.  Conklin has regained his starting role and is averaging 10 points and 5 boards, while shooting .488/.266/.767  through 11 games.

Javon Bess - Bess also plays in Iceland for Tindastoll but in the top league, known as the Subway League.  Tindastoll is in 4th place with a 6-4 record.  Bess leads the team in most categories.  He is one of the leagues top scorers with over 19 ppg, 5 boards, 2 assists, and nearly 2 steals.  He shoots .425/.333/822.

Reggie Agbeko - Agbeko continues to play in the Spanish Silver league, a 3rd tier minor league for Zornotza, located in NE Spain about 20 miles from the coast.  Many worse places you could play basketball.  Zornotza sits in 1st place in the West division with a record of 9-2.  Agbeko has been a steady contributor, averaging over 11 points and 7 rebounds a game starting at PF.

Rob Loe - Loe continues to play for the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian league.  Loe has struggled with working back from injuries and so far has seen only backup duty.  The Breakers are 0-6 on the year.  Loe has appeared in 5 games, averaging 12 minutes a game but has only attempted 3 FGs.

Mike McCall - Recently signed with the Iranian Superleague team Kouchin.  He’s appeared in 2 games and is still working his way into the rotation.  His last game he played 18 minutes and scored 6 points.  Iran has been known to be a difficult place to play for foreigners so we will see how long McCall can hold on.

Thank you for this. I really enjoy the updates and appreciate the work you put in to it.

[Box and Won]

Phillip Russell continues to thrive at SEMO - he was named OVC Freshman of the Week for the third time this season.

Quote

Russell, who hails from St. Louis, scored double figures in two starts a week ago. He averaged 17.5 points, four assists and one steal per contest. Russell also shot 92.8 percent (13-of-14) at the free throw line and 40 percent (6-of-15) from downtown.

He scored 20 points vs. Austin Peay (Jan. 1) for his fourth game with 20 or more points this year. Additionally, Russell has scored double figures in seven-straight games and 13 of 15 starts in 2021-22.

https://semoredhawks.com/news/2022/1/3/mens-basketball-reed-jr-and-russell-win-ovc-honors.aspx

[Pistol]

There's no question Phil Russell showed some ability in his limited time at SLU. I would've been fine having a guy like that on scholarship. But with YC playing 35+ MPG lately and with more eligibility remaining, he was just going to be buried for too long. Glad to see him thriving at SEMO.

[ACE]

2 minutes ago, Pistol said:

There's no question Phil Russell showed some ability in his limited time at SLU. I would've been fine having a guy like that on scholarship. But with YC playing 35+ MPG lately and with more eligibility remaining, he was just going to be buried for too long. Glad to see him thriving at SEMO.

With the way things are now with free agency, Russell could return for his senior season after developing his game at SEMO.

[Pistol]

4 minutes ago, ACE said:

With the way things are now with free agency, Russell could return for his senior season after developing his game at SEMO.

Recruiting never stops.

Which is reason #2 why I never refer to a recruit who goes elsewhere as a "tool" (reason #1 being that I'm a 38-year-old man).

[Box and Won]

1 hour ago, Pistol said:

There's no question Phil Russell showed some ability in his limited time at SLU. I would've been fine having a guy like that on scholarship. But with YC playing 35+ MPG lately and with more eligibility remaining, he was just going to be buried for too long. Glad to see him thriving at SEMO.

Yeah, I'm super happy for him - looks like he found a perfect fit.

[thetorch]

Dwayne Evans was just named B1 player of the week for the 2nd time this season.  In 3 victories he tallied games of 15/8, 24/14, and 23/9.

B1 league has now entered their mid season break and will resume play again in March.  Evans season averages are 17/8/3 with a steal while shooting .566/.400/.769.  His team, Ryukyu Kings, currently have the best record in the league at 27-3 and have a 17 game winning streak.  Evans is the leading scorer, 2nd in rebounding, 2nd in assists, 2nd in steals, and 3rd in blocks.

Here are some highlight videos from this past week and an interview with Dwayne and teammte Jack Cooley, a center who played at Notre Dame.

 

[billiken_roy]

sitting here at work killing the last few minutes before i leave and not much going on.   a fellow worker asked me whatever happened to that gundmenson guy that played a semester here at slu.  (Remember the first time he got in a game, he hoisted a 35 footer as soon as he got the ball) 

anyway, the guy is averaging 17 ppg and 5 rpg.   now does that mean that iceland league is really bad, or this guy really improved since he left the billikens?i dont follow the europe leagues like some of you guys so i'd love to hear some thoughts. 

[thetorch]

I don't see any records of him playing currently in Iceland unless he changed his name.

His brother plays in Germany.

Bess & Foreman both play in Iceland.

Bess plays in the top league for a .500 team.  He averages 22 and 6 and is an all star level player for that league.

Foreman plays in the minor league for a good team.  He averages 30 and 10 and is the best player in the league.

Other notable players who play in Iceland are Glynn Watson(Neb)  & E.C. Matthews (RI).  The leading scorer in the league is a 6'0 pg from NY named Everage Richardson.  He played at Coastal Carolina and graduated in 06.  He was a part time starter in college and is approaching 40 years old.  Their is actually only a handful of Americans playing there.  They get a lot of there import players from other Euro and African countries.  They play a pretty wide open style of play.

 

[JMM28]

Today is Rick Majerus's birthday. 

 

It is also the 8th anniversary of SLU cracking the top 10 in the polls. 

[Lando Griffin]

How can McCall play in Iran is an American?

[almaman]

37 minutes ago, Lando Griffin said:

How can McCall play in Iran is an American?

sleeper cell?

[thetorch]

14 hours ago, Lando Griffin said:

How can McCall play in Iran is an American?

You have to go through some "hoops" but basketball diplomacy is good for both countries.

Iran has 2 leagues and they are both very popular with fans and on TV.

Just because our governments don't get along doesn't mean regular citizens wouldn't.  Iran is apparently an attractive place to play for Americans.  Decent weather, good pay, easy schedules and adoring fans.

A lot of the Euro leagues are on shaky ground financially and renege on deals regularly.  The level of play is tougher as well.  Countries like Iran, Vietnam, Phillipines, etc that seemingly would be difficult places to attract talented players make sure they take care of their players well.  20 years ago no Americans played in China, now there are tons.  It became financially viable to have high level Americans in their league so they paid them well and offered amenities to them that weren't available in Europe which attracted more and more players.

[Lando Griffin]

7 hours ago, thetorch said:

You have to go through some "hoops" but basketball diplomacy is good for both countries.

Iran has 2 leagues and they are both very popular with fans and on TV.

Just because our governments don't get along doesn't mean regular citizens wouldn't.  Iran is apparently an attractive place to play for Americans.  Decent weather, good pay, easy schedules and adoring fans.

A lot of the Euro leagues are on shaky ground financially and renege on deals regularly.  The level of play is tougher as well.  Countries like Iran, Vietnam, Phillipines, etc that seemingly would be difficult places to attract talented players make sure they take care of their players well.  20 years ago no Americans played in China, now there are tons.  It became financially viable to have high level Americans in their league so they paid them well and offered amenities to them that weren't available in Europe which attracted more and more players.

Interesting, I would have never thought when they seem to be down to kidnap or leverage any situation they can at least in the past. 

[thetorch]

The pandemic has not been kind to Loe or his pro career.

Just prior to the pandemic Loe suffered a fractured skull in a game when he collided with Lonzo Ball at the basket.  He was out for months.  

After that injury his play never returned to top form.  He skipped out on the Aussie league and played in Japan for a while prior to the pandemic.  When NZ locked down he quit the Japanese league and returned home.  When the Aussie league resumed play Loe's wife was pregnant and Loe continued to take time off with his family.  When he finally returned last year he promptly broke his ankle was out for the year.  He continues to play for the Breakers, but they are the worst team in the Aussie league and hae a lot of issues.  Loe a veteran presence for them has been benched most of the season and has only appeared in a handful of games.  The team readily agreed to release him when the Tall Blacks expressed interest in him playing in these qualifiers.  

Over his career Loe has played his best basketball for the Tall Blacks so its not surprising to see him excel.  The Tall blacks will play 4 games this weeked in Asian qualifiers, next up is the host Phillipines.

[thetorch]

Danny Brown and his UHSP Eutectics just finished their most successful season under him.

The Eutectics finished the season 10-18 and 6-10 in the AMC conference.  They finished 6th in the AMC, their highest conference finish ever.

Program has come a long way from 0 wins in 3 consective seasons.

[Bills By 40]

On 2/26/2022 at 9:22 AM, thetorch said:

The pandemic has not been kind to Loe or his pro career.

Just prior to the pandemic Loe suffered a fractured skull in a game when he collided with Lonzo Ball at the basket.  He was out for months.  

After that injury his play never returned to top form.  He skipped out on the Aussie league and played in Japan for a while prior to the pandemic.  When NZ locked down he quit the Japanese league and returned home.  When the Aussie league resumed play Loe's wife was pregnant and Loe continued to take time off with his family.  When he finally returned last year he promptly broke his ankle was out for the year.  He continues to play for the Breakers, but they are the worst team in the Aussie league and hae a lot of issues.  Loe a veteran presence for them has been benched most of the season and has only appeared in a handful of games.  The team readily agreed to release him when the Tall Blacks expressed interest in him playing in these qualifiers.  

Over his career Loe has played his best basketball for the Tall Blacks so its not surprising to see him excel.  The Tall blacks will play 4 games this weeked in Asian qualifiers, next up is the host Phillipines.

How long until the Tall Blacks have to rename their team? #CancelNewZealand 

[wgstl]

9 minutes ago, Bills By 40 said:

How long until the Tall Blacks have to rename their team? #CancelNewZealand 

I’ve been wondering this for years now

[GoSluBills]

Phillip Russell named 2nd team all OVC

[pierrelaclede]

Had no idea KC Hankton played for Chattanooga now. Has 8 points midway through the second half on ESPN