Coach on the Radio

[HoosierPal]

Today, with Frank, Claiborne and Rammer.  Segment 2 Oct 5.  https://590thefan.com/radio-shows/press-box/

Coach really likes his offense, the team is built for scoring.  A guy really scoring and playing well in practice is Pickett.  Forrester has been one of the biggest surprises of the team.  He is a threat with his back to the basket.  We just need to add some defense and rebounding to it.

Hughes was really impressive to Rammer when he last saw practice.  Coach said his defense is at a high level, not just as a Freshman, but on any level.  His shot was struggling early, but it has improved.  Coach wasn't sure early if he would be ready to go but he has proven he can play on this team.

Four days of practice, defense has been the focus on practices.  Collins and Thatch lead the charge, but Pickett is a 'disrupter'. These guys can change a possession with their D.

Team does not have a Power Forward. Likely will run out a PG, a 5 and then three wings.  He does use the classical numbers in practice to tell players where a certain position...tell them where the one goes, where the two goes, etc.  There will be four guards with a big 95 to 98% of the time.  Will play two bigs at times, but not very often.

In his offense, Ford gives players the freedom to make choices.  He does emphasize structure, particularly spacing and positioning on the floor.  "If the ball is here, you need to be there."  Very rarely tells a player not to shoot.  More likely, "you should have taken that shot".  We want to pass up a good shot for a great shot.  Half the team is vets, half the team has never played for Ford.  The new ones have to understand our TeamBlue culture.

Frank - How do you keep it fresh for your vets?  It is a challenge.  We are doing drill work.  Some of the guys have done the drill a thousand times. The vets need to lead the new ones through the drills.  Vets he really doesn't yell at.  The new guys get yelled at. 

"I haven't changed the way I coach.  I try to be a better coach.  I don't change my approach because of the transfer portal.  The game has changed dramatically with the Portal and NIL, so you have to adjust."

Three weeks away from the exhibition with UMSL. "We have to get better today."  We won't talk about anything more than today.  Embrace each day to get better.  Coach Sunvold said Ford called him and wanted to move the game days up on the calendar.  Sunvold said no.  Ford wanted to move it to fit in the scrimmage with Bradley. 

Dr. Chaifetz and Coach text quite a bit.  He is excited about this team for sure.

[Bills By 40]

Great notes Hoozier! 

[HoosierPal]

Coach on KMOX this morning. 

https://www.audacy.com/kmox/podcasts/sports-on-a-sunday-morning-307/billikens-have-one-of-toughest-non-conference-schedules-in-the-country-travis-ford-1531235507

Yuri has taken a leadership roll on this season's team.  Something this team really needs.  He starts our defense, he starts on the ball defense.  Everyone on the team knows Yuri is the team leader.  We are an older team in general, but it only matters if we use our experience. 

Last season Jimerson was a third A10 Preseason member (no he wasn't), this season on second team A10.  Last season allowed Gibson to take on more responsibility without Perkins. He hasn't gotten satisfied.  He really has worked on his game, off the dribble, shot faking. 

Perkins has been out a week with a minor ankle sprain.  He will be highly effective coming out, but will need to work his way back.

Okoro, there are a lot of good centers in the A10.  Look back at the second half of the A10 season, he was double teamed on every possession.

Fred will play every position except maybe the center spot.  He is the backup point guard, he has been very impressive.  He will play the majority of his minutes on the wing or at the 4.  He may start, he may not start, it doesn't matter.  He will get his minutes.

Pickett has been everything hoped for.  His leadership is outstanding because of his experience.  He talks more than anyone else on the court, and he is loud.  He is productive, finds ways to score.  Had an inter-squad scrimmage yesterday.  He has played high level in the SEC, and he just wants to win.

UMSL exhibit is a week from tomorrow.  (No radio.)  November will be here soon and will be a great schedule.  If you take all A10 and all of the Big 6, we have the fifth toughest non-conference schedule of all those schools.  We can't take a day off.  This is the toughest schedule any one on the team has ever played.  You can't turn it on and off. 

Coach says we should score more, unless teams try to slow the game down against us.  We lead the A10 in scoring last season, and adding Perkins, Pickett and Parker and Forrester (he is fighting with Okoro for the starting spot) we should score higher.

 

[slu72]

Tx Hoosier. Good stuff. Forrester report is good news. Should keep Okoro on his toes. Sounds like an improved Linssen, who we all liked. Getting a little pumped but as they say, the proof is in the pudding. 

[Littlebill]

21 hours ago, HoosierPal said:

Coach on KMOX this morning. 

 

Last season Jimerson was a third A10 Preseason member (no he wasn't), this season on second team A10.  

 

Gib was on the actual third team for 21-22 fwiw

 

thanks for the info HP

[Compton]

21 hours ago, HoosierPal said:

Coach on KMOX this morning. 

https://www.audacy.com/kmox/podcasts/sports-on-a-sunday-morning-307/billikens-have-one-of-toughest-non-conference-schedules-in-the-country-travis-ford-1531235507

Last season Jimerson was a third A10 Preseason member (no he wasn't), this season on second team A10.  Last season allowed Gibson to take on more responsibility without Perkins. He hasn't gotten satisfied.  He really has worked on his game, off the dribble, shot faking.

The host jumbled it up the way he said it, "It always tells you something when you move up the charts in the A10 preseason list. Last season Jimerson was a Third Team A10 choice. He is already a preseason Second Teamer."

Jimerson was A10 Third Team last season and is A10 preseason Second Team this season.

 

[slu72]

What’s neat about Ford’s comments are those about Forrester pushing Okoro. Okoro’s a pre season 3 rd team all A10. Does this mean we’ve got a backup who could also be a 3rd team all conference? Not too shabby. 

[HoosierPal]

2 hours ago, Compton said:

The host jumbled it up the way he said it, "It always tells you something when you move up the charts in the A10 preseason list. Last season Jimerson was a Third Team A10 choice. He is already a preseason Second Teamer."

Jimerson was A10 Third Team last season and is A10 preseason Second Team this season.

 

I think Ackerman and Ford were talking about two different teams.  Ford was maybe talking about the  A10 Preseason 3rd team, which Jimerson was not on, and Ackerman was talking about the Post Season A10 3rd team, which Jimerson was on.

Preseason:  https://atlantic10.com/documents/2021/10/26//2122_Preseason_Awards_Poll.pdf

Postseason:  https://atlantic10.com/documents/2022/3/8//21_22MBBAwardsList.pdf

 

[HoosierPal]

Media instead of radio.  No need for a new thread.

 

[Old guy]

On 10/16/2022 at 11:28 AM, HoosierPal said:

Coach on KMOX this morning. 

Perkins has been out a week with a minor ankle sprain.  He will be highly effective coming out, but will need to work his way back.

 

A week off for a "minor ankle sprain", really? Why?

[dennis_w]

ankle sprains can linger and be chronic, rest it now and let it heal fully

[slu72]

I would guess every team is going thru minor nicks and bruises. Let’s hope they are all minor and we’re just being safe not sorry. 

[Bills By 40]

18 hours ago, Old guy said:

A week off for a "minor ankle sprain", really? Why?

Because there's a real fine line between minor ankle sprain and major ankle sprain and what sense is there in risking that? Don't need to reaggravate a minor injury, especially in someone who is fresh off the recovery from another much more significant injury. I know what you were implicating here but this was a needless question. 

[AnkielBreakers]

18 hours ago, Old guy said:

A week off for a "minor ankle sprain", really? Why?

He is a senior, probably skipping practice, faking injuries. You gotta just watch Ferris Bueller’s to get back into the mindset.

[HoosierPal]

Sports on a Sunday Morning, 10/23.  https://www.audacy.com/podcasts/sports-on-a-sunday-morning-307

Tomorrow is maybe the earliest exhibition game Ford has played.  Guys are tired of practicing against each other.

Picking up on last week's discussion, player by player. (See last week's notes for most of the others.)

Parker can really score the ball.  He can score mid-range.  Every day stats are kept on everything or every player.  Parker has lead us in scoring in practice up to now.  He is improving his defense, which he needs to do, if he is going to play the minutes we want him to play.  He shoots from way deep, and has a mid range shot almost as good as Perkins (Ford thinks Perkins has the best mid-range in the country.)  And Parker is right there with him.

Larry Hughes Jr, his greatest strength is his understanding of the game.  He has picked up our system quickly.  He has played point in practice.  "We didn't think any of the freshmen would play this season due to the guys we have coming back.  But Hughes has earned the right to play. He will be in the rotation and play every game.  Same with Thames."  Kramer is coming along too.

Jake Forrester, "We picked him up as insurance for Okoro."  But he has been a pleasant surprise.  He is pushing Francis everyday.   Physical and mobile.  He can score in the post but needs to finish a little better. 

On Preseason hype, coach says yeah it's there but he told the team a month ago not to pay any attention to any of it.  None of that matters, good or bad. 

Practice is later today, and media will be there for player and coach access.  They will start working through scouting reports, to get into game mindset.  They will do the normal night before game ritual, and same for game day.

KMOX won't carry tomorrow's game.

[dlarry]

 

Season can’t get here fast enough!!!

[wgstl]

Please edit thread title and include NSFW 

[HoosierPal]

https://590thefan.com/radio-shows/press-box/

 First, thanks to @Bay Area Billiken for alerting us to this interview.  Moved my comments over here to the media thread.

Yes, three great interview sessions.  Too much for me to transcribe, so I advise a listen.   Highmark says we will see Thatch plus Pickett a lot, when we run up against some team with a player or two on fire. 

Highmark very impressed with how Jimerson has changed his game.  Shot 7 FT his first season, 12 his second, and then learned he needed to attack the basket and shot 115 FT last season.  He is a three level scorer now.  His release without dipping his hands, is effective.

"It's all about NIL".   Every year there will be significant turnover.  Travis will lose 4 or 5 guys to the portal, but he will get 4 or 5 guys from the portal.  (Scott says that if you go too high, you might not develop your game at the P5 level. )  Highmark knew he wouldn't be in the NBA, but EVERYONE he played with at SLU thought they were going to the NBA.  Kellen Grady thought he would be in the NBA, but Calipari told him to stand in the corner and "shoot when you are open"....he didn't get to improve his game.  But he got rich at Kentucky.  Bess came to SLU from Michigan State because he knew he had to improve his shooting and likely that wasn't going to happen at MSU.  Now the agents are trolling for NIL deals.  They are going to families and amateur coaches, and telling them he can cut a deal for the kid.  Creates unrest. 

Rammer - Collins didn't play in the NIT game due to the TN NIL situation.  SLU flew to Vegas to talk to Courtney Ramey and had him lined up to come back, until Collins reversed. 

Can you build a special culture as well as be in the NIL game to succeed.

Yuri at the next level - no one in the NBA is like him, a pass first point guard.  His shooting is better than in previous years.  And he will get better at the next level.  If you are 5'10" (he isn't 6'), you have to really shoot it.   He may have to go the the G league or overseas to work on his game initially.  

Rammer - Team needs a deep run in the tourney, meaning 2 victories.   SLU sweet 16 has never been done. 

Is this team the deepest, most experienced team ever?  Was Majerus team better?  Maybe not as deep 8, 9, 10.  But look at Jett, McCall and Mitchell with Evans.  They would match up with this team.  Scott's team, we had no bench.  Everyone had to play 35 minutes. 

Rammer - when you played Wake Forest, if everyone had been healthy, could the game have ended differently?  Scott remembered his air ball with 1:30 to go, down three, and he airballed it.  'We were right there and didn't play as well as we could'.  Clagg and H were down, sick and injured. 

Coach Spoon talked Highmark out of trying to coach. Coach Spoon moved 15 times in 20 years until he got his first Head Coach job at Springfield.  Tough on family and kids.  Lackey never got a shot at Head Coach.  Never fulfilled his dream.  Would you have been better as a game coach or recruiter?  Highmark - game coach, loves x and o's.  Would have hired Corey Tate.  Frank would be his 'bag money' as a recruiter.    After Ford and Collins, Tate is the third most important person on the team.  Tate is a relationship man.  He truly loves these kids and the kids love him.  Travis is a 10 in recruiting and under rated in everything else.  Ford has never been an assistant, went straight to Head Coach. 

Highmark visited Mizzou when Ford was on the team.  He visited, and he wasn't offered the single scholarship (they were on probation and had only 1 schollie.  Steve Horton got the schollie, tore his ACL and never played), so he came to SLU.  He was leaning toward SLU before that. 

Highmark leaves before the third session.....

Rammer says the Bills will average about 85 ppg.  Won't be 'run and gun' but will be high scoring, shooting more 3's.  Looking at shooting 27 3's per game.  Last season was 18 3's per game. 

A10 -  with the schedule change of having the good teams play each other, you will lose games, but you will not lose your RPI and you will  increase your SOS.  It should raise the level for the top teams. 

March Madness Expansion - changes to the format are needed.  You can't have a Cinderella in a conference tourney get an auto bid into the NCAA.  Don't do what the football playoff is doing, go from 4 to 12.  If you increase the numbers, do it slowly and in small bits.  Can the 100th team in the NCAA win it all.  Not going to happen.  Top 50, yeah maybe.  Is an extra weekend worth it?   

 

[dlarry]

2 hours ago, HoosierPal said:

https://590thefan.com/radio-shows/press-box/

Rammer - Collins didn't play in the NIT game due to the TN NIL situation.  SLU flew to Vegas to talk to Courtney Ramey and had him lined up to come back, until Collins reversed. 

 

The Ramey thing is very interesting. 
The NIT thing is kind of a bummer to hear. 
Oh well. All’s well that ends well. 

[wgstl]

1 hour ago, dlarry said:

The Ramey thing is very interesting. 
The NIT thing is kind of a bummer to hear. 
Oh well. All’s well that ends well. 

Idk why, I finally feel like I have closure lol. Also explains a lot with the uni game that was also a mystery to a lot. 
 

and shoot that Ramey news is veryyyyy - big.  It sounds like had we lost yuri, the drop off wouldn’t have been as big as it seemed. 

[WVBilliken]

4 hours ago, HoosierPal said:

https://590thefan.com/radio-shows/press-box/

 First, thanks to @Bay Area Billiken for alerting us to this interview.  Moved my comments over here to the media thread.

Yes, three great interview sessions.  Too much for me to transcribe, so I advise a listen.   Highmark says we will see Thatch plus Pickett a lot, when we run up against some team with a player or two on fire. 

Highmark very impressed with how Jimerson has changed his game.  Shot 7 FT his first season, 12 his second, and then learned he needed to attack the basket and shot 115 FT last season.  He is a three level scorer now.  His release without dipping his hands, is effective.

"It's all about NIL".   Every year there will be significant turnover.  Travis will lose 4 or 5 guys to the portal, but he will get 4 or 5 guys from the portal.  (Scott says that if you go too high, you might not develop your game at the P5 level. )  Highmark knew he wouldn't be in the NBA, but EVERYONE he played with at SLU thought they were going to the NBA.  Kellen Grady thought he would be in the NBA, but Calipari told him to stand in the corner and "shoot when you are open"....he didn't get to improve his game.  But he got rich at Kentucky.  Bess came to SLU from Michigan State because he knew he had to improve his shooting and likely that wasn't going to happen at MSU.  Now the agents are trolling for NIL deals.  They are going to families and amateur coaches, and telling them he can cut a deal for the kid.  Creates unrest. 

Rammer - Collins didn't play in the NIT game due to the TN NIL situation.  SLU flew to Vegas to talk to Courtney Ramey and had him lined up to come back, until Collins reversed. 

Can you build a special culture as well as be in the NIL game to succeed.

Yuri at the next level - no one in the NBA is like him, a pass first point guard.  His shooting is better than in previous years.  And he will get better at the next level.  If you are 5'10" (he isn't 6'), you have to really shoot it.   He may have to go the the G league or overseas to work on his game initially.  

Rammer - Team needs a deep run in the tourney, meaning 2 victories.   SLU sweet 16 has never been done. 

Is this team the deepest, most experienced team ever?  Was Majerus team better?  Maybe not as deep 8, 9, 10.  But look at Jett, McCall and Mitchell with Evans.  They would match up with this team.  Scott's team, we had no bench.  Everyone had to play 35 minutes. 

Rammer - when you played Wake Forest, if everyone had been healthy, could the game have ended differently?  Scott remembered his air ball with 1:30 to go, down three, and he airballed it.  'We were right there and didn't play as well as we could'.  Clagg and H were down, sick and injured. 

Coach Spoon talked Highmark out of trying to coach. Coach Spoon moved 15 times in 20 years until he got his first Head Coach job at Springfield.  Tough on family and kids.  Lackey never got a shot at Head Coach.  Never fulfilled his dream.  Would you have been better as a game coach or recruiter?  Highmark - game coach, loves x and o's.  Would have hired Corey Tate.  Frank would be his 'bag money' as a recruiter.    After Ford and Collins, Tate is the third most important person on the team.  Tate is a relationship man.  He truly loves these kids and the kids love him.  Travis is a 10 in recruiting and under rated in everything else.  Ford has never been an assistant, went straight to Head Coach. 

Highmark visited Mizzou when Ford was on the team.  He visited, and he wasn't offered the single scholarship (they were on probation and had only 1 schollie.  Steve Horton got the schollie, tore his ACL and never played), so he came to SLU.  He was leaning toward SLU before that. 

Highmark leaves before the third session.....

Rammer says the Bills will average about 85 ppg.  Won't be 'run and gun' but will be high scoring, shooting more 3's.  Looking at shooting 27 3's per game.  Last season was 18 3's per game. 

A10 -  with the schedule change of having the good teams play each other, you will lose games, but you will not lose your RPI and you will  increase your SOS.  It should raise the level for the top teams. 

March Madness Expansion - changes to the format are needed.  You can't have a Cinderella in a conference tourney get an auto bid into the NCAA.  Don't do what the football playoff is doing, go from 4 to 12.  If you increase the numbers, do it slowly and in small bits.  Can the 100th team in the NCAA win it all.  Not going to happen.  Top 50, yeah maybe.  Is an extra weekend worth it?   

 

No way they average 85 points a game.  Other teams will slow games down to keep score close.

[Littlebill]

F Tennessee

[SLUMedBilliken15]

1 hour ago, WVBilliken said:

No way they average 85 points a game.  Other teams will slow games down to keep score close.

Agree...Plus we didn't even score 85 against UMSL....

[NoCoBillsFan]

2 hours ago, WVBilliken said:

No way they average 85 points a game.  Other teams will slow games down to keep score close.

Two teams scored 85 ppg or more last season. Definitely an exaggeration 

[HoosierPal]

10 hours ago, dlarry said:

The Ramey thing is very interesting. 
The NIT thing is kind of a bummer to hear. 
Oh well. All’s well that ends well. 

Yeah that certainly caught my attention. Rammer just threw that out there. When he said “they flew out to Vegas to meet with Ramey”,  I wonder who all was on that plane? And as @wgstlsaid, this kind of ties up a loose end.