SLU is Killing It

[D-West & PO-Z]

SLU is just handling VCU right now. 32-11 as I post this. I posted this is another thread about SLU:

"I think out toughest game, at least at home as Butler will be tough on the road, will be the Billikens. SLU is on quite a tear right now pulling off seven straight wins and 6 straight by at least 10 points as of tonight. They have a big game at home vs VCU tomorrow night which I think they will win.

SLU is pretty deep too going a legit 9 deep. Two of their top 4 scorers come off the bench. SLU had a rough start to the season with Kwamain Mitchell missing the first 11 games and getting used to a new coach after Rick Majerus' leave and eventual death. SLU is on a roll now though and is ranked just outside of the top 25 at #26 in both polls."

The good thing for Xavier about playing SLU is that its at home. SLU is extremely tough at home (other than the URI abberation). It will be interesting to see if SLU stays on the gas and continues their D or if VCU makes a run. I would think VCU would make a run but I'm hoping not. This is the largest deficit VCU has faced this season. SLU is playing some great basketball right now. Here is a link to the game online if anyone is interested.

http://www.firstrow1.eu/watch/170029/1/watch-24-virginia-commonwealth-vs-saint-louis.html

And yes I realize I did quote myself, neg reps welcome. :)

[GoMuskies]

Jim Crews is a terrible coach. That will rise up and bite them at some point. Hopefully at Cintas.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Don't know much about Crews, seems to be doing a pretty decent job so far.

What I do know is that SLU's play over the last two years just continues to validate what a great coach Rick Majerus was. I mean he took over this program that was going nowhere fast. Rick Majerus' first year was my senior year at SLU and the program had two players (Lisch and Liddell, who were jr's at that point) and nothing else on the roster or coming. Even in his first few years were SLU wasnt good it was an amazing accomplishment to be at or above .500 which SLU was with Majerus. He smiling from above watching this first half.

38-21 at the half.

[D-West & PO-Z]

SLU's guard play is really good. VCU has been pressing a lot and they have only 5 turnovers.

Also have only missed one free throw. That must be nice.

[Cheesehead]

I think SLU is the best team in the A-10 right now. Not only are they winning but they are just crushing teams. VCU got rattled early and never fully recovered.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I agree Cheese. No one playing better than them in the A10, not even close. 76-62 win tonight. VCU made two late garbage 3's to get it from 20 to 14. 8 straight wins 7 straight by double digits.

Great guard play, great depth, lots of scoring options, take care of the ball. Really, really good team.

Record now at 20-5 (9-2)

[waggy]

Jett was the difference in my opinion. Take him away and it's a tight game.

[Title_BU]

Pump the breaks...

SLU has:

@ Butler
vs St Joe
@ GW
@ Xavier
v LaSalle

-------------------------
3-2 is about the best you are going to see out of that. They could still be sweating on Selection Sunday and their bid won't be very good either way.

[Cheesehead]

Pump the breaks...

SLU has:

@ Butler
vs St Joe
@ GW
@ Xavier
v LaSalle

-------------------------
3-2 is about the best you are going to see out of that. They could still be sweating on Selection Sunday and their bid won't be very good either way.

I could see them got 4-1 and even 5-0. They should be ranked. They are 20-5 & 9-2 in the conference. Might take VCU's spot.

[LA Muskie]

I could see them got 4-1 and even 5-0. They should be ranked. They are 20-5 & 9-2 in the conference. Might take VCU's spot.

Hard to imagine they won't be ranked after that win as long as they hold serve over the weekend (assuming they play this weekend).

[smileyy]

Jim Crews is a terrible coach. That will rise up and bite them at some point. Hopefully at Cintas.

I wouldn't give him more than another year, if that. I think he was perfect to step in for Majerus and keep running his system with his players, but I wouldn't want him actually running a program. I bet he's a great assistant coach to the right head coach, though.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Hard to imagine they won't be ranked after that win as long as they hold serve over the weekend (assuming they play this weekend).

They play at Butler Friday. If they win there I bet they jump even more teams in to the top 20. If they lose close they should still be ranked but actually being ranked might be another story. We shall see. I think they get Butler Friday night too though, SLU is on a roll.

[GuyFawkes38]

I wouldn't give him more than another year, if that. I think he was perfect to step in for Majerus and keep running his system with his players, but I wouldn't want him actually running a program. I bet he's a great assistant coach to the right head coach, though.

yeah, this will be interesting. So if Crews makes the tourney the next couple years and wins a couple games, would that be enough for a strong extension? If he happens to make a sweet 16, would that be enough?

Interim coaching situations always feel a bit awkward.

[Title_BU]

Butler is angry from last month, back at full strength, and will be playing in front of another sell-out. Butler is winning that game (likely with some margin)

It doesn't take anything away from SLU. Its just a good spot

[AdamtheFlyer]

yeah, this will be interesting. So if Crews makes the tourney the next couple years and wins a couple games, would that be enough for a strong extension? If he happens to make a sweet 16, would that be enough?

Interim coaching situations always feel a bit awkward.

It would likely get him the extension, but it wouldn't be the right move. SLU needs someone who can recruit. The junior class would keep them competitive next year even if the monkey from Dunston Checks In were coaching, but after that, they have nothing. Their best freshman this year already left the program. The only other freshmen are a walk-on and Jared Drew, a lightly recruited kid redshirting this year. They only have 2 sophomores on the roster.

[LA Muskie]

They play at Butler Friday. If they win there I bet they jump even more teams in to the top 20. If they lose close they should still be ranked but actually being ranked might be another story. We shall see. I think they get Butler Friday night too though, SLU is on a roll.
They absolutely should be ranked, regardless. But it's tough to enter the polls on a loss. With a win at Butler, they will absolutely get ranked (VCU will fall out). How high they jump will depend on how 20-25 do. So far, other than VCU the only other loss in that group is Pitt (#20) vs Notre Dame (#25). Hard to say whether that will bump them off some folks' lists or not. So absent some losses this weekend, SLU would be looking at 24-25 as an entry point.

[drudy23]

SLU is going to win this league.

[smileyy]

They absolutely should be ranked, regardless. But it's tough to enter the polls on a loss.

I hate that poll voting for so many people comes down to a week-to-week delta, rather than a continuous evaluation of their whole season.

[PMI]

Pump the breaks...

SLU has:

@ Butler
vs St Joe
@ GW
@ Xavier
v LaSalle

-------------------------
3-2 is about the best you are going to see out of that. They could still be sweating on Selection Sunday and their bid won't be very good either way.

I think you're crazy if you think SLU is going to sweat it out after winning three of those five games. This is such a weak bubble year (hell, we aren't even completely out yet.) At Butler will be a tough spot, I agree, but you have to figure SLU will be favored in the other four games. Xavier will be tough at Cintas, I hope, but nothing is a guarantee with us this year. My prediction: SLU, VCU and Butler are all going to the dance, along with another team, because none of those teams are going to win the A10 tournament.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Butler is angry from last month, back at full strength, and will be playing in front of another sell-out. Butler is winning that game (likely with some margin)

It doesn't take anything away from SLU. Its just a good spot

They were at full strength when they got killed by SLU last time. I think the game will be close but I think SLU gets them again. No way Butler wins by "some margin". SLU is playing too well at this point and seems to be the class of the A10. Butler will be tough at home thought and I could see them pulling out a win no doubt but I dont think by much if it happens.

Also you are high if you think SLU is sweating it out on Selection Sunday. They would need to collapse down the stretch here for them to be worrying.

[D-West & PO-Z]

butler is angry from last month, back at full strength, and will be playing in front of another sell-out. butler is winning that game (likely with some margin)

it doesn't take anything away from slu. Its just a good spot

hahahahahahahahahaha.

[Masterofreality]

St. Louis has this league in a stranglehold now.

And Butler has leaned that the A10 is a little more difficult to navigate than the Horizon League.

BTW. WTF was genius coach Brad Stevens doing on Butler's last two possessions? No timeout and his guys did not pass. All of a sudden he just became a spectator.

[Cheesehead]

Buck Futler

[Grylls]

Looks like SLU should be ranked. X could be playing 4 ranked teams in their last five games.

[Xman95]

How old is Kwamain Mitchell? 58? Seems like dude has been around since Charlie Spoonhauer was at SLU!

[D-West & PO-Z]

Because of that year where him and Willie Reed were accused, along with another athlete, of sexual misconduct that was found untrue by police but they were still suspended by SLU from school for a semester. Willie Reed bolted and Mitchell stayed. Tu and him were freshman the same year. And to show how much Tu improved Kwamain was definitely the better player and PG their first years. Mitchell is still solid but seems to have some progress derailed by that year and some injuries.

[Muskied]

Butler is angry from last month, back at full strength, and will be playing in front of another sell-out. Butler is winning that game (likely with some margin)

It doesn't take anything away from SLU. Its just a good spot

AHHHHH Glorious day. So you mean a sell out doesn't automatically guarantee victory?

[LA Muskie]

Well color me SHOCKED. SLU entered the AP poll at 18 (right around where they belong) and the ESPN Coaches' Poll at 19. VCU dropped out of the AP poll but held on at #25 in the Coaches' Poll, leaving 3 A-10 teams there.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Really glad to see SLU not just jump into the Top 25 but the Top 20. They deserve to be that high after the week they had and continuing their winning streak. Knew they should be in the Top 20, wasnt positive it would happen especially in both polls, but glad it did.