Two of the best arguments in favor of Saint Louis University and Missouri resuming a home-and-home men’s basketball series could be found in the respective teams’ non-conference schedules.
“Meh,” sums up Mizzou’s.
I’d like to start with SLU since the Billikens are the hometown team. But I can’t find a SLU 2018-19 SLU basketball schedule. It could be released at any time, but for now, good luck on planning when to attend a game at Chaifetz Arena.
The NCAA men’s basketball tournament selection committee has placed an emphasis on a quality non-conference schedule, and how respective teams fare in those contests – especially road games.
Missouri has one true road game – at Iowa State on Nov. 9. Should the Tigers be a bubble team come March, it is imperative they win at Ames. The Cyclones were abysmal last year, but have added Virginia transfer Marial Shayok and highly sought-after freshman Talen Horton-Tucker.
The top-heavy home schedule begins on Nov. 6 when Central Arkansas – the school of Scottie Pippen – visits Columbia.
Temple comes calling on Nov. 27 and then Central Florida follows them to town.
Home games against UT-Arlington and Oral Roberts won’t fill the stands at Mizzou Arena, but a visit by Xavier on Dec. 18 will most likely garner a sell-out crowd and national TV audience.
The Braggin’ Rights game is Dec. 22 and will be a nice Christmas present for the St. Louis area. Former Illini recruit Mark Smith transferred to Missouri after last season, which will add a taste of bitterness to the rivalry. Fans will also see Illinois’ five-star freshman guard Ayo Dosunmu, who is projected to be a first-round NBA pick in 2020 or 2021.
Illinois finished 14-18 overall last year and 11th in the Big Ten, yet the Tigers managed to lose to the Illini last season. Should it happen again, it could be costly come NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday.
The year closes with a Dec. 29 game against Morehead State, and then it’s SEC Conference time.
Mizzou’s schedule screams for a game against the up-and-coming Billikens. Mizzou already plays Xavier from the Atlantic 10, so the conferences are familiar with one another.
While SLU is a private school, it is a true in-state rivalry. The game would be a guaranteed sellout on both campuses and would certainly end up on ESPN or another major sports network.
Hey, Alvin. Why do you want SLU to play Mizzou in basketball and you don’t want your beloved KU Jayhawks to do the same?
Because I can still hear that “S-E-C, S-E-C” chant when Mizzou won the Big 12 Conference Tournament the final season the Tigers were a member of the conference.
Get it done, SLU and Mizzou. It’s way past time.
Dak doubles down
As predicted here last week, black athletes from the NFL and other professional sports are livid at Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott for their respective comments on national anthem protests.
Prescott is far from backing down – in fact, he has doubled down.
“As I said, I made my statement. I stand by what I said. I just said some people may have misunderstood it or whatever. I feel strongly about what I said. And it is what it is,” Prescott told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Of course, “there was a little misunderstanding,” Prescott said.
“I never said I didn’t believe in social injustice and things that were going on. I just said I didn’t think that the national anthem was the time. It’s two minutes out of our day that we could also be spending embracing what our country should be and what our country is going to be one day that we know that it’s not right now. That is the sad part about it. That it’s not.
“I respect everybody. And power to the people that kneel. That is what they believe in and they should be able to kneel. For me, the game of football has been such a peace. It’s a moment for me to be at peace and think about all the great things our country does have.”
Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Solomon Jones remains highly critical of Prescott.
“When black professional athletes such as Dak Prescott ignore (the) reality (of police abuse), it hurts. It hurts because it shows that for Prescott and others like him, having peace during a football game is more important than having equality in the country we built.
“It shows that for Prescott and others like him, currying favor with Jerry Jones is more important than maintaining the respect of his community. It shows that for Prescott and others like him, identifying as a Dallas Cowboy is more important than identifying as a black man.”
Jones also wrote, “(Jerry Jones’) latest statements reminded me that team owners sometimes think and behave like slave owners.”
Mural, mural on the wall
Arlington, Texas artist Trey Wilder created a mural last week that depicts Prescott as the lead character “Chris” in Jordan Peele’s Academy Award -winning movie “Get Out.” Chris, who is black, visits the suburban home of his white girlfriend and all is well – until it’s not.
I have not seen the movie, and this is a big-time spoiler alert – white brains are being transplanted into black bodies. I’ll leave it at that.
Wilder told the Star-Telegram, “Honestly, I know he’s a superstar, but I’m not scared of Dak Prescott.”
“But like in the movie, maybe (the mural) will be a flash for him. I think, with that platform, it was just weird how he dismissed the whole situation, especially being a black man himself.”
Within hours, the mural had been defaced. But the controversy will follow Prescott – and Elliott – throughout the season. I’m sure many of their fellow black players on opposing teams will make sure to remind them.
The Reid roundup
Tiger Woods is in town for the 100th PGA Championship. It would be cool if he won and the St. Louis area would forever be linked to the lore of the most fascinating, polarizing and dominant golfer in the game’s history… Kirkwood three-star wide receiver Maurice Massey, who transferred from Francis Howell, announced plans to play at Missouri in 2019. He chose the Tigers over Illinois. He hopes to convince Pioneer teammate Arvel Ferguson to do the same in 2020… President Trump insulted LeBron James by questioning his intelligence in a Tweet last week, and it ended with “I Like Mike,” a reference to the discussion of whether James or Michael Jordan is the best NBA player in history. Jordan responded, “I support LeBron James. He’s doing an amazing job for his community.” How weak is that? And I guess Jordan is not part of James’ community – the black community. … Shannon Sharpe of FOX rightfully called out Jordan. “”I was disappointed in Michael Jordan’s response. … Michael wants to swim, but he doesn’t want to get wet.” … Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said he “failed” in the way he answered a question involving his knowledge of whether a former assistant allegedly physically abused his wife. There’s another word for that – lying. … Former Cardinal outfielder Tommy Pham was hit by a pitch and suffered a broken foot last Thursday. Ironically, Dexter Fowler went on the DL with a broken foot he sustained on Friday night. … Jarome Iginla, possibly the best player of color the NHL has ever seen, retired last week as a member of the Calgary Flames. I wanted him to play with the Blues earlier in his career, but it never happened. … Bill France, NASCAR chairman and CEO, was arrested and charged with DWI and criminal possession of oxycodone at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Sag Harbor, N.Y. He has taken an extended leave of absence as NASCAR TV ratings continue to tank. The good news is that no one protests during the national anthem.
Alvin A. Reid was honored as the 2017 “Best Sports Columnist – Weeklies” in the Missouri Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest and is a New York Times contributor. He is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook, a weekly contributor to “The Charlie Tuna Show” on KFNS and appears monthly on “The Dave Glover Show” on 97.1 Talk.” His Twitter handle is @aareid1.
