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If there were
ever a year to take off from college basketball in the area, this
may be it.
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Saint
Louis
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>University
fell on hard
times before the season started with the suspensions of Willie Reed
and Kwamaine Mitchell. Thanks to an administration that had no
desire to be fair and impartial, that thought a Kangaroo Court
would be more appropriate, the Bills lost their two best and never
recovered.
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Rick Majerus
was under .500 for the first time in his career, and the support
started to fade and fade quickly.
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It has been
a long time since the Billikens have had a season where all who
cared to go or follow it were put out of their misery when the
season ended. It would be nice to say wait until next year, but who
knows if Mitchell will be eligible? Mitchell should be fine but
Saint Louis University has nothing inside that would make them a
force.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Missouri
was also a
head-scratcher as Mike Anderson had a team that some thought would
compete. They did half the time, as they only won once on the road
during conference play. How they got in the tournament is hard to
figure, and thank goodness they were sent home after one
game.
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Anderson
will have just about everyone coming back, but if he does not have
them wanting to play better defense and play with more intensity,
then it will be a repeat of this season. This team suffers from a
lack of toughness inside and no real rebounder, so Mizzou has work
to do between now and their next cream-puff non-conference
game.
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Both SIU
Edwardsville and Carbondale are wishing they could have a do-over.
Both coaches had their job status questioned, as neither team
achieved to the level of expectation. Both are good coaches who
will not have long to turn it around.
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At Illinois,
I would just say “See Missouri” if you want to know why they sank.
Coach Bruce Webber couldn’t wait to get this senior class out of
there as they lost touch with each other. Both sides need a change
of faces. They will get their wish.
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I brought up
these schools for one common denominator they all share. None of
these programs have any St. Louis flavor that would have impact on
the program. It’s not that there isn’t any talent in the area,
players have just elected to go elsewhere. There are a variety of
reasons, I am sure, but there seems to be a pattern here. A pattern
that is a concern.
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This is not
a boy’s basketball problem; the girls also have an even more
glaring situation. There will be somewhere in the vicinity of 5-8
Division 1 players that will be coming out of this area in the next
two years. Mention any of the schools above, and there is not even
lukewarm interest from most. While some of these programs are going
through a transition, the fact that these kids are not giving them
a second look is a real concern What happens next is up to the
schools. Their athletic directors and coaches need to stop the
exodus and stop it quickly, as the good players from St. Louis will
soon be seen on TV – and not playing for a program not near
you.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>NO-CAA for M-E “font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>
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I am
delighted by my decision not to get involved with this year’s
tournament. Too many bad teams in a field that is too big. This
thing is so watered-down, as the first round proved. So many went
home early, and rightfully so. There is a way to fix this thing,
and I will break it all down for you next week. It’s easier than
you think.
