Looking Forward & Back

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Saturday will see the Billiken Blue Out at Chaiftez Arena and two items come to mind regarding the event at the sold out "Jewel of Midtown".

Despite some of the crap that you mayt be reading elsewhere  about St. Louis U. (and apparently fewer and fewer are) don't let it cloud what's happening on the court with the Billikens.  The youngest team in NCAA division I is maturing rapidly...right before our eyes. 

SLU has developed a consistent three-headed scoring monster in Kwamain Mitchell, Willie Reed and Cody Ellis...defensive intensity and technique is improving...and the Billikens are on the charts and climbing with a bullet.

The Atlantic 10 didn't realize it at the time but, instead of burying the Billikens with a ridiculous six of nine on the road to start league play this gauntlet has given Majerus' squad a steely resolve that puts them in a position to control their own destiny.  Four of the best five teams in the A-10 come to the Jewel of Midtown over the next three weeks.  The Bills, picked last in the pre-season MAY not be tournament ready, but they'll have a hand in who is, out of the A-10. 

This will be the biggest stretch of games for SLU since the miracle in Memphis a decade ago.

In addition, SLU will honor the Spoonball era at halftime of the Dayton game.  Earlier I talk to one of the key figures of the mid-90's, Scott Highmark the sharpshooting forward for Charlie Spoonhour.  After their miserable freshman year Spoon brought in Donnie Dobbs and started the long trek back to respecability.  Highmark told me that it was their first conference road win when SLU beat Marquette and members of the staff and players actually shed tears...they had arrived.

Then Scott's junior year the watershed moment that told the team that it could win at that level was the the first win over hated Cincinnati.

For me, when still at the Oakland Avenue Arena, the Billikens had to delay the start of the game as the seat covering tarps had to be removed so that the crowds outside to finally get in to the old barn and witness this undefeated team (eventually reaching 14-0) and bring a buzz to the program and the city.  It was an astonishing moment.

And everyone agress that it peaked a year later when SLU dropped Minnesota in overtime in the NCAA tournament.  Pure joy.  And the most fun we had ever had. 

Thanks Spoonball.