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SLU added Fred Thatch, a 6-foot-3 guard from Sikeston (***). Like Gordon, he's only a junior.

Farewell Friends wrote:SLU added Fred Thatch, a 6-foot-3 guard from Sikeston (***). Like Gordon, he's only a junior.

I've watched Fred for a few years now. Never thought he'd be a D-I guy (6-3 PF, mostly), but my gosh has he improved. Even with every team seemingly keying on him, it doesn't matter. For example, Friday night in championship of FZ tourney, he had 31 points, 20 boards, 7 assists and 5 steals. I went to the game against Whitfield who has another kid SLU wants. I thought Fred was better both in terms of play and attitude. There's no doubt the other kid (Torrence Watson) has got talent, but he had nothing that day. All his points came on slashing to the basket. I think he had 16. If he missed or had the ball stolen, he complained to the refs. He didn't make it back from locker room until the other four were on the floor to start the second half. All that from a kid wearing hot dog socks. Seriously. But I blame the coach on that.

Thatch is a great student, too. He better be for SLU. He's averaging over 26 ppg, 13 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals this year. Second leading scorer in school history and went over 2,000 points early this year.

Awesome, thank you for the scouting report. It makes me excited to see what he can do. While I'm pretty pumped for guys like Gordon and Goodwin, they're going to need guys like Thatch. I don't think any of the guys from SLU's 2013-2014 run were any higher than ***, but they were high-energy guys that benefited from great coaching. That's where the jury is still out on Ford.

Farewell Friends wrote:Awesome, thank you for the scouting report. It makes me excited to see what he can do. While I'm pretty pumped for guys like Gordon and Goodwin, they're going to need guys like Thatch. I don't think any of the guys from SLU's 2013-2014 run were any higher than ***, but they were high-energy guys that benefited from great coaching. That's where the jury is still out on Ford.

Seems to be the opposite of Majerus really but a huge upgrade over Crews who had the recruiting of a less talented Majerus combined with the coaching of a less talented Ford.

I think Crews was a good coach, just a lousy recruiter. I was genuinely sad when he got fired because he seemed like such a great guy. Those A10 championship teams were a lot of fun to watch and he was a big part of that.

I don't have any delusions of Ford leading SLU to a Final Four and maybe not even the Sweet 16. But if he can make them a consistent tournament team (which I think is almost guaranteed), that's great. I need something to root for between October and April.

Plus, I'm just happy we have a guy that tries to keep talent in-state.

Much like football (ugh) if Arkansas loses in Cola this weekend the program should fold and Mike should be fired.

Farewell Friends wrote:I think Crews was a good coach, just a lousy recruiter. I was genuinely sad when he got fired because he seemed like such a great guy. Those A10 championship teams were a lot of fun to watch and he was a big part of that.

I don't have any delusions of Ford leading SLU to a Final Four and maybe not even the Sweet 16. But if he can make them a consistent tournament team (which I think is almost guaranteed), that's great. I need something to root for between October and April.

Plus, I'm just happy we have a guy that tries to keep talent in-state.

After listening to a radio interview with Crews I went from thinking he was a great guy to I wouldn't want to play for him. And I am judging having not really witnessed enough of his work but I think he was a fair at best coach.
Sure like to see them join the Big East. Or MVC.

the basketVOLS are fun to watch again

go birds wrote:the basketVOLS are fun to watch again

Hubbs is a stud.

Sigh, I wish UA would've signed Monk...