Saint Louis University has invested a fair amount of money in the past five years into athletics. First, they hired big-name Rick Majerus to coach the men's team. Although first-rate coaches usually come with high expectations and are high maintenance, this was not the case as SLU was already working on the Chaifetz Arena before he was hired.
Richard Chaifetz, a now successful business man and 1975 alum, donated a substantial amount of money to Saint Louis University for the naming rights. Without his contribution, it is pretty fair to say that the construction would have taken a lot longer.
Anyways, how does this arena affect the future of SLU men’s basketball, you might ask? Not only does Majerus have tremendous pull on recruits, but now with a brand-new arena, high-level recruits will be more inclined to play at SLU. Having Majerus as above-average tutelage will not only help out the player individually, but it will make the entire team stronger.
Majerus has already shown his ability to recruit without complete knowledge of the arena. He has inked four 3-star recruits, including headliner Brett Thompson, a 6’11” center who is widely regarded as one of the best big men in the Midwest.
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SLU basketball hasn’t had this much promise since Larry Hughes played. Before Hughes, local fans may remember a high-scoring team of H Waldman, Erwin Claggett, and Scott Highmark who led the Billikens to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances.
After 36 wins in the past two seasons, I think SLU is on the verge of getting to the Big Dance. These recruits will certainly help on that front.
Chaifetz Arena now gives SLU the finest facilities in the Atlantic 10, a conference that features a money-making machine in Xavier. If Majerus can persuade recruits to join his corps, rather than surrounding schools, SLU can built a legitimate program from years to come.
There were two players that Majerus barely missed on, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. Tyler Griffey, the senior phenom from Saint Louis chose Illinois over Kansas, Georgia Tech, and SLU. He would have been an amazing addition, as his 6’8” frame allows him to take the ball to the rack, or shoot the outside jumper. Secondly, another local product, Josh Harrellson, signed with Billy Gillespie and the Kentucky Wildcats.
I would venture to say that if these decisions were two years in the future, both players would have chosen SLU as their college destination. Once Saint Louis University can show the have the fan base to back the Chaifetz Arena, and the role players to boot, they will start seeing more interest from four and five-star recruits.
It is about time people got excited about SLU basketball. With a solid starting lineup this year, that may feature as many as three Majerus recruits, watch out for SLU to sneak up on some teams and make a serious run at playing in March.
With the beautiful Chaifetz Arena up and running, there is no reason to doubt Majerus’ chances at making this program known across the nation.
For more information on the arena, go to: http://thechaifetzarena.com/.
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2 months ago
Good story, I had no idea about this. I remember when SLU basketball was special (I'm a DePaul alum and can't forget our days in C-USA), and St Louis is a great sports town. I think coach Majerus will do some special things there and the area is pretty loaded with good recruits and with Illinois having some down years and Mizzou not being great, Billken basketball can make a comeback and a nice arena separates average progams from great ones.
2 months ago
SLU might be onto something with the facility upgrade but even without it, Majerus is just incredible. He put BALL STATE on the map back in the late 80's. Then Utah in the 90's.
If he could turn Utah into a national powerhouse, he can turn SLU into one.
The A-10 certainly looks to be on the move.
Nice job, Ben.
2 months ago
Great article! Keep it up, man.
Billikenmetz
2 months ago
First, SLU screwed Brad Soderberg in the timing of his firing. He should have been given at least one year in this new facility that he worked so hard to help make a reality. The deal with Majerus, an over-rated, over-paid, (and overweight) egomaniac, was done behind the scenes - before Soderberg's dismissal. Big money talks.
Bloto then came in, fully aware of the team's strengths and weaknesses, but repeatedly threw his players under the bus with the media, never taking any blame for embarrassments like the 20 pt. game. Afterall, they were "step-children". He treated ousted assistant, Angres Thorpe, like a dog all season, and then iced the cake by forcing four young players out. Two of them, Dustin Mcguire and Anthony Mitchell, were never given a chance. The positive spin was that he gave all four an honest assessment about their future as Billikens and they all chose to leave. Beleive that if you want, but it is not the truth. He has a history of running players off - 60% of the kids HE RECRUITED at Utah did not complete their eligibility with him. Now two players from his vaunted 1st recruiting class won't even qualify.
He got a pass this season because afterall, these weren't his kids. Next year, after another mediocre showing by the Billikens, the spin will be that he had to play freshmen. His third year is when the heat will start. If he does not get the '09/'10 squad to the dance, watch and see how fast his health, or the health of dear old mom, becomes too much for him and he bolts. Of course, he will be about 3M richer. Having already alienated most of the athletic department, with maybe the execption of Asst. Head Coach Moser, his legacy willl be a black mark on Billiken basketball. After he finally realizes the game hasd passed him by that is.
2 months ago
I respectfully disagree with your assessment. The St. Louis media incorrectly reporting that he was being paid "big bucks". I have been told by inside sources that his deal was much less lucrative than what the public seems to believe.
Forcing Dustin MacGuire out is simply business. If you saw him play for the Bills, which I'm sure you did, he played with a lot of hesitation, and missed more open jumpers than almost anyone I've seen in the past five years at SLU.
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