ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — I’ve got a piece Wednesday on Liddell and Lisch looking back at their four years at SLU and, obviously, there was stuff I couldn’t get in.

I asked each of them what their favorite on-court memory was. Lisch chose the triple-overtime game at Richmond this year. Liddell’s favorite game was the Gonzaga game his freshman year. “That game was pretty good, the crowd was amazing, and the intensity of the game was a hgh level,” Liddell said. Both also fondly recalled the game at North Carolina and time they played St. Joe’s at St. Joe’s.

As for their favorite Lisch-Liddell moment, Lisch went back to his sophomore season and a game against Charlotte when he stole a ball and threw an alley-oop pass to Liddell for a tomahawk dunk. Liddell’s favorite was the pass he made to Lisch that led to the 3 at Richmond. “I think he did a hell of a job catching the ball, first of all,” Liddell said.

“Joe Wiley’s commentary was my favorite part,” Lisch said.

I asked them the difference between Majerus and Soderberg.

“They’re basically two different styles of coaching,” Liddell said. “Soderberg, he was more a defensive minded coach. He didn’t put a lot of time into our offense. Rick Majerus, he evens it up but leans more on defense. How can I say …”

Lisch cut in. “Coach Majerus is more Basketball 101, the theory of the game. He talks a lot about X’s and O’s and things like that. It’s a lot more mental.”

And we talked about the situation after Brad Soderberg was fired:

“We actually talked about if we were going to leave or not,” Liddell said. “He gave his perspective on it, I have him mine. We decided we weren’t. We didn’t shy away from each other.”

Lisch: “We asked each other’s opinions. It’s not like we were on an island making a decision by ourselves.”

Was Lisch actually thinking of leaving? “There were so many thoughts going through our heads. When a coach gets fired, you’ve got no idea. You have to be prepared to make other decisions.”

Was Liddell close to leaving? “At one point I was,” he said. “At one point, I was pretty close. I think having to sit out a year actually did it. My uncle, he’s into college sports and he told me the things I would have to do if I transferred. I thought it wasn’t really worth it.”

Tommie will need one summer school session to get the classes he needs to finish his degree.

(Personal aside: For those who have been paying close attention, while almost everyone refers to them as “Lisch and Liddell,” I made the decision before their freshman year that I’d list them alphabetical order unless there was a compelling reason not to.)

Finally, for old time’s sake, here’s a story I did on the two of them before their freshman season:
Tommie Liddell and Kevin Lisch didn’t come to SLU as close friends, more like passing acquaintances. “I didn’t know him real well in high school,” Lisch said. “I knew him enough to say hi.”

But in the years ahead, Lisch and Liddell may become inseparable in the eyes of St. Louis basketball fans. At a time of change in the program, they may be square one: two talented local kids who decided to stay home and help lift the local school’s program a level, or more.
“I think it’s a great thing,” Liddell said, “because most local kids never really look at the local school. They like to look further out for some reason. By me and Kevin coming here, it will help a lot more local kids look at St. Louis University as a school they’d like to attend, especially if we do well. That will be a big thing. It’s helping the program a lot.”
Lisch said: “I’m sure some guys get caught up in the glamour and high profile (of other schools). I think SLU’s right there with them. … We’d love to start building something here.”
SLU coach Brad Soderberg doesn’t see this season as a new beginning for his team, saying “that would trivialize the first three years here.” But he does acknowledge it is a time of change and a time of “newness.” The team is entering a new conference, is built around seven freshmen and sophomores and expects to be playing in a new arena before the freshmen are done. It’s a time of promise in the program, and Liddell and Lisch are promise’s poster boys.
“I’m so excited about the thought of having them for four years,” Soderberg said. “It’s just incredible.”
Only time will tell if the talents the two bring to SLU will change anything, but the fact they chose to stay close to home could have an impact beyond what they do on the court. St. Louis has produced some quality players in recent years, but many have gone elsewhere, whether David Lee heading to Florida or Darius Miles choosing St. John’s before going straight to the NBA.
“The decision Tommie and Kevin made speaks volumes toward young kids in the area,” Soderberg said. “For Tommie and Kevin, we believe this is part of making this program into a national player, a national contender. I’m thankful they’re here, not just because they’re St. Louis kids, but because they’re talented players.”
The two may be freshman guards from the Metro East, but the similarities stop there. Lisch is a better outside shooter and defender. Liddell is better going to the basket and, as they say in basketball, sees the court better. “They’re different players,” Soderberg said, “but a great combination.”
Liddell was an All-Metro selection out of East St. Louis High and spent a year at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia before coming to SLU. That prep school year has helped Liddell, who despite having the freshman tag next to his name doesn’t consider himself one.
“People say that I’m a freshman and I might not do so well,” Liddell said, “but my freshman year was at Hargrave. I basically think of myself as a regular player. I don’t list myself as a freshman, sophomore or junior.”
Lisch had his senior year at Althoff High cut short by a knee injury but still made the All-Metro team for the third straight year. Lisch spent his summer trying to make his game complete.
“As a freshman coming in, you’re looking for consistency,” Lisch said. “In high school, I had the ball all the time. Now it’s a good opportunity to work on off-the-ball stuff, coming off picks, anything I can do because you’re not the center of attention anymore.”
Liddell, with the advantage of his prep school year, is ahead of Lisch and got a spot in the starting lineup for the first exhibition game, though Soderberg felt the decision was made easier because he thinks bringing Lisch off the bench will cause more trouble for opponents (indeed, Lisch hit a 3-pointer on his first trip down the court). SLU’s new open style would seem to be ideally suited for Liddell. “If we get out on the floor and run people to death,” Liddell said, “I think we’ll win a lot of games because it’s going to be hard to keep up with us.”
Liddell and Lisch are also a contrast off the court. Lisch is careful in his comments. Asked about the prospects for SLU this season, he won’t commit. “I don’t know what to expect,” he said. “I just expect our team and myself to give us the very best effort and energy every single game, and we’ll see what happens.”
Liddell holds nothing back. “I just feel that all of the younger players can change this totally around,” he said. “Instead of 9-21, I feel 21-9 is possible.”
Liddell and Lisch, Lisch and Liddell. Either way, it could be an exciting new beginning for SLU.
“I don’t think we need to worry about the start of building something,” Lisch said. “I think if we come in every day and work our hardest and do our job, it’s going to happen.”