Rick Majerus really is making progress with the Billikens. We know this because SLU went to Philadelphia and outworked another grind-it-out team Thursday night.

While winning at St. Joseph 64-55, the Billikens made quite an impression on Hawks coach Phil Martelli.

“We had two great days of practice, but obviously the message did not get through loud and clear about how we were going to be guarded,” Martelli told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I would have bet anything that we wouldn’t get out-toughed in our own building, and that’s basically what it was. They were just physically, mentally and emotionally tougher than we were.”

That is high praise for the Billikens. As for the Hawks . . .

“They have to lick their own wounds,” Martelli said. “You’ve got to be a man about it now. They’ve got to get it from the mirror.”

St. Joseph’s big man Pat Calathes is among those wondering what happened. He missed 13 of his 16 shots, including all six from beyond the arc. Bryce Husak and Co. worked him over.

“This game was my fault,” Calathes told the Inquirer. “See my stat line? This game’s on me. Other guys could have played better, but I’m supposed to be the best player on the team . . . and I definitely didn’t step up.”

The Billikens are now 16-12. This road victory over a team with serious NCAA Tournament aspirations raises the SLU profile, not to mention its RPI rating.

Majerus’ squad is inching closer to the 20-victory plateau. SLU is gaining steam as the conference tournament nears.

Maybe, just maybe, the coach’s “stepchildren” are ready to make a mark.

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while wondering while the struggling Blues forwards squeeze their sticks that much harder:

• Are the Rams really prepared to offer former Steelers guard Alan Faneca $8 million per season?
• With Richie Incognito and Mark Setterstrom returning at the position, is guard really the team’s top free-agent priority?
• Can Isaac Bruce really go somewhere else and top the $3 million offer he rejected to stay with the Rams?
• And what are the Patriots willing to spend to keep Randy Moss?

QUIPS ‘R US

Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:

Steve Rosenbloom, ChicagoSports.com: “Even the congressman who blasted Brian McNamee as a “drug dealer’’ now thinks Roger Clemens is lying. I’m just waiting for word that not only have pictures surfaced of Clemens at Jose Canseco’s party but they also have Clemens’ autograph on them.”

Frank Fitzpatrick, Philadelphia Inquirer: “What uniform will Roger Clemens be wearing on his Hall of Fame plaque? Red Sox? Yankees? Leavenworth?”

Doug Most, Boston Globe: “It’s time Bill Belichick grew up. There comes a time when even the best acts grow tiresome. Three words: Blue Man Group.”

Jerry Greene, Orlando Sentinel: “You think Sean Salisbury’s sudden departure from ESPN had anything to do with his recent on-air debate with John Clayton that turned mean-spirited when Salisbury called him ‘Crypt Keeper’?”

Mark Kriegel, FoxSports.com: “Happy to report that Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano has finally gotten his visa. Now the only thing I have to worry about is whether Flavor Flav finds true love.”

Greg Cote, Miami Herald: “In auto racing news, the rival Indy Racing League and Champ Car circuits have merged. Negotiations had been hampered somewhat by the fact nobody gives a hoot about either of them.”

Jerry Crowe, Los Angeles Times: “Watching three-time Oscar winner Jack Nicholson congratulate best supporting actor Javier Bardem at the Academy Awards, it wasn’t hard to imagine the Lakers’ most recognizable fan making a similar salute to another supportive Spaniard — Pau Gasol – come June.”

Bill Simmons, ESPN.com, on the demise of the Seattle Sonics: “I’m an innocent bystander with this whole thing, but still, I can’t shake one simple point: How could David Stern allow a team that won a championship while he was working for the league to move? How could he claim to care about the league and let that happen? How could he allow one of the 30 NBA fan bases to be extorted? How is this OK?”

MEGAPHONE

“I think I want to do power-lifting next. I think I have the aptitude for something like that. I think that’s something that would be exciting to watch. Maybe an Olympic-themed Bulgarian power-lifter, shot on location in Bulgaria.”

Will Ferrell, talking to the Chicago Sun-Times about his next potential sports movie.