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* Not that anyone still needed to be convinced it was best for Missouri to leave the Big 12 for a better spot in the SEC, but the contradictory nature of Mizzou's exit penalty serves as a helpful reaffirmation. That Missouri was treated differently — and more harshly — than other departing schools tells us all we need to know.
The Big 12 has different standards for different programs, and with little regard for consistency.
The exit fee of $12.41 million is certainly a good value and a relatively small price to pay given that Missouri will now reside in an elite conference that treats all members equally.
Moving On ...
* Obviously, not an easy assignment tonight for Missouri; Iowa State is good and dangerous. I don't see the Tigers slipping up in this one. But then again, I was confident of a win over Kansas State in CoMo last week. But it's important (obviously) for MU to lock down its best possible seed. If that's a No. 2, so be it. But why lose this one and put your seeding fate in the hands of a committee? A win over Iowa State will strengthen MU's resumé and serve as a safeguard in protecting what appears to be a No. 2 seed.
* It was great to see a classy guy like Brian Conklin have such a big and important winning performance in his final home game at Saint Louis U. Conklin wiped out Xavier with 23 points, including going 9 of 10 from the line while getting the visiting team in foul trouble. Few if any players in SLU basketball history have squeezed more out of their talent than Conklin. I don't think it's an insult to Conklin to suggest that he's a player of average natural ability. He is living proof of what you can achieve through intelligence, hard work, commitment and a savvy understanding of one's own strength and weaknesses. And the best part of Conklin's time at SLU? He's a superb student. He's an academic All-American. He truly represents the student-athlete ideal that the NCAA likes to tout so much.
* Conklin's growth at SLU is also a testament to the big guy in the black sweater who can get a lot done with smart, unselfish, tough and determined players. Rick Majerus can coach. Goodness, how the man can coach.
* SLU's win over Xavier prompted this tweet from Tom Penders, the retired college basketball coach who did so well at multiple stops during his career: "St. Louis has the balance to make noise in the NCAA (tournament). No McDonald's All Americans but 8-9 kids that play D & score."
* SLU should be in solid shape for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid (if necessary) but I don't want to see them lose at Duquesne. According to the daily rundown at CollegeRPI.com Jerry Palm has SLU at No. 30 in the RPI and spots the Billikens into the NCAA Tournament as a No. 10 seed. (Joe Lunardi at ESPN.com also has SLU at No. 30.) Now, I think it would be highly unusual for the selection committee to exclude the Atlantic 10's second-place team from the tournament, but stranger things have happened, and the A-10 is ranked a modest 7th in the nation this season in conference RPI -- just a little above the Missouri Valley Conference.
Moving On ...
* Important game for the Blues tonight in Edmonton. Then again, aren't they all important? The Blues are trying to stay with Detroit in the crucial battle for first place (and enhanced postseason seeding) in the NHL Central division. Given that the Blues will have to immediately turn around and play Thursday night at Vancouver, it would be best to get two points at Edmonton. The Oilers are 3-3-1 in their last seven games overall and are 1-3-1 in their last five home games. Vancouver is 18-6-4 at home this season.
* In a related note, who makes the NHL schedule? Why have the Blues been given so many games on consecutive nights that include a murderer's row of opponents waiting for them in the second game of these back-to-back encounters? You could train an orangutan to design a better schedule than this.
Moving On ...
* I'm laughing at the media people who are busy flattering themselves by "reporting" what they like to call "breaking news" when the same material has been reported, discussed and otherwise relayed 3,214 times already by other media members. Cases in point: (1) Yadier Molina contract stuff; (2) the trade speculation regarding the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft, a pick held by the Rams.
Thanks for reading ...
-Bernie
