In 2000, The University News put out a piece by Nick Weber titled “Missed Free Throws Doom SLU In 68-56 Loss.” Almost 20 years later and this same headline could end up right back in the paper.

SLU ranks dead last in Free Throw Percentage in the 350 NCAA Division I programs with 52.5 percent. The runner up lies 3 percentage points ahead of SLU with 55.8 percent.

The Billiken’s loss to Auburn on Saturday showed the detriment of this fatal issue. Auburn holds a 63.3  FT percentage for the season but played an abysmal 46.4 percent in Saturday’s 67-61 contest. The close game could have been closer if the Billikens were able to exploit poor free throw shooting, but the reality is that other teams normally exploit the Bills.

SLU plays three more games before A-10 play starts in January. The upcoming matches will be a good opportunity to focus in on limiting free throws given up, or the more obvious solution, make more free throws.

The Billikens will go up against Division II side Maryville University on Tuesday. The Saints, who are 3-4 on the season, should be a breather for Saint Louis and a good opportunity for St. Louis natives to see the local teams play. Billiken fans should keep an eye on junior guard Jordan Goodwin, who ranks 11th in the nation for rebounds.

The Billikens have been an aggressive second half team, able to pull out big moves to come up with some impressive showings. The Billikens are ranked 66th in initial NET rankings. Maryville will likely be an easy contest for the Billikens getting them ready for a road game against Kansas State on Dec. 21.

A group of about 60 Billiken supporters huddled around the gates of Notre Dame’s Alumni Stadium. The sky was overcast with temperatures in the mid-30s. As the Saint Louis University women’s soccer team exited the arena, they were met with a great round of applause. However, Billiken fans were met with tears and cries of devastation as families and friends embraced the freshly defeated Billikens.

SLU lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row 1-0. The Bills fell 1-0 in 2018 in a Kansas rematch. The Billikens got another chance at a rematch on Sunday, Nov. 17, against Notre Dame, who defeated them earlier in the season 1-0.

The season came to an end, and for the senior class who boasted 64 career wins, this loss marked the end of their SLU career. For current SLU seniors, they have only witnessed the women’s soccer team lose one home game in their four years. The post-game scene full of teary eyes, tight embraces and the overwhelming repetition of the phrase “great season” stung.

For a program who won back to back Atlantic 10 Championships and two consecutive unbeaten conference seasons, first round was not enough.

At the Selection Show watch part on Monday, head coach Katie Shields said they wished they had played Notre Dame later in the season, and they got their chance in the first round. Put frankly, the Bills felt off. Seemingly unable to find their rhythm in the match, long balls were constantly sent up field. SLU has had success taking advantage of long balls, but part of their threat is their variety of play. A team never knows where the attack is coming from. Down the wing and into the box? Possessed at midfield for a shot just outside the box? A long ball from defense straight into a break? Opponents never know, but as the game went on long balls were the primary attack and Notre Dame just waited patiently for it.

Some below optimal play combined with what fans would call “the orange team” interference brought about the 1-0 loss. The orange clad referees took over the game, calling a foul anytime someone fell. The Billikens were physically stronger than the Fighting Irish, and a lot of clean contact resulted in downed players that the refs took as fouls. A goal line decision was made to give Notre Dame the lead. A corner kick and a following scramble in the box resulted in a save from senior goalkeeper Mary Niehaus on the goal line.

The referee thought otherwise.

Though the Billikens return home unsatisfied, crazy support for the Bills keeps the team going strong. The seniors end their careers and leave their legacy at SLU women’s soccer, a legacy that will keep getting bigger each year. Mark my words: this program will be national champions.

Photo Courtesy of Kyle Smith

One goal, two goal, red fish? Blue fish?

   It may not rhyme, but it does accurately represent the firepower coming from the SLU women’s soccer team.

   A 3-1 win over George Washinton makes the Bills back-to-back Atlantic 10 champions and grants them an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. A 5-0 win over Duquesne on Nov. 2 advanced the Bills to an Atlantic 10 semifinal on Friday where they played La Salle to a 1-0 win.

   The A-10 Championship was held in St. Louis this year, making it a menacing atmosphere for any SLU opponent. “As seniors we made it one of our missions to make Hermann Stadium hard to play at,” said senior midfielder Courtney Reimer. And it has been one of the toughest venues with a home record of 37-1-5 in the last 43 home games. 

   Current SLU seniors have only ever witnessed one defeat at Hermann Stadium. 

   “It was nerve racking,” said SLUnatics Vice President of Gameday Operations Alex Smith, “as the game went on, the hype was getting wilder and as the second half started I could feel a championship trophy coming back to SLU!” At the end of 90 minutes, that feeling was real when screams broke out and a wave of blue and white swept across the field.

   The Bills played a great attacking game tallying 24 shots in the match with 11 on goal. The three Billiken goals came from sophomore Hannah Friedrich on a penalty kick in the sixth minute. Senior Alli Klug struck in another PK after a hand ball was called. The final goal came from sophomore Emily Groark, her first of the season, off a Friedrich assist.

   The A-10 All-Championship Team consisted of five SLU players: Mary Niehaus, Emma Farley, Friedrich, Reimer and Klug. The last two winning postseason accolades for A-10 Defensive Player of the Year and Midfielder of the Year, respectively.   

   The Bills are now headed to the NCAA tournament. Selections will be announced Monday, Nov. 11, at 3:30 p.m. The Billikens will host a watch party at Lorenzini’s Restaurant in Chaifetz Arena.

In 1972, the historic Title IX was passed, granting women equality in education and athletics. Since its implementation, female student athletes across the nation have taken advantage of their opportunities to compete and receive an education. 

   Saint Louis University Athletics promotes opportunities for women through the Get Her in the Game Scholarship. This scholarship is annually awarded to one female student athlete at SLU who may be financially unable to pursue her education. The scholarship is usually gifted to an incoming freshman to be used for four years. This year’s recipient was a different case. Field hockey junior Mica Diaz received the scholarship amounting to $6,000 per year.

   The forward from Buenos Aires, Argentina fell into a difficult situation recently. With increasing inflation in Argentina, the financial burden was increased on Diaz and her family. Money for college shrank as USD conversion fell and devalued savings for Argentinians across the country. 

   “Our goal is to bring our community together,” said Senior Associate Director of Athletics Dr. Janet Oberle on the scholarship, “and really celebrate the role that young women play and that sport plays in their life.” Oberle helps select a candidate from coach recommendations, and this year, Diaz was chosen. 

   Head coach Danielle Baumgardner recommended Diaz for the scholarship with knowledge of the issues in Argentina and the importance that SLU and field hockey have had on her. Diaz accepted the scholarship and was well received by a vast network of scholarship donors. The Get Her in the Game Scholarship is funded through direct donations at the annual Lewis Rice Get Her in the Game Women’s Sports Luncheon. Started in 2006, the luncheon promotes scholarship and athletic opportunities for female student athletes at SLU. This year’s luncheon, held Sept. 25 at Lorenzini’s Restaurant inside Chaifetz Arena, raised over $80,000 for scholarship recipients, more than any year prior. 

   The keynote speaker was Enterprise Holdings Foundation president Carolyn Kindle Betz whose name may be familiar because of her involvement with the new St. Louis MLS team. Betz talked about the importance of following one’s dream and never giving up. Diaz said it was just what she needed to hear. “She gave me her contact info,” Diaz said. “She’s the kind of woman I want to be in the future.” And that is the crux of the scholarship: investing in the next generation of female leaders. 

   Diaz said the event was intimidating at first. With no academic or field hockey awards, she initially felt undeserving of the praise, but she got acclimated seeing people’s genuine care for her story. Diaz met a lot of great people, one of whom stood out because of some common heritage. 

   Committee member Aimee Oyenard married a man from Argentina, and that connection spoke to Diaz, who thinks a lot about home. Talking to Oyenard reminded Diaz how grateful she is for the opportunity to be in St. Louis, saying, “Most of the people back there [in Argentina] don’t want to be there. They would die for the opportunity I have.” It was reassuring for Diaz to know that she had another person who understands her situation, and also to know that Oyenard would have her over for an Argentinian meal anytime she feels homesick.

 The Saint Louis University swim and dive teams held their first home meet of the season on Saturday, Oct. 19. The Billikens hosted Maryville and Eastern Illinois in the Simon Recreation Center. 

   Garbed in their pink swim caps, the Billikens took the water in style ready for a fierce competition. But the competition fell short, with the Billikens sweeping in the men’s and women’s. The Billiken women edged Maryville 178-36 and Eastern Illinois 179-38, winning 11 of 12 events. The men took nine events, beating Maryville 173-38 and Eastern Illinois 145-69.

   Both teams won in the relays. The men’s 400 medley team, comprised of T.J. Haliburton, Preston Waldusky, Nick Soltys and Keegan Paulson, finished with a time of 3:32.00. The women’s team, made up of Alexis Beine, Bri Hodgkins, Sophie Kishish and Emily Smith, completed their race with a time of 4:00.44. The women’s 200 freestyle team came out with  winning time of 1:39.15, and the men posted a winning time of 1:25.32.

   Some individual success came to four Billikens winning in two events a pop. Claire Koh and Natalie Daniel brought in two for the women, and Collin O’Brien and Janssen Gamilla both won two events for the men. Koh won the 1000 freestyle and 200 breaststroke with times of 10:29.59 and 2:31.57, respectively. Daniel won in both the 100 and 200 freestyle. For the men, O’Brien took first in the 200 freestyle and breaststroke. Gamilla won the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:57.05 and the 200 butterfly in 1:55.08.

   The Billikens are in action next at the Atlantic 10 Dual Meets held in Geneva, Ohio. The Bills will be up against St. Bonaventure, La Salle, Duquesne and George Mason on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3.

The Saint Louis Field Hockey program has had a rough year, to put it lightly. Graduating seven seniors last year inevitably shakes up a team dynamic, and with a current 0-11 record, things are definitely shook.

   The Bills have not had a winning season since 1990, and have not had a record above .500 since 2006. Now in 2019, the Bills are on pace for another losing season.

   With all losses on the board, it is hard to see what the Bills are doing well. Over the years, the Bills have been improving, but so have the other A-10 teams. That said, there are still milestones the Bills have hit, like scoring for the first time against Saint Joseph’s since 2014. Junior back Erin McClelland scored her first career goal off a corner in the 1-7 loss, tying her for the most points on the team. 

Other goal scorers for the Billikens include freshman Grace Golembiewski, Edie Carnazzo and Megan Rice, as well as sophomore midfielder Emily Wastell. The Bills have recorded two assists on the season from junior forward Mica Diaz and sophomore back Kayleigh Fleming, each with one assist.

   SLU field hockey has had a rough past and part of that comes from the geography. With the Cardinals and a new MLS team on the way, it is clear to see that St. Louis is a big soccer and baseball town—field hockey, not so much. But on the East Coast, field hockey is a big sport. Almost all the top 10 college teams are East Coast schools and SLU plays in the Atlantic 10. 

   Here is a quick geography lesson for everyone. The Atlantic Ocean is located on the eastern coast of the United States. SLU plays almost exclusively eastern teams with a stronger field hockey culture than the midwest.

   Although SLU is in a rough spot right now, there is one thing that will shape up for the Bills. The 2019 team has said the team chemistry and culture has grown stronger this year. The next great part of this is that there are currently no seniors. While that can be a detriment to a team, it means that the junior class has two years of team leadership. This junior class has been a staple in the Billiken roster the past two seasons and adds leadership to the program.

   Another Billiken staple is sophomore goalkeeper Sasha Sander. With two more seasons left, Sander’s leadership and potential are a strong outlook for future teams. 

   Ultimately, Billiken offensive output needs to increase. With only 29 shots in the season so far, the Bills are unable to produce chances. The more shots on net, the more likely a lucky goal is to slip through. Though getting into position against strong opponents may be difficult, taking more awkward shots could boost lethality in front of net.

   Field hockey has three games coming up against Davidson, Appalachian State and Longwood. Their conference game against Davidson on Friday, Oct. 18, will be a good clash for the Bills as they take on the penultimate team in the A-10.

On Monday, Sept. 30, California Senate Bill No. 206 (also called the Fair Pay to Play Act) was signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom. The bill, passed unanimously through the California senate, 39-0, will make it legal for California student athletes to hire agents and receive compensation from their name, image and likeness. 

   The bill was passed to Newsom on Sept. 9 and immediately sparked a reaction from the NCAA, which governs 1,117 colleges and universities, with a threat to sue. A statement by the  NCAA reads, “the NCAA agrees changes are needed to continue to support student-athletes, but improvement needs to happen on a national level through the NCAA’s rules-making process,” signaling the organization’s commitment to addressing the growing concerns over athlete compensation. 

   Proponents of the bill, like LeBron James and Bernie Sanders, suggest that college athletes must be paid and that this bill is a step towards economic justice. The compensation would come from outside sources, putting no financial burden on the schools. This creates a strong financial incentive for student athletes when selecting a school—and that is where the debate hinges.

   College athletes competing in NCAA Division I and II must maintain amateur status to play. Amateur status essentially means that an athlete is not paid or compensated— student athletes must be deemed amateur in order to play. When the bill goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, athletes who receive endorsements will be put in the spotlight even though they are still considered amateur. 

   Despite that, up for consideration is whether California schools will still be allowed to compete in the NCAA. A possible outcome of the bill will be a loss of NCAA membership for California schools. This changes the landscape of west coast schools as major conference shake-ups would occur. The PAC-12 would lose schools like UCLA and Berkley, dramatically changing the conference landscape.

   More and more states will be looking to follow this trend. The NCAA has been looking to amend the way they use athletes’ images and this bill will use the state government to expedite the process or cut out the NCAA entirely. Speeding up the process is an enticing idea for many states, especially states like New York that were already looking at compensation bills prior to the California bill passing.

What do Billikens think?  

   One of the big concerns is the potential impact on smaller schools. For a school like SLU, that does not make millions upon millions of dollars on college athletics, this can hurt the recruitment process. Take a SLU basketball player like freshman Terrence Hargrove Jr. One of the pulls for Hargrove was that in St. Louis he feels like a “hometown hero.” When financial compensation gets added into the mix of factors for an athlete’s school decision, this could be a deciding factor that would possibly lead to St. Louis natives leaving for better financial opportunities.

   Talking to SLU student athletes, many of them were split on the topic. “It’s interesting because I can see both sides,” said senior volleyball player Sien Gallop, “there is a distinction between amateur athletes and pro athletes” … “but at the same time, athletes give so much to the institution that in some ways they should be making their own money off their athletic ability.”

   But what about smaller programs? This bill only impacts money making sports like football and basketball. For many student athletes, these financial benefits would never be seen. For senior track and field jumper Ethan Erusha, it is just something he understands about the landscape. “If I’m going to sell my face, no one cares enough to pay me for it,” said Erusha. And that is the reality of endorsements. The endorsements will only go where the money is and that creates a blaring issue for smaller sport athletes, as well as female athletes.        

   Title IX gives all students equal access to education and activities. When players start receiving endorsements, it more likely that male athletes will be the benefactors because those sports historically generate more money. This leaves female athletes on an unequal playing field because male athletes would suddenly be marketed more than female athletes. While the endorsements are not direct marketing from the university, it is extra exposure from third parties. Some players on the SLU women’s basketball team mentioned that the money would be going to the men and not the women creating a gap between the two.

   The NCAA has a core goal: “Prioritizing academics, well-being and fairness so college athletes can succeed on the field, in the classroom, and for life.” The primary job of a college athlete is to get an education. While some big schools do not always operate as if that is the goal—it is. And the financial incentive puts more weight on a student’s athletic career than on education. If college sports are just another form of entertainment like the NFL, MLB or NHL, then yes, pay the entertainers, endorse them, flaunt them. But if college sports are supposed to create men and women armed for future professional and societal success, then that has to be kept sacred.

“Oh-for-one…oh-for-two…oh-for-three,” the beautiful sound of progress in Chaifetz Arena as Support Service Coordinator Michael Wilson demonstrated, with three missed shots, the new technology leading SLU Men’s Basketball to a new era—ShotTracker.

The system was installed in the arena and the pavilion over the summer. Petey Cautilli, the Facilities and Events Manager, said that most of the project was spearheaded by Wilson and that they are installing over 100 sensors in the facilities. Currently there are 36 in the arena with 18 more to be installed soon and 50 sensors in the pavilion.

ShotTracker is a system that actively tracks player performance by reading player and ball movements. It gathers a whole bunch of statistics and shows them on an iPad in real time. Many of these stats were previously collected by hand, but the new tool allows coaches the flexibility to focus less on keeping stats and more on how to use those stats to make the team better.

The system works by setting up a grid of sensors all along the walls and rafters of Chaifetz. These are set up in a way so that many fans may not even notice the new addition at all with sensors blending in with their surroundings. The sensors then read movement from the ball, that has its own sensor in it, and the player tags. Each player has their own tag which they can clip onto their shoes. These come together to give a near perfect picture of what is happening on the court.

“It keeps the guys accountable because they want to get here and see what they did. A lot of guys like to come in [to the pavilion] and shoot with it on then go back and check out ‘what were my stats?’” said Wilson. ShotTracker lets players see their stats with an app on their phone an hour after their training session, giving them time to shower off, relax and come back to see their performance.

On top of stats like assists, rebounds and shooting percentages, it also tracks hot zones—areas where a player is shooting well. This can be a critical tool in shaping the Billiken offense. As a team that likes to get into the paint, this can show where the team may be falling short and where they are doing well.

Head Coach Travis Ford can use ShotTracker to gauge where the team is at. Ford can look at the iPad and see the stats and go from there. “[Ford] will say, ‘All right guys we had four turnovers and one assist. That’s not good enough,’” said Wilson, “usually [after] every time he says that, it’s always the flip.”

The fans can get in on the action as well. When games start up at Chaifetz Arena there is an app that fans will be able to use to see some of the stats. Though not as comprehensive as what coaches see, it provides an extra level of depth fans do not normally see.

This is a huge step forward for Billiken basketball in terms of recruiting, as well as player development. It is currently unclear as to how much in game impact will be seen from the ShotTracker, as NCAA must approve teams and leagues for use on the bench. On top of that, both teams must agree to use ShotTracker in game.

Billiken fans will have a chance to see how this new technology is helping the team with Billiken Madness on Friday, Sept. 27. The event will feature a scrimmage and will be a great opportunity to see the Bills in action.

   Wilbur and Orville Wright, Serena and Venus Williams, James and Dave Franco; these famous sibling duos have been instrumental in their respective fields, leveraging the intangible bond between blood to achieve feats never before seen. Saint Louis University Men’s Soccer added their own duo to the squad with the addition of Mujeeb Murana, younger brother of Quayyum Murana (Q).

   The brothers were born in Nigeria and spent their early childhood there. It was there that the two developed a passion for soccer.

   “Growing up in Nigeria was fun, but it was also difficult,” said Mujeeb. “All we did was play soccer because there was no TV and nothing else to do. We didn’t go to school all the time because there would be strikes, so sometimes you would take a month out, not going to school, and all you did was play with your friends and play soccer.”

   They moved over to the states in 2007, where their father enrolled them in local soccer programs. One of the reasons their father enrolled them in the sport was because he did not want them to be corrupted by American society, and once he realized they loved playing, he knew it was the perfect fit.

   “What are you feeding them?” other parents would ask their mother, as the two outshined their peers, scoring 3-4 goals per game. They eventually looked into higher-caliber teams and landed in the Houston Dynamo Academy, a development soccer program aimed to create professional-caliber players. The academy helped bolster their skills and eventually landed them on SLU’s roster.

   In 2016, Q made his debut as a Billiken and remained a key player in SLU’s defensive unit. Three years later, Mujeeb has made his Billiken debut and seems to be a strong part of the SLU defense, playing at his brother’s flank.

   The two never played on the same team before (except in street soccer), and getting the chance to play with his brother was a factor that drew Mujeeb to SLU. Though it was ultimately his decision, Q helped pull him along in the recruitment process.

   “If I didn’t think SLU was a great fit for me or that St. Louis, the soccer or the city, wasn’t a good place for anybody…then I definitely wouldn’t have supported him as much as I did in his recruitment,” said Q.  

   Q is happy to bring Mujeeb into the Billiken family, and head coach Kevin Kalish is hoping that the brothers’ bond will have a positive impact on the rest of the team. “When we try to build a team, it’s all about trust and building strong connection…and you can’t get much more close than blood and being a brother,” said Kalish. “I think it could rub off on some of the guys as well.”

   The Murana brothers know that and want to help build trust on the team, and they think their relationship can help speed up that process. Mujeeb said that because Q already knows how Mujeeb plays, he’ll be able to make risky plays and Q will trust him. The pair hopes that teammates will see the trust and immediately do the same.

   A subtle advantage the two hold is their other language, Yoruba. The language throws off opponents and allows callouts to be made without the other team knowing the plan. With a quick “fún mi ball” (give me the ball), Q passes to Mujeeb and the opposing player is “o ti gé” (out of the game).

   The two used to get in trouble for playing soccer. At one point, their mother hid the ball from them, but they still found it and played despite getting in trouble. “Now that’s what is helping us go to university—the thing we used to get whooped for. It’s crazy,” said Q, his brother nodding in total agreement.