The Baer Facts

A National Hoop Title for Missouri, & It Wasn't the Billikens or Mizzou

Drury University in Springfield won the Division II title on CBS Sunday afternoon.

Bet you didn’t realize it, but a basketball team from Missouri just won a national title and it wasn’t the Billikens or Mizzou. It was the Panthers of Drury Missouri in Springfield. The tiny little school, some 202 miles down I-44 from St. Louis, nestled in the foot hills of the Ozarks in Springfield came from 12 down at half to defeat Metro State University of Denver Roadrunners 74-73 to earn the Division II title. Drury is better known for academics and women’s swimming than hoops these days. Now, once a coach told me, no kid ever woke up in the morning, dreaming of playing Division II basketball. But don’t tell that to Lindenwood or UMSL. A title is a title is a title. It took a hoop junkie like me to watch the game. The two schools …

• Photos (1)

NCAA Final 4: SLU Bids for a Spot in the Biggest Dance

Billikens roll over New Mexico State by 20 to reach the third round.

Dwayne Evans was on fire, poured in 24 points and the Saint Louis University Billikens pounded New Mexico State by 20, 64-44. They face the Oregon Ducks next, big winners over Oklahoma State. The time of Saturday's showdown is not yet announced. The Billikens have won 16 of the last 17 games, and are now becoming the darling of the entire field. What a year for interim coach Jim Crews. He is one of four finalists for national coach of the year. At least, the Billikens are champions of the state of New Mexico, having beaten both the New Mexico Lobos and the NMS Aggies this year. Here is Tom Timmerman's blow by blow account of the game on St.L Today.

• Photos (1)

Back to the State Soccer Semifinals for the St. Joe Angels

Last championship came a decade ago in 2002.

The last time St. Joseph’s Academy 15-6-1) won the state soccer tournament, the year was 2002. Coming up on 10 years, Coach Maureen McVey and her team are hopeful this will be their year. In 2002, assistant coach Courtney Hulcer was a member of the championship squad that beat Lee’s Summit North 4-0 for the title. Lee’s Summit North (23-3) will be the opponent once again in the semifinals, Friday, 6 p.m. on the Blue Spring South artificial turf field. In 2001, the Angels defeated Rockwood Summit 2-1 for the title. The win over Summit was particularly exciting. Both goals came in time stoppage situations. In the other Class 3 semifinal game in Kansas City, Cor Jesu Academy (21-2) takes on Springfield Glendale (19-5) at 4 p.m. “We feel good …

• Photos (6)

Guess the Score: Will Mizzou and SLU Advance in the NCAA Tournament?

Do you think Mizzou and SLU will win their first NCAA men's basketball tournament game?

If you're reading this post, you've undoubtedly already filled out a bracket for the NCAA men's basketball tournament, which officially kicked off Tuesday.  Instead of filling out that second, third, fourth... ninth bracket, why not try your hand at another fun game?  For the first time since the 1999-2000 season, both Mizzou and Saint Louis University are playing in college basketball's most prolific postseason tournament.  Both squads open their tournament schedules on Friday: Here at Patch, we're obviously pulling for the hometown teams? What about you?  Leave us your prediction—outcome and score, and why you're predicting the way you are—and see how you stack up against other local future-readers throughout the St. Louis-area. To leave…

• Photos (1)

The Baer Facts

Can You See a Billiken, Mizzou National Title Looming?

Locals earn their spots in the Big Dance with sparkling records this year.

For the first time in the modern era, everyone in my family is happy with the NCAA basketball tournament selections. My son went to Indiana; everyone else graduated from Mizzou. I’ve been a life-long Billiken fan. My brother went to Michigan, and lived across the street from Michigan State. This time, all these schools are in. Everyone’s happy. This field of 68 includes something for everyone. I guess I could bet with my heart or my head. How about a Billiken-Mizzou final game in the West regional in Phoenix? Special congratulations are in order for Rick Majerus and his Billikens who beat Oklahoma, Washington, Boston College, Xavier and other powerful teams this season to earn a berth outright with a sparkling 25-7 record. The only time …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (3)