Brad's Greatest Hits

Despite the fact that Brad Soderberg's disappointing five-year tenure at SLU yielded ZERO NCAA Tournament bids, his teams did provide Billiken Nation with some great memories. Here are my top five wins of the Soderberg era:

2/12/03 – SLU 59, Louisville 58
Marque Perry and the boys shock Rick Pitino’s #2-ranked Cardinals in one of the greatest wins in school history. The students swarm the court. Earl Austin Jr. nearly hyperventilates. The Billikens, 8-12 at the time, begin an eight-game winning streak and march on to the NIT.

3/16/04 – SLU 70, Iowa 69
A three-pointer by Drejaj at the buzzer beats Iowa in the first round of the NIT. SLU erases an 18-point deficit to knock off the Hawkeyes.

11/30/05 – SLU 56, SIU 42
The Bills dismantle a Saluki squad that would go on to finish 22-10 with an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Probably the most impressive non-conference win during Soderberg’s five years at SLU.

3/11/04 – SLU 72, Memphis 61
A great team effort keeps the Bills alive in the Conference USA Tournament as they defeat the #23 Tigers.

2/18/03 – SLU 58, Cincinnati 55
Spoon couldn’t do it. Lorenzo couldn’t do it. Brad’s Bills continue their momentum from the win against Louisville by downing Huggins and the Bearcats for the first time ever at “The Shoe.”

Honorable Mention:

2/22/03 – SLU 62, DePaul 61
Marque Perry beats the Blue Demons in the Windy City with a buzzer-beating basket.

3/5/04 – SLU 72, Houston 69 (OT)
Bills overcome a 20-point second half deficit and beat the Cougars. Philip Hunt's tip-in at the buzzer sends the game to overtime.

3/5/05 – SLU 51, Marquette 39
With his father in the stands at the Bradley Center, Wisconsin native Soderberg's squad defeats the 19-9 Warriors/Golden Eagles/Gold/Golden Eagles, ruining Marquette's senior day and dashing their NCAA hopes.

1/22/06 – SLU 59, Xavier 54
SLU defeats its former MCC nemesis in Cincy.