Some organizations pick players based on what fits their coaching scheme. We see this most notably with the back-to-back Super Bowl champion, New England Patriots. They may not have the best talent, necessarily, but they select their personnel based on what fits the coaches' systems.

Others still prefer to select the best talent they can find and mold that talent to fit within the system. This is a technique exemplified by the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens take the best available player regardless of position or character flaws (i.e. Jamal and Ray Lewis).

Coach Brad Soderberg seemingly likes to recruit the best players he possibly can and mold them to play the type of game he wants to see. The trouble, as we have seen this year, is that the players have struggled with adjusting their up-tempo, fast-paced game to Soderberg's half-court, grind-it-out, watching-grass-grow type of basketball.

Not that Soderberg is a bad coach, or the players are not good enough to play in his system; it is simply a matter of adjusting and of the sides meeting halfway. Last Sunday, Soderberg took a large step toward meeting the needs of his younger players, and they, in turn, looked to meet him halfway.

I was sitting with a few friends in the student section Sunday as the starting lineups were being announced. DePaul was announced without much fanfare, as per usual, for a visiting team. Then came the announcement of the Billikens' first five for the afternoon. Dwayne Polk, Ian Vouyoukas and even Vas'Shun Newborne were to be expected. But to hear freshmen Danny Brown and Luke Meyer announced was a surprise.

Not that Meyer and Brown do not have the talent, because they certainly do. But this was the sort of youth movement fans, myself included, have been calling for the last couple weeks. Then, as if the starting lineups were not enough of a surprise, the Billikens were pushing the ball and looking for a fast-break offense.

Anyone who knows Billiken basketball knows there are a couple fast breaks every game, and usually by the opponent.

But this was different, and fans could sense it all around. Savvis Center has not been that excited all season. The bench was excited; the whole aura around the game was that of energy and flash.

This looked like a running team. With Polk at the helm, in a style reminiscent of the Suns' Steve Nash, the offense was fluid. Polk, who had a career-high point total, did one thing better than anyone else on the floor, on either side: He made his teammates better. Look beyond his 16 points; the unquestioned leader of this team got his teammates involved early and often.

There were numerous occasions where Polk had a steal, ran the floor and took his diminutive frame to the basket, regardless of the size of the defender. On the one off chance Polk could not finish, Vouyoukas followed with the type of thunderous dunk you don't expect at a SLU game. But Polk was smart with the ball and rarely made a poor decision. His discipline is remarkable for a freshman, as is his court vision. He displayed that vision on a slick, no-look pass to Newborne.

This was the type of performance fans expected from Polk from the start. But it is tough to play to your potential in an offense that doesn't allow you to utilize your skills. No offense to Dwayne, but there is something that tells me a 5'8" point guard is not destined for a half court offense. (Just a thought.)

Meyer took advantage of his first start of his career, a little late by my account. Meyer had nine points in 30 minutes on 60 percent shooting from the field. It was a fundamental game for Meyer, who at one point actually used the backboard on a jump shot from the wing. That is a rarity, unless your last name is Duncan. Meyer also hit a clutch three-pointer in the closing seconds to bring SLU within one.

It was not just the offensive end that made the Bills look solid. Their transition defense was impeccable. They talked, and talked and called out who had which man. And when the pace slowed, their half-court defense was stout. Then again, that is what we expect from a Soderberg team. This was a basketball team.

This was a meeting of the minds, of sorts. Soderberg seemingly allowed his team to play the type of run-and-gun basketball that has been expected, and they put forth the necessary effort on defense. Yes, in the end, the Bills lost: It was a game taken from them by referees. How do you not give a coach a technical when he walks out to mid-court to yell at you? But to have a shot, at the end, against a team that is tied for second in the conference is impressive.

Next year, in the Atlantic 10, this is the type of basketball that wins games. The Bills could potentially form a four-guard lineup, similar to what St. Joseph's used last year to win the A-10. A first five of Polk, Brown, Meyer, recruit Tommy Liddell and Vouyoukas is a team with a very good shot at winning the conference.