Amazes me that a fan -- albeit a super fan -- of this conference can figure it out before the actual conference can.  It's been almost 6 hours since the games ended and the conference cant't figure it out and officially announce the tournament teams.  How is that difficult.  I guess they were never expecting this scenario. 

Some interesting stats, hopefan.  Also, I think at stake today is Coach Bunch finishing outside the top 4 for the first time in his tenure at Webster.

Webster made a little run at the end, which, in my opinion, validates my previous post. It's a real shame that it takes being down 12 with 4 min left to play with some urgency, some intensity, some fire. It was lacking all game until the last 4 min.

About 7 minutes left in the Webster-Spalding game w/Spalding up by 17. Webster just getting punked in their own gym in a nearly must-win game. This Webster team is just not very good. No sense of urgency.  They are so soft.  Guys just out there playing ball like its a pick up game in a park on Sunday afternoon.  Embarrassing!

My guess is that you're going to Webster vs. Spalding.  Next guess would be Eureka at Blackburn.  I don't know if I'll be able to attend as originally planned - though it's possible - because the wife has a work function and I'm on dad duty. 

4 big games tonight all having conference tourney implications.  Dare I say we should have some clarity after tonight heading into the last day of the regular season on Saturday.  Should be an exciting night of hoops.  Where you heading tonight, Hope?   

Just looked at the remaining schedule for each team still in contention.  I am going to predict the order of finish for the top 4.  I am sure I will look foolish after this weeks games are played, but here it goes.  Would like to see yours Hope when you get a chance.

1.  Mac -- wins out and hosts the tourney.  Though the final game at FU could be a tricky one.
2. Greenville -- loses at IWC and wins at home vs Eureka.  Finishes in sole possession of 2nd.
3. Webster -- wins out vs Spalding and IWC. No given of course against 2 solid teams.
4. Blackburn -- goes 1-1, predicting a win at home vs Eureka and a loss at Spalding.
4.  Westminster -- goes 1-1, predicting a loss at Mac and a win at home vs Prin.

Don't know how the tiebreaker will work in the above-scenario and probably premature to analyze it until after Wednesday's games.  Plus, I'm sure my above scenario would go to hell after Wednesday anyway. 

Perhaps more interesting and entirely possible and realistic would be if Webster, Blackburn, and Westminster all split this week.  I could really see this scenario playing out, in which case 1 team would obviously not be in the tourney.

Good work, hopefan.  Been reading the board as usual and following along with all the action...just haven't been to a game in a while so I haven't posted much.  Always enjoy reading your posts though.

Love this time of the year.  Man, talk about a lot of "what ifs" still in play.  Hoping my Gorloks can string together two good games to ensure itself of a spot in the conference tourney.  Who knows though, as they are such an enigma, as hopefan has said previously.  You'd think with so much at stake they'll be ready to play.  We shall see.  I should be there for both games. 

100% agree about Evans, Yjack. He dialed it back just a smidge today. Just hit a few more shots. Haven't seen the box score but at one point I think he was 3-9 from the floor in about 10 min. of PT. The thing is, he's is very athletic and is an asset to this team, he just needs to reign it in.

96-66 Webster over Mac.  MUCH better performance after this last Wednesday by my Gorloks. Pretty much all positives today all the way around. Lots of balance in the scoring column, starters played well, good bench production highlighted by Dortch and Evans. Feeling better about the Gorloks after that one vs Wednesday. Unfortunately, I think Webster may continue to be Jeykl and Hyde. Hope I'm wrong. Big home game on Wednesday vs Westminster.

Thank you, sir!  I should be there on Sat. and next Wed., assuming nothing pops up for me and will share my thoughts.

Good recap from hopefan on the Webster-Fontbonne game.  One of the sloppiest, ugliest games I've seen in a while.  Just bad basketball.  Disappointing on many fronts as a Webster fan.  Lost a 17 point lead at home.  Terrible.  Way too much 1 on 1 play on the offensive end.  Thought Webster was lazy on the defensive end.  Fontbonne did a great job of getting good looks on Webster's zone.  Good ball movement and they hit key shots.  Credit to them.  Ward was disappointing.  A guy with his talent should not disappear for long stretches of the game.  And he doesn't necessarily have to score to have to make a difference as other teams key on him.  Wonder why Odjo and Moore only played 13 and 15 min, respectively?  Hmmm.  Bright spots for Webster were Joseph Henry who played a very solid game, Turner with nice minutes off the bench for the Gorloks and Evans was solid too.  Looks like the league is wide open with a ton of parity...Hopefan's dream!  Should be a wild ride.

I respectfully disagree, y_jack.  Sure, in a perfect world with ample amounts of space and money, the pool is nice to have.  However, under the current situation, the fitness center is used by so many more students and athletes than the pool.  From my understanding, the pool serves a high school swim team and local swim lessons for the community.  Very, very few faculty and students use it.  Not to mention, the operational costs of the pool is hefty, especially in light of the limited use of it.  Like I said, if space and money weren't at a premium, I'd say keep it.  However, the university must prioritize it's use of real estate and financial resources. 

Y_jack, good observations.  Could expand using the existing parking lot or how about the very seldom used pool, which would give you plenty of space to add state-of-the art locker rooms and expanded growth to the weight room....or, perhaps a weight room exclusively for athletes.

Again, speaking solely about Webster, the facilities are abysmal.  Grant Gymnasium was built in 1985, 30 years ago.  I don't believe the locker rooms have EVER been updated.  The fitness center has been once.  There have been a few minor cosmetic changes to the gym.  Though I think the gym is fine as it is.  No need to expand that. That's 30 years with very little upgrades to the basketball facilities. 

In 1985, when Webster began it's athletic department, the facilities were probably adequate.  Back then, you had about 80 or 90 athletes.  Now, the AD brings in about 80 or 90 athletes EVERY YEAR....at the price tag of $37k (granted, many athletes are getting aid, academic scholarships, etc.).  The student-athletes deserve better. Just wish the higher-ups felt the same way.  I don't know if they truly understand how well the athletic department serves the university in terms of bringing in kids.  The university's enrollment has continued to go down, while the athletic department continues to grow.  Hmmm...

Agree, Hopefan.  I have played at every current SLIAC school with the exception of Iowa Wesleyan and Spalding, have played at Monmouth and Illinois College (the two you mentioned) and several other CCIW schools, so believe me, I know what a different the facilities are.  And folks wonder why SLIAC schools have a hard time competing with the CCIW schools.  It is HUGE advantage for those schools. 

Take Webster for example: WU has a weight room that's open to all students and faculty and is about the size of a classroom, the locker room is probably equipped for about 4-5 players (not 15), have one gym that is also used for intramurals, school events, and by other sports, etc.  It makes the fact that Webster can compete with many of the CCIW schools in most years even more incredible. 

It is what it is, though, and doesn't seem like anything will change soon.  Once again, credit to Bunch and staff for getting the players in to compete with the likes of a Wash U and some of the CCIW schools.