According to the box score, Miller had 22 rebounds for Mac last night.

Looking at the SLIAC website, that ties the conference record for most rebounds in one game.

How big is Fontbonne's game at Greenville this Saturday?

The "March to March" may be on the line.

Webster may win out.

Eureka, Maryville and Greenville can do a lot of damage.

Parity reigns.

Are some teams "playing up?" Or are some teams "Playing down?"

Maybe both.

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"MacMurray has had two others since Bob Gay"

I think the answer is three.

Darren DeNeve

Steve Hettinga

Todd Creal

Check out MacMurray's Adam Polston's numbers the past few games.

For his minutes played, he does a lot of three-point damage.

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Tough loss for MacMurray.

Led most of the game, but ran out of gas down the stretch.

Randle and Larry - academic casualties.

Knox done for year - injury.

A season that started with so much promise.....

Mac will still play hard, and with Coleman, Miller, and Sichting, be dangerous. But this isn't the same team that Coach Creal had on Day #1.

Looks like Fulton, Missouri will be the site of the post-season tournament, but still 4-5 teams could walk away with the NCAA ticket.

Nice to see Eureka get the win. Greenville will be there at the end. Maryville and Webster will be tough outs. Fontbonne still a favorite.

Should be fun.

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hopefan - you said Mac needed to beat a "good team." The Webster team that Mac defeated on December 6 - at Webster and by 14 points - had earlier defeated a solid University of the Ozarks team, and after losing to Mac, turned around the next night and beat a good Rust College team. Plus, Webster lost by only three at Westminster, who we now know is one of the top teams in the SLIAC. If this team was searching for its identity during this stretch, they were doing a pretty good job of finding it.

This has nothing at all to do with Mac's loss at home to Westminster, similar notes of optimism, the records of the teams that Mac has defeated, or the loss of some key players from Mac's roster. Completely different issues, in my opinion, that have absolutely nothing to do with your assertion that Webster wasn't a good team on December 6 - but they are now.

My view is Mac's conference win on the road at Webster on December 6 - based on Webster's record at that time against quality competition constitutes a MacMurray victory over a "good team." You disagree. We'll leave it at that.

Glad you're feeling better hopefan. Hopefully this was your only trip to the DL. Need your unbiased analysis of games and players.

Glad to see fcnews back in full swing. Near-midnight post on the Westminster-Principia final. I'm impressed!

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"Mac at Fontbonne - Mac, show me  -  they need to beat a good team..."

Not sure what that quote says about Webster, who lost at home to Mac by 14 earlier in the season. Same Webster team that turned around and defeated everyone's #1 pick, Fontbonne. Ouch.

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Mac defeats Blackburn 90-73. Coleman and Sichting each with 27. Big win for the Highlanders. Congrats to Coach Creal.

Has Fontbonne lost six straight?
If so, how could that happen?
I would expect them to bounce back and contend, but I'd like to know if this was just a series of tough games where they came up short - or if there are other issues involved, such as injuries, etc.

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"I fear we were scammed by the preseason Hype from Mac Murray fans.."

From my seat, Mac looked like they had the potential to make a run at the post season in 2008-2009. But Greene and Crowder are no longer with the team, and Knox suffered an injury that could sideline him for the rest of the season. These were three of Mac's first eight players, including two starters, and maybe three. Can't speak for the other SLIAC teams, but Mac just didn't have the depth to overcome the loss of three of their best players. Maybe Fontbonne, Maryville, or some of the SLIAC teams could reload, but Mac couldn't. I think Coach Creal is doing all he can to compensate for the loss of these three players, but it will be extremely difficult for the Highlanders to reach the level of success they were hoping for in the preseason.

"FC - Razor Back is likely correct about the 29th.  The real question maybe what can Maryville give Illinois Wesleyan on November 30 when they actually play."

The SLIAC basketball website has the game listed for November 29...

IWU is still rebuilding. Not saying Maryville will win, but the Saints could give IWU a tussle...

MacMurray will be scrimmaging IWU...

Any other SLIAC teams with upcoming scrimmages?

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Thanks for the explanation on exhibition vs. scrimmage, Greg...

Eureka will be tough and will be in the race from start to finish...

Congrats on your good work, eurkea_sid!

No one answered my question concerning the date when the coaches meet and cast their pre-season poll...

My ballot would read:

Fontbonne
Maryville
Webster
Greenville
Eureka
Westminster
MacMurray
Principia
Blackburn

Westminster could easily move up to 4th, or higher, but with only one starter back, they have much to prove. Same for MacMurray...

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Mac at SEMO on November 8. Exhibition game, not a scrimmage. I assume there's a difference but others on this board know more about this than I do...

Several freshmen, including Bonds, will contribute early and often at the varsity level, but my guess is the older players will lead the way out of the gate...

One thing is certain - MacMurray will have much more competitive and spirited practices than they did last year, which should help everyone improve and hopefully lead to a more competitive team once the season starts...

Welcome aboard HCACBBALL! Glad to see another Mac follower excited about the coming season...

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"Who is going to start for MacMurray?"

Will know the answer to that on November 8...

Mac has a good mix of upper classmen and freshmen...

Mac's JV team should be pretty good. Keep an eye on Zac Ozee, Travis Johnson, Perry Bonds, Malcom Larry, and Freddy Miller...

Will be interesting to see how much Marc Randle, 6'8" tight end on Mac's football team, can contribute once he joins the team...

When do the SLIAC coaches meet and have their pre-season poll?

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Unless it's a misprint, Westminster plays at SIU-Edwardsville on Nov. 1. Seems pretty early...

Next up would be MacMurray, who plays at SEMO on 11/8. Does anyone remember when SEMO used to be the Cape Girardeau Indians (now the Redhawks)...

Further off topic - the SEMO women's teams used to be called the "Otahkians"...

Everybody else jumps in between Nov. 12-19, with the exception of Principia, who lists their first game on Nov. 25. Lots of opportunities for some early scouting...

Fontbonne, Maryville, Greenville, and Webster have players coming back who were heavy contributors last season to successful teams...

Looks like everyone else is counting on several newcomers, or in Mac's case, old-comers...

MacMurray could start two seniors and three juniors...

Maryville could give Illinois Wesleyan all they want on November 29...

Some VERY interesting SLIAC games right out of the shoot, including Greenville at Eureka (12/3), Webster at Westminster (12/3), Fontbonne at Eureka (12/6), and MacMurray at Webster (12/6)...

Eureka has a chance to make some early noise on its home floor...

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Will be interesting to see if the board can get reports from Westminster, Greenville, Maryville, Principia, Blackburn and Eureka....

From what little we know, some of the programs believe they have recruited well and will be improved...

How many of the teams will change from October 15 to the first game of the second semester....

Time will tell - along with injuries, grades, homesickness, playing time issues, etc...

Which SLIAC team plays the first game? I could look it up by my guess is hopefan already knows the answer...

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The Sporting News College Edition is saying Elmhurst is a team poised for a "possible breakthrough" into the national scene this season...

Blue Jays play at MacMurray on Nov. 15 and at Fontbonne on December 16...

Mac will have had one exhibition game (at SEMO) before hosting Elmhurst...

Fontbonne will have played 8 games, including a game against #2 Wash U, before the Blue Jays come calling...

Not that it means a hill of beans in March, but it will be interesting to compare the two games...

As I said earlier, because of the many new faces, Mac should be better in February than they will be in November...

Glad to see FU's Chris Forrest bounce back so quickly after sitting out a season...

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