MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[y_jack_lok]

Griffin did log 18 minutes in the 2nd half vs IWU to Huskey's 13. It looks like Webster went with size as much as possible in the 2nd half of that game (Miller, Griffin, and Huskey) plus Ward, Smith, and Etter. Having only Griffin this year changes the equation, although Moore is providing some great play. I think SliacChamp's point is valid, though, that this season's starting five need to believe and play like they believe and they can be a really good team.

[Pat Coleman]

Should Yjack use his comparative scores methodology, seems like Fontbonne will be a big favorite over Webster when they meet!!??

The comparative score methodology would have to factor in only regulation time of the Webster/Prin game, making Fontbonne a 15 point favorite if the two teams play the game at Principia.    But that won't happen so give Fontbonne a few more points for a home game and subtract some for a game at Webster. But, what "should" happen according to that methodology seldom does.

Greenville nips Westminster 65-63 at Greenville today. So Webster should beat Greenville by16 at Greenville per the methodology. 

Yjack, see my prior post... the 65-63 score was a JV game, improperly turned in to D3hoops... Greenville beat Westmin later in the afternoon, 73-62.

Actually, it was properly tagged as an exhibition game, which means it never affected either team's record or the SLIAC standings. Why they have JV games on their varsity schedule, though, is another question.

[hopefan]

WOW Greenville 46 Millikin 29 at half... GC shooting 67% from field!!!!

[hopefan]

Greenville hangs on to beat Millikin 75-69.... it was a struggle in the last 5 minutes, Ron Harris Free throws in last minute locked it... Good win for GC and the SLIAC.. if I questioned whether GC was for real up to this point, I'm convinced they are a team with top 4 potential now....

Top 4 potential at this point?   Webster, Greenville by themselves.... Fontbonne at next step... Mac and Westmin next (two fine one win teams) joined by Spalding....  Eureka a far reaching maybe.... IWC and BC learning for 2015-16....

[y_jack_lok]

Greenville hangs on to beat Millikin 75-69.... it was a struggle in the last 5 minutes, Ron Harris Free throws in last minute locked it... Good win for GC and the SLIAC.. if I questioned whether GC was for real up to this point, I'm convinced they are a team with top 4 potential now....

Top 4 potential at this point?   Webster, Greenville by themselves.... Fontbonne at next step... Mac and Westmin next (two fine one win teams) joined by Spalding....  Eureka a far reaching maybe.... IWC and BC learning for 2015-16....

And Principia?

[SliacChamp]

Greenville is looking like a tough team right now.

There gym is also a tough place to squeeze a win out. Loud, Hot and usually full of fans.

[hopefan]

Greenville hangs on to beat Millikin 75-69.... it was a struggle in the last 5 minutes, Ron Harris Free throws in last minute locked it... Good win for GC and the SLIAC.. if I questioned whether GC was for real up to this point, I'm convinced they are a team with top 4 potential now....

Top 4 potential at this point?   Webster, Greenville by themselves.... Fontbonne at next step... Mac and Westmin next (two fine one win teams) joined by Spalding....  Eureka a far reaching maybe.... IWC and BC learning for 2015-16....

And Principia?

Good grief, how did I miss Prin..  Because of the strong foursome of Patterson, Ball, Ross and Davidson, I'll stick them in with Eureka as a far reaching maybe...  While Prin showed staying power versus Webster, I just think foul trouble will erode the group on the floor on a nightly basis.... and if anyone goes out with injury....

[y_jack_lok]

Greenville is looking like a tough team right now.

Interesting note about Greenville: their non conference schedule consisted of a D1 team (Western Illinois), two D2 teams (Lindenwood-St. Charles and McKendree -- are both of them still provisional D2?), three D3 teams (Elmhurst, Dominican and Millikin) and Lincoln Christian. Except for Lincoln Christian that's a much tougher non-conference schedule than we're used to seeing them play. I wonder if it was intentional or if that's just the way things fell into place.

[Gregory Sager]

Lindenwood and McKendree are both full D2 members. D2 only has a one-year provisional period, as compared to our four-year provisional period.

[y_jack_lok]

Lindenwood and McKendree are both full D2 members. D2 only has a one-year provisional period, as compared to our four-year provisional period.

Thanks.

[WUPHF]

Lindenwood and McKendree are both full D2 members. D2 only has a one-year provisional period, as compared to our four-year provisional period.

I believe in Division II, there are two candidate years before the one-year provisional period begins.  During the candidate-status years, the institution does not pay membership fees, but must meet a few limited obligations or risk a longer provisional period.

[hopefan]

Observation -  at the top, the SLIAC is WAY down from the talent level last year...

Webster down from last year.. loss of two big men, loss of quickness, defensive pressure at point

Spalding.. down huge from last year with loss of 4 seniors, all of whom had all conference abilities

Mac down from last year... loses SLIAC player of the year along with 3 other key seniors... current bench is basically freshmen

Westminster down huge from last year... loses 3 seniors, but James and Jones really made them go.. last year's reserves, new faces have yet to step up

Greenville... I'd rate them about level with last year, but that level is good enough to be a legit threat for the top of the conference... lost Alex Mumphard and 2 key reserves, new faces and last years reserves are filling in admirably...

Fontbonne.. showing a big step up.. Kissing taking the work load off Greenlee, the two are a strong pair together...  perimeter game beginning to settle down

Prin... Up from last year...Two outstanding frosh blend well with Patterson and Ball, but a tremendous dropoff after that... Savoye's return may help..  Prin needs a recruiting class of 5 players for 2015 all of whom have played good hs ball.. a tall order...

Eureka... seem level with last year, but they still seem to be bottom 4 level despite the addition of very good freshman... veteran squad could still turn it around...

Blackburn...level with last year, which is not good.... new faces will take time, still the Chris Davis show (now times 2), and that's not enough

Iowa Wesleyan... level with last year... and you know what that means...

[y_jack_lok]

Westminster loses tonight to Central (Pella, IA) 91-68 (23 points) at Westminster. Webster beat Westmin by 18 (71-53) at Westmin. Central plays at Webster on Saturday 12/19. In the "comparative scores mean nothing" scenario, Ii the Webster-Central game were played at Westminster, Central beats Webster by 5. But does playing at Webster neutralize that? 

[y_jack_lok]

Observation -  at the top, the SLIAC is WAY down from the talent level last year...

I agree that none of the SLIAC teams is better this year than last year with the exceptions of Fontbonne and Principia. Depth seems to be the biggest issue hampering a lot of teams.

[SliacChamp]

Could be a rough 2 weeks heading into the break for Webster. After the way Central crushed Westminster tonight and obviously the Bears will be a challenge just to hang. Plus next week is finals week according to Webster's Calender. Let's so how the mighty mighty Gorloks live up to the hype....which is deflating after that Prin debacle.

Stat of the night- Central College was 18-18 from the line.