MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hopefan]

I am a big advocate of JV programs as long as the reason for the program is to advance kids to the Varsity down the road... I'm not sure what a kid gets out of playing JV if the Varsity program is already full with underclassmen on the varsity...  Certainly in the SLIAC, there is potential for any JV player who improves to be a factor in the varsity in future years.   The Webster article didn't mention the 25 game limit... I always thought that was the limit for individual appearances whether JV or Varsity... Wonder if that is still the rule?

[y_jack_lok]

I see the roster but the juco transfers from Lewis&Clark and from Alabama are not on it as far as I can tell. Wondering if I'm missing something.   

[Mr. Ypsi]

I am a big advocate of JV programs as long as the reason for the program is to advance kids to the Varsity down the road... I'm not sure what a kid gets out of playing JV if the Varsity program is already full with underclassmen on the varsity...  Certainly in the SLIAC, there is potential for any JV player who improves to be a factor in the varsity in future years.   The Webster article didn't mention the 25 game limit... I always thought that was the limit for individual appearances whether JV or Varsity... Wonder if that is still the rule?

Pretty sure that that is still the D3 rule.

[hopefan]

I see the roster but the juco transfers from Lewis&Clark and from Alabama are not on it as far as I can tell. Wondering if I'm missing something.   

Nor are any frosh on it... doesn't make any sense to me...  you and I know that the two you mentioned are 'rumored' to be integral parts of the team....

[y_jack_lok]

I see the roster but the juco transfers from Lewis&Clark and from Alabama are not on it as far as I can tell. Wondering if I'm missing something.   

Nor are any frosh on it... doesn't make any sense to me...  you and I know that the two you mentioned are 'rumored' to be integral parts of the team....

Hopeefully just waiting to assign uniform numbers before the names get on the website roster. Wouldn't be the first time  the final roster isn't finished until just before the season starts,

[y_jack_lok]

Just checked again. Looks like 16 names are now there with uniform numbers, including the two transfers and some freshmen, plus 5 names without uniform number.

[Denny McKinney]

Did I miss the discussion back in August about WU's incoming recruiting class? The WU website has an 8/26/2015 piece where Coach Bunch did a nice job of introducing them.

There are some 6'5 size, which may be big enough in the conference. Might be tough match ups in the non-conference stretch.

[hopefan]

MacMurray scheduled exhibition vs Millikin last night was cancelled due to dangerous travel conditions caused by high winds... won't be made up... Mac doesn't open up until the 20th....


Denny... WOTS (me talking to Coach a while back), says two Juco's Yjack mentioned yesterday will be the guys that have immediate impact...

[Denny McKinney]

Thanks Hopefan. Thought I had just missed something. WOTS???

[Gregory Sager]

I enjoyed the article from Webster. I'm a big fan of Kevin. But, even if WU plays a 12 man rotation, you have 9 players that aren't getting the benefit of playing time. JV games give those players a chance to improve their skills and learn the system. Just my opinion.

Exactly. I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. Webster's got more than enough players to field a JV team.

I am a big advocate of JV programs as long as the reason for the program is to advance kids to the Varsity down the road...

There are two other good reasons to field a JV team:

1) Participation. Don't pooh-pooh this reason. Lots of D3 schools -- including all of the SLIAC members, as far as I know -- are tuition-driven to at least some degree, which means that athletics functions almost as an ancillary arm of admissions. It's a means to bring students (and their tuition dollars) on campus. And keeping them there means providing opportunities for them to play, which includes JV basketball.

2) Recruiting. Lots of D3 junior varsities play jucos as part of their schedules. Those games give D3 coaches additional opportunities to scout and recruit juco players without having to make special trips to see those teams.

I'm not sure what a kid gets out of playing JV if the Varsity program is already full with underclassmen on the varsity...

He's playing college basketball, which is probably what he's dreamed about doing since he was little. That's what he gets out of it. JV ball is still college basketball.

Certainly in the SLIAC, there is potential for any JV player who improves to be a factor in the varsity in future years.   The Webster article didn't mention the 25 game limit... I always thought that was the limit for individual appearances whether JV or Varsity... Wonder if that is still the rule?

Yes, it is.

Thanks Hopefan. Thought I had just missed something. WOTS???

WOTS = word on the street

[WUPHF]

I enjoyed the article from Webster. I'm a big fan of Kevin. But, even if WU plays a 12 man rotation, you have 9 players that aren't getting the benefit of playing time. JV games give those players a chance to improve their skills and learn the system. Just my opinion.

Exactly. I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. Webster's got more than enough players to field a JV team.

Do keep in mind that the article was from the student newspaper.

[hopefan]

Greg... come on.. JV ball on most levels, can hardly be labelled "college basketball" in the mind of a freshman who yearns to be a part of the program for four years... Tell kids on the JV that they absolutely will not be considered for the varsity in the future, that it's a one year "contract", and a majority would call it quits...they'd go to the frat leagues and play and not worry about practice every day and playing in front of crowds less than 20.  At least when I played and coached, the frosh played many games as prelims to the varsity and we'd get people attending to see the "up and comers"... I have NEVER seen that set up at Wash U or in the SLIAC.   Even a fan like myself has never gotten around to finding a JV game to see....

[BunchTime]

I'm back, fellas. Looking forward to another season.  I'll provide my two cents on the Gorloks based on some conversations I've had. Sorry in advance if anything is repetitive or has been said by other posters.

Should be another solid team that will compete for a spot in the conference tourney and perhaps a league title. Backcourt will probably be JUCO transfer, Xavier Dortch and one of the following guys: Etter, Odjo and CJ Moore. Hearing good things about Dortch. The latter three I mentioned all have significant experience. Should make for a strong and deep backcourt with many capable ball handlers, some athleticism, and a couple good shooters in Etter and Doetch.

On the wings, the Gorloks have Hunter Ward, Joe Henry and Tevin Evans. Obviously we're all aware of Ward. Henry came off the bench last year and logged good minutes. Evans returns but did not play last year (forget why), but may be one of the more athletic players in the SLIAC.  Also, WU has a newcomer in Davian Joseph who is listed at 6'5"" and I'm told is athletic and can rebound the ball well.

Three guys will share the role as the 5 man.  Returner Taylor Wakton is undersized. He played spot minutes last year.  Newcomer frosh Jahmad Wilburn is 6'5". And, lastly, Tehven Crenshaw, while undersized, may be the best rebounder of the three.

Obviously, the noticeable concern is post play for the Gorloks. We'll see how it effects them early in non-conference, where as in conference probably not going to be a huge factor especially with the Gorloks depth and athleticism.

Just thought I'd chime in about WU.  I'm ready for another year of hoops!

[Denny McKinney]

I agree whole heartedly with you Greg. When I was still involved at FU, there was an open walk on and no it rule for all sports. I coached the JV team and played a 25 game schedule. For a lot of the boys it was their college career. When we traveled at Christmas to Hawaii we scheduled two JV games against Arm Forces team. The year we beat them, it was as big a win to those boys as a conference championship. Those boys were part of the program and were treated that way by every player.

FU doesn't have fraternities or intramurals. You give a young man a chance to live their dream, you might find a better player from that HS considering coming to your college. There was many times the JV played in front of larger crowds then a lot of SLIAC games.

This is division III. It's a participation level with no scholarships. Some of my great memories were coaching those boys. Don't ever pass up letting a kid live his dream when you have a chance.

[hopefan]

So, you're telling me a kid comes to school because he has a chance to play one year of D3 JV ball and then hang em up... I just don't think it happens quite that way...   I'll agree to disagree....