MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Denny McKinney]

Really? You want me to lower my expectations  of a program I consider to be the most consistent in the SLIAC? A program that I've had personal ties with the HC and past players. I said "concern", I didn't rip WU, in anyway. I think your just trying earn your stripes by chiding the easy target. No, I will not lower my expectations. I will except out comes, but I will continue to hold WU to a higher level.

[hopefan]

Guess who is running the system!!

[Denny McKinney]

Well GC has the numbers.

[WUPHF]

Really? You want me to lower my expectations  of a program I consider to be the most consistent in the SLIAC?

You're an easy target because you take everything so seriously, but I am not targeting you.  I am just telling you the facts.  Relax.

Final from Blooomington-Normal: Illinois Wesleyan over Greenville, 150-115. Wow!

[newCCIWfan]

Principia 88 - Illinois College 68

[newCCIWfan]

McKendree 90 - Blackburn 88

[newCCIWfan]

Denny --- not sure if you saw this

RIP Jim Shaw. He was a good man who I enjoyed seeing almost every year in Salem. I am so glad I took the time to chat with him last year. He always had a smile on his face. He will be missed: http://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/sports/mbkb/2015-16/releases/20151110ebut8a

I know that Jim and your dad were close

[Denny McKinney]

NewCCIWfan - Thanks for the info. It is very sad to hear. You are right. Dad and Coach Shaw were very good friends. My Prayers go out to his family and friends.

[Denny McKinney]

The only coach to come to the visitors locker room after a game Dad was tossed out of, to apologize for the officials.

[hopefan]

So yes.... Greenville is running the system... full scale, 3 and a half units (7 players rotated around in the 3rd unit)... play 3 or 4 possessions and come out... GC was in the game with IWU for a large part of the first half, had a shot to go ahead when they were down to at 47-45, but it missed, and then IWU went on a long run to take a big lead at half.... the 2nd half (by itself) was relatively even for quite a while, and again IWU blew it open in the last several minutes.  Greenville's first two units played really well, with the 3rd unit being very inexperienced and not having much of a scoring threat.

With the talent level GC showed, the system will create chaos in the SLIAC...  it is fun, and I think will be very effective vs SLIAC competition.. Greenville has a team that can really score, several solid perimeter shooters and several guys that can take it to the hoop... New faces Kenny Green, DeAndre Brown, and Shane Smith are all very athletic and go to the basket.. they'll thrive with the system... Michael Hohm played like a new man.. he seemed very tight, indecisive last year, but really flowed with the freedom of the system... and Tim Daniel found the range in the 2nd half, outstanding shooter, should score big.  I'm not sure, but I THINK the SLIAC teams, many that have short benches, are going to have a very rough time adjusting to this.

So, I may have seen my 4th lopsided game in a row, but this one didn't seem like it... it was a show!!!

And how about the other SLIAC results!!
Prin puts it to Illinois College, 88-68, even with big man Justin Ball on the bench for 20 minutes with foul trouble.... new face Adaku Anumu leads the scoring with 25, Patterson, Ross and Davidson each score in double figures..  I'll see Prin on Thursday vs Loras...

Eureka clobbers Emmaus, 100-75, with 6 players in double figures... a nice recovery after a blow out loss to Monmouth..

And most impressive, Blackburn almost beats McKendree, losing by 2 in the last minute...a couple of new faces that did little vs Wash U showed they can play, DeAndre Manuel goes for 26, Jake Maestranzi has 16 and 4 for 5 from 3's.  Chris Davis still out, should be ready by December for conference games...

A very positive night for the SLIAC!!

[y_jack_lok]

About 10 years ago MacMurray had a coach who ran The System one year. I don't recall how Mac did that season and I only saw the game they played at Webster. Coach Bunch had his team well prepared for the game and Webster won. I can definitely see this being exciting for the Greenville fans at home games since they always have a nearly full gym and enthusiastically support the team.

[Denny McKinney]

Thanks for your write up Hope. Be safe traveling the long drives.

[hopefan]

Interesting trend that is very visible this year... transfers playing key roles.. I'm not going to debate whether there are more than in the past....

Iowa Wesleyan.. All Conference Chris Fowler came from Chaffey College, a JUCO in California.......  Mitch Drey, who has had double figures in both games, came from Nebraska Wesleyan

Eureka.... Leading Scorer Sam Feehan averaged 22pts per game at Illinois Central College (JUCO)....  All Conference Greg Kent came from Black Hawk College (JUCO)....  Tommy Goulding, a scrappy small forward, came from Aurora University

Webster.... Xavier Dortch from Faulkner State CC (Ala.) and Davian Joseph from Lewis and Clark JC (Ill.) both played Key roles off the bench in Webster's opener.... Joseph Henry from Johnson Count CC in Kansas City started for the Gorlocks...

Spalding.... Nick Trisko, transferring from Greenville College, had a monster game in win over Berea

Fontbonne... 2nd year starter Ben Kissing came from Shawnee JC (Ill).... Starter Trey Watkins played at Three Rivers CC

Blackburn....  DeAndre Manuel with a big game vs MCKendree, came from the College of DuPage (Ill)... Starting point guard Jake Maestranzi transferred in from D2 Delta State (Mississippi).... Starter Henry Hicks played at Lincoln CC (Ill)

Principia.... Adaku Anumu, Prin's leading scorer, transferred in from Texas A&M International, a D2 school.

MacMurray... Deavis Johnson, an All Conference power forward, came over from Millikin University

Greenville...... Andrew Scott Fullerton College (Cal. JC),   DeAndre Brown West LA JC (Cal), Kenny Green LA Harbor CC (Cal.)    ALL were big in opener vs IWU... Scott was a starter last year

Westminster.... Starter Mat Murphy came in from McKendree College (Il)   Several new names on the roster came from CC's, not sure yet what role they will play

[y_jack_lok]

Interesting point about transfers. Definitely not worth trying to debate if there are more or not, just in terms of sheer numbers, but it may be that transfers are playing key roles at more schools than they have in the past. I could go back and name quite a few transfers who have contributed at Webster since the 2001-2002 season when I moved to STL.

[Denny McKinney]

Not speaking about university to university transfers, just the juco's. In these economic times I truly think we will see this trend grow. A family can save a lot of money by having their child get their basics at a CC. This way your only paying, the ever increasing, high tuitions for two years.

Now this requires the students to do their due diligence and take those courses that will transfer. A lot of states have a type of A plus programs, which gets the family basically two years free. Then being able to afford to allow their kids their choice of where they want to go. I can hear a group groan on this idea.

FU turns out a large number of educators. Four years of 40K puts an awful load on a teacher's salary. I have seen this trend grow among the rural families whose HS kids I've enjoyed watching the past 4 years. Or, their kids need to get an NAIA schools attention and a lot of talented kids choose just to go to Mo State and forgoe playing college sports. It is just the economic situation we are in now.

Another Three Rivers CC transfer at FU, the 6'8 kid, is real close to returning. I look for it to probally next week. Thought you'd like to hear that Hopefan.

Happy to see the early wins from the SLIAC teams.