MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Mr. Ypsi]

I like to read the Webster Journal when I see it and the latest issue features an interesting editorial on Division III sports: http://websterjournal.com/2016/02/03/heres-the-thing-division-three-sports-do-matter/

I am not sure if the editorial is worth reading, but is good for a laugh in what was clearly an honest mistake and apropos for one of our previous conversations:

Even a SLIAC conference team has sent players to the pros. Jack Sikma played for Iowa Wesleyan. The 6'11" center was drafted eighth overall by the Seattle Supersonics in the 1977 NBA draft.

Not to mention this one:



Oh, and a couple more NBA players you may know played DIII. Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman played at Central Arkansas and SE Oklahoma State, respectively.

Besides the mistakes, the student-journalist probably needs to go back to the drawing board on this on as it is not clear at all what he is advocating for.  Is he not happy with Webster athletics?  I believe most Gorlock teams are exceeding his standard for good coaching.

As long as we're pointing out mistakes in the editorial, there's this one: "One of the greatest all-around athletes in the history of sports played DIII sports–Jim Thorpe...Thorpe attended Carlisle Indian Industrial school." Never mind that the NCAA three division alignment did not come into effect until around 1975, that Jim Thorpe died in 1953, or that the school no longer exists as an educational institution. Mistakes do get attention, though.

Thanks for the laughs, guys!  May I further suggest that the writer is guilty of exactly what he is bemoaning - apparently HE doesn't think D3 is important enough to get ANY of his facts straight!  I hope he is not representative of Webster's academic standards.

[hopefan]

Spalding beats Prin easily, 65-46... This puts them at 8-7....With Webster facing a tough game at Mac tomorrow night, it's not inconceivable that they could be at 8-7 too....and if Blackburn could score a stunner at Westminster, the Beavs would also be at 8-7... a 3 way tie for 4th with 3 games left...

[allamericanredhead]

Just read the "news" article/editorial by the young man at Webster. WOW. A couple more questionable claims:

"One of the greatest all-around athletes in the history of sports played DIII sports–Jim Thorpe." Division III was around in 1912?

"Future Hall of Famer London Fletcher played football at John Carroll University. Ever heard of it? Neither have I." Buddy, there are a whole lot of things you have not heard of. Fletcher was the point guard on the JC basketball team after transferring from DI St. Francis of PA. He did play for John Carrol's football team. John Carrol, by the way is where Don Shula played his college football.

I never could figure out why he is ripping on the coaches. What coaches? What sports? Specific objections or deficiencies? He gives no clarity, just throws a few random rants and digs at "coaches."

The guy could be a "fact checker" for FOX News. Incredible poor research, no foundation to claimed deficiencies, scatter gun accusations, total untruths to back a pre-conceived conclusion, totally vague, biased and pointless wild claims to try and prove an even vaguer topic.

Such a biased and pointless tirade puts the memory cells into thought process and reminds me why we need Dennis back. FREE DENNIS

[Mr. Ypsi]

Since he brought all this to our attention, I move that WUH be deputized to track down the editorial writer and present him with the posts made here.  All in favor, say 'aye'.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Man - I wish I could endorse this article, but there are SO many mistakes... let's add to them, shall we?

Oh, and a couple more NBA players you may know played DIII. Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman played at Central Arkansas and SE Oklahoma State, respectively.

FALSE

I actually think I am going to email him.

[WUPHF]

Since he brought all this to our attention, I move that WUH be deputized to track down the editorial writer and present him with the posts made here. 

+1 I was all ready to go stake out the Webster Starbucks, but an e-mail from a professional journalist is probably better...

Incidentally, the editorial is probably not indicative of Webster and the quality of their students.  It is probably the second best institution in the SLIAC after Westminster and they do have a host of nationally known programs in the arts.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I could only find the general email for the paper, so I emailed accordingly. Turned out to be much longer than I expected... probably because four of the five people he presented were NOT student-athletes, four of the five schools he represented were not Division III at the time of his example or were until recently (accounts for both Iowa Wesleyan which should have been Illinois Wesleyan), and other items.

I'd be lying if I told you I expect to hear back.

[hopefan]

uhhhh.. entertaining, but I'll go back to my normal coverage.... (actually, while my first reactions were of laughter and shock, I gotta admit, I almost feel sorry for the poor kid now)

Anyway.. tonight's games.. just quick takes

Webster at Mac... so important to both.. Mac in the 3 way tie for 1st (Actually 4 way tie if we include IWU***) at   9-5, Webster one game back at 8-6.... Mac wants to keep winning for a shot at hosting the conference tourney (would this be a first time hosting for MAC?)... Webster wants to win to stay solid within the top 4, a loss would  put them in a tie for 4th with Spalding, and possibly Blackburn...  Home court advantage for Mac, but the Webster zone could give them fits.. I'll make the 'nasty' prediction of liking Webster in this game

Greenville at Fontbonne... the first time around, this was a mismatch... after seeing Fontbonne turn the ball over 20 some times vs Webster, I have no reason to think anything will be different tonight...

Westminster at Blackburn... huge game for both, Westmin in tie for 1st, BC hanging on at 7-7...the exuberant young new coach vs the crafty vet (yeah Mitch, your'e getting to that stage in your career)... This is a relatively even matchup with the game at Blackburn, but I'm just not so sure BC knows how to win an even matchup... would love to watch the Maestranzi - Cochrane matchup, which could be critical.. I'm going with Westmin in a nailbiter....

IWU*** at Eureka...  Plain and simple, I'm going with the big upset, Eureka wins at home... I like the game of the Feehans that much.....

[Mr. Ypsi]

uhhhh.. entertaining, but I'll go back to my normal coverage.... (actually, while my first reactions were of laughter and shock, I gotta admit, I almost feel sorry for the poor kid now)

Anyway.. tonight's games.. just quick takes

Webster at Mac... so important to both.. Mac in the 3 way tie for 1st (Actually 4 way tie if we include IWU***) at   9-5, Webster one game back at 8-6.... Mac wants to keep winning for a shot at hosting the conference tourney (would this be a first time hosting for MAC?)... Webster wants to win to stay solid within the top 4, a loss would  put them in a tie for 4th with Spalding, and possibly Blackburn...  Home court advantage for Mac, but the Webster zone could give them fits.. I'll make the 'nasty' prediction of liking Webster in this game

Greenville at Fontbonne... the first time around, this was a mismatch... after seeing Fontbonne turn the ball over 20 some times vs Webster, I have no reason to think anything will be different tonight...

Westminster at Blackburn... huge game for both, Westmin in tie for 1st, BC hanging on at 7-7...the exuberant young new coach vs the crafty vet (yeah Mitch, your'e getting to that stage in your career)... This is a relatively even matchup with the game at Blackburn, but I'm just not so sure BC knows how to win an even matchup... would love to watch the Maestranzi - Cochrane matchup, which could be critical.. I'm going with Westmin in a nailbiter....

IWU*** at Eureka...  Plain and simple, I'm going with the big upset, Eureka wins at home... I like the game of the Feehans that much.....

Hey, not if Jack Sikma plays!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Regional Rankings: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2016/02/10/first-2016-regional-rankings-released-today/

[ecreddevils]

u
IWU*** at Eureka...  Plain and simple, I'm going with the big upset, Eureka wins at home... I like the game of the Feehans that much.....[/b]

Hey, not if Jack Sikma plays!

Enjoyable Feehan Basketball Clinic last night.  Skill still matters in this game.

Press guard on the perimeter?  Drive and slash to the rim, finish. 

Help in the lane on the drive?  Love that.  Pull up jumper or euro step floater. 

Please play off us 25 feet from the basket, combined 7-14 from 3. Often from deep 3.

Foul us, we don't miss free throws.

Oh, and you have to stop us both simultaneously.  How is this for a symmetrical line:  Sam pts. 24 (8-15, 3-5 from 3, 5-5 FT), Shea 24 pts. (8-15, 4-9 from 3, 4-4 FT). 

Result: 82-67 win.

Now, credit the rest of the team, high energy defensive performance and rebounded well in a great win.  That said, it is lamentable that it looks unlikely (but possible) that EC will make the conference tourney and that the Feehan Show as a duo is on its stretch run.  Watch them while you can.

[hopefan]

u
IWU*** at Eureka...  Plain and simple, I'm going with the big upset, Eureka wins at home... I like the game of the Feehans that much.....[/b]

Hey, not if Jack Sikma plays!

Enjoyable Feehan Basketball Clinic last night.  Skill still matters in this game.

Press guard on the perimeter?  Drive and slash to the rim, finish. 

Help in the lane on the drive?  Love that.  Pull up jumper or euro step floater. 

Please play off us 25 feet from the basket, combined 7-14 from 3. Often from deep 3.

Foul us, we don't miss free throws.

Oh, and you have to stop us both simultaneously.  How is this for a symmetrical line:  Sam pts. 24 (8-15, 3-5 from 3, 5-5 FT), Shea 24 pts. (8-15, 4-9 from 3, 4-4 FT). 

Result: 82-67 win.

Now, credit the rest of the team, high energy defensive performance and rebounded well in a great win.  That said, it is lamentable that it looks unlikely (but possible) that EC will make the conference tourney and that the Feehan Show as a duo is on its stretch run.  Watch them while you can.

Unfortunately, the bolded above not a 100% valid statement, eh?  (See writeup on last Saturday's game)
Still hope for EC... and BC and Spalding... will explain tomorrow...(or later tonight)

[ecreddevils]

u
IWU*** at Eureka...  Plain and simple, I'm going with the big upset, Eureka wins at home... I like the game of the Feehans that much.....[/b]

Hey, not if Jack Sikma plays!

Enjoyable Feehan Basketball Clinic last night.  Skill still matters in this game.

Press guard on the perimeter?  Drive and slash to the rim, finish. 

Help in the lane on the drive?  Love that.  Pull up jumper or euro step floater. 

Please play off us 25 feet from the basket, combined 7-14 from 3. Often from deep 3.

Foul us, we don't miss free throws.

Oh, and you have to stop us both simultaneously.  How is this for a symmetrical line:  Sam pts. 24 (8-15, 3-5 from 3, 5-5 FT), Shea 24 pts. (8-15, 4-9 from 3, 4-4 FT). 

Result: 82-67 win.

Now, credit the rest of the team, high energy defensive performance and rebounded well in a great win.  That said, it is lamentable that it looks unlikely (but possible) that EC will make the conference tourney and that the Feehan Show as a duo is on its stretch run.  Watch them while you can.

Unfortunately, the bolded above not a 100% valid statement, eh?  (See writeup on last Saturday's game)
Still hope for EC... and BC and Spalding... will explain tomorrow...(or later tonight)

Hope just had to twist the dagger.  Modification: IWU, foul us, we don't miss free throws.

[hopefan]

u
IWU*** at Eureka...  Plain and simple, I'm going with the big upset, Eureka wins at home... I like the game of the Feehans that much.....[/b]

Hey, not if Jack Sikma plays!

Enjoyable Feehan Basketball Clinic last night.  Skill still matters in this game.

Press guard on the perimeter?  Drive and slash to the rim, finish. 

Help in the lane on the drive?  Love that.  Pull up jumper or euro step floater. 

Please play off us 25 feet from the basket, combined 7-14 from 3. Often from deep 3.

Foul us, we don't miss free throws.

Oh, and you have to stop us both simultaneously.  How is this for a symmetrical line:  Sam pts. 24 (8-15, 3-5 from 3, 5-5 FT), Shea 24 pts. (8-15, 4-9 from 3, 4-4 FT). 

Result: 82-67 win.

Now, credit the rest of the team, high energy defensive performance and rebounded well in a great win.  That said, it is lamentable that it looks unlikely (but possible) that EC will make the conference tourney and that the Feehan Show as a duo is on its stretch run.  Watch them while you can.

Unfortunately, the bolded above not a 100% valid statement, eh?  (See writeup on last Saturday's game)
Still hope for EC... and BC and Spalding... will explain tomorrow...(or later tonight)

Hope just had to twist the dagger.  Modification: IWU, foul us, we don't miss free throws.

aaaaah, far more accurate!!!!   All in jest, you know I felt bad for Saturday....

[hopefan]

So, last night at Mac... as far as Deavis Johnson goes, it was a man against boys... it was almost like Webster zone was saying, "Look out!!! Here he comes again!!!"....Deavis didn't spend his time fooling with the ball 30 feet from the basket like some of Webster's prime timers did... it was to the hole, throw it DOWN!!! 3 ungodly dunks... 17 rebounds was just one short of matching the entire Gorlock team's total rebounds... yikes, and I picked Webster to score the road win? and I'm the expert?  Why do you people even read this stuff???  Webster, what an enigma... look super vs Eureka on the road, super vs Fontbonne on Saturday, and lay the big egg in a critical game last night... one or two regulars got benched most of last night, maybe one or two others need it on Saturday..
And if Deavis wasn't scattering Gorlock defenders in his wake, Mac's Brent Long did what he does EVERY night ... no loudness, no slams, no spinning twisting backbreaking moves.. just back door for layups, weakside position for easy putbacks on offensive rebounds, move to open position in the paint, catch the ball, shoot the 10 footer at 70%... bang, look at the boxscore, 24 points... it's an easy game.. but not a lot of kids play it that way these days..
And yet.. if I'm asked who the difference maker in the game last night was.. it was Tim Frazier... he seems to have taken well to his role as 6th man, which has allowed tough guy Derek Bourke to step into the starting lineup to help on the boards and in the paint, while Frazier provides instant offense, a good 15 foot shooter, great quicks and excitement... he ignited the late 1st half spurt that put Mac ahead at half, and had a particularly pretty putback off a missed ft that seemed to signal the end for Webster... For Webster, it wasn't all doom and gloom.. CJ Moore was the one guy who did penetrate Mac's zone working hard for close in shots despite playing hurt, and Xavier Dortch had a couple of big 3's to keep Webster close in the first half... Rabassa Turner played well too, finding the range in the 2nd half... and hopefully Evan Milligan views a video of this game and watches Deavis Johnson go to town.. that's the kind of player Evan Milligan could be in the next 3 years.....
and to the two head coaches, the Etters, the Longs, the Keltners, the X-man... fun talking to you all... it makes this worth it....

from the boxscore...
Greenville clobbers Fontbonne... no surprise... This was probably going to happen Ben Kissing or not....

Eureka with the home win vs IWU***... I guess Jack Sikma didn't show up...but the Feehans did....

Blackburn beats Westmin... huge win for BC....BAD loss for Westminster... Why did this game start at 9:30??? and the women at 7:30... well, I did run into significant traffic on 270... Webster at Westmin on Saturday is just about a must win for either team now...