MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[WUPHF]

WUH, the Fontbonne game vs Missouri State is an Exhibition Game... Fontbonne's 7 non conference games are Augie, Wash U, D2 Maryville, Illinois Tech, Morthland, Warner (Fla.) and Webber International

You should tell the Missouri State SID:

Lusk's troops open the 2016-17 season with three straight home non-conference games, including the season opener against Alabama A&M on Friday, Nov. 11. MSU will then entertain Jacksonville State on Nov. 13, and Fontbonne University on Nov. 17.

From an earlier press release:

Missouri State will also host one preseason exhibition game this season with a visit from Missouri Baptist University on Saturday, Nov. 5.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Remember, each school can designate the game real or exhibition. We see it often now (and that loophole may be closing, soon). But Roanoke played a D1 in early December last year and beat them... it was a loss for NC State A&M (or whomever) and was an exhibition for Roanoke (not a win or loss).

[WUPHF]

Remember, each school can designate the game real or exhibition. We see it often now (and that loophole may be closing, soon). But Roanoke played a D1 in early December last year and beat them... it was a loss for NC State A&M (or whomever) and was an exhibition for Roanoke (not a win or loss).

Thanks Dave!  I did not know that was possible...

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Yep - unfortunately it is. It is a recent rule change, but it might be completely scuttled soon... depending on whether legislation is brought forward, which it might be, to make all sports exemptions the same (i.e. basketball has a number of exemptions while field hockey has one - the NCAA tournament - or something like that; need to check my notes).

[WUPHF]

OK, so if I can ask: was the rule changed thinking that it would allow more inter-Division competition?  Or, to allow the bigger fish to schedule much needed last minute games against the lower level programs, thinking that a Fontbonne would not take that game otherwise?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I believe it was changed to give Division III schools more flexibility in their scheduling. The D1s might not be able to play until a later date forcing D3s into making it a game that counted when that might be counter-intuitive. Thus, this gave them some more options.

Also, there was a lot of confusion over the rules and teams were already doing this by accident. I can think of a case on the East Coast where I called the coach and talked to him about the fact he had a game down as not counting when indeed, under the rules, it did count (before the change). Needless to say it caused some panic and they had to cancel a non-conference game days prior to playing it to solve the extra game. This now allows that game to still be played.

[hopefan]

So here is hopefan's rating of each of the SLIAC's mens' teams non conference schedule.  Yes, very subjective, I refer to it as 'watchability', based on my thoughts of how badly I'd want to see each game, and how I view the non conference opponent... how good were they last year, how good are they historically... no, I don't review in depth to figure out how good they might be this year.  I rate each opponent  from 1 to 4, take the total and divide by number of games (not all SLIAC teams are playing 7 non conference games) to come out with a per game average used to rate the schedules.   From 10 (the worst) to 1 (the best) :   
   
No. 10   Eureka :  They were No. 8 last year.  (Rockford, Monmouth, Dominican, Knox, Robert Morris-Peoria, Lincoln Christian).  Ugh, well Eureka will be young, so this is a schedule that will be competitive, but.... Ugh.  St. Francis was VERY good last year in the NAIA,  Monmouth shows solid potential, and Rockford has trended up, but the rest were FAR below .500.  Average per opponent 1.85 
   
No. 9   Greenville :  Amazing, from first (they had the top rated schedule last year), to next to last this year.  (Knox, Elmhurst, Millikin, Lincoln Christian, Grinnell, Transylvania, Buena Vista). Yes, the game vs Grinnell is a must see, and the weekend vs CCIW's Elmhurst and Millikin is a great challenge and measuring stick, but Knox and Lincoln Christian are weak, and Transy and Buena Vista have been trending down recently.  Ave rating per game 2.43
   
No. 8   Westminster :  They were No.4 last year.   (Millikin, Elmhurst, Cornell, Nebraska Wesleyan, Marymount, TBA, Kansas Christian)  Yes the weekend vs Millikin and Elmhurst is solid, and Nebraska Wesleyan rebounded with a good season last year, but playing Cornell Iowa at Nebraska Wesleyan is a yawner.  Going to Nashville for a tourney is exciting, but Westmin opens with sub 500 Marymount, then plays a to be determined that I could only rate as average.  Kansas Christian is a startup program...  Per game average 2.57.
   
No. 7   Fontbonne :  They were No. 3 last year.  (Morthland, Maryville (Mo.), Augustana, Wash U, Illinois Tech, Warner, Webber International)  This schedule is feast or famine.  Of course D2 (and former SLIAC rival) Maryville, Augustana, and Wash U all rate high, but Morthland and Illinois Tech were both awful last year.  I like tourneys down in Florida when opponents are D3 school from other parts of the country, but playing two NAIA opponents, one pretty fair, one not so good, is 'who cares'... Rating per game 2.64
   
No. 6   Iowa Wesleyan:  They were No. 10 last year.  (Central, Wartburg Tourney 2 games, Nebraska Wesleyan, Knox, Cornell)  Nebraska Wesleyan is solid, and I'll assume that Iowa Wes will match up with a strong Wisconsin Oshkosh at the Wartburg Tourney, and Cental is always solid, but the other three opponents are nothing too exciting... Wartburg normally a 500 team in the Iowa Conference, Cornell and Knox not very strong.  A 7th opponent not yet listed...  Average per opponent is 2.83
   
No. 5     Blackburn : They were No. 6 last year.   (Wabash, St. Scholastica, Carroll, Illinois-Springfield, Nebraska Wesleyan, Cornell, Elmhurst)  Nice middle of the road schedule. Elmhurst is at the top of the list, offsetting a relatively weak Cornell team. The other 5 opponents are all good, not great competition, games I'd want to see.  Average opponent rating 2.85.
   
No. 4   Webster : They were No. 7 last year.  (Wash U., Illinois Wesleyan, Aurora or Loras at IWU tourney, Wisconsin-La Crosse, Rust, Millikin, Morthland).  Rust has not been strong, but is always fun to watch with their run and gun style, but Morthland was poor last year.  Webster will likely match up with Loras at IWU... Wash U, IWU, Lax, Millikin all solid.  Average per opponent is 3.07... brought down big by Morthland.
   
No. 3   Principia : They were No. 9 last year.  (Missouri-Rolla, Carroll, St. Scholastica, Millikin, Maryville (Mo.))  Prin plays only 5 non-conference games, I won't penalize them for that.  Two D2 teams, 2 CCIW teams though low level CCIW - all solid.  St. Scholastica won the low level UMAC last year, presents an interesting comparison game.   Average per opponent is 3.1.  No total cream puffs to bring down their average.
   
No. 2   Spalding : They were No. 2 last year.  (New Jersey City, St. Mary's or Baldwin Wallace, Centre, Austin Peay, Berea, Hope, Olivet)  Top notch teams from the Atlantic Region, The Great Lakes, the Mid Atlantic, and the South, as well as a D1 School... it all offsets Berea and woeful Olivet.  A tremendous opportunity for a D3 team.  Opponent Average 3.18
   
No. 1   MacMurray :  They were No. 5 last year.  (Augustana, Nebraska Wesleyan, Illinois College/Concordia Chicago, Illinois Wesleyan, Rust, Wisconsin-LaCrosse, Quincy.)  Wow.. Only Soft is possible matchup with Concordia Chicago.  Everyone else is very good.  Opponent Average 3.39.  Of course, this is the kiss of death for Mac.. how many of these games can they win?

[Gregory Sager]

No. 5     Blackburn : They were No. 6 last year.   (Wabash, St. Scholastica, Carroll, Illinois-Springfield, Nebraska Wesleyan, Cornell, Elmhurst)  Nice middle of the road schedule. Elmhurst is at the top of the list, offsetting a relatively weak Cornell team. The other 5 opponents are all good, not great competition, games I'd want to see.  Average opponent rating 2.85.
   
No. 3   Principia : They were No. 9 last year.  (Missouri-Rolla, Carroll, St. Scholastica, Millikin, Maryville (Mo.))  Prin plays only 5 non-conference games, I won't penalize them for that.  Two D2 teams, 2 CCIW teams though low level CCIW - all solid.  St. Scholastica won the low level UMAC last year, presents an interesting comparison game.   Average per opponent is 3.1.  No total cream puffs to bring down their average.

Thanks for doing this, hopefan. Nice work. I have quibbles, though. I realize that when it comes to these non-con opponents you, as you put it, "don't review in depth to figure out how good they might be this year." But, speaking as a CCIW observer, in a couple of instances it's very noticeable that you are therefore missing the target with regard to CCIW opponents of the SLIAC teams.

You've got Millikin accurately pegged as most likely being on the low end of the CCIW totem pole in 2016-17, but I think that you're off in projecting Elmhurst as being "at the top of the list" with regard to Blackburn's non-con sked. Nine of the ten Bluejays who averaged double-digit minutes last season are gone, and the one rotation player who wasn't a senior last year messed up his knee in January and is therefore something of a question mark right now. Basically, Elmhurst head coach John Baines will be putting last year's JV team, plus whichever freshmen can contribute right away, on the floor this season. That's not to say that Elmhurst won't be decent by overall D3 standards by season's end; I'm just saying that the 'jays won't project very high in anybody's thinking in terms of the CCIW.

Conversely, I think that you're underrating Carroll by calling the Pioneers "low-level CCIW." Carroll went 20-5 last season, with three of those losses coming at the hands of #8 St. Norbert. Granted, the majority of those wins came against MWC competition, and Carroll's not likely to post a record that gaudy now that it's moving to the stronger CCIW. But the Pioneers return four of their five starters from last season, as well as five of the six rotation players that came in off the bench on a regular basis for head coach Paul Combs. I think that the Pioneers have a very good shot at being a top four CCIW team next season. They'll most likely be the best team that Blackburn sees all season, and, aside from the two D2 teams, the best team that Principia will face as well.

I haven't looked at the rosters of Greenville and Westminster, but if they're bringing back a sufficient number of players they may be able to hang an L on Elmhurst, given how early in the season they'll play the Bluejays. (Greenville's use of the Arseneault System is another X factor with which the varsity-minutes-challenged Bluejays will have to contend.) Likewise, given how young Millikin is going to be, that CCIW/SLIAC Challenge is going to be an opportunity for Greenville and Westminster to beat the Big Blue as well. My guess is that Elmhurst will be too well settled in by mid-December for Blackburn to have a chance when the Beavers meet the Bluejays up at Faganel Hall in the western suburbs.

Carroll is going to whip the tar out of Blackburn and Principia on the opening weekend of the season at the Pioneer Tip-Off Classic, no doubt about it.

[hopefan]

No. 5     Blackburn : They were No. 6 last year.   (Wabash, St. Scholastica, Carroll, Illinois-Springfield, Nebraska Wesleyan, Cornell, Elmhurst)  Nice middle of the road schedule. Elmhurst is at the top of the list, offsetting a relatively weak Cornell team. The other 5 opponents are all good, not great competition, games I'd want to see.  Average opponent rating 2.85.
   
No. 3   Principia : They were No. 9 last year.  (Missouri-Rolla, Carroll, St. Scholastica, Millikin, Maryville (Mo.))  Prin plays only 5 non-conference games, I won't penalize them for that.  Two D2 teams, 2 CCIW teams though low level CCIW - all solid.  St. Scholastica won the low level UMAC last year, presents an interesting comparison game.   Average per opponent is 3.1.  No total cream puffs to bring down their average.

Thanks for doing this, hopefan. Nice work. I have quibbles, though. I realize that when it comes to these non-con opponents you, as you put it, "don't review in depth to figure out how good they might be this year." But, speaking as a CCIW observer, in a couple of instances it's very noticeable that you are therefore missing the target with regard to CCIW opponents of the SLIAC teams.

You've got Millikin accurately pegged as most likely being on the low end of the CCIW totem pole in 2016-17, but I think that you're off in projecting Elmhurst as being "at the top of the list" with regard to Blackburn's non-con sked. Nine of the ten Bluejays who averaged double-digit minutes last season are gone, and the one rotation player who wasn't a senior last year messed up his knee in January and is therefore something of a question mark right now. Basically, Elmhurst head coach John Baines will be putting last year's JV team, plus whichever freshmen can contribute right away, on the floor this season. That's not to say that Elmhurst won't be decent by overall D3 standards by season's end; I'm just saying that the 'jays won't project very high in anybody's thinking in terms of the CCIW.

Conversely, I think that you're underrating Carroll by calling the Pioneers "low-level CCIW." Carroll went 20-5 last season, with three of those losses coming at the hands of #8 St. Norbert. Granted, the majority of those wins came against MWC competition, and Carroll's not likely to post a record that gaudy now that it's moving to the stronger CCIW. But the Pioneers return four of their five starters from last season, as well as five of the six rotation players that came in off the bench on a regular basis for head coach Paul Combs. I think that the Pioneers have a very good shot at being a top four CCIW team next season. They'll most likely be the best team that Blackburn sees all season, and, aside from the two D2 teams, the best team that Principia will face as well.

I haven't looked at the rosters of Greenville and Westminster, but if they're bringing back a sufficient number of players they may be able to hang an L on Elmhurst, given how early in the season they'll play the Bluejays. (Greenville's use of the Arseneault System is another X factor with which the varsity-minutes-challenged Bluejays will have to contend.) Likewise, given how young Millikin is going to be, that CCIW/SLIAC Challenge is going to be an opportunity for Greenville and Westminster to beat the Big Blue as well. My guess is that Elmhurst will be too well settled in by mid-December for Blackburn to have a chance when the Beavers meet the Bluejays up at Faganel Hall in the western suburbs.

Carroll is going to whip the tar out of Blackburn and Principia on the opening weekend of the season at the Pioneer Tip-Off Classic, no doubt about it.

Yeah, good input Greg... i
just don't have the 'umph' to see who is much better or much worse than last year...I gave Elmhurst the max 4.0 rating, Carroll a 3.0, Millikin a 3.0...   turn them around a little and it would make some significant difference in my ratings...

[WUPHF]

I haven't looked at the rosters of Greenville and Westminster, but if they're bringing back a sufficient number of players they may be able to hang an L on Elmhurst, [...]

If I were in the market for a SLIAC road trip, I would definitely have Decatur in mid-November on my list of possibilities.

Greenville to see the system and Westminster to see a team that was very young a season ago, but in my novice basketball opinion has the potential to be pretty good.   

Westminster potentially returns everyone from last year except a senior reserve who has a year of eligibility, but is not returning to my knowledge.  That team went 12-16 with a junior college transfer, three sophomores with limited experience and a freshman in the starting line-up and a few other freshmen or sophomore reserves with limited experience.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I haven't looked at the rosters of Greenville and Westminster, but if they're bringing back a sufficient number of players they may be able to hang an L on Elmhurst, [...]

If I were in the market for a SLIAC road trip

I wonder if that phrase has ever been uttered before?  Will it ever be again?

[Gregory Sager]

As long as hopefan is alive and well and in possession of an automobile, it will be.

[WUPHF]

As long as hopefan is alive and well and in possession of an automobile, it will be.

This is so true...

Admittedly, my in the market statement was a lobbying effort...we know he is going somewhere...maybe he chooses this one and reports back.

I have to admit though, I would ride along if I could.

[hopefan]

Speaking of which... much less opportunity to see games with the SLIAC scheduling this year....  last season, games were all over the calendar, even during the conference season... it was not unusual to have games scheduled on 4 or 5 different days of the week.  This year, all conference games are Wednesday and Saturday, with the exception of Tuesday Principia games... there will be less trips to the far off locations in the SLIAC when there might be good games at Greenville, Webster, or Prin to see (something tells me Fontbonne may be out of things quickly this year),  Plus there is a rumor that Mrs. hopefan may be lobbying for a lengthy winter trip down south.. hopefan may become a Florida D2 fan for part of the season...

[haterinthehouse]

hearing BC is going to be ready to start the season. early morning team weight lifting, individual workouts during the day, and court time at night. good to see them working so hard in the offseason. surprised they didnt work this hard with other coaches in the off season. cant wait to see them play this year. they will be ready to go for sure