MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[WUPHF]

Looks like Westminster is offering a charter bus to Hanover at no cost to students if the interest is there.  Very cool.  I hope they get enough interest to do it.

[hopefan]

Looks like Westminster is offering a charter bus to Hanover at no cost to students if the interest is there.  Very cool.  I hope they get enough interest to do it.

Interesting.. wonder if it comes back Friday night, or stays.... win or lose...or if it's dependent on win or lose...a free trip.. I'd GO!!!!

[hopefan]

Another close but no cigar for Westminster... the experience gained from getting thrashed in the tourney last year showed as they gave Hanover much more of a battle than anyone expected... cut the lead to two with 3 and a half to go, and 3 with 2 and a half, but couldn't catch up...the stats show a tough night shooting, under 40%, and getting to the line only 9 times...Westmin allowed only 5 offensive rebounds by Hanover, and turned it over only 6 times.. both of those stats can usually lead to wins, but you gotta put the ball in the basket...guards Cochrane, Villabalos, Shaw, Wands and Caywood go 5 for 25, far off the norm... Tabb and O'Brien both with solid games, just not enough.  With everyone I just mentioned and bench man Stu Hollingsworth coming back next year (cross your fingers), 2017-18 could ...... COULD.... be the year of the breakthrough for the SLIAC by Westmin... solid, smart players, good coaching, reasonable size, good quicks... Maybe one more athletic big man for 15 minutes a game, and it looks pretty.

[hopefan]

Before ending posts for a season, it's always fun to look ahead.

Here, per the rosters, is what each team has coming back for 2017-18, and what each team loses through graduation:

Blackburn   Lose 4 best to graduation, only role players return
    Returning :  Tommy Childs (8.6 ppg), Reed Rusten, Karson Hayes, Jake Lockhead, Hunter Johnson, Jordon Clay, Marcus Scott  all with limited Stats
     Gone  :  Chris Davis (13.9 ppg, 4 rpg), DeAndre Manuel (13 ppg, 7 rpg), Willie Orange (12.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Jake Maestranzi (12.1 ppg, 4.2 apg), Damon Goodloe

Eureka    Lots of Scoring returns, desperately needs size
Returning :  Kendall Davis (22.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg), Shea Feehan (26.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.6 apg), Hank Thomas (14.5 ppg, 2.9 apg), Alex Wiegand (7.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Brady Sanders, Ryan McElmurry, Jake Wood
     Gone  :  Parker Gibson (4 ppg, 3.5 rpg), Nate Bell

   
Fontbonne   A small nucleus to start with
Returning :  Tyler Schwartz (6.4 ppg), Jack Lake (12.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Kris McCann (11.4 ppg), James Wiggins (5.5 ppg)
     Gone  :  Kody Ettinger, Orkin Bakis, Trey Watkins, Dallas Haywood, Garrett McDowell, Jeff Smith, Rio Justice Chandler

Greenville   Tremendous Graduation losses
Returning :  Kieshawn Young Jones (8.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg), Johari Dix (8.8 ppg, 4.3 apg), Daniel Saeli (4.1 ppg, 3 apg), Ethan Lieb (7.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg)
     Gone  :  Stevonte Young (12.2 ppg), Kenny Greene (18.2 ppg, 4 rpg), Deandre Brown (10.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg), Shane Smith (18 ppg, 6.3 rpg), Elmo Smith (17.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg), Michael Hohm (14.4 ppg), Brian Ehresman (3.1 ppg)....   Nearly 95 ppg gone

Iowa Wesleyan  The Soukups are gone, but strong nucleus returns
Returning :  Brock Butler (16.2 ppg, 2.7 apg), Elijah Johnson (4.9 ppg), CJ Singletary (9.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg), Marquis Jones? (missed 2nd semester) (11.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg), Mitch Drey (11.8ppg,4.4  RPG)
     Gone  :  Michael Soukup  (10.9 ppg 6.3 rpg, 5.5 apg), Steven Soukup (26.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg), Austin Walker (7.0 ppg)

MacMurray   Many return but is it enough? key is Cameron
Returning :  Mike Cameron (missed 2016-17 due to injury), Marshall Corbin (9.8 ppg), Conner Vincent (6.5 ppg), Riley Spencer (9.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg), Taten Musso (4.8 ppg), Judah Renfro (4.8 ppg), Brent Long (19.6 ppg, 9.4 rpg), Derek Bourke (7.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg)
     Gone  :  Tim Frazier  (13.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.6 apg)

Principia  Quality returns, but roster numbers needed... only 4 returning that played
Returning :  Micah Paulson (16.5 ppg, 4.1 apg), Trevaugh Goodman (13.7 ppg), Parker Davidson (13.8 ppg, 11.4 rpg), Jeff Ross (4.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg)
  Gone  :  Adaku Anumu  (19.4 ppg), Justin Ball (11.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg)

Spalding   Who knows
Returning : Rylan Rowe (15.6 ppg), Keith Wallace (5.8 ppg)  plus a number of individuals who missed many games (injuries? Coach's decision? Left team?) or several who played in most games but had minimal numbers.
Gone  :  Owen Mumphrey (2.4 ppg), James Turner (13.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3 apg)),  Nick Trisko (17.2 ppg, 12 rpg)

Webster: Huge senior class leaves; the cupboard is pretty bare
Returning :  Michael Dunn (3 ppg 3.2 rpg), Evan Milligan (14.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg), Enrique Tankins (3.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg),  and ?? Davian Joseph, averaged 9 ppg 8 rpg in 9 games 2015-16
Gone : CJ Moore (12.2 ppg, 3 apg)), Adam Etter (3.7 ppg, ), Jonathon Odjo (4 ppg, 2.4 apg), Tehvynn Crenshaw (2.6 ppg), Xavier Dortch (11.6 ppg), Rabassa Dobbins-Turner (8.6 ppg), Hunter Ward (16.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.8 apg), Tony Jones (8.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg)

Westminster : A full house returns for the Conference Tourney winners
Returning :  Collin Caywood  (4.9 ppg),  Carter Wands (6.3 ppg, 3.1 APG, 3.6 rpg), Tanner Cochrane (7.0 ppg), Jimmy Villabalos (12.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg), Cody Shaw (5.3 ppg),  Stu Hollandsworth (4.0 ppg), Tanner Genges (2.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg), Romo Tabb (15.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg),  Sean O'Brien (16.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg)
Gone  :  Javier Martin Ortega, Zach Nelson  (4.3 ppg, 3.2 RPG)


How hopefan would rate the returning groups..

1) Westminster   no other team comes close

2) Iowa Wesleyan   Despite the loss of the Soukup twins (thanks Mike and Steve for making us a better conference for one year), a well balanced nucleus returns

3) Principia  Four outstanding players return, but where will the rest of the team come from?

4) Eureka  Scoring galore returns, just need to find a couple of guys with size

5)  MacMurray   Return of point guard Mike Cameron could give large group returning the direction it needs

6) Webster  Milligan, Tankins are top notch, Davian Joseph would be a big plus if he can show skills after 3 semesters off;  the Gorlocks need some guards, some inside depth

7) Fontbonne  guys with numbers return, but can they win?

8) Blackburn   a number of role players with experience return, but none have shown numbers to lead

9) Greenville   they need 7-9 new faces if they are sticking with the system, only Johari Dix showed real consistency among returning

10) Spalding   I just don't know WHO will be back, this is more of a 'not rated' as compared to a #10


Anybody agree/disagree?  Or have additional info?  Comment Please!!

[y_jack_lok]

^^^ Have to agree about Westmin as #1 at this point --- and probably the next 3, though giving them an order in 2-4 is tricky. After that I think it might be just as safe to put the names in a hat and draw for 5-10.

[hopefan]

Sincere congrats to Eureka's Shea Feehan for making D3Hoops Central Region All Region 3rd Team.

With all due respect to the 15 Central Region players who made the Central Region's All Regional teams, I really would have liked to have seen Iowa Wesleyan's Steven Soukup included in that group... yes, we are lower level D3, BUT, this kid may have been the best I've seen in the SLIAC in my 13 years watching SLIC hoops.... as far as a pure smart talented Basketball player... no, not athletically regarding quickness or hops...  instead, just knowing how to play the game.   Hey I get it, I'm just saying I wish there could have been a spot to recognize him....

[Pat Coleman]

Sincere congrats to Eureka's Shea Feehan for making D3Hoops Central Region All Region 3rd Team.

With all due respect to the 15 Central Region players who made the Central Region's All Regional teams, I really would have liked to have seen Iowa Wesleyan's Steven Soukup included in that group... yes, we are lower level D3, BUT, this kid may have been the best I've seen in the SLIAC in my 13 years watching SLIC hoops.... as far as a pure smart talented Basketball player... no, not athletically regarding quickness or hops...  instead, just knowing how to play the game.   Hey I get it, I'm just saying I wish there could have been a spot to recognize him....

Only full members of Division III are eligible.

[hopefan]

Sincere congrats to Eureka's Shea Feehan for making D3Hoops Central Region All Region 3rd Team.

With all due respect to the 15 Central Region players who made the Central Region's All Regional teams, I really would have liked to have seen Iowa Wesleyan's Steven Soukup included in that group... yes, we are lower level D3, BUT, this kid may have been the best I've seen in the SLIAC in my 13 years watching SLIC hoops.... as far as a pure smart talented Basketball player... no, not athletically regarding quickness or hops...  instead, just knowing how to play the game.   Hey I get it, I'm just saying I wish there could have been a spot to recognize him....

Only full members of Division III are eligible.

Well well well... thanks Pat...

[Greek Tragedy]

I've enjoyed your posts more and more this year. It's too bad you said you'll be potentially  cutting down on them next year. I think you mentioned moving to Florida. I'll apologize again for not commenting more. Outside of fantasy league related subjects, I don't have much to contribute. I have a hard enough time doing that on my own board, the WIAC.

[hopefan]

I've enjoyed your posts more and more this year. It's too bad you said you'll be potentially  cutting down on them next year. I think you mentioned moving to Florida. I'll apologize again for not commenting more. Outside of fantasy league related subjects, I don't have much to contribute. I have a hard enough time doing that on my own board, the WIAC.

Eckerd College won't know what hit them...

[hopefan]

Word on the street said both MacMurray's Todd Creal and Blackburn's Steve Kollar were in the running for the Milikin Head Coaching job... neither got it...

Definitely the SLIAC's gain, but Creal has put in the time... wish he'd get a shot somewhere if he wants a change of scenery... and if Kollar can continue the positive steps at BC, let's hope he too can get a shot at moving up the ladder....

[augie77]

I'm not sure Millikin is a step up the ladder from anywhere.  Sadly, the Millikin administration basically sets up coaches to fail with facilities and support that are completely bottom tier.

[iwumichigander]

Word on the street said both MacMurray's Todd Creal and Blackburn's Steve Kollar were in the running for the Milikin Head Coaching job... neither got it...

Definitely the SLIAC's gain, but Creal has put in the time... wish he'd get a shot somewhere if he wants a change of scenery... and if Kollar can continue the positive steps at BC, let's hope he too can get a shot at moving up the ladder....

Creal had a three year run as assistant at Millikin followed by a designated interim tag in 2007.  If Millikin wanted Creal,  2007 was probably his best shot.  Neither Creal or Kollar have the resume of Mark Scherer who got the Millikin job whom also brings CCIW experience as former HBC at Elmhurst before he retired.

[hopefan]

Word on the street said both MacMurray's Todd Creal and Blackburn's Steve Kollar were in the running for the Milikin Head Coaching job... neither got it...

Definitely the SLIAC's gain, but Creal has put in the time... wish he'd get a shot somewhere if he wants a change of scenery... and if Kollar can continue the positive steps at BC, let's hope he too can get a shot at moving up the ladder....

Creal had a three year run as assistant at Millikin followed by a designated interim tag in 2007.  If Millikin wanted Creal,  2007 was probably his best shot.  Neither Creal or Kollar have the resume of Mark Scherer who got the Millikin job whom also brings CCIW experience as former HBC at Elmhurst before he retired.

I wasn't arguing the decision to hire Mark Scherer.. just rooting for the two SLIAC guys to get the opportunity to move up somewhere along the line....

[Titan Q]

If I was making the decision, Todd Creal would have been my pick way ahead of Mark Scherer.