MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[GU1999]

Ok, I like it.  Consider it noted that at the 1/3 mark of the conference season a certain unnamed player averaging 54.9 points per 40 min played in conference competitions may be first on Hopefan's spreadsheet. 

[GU1999]

Massey Projections for tonight:

Spalding 64 at Mac 67
Iowa Wesleyan 112 at GU 128
Webster 78 at Blackburn 73
Eureka 80 at Fontbonne 85

[hopefan]

Yikes... Greenville has 83 at half vs Iowa Wesleyan....

[hopefan]

hopefan hits a grandslam on forecasting winners last night... 4 for 4, including the close calls of Fontbonne and Blackburn....so what does the box score show us?

Blackburn beats Webster in 2 OTs... I watched the whole game on the internet.. GREAT GAME.. though the viewers frustration was off the charts... despite Blackburn Scoreboards that were unhampered by backboard supports etc, our camera man refused to show us the score for approximately 90% of the game, and alas, no live stats to follow along with either... finally late in regulation, he gets the idea to pan back far enough to show us the score... but not the time left!! So particularly in the 2nd OT, the viewer had no idea where we stood on the clock... aaaahhh, the joys of D3!!!  Also no sound either, so no clue why BC got a technical in the first OT...  But what a game... Heros and goats all around... BC has it won in regulation, but misses critical Free Throws, Josh Johnson hits a 3 to send it to OT... in first OT, BCs Duncan King hits 2 Free Throws with 2 seconds on the clock to send it to Double, and in the 2nd, Webster down 2 with the ball, commits a critical turnover, BC makes 2 free throws, and it's over...
Big Game for Rod Etienne Webster, I've been looking for it from him, 26 points, 6 boards... Nigel Wilcox 21 rebounds, but 5 missed free throws, 5 turnovers... BC no huge numbers, a great team effort... what a shame to have what was likely to be a great game, yet a crowd of under 100.. students must not be back yet?  Well, I'm sure the parents in attendance enjoyed it....

Fontbonne over Eureka, close most of the way, high scoring as expected... DeLine still not playing, looked to have a shoulder wrap on, McCann also out for the Griffs.. but they put 6 in double figures, led by Kleekamps 29... also impressive, two little used frosh, Anthony Jones, Shawn Leonard, come off the bench to combine for 20 points, 8 boards... with some patience, that likely needs to extend into next year, this team should be very good... Eureka, wow, another disappointing loss despite big numbers from Dakota Bennington and Hank Thomas... This team needs to figure out how to DEFEND...

Greenville takes it easy in the 2nd half, finishes with 150 vs IWU.. Eric Williams, 36 points BUT 14 missed shots, 4 turnover.. still a big game.. Johari Dix has huge game with 28 points, 6 assts, 4 steals...

Spalding gives up most of a huge lead, then pulls away in the end for a double digit win over Mac... Dominique Ellis back for Spalding, Marcus Montgomery has ANOTHER huge game with 34 points, trouble is the rest of his stat line is very quiet (limited bounds, assts, steals)... Derek Bourke, who does it all with shear hustle and scrap, gets 16 pts, 10 boards, 6 assts for Mac, but it's pretty much a hopeless cause...

[Greek Tragedy]

I think everyone forgot how to defend last night, nationwide. There seemed to be a lot of teams that scored 90-95+ points and individuals scoring 45-50+ fantasy points.

[GU1999]

I too was observing the first and second OT from the Beaver Dome and was really curious about the tech.  It occurred directly after Blackburn scored to go up 4 pts.  My assumption was it was a tech for excessive celebration or taunting, but I would be most interested in the real story.  Can anyone out there help us out?

As for GU, I find that the turnover +/- is always a fun stat to keep an eye on when trying to analyze any game but particularly a System game.  So far during the conference season GU has a +21/g turnover margin.  However, they seem to be surging in this area as in their last two games they forced 94 turnovers and turned it over 30 times.  This is an unprecedented average of a +32/g turnover margin.  While talking turnover, during last nights game three IWU players hit double digits.  I can't say that I have seen that one before. 

[y_jack_lok]

I think everyone forgot how to defend last night, nationwide. There seemed to be a lot of teams that scored 90-95+ points and individuals scoring 45-50+ fantasy points.

Webster/Blackburn was 77-77 at the end of regulation,. Another game I was following ended 117-58, so one of those teams was defending.

Principia played at home Tuesday night. Webster played double OT on the road last night. Could that be a factor in their game on Saturday?

I checked in on WU/BC at random points in the game. Everytime I did it seemed like Webster turned the ball over due to tough BC defense, or BC was making a good offensive play and scoring. I guess I picked the wrong moments.

[GU1999]

Query for Y-Jack and the board.

Is the number of points the opponent scores the best indicator of defensive success/failure?

[Greek Tragedy]

Query for Y-Jack and the board.

Is the number of points the opponent scores the best indicator of defensive success/failure?

Really, it's points per possession.

[y_jack_lok]

Query for Y-Jack and the board.

Is the number of points the opponent scores the best indicator of defensive success/failure?

I have no idea. There probably isn't one single best indicator.

[WUPHF]

I have no idea. There probably isn't one single best indicator.

I think you are right, no one single indicator is best.

By the way, I was inspired by your post a few weeks ago to detour to Carlinville on the way home on Sunday.  Everything was closed, but I was able to walk around campus.  The campus is great.  The county seat building and the town square are incredible.

[y_jack_lok]

^^^ Glad you made that detour. C'ville and Blackburn are good places. The square has survived and even thrived, which is not true in all communities that size. When I-55 was being planned, going nearer Carlinville was an option, but they built it about 12 miles farther east and closer to Litchfield. As a result Litchfield has grown and Carlinville has remained relatively stable in size. The dome of the county seat building could use a coat of paint.

[Greek Tragedy]

There's about a 16.3% chance I may make the four-hour trip to Eureka next weekend to see the Red Devils take on Greenville. There's extra motivation because Illinois Wesleyan hosts Augustana Saturday evening and Bloomington is only 30 minutes away, albeit, the wrong way home. Any other games going on in the area that night since Eureka v Greenville is an afternoon game? I believe Eureka is the closest SLIAC school to Wisconsin. I suppose I could also catch an evening game closer to home on my way back as well, instead of Illinois Wesleyan v Augustana.

[WUPHF]

If not for the forecast which will like drop the chance to 0.16 percent, I would make a pitch as Eureka is another great SLIAC college town with a great campus. Then could do CCIW basketball in the evening and UAA basketball the next morning as Emory plays at Chicago.

[hopefan]

GREEK... I HIGHLY recommend you get over to Eureka for EC-GC... GUARANTEED ENTERTAINMENT

Though be careful on the roads...not sure when and where that snow is supposed to hit...