MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[WUPHF]

That is very interesting...

The UAA uses the rookie of the year moniker which is inclusive but implies first-year collegiate player.

I think Elijah Rice is the best overall freshman that I have seen, particularly if we privilege conference play and conference record.  I never watched Spalding or Iowa Wesleyan but I am guessing they do not have a freshman dynamo...

[Gregory Sager]

Ok, but is it a First Year Player award because it's their first year in the league (transfers included) or their first year playing at the college level? Ummm.

Given that the inclusive-language substitute for "Freshman," "FY," stands for "First Year," it's self-explanatory who a First-Year Player of the Year award would recognize.

[GU1999]

I doubt that anyone is giving the newcomer award to Jaquaine Edwards from Spalding but he did play 15 games and had a 15.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.7 bpg, 1.3 apg going. 

Frankly, he only fell 15 points short of Rice and he played 10 less games. 

That said, you can't sit out the last 10 games and get a post season award, right?

Give it to Rice. 

[GU1999]

Semifinal Night

Fontbonne v. GU (@ Webster)

GU - 5.5 

Blackburn @ Webster

Webster - 8.5 

[WUPHF]

I guess I'll be rooting for Fontbonne but good luck tonight.

If you are in town for the games, try to make it to Frisco Barroom, just to the East of campus on Big Bend. 

That goes for any SLIAC fans in town.

[GU1999]

GU with 31 made 3s in route to 164 - 148 final. 

Bateman and Contreras go 19 for 29 from 3. 

Bateman gets his 1000th pt. 

Bankowski has a 13 assists and 0 turnover game. 

Tons of fouls both ways. 

Great performance from GU. 

[Greek Tragedy]

Contreras goes 11-15...from 3. 41 points.

[GU1999]

Contreras goes 11-15...from 3. 41 points.

On 16 shots with 5 assists and 3 boards.

[y_jack_lok]

Webster over Blackburn 85-77. A good game.

All-conference teams, etc: https://www.sliac.org/sports/mbkb/2019-20/releases/20200226zhxfnb

Wynne Brown, Jr. from Webster gets Newcomer award. I thought he was a strong candidate but didn't say so earlier today because I knew nothing of the other players mentioned.

[GU1999]

Looking back on last nights game between GU and FU caused me to think about the pace at which these two teams have agreed to play each other over the past three seasons.  This has to be the highest scoring stretch in the history of organized basketball.  For example, last night FU clearly has a first option on their press break which was baseball pass from out of bounds to a route running receiver 50 - 75 feet away.  FU's in-bounder was very accurate and they finished a ton of layups/dunks off of this quick hitter.  But when both teams agree to play 7 second or less possessions the following outcomes are more easily understood.  Here is quick look at the last three years of GU v. FU.     

2018:
GU beats FU - 147 - 138 = 285 pts
FU beats GU - 164 - 154 = 318 pts (setting a d3 record for combined points in a game)

2019:
GU beats FU - 111 - 99 = 210 
GU beats FU - 200 - 146 = 346 pts (setting a new new d3 record for combined points in a game)

2020:
FU beats GU - 142 - 129 = 271 pts
GU beats FU - 155 - 149 = 304 pts
GU beats FU - 164 - 148 = 312 pts

That is a seven game average of 292.3 points per game.  These two teams have taken it to a very different level.  It was really an amazing display of basketball from both teams last night.  My one criticism was that the refs were just too involved.  They made a decision early to call absolutely everything on both teams (it didn't wane until maybe the 8 minute mark of the 2nd half).  That certainly weighed more heavily on FU as they just have less in the arsenal than GU's 3+ five man line shifts. Last night was a joy to watch.  And much love for the second shift.  Dustin Bankowski and the assassins (Contreras, Bateman, Vinsel) went for 104 pts in their 19 minutes.  That is INSANE!!!  Kudos to the coaches for dialing up the right line combination.

[WUPHF]

All-conference teams, etc: https://www.sliac.org/sports/mbkb/2019-20/releases/20200226zhxfnb

Wynne Brown, Jr. from Webster gets Newcomer award. I thought he was a strong candidate but didn't say so earlier today because I knew nothing of the other players mentioned.

I like that the SLIAC added a defensive player of the year and a sixth man award.  These are good.

I forgot that had a defensive team award and the all sportsmanship team.  The SLIAC likes awards!

[GU1999]

The SLIAC likes awards and Webster likes to win them all.  I am fine with all of them, even Johnson over Bennington for MOP based on team success. 

That said, with the Coach of the Year, Player of the year, Defensive Player of the year, Newcomer of the year, two firsts and a second teamer, two on the five man all-defensive team, being the best sportsman and boasting of the home court advantage in the Championship game, Webster most assuredly must be considered as the largest favorite to win the tourney championship since, say the 07/8 Webster team that was undefeated in the SLIAC (16-0) and held a 4 game advantage over the next closet team in league play.   

I know for a fact I will not miss it.

[Greek Tragedy]

I don't know. There's two schools of thought here. Webster won the league going away. So, how important really was Johnson for Webster? Could they have won the league without him? On the other hand, how good was Bennington for Eureka? They didn't even make the top four with him. How bad would they have been without Bennington? Looking at the numbers, I really think it was Bennington's. However, there's always the debate on what Player of the Year really means. Best player? Most Valuable Player?

[WUPHF]

Or, was it harder to for Josh Johnson to get those numbers considering that he was surrounded by very good players, including two other players who were serious contenders for player of the year accolades.

Josh Johnson is definitely the player of the year.

Congratulations to Webster on a very good season and a conference championship in front of the home crowd.

Time to go get a win against Nebraska Wesleyan or Platteville in the first round or wherever you go...

[GU1999]

WUPHF:  I certainly agree with you that I too hope that the SLIAC breaks through and gets its first NCAA win in year 30.