MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[y_jack_lok]

KSDK Channel 5, NBC in St. Louis, did a short piece on the 5 p.m. news about Wash U facing Bethany Lutheran in the NCAA tournament. No mention of Webster in the tournament.

The story line could have been "Two Saint Loius Schools in NCAA D3 Tourney".

This failure balances the track and field story KSDK posted above by GU1999.

[Pat Coleman]

Good job by Wash U!

[y_jack_lok]

Good job by Wash U!

Yes, Wash U probably reached out to the media.

[WUPHF]

KSDK Channel 5, NBC in St. Louis, did a short piece on the 5 p.m. news about Wash U facing Bethany Lutheran in the NCAA tournament. No mention of Webster in the tournament.

It is a shame that the SLIAC tournament did not garner more interest.

Webster winning two regular season championships and two tournament championships.

The question is: did Webster advocate for coverage?

Had Frank Cusumano visited Webster on Saturday, he would have known that Webster is tournament bound.

UMSL finished tied for first place in the GLVC with the best record ever.  Cusumano played basketball for the Tritons and no story.  Not even a Tweet.

[y_jack_lok]

^^^ Right. Only Webster knows if it reached out to the media. There's still time for a story about both Webster teams making the tournament. Also still time for Cusumano to do something on his alma mater.

[GU1999]

Could this be the year SLIAC?

With Josten's finalist Schimonitz suffering from a hamstring "pop" (his words), is there any chance Webster can pull of the upset and get the SLIAC its first NCAA win in 24 tries? 

https://journalstar.com/sports/local/college/basketball/schimonitz-pours-in-points-to-lead-wolves-into-arc-final/article_80bab34d-6227-5e63-90df-6ec15326f5e7.html

Quotes of interest...

"It happened before I finished (the layup)," he [Schimonitz] added. "When I got to the free-throw line, I felt something pop. It was OK for the next step, then as I came down after I finished, I knew what happened and I wasn't getting up."

"No, no way," Wellman said about Schimonitz possibly playing against Coe. "The (NCAA) tournament would be the best-case scenario."

but, then there is this...
"I think we've got five guys who can be first-team all-conference guys on any other team in the league," Schimonitz said. "We definitely expect to go in and win Saturday night."

[WUPHF]

It is interesting that he missed three games last season with a similar injury.

Is it possible that he will be back?

I guess we will find out on Friday night whether or not he will be back whether or not he will be back.

It was interesting, the mention of the team capitalizing on the 3-2 zone defense: "Our offense was best tonight when our defense got it started," Wellman said. "We were able to get some defensive rebounds, some good deflections in the passing lanes and that allowed us to get into transition."

If Webster were to win on Friday, it will be because Coach Bunch has something similar to say.

Massey is giving the Gorlocks a 4% chance of winning, though as mentioned, the teams is playing much better basketball as of late.

In the first game, Massey is giving Washington University a 82% chance of a win, but I watched parts of two games played this season and Bethany Lutheran looks pretty good.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

How is WashU's injury situation?  I know they've been struggling without key guys this season, too.

[GU1999]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMRrNY0pxfM

[WUPHF]

How is WashU's injury situation?  I know they've been struggling without key guys this season, too.

I have not asked anyone in a while, so this is partially speculation...

They will be without 6-8 Hunter and 6-8 Bloedorn.

Hunter would have been on the all-Association team this season.  Bloedorn is a freshman and was generally the first substitute off the bench for Hunter.  In regards to Bloedorn, his absence this weekend will become more obvious next season when becomes one of the best post-players in the league.

Everyone else is back.  Nester has been back, but is wearing a support to help with his hand and appears 100% in every regard except for shooting.  He was one of the best three-point shooters in the league until the injury, but has shot 18% every since his return (he can keep shooting as far as I am concerned).  Hardy has been back too and looks good.

The injuries have helped other guys find opportunities to get better, so the team may be better overall, but the absence of Hunter and Bloedorn are noticeable.  My guess: Hunter would have forced Bethany Lutheran to play their freshman center much more. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Hunter's a big loss.  He would've made a difference against NWU, as well.

[WUPHF]

Hunter's a big loss.  He would've made a difference against NWU, as well.

If Washington University does get to the second round, it will be interesting to see how the team plans to guard Clay Reimers and Hiller and such.

Rucker can guard either without question, but does Juckem continue to play a smaller line-up as he has lately.  Or does he turn to the 6-8 and 6-10 freshmen?  It seems certain that he will try a host of combinations.

As for that first round Webster game...



If I were more than a bandwagon Webster fan, I would keep quiet, but I think this team is going to fight hard until the end.  If the game is close in the second, I would advise other fans to turn on the game.

[jaybird44]

I believe Webster can and will pull off an upset.

Just a feeling that I have...

Any team that can repel and defeat the craziness that Greenville brings to a game, and do it more than once in a season, can put together an effort and performance to upset a host team in the NCAA Tournament.

If Webster can avoid early foul trouble that results in a starter or two sitting for long periods of time, I think it has a shot at beating NWU.

The time is right...this is Webster's time to get the first NCAA Tourney win for the SLIAC.

[WUPHF]

I think the point about early foul trouble is spot on.

These team has enough veteran leadership that they should be good, but things happen in basketball, on the road with the pressure on.  I think they can get it done.

[y_jack_lok]

Those are boldly optimistic comments and I hope they are right. By points allowed per game in conference play -- 77.1 --Webster is the best defensive team in the conference. But if you contrast that with the best defensive team in the country in all games, giving up only 56.4, that's a huge difference. NWU is 17th in the country in scoring in all games at 87.6 per game. But statistics don't matter now. That's why they play the games.