MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Mac Attack]

hopefan - Sorry I missed you. We got there late and had several balls in the air, so to speak. Would have really liked to have met you! Next time down the road, for sure.

Scattered thoughts from the MacMurray - Maryville game....

Man, does Maryville bring some size to the floor. They also bring two of the smaller players as well. This was not one of MacMurray's better efforts, but they played well enough to beat back a pretty darn good club on the road. Hard to imagine that the Saints haven't won more than they have - but I think they're a prime candidate to pop some people in the next few weeks. Maryville subs A LOT. It was hard to figure out any kind of rotation. I think Holland and Steinke are two very good players - watch out for them. I thought Maryville's half-court zone trap was very effective. Wondered why Maryville didn't take greater advantage of its superior height advantage - they seemed to want to swing the ball from sideline to sideline looking for shots that weren't there. Saints not the best outside shooting team Mac has seen this season, but they warmed up down the stretch. Maryville burned up critical seconds in the last minute of the game looking for too good a shot when they really needed baskets. Maryville is well coached - so is MacMurray. Robertson was terrific in the second half. Compton's back-to-back three's to open the second half for MacMurray were huge. Greene's interior defense on bigger post players was a differene-maker for the Highlanders. Whalum and Coleman had too many unforced turnovers, but made some BIG plans when they really counted. Mac missed some free throws in the last couple of minutes that could have been fatal. Billy Long had 19 against Blackburn off the bench, but was pretty quiet against the Saints. Mac stayed out of foul trouble and that was a primary ingredient in their win. I agree with hopefan, in that Mac is a lot like Greenville, except Mac has an inside game with Robertson and Greene.

Mac played five games in nine days, four of them on the road (Greenville, Fontbonne, Eureka, Maryville). Finished that stretch 3-2, which was tremendous work given their youth, inexperience, and lack of numbers. Kids are really looking forward to healing up and getting ready for Webster next Saturday.

[Mac Attack]

For this past week, Jerel Robertson's numbers:

vs. Eureka - 21 pts, 9 rebs
vs. Blackburn - 12 pts, 13 rebs
vs. Maryville - 20 pts, 12 rebs

53 pts, 34 rebs, MacMurray goes 3-0 and grabs sole possession of first place in the SLIAC. Player of the Week candidate (again)?

[hopefan]

Mac Attack  -  hope my directions were't the cause of your late arrival   -  my take on player of the week.....

Robertson  =  a very good week

Hoggatt  =  a week from another planet

Not this week Mac Attack   

[Mac Attack]

Directions were perfect, hopefan. Departure time was the issue.

Taking only points scored into consideration, Hoggatt had 82 and Robertson had 53. Big difference. But Robertson had six more rebounds, three more blocks (Hoggatt had zero), five more steals, and one more assist. Considering the entire body of work - not to mention that one of Hoggatt's games was against Principia - I would say Robertson had the better overall week. One man's opinion.

Webster and MacMurray have the entire week to get ready for each other. Should be a dandy.

Other key games this week include Maryville @ Fontbonne, Greenville @ Westminster, Blackburn @ Greenville, and Fontbonne @ Eureka (Game of the Week).

[Mac Attack]

Week #9 Pick 'em results:
Mac Attack 9-13
PantherPride 8-13
GodFather 8-13
BeaverSID 6-13 (ouch)

Thru 9 weeks, totals are:

PantherPride 73
Mac Attack 72
BeaverSID 62
GodFather 55

Week #10

Tuesday, January 23   
Eureka @ Principia * 6:00 PM
   
Wednesday, January 24   
Maryville @ Fontbonne * 6:00 PM
Greenville @ Westminster * 6:00 PM
Blackburn @ Lincoln Christian * 6:00 PM
   
Thursday, January 25   
Principia @ Maryville * 6:00 PM
   
Saturday, January 27   
Maryville @ Lincoln Christian * 3:00 PM
Blackburn @ Greenville * 3:00 PM
Webster @ MacMurray * 3:00 PM
Westminster @ Principia * 3:00 PM
Fontbonne @ Eureka * 3:00 PM

Please have your picks in by noon Tuesday.

[Mac Attack]

My Week #10 picks:

1/23
Eureka

1/24
Fontbonne
Greenville
Blackburn

1/25
Maryville

1/27
Greenville
MacMurray
Westminster
Eureka

hopefan - You've seen everyone play now, and you promised once that was done, you'd give us your thoughts on the top four SLIAC teams at the halfway mark. Inquiring minds want to know.... My uneducated opinion would say Webster, Fontbonne, Greenville and MacMurray would be in there - with Eureka, and Westminster knocking on the door. Westminster has to be the head-scratcher right now, don't you think? And Eureka still has the potential and talent to finish very, very strong. I like the Red Devils a LOT.  And Blackburn (and probably Maryville) will upset someone else before the smoke clears. Not sure how much the home court advantage will mean in the second half, but if it means anything, six of MacMurray's nine games will be in Jacksonville. Also noteworthy is the Friday/Saturday back-to-back games Webster plays at Eureka and Blackburn Feb. 9-10.  What's the deal with the Friday/Saturday games?

[fcnews]

With the win totals that both Mac and GC have it is probably a sure thing that they get to 11 wins. That leaces four teams fighting for 2 spots. The tie breakers work out as follows.
1. Head to Head
2. Record against Top Team
3. Record against 2nd and so on....

Like I say, tie breakers are huge.

On WC's issues. With 10 games left and Buxton still not practicing, when do you make the decision to go ahead and red shirt the kid. He is a great player and it would be a shame to take a year away from him. I beleive Coach Mitchell is in a quandry. WC is not the same team in the least without him.

For Mr. Sager - Conference tourney revenues are 100% turned to the conference to cover the expenses of the tournament. You $405 a game just in officials.

[fcnews]

Just for discussion purposes, let's say it comes down to Mac or GC taking the title and hosting. Nothing personal towards any institution. But if there ends up being three IL. schools in the final four (MC, GC, EC), I think Mac is in a good location for travel for those schools. If it comes down to two IL. and two MO., I would really like to see Pride doing the hosting. The SLIAC could pack that place and it would be alot less travel for the MO. schools fan base.

[BunchTime]

I personally hope that if my Gorloks do not win the conference that Greenville is the host.  Nothing against the other schools, but Greenville is, in my opinion, a perfect size gym with nice facilities to host the tourney.  Plus, not to mention, it being somehwat centrally located for the prospective teams that would be playing.  I know this is a moot topic since we cannot simply pick the host; however, I just thought I would toss my 2 cents in.  My knock on MacMurray is not the size of the gym, but it allows viewing only from one side of the gym.  Thus, it would not be conducive to the best environment that could be possible.  Just my opinion!  Time will soon tell who and where the teams will travel.

[BunchTime]

Furthermore, my personal favorite would for the SLIAC to have the same site every year for the conference tourney such as SLU's West Pine Gym.  I don't know if this is even possible but it would seem natural that St. Louis, where the conference is based out of, would play host to the tourney while perhaps developing a sense of tradition such the MVC's Arch Madness.  This would also effectively elimate the debate as to certain schools who are not the best hosts because of inadequate faciltites.  Like I said, I am merely speaking from my desires and I don't know if this is ecomically feasible.  Further, I do like that the "best" team is rewarded by allowing to play at home for the tourney.  It provides more incentive to win the conference.  Just a few talking points! 

[fcnews]

I personnally have on site I don't want to see the tourney. Every gunslinger that walks into the DSAC at FU shoots lights out. There are just some facilities that are more conducive to shooting.

[BunchTime]

FC, back in the day when FU was loaded with 30 foot gunslingers I bet you would of loved to see the tourney there!  Heck, some those guys were pump faking people off there feet a few steps after half-court!  And they had the green light too!

[FU_Pride]

That is true FCnews, seems like everyone shoots lights out in the Dunham Athletic Student Center.  Personally, I would like to see it at the DSAC, because the Griffins have shot well here pretty much all year.  My second choice would be Greenville.  Great gym to host the amount of people that would show up for the SLIAC tourney. 

Griffins have 3 big games coming up with Maryville this Wednesday.  If we play well this should be a victory.  Can't under-estimate the young Saints though!  Then Saturday is a chance to avenge that close loss against Eureka.  Then another chance for some revenge against Greenville next Tuesday.  This is a very crucial week for the Griffins.  If we come out 3-0, that would be great!  Go Griffins!

[fcnews]

Bunchtime- "Those were the days my friend......" A couple of those guys were at thursday's game. Tillet, Grasle, Fischer, Horton, Arbithnot and of course Thomas on the coaches bench. I didn't check the Webster attendance, but I bet we could of had a hell of 10 minute halftime Alumni Game. BunchTime which of the SLIAC gyms do consider the best shooting and which is the worst. Of course, you can't use the Gorlock Den that's a given.

[BunchTime]

I would say that Greenville and Fontbonne are among the best!  Good lighting, warm gym, and not a whole lot of room behind the baskets make it a nice shooter's gym!  The worst might be Westminster and MacMurray!  Pretty dark places!  But every shooter is different and of course has different likes and dislikes!  Just my thoughts!