MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[fcnews]

Being an old gunner myself, I would hate to have to play at MU's gym. Talk about alot of room behind the goals. No shooting backround and depth preception is tough. Plus, the floor has several realy dead spots on it where the ball doesn't come back up and disrupts ball handlers.

[hopefan]

FCnews    FU McKoy takes a doughnut vs LCC?   Did he play?  Doghouse?  Hurt?   Wait, Porter beat him out?

[the godfather]

I need to see Fontbonne, a lot of names I dont know and Im surprised that McCoy isnt scoring more.  As for WC gym, it is pretty run down, but since Churchill was there I dont see them getting a new one anytime soon.  If this were D1, maybe D2 Buxton would probably red shirt.  The fact that this isnt the situation I think it takes on a totally different meaning for players.  Any coach would love to have Buxton redshirt if hes hurt to have him for a full year but is this a decision most kids make?  If Buxton is going to be a fifth year student I would encourage his decision to sit out the rest of the year, but if he is aiming for the 4 year degree I dont see how its even a decision for him.  No athletic scholarships are a big reason for this.  I think a lot of D3 athletes who are on schedule for four years see their career as simliar to high school, where if you get hurt you are out and when the season is over you move on to next year.  I just think that most kids at the D3 level are encouraged to be students first and athletes second, where i cant say tahts always the case for the D1 level in my opinion. 

[the godfather]

Forgot to include my picks, but Id like to get some peoples feedback about redshirting at the D3 level.  BTW these picks are tough, so much parity this year in the league.  I thought it might take a while to figure out the two newbies to the conference but I cant even figure out anything anyone is doing.  These games have been crazy so far and Im sure the rest of you probably agree.  Anyway Ill give it my best shot. 



Eureka
   
Wednesday, January 24   
Fontbonne
Westminster
Blackburn
   
Thursday, January 25   
Maryville
   
Saturday, January 27   
Maryville
Greenville
Webster
Westminster
Fontbonne

[fcnews]

Hopefan - Check my post #1841 regarding McCoy.

[hopefan]

Thanks FC  - I missed that first time around

[fcnews]

Godfather I strongly disagree with your reasoning for medical red shirts at the D3 level. You don't see the term red shirt freshmen at the D3 level (maybe WIAC). But, medical red shirts are very frequent. I've been around since the first days of the SLIAC and this happens all the time. A majority of student athletes take a part of a fifth year to finish their degree. Mainly caused by scheduling, students changing their degree and the fact that today advisors continue to tell freshmen to only take 12 to 14 hours. FU has at least four or five students with injuries who are red shirting.

Buxton has just recently started jogging on the sidelines. By the time he is released to resume practice and the time it takes to get into any kind of game shape, this season is over. I do not see him making a huge contribution at all this year. So why not take the red shirt just in case you are going to need a fifth year. I have broken a foot. He maybe able to go up and down the floor. Any ability to move laterally still quite a ways off.

[hopefan]

I really disagree that the two teams with two losses can star printing their tickets - neither Mac nor Greenville has dominated the competition, and could get to 6 or 7 losses as easily as they could get to 13 or 14 wins.  The team that I think will finish on top has 3 losses, but I need to check out the home and away games before hazarding a forecast of who will be in the final four.

Eureka SID  -  I received your messages  -  thanks.  I'll keep up the contact when appropriate to keep the SLIAC North division in tune with what's going on down here in the deep south  8) 8)

[fcnews]

Guys let me say it agian. You only need 11 wins to get in. Two of us sat up till 3am friday morning doing the math on 8 SLIAC teams. Unless three or four teams on bottom starting knocking off the top five (I mean more then one upset). Win your figuring mathmatically in or out, the last three games of the season, you start to realize their only so many teams that can get to 11. I am rooting very hard for Pride to host. I tryly would like them to go 15-3. That's more wins against teams in the log jam FU is in.

Pride would make an incredible host. think of all the things we can ask for just on this site. What am I thinking. SKY'S THE LIMIT. Hope I bet he has a friend who knows someone who can get us accomadations.

[fcnews]

Hope - I had to stay at the Comfort Inn at Pacific last nite. They shut down 44 for, I don't no how long. Multi - Multi car pile up just past Washington going west. I did a 360 on the off ramp at Gray Summitt. It was straight sleet and the Highway Dept had not touched the highway past Eureka. There were probably 45 to 50 cars at the commuter lot by the Diamonds sign. I did 15 mph down old 66 to get the 2 miles back to Pacific.

Man I could of just pulled in at Eureka and slept on Hope's couch.

By the way, for $67 the Comfort Inn at Pacific is a steal. Every Amentity you'd want and great free breakfast.

[the godfather]

Thanks for the input FC.  I guess I havent been around D3 enough to know how often people red shirt.  Depends on the personal students situation/decision/feelings in every case I guess.  I agree with you about Buxton, stating that every coach would like to have him a full year so Im not saying Buxton shouldnt red shirt.  I was just stating some reasons athletes may not and you stated some reasons that they may.  Guess all thats left now is to see if he comes back to make a contribution or not.  Should be interesting! 

I said before that Westminster was battling injuries and sickness pretty heavily at this time so this week should be interesting to see who can go and who can make strong contributions for the Jays.  Id love to see every team full strenght and see how this league would turn out, wishful thinking I know. 

I like the idea as well of having the conference tourney in STL every year.  It is rewarding to have the tourney at your gym if you won the conference but the situation at Blackburn wasnt great last year.  If I remember right only fans from the teams playing could come in the gym for that game and then they cleared it for the other two teams, in the semis I mean.  Correct me if Im wrong.  Also Blackburn got bounced in the first game last year so it was sort of pointless to have Maryville and WC drive to Blackburn to play a game when they could have played it neutrally in STL on some other court.  Im pretty sure no D1 conferences go to the #1 teams home court.  Im not familiar with D2 or D3 much so I dont know if this is something that is regular or not.  On a sort of cheesy side it would also give the teams another goal for the year, "road to STL" or some other sort of slogan thrown around all the time.  Anyway I think being the conference champion is a reward in itself and that if the host site was stated at the beginning of the season it wouldnt really bother the team who won it anyway that they were getting a chance to head to STL to prove that they are the conference champs. 

[fcnews]

Looking at the remaining schedule. Their are three teams that are must wins. BC can change this. But, that being said, Prin.,LCC, BC., are all must wins for the conference CHAMP. Here's how "The Road to Somewhere" lays out. We all agree that those three schools at home can beat anyone on their nite. And it will happen.

Mac - 2 (@ Prin @ BC)
GC -2 (@ Prin @ LCC)
WC -1 (@ Prin)
WU -1 (@ Prin)
EC -1 (@ BC)
FU -0

I didn't count any loss at MU as a bad loss. You just can't. I will say it again that BC can change this out look. But, I'm suggesting from the present. Prin. host four of the six. We all know this is a place where a win is a win. Strange results have come out of Elsha ,IL. and FU knows. I beleive Principia will steal one of those four games. Just a hunch.

Take your favorite team and figure your "Road to Somewhere".

I have my favorite having to win 2 of these 4 games. @WC, @MAC, @EC and @WU. Win the ones your supposed to and split on the road. It's in black and white for FU. Coach McKinney has had his road map planned since Christmas. That's why FU practiced everyday in Florida. And, I don't mean shoot arounds. Two hour hard work outs. The FU kids did not have to worry about getting a break. We are right on track for his road map. Win 5 of the first six.

[hopefan]

Hadn't heard about the 44 problems, FC, but if there were problems out there, chances are you would have had a difficult time getting up our hills out here in Wilderness Trails.   Glad you stayed safe, hope Coach or wife weren't involved.

Saw Wash U beat Rochester and CMU - went to games 5 days this week after all!   Wash U played a very intense game against Rochester, then jogged thru an easy win over CMU.  They are playing very well - with only one senior contributing.  They should do well in the tourney this year, and could be a very viable contender for the national championship next year.  we'll take Monday and Tuesday off, then start up again Wednesday night with SLIAC hoops!

[the godfather]

WC just lost at BC.  They have road games left at Prin and LCC out of your list.  Along with road games @ Webster, Eureka Maryville and Greenville. 

[fcnews]

Sorry for the typo Godfather. I have edited it. WC has six of next 10 on the road not good.

FU has won @ Prin, BC and LCC. Three chances to stumble out of the way. I'd love to have back the 30 ft shot by Ellis with a one point lead at GC. I'd love to have the 90 ft. hail mary catch and shoot in 2.3 seconds, with a one poit lead against EC. Would be nice to be 7-1 and talking about hosting. But, FU started the season with one goal. Fight for a top four spot. I think if FU can get theire these kids will be peaking at a time when we can win two and go on.

By tournament time Storandt, Fogerty, McCoy and Fourniw will have two good seasons and 50 games under their belt. White and Branch will have been woke up to Div. III and will have experience both sides of 25 games.

If we can just get there.

FU is on pace for another good recruiting year. With the oppurtunity to get Parker back and add some much needed size to their bench. I think you will enjoy seeing Lovette and Dill. They will be slowly worked into their role. But they will be the much need depth that everyone is talking about. When you can start counting on minutes from a 6'7, 235 lb., 30"+ vertical player thats nice to look forword to down the stretch. Dill has the sky's the limit upside. And, Matthew Bader (Campbell, MO.) gves great minutes at LCC. Scrappy and has a nose for the ball.

The Future is bright in Griffin Nation.