MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hopefan]

It's not inconceivable that if this game is pushed hard on the fontbonne campus, that Fontbonne crowd numbers could match Wash U's....  My suggestion would be to play up the rivalry and perhaps the second class citizen line and really pump up the student body to go to the game.  And be prepared for some very rowdy Wash U student fans- they have been great (and brutal to the opposition) the last couple of weeks

This could just be an outstanding D3 scene if both schools really push it....
And as I said before, it could be a very good game on the court too - a little over confidence, looking ahead from Wash U, vs a very motivated Fontbonne team.

[furbug]

FU_PRIDE - Yes, the Webster University 2001 - 2002 team won the SLIAC conference, then won the first two games in the NCAA, went to the sweet 16 at Stevens Point, WI and lost a close game to the eventual champion, Wisconsin Stevens Point. Wbster led that game for almost three quarters. Halley Spann fouled out and Tara Fortschneider was hurt during the game. The next day the Stevens Point newspaper ran a column on Tara titled, "One Tough Gorlok." it was a grat tribute from the opposition. If you are interested, I can find a link to that article and send it to you. That was a great team that year under Ryan Barke.

[furbug]

To clarify I meant to say that was the women's team, as you may have guessed from the names

[BunchTime]

No men's SLIAC team has won a first round game; however, women's SLIAC teams in the past have been victorious.  I know back in 2001-2002, the Webster Lady Gorloks went all the way to the Sweet 16 before losing! 

[BunchTime]

I know that at this time of the year, we throw around the typical fodder that the SLIAC team has a chance, but I do agree with Hopefan that this as good as a draw as a first round game the SLIAC has seen in quite a while.  Taking nothing away from a solid Wash U team, but I believe that if Fontbonne plays near perfect basketball, they do have a legitimate chance. The same cannot be said in years past!

The last time these 2 teams sqaured off, Fontbonne was a struggling team, and they have since found themselves and are playing well.  It was only a 15 point game too.  Additionally, Fontbonne was woeful from 3 (4-23) and for a team who lives and dies by it, that spells trouble.  As any team like Fontbonne, they go as their 3 point shooters go.  Thus, Wash U. is probably not thrilled to be playing a team like Fontbonne.  I hope this is the year.  Although road trip is always fun, I think it being played a block from Fontbonne where the students and families can show up will really help them.  All the factors are in place for an upset to occur!

[fcnews]

Fontbonne women as well has won two 1st rd. and went to the sweet sixteen.

[fcnews]

Fontbonne was defeated by Wash. U. by 15. The largest point spread in a non-conf. loss. Fontbonne enter that game real green and 2-5 with five losses at the buzzer. Trevor White played just 20 mins. w/ a groin injury (0 fgs. 2 fts., 0 rebs.) and Justin Storandt played just 20 mins. because of foul trouble (0 fgs., 4 fts., 2 rebs.) and Fogerty had an off night (3-7 fgs.). As mentioned FU shot poorly from the three's.

Wash U. played basically 7 olayers and it took 32 mins. of PT from Ruth. FU still did a good job on the boards matching them on the offensive boards, had 14 steals and caused 20 to's. FU's post defense has really shown in the past couple of weeks. Good job on Hoggatt and Tarpley.

Don't you think if Wash Univ. had any thought of playing the SLIAC team, they would have had somebody their Saturday night. No One

FU is a 14-5 since Wash U. saw them last. Look for Lovette to use his quickness in the same way against Ruth as he did against Tarpley. Fogerty is now a much more polished first team all conference type player. And know one will expect Wash U. to hold White to 0 fgs.

Does this make up for the 15 pts.? I don't know. I still BELEIVE in this team. And on campus today the Kids were happy with their draw.

Just left a meeting. Expect about 150-200 students there. It's Arch Maddness Weekend and the coaching staff and players have alot of friends coming in for the weekend that are planning to attend.

The box score of the earlier Wash U. game shows attendence at 345. Expect that many from FU.

This will also be a media darling, David against .... well you know the rest.

[fcnews]

Looks like Fontbonne is trying to make arrangements for paid admission for it's students. Will help the crowd.

[Drummer1]

You know I agree that a whole team should have made first team.Second team for that matter.A one a two and three outfielders. Hoggat one dimensional. The tournament proved that.
Defense wins championships across the boards in all team sports.
Fontbonne played good defense games.

[BunchTime]

I don't know if I would call Hoggatt one dimensional.  Perhaps he isn't an all-star defensively, but 20 and 10 is not one dimensional.  Under this logic, if someone who scored 30 a game and did little of anything else, should not be on the team.  That is preposterous.  Scoring is a commodity in basketball and many times that is enough for an individual to merit first team consideration.

[Gregory Sager]

I think that this is a good draw for the Griffins.  Has a SLIAC team ever won their first round game in the NCAA tournament???

Here is the complete record of the SLIAC's performance in the D3 national tournament:

2005-06	Mississippi C. 88, Maryville MO 58
2004-05	Hanover 69, Blackburn 49
2003-04	Illinois Wesleyan 82, Maryville MO 73
2002-03	Illinois Wesleyan 79, Blackburn 59
2001-02	Maryville TN 70, Webster 45
2000-01	Maryville TN 85, MacMurray 69
1999-00	Franklin 81, Webster 50
1998-99	-- no SLIAC rep --
1997-98	-- no SLIAC rep --
1996-97	Illinois Wesleyan 105, Maryville MO 66
1995-96	Hanover 85, Fontbonne 43
1994-95	Illinois Wesleyan 115, Westminster MO 74

All of these games were first-rounders, and to the best of my knowledge all were played somewhere other than a SLIAC gym.

The average margin of defeat in those ten tourney losses for the SLIAC is 27.3 points. The 2003-04 Maryville Saints hold the distinction of being the only SLIAC team thus far to hold the final margin to single digits.

Wash U enters Friday night's contest with a 20-4 record. The Bears were co-champs of the very tough UAA (they swept their fellow co-champs Chicago), and were ranked third in the Midwest Region in the last released NCAA regional ranking. The Bears are led by 6'6, 235 junior center Troy Ruths (19.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg); 6'6, 200 sophomore forward Tyler Nading (15.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg); and 6'2 sophomore point guard Sean Wallis (13.6 ppg, 7.4 apg), who is among D3's top ten in assists.

I've seen the Bears this season. They are very good. Fontbonne faces a huge uphill battle in this one.

[fcnews]

Thanks Sager for your commentary. FU probably knows what Wash U. has as well as anyone. FU has seen more Wash U. home games then any of it's own SLIAC teams.  We do have one head - to - head to go on. Sager's comments are the kind of stuff we need the Bears to be looking at all week long. Go ahead and over look us.

[furbug]

furbug attended the 1999-00 Franklin 81, Webster 50 game. It was in Franklin, Indiana. An otherwise good Webster team underperformed badly. It was painful to watch.

[fcnews]

Will Furbug be at Wash U. friday nite. Fcnews will look for him. This second person stuff. Kudos to Bob Dole.

[furbug]

FCNews - furbug will most likely be there. Fontbonne is a great team to watch right now. I think they DO have a chance. furbug shudders to think how formidable they are going to be the next few years.