MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hopefan]

FC - I'm just saying maybe that lady would enjoy having a good lookin gentleman to sit with at the games  -  there comes a time in everyone's life when it might be easier to sit back and enjoy the games in the 5th row rather than work them from the first.  Coach Wooden, Coach Meyers etc all knew when it was time - it's not a negative, it's going out on top.

[fcnews]

On top of what ? FU finshed fourth in the SLIAC. There are bigger mountains left to climb for this team and this coach. And for Mrs. Coach I think she still likes watching her man compete. When you love what your doing and get paid for it. What else can you ask for.

[fcnews]

As for #5, You have the conference co-champs who each only lose one starter and this years pre-season pick Westminister who will have a healthy Buxton. FU played well down the stretch, let's see them put it all together.

[y_jack_lok]

Well, we now know that retirement from coaching is not in the forseeable future for Coach McKinney. After Fontbonne beat Webster in the SLIAC tournament a Webster parent commented to me that he thought Coach McKinney was the best coach in the conference. I'd say that has to be debatable since this year was the first time since 1996 that Fontbonne has made the NCAA tournament. Still, his record speaks for itself. If he doesn't recognize when it's time to retire, hopefully someone he respects will help him realize it's time.

As for next year, I think Greenville should be put into the mix of contenders. I also think Blackburn's coach will stick around.

More thoughts later.

[fcnews]

That is a very nice compliment y-jak. Coming from the parent of an opponent you just beat. That's special.

[fcnews]

I agree that GC will also be in the mix. Other then EC, nobody is completely destroyed by graduation. Next year should be very much the same type of season. A team like MU will benefit from a years experience. BC has to be better. You will still have PC and LCC, which are tough road wins.

[hopefan]

I would disagree a tad with FC's forecast on next year  -  I see a bigger gap growing between the top teams and the lessers -  We know Fontbonne, Westminster, Webster, and Mac should be strong.  Maryville has everyone coming back, and if they improve, could be a contender, but lack any inside force.  Greenville showed you have to have at least one big man in this league, and so far, they don't.   Blackburn losing Hammond and Allen will be hurting, as will Eureka with their losses.  Prin and LCC - no way.  I really think, that barring unforseen personnel losses or new faces that can make an immediate difference, there are 4 clear leaders going into next season, West, Font, Webster and Mac, with Greenville and possibly Maryville challenging.  The other four will be "rebuilding".

[fcnews]

All good points, Hope. I still think Mac needs a true "big", Robertson is a great slasher and Whallum will be tough to replace. WU has Hoggatt and WC has Davis, we all saw what senior leadership meant ie: Spinner and Tarpley. FU's Fogerty plays bigger than his size, with Storandt and Lovette in the rotation it does help in defensive match ups. GC does need a complimentary player to go with Ellis.

Not knowing anything more then the rest of you, I see possible rough waters for BC. They lost all scoring and I didn't see much help on the end of the bench.

All the SLIAC contenders can use some more size added. It is some what of a necessity to get us over the hump.

I no I'll catch flak from Y_Jak for saying this, But. A Webster or Fontbonne upset of Wash U. is not out of the question. Wash U. is a great team, period. I think the distance is closing. I can't speak for Webster but FU has Wash U. at home next year. We'll see.

[y_jack_lok]

Webster played Wash U at Webster this past season, so next season it will be at Wash U. Webster lost by about 15 or 16 this year, but the game was never in doubt and could have been worse if Edwards hadn't played his bench quite a bit. With Wash U losing only one starter they will be tougher next year -- probably a pre-season top 5 pick. I don't the gap is closing noticeably yet.

[fcnews]

Former Webster coach, Lance Randall, won his second consecutitive Wisc. H.S. State Championship. Great Job Coach Randall.

[hopefan]

FC  I'm not that familiar with SLIAC history  - when did Lance Randall coach Webster  -  was he successful?

[fcnews]

Hope he was their from, I think, '97 - '00. Brought a couple of nice players in with him from up north. Coached WU to one tournament appearance. He then left WU to take a proffessional job in Europe. He was an asst. at SLU under Romar. His dad was a H.S. coach in WI. and when he passed away Lance took over the job. He was at Webster right before Coach K. was their.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Sports Illustrated had a nice piece on Coach Randall and his beloved hscoach father a few months ago (maybe even a year ago by now).  I haven't tried to track it down, but maybe someone could.  The gist of it was that he gave up a rapidly rising career (and a lot more money) to return to the community he loved - despite Thomas Wolfe, apparently sometimes "you CAN go home again".

[fcnews]

Well said.

[y_jack_lok]

From the Athletics Records page of Webster U's website, here is Lance Randall's 3 year coaching record at Webster:

1997-98 14-12 (overall) 9-5 (SLIAC) Lance Randall* Tie 2nd/8
1998-99 11-15 (overall) 7-7 (SLIAC) Lance Randall Tie 4th/8
1999-00 18-8 (overall) 12-2 (SLIAC) Lance Randall* 1st/8

The asterisk (*) denotes SLIAC coach of the year.

That's an overall record of 43-35 in 3 years. Coach Bunch was 45-32 in his first 3 years and is 45-34 in his second 3 years for an overall record of 90-66. Bunch has also won CoY twice.