MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[fcnews]

Buncherific - Not even sure FU will play Moody. If that's the case I'll try to give a scouting report from Chicago. With only four games before hosting the Gorlocks for the SLIAC opener, I don't think this group will have time to get out of shape. Thanks for inquiring though. And, welcome to the board.

[buncheriffic]

My mistake FcNews, I read your schedule wrong. I guess they are just hosting the tournament.

speaking of tournaments! How about this Webster classic coming up Thanksgiving weekend. I have done the research and there is not a tougher tournament in the country this entire season. It features two of the best teams in the country:
#1 Washington University
#5 Augustana College
As well as UW-Platteville - they ain't no slouch people! They have won four National Titles (back to back in 98-99) and return 3 starters and nearly 60ppg of their offense from last year.

My Lord. Coach Bunch - how do you do it? It is going to be an amazing weekend, I am totally hyped.

Look for this tournament to stay books and continue to attract the top teams to St. Louis. In a few years this will be renamed the Coach Bunch Classic - just watch!

[BunchTime]

Since Coach Bunch's arrival, he has consistently assembled a top-flight non-conference schedule.  As I have said in the past, I am a believer in this scheduling philosophy.  While Webster may have a poor record entering conference play, it is moot since SLIAC teams do not play for an at-large bid to the Tourney.  Thus, it will serve as great competition and prepare the Gorloks for conference play.

Furthermore, what good does it do to play cupcakes and have a inflated record?  None!  I am glad that Coach Bunch does not schedule opponents simply to serve his ego or to accumulate wins.  The Webster Classic is quite impressive tourney to assemble over the holiday weekend.  It should be exciting!

[juniormint]

Bunch just a hypothetical question here.  Not picking on your theory, I too think it is better to schedule a touch non-conference as the experience pays dividends later. 

You say the SLIAC teams do not play for an at large bid.  What if a SLIAC team were to schedule a fairly easy non-conference, with maybe a couple tough games on the road but that this SLIAC team would be favored in.  IF they were to run the table non-conference and in conference but lose to the second place team in the conference tournament finals, would they then compete for an at large bid?  Just something I was thinking about.  Not much else to think about during exhibition games I guess.

[BunchTime]

Juniormint -- That is a very valid question.  However, under your hypohetical, the SLIAC team would still be bypassed for an at-large bid.  I don't have the current NCAA Tourney format in front of me, but there are very few teams who recieve an at-large berth to the Tourney.  In years past, their have been nationally ranked teams who lost in their conference tourney and were overlooked by the NCAA Committee.

It will be a long time before a SLIAC team merits consideration for an at-large bid.  Therefore, that is why I believe that SLIAC schools should increase their schedule strength to prepare them for conference play since it is largely irrelevant what a team's record is entering conference play.  The only way to the big dance is to win the conference tourney.

[Gregory Sager]

There will be seventeen Pool C (at-large teams from conferences that have automatic qualifying bids, such as the SLIAC) teams in the D3 tourney this coming March. In theory, the top SLIAC runner-ups each have a shot at one of those seventeen bids. But, as BunchTime said, it's not very realistic for a SLIAC team to think it's going to get one of those bids. No SLIAC team has ever been awarded an at-large berth. The league simply isn't very strong in terms of the overall D3 pecking order, and this is reflected in the five primary criteria utilized by the NCAA to determine Pool C bids (regional winning percentage, opponents' regional winning percentage, etc.).

Juniormint, while in theory your strategy would be a canny approach to scheduling the non-conference slate for a SLIAC coach, the problem is that there really isn't any such thing as a "fairly easy non-conference" slate in D3 terms for this league's members. Because the SLIAC is the low man on the totem pole in terms of Midwest Region basketball, teams from other conferences look to the SLIAC's teams for their "fairly easy non-conference" contests. Remember, only regional games within D3 are considered by the selection committee on Selection Sunday, so all of those easy wins that SLIAC teams rack up -- wins against the likes of such non-D3 teams as St. Louis College of Optometry, Concordia Seminary, Logan Chiropractic, etc. -- don't count.

[sully309]

It should be noted about the WestMo/WIU game that Western played without 2 of their top returning players, including David Jackson (by far their best player). Not that WIU was a powerhouse to begin with, but Jackson was basically the franchise on many night last season, and I shutter to think what the team would look like without him. Still, kudos to the Blue Jays for playing them very close for a half.

About this at large question...I think with the switch to the current formula (opponents win % and opponents' opponents win %), the best way to answer the question 'how does a team get an at large berth?' is quite simple...be one of the best 17 at large teams.

Unlike in past years, it's going to be pretty tough to fool the system. If you're not one of the best 17 at large candidates, I doubt you'll be able to concoct a schedule that will somehow get you in. Maybe if you're #20 you could move up to the last line in, but not a major move up.

At the end of the day, let's face it. If there's a team in the SLIAC capable of getting an at large bid, I highly doubt they would lose a tournament game on their home floor to another SLIAC team...and if they do, doesn't it call into question whether said team should be in the NCAA Tournament anyway? I suppose if that is their only loss, and they played a schedule full of girl scout colleges, they could be left out. It's kinda tough to say how this is going to work for sure until we try it for a year or 2.

[fcnews]

Boys until further notice it is who wins that final game in February. We had this same discussion last season and the results showed that the best non-conf. does not guarantee a NCAA birth.

Hope - I thought you'd find this interesting. FU's Scott Porter has left the team to pursue his music career. He has a very nice contract with the Pageant as an opening act. Scott thought he could handle both but it didn't workout that way. And yes, Coach Porter was OK with this decision.

ECSID - You have been somewhat quite about this years Red Devil squad.

Also, FU plays at Principia today for the chance to rep. the SLIAC at the NCAA soccer tourney.

[hopefan]

The decision by Scott would appear to be a good one - Glad that Coach Porter is good with it - The Lafayette - Fontbonne or Lafayette -  SLIAC relationship needs to continue to be cultivated.

Yoweeeee   only 2 weeks until we get started....

[juniormint]

Thanks guys.  Like i said hypothetical.  I pretty much knew the answers i would get but one thing i learned was the regional games are the only ones the D3 board counts. 

Hope youre right only two weeks.  Do you guys predict preseason teams, players etc?  If so now or right before conference? 

BTW Scott Porter is really good. 
http://www.myspace.com/scottporter23 

[buncheriffic]

Hey everyone - I just want to give a quick shout out to those Webster Gorlok Womens teams.

First place finishes in the tournament and regular season. Pretty nice!

For those that are counting, the 2007-2008 championship count is:

Webster 2, Fontbonne 0.

[fcnews]

Buncherific - don't you mean Webster 2 SLIAC 0. Or am I missing something.

[FU_Pride]

Haven't been on the board for awhile!  Had a good convo with Fcnews at the men's practice today.  FU has it's annual Late Night With Lee McKinney this friday!  Looks to me that this year's team is in better shape this year, than last year at this time.  you can tell some of the bigger guys have spent some quality time hitting the weights this off season. ......Still a little questionable on how Parker's return will be handled?

[fcnews]

As of right now it appears Parker's return will be delayed. He is rehabing a high ankle sprain. He will add depth at the guard spot. FU has proved they can win without him. Although, he could be very valuable.

[FU_Pride]

just saw that wash u is preseason number one!!  thats really all that i have to say....cant wait for the season to get here!