MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

You're kidding yourself if you think Illinois has substandard lighting. The lighting required to host a D-I television game is far and away better than anything required for any D-III game.

Try to stick in the realm of D-III for D-III. Plus, I believe the discussion here is who has the facilities to be eligible to host, not who would be ranked high enough to host.

[BunchTime]

Right Guard, you are factually incorrect when you say that no SLIAC team has played a tournament game within 20 points.  In 2004, Maryville played Illinois Wesleyan to a 9 point game at their place, which is considered one of toughest places in the country to play.

And I think I can speak for behalf of all posters that our first concern is winning a game in the NCAA Tourney; however, it makes good discussion to speculate as to hosting a tourney game.  If the SLIAC women can host a game, it would seem logical to me that it isn't the most far fetched idea to debate whether the men could do so as well.  This year there may be a legitimate shot if the chips fall right.  For example, if Webster wins out (which is extremely tough and a big "if"), it would have a 22-5 record while playing a difficult schedule.  Let me reiterate, I, by no means, am saying this will happen, but it would and should give them a legitimate shot at hosting the first round.

And in my opinion, Blackburn is totally ill-suited to host the Tourney.  And I know the response will be "if they win the SLIAC, why not"  -- and I agree to some extend, but that gym is just woeful and an embarrassment to college basketball.  I know funds may be dry, but their should be some kind of minimum seating capacity to host, even if in the past the gym wasn't full.  Perhaps move it to a local high school, if at all possible.  Just my take!

[fcnews]

The gym at BC is so small fans are not allowed to sit in the front row. That leaves maybe four rows of flimsy bleachers for sitting. They built a new student union recently. Why didn't they combine the two?

[Gregory Sager]

This year there may be a legitimate shot if the chips fall right.  For example, if Webster wins out (which is extremely tough and a big "if"), it would have a 22-5 record while playing a difficult schedule.  Let me reiterate, I, by no means, am saying this will happen, but it would and should give them a legitimate shot at hosting the first round.

You're right about that, Bunch Time, but the numbers you're using are the wrong ones. Overall record does not figure into the calculations of the selection committee when the bracket is seeded (i.e., when hosting privileges are granted) on Selection Sunday. It's regional record that matters, because non-regional D3 games are only used as last-resort secondary criteria while games against non-D3 competition are ignored altogether. Thus, to use your example of Webster going 22-5 overall, the selection committee would be looking at the merits of the Gorloks in light of their regional record of 20-5, since the two wins over non-D3 Lincoln Christian wouldn't count in their eyes.

[depew24]

I agree with Bunchtime on this, if a team takes care of business during the regular season they should have a shot. BC on the other hand probably does not have the facility that host a game. However unfair that may be that just the nature of the business, and in the end that exactly what it is, a business. They want to represent themselves well and not display a substandard product to their customer.

[BunchTime]

Sager, thanks for the correction.  However, even at 20-5, I believe the Gorloks would still have a shot, and that is because of the strength of their schedule.  But I will worry about that when and if the time comes.  For now, I am just focused on them winning the SLIAC regular season and hosting the SLIAC Tourney.

[fcnews]

One game at a time. Right Bunchtime!!! I hope Turk and Niebrugge got a good nights sleep. Hey, this year you got to make it up for the post season tourney. No, "I've got a dance to attend B.S." If it would happen to be a WU v FU final, I got the first round at McClain's. I know how broke students can be.

I'm afraid though. The Griff's kids got their heart set on hosting. Which would be ok, that's where the last #1 seed won the SLIAC Tourney. It would be a high scoring two days, everyone shoots the lights out in the DSAC.

I could probably find you housing in one of the dorms.

Happy Birthday shout out to Chad Fournie.

[hopefan]

If Fontbonne has their hopes set on hosting the SLIAC (I hope they do too, with the nicest facility in the SLIAC), then tonight is a MUST WIN.  They can't afford to drop 2 at home and think they'd be able to turn the results around on the road in the 2nd half of the conference season.

[BunchTime]

FC, sounds like a plan.  Make sure the housing comes with a parking spot 

[fcnews]

That never was a problem before.

[fcnews]

Hope - If any team wants to host, they are all must win.

[hopefan]

Too bad that Webster/Fontbonne Gville etc can't catchup with today's technology and web cast games so fans like Bunchtime or panther could listen in....   Maryville has been doing home games this year (Bash and Elwell) and I believe they may have done one or two away games also - don't know that they will be doing tonights game at Webster though.

Oh and I owe an apolgy  -  Recently, I have referred to the outstanding teams that Maryville had 2 - 4 years ago and mentioned Heble, Bash, Elwell and Klein  -  drawing a blank (senility) on the 5th starter  -  ugh, all conference player Matt Regan!!!! It hit me out of the blue!!  Matt, if you read this stuff, sorry for the omission!!!!

[BunchTime]

Hopefan, Webster did webcast the SLIAC Tourney games last year, and I assumed they would do the same for this year, but much to my dismay, they haven't.  I hope that Maryville will have it going tonight.  If you get word that they are in fact webcasting the game, please pass it on to me.  I will also be checking their website myself.

[depew24]

Yes, they did the tourney games, my roommate at the time was one of the ones doing it. I might go to the MU/WU game tonight depending on what time i get out of work. Hope it's a good game.

[Elwells2short]

We should be doing the games tonight.  The computer has been struggling the last couple of times though, and I don't think the games came through live and a few may have not recorded at all.  Hopefully it's been fixed and will work tonight.  I know the live stats have been working for the most part, and that's always nice to follow.

If the webcast does work and you happen to listen, be aware that it's by no means a professional job.  I studder and mumble a lot and my little play-by-play partner has a hard time seeing over top the scorer's table which leads to some problems.  It's been a lot of fun so far though.