MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[BunchTime]

Formersliaccommish, thanks for the insight.  I can now see how this format may be a benefit to coaches, rather than a deteriment.  Again, thanks for your commentary on administrative matters.  It always helps to hear someone that was involved with all these matters offer his opinion.

[BunchTime]

Listening to the broadcast, it sounds like a spirited Webster crowd.  Also, the broadcast team did a very good job tonight.  It seems like they have gotten more comfortable after having worked together several times now.

[BunchTime]

The only word that can describe this is WOW.  Maryville wins in a close one.  Very disappointing end to an excellent year for the Gorloks.  The post-season woes continue for Webster.  It is hard to make anything out of the regular season when you bow out to the #4 seed in the first round of the SLIAC tourney once again.  I said all along that this game scared me.  That said, kudos to Coach Rogers and his team for a gutsy effort on the home court of the undefeated conference champs.  He always has his guys prepared and ready to give 100% for 40 minutes.  Speaking of which, I am listening to his interview as I type this, and he has nothing but great things to say about Coach Bunch calling him "one of my best friends in the world."  He also added that "I will push for Webster to recieve a Pool C bid."

Finally, seniors Brad Robinson, Darin Hoggatt, and Corey Kuhn all were key factors in the success of this program and this team and they will be missed. 

More to come later.  I am pissed right now.

[Pat Coleman]

Webster isn't the only top seed to lose in a semifinal. I know it's the first round the SLIAC plays but it's not like Webster went out to a No. 8 seed.

[j_clem]

Thanks to all of those who listened to the broadcast tonight.

We are currently trying to set up a broadcast of the Championship game on Saturday. I will let you guys know if we're covering it or not... I want to do it, but we have some things to work out first..

Back to the action though as two teams proved alot tonight.
Fontbonne made a statement and are considered the favorite, in my opinion, to win the tourney. No disrespect to the Maryville team. They came into our house and knocked us off..hats off to them. But I just was amazed at how well Fontbonne played. I like them because of the play of Storandt and Fogerty. Though Maryville does have good guard play with Saxton and McGrath.

[BunchTime]

Nevertheless, Pat, this loss cannot be rationalized.  This team went 16-0 in conference and got beat in the first round once again to a #4 seed. Three of the last four years Webster has been the #1 seed and failed to win the conference tourney.  Any way you carve it up, it is disappointing, and I know that Coach Bunch feels the same way.

[y_jack_lok]

To the Webster players and coaching staff, I know there is nothing I can say to make you feel better. But I want you to know that it has been a pleasure to watch you play this year and to see the success you have had. This has been my seventh season watching Webster basketball and you enrich my life so very much. I'm looking forward to at least seven more years, win or lose.

[fcnews]

I was only able to attend the first half of tonights WU v. MU game. When I left Webster had a 6 pt. lead and I was confident that they would build from there. They had superior inside play and the best players on the floor. I was fortunate to have one of the Gorlok's biggest fans (Bunchtime) texting me updates during the second half. I spoke to him after the game and there was a tone of schock and disappointment in his voice. Congrats to the Webster seniors on a good season. Your regional rankings drew alot of needed attention to our conference.

FU held WC to 25% from the field in the first half (0-10 3's). And that was pretty much it. FU 78 WC 54. FU's starters all played 32 minutes or more. Coach said they have all summer to rest.

Fogerty 24 pts. and 8 rebounds
McCoy 17 pts. (3-5 3's) Patrick moved into the top 10 in D3 in 3 pt. % this week.
Branch 15 pts. ( 10 in the first half )

All Everything - Chad Fournie 12 pts. and 11 rebounds / held WC's Buxton to 9 pts (4-14 1-6 3's)

I know this is not how the WC's 6 seniors wanted to go out. The decision to sit the starters down in tuesday nights game, will be talked about for awhile. WC was 32% fg. and 25% 3's. FU won the boards 43-26 and hit on 14-15 free throw attempts. Fontbonne shot 50% from the field (8-17 from behind the arc).

Fontbonne will try to avenge a 2 pt loss to MU (2 weeks ago), when they face up on Saturday.

[fcnews]

A couple of stats popped out to me from the WU v. MU game. Like I said before, I didn't see the second half.
1.) Robinson - 11 pts. and 6 rebounds in 18 minutes. Why only 18, not foul trouble. A senior, who has played a major role this years run, only gets 18 minutes in his final game.

2.) Paradoski - 13 minutes, 0 shots, 2 assists, 2 turnovers. - You have to score or be at least a threat don't you.

3.) Kuhn - 17 minutes, 4 pts., 0 rebounds, 1 assist. - (Same comment as Robinson)

4.) Hoggatt - 22 minutes, 15 pts., 1 (?) rebound - (Same comment)

5.) MU 39 rebounds  WU 27 rebounds - How did this happen.

Were the two halfs that much different. Did I miss something big, in the second half? Plus, the free throw shooting by both teams. Well I expect that out of MU (this year).

Any thoughts would help this fan that left to early.

[hopefan]

Wow - what a game

After watching Fontbonne dismantle Westminster, my thoughts were that a similar situation might exist in the Webster Maryville game.  Sure, Maryville had played a great game against them just a week ago, but Webster on their home court seemed unbeatable.

From the outset, it was apparent however, that this would not be a slaughter, that it would be one of those classic D3 games where every posession was critical, every shot contended, every rebound fought over tooth and nail.

This was a game that was hard to see someone have to lose - where I was glad that my lack of allegiance to a single program allowed me to enjoy the beauty of the competion, root quietly for the underdog saints to keep it close, root for the deserving Gorloks to make the last shot that would put them into Saturday's final.

Everything went that way until a disappointingly disjointed possession broke the Webster contingent's hearts.  With Maryville up 2 with 30 some seconds, Webster had the ball, had a timeout, and I figured for all the world, a great opportunity to tie or win.  As expected the ball went into Hoggitt, whose feathery touch had hardly missed all night.  Big Matt Demicke checked him, but the critical move of the game came as Aaron Steincke came over and aggressively double teamed him, forcing Hoggit to dribble out and give the ball up to Hrdlicka.  Steve was open,and ready to shoot the three, BUT, he hesitated, pulled back, gave Turk a quick look, saw he was covered, then put up the three somewhat off stride, which was no good.  Maryville rebounds gets a ft and it's over.

So much disappointment after the game, but what a great season for Webster.  Felt so bad for the Kuhns, unbelievable fans who saw most every game for four years despite an 800 mile round trip from Michigan, usually thru snow and ice, for every game.  The remorse is obvious in Yjak's post, is was even moreso last night. And Buncher dissappointingly won't have to make a trip from Oklahoma City.   And poor Mrs Hoggitt, sitting by herself upstairs after the game, almost in a trance-  my heart went out to her.

The beauty of the aftermath was how the Webster fans reacted - the prevailing thought was disappointment - but no excuses - no finger pointing at this player or that player, the coaching staff, the officials - I think everyone recognized it was a great college basketball game - someone had to win, someone had to lose.

[fcnews]

After a hiatus, the Maryville Blog is back up. Imagine that.

"Tonight, I think we surprised everyone but ourselves. With clutch and significant contributions from most of the healthy bodies, we upset the first undefeated SLIAC Men's team in conference history with a well-played 76-73 contest."

Someone needs to tell Coach Rogers that there have been four teams that went undefeated.

Also, the SLIAC has a 20 game winner for the first time since '96. Last to do it, Greenville College (Pride Plug).

[y_jack_lok]

The remorse is obvious in Yjak's post, is was even moreso last night... The beauty of the aftermath was how the Webster fans reacted - the prevailing thought was disappointment...

Yes, dissapointment is the prevailing feeling, not remorse. "Remorse is an emotional expression of personal regret - that is, the emotion felt by the injurer after he or she has injured. Remorse is closely allied to guilt..."

And my dissapointment is not personal, but is for the players and coaches. I crossed a threshhold last season. I used to get very upset at officials and feel personally unhappy when Webster would lose. I realized that that was not doing me any good. I have watched this season much more calmly and have felt much better as a result. My hope is always for Webster to be successful, not for me, but for the players and coaches and parents of the players. As I said in my previous post, the opportunity the see the Gorloks play, whether it's basketball, soccer, softball -- whatever -- adds so much to my life. The athletic department staff, many of the coaches, and family members of many of the players have been very nice to me and to my wife and we are both so grateful for that.

[Pat Coleman]

Nevertheless, Pat, this loss cannot be rationalized.  This team went 16-0 in conference and got beat in the first round once again to a #4 seed. Three of the last four years Webster has been the #1 seed and failed to win the conference tourney.  Any way you carve it up, it is disappointing, and I know that Coach Bunch feels the same way.

Wasn't asking you to rationalize it.

[Pat Coleman]

Someone needs to tell Coach Rogers that there have been four teams that went undefeated.

If the blog takes comments, you can do it yourself.

[fcnews]

It doesn't. Thanks for the idea, it used to. I think. All of the other seasons were prior to him coming to Maryville. He might have worded it wrong. Or, first since we went to more than 8 teams. I'm not sure.