MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[y_jack_lok]

After a round of Conference games and a Rust College 2-game drive thru (and they will get a split),

What do you mean by "and they will get a split"?

[fcnews]

Yjak - I meant that Rust, Is a well traveled team. They play very few at home. They will be athletical and push the pace. They went 10-21 from three's against Millsaps. On a two day stop, catching Webster on a Sunday (day after a tough Sliac game) and FU preparing for a tough stretch. I think Rust gets a split on their pass through the STL.

Should have made appear more like my opinion.

[y_jack_lok]

fc, Webster plays Rust on Sunday the day after playing MacMurray. FU gets Sunday off after playing Eureka. Edge to FU for the W in your predicted split.

[fcnews]

Yjak- With memory failing, I beleive it was Savannah Arts that came through last. Might of been Fisk. Could of been both.

Anyway the schedule was opposite, FU got them on nite one and lost and WU got the win the next. It will definately be advantage seeing them play WU. I will take two SLIAC wins and be happy.

[y_jack_lok]

It was Fisk, two years ago. And I could tell when they played Webster that they were tired.

[fcnews]

First off FU has BC with player of the week Sykes. Then @EC with Zasada. Who maybe on a lot of POY ballots.

[y_jack_lok]

WU is at Westminster Wednesday and has Mac at home on Saturday. This first round of conference games will be interesting.

[sully309]

Should be a good game in Eureka Wednesday between Greenville and EC. These teams have been very evenly matched in recent years and will likely be again this season. Both teams have played at Concordia Chicago with EC winning by 5 and Greenville suffering a 13 point loss. Given how this college football season has gone, that's probably not a good thing for Eureka as these things have a way of not playing out how they should, at least mathematically.

The Red Devils haven't exactly been lighting up the board lately, but picked up their defense last Saturday by holding CUC to 14 points in the 2nd half.  Until we can get the outside shooting in gear, that's how EC is going to have to win games this season.  Holding teams under 60 points needs to be the goal at this point given Eureka's 58 point scoring average.

Unless they're just luring a predictable reaction from our buddy FC, I'm not sure why else people keeping bringing up Fontbonne's non-conference schedule. They play 2 top 10 teams in the country back-to-back coming up. Helloooo! Do I need to repeat that for you?

Anyway, my personal opinion on non-conference scheduling is it has diddly poo (apologies to Jim Mora) to do with postseason success. Two years ago, Eureka lost to Fontbonne in the SLIAC championship game in OT after rimming out a 12 footer at the end of regulation. Eureka's non-conference schedule that year was Knox, Dominican, Manchester, Alma, North Park and Millikin. Not exactly a Who's Who of Top 25 mainstays, but not any Boy Scout teams either. But, does anyone seriously think that if Eureka would have played an Augustana or a Wash U. that year, that shot at the end would have gone in instead of bouncing out? Please!

USC played Ohio St. in football this year and killed them 35-3. So what? Even in a sport with a messed up postseason, both these teams are looking at BCS bids, so regardless of how ugly that game was, both teams will rewarded for their success in conference play.

Why don't we just lets coaches schedule who they think is best for them. Lot's of factors go into it like no Sunday home games, travel budgets and coaching schedules that have nothing to do with competition. These games don't give anyone a point spread to start conference tournament play with anyway, so what's the difference?

As a friend of mine would say, "thanks for the space."

[y_jack_lok]

Why don't we just lets coaches schedule who they think is best for them. Lot's of factors go into it like no Sunday home games, travel budgets and coaching schedules that have nothing to do with competition. These games don't give anyone a point spread to start conference tournament play with anyway, so what's the difference?

We need to be mindful of some of the newer posters who have not been involved in these conversations over the past three or four years. I have felt the same way about discussions surrounding officiating -- that we've beaten that horse to death. But if people want to discuss a topic they should have the freedom to do so and those of us who are tired of it should let the conversation go on.

E_sid, you do add a couple of good points and new angles to the rationale as to why some schools schedule their non-conference games the way they do.

[pantherpride06]

Stands and applauds eureka_sid on his comments regarding scheduling.  It's tough!

Good outlook on the Greenville / Eureka game.  I'll be watching closely for some updates tomorrow!  (Between watching the Indiana/Wake Forest Game that is)

[fcnews]

"And their off". MU got a quick jump out of the gate. I heard the game was closer then the score indicated. Till midway through the second half.

Now the fun begins. What will be tonites suprising score?

[hopefan]

FC, yjak and others - hope you all get to games and enjoy tonight  -  as mentioned earlier, I'll be able to start getting out to games this weekend (with plenty to see Friday - Monday)  -  see you there.  Yjak- wondering if you're going to Fulton tonite??   FC, travelling on Saturday, or staying in St Louis?  I'm sure I'll see you Monday....

Note - Rust got beat by Hendrix last night - not necessarily a bad loss as it was Hendrix who ripped Westminster a couple weeks ago..... 

[y_jack_lok]

Not going to Fulton tonight. No traveling companion and iffy weather.

hopefan, are you going to Wash U vs Hamilton Friday night?

[fcnews]

Yjak you can make the short trip down Big Bend. No Admission!!!

[y_jack_lok]

fc, thanks for that heads up. I might do that.