MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[y_jack_lok]

FC, when I made that comment about Kindred, I honestly didn't think juniors were eligible to win Newcomer of the Year, it looks like they are. We've had 1 NOTY in our 3 years in the SLIAC and he was a freshman, so I have limited personal experience with the award.

Certainly guys like Crawford of Westminster and Forrest of Fontbonne have much better statistics so far than Kindred when you compare them straight up. Personally, I think juniors have a tremendous advantage over freshman, but rules are rules. It's fun to discuss, but there's still over half the conference season left to play and predicting these award winners is tough.

I don't know how all the other conferences do it, but I do know that the ODAC has a "Rookie of the Year" award that goes to a freshman. However, I don't have any problem with the way the SLIAC does it. It would be interesting to go back and see how many upperclassmen have ben selected SLIAC Newcomer of the Year. I can think of two -- Tim McDoniel of Webster in 2002 and Zak Allen of Blackburn a few years after.

[fcnews]

There have been quite a few. Webster's Jeff Reis and Fontbonne's Stacey Ross also come to mind. Forrest is a Junior in the classroom and a So. on the hardwood.

[fcnews]

If my math skills haven't failed me. Ten wins get you in and 9 would put you into a possible tiebreaker situation. A win by Westminster on Wednesday would mean hotel reservations are probably needed for Fulton. I wonder if there is a PKA house at Westminster that would put a brother.

[hopefan]

Quite honestly, while it would be nice to 'hotel' it that weekend, the drive over to Fulton is not exactly a killer - probably right around 2 hours - home by 1:00, back on the road at 10 or 11 next day with 8 hours sleep.  That is, if I make it past St Charles/Earth City without a stop at one of my favorite houses of ill repute   I was home by 7:00 PM this past  Saturday.....

[hopefan]

Always nice to see the Big Boss Pat Coleman browsing our page!!   (at 11:38 AM central)

[furbug]

A win by Westminster on Wednesday would mean hotel reservations are probably needed for Fulton.

Aren't some of us being a little presumptious? It is too early to make that call. A win by Westminster on Wednesday would mean only that they are 7-0, with 9 conference games to play. Mathematically they could end up 7-9. Realistically, the host site would still be open to several others.

[furbug]

while it would be nice to 'hotel' it that weekend, the drive over to Fulton is not exactly a killer - probably right around 2 hours - home by 1:00, back on the road at 10 or 11 next day with 8 hours sleep. 

After the Webster games at WC last year I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Fulton. The complimentary breakfast there is a good fringe benefit for avoiding the extra 200 miles driving.

[Pat Coleman]

Always nice to see the Big Boss Pat Coleman browsing our page!!   (at 11:38 AM central)

It's a daily occurrence, if not more often. Not that big a deal.

[BLA]

Wasn't pretty at Webster Saturday.  I really didn't feel that the defensive effort was given from the guys.  Reports given to me, Webster's defense was much more aggressive the past couple conference games against Fontbonne, Maryville.  You can't coach effort.  Eureka who never lacks effort wanted that game more.

Webster needed that one.  I don't know if anyone has noticed, and I'm not sure about the other teams (Mac, Eureka, Greenville) schedules, but Webster hits the road. They play 7 of last 10 on the road.  Ouch!

I'm still not completely sold on reservations being made in Fulton even if they knock off FU Wednesday night.  To many minutes to be played. 


Picks:

WU over Prin...see ya at Fast Eddie's
FU takes down the Jays
Saints over Beavers
Devils beat Mac

[hopefan]

You've got to remember that if WC beats Fontbonne, they're 3 full games ahead of the Griffs - that's a tough recovery - not only would Westmin have to lose 3 the rest of the way, but Fontbonne would have to go undefeated, just to finish tied.  of course that doesn't take Gville or all the 3 loss teams into account....   AS you say, lots of hoops to play - I hope it goes down to the wire for at least a couple, if not all of the spots   

  A look way ahead shows the last night of the season has the same schedule as Wednesday  -  Greenville will be off, Maryville at Blackburn (always a tough place to play), Mac would be at Eureka, Webster would host Prin, and a possible season championship game and the host of the tourney on the line  with Westmin at Font.

[BLA]

By the way...if Webster is fortunate to beat Principia Tuesday that will be Coach Bunch's 100th career victory.

Entering the season is W/L is 93-62, including a conference record of 69-21. Webster is 6-8 overall and 3-3 as many of you know.

The big guy has caught some grief over the years from disgruntled players and their parents while at Webster for his style, but he has been the best thing to ever happen to Webster basketball and Webster Athletics.  

So good luck coach and Congrats (lets' hope it comes sooner than later!!!)

[fcnews]

Thanks for the post BLA. Here is an early Congrats to Coach Bunch. That's the first milestone on the way to many more. He has been very very successful at the helm of the Gorlok's. Good Luck Tuesday Coach!!!!

[furbug]

Westminster's losing 3 or more, even if they beat Fontbonne, during the last 9, is not all that remote. Some have already commented about their close wins, 4 points or less against Webster, Blackburn and Greenville. Any or all of those 3 could jump up and bite them, not to mention the second games on the road against Fontbonne and Maryville, as well as 2 games against a tough Eureka team. This is not a "gimme" yet, by any stretch.

Of course it doesn't cost anything for me to make reservations at that Holiday Inn Express, and I like that breakfast, so I may just do that.

[y_jack_lok]

I don't know if anyone has noticed, and I'm not sure about the other teams (Mac, Eureka, Greenville) schedules, but Webster hits the road. They play 7 of last 10 on the road.  Ouch!

Actually, it's 7 of the last 11 including the Spalding game.

By the way...if Webster is fortunate to beat Principia Tuesday that will be Coach Bunch's 100th career victory.

he has been the best thing to ever happen to Webster basketball and Webster Athletics.  

So good luck coach and Congrats (lets' hope it comes sooner than later!!!)

I have been keeping up with that march to win #100 and was sorry it couldn't be announced after the Eureka game.  Let's hope that mentioning it here doesn't adversely affect reaching that milestone.

[y_jack_lok]

I went to the SLIAC record book and here is the list of the Necomers of the Year, cut and pasted from the pdf file on the conference website. Looks like seven freshmen and 8 upperclassmen. There were two chosen in 99-00.

Newcomer(s) of the Year
1995-96: Henry Shannon, Fr., Maryville
1996-97: John Jones, Fr., Maryville
1997-98: Adam Tigert, Sr., Webster
1998-99: Cory Roper, So., Westminster
1999-00: Steve King, Fr., Fontbonne
Jeff Reis, Jr., Webster
2000-01: Derek Suttles, Fr., MacMurray
2001-02: Tim McDoniel, Jr., Webster
2002-03: Luka Djedovic, Fr., Blackburn
2003-04: Stephen Bash, Jr., Maryville
2004-05: John Essington, Jr., Blackburn
2005-06: Zak Allan, Jr., Blackburn
2006-07: Trevor White, Fr., Fontbonne
2007-08: Ben Cochran, Fr., Greenville