MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hopefan]

not a bad suggestion FC   -   I might give it a try   -

  hey by the way, what weekend are you having the first annual FC's D3 Hoop's SLIAC Room's Posters Ozarks Invitational and Cookout  -  I gotta make plans.....

[hopefan]

Interesting article on SLIAC newcomer Spalding's website -  I pointed out earlier that they were very young last year, but competitive in games vs D3 teams - looks like they added some more kids for this year - I tried to look several of them up  - found good info on one  6'6" Evan Skaggs average 14 ppg, 10 rpg ...   not to panic, but this team could be pretty good in a year or two with  lots of depth in their frosh and soph classes.


Spalding Announces Eight Commitments to Basketball Program

Coach Kevin Gray has announced the addition of eight new players to his 2009-2010 Spalding University men's basketball roster.  Five of the eight players are from the Louisville area, while the remaining three hail from various counties in Kentucky.  "Each of these young men will bring something different to our team next season, and each has the size and skill we are looking for," commented Coach Gray.  The Golden Eagles finished this past season with a 9-15 record, relying heavily on a strong freshman class that gained valuable experience and improved throughout the year.  "We will have much more experience on the floor and on the bench this season with the 11 sophomores returning," remarked Coach Gray.  "Seven of them played over 200 minutes each throughout the year."  Freshman DeWhon McAfee led the 2008-2009 team in scoring with 366 points. 

Spalding will begin play this coming season in the Saint Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC).  "The SLIAC is a great basketball conference and we will have our hands full in each game," said Coach Gray.  "Our freshman will have to get the needed experience right away."

Below are listed the eight commitments to the men's basketball program.



NAME
HT
POS
HIGH SCHOOL

Evan Skaggs
6'6
Center
Holy Cross

Branden Raider
6'4
Guard
Woodford County

Michael Medley
6'8
Center
St Xavier

Justin Higdon
6'4
Guard
North Bullitt

Blake Prewitt
6'7
Forward
Menifee County

Labrice Williams
6'2
Point Guard
Webster County

Quayshaun Hamilton
6'3
Guard
Southern

Chad Rogers
6'3
Guard
Butler

[y_jack_lok]

The only SLIAC teams to play Spalding last year were Westminster and Webster. They lost by 2 at home to Westminster very early in the season. They lost by low double digits at both WC and WU, then beat WU by 4 at Spalding near the end of the season. They will be a good addition to the conference.

[fcnews]

Thanks for the info hopefan. Tough road game to Louisville. Slater - I like a man that goes out on a limb. WC will always be solid defensively and take care of the ball on offense. Questiohn is can they score enough points. If the Buxton class and Warneke class, couldn't win it all this coming class needs scorers.

Sometimes the SLIAC resembles a triangle and two conference. Meaning, if you can key on two scorers can the rest hurt you. WU had Turk and Jones last year and in the conference tourney, even an unbeleiveble game by Ryan Turk was enough. Part of the reason for FU's recent post season success is the fact they have had 4 guys who could go for 30 on any given night, and did. This conference doesn't seem to have a team resembling that returning. FU returns Foresst and Branch. Both dangerous scorers. If you don't think Scheetz or Zoellner or Melloway can't go for a big nite, watch out. I'll take the Griffin's for a fourth conf. tournament title.

[ac slater]

In Westminster's final loss against FU last year, 70 of their 82 points was scored by 4 returning players - not to mention they all are 6'2 and above guards. This make me believe they will create a lot of mismatches. After watching Ky Millard in the conf. tourny last year, I think he will cause problems for the rest of the conference next year.

[fcnews]

Millard is a heck of a talent.

[hopefan]

Greenville is the 2nd team to have their 09-10 schedule posted, (Webster was first) - unfortunately, as per usual, Greenville chooses to stick to a non-conference schedule loaded with small non NCAA schools, and will likely present the weakest non conference schedule of the SLIAC schools.  They do play at Rockford, and Rhodes and Hendrix down at Rhodes and later on vs Dominican,  but then fill the remainder of their schedule with St Louis Christian, St Louis Pharmacy, Lincoln Christian, Concordia St Louis, and Logan Chiropractic.   Will never figure why the Concordias, Logans and Pharma appear year in and year out on Greenville's schedule - Lincoln and Stl Christian are NCCAA members that Greenville is affiliated with......If Greenville is as strong as I think, they could very well go 9-0 vs this schedule, for what it's worth. 

One interesting point that shows up on Greenville's schedule - on the first night of each half of the conference schedule, Greenville plays Fontbonne - likely two of the leading contenders for conference playoff spots are playing each other the first night of the conference season!!

[y_jack_lok]

One interesting point that shows up on Greenville's schedule - on the first night of each half of the conference schedule, Greenville plays Fontbonne - likely two of the leading contenders for conference playoff spots are playing each other the first night of the conference season!!

So what?

[hopefan]

Critical game up front, rather than when standings and meaning of the game are more obvious.....

[fcnews]

Tiebreakers decided early. Well I guess when FU posts theirs we'll hear the annual moans about the Moody Tourney. Past three Moody trips lead to three straight trips to the season goal. Same goal as this year. Prepare and take care of business and peak at the SLIAC Tourney.

Hopefan - Did you make it to the games last Thursday. All I got was a FU win over Meremac and that transfer Freddie Fleming (Alton HS) played well again. Seems he will be a good fit. The kids like his intensity and hustle. He's 6'4 ish, strong, defends and rebounds well. Plus a great kid.

Yjak posted on the UAA board that Wash U's Sean Wallis is returning. Good for the kid. He obviously still has the desire and ability. And if finances a not an obstacle, play while your young. This gives me a second chance to see the match up I missed last year. I'm looking forward to watching Lisch match defensively on Wallis. Similar sizes, Lisch is alittle longer and maybe has the edge in strength. The game will be at FU so it should be fun.

FU gets another second chance when they travel to Grinnell. Look for a different outcome.

With FU traveling this year at Thanksgiving, this will allow for a week or so to make whatever adjustments might be needed going into the meat of the season.

[ac slater]

FYI there will be the last summer games at Meremec on Wednesday I believe.

[hopefan]

FC  I missed the games  -  work conflict   - 

to Grinnell, hmm hope it's on a weekend, would be a fun trip....

tough to compare a redshirt frosh with an All American, but what a great test for the rookie early on.....

Moody Bible..... oh moan, oh moan, oh moan

[y_jack_lok]

One interesting point that shows up on Greenville's schedule - on the first night of each half of the conference schedule, Greenville plays Fontbonne - likely two of the leading contenders for conference playoff spots are playing each other the first night of the conference season!!

So what?

Critical game up front, rather than when standings and meaning of the game are more obvious.....

So are there no other "critical" games that occur "up front"? And are you saying you already know which teams are the leading contenders? And do you think the conference should make those kinds of assumptions when creating the schedule? Heck, the coaches haven't even had their pre-season poll yet.

[hopefan]

When I did the prognostication writeup based on returning players a couple months ago  (see hopefan April 17th), indeed, Fontbonne and Greenville were my two early favorites, followed closely by Westminster and Webster in a second group titled likely in the mix, followed by a third group Eureka Mac and Spalding titled could displace top 4, and a fourth group Blackburn and Prin title need a lot of help.

I won't know of any other critical games up front until the rest of the schedules come out  -  but given my PERSONAL 2 favorites are playing the first night of conference, I felt it worth mentioning.... 

No, the onus is not on the conference to take potential strengths into play in scheduling - I would imagine that the schedule matchups may be done on some rotating basis year after year, so that even Fontbonne - Webster would move around the calender over the years (ie not always the last game of the season, or the first game of the season)- that's a good question for one of our insiders to answer....  I would point out that the people up in Michigan are crying this year because the biggest rivalry in D3, Hope Calvin, falls on the first night of each conference half this year- thay do work on a strict rotational basis through the years.

[fcnews]

In know way was I comparing Daniel to Wallis. Just said I was looking forward to the defensive match up with him.

Remember the name Freddie Fleming from Alton HS. Juco who has looked well in summer league.