MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[fcnews]

Lisch got the hype because of name recognition. Newcomer? No. He's not the type to put up the numbers. Just like Fournie never making all sliac. Now freshmen Ronnie Rust could make a run.

John Thomas of FU got his share. But, he was also the MVP of the Il. State Tourney championship game. On the losing team.

A lot of what is perceived as hype, is just the fact we don't have many other schools to discuss. Back in the day MAC players used to get their fair share

[Wydown Blvd.]

Whoops...I did not mean newcomer in the Newcomer of the Year Award sense, but in the new to the SLIAC sense of newbie (Freshman, transfer, etc).

And I agree Lisch is high profile because of his name, but thats part of the whole picture of how new players get talked about...name/family ties, previous school, gaudy stats, awards etc.

[Titan Q]

John Thomas of FU got his share. But, he was also the MVP of the Il. State Tourney championship game. On the losing team.

Good player.  One of the great individual matchups in the 1999 IHSA Class A (back when it was just A and AA) Final Four was 6-7 Thomas (Waterloo Gibault) vs 6-7 Seth Hubbard (Normal U High).  Four years later the two faced each other when IWU played @ Fontbonne...

http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/mbb2003/Miwu7.htm

I remember thinking that night - with about 75 people at Fontbonne for a non-conference game - that the last time the two squared off there were about 12,000 people in the stands and a championship on the line.

Thomas was a great HS player.

[Love_for_the_Game]

John Thomas sounded like a big time player, did he have the name like Lisch? How did he end up doing in college for FU? Where is Skylar Tolson  from and how did he do in high school or from where he transfer from. Will he be able to get enough shots to score? Can fellow SLIAC new comer Chris F. from FU repeat that type of play he had last year and win the SLIAC player of the year. If not who does everyone think will win it? I already said that I think its giong to be J. Branch from FU. I know he is not on a lot of peoples list of good players but I dont think he gets enough credit. So, what does everyone think?

[Aways outthere]

DA ! Mac in the 6 hole. I'm sorry I knew I forgot someone. ( The smiley face is a typo also ). I really thought last year Greenville would make the 4 hole. Even near the end. That's why they play the games.

[hopefan]

Skylar Tolson and Brandon Rudd both are from Columbia RockBridge - they both showed above level athleticism for SLIAC play - Rudd is virtually a look alike, built alike of Stanly Crawford - about 6"3", tremendous leaper, pretty strong.  He will definitely get significant playing time .... Tolson not as tall, maybe 6', 6'1.....  as I said, both played like frosh... but it was against Wash U.   Tolson may be the first guard off the bench.   Initial reaction is that Rudd may be a bigger splash this year - and both will be starters as sophs.....

[fcnews]

John Thomas was a named player in the STL area out of HS. He played one year at Logan C. C. before transfering to FU. He was an All SLIAC player and lead the NCAA in fg% in one season, with an unreal %.

Laphonso Ellis coming into GC had name recognition, that you speak of.

A lot expected of FU, from posters. Short term memory. FU lost a ton. An All-American 2 time POY SLIAC scoring and rebounding leader, A 6'8 post who was a conf. rebounding and block shot leader + Tourney MVP and the top pt. guard converted from a past SLIAC scoring champ best 3 pt shooter in SLIAC + Tourney MVP.

More importantly experience. Fogerty and McCoy started almost 100 games each and Storandt started all but one game in four years (a road game @ RHIT because of a class).

I'm sticking to my predicition: FU begins to gel 2nd semester and finds a 3rd or 4th place spot. Then it's a two game tourney. Then you don't want to bet against them.

Forrest and Branch will see the other teams best defenders this year

[fcnews]

Guys, I did speak with John Reese today. He missed the better part of practice to take a make up test. John had a serious case of the flu and missed a lot of school and practice. He's playing catch up. But, I like the minutes he played last year. Had a real good game against Chaminade and seems to know the game.

Mike Riva had a good practice. Has developted a nice 6-8 ft. jumper. Does have good size. Melloway had a great practice. Buford is getting reps with first team. Jamahl Thomas will definately be a fly swatter. This youngman could be a great project. 6'7 and big hops.

FU's first opponent Hannibal beat Culver-Stockton pretty bad. They will have 6 games played (including a road game at Kentucky Wesleyan) both facing FU.

[Love_for_the_Game]

John Thomas sounded like a very good player. Did he do anything thing in the NCAA Tourny? I was wondering about J. Reese, didnt sure if he was still on the team. He did play some good minutes and thought he would get more time but last game did not play. I guess he was sick though. Riva is a big kid and maybe big enough to play the role of Justin S. Yes, that sounds good that Buford is getting looks, like I said earlier this year, I am all for him. Like to see those kids stick it out and get rewarded. (not like those other kids that left the team) Good report FCNews, I like how you gave us an update on some kids that have not been talked about. I am look for Jamahl Thomas to play in a game. When I went to a practice he was not there but maybe he had class. Do you know where he went to school and has he played anywhere?

[fcnews]

At this moment in the season it appears to be PG by committee. Rapp, Lisch and Buford. As I've said before, I look for Lisch to get his time a verying positions. Branch and Forrest are your two starters, with Melloway and Reese. Zeollner, Scheetz and Rust will split time between small and big forword spots. Riva and Thomas rotating in the middle.

That said, FU can go small and just win a big game of horse. Or, go big in SLIAC terms.

Dec 12th arrival Sean Gibsons teammate RaShad May is starting for the 3-0 McKendree Bearcats (who just beat Lindenwood)

Your gonna have to be patient if your a Griffin fan. But, there may be gold at the end of the rainbow. Just remember the motto " the last two games of Feb. are the only ones that count.

I'm looking forword to seeing alot of you and some lurkers at Late Nite this Friday. Gates open at 8pm with women's alumni game first followed by the men's. Alumni after party has been set up for Duffy's. Assistant AD Maria Eftink has set up Food and Refreshments for the group.

The 1st 400 in the door get the highly collectable "Late Nite with Lee McKinney" T-Shirt.

[fcnews]

Yjak - Coach McKinney flies out to your alma matre is evening. As part of the Management Committee duties he reports convention agenda to the ODAC. The meetings are being held at RMC. I told him take pics. Won't happen.

[hopefan]

Well a week from today, D3hoops season opens  -  Sunday the 15th  -  and in that whole week, we SLIAC fans in St. Louis will have only two chances to see SLIAC hoops at a St. Louis venue.

On Sunday the 15th, Mac plays at Wash U
on Wednesday the 18th, Blackburn plays at UMSL   

Two SLIAC teams I did not get to see last season, I'll see right off the bat this year  -  I'm hoping other St. Louis writers will take this opportunity to get together, particularly the new faces in this room.

Where is everyone else?   Webster goes up to Illinois Wesleyan on Wednesday and then down to Maryville Tenn over the following weekend.... Fontbonne holds off until the Moody Bible tourney up in Chicago on the 20th, 21st.  Wesmin and the Illinois schools are all either down south or up north, nothing within a close drive....

Can't wait!!!!

[y_jack_lok]

Yjak - Coach McKinney flies out to your alma matre is evening. As part of the Management Committee duties he reports convention agenda to the ODAC. The meetings are being held at RMC. I told him take pics. Won't happen.

I hope he finds R-MC to be a good host for this meeting. When he returns, ask  him if he met R-MC's new head coach and if so what were his impressions.

[y_jack_lok]

Well a week from today, D3hoops season opens  -  Sunday the 15th  -  and in that whole week, we SLIAC fans in St. Louis will have only two chances to see SLIAC hoops at a St. Louis venue.

On Sunday the 15th, Mac plays at Wash U
on Wednesday the 18th, Blackburn plays at UMSL  

Two SLIAC teams I did not get to see last season, I'll see right off the bat this year  -  I'm hoping other St. Louis writers will take this opportunity to get together, particularly the new faces in this room.

Where is everyone else?   Webster goes up to Illinois Wesleyan on Wednesday and then down to Maryville Tenn over the following weekend.... Fontbonne holds off until the Moody Bible tourney up in Chicago on the 20th, 21st.  Wesmin and the Illinois schools are all either down south or up north, nothing within a close drive....

Can't wait!!!!

I realize this is the men's board, but there is one other choice the first week if people are interested in a women's game. Webster hosts Dominican at 1pm on 11/15, just one week from today.

[furbug]

Just remember the motto " the last two games of Feb. are the only ones that count.

FC, we go through this with you every year. That is just not true. These guys play hard every game, and every game is important - and counts.