MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Gregory Sager]

Not quite the same Elmhurst team; the Bluejays were missing forward Aaron Schroeder, one of their better players. I'm not sure why he didn't play tonight.

Regardless, as Bob said this is a nice road win for Westminster ... but severely-undersized Elmhurst looks like it's in bad shape at the moment. And, yeah, you're right that that doesn't say much for Fontbonne, either.

[FrostBite]

Battle of the Blue Jays goes to the Westminster Blue Jays. Congrats to Coach Mitchell and his squad for a very big road victory. I would have to think this is one of the better non-conf. victories for a SLIAC team in the last couple years.

Also very impresive performance considering WC has had a couple weeks off. Looked liked a balanced attack, I will have more details in a little while.

[hopefan]

Westminster eases by Concordia Ill 65-58   -   great Pre Christmas roadtrip after finals   -  the Jays are flying high  -    Jake Vislay has a huge game with 13-17 from the field for 30 points.

The game gives an interesting comparison as Concordia had beaten Eureka badly early in the season.

In my mind, This result along with the win at Elmhurst pushes Westmin into the conference favorite slot with Eureka 2nd, Fontbonne 3rd and who knows in 4th.....   A shame spalding isn't eligible as from what I saw in their game vs Fontbonne, they would also be in the mix.

Everyone have a Merry Christmas and stay safe over the holiday - especially you brash youngsters!!!! 

[hopefan]

Nothing in the SLIAC until Wednesday the 30th when Westminster goes to D1 Tenn Martin and Spalding hosts Me St Joes.  But then on Saturday the 2nd, the conference games begin..
That day's games are very meaningful

Webster at Spalding   -  for Webster, will they stay the course that was started in the second game of their classic vs Coe - that is, give a majority of the minutes to their most athletic 5 - risk an uptempo style that could get out of control vs the slower game that Coach Bunch likes to use... still, the success that Webster has experienced this year seems to be with  Moore, Strickland, Jones, Restoff pushing the tempo  -  newcomer Corey Bradfish has also contributed to that uptempo style..   Spalding had a great comeback win vs Fontbonne that quickly established them as a top 4 team in the conference, even if thay aren't eligible for the tourney.  A first place finish makes their season... every game is a playoff game for them. 

Eureka at Fontbonne - this will be a good one - has to be looked at as critical to both teams.  Fontbonne coming off the good win vs Rose and a pretty steady game vs Wash U, needs this win if they are to be considered a threat for a league championship.  A road win for Eureka sets up speculation that they and Westmin will be a clearcut top 2 in the conference.  Big question, who will stop Eureka,s Bell and Zasatta....  Forest can't guard them both... will Lisch get a chance?  And I look forward to a Kindred-Branch matchup too....   This should be an intense game, and the one to see in St Louis....

Mac at Westmin - hard to think that Mac can present a challenge at Westmin, but if they did pull out a shocker, the league would go topsy turvy.... it would be fun...

BC at Prin   if BC is to challenge for the number 4 spot in the conference, this is one they must have.  on the other hand, Prin may look at this game as one of their best chances to get a conference win...

[hopefan]

This room has had 88 views since I posted this morning  -  not a single person who read what I wrote found it interesting enough to respond to -  that's alright, some times I think my wife finds me kinda boring too... it's just, after being a major part of this room for 5 years, and enjoying D3hoops like I do, this place makes me feel like something is wrong with me - no one, at least in this room, shares my passion for the game, at least not in the same way as I do by writing about it..... sure, FC had a passion, for anything pro Fontbonne, and there was a fellow a couple of years ago who was even worse being pro MacMurray, but why doesn't anyone else enjoy expressing themselves about the game like I do???   Why isn't anyone else excited about the conference starting up next Saturday?  I must be the strange one....

ahhh baloney  -   I'm pumped for Fontbonne Eureka....

[Wydown Blvd.]

hopefan - I hear your pain. At some points in the season, I feel like the only one posting on the UAA board (or at least one of very few fans relative to the success of the conference and the number of followers). I have to admit that I check this board all the time (once or twice a day), but basically for insight and game previews like the one you posted this morning. Keep writing, I know you feel like your posting to yourself, but you have a lot of followers listening to your opinion/insight.

[y_jack_lok]

still, the success that Webster has experienced this year seems to be with  Moore, Strickland, Jones, Restoff pushing the tempo  -  newcomer Corey Bradfish has also contributed to that uptempo style..    

I apologize for not providing a post of more substance, I simply want to point out that "newcomer Corey Bradfish" appears on the Webster roster as Cody Bradfisch.

[WUPHF]

I have to be honest, I am surprised this thread had so many views.  Especially with the holiday break.  I have to think that a number were fans of other conferences.

I love the SLIAC conference and the schools represented.  This conference is a great conference for so many St. Louis area student-athletes.  I would attend more SLIAC games if I could, but my wife, who attends almost every Washington University Basketball, Soccer, and Volleyball game we have time for has limits.

And, I second every Wydown Blvd has to say regarding your post including her thoughts on the UAA board.

Please keep posting!

[watchdog]

No one is eliminated yet, but next week will clear some things up as teams continue the race for the post-season berths (the SLIAC Final Four):

Dec. 30:
4:00 PM, Westminster (Mo.) at Tenn.-Martin
6:00 PM, Mt. St. Joseph at Spalding
Jan. 2:
2:00 PM, Webster at Spalding
3:00 PM, MacMurray at Westminster (Mo.)
3:00 PM, Eureka at Fontbonne
3:00 PM, Blackburn at Principia
Jan. 4:
6:00 PM, Dominican (Ill.) at Greenville
8:00 PM, Webster at Washington (Mo.)
Jan. 6:
7:00 PM, Westminster (Mo.) at Spalding
8:00 PM, Fontbonne at Blackburn
8:00 PM, Eureka at Webster
Jan. 7:
8:00 PM, Principia at Greenville
Jan. 9:
3:00 PM, Webster at Principia
3:00 PM, Greenville at Westminster (Mo.)
3:00 PM, Spalding at Eureka
3:00 PM, MacMurray at Fontbonne

Stay tuned!

[furbug]

still, the success that Webster has experienced this year seems to be with  Moore, Strickland, Jones, Restoff pushing the tempo 

Hopefan, you don't mention John Ortwerth. While not flashy, he has been steady, and is third in scoring (81) behind Nick Jones (97) and Drew Moore (88), with fewer minutes played. He's also 3rd in rebounds.

[Gregory Sager]

hopefan - I hear your pain. At some points in the season, I feel like the only one posting on the UAA board (or at least one of very few fans relative to the success of the conference and the number of followers). I have to admit that I check this board all the time (once or twice a day), but basically for insight and game previews like the one you posted this morning. Keep writing, I know you feel like your posting to yourself, but you have a lot of followers listening to your opinion/insight.

I second that. Keep posting, Hopefan -- you're performing a service to those of us who want to know what's up in the SLIAC but who aren't located in St. Louis or downstate Illinois.

[hopefan]

Let's keep our fingers crossed for Westminster tonight, playng at D1 Tennessee Martin.  In one of the other rooms, I BRAZENLY suggested that this game could be competitive, as Westmin is coming off a solid trip to northern illinois, and Tenn Martin is a relatively weak low level D1 team, having only beaten St Louis's Harris Stowe  .....   wouldn't it be something if a SLIAC team could lay claim to D3's first (and probably only) win over a D1 team this year!!!!

[FrostBite]

Former Westminster Asst Coach, Dylan Dudley, is now an assistant at Tenn-Martin. He is probably giving his current team the inside scoop on the Blue Jays.  It would be VERY nice for the Blue Jays to pull off the upset.

You can watch the game for a small one-time fee of $5.95 on the OVC website.

https://www.nmnathletics.com//subs/Landing.dbml?db_oem_id=6200

[watchdog]

Live stats are available for the Westminster game on the Tennessee-Martin web site:

http://www.utmsports.com/livestats/mbasketball/xlive.htm

[FrostBite]

Westminster is down 41-30 at half. Vislay has 12 and Kovach has 10. WC is in striking distance but needs more stops on the defensive end.

Based on the spotty video feed and poor attendance its safe to say that UT-Martin is one of the worst D1 programs in the country.