MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[iwumichigander]

There had been some discussion several days ago about Westminster's chances of either hosting an NCAA tourney game, or making the tourney as an at large team should they be upset in the conference tourney.   I responded that those chances were highly unlikely due to the exremely low OWP that Westminster carries- that is Opponent's winning %....  

In the Multiregion area, Pool C room, 'Knightslappy' has put in updated data through Sunday for all kinds of ratings stats  -  he has rated 8 to 10 teams in each region, trying to match the manner in which the NCAA does regional ratings.  

Wesstminster has the LOWEST OWP of any team he lists - primarily it shows that because so much of Westmin's schedule is conference games, and because SLIAC conference teams fare poorly when they play NCAA D3 non conference teams, that performance hurts Westmin when and if they rack up a 16-0 record vs SLIAC schools.

I note  Medaille in the Eastern region is in exactly the same position - and they've lost only once all year!!

Knightslappy's numbers have Westminster rated 9th in the region, even though they have the second best W-L regord in regional games  -  it is all in the OWP  -  It is highly likely that The regional rankings that start up soon from the NCAA will have a similar outcome, and in the long run, the selection commitee uses those ranking to make their picks.....

Agree.  SLIAC only rep will come from the conference tournament winner and assigned to a site. 

Bear in mind in Knightslappy's rankings (as in the NCAA ranking to come out soon), the forecast "A" teams currently are without regard to conference tournament results.  Some of those "A's" whose conferences play a tournament to determine automatic bid ...will lose their conference tournament and become strong "C's" bumping other teams currently forecast-ed as "C" further down the rankings; or, off the chart completely.

[y_jack_lok]

Another interesting point....   assuming things flow as they have, the last night of the regular season could loom huge in determination of who makes the conference tourney and what the matchups might be..    on that night, Eureka plays at Greenville, and Fontbonne plays at Webster.  

Webster plays at Fontbonne.

[Into_the_Blue]

Took a look at WC vs Blackburn stats....

Millard had a great all around game.  7 pts, 8 rebs, 10 assts in 27 minutes.  And he was locked on Sykes (generally known as BC's best all around player and high on the stat leaders list in a lot of conference categories) for most of the game.  He kept Sykes to 8 pts, 6 rebs and forced him into 7 TO's.  

I know that a while back I put Millard as one of my first teamers for this reason exactly.  WC has a three game lead, has a great cast of players who do many things well, and many of these guys do not get recognition based on stats.  

I know its only one game but Millard really shut Sykes down and also had a very nice offensive game.  Some guys at this level can do one or the other but how many do both routinely?

[Into_the_Blue]

Fontbonne at Eureka

With about 3 min left a Kameron Bell layup puts Eureka up by 1.  However as someone already said Bell gets a T (not sure what he said but I think it was to the guy guarding him on FU and the ref must have over heard). 

He must have said something pretty bad to get the ref to call that in the final minutes.  Or the ref overreacted. 

Why not just let your game do the talking?

[Into_the_Blue]

Another interesting point....   assuming things flow as they have, the last night of the regular season could loom huge in determination of who makes the conference tourney and what the matchups might be..    on that night, Eureka plays at Greenville, and Fontbonne plays at Webster.  With Macs win AT Webster last Saturday, they have a decided advantage in gaining 2nd place, and it would appear that Greenville, Webster, and Eureka will be battling for 3rd and 4th....  particularly if Greenville were to upset Webster at Webster this Wednesday.   Add to that the possibility that Fontbonne MAY be playing for Coach McKinney's 800th, and it's a night of real excitement......  Only can hope that fans and student bodies recognize it and come out and create a great atmosphere at Webster and Greenville.

I could see Mac needing to win at BC to hold on to second.  But you never know....

You saying Prin @ WC wont have much bearing on the conference tournament?   

[Into_the_Blue]

What happened to Spalding on this road trip?  Did they save it against Blackburn for WC, spend it at WC, and then have nothing left vs Greenville?

Only noted because of his presence in all conference talks....mcafee had a good game against WC but disappeared at Greenville....totally.  Its gotta be tough to keep the Spalding kids motivated. 

[hopefan]

Thanks Yjak     scratch my errs in posts  Webster AT Fontbonne   (I have an excuse - missed the first game between the two because I was in Vegas )

Millard is up to 3rd in conference in assists per game, but lower - 7th - on assists to TO raio because of higher turnovers ...  all in all, still very impressive for a forward.   Again, shows the diversity of the group he is playing with....

I'm sure we'll still be debating the same issue until the coaches vote... does for example, 18 ppg and 6 rpg for a middlin team get in over  11pg 8rpg4apg and all conf defense....   nobody is really wrong, until the coaches get their say.

agreed, Mac at BC is important, but as good as they looked vs Webster, They should win that one...   BUT, it is a very tough place to play....

[Into_the_Blue]

Principia   @ MacMurray      Mac should take it to them.  Prin back to back game nights.

Greenville   @ Webster      Interesting matchup.  Greenville is playing well, Bunch will find a way to keep Webster in it....I think Webster finds a way to get it done.

Westminster @  Fontbonne      WC cant like that Fontbonne won at Eureka and played Grinnell to a decent game (Grinnell is down but still won by almost 25).  WC completes the season sweep...but not without Fontbonne fighting til the end.

Blackburn   @ Eureka  Blackburn better be a different team than the one that showed up in Fulton.  Eureka needs to be better than they were Saturday...I think they get an easy W

[hopefan]

I'm still in a quandry as to my thoughts Greenville vs Webster.....   just as  said last week, what Greenville team will show up - good shots or bad shots - Webster is really capable of taking them out of their offense.   They did in the first half at Greenville and pretty much dominated play - but in the second half, Greenville was able to do more, get better looks at the basket.  Also Remember Webster needed a career night from Nick Jones to stay in the game - someone has to help him on Wednesday night....  Naturally, in a game like this, I'm not really rooting for any one team - but am rooting for another double OT decided in the last seconds  

[Into_the_Blue]

Hope who do you feel controls Greenville in terms of them taking good shots or bad shots as a team?

Does Seaton need to control the game?

Looks like Ellis is going to get his shots when he wants and Obinna pretty much too....
so do they need to look at personal number of shots or quality of shots?

[eurekafan2233]

Fontbonne at Eureka

With about 3 min left a Kameron Bell layup puts Eureka up by 1.  However as someone already said Bell gets a T (not sure what he said but I think it was to the guy guarding him on FU and the ref must have over heard).

He must have said something pretty bad to get the ref to call that in the final minutes.  Or the ref overreacted. 

Why not just let your game do the talking?

From what i have heard...all Bell said was call it as he was going back up the court..he did seem to get fouled at the time..made the hoop..didnt really notice that he got in the refs face or anything..just said that has he went back up the court..dont really know if that warrants a T or not...

[Into_the_Blue]

Some refs I think try not to let anyone show them up so i could see a ref taking it personal if a kid says something like that. 

now who knows in this specific instance whether bell had been warned before or had been carrying on but if a player says one thing to a ref i usually think the ref needs to have a longer fuse....just my personal opinion

[hopefan]

does remind me of my one T as a player  -  hit in the head from behind on a layup  -  "WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL A FOUL!!!!"  Tweet, tech       (I missed the stupid layup or I probably wouldn't have said anything....)

Now then, when I was coaching... earned SEVERAL more.....

[I_HAD_GAME]

SLIAC Zebra's being discussed? No, really. Most will give you the old, "That's enough." But, their is that group that Hopefan speaks of. There are several that will slap ya quick. I would say he had been chirppin' or he said the wrong word. And it doesn't have to start with an "F".

But, with 3minutes to go. Best case Fontbonne makes 2 ft's. Did they make them? Possesion stays the same. Don't believe it effected the game. It seemed that the last team with the ball was going to win. 4-5 seconds is a long time.

Question: Do you like the no timeout? Fontbonne must of they won. Most coaches are cut and dry on the decision. Either do or don't. I personally like the no time out, if you've worked on it. There is also do you have the best players for the moment. Calling a time out also gives the other team a chance to get set.

I like the move.

[formersliaccommish]

A couple of comments on recent posts:

1) Referees will talk to, listen to, and take limited abuse from HEAD coaches, but not from assistant coaches, trainers, and players. If the Bell kid said anything at all to the official, he got what he deserved. Players should keep their mouths shut and play, and let the head coach deal with the officials.

2) I_HAD_GAME had some interesting, and accurate, thoughts on whether to call time out or not in an end-of-the-game situation like Fontbonne-Eureka on Saturday. If you have the right players on the floor, and you have practiced Time-and-Score every day, which you should at the end of practice, then go for it. It's always easier to attack a defense that is in flux than one that is coming out of a time out and waiting for you. Plus, most good coaches will change defenses in that situation and the wonderful play you drew up during the time out won't work against a different defense. Too many coaches call that time out just to let everyone know that they are coaching.