MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[fcnews]

I think the view of Kirkpatrick's loss is over stated. Hope we saw a game at BC when the kid just didn't show up. Ryan needs to get focused on school and basketball to help any team. It is tough on a kid from broken home.

Anybody that has seen FU in the summer league can tell that Fogerty can play inside in the SLIAC. Brian and Storandt both have worked really hard in the off season. Both will be joining four of the guards at "Hammer Body" starting Monday. This young team will be tough come conference time.

Yes Hope, one game trip to sunny Florida for the Holidays. The kids raise funds for their own trip and we'll take about 120 people for some sun, bball and enjoyment. Coach McKinney uses his Xmas trips as a reward for the kids. Look for a European Trip before this class graduates.

[Getreal217]

Word is MacMurray College has one recruit coming to campus this fall, what happened to all of the other recruits Macattack?  Did the departure of Denieve have an effect on all of these prospective studen/athletes?  Another question, all I read last year was how great of a system Denieve's was, now all I hear is how it was setting back all of these players?  Was it Denieve or was it the players that were'nt producing?  And from the games I saw last year, I didn't see much leadership or production from the seniors, except from Eberhart and the rarely played Cunningham.  Downham I feel was one of the most overated and overplayed players in the league.  Your play the saeniors theory, I believe backfired.  I know this is D3 and the loyalty card is always played, but for pete sake, I think Denieve played his seniors way too much, especially Boyer and his 26 percent shooting from the line.  Whatever happened to play your best players?

[Mac Attack]

From what I understand, at least from some of the players, Mac has at least four kids coming in. Two of them supposedly were in the gym last Saturday. A nice point guard is included in the four who has enrolled and registered for classes. And I would expect Coach Hettinga to bring in a couple of kids. Look for the recruit list to be around 5-7 new players, in addition to who is coming back from last year's team.  I followed the board pretty closely last season and don't really remember too many people praising the "system." As a matter of fact, from at least most of the people who followed the team on a weekly basis, I think the general verdict was the "system" was turning into a disaster. The offensive philosophy changed about half way through the season and Mac pretty much went with eight kids a game down the stretch. Mac lost a lot of close games last season, but for a team that was undersized and ravaged by the loss of several players due to grades and injuries, did about as well as they could have been expected to do. Eberhart was a warrior who will be sorely missed.  And I thought Downham was terrific once the offensive philospohy changed and he started playing 20-plus minutes a night. He will also be missed.  I think the record speaks for itself, in terms of who produced last season and who didn't. There were a number of younger players who possibly could have contributed earlier last year, but again because of grades and injuries, it didn't happen. Bottom line is it doesn't really do any good to replow old ground. But from what I've heard, at least around the Jacksonville area, everyone is extremely excited about Coach Hettinga and Mac basketball. These things usually don't change overnight, but my sense is this will be a very different Highlander team than has been seen in the past.  Hopes are high and the future is bright.

[Getreal217]

I hope you are right about things changing.  But history has proven that there are not many  one year turnarounds.  I think Coach Hettinga must wait for the Junior class to depart and have about 2 of his own recruiting classes come in before he can truly put his stamp on the program.  I hope he can turnaround the program in one year it would be amazing, and a huge compliment to his coaching capabilities. 

[Mac Attack]

I don't think Mac is that far away. They lost a host of very close games last year and have a solid nucleus of players back, including seniors Kowa, Compton, and Huff - all three with experience and abiltiy who I believe will flurish under Coach Hettinga. Mix in Robertson, Hipshir, Whalum, Long, and Greene and I think you have a core group of players that can get the job done. Add four or five recruits who will grow into Hettinga's style of play and I think there's a chance this year's team could be .500 or better and contend for the play-offs. I don't think anyone is expecting a national championship this coming season, but a swing of 3-4 games would give the Highlanders something really exciting to build on down the road.

[fcnews]

Wilburt the Fisk game is Nov. 27th at 7 pm at the Dunham Center on the campus of FU.

[hopefan]

Just received a copy of Maryville's schedule - as usual, non conference is very strong - good experience for the largely inexperienced Saints - but as a logical question, wonder why the competition level wasn't cut back a tad this particular year with the loss of 5 senior starters??  Could be some early lumps..

Anyway  Transy and Hanover at the Sodexho, Milwaukee Engr (tough low scoring defensive team), NAIA Reinhardt (losing record last season, but as most NAIA teams, likely has some good scholarship athletes), Depauw, Wash U, and D2 UMSL.            ouch 

To add to my cocerns, neither of Maryville's two leading returners in the post are coming back - inside strength will have to come from new faces.  Is there another Bash out there looking for a good D3 program??

[fcnews]

Hopefan what two players are not returning?

[hopefan]

Matt Baker (back to Colorado)....   and you can guess the other one.....  an old buddy of yours.

[wilburt]

Thanks FC News.   I may be in St. Louis to try and attend that game...

[Mac Attack]

Illinois College just posted its 2006-2007 schedule. It does not include a game with MacMurray. Two D3 schools within two miles of each other and they don't play each other. In the days of travel costs - not to mention what a great rivalry game it is - this is extremely disappointing for MacMurray players, parents, and local basketball fans. I was told last year that Illinois College was getting harder and harder for MacMurray to schedule. The reason, according to some close to both schools, was the fear of IC losing to MacMurray. MacMurray still has one game left to fill for its 2006-2007 season - but apparently it won't be IC. Not that Mac was a Top 20 team last year, but from what I saw of IC, they weren't any better. Probably would have been a very good game, a packed house, and a real highlight for both schools. Not now.

[yjacklok]

Reminds me of the 1980's when I lived in Lexington, Kentucky and UK refused to schedule Louisville for fear of eroding its "border to border" support in the state. Fortunately, that changed and a great instate rivalry now exists. Illinois College needs to lose it's fear of losing -- if that's the problem -- and give the good people of Jacksonville, IL a night to remember once a year.

[fcnews]

Ok it's almost August and back to school time. Let's start a little SLIAC chat. I'll be the first to toss out my 2 cents. This is what I see for the coming year based on summer play and board info.
1. Webster - Should not be to much discussion on this one right now. Experience, size and Spinner.

2. Westminister - I really like this teams make - up. Still need to show that this program can win it all.

3. FU - Yes, with mainly freshmen and sophs I look for this bunch to be exciting. Griffin's return conference leading scorer in McCoy and the leading rebounder in Storandt (who may be approaching 6'9). Add Fogerty who has put on 20+ in weight and about 4-6 inches on vertical. FU solved the pt. guard problem with Cartez Parker, anybody seen him in summer league knows he's a player. Frosh Trevor White will make a big splash in the SLIAC. Add Josh Branch, a true scorer and Chris Mosier (North County) who was told by coach Rogers when he visited MU, "You are the best jumper shooter I seen since coming here. Strong statement we'll wait and see.

4. MU - This is a tough one. Did not see much to look at during summer league. But, got to beleive Coach Rogers has some kind of a plan. If not, could be a tough season.

5 and 6 - BC and MC will have to wait to see what a coaching change does for these teams.

Greenville - With their track program you can always count on the Panthers having athletes.

Blast me or Agree, let's get some kind of discussion started.

[Mac Attack]

1. Webster. Has to be the favorite going in, considering the quality and quantity of players coming back.
2. Eureka. Showed it was more than ready for SLIAC competition last year. AJ Richard will be the Player of the Year.
3. Westminster. Getting a little better every year. Will have to win on the road to finish this high.
4. MacMurray. New game in town with Coach Hettinga. Returns eight players who contributed last year.
5. Blackburn. Plenty of talent coming back and hardly ever loses at home.
6. Fontbonne. Good crop of younger players coming back. Test will be how quickly they will mature.
7. Maryville. Reloading after massive loss of players. Well coached and always a threat.
8. Greenville. Always a wild card who can spring the upset, especially at home.
9. Principia. Will improve over last season's 2-22 mark, but still has a ways to go.
10. Lincoln Christian. Won three games last year and didn't have much success last year against SLIAC.

[fcnews]

OK, I did forget our two newest members. I will move the unknown Saints down a spot to make room for Eureka. My opinion of LC is very similar to MacAttacks. I wouldn't be throwing out POY's quite this early.