MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hopefan]

Hadn't even noticed that Webster has a Sunday Afternoon Exhibition scheduled at SIUE until Yjak contacted me last night....   thanks to the 'bugman' for thinking of us....  so Im pumped to go over to Edwardsville and see the debut of the '10-'11 Gorlocks...   
If experience determines the starters, then Drew Moore, Nick Jones, Cody Bradfisch, Scott Resthoff, and Robbie Meeh will open for Webster....Brad cookson and Derrell Lee also saw time towards the end of last season...  but no one in that group is a point guard (Nick jones is best candidate) and no one is a post man (Nick jones best candidate), and no one is a power forward (Nick Jones is best candidate).....  hmmmmm.....   Will be interesting to see if new faces are at a level to help immediately in the middle and at the point....  quite honestly, Webster is athletic enough, they won't have trouble on the boards (in he SLIAC)....  but that point position sure could use some help.  A good group of frosh.. always fun to see them the first time out..

A quick look at the SIUE hoops site is VERY impressive... the media guide is easy to use, lots of info on the players... just a very nice looking guide.....

[hopefan]

Was making up a proposed SLIAC games to see calendar, and noticed that Saturday Feb 5 could well be the biggest day of the season as far as determining conference Tourney participants and or matchups....   on that day, the 6 likely teams vying for four spots in the tourney play each other (Spalding is not yet eligible, and I rule out BC and Prin)..    on that day, Fontbonne is at Eureka, Mac is at Webster, and Westmin is at Greenville....  also interesting is that on the last day of the regular season, Feb 22, just two days before the tourney, Webster is at Fontbonne, and Eureka is at Mac  -  Wonder if either of those will be determining a spot.....    also, for you fans of the lady's game... BC is off that last day, and is expected to battle for one of the top 3 spots... they'll be able to sit back and watch the other two leading contenders, Fontbonne and Webster battle it out.....    Feb 22 at fontbonne should be a blast!!!!

Big question mark day for hopefan... Dec 11... take the trip to see Webster at Rust for my very first visit to a Historically Black Campus..  or check out Mac at Illinois Wesleyan....  or stay home and watch football... would really be thrilled to see Rust College and the beauty of the South!!!!

[Denny McKinney]

Hopefan, I highly recommend taking in Rust's campus. Alot will depend on weather.

News from FU: After this week. I can say with some confidence that FU will have the most experienced and SLIAC battle tested point guard in Jarred McCoy. Jarred has been through the SLIAC wars at Maryville. Went coast to coast and had a shot to win the SLIAC Conference Tourney. All be it over FU's Storandt.

Jarred is a very nice young man and the quickest player I've seen in awhile. Jarrett Buford had looked good before taking a trip to the Dominican Republic and missing 5 days of practice. Buford will get his minutes.

I know a couple of SLIAC coaches aren't to excited about seeing McCoy, Again. Wait till they see him after a summers work with Chad Fournie.

[hopefan]

Why denny, a couple years ago, some idiotic writer even had the audacity that the best point guard named McKoy in the SLIAC was Jarred!!!!!!!

[Denny McKinney]

And he was wrong. Check the books. I think Patrick lead his team to 3 straight tournaments. And they both spell their last names McCoy.

Jarred has the edge right now. But, Buford won't give the spot up easy. Two senior pg's isn't a bad thing.

Hopefan your hometown freshmen, Eric Jenkins, is having a whale of a pre season. Look for him to see time at the 2,3,4. Great Kid. Great Story.

[hopefan]

Webster plays ahead or even for most of the game at Southern Illinois Edwardsville, but SIUE finally gets hot from the 3 point arc in the last 10 minutes to take and maintain a small lead...  SIUE will be challenged to match last year's 4 wins if yesterday's level of play is not improved upon.. only the play of their big man, Nikola Bundalo, around the basket kept them in it for the first 30 minutes...

Lot of positives for Webster.... and some negatives.... amazingly the Gorlocks stayed ahead or close all game with Drew Moore being a non Factor, and Nick Jones and Scott Restoff both shooting poorly...  it was the new faces, and the incredible tough play of Robby Meeh that were the big positives, along with some pretty darned good team defense that drove SIUE to take a large amount of long range shots while being pressured.

What bothered me the most about the game is that it seemed to duplicate last year... Does Drew Moore show up and play with his head, or does he pick up silly 'who me' fouls and end up on the bench?   Nick Jones was the best player on the floor, getting many open shots, only to have the shot  be flat and short..   and rarely go in... Scott Restoff, go to the hoop more...that ugly shot is not gonna fall too often...  

Robby Meeh, what, maybe 6'2", numerous critical rebounds against guys much bigger and quicker - super effort every minute on the floor  - and for that matter, super effort by Nick Jones too....

the new faces... SLIAC, watch out
Willie Trimble... very quick at point, outstanding defense and hands... does more with the ball than I've seen any PG in Sliac.. he will get the Gorlocks up the floor quickly which should create great scoring opportunities for Jones, Moore and Restoff.  Unfortunately  gets out of control on the penetration drive at times, but seemingly can go with the ball whenever he wants.... the outside shot is a little ugly, but it did go in a couple times.
The Frosh point, Hollis Edwards got a lot of time too... equally quick, though just out of high school, didn't play with the confidence that Trimble did... at times both were in the lineup and Edwards played the point.. another very quick good defensive player...  The defense of Edwards and Trimble kept SIUES guards under wraps for most of the games and will be very tough for SLIAC guards to handle...

Jarrod Huskey.. this is just what the doctor ordered for Webster.. 6'5" aggressive, rebounded in traffic, went to the basket for easy layups several times... he started, and could be a big timer for Webster ove r the next four years.  If he can play against SIUE athletes, he'll be good in the SLIAC.

Alex Kuhl.. spelled Huskey did a credible job..  doesn't seem nearly as big as Huskey, but I watched him, and he was willing to shove with SIUE's big men..

Four newcomers and all contributed positively.

Very few turnovers... bodes well for the season...

Codie Bradfisch didn't play.. sprained knee, not serious.

SIUE.. nice low level D1 facility.. lots of Red!!!   I enjoyed it.  And thanks to Tom Hart for inviting Yjak and me over... had a great time.

[Denny McKinney]

St. Louis welcomes the ABA back to St. Louis. The St. Louis Pioneers. Former FU AA Brian Fogerty has made the final roster, along with GC's Laphonso Ellis. The Pioneers played the Chicago Steam on Friday and Saturday and came away winners of both. Chicago has been one of the elite teams in the past.

I'm told Brian played very well in Friday's game. Playing 16 mins, 9pts, 3 rbs and a block. I don't have much on Saturday's game. Brian had to return to STL to be in a wedding Saturday. Heard Ellis played very well on Saturday.

The Pioneers were led in scoring by former SLU stand out Dwanye Polk.

The Pioneers play in the South Central Division. They will have a Media Day this Saturday at Wohls Gym.

Congrats Brian. Every boys dream. Getting paid to play!

[hopefan]

Now Denny, if he's making much more than travel expense to chicago, I'm pretty darned surprised...

But still, great to see at least 2 former SLIAC players rising to the next level.. I'll check and see what other info I can find out

[hopefan]

Also  note that Westminster is playing Austin Peay tonight...  there is a link on the Austin Peay web site for either audio of the game or live stats.

[Denny McKinney]

Well Hopefan you've been Pretty Darned Suprised a lot. You do your research and we'll just be Pioneer Fans.

usabasket.com does a good job covering the league.

[hopefan]

I don't want to push the 'Pios' too hard here because this site is for D3hoops (current)...  but through looking a little.. Laphonso Ellis had 7 3 pointers and 23 points in the second game... 2 wins to start out the season...  there are several other locals along with Fogerty and Ellis, including Mark Stovall from McKendree ... several others from Lindenwood, SWIC, Harris Stowe, SEMO, UMSL, Flo Valley whom I'm not familiar with... but very smart by the Pios to include so many locals... it will put people in the seats....

[y_jack_lok]

hopefan's report on the Webster-SIUE game is right on target. I might say, however, that I think McAfee of Spalding can do as much with the ball as Trimble.

One critical game changing moment, in my opinion, that could possibly have resulted in Webster coming home with a W. I can't remember how much time was left, maybe two minotes or so, and SIUE has the ball and Restoff makes two great defensive plays tipping the ball out of bounds. The second time there were 5 seconds left on the shot clock and SIUE calls time out to set up a play. Webster can't keep the SIUE guy from curling around the key, driving to the basket, making a lyup, getting fouled and knocking down the free throw. If Webster forces a shot clock violation or a missed shot and gets the rebound, it's possible there could have been a different outcome tot he game.

[hopefan]

that play should be a great learning point for the frosh Alec Kuhl....  Hollis Edwards was on the ball and was taken into the pick very wide on the wing...  Kuhl should have stepped out and not let the ball go around... he didn't do it strongly enough, the guard goes around him and all the way to the hoop...  agreed, it was the ultimate pin in the Webster bubble....

Mcaffee, smarter, stonger.. Trimble quicker afoot and with the ball (just my opinion)

Box score shows Webster outrebounding a far bigger, more athletic SIUE team 43-40  Meeh and Jones with 10 apiece, Huskey with 5... Webster shoots 17% from 3's, 32% overall... Drew Moore with 8 turnovers....   new faces score 29 of the 57 points....

[Denny McKinney]

It appears Kovach is not playing tonite. AP just beat Central MO. by 5.

[hopefan]

Looks like Westminster played Austin Peay even for about 15 minutes, then Peay stepped it up with some backcourt pressure and it turned into a romp....   well, that's what exhibitions are for... see where the work is needed......    wonder what is ailing Kovach...  a very necessary part of the Westminster picture...   Someone from Westmin become a writer and let us know....