MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Denny McKinney]

And you should understand why it would be easy to be thinned skinned in my situation. It gets pretty touchy when tomorrow is not a guarantee, let alone the next game.

I'm amazed at your fascination of Josh Branch. I'm sure your opinion differs from others on here. Josh was a team disciplinary action. This is a completely different set of circumstances.

Just happy everyone had there fix of FU discussion.

[magicman]

hopefan,
It looks like your worries of being a lonely poster are over.

[hopefan]

Thanks Magic... reading these pages has got to be humorous when looking at it from the outside!!!!!   Maybe I should go over and spice up the Liberty League pages by attempting to interpret box scores from 1000 miles away!!!!  oh, and another question regarding Union... do they still play in their old fieldhouse?   That place was classic with the raised wooden floor and the rafters..... always exciting to play there...

[Denny McKinney]

EC's Leppard quit and Jordan is out with a knee injury. Drew Moore was seen recently by an FU player wearing a boot on one foot.

[hopefan]

AA Red did a nice job with looking at Tuesday's games... wish I hadn't read it, as it influences my thinking!!!  But here's my in depth look see...

Eureka at Fontbonne....  AA Red missed the fact that as of the end of the semester, it appears both Leppard and Kindred are gone for the season.... a Eureka writer told us Kindred sustained an injury, and that Leppard left the team... until I hear different, I'll assume that is correct.  Anyway, that leaves only 4 players that made any kind of an impression on me last year...  Craig Black, who started as a 3 man and role player on last years conference tourney team, Mark Lessen, the big man in the middle, Josh Wagner who got some minutes off the bench as a strong forward type, and Austin Nicholas, who I think of as a shooter.. I remember him having a very good game in St Louis off the bench las year.  With the loss of Kindred and Leppard, which was over half the team's points, Eureka has basically had to start all over.  Josh Wagner has had two big games in a row on the boards and has scored some points...  Guard Tanner Shreck had a terrific game off the bench against Webster in December, hitting 5 3's in a row.... Blake Chapman is now starting... Austin Nicholas is still coming off the bench......   With Wagner and Lessen, Eureka has decent size around the basket, but no one approaches the level of play that was lost with Kindred and Lepperd.
Not knowing who is playing confuses the Fontbonne issue, but I think this is a game where Fontbonne's athleticism and  size advantage on the perimeter with Dioum, Fleming, Garner and Jenkins should be a big advantage....  and Eureka's lack of depth could be a killer if Lessen or Wagner get in foul trouble...
Fontbonne should win this one by 10 or more... BUT... Eureka is the kind of team that could scrap their way to a win if Fontbonne continues to turn the ball over and shoot a bundle of ill advised 3 pointers,,,,   

Webster at Blackburn...  BC's 1-7 record isn't as bad as it indicates.. they've only played two home games, losing close to Mac and Robert Morris Springfield...Brandon Roberts is a solid guard who impressed me last year, and Dakota Tucker is an athletic small forward with, strong and good jumper..... both are getting a chance to shine this year and are playing well...Chris Williams and Ira Williams are contributing off the bench, and 6'6" Madison Medley has done a nice job on the boards...   BUT, with or without Drew Moore, I think Webster is a little bit better in most positions... this would seem to be the kind of game that Trimble and Nick Jones should score in bunches, and when not playing run and gun, I don't think anyone will match up well with Huskey... Kuhl vs Tucker should be good....  I think Webster plays smart, keeps the score in the 70s and wins by 10.

Westminster at Mac....   Westmin coming off the trip to Hawaii will seemingly be dog tired.. they have had 2 relatively easy conference wins thus far, but haven't faced any of the Mac, Webster Greenville trio that are seemingly favoed to finish in the top 4 of the conference.  I put alot of positive weight in Coach Mitchell's coaching, and in a game that would seem to be an even matchup, it may be what is necessary to get a win....  I don't see frosh Burton or bruiser McClellan being able to stop Jake Vislay, and Frosh Charlie Henderson and Justin Gilmore have height that Mac can't match....  the Skylar Tolson  vs McClellan matchup will be a good one... I thought Webster would beat Mac in December and was wrong.. Mac played super... I just don't think they can do it again.... Westmin wins close...  Note, the winner of this game will be alone in first place....

Greenville at Spalding..... I just don't know Spalding very well... but Greenville has been off for so long and that trip is probably 4 hours....  I'll go Spalding close....

[John Gleich]

Denny-

I guess I don't understand.  This is a board about D3hoops and the Sliac.  Why does he have to call you personally to get that information which we would all love to know?

And a bit hypocritical of you to chastise him asking about FU on the board, when just not three posts ago, you asked him about EC.  I mean, you had a question about a sliac team.  By your own logic, you should have never posted and just called him.  Explain that one to me.

Denny-  I do enjoy what you contribute to this board.  It wouldn't be the same without you.  But it just seems that you talk out of both sides of your mouth.  Just my opinion.

When things are of a personal nature about individual players or their situations, that sort of stuff doesn't need to be aired out on a public forum such as this.  Certain people are privy to information that the general public doesn't know about... and to protect the kids, that info shouldn't be displayed for the world to see (I use that term lightly... I understand that the WORLD doesn't read this thread or this board, for that matter, but the point remains).

I have partaken in several exchanges over PM's with other posters regarding information that is of a more personal nature.  Sometimes if I or the other know information about the subject being asked, it's simply a "not the right time" note... or something similar.  Basketball is but a small piece of people's lives... and for incorrect (or even correct but possibly damaging) information that has to do with the sport we love can do more than damage their playing careers... it can do damage to their lives as well.

Let's all take a long look at Pat's signature again:

Let's discuss (sports) in a positive way, sometimes kidding each other with no disrespect.

Everybody here is an adult.  Let's treat each other that way.  I've been reading these posts for the last week or so and I'm appalled at how you humans are treating each other!

I'm glad that the content has gotten back to basketball a little bit... but it has a ways to go to make up for the last week!

[hopefan]

We have good coverage of games tomorrow.... Yjak will be at Blackburn to see Webster, I'm going up to Mac to see Mac Westmin, And Denny will be at Fontbonne.... hopefully each of us will be awake enough at the end of the night to make a quick post regarding the results.....   

[Denny McKinney]

Agree PointSpecial - You can critque and anyalize a student athletes performances. But their personal life and matters of that sort, should be left at no comment. It is not the NBA where these kids are being paid to be Public Figures.

I'm glad someone else shares my view. +1 K ( If I could )

[Denny McKinney]

Wow. We're back to Josh Branch, again. I don't believe I ripped on Josh. I said his situation was different. He did not finish the season with the team for "disciplinary reasons". Is there not a difference. It was a basketball related situation and not a personal one.

[hopefan]

I do regret missing the HOF ceremony for coach McKinney... wish it had been held back to the Webster game on Saturday.....

Congrats Coach, and thanks for all you have done for the development of Fontbonne and SLIAC Basketball....  Not many appreciate what it's all about as much as I do.....

[formersliaccommish]

The back and forth posts about the Hawaii trip(s) remind me of one of the failures I had as Commissioner. I couldn't convince the basketball coaches that it was so much smarter to play in Europe in mid August rather than make the trip to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, etc. after the season started.. Although Fontbonne went to Europe once, and I believe MacMurray also went once, for the most part the coaches have preferred to bask in the sun on a balmy island.

Here why it's so much smarter to go Europe based on the rules five years ago:

1) you get ten free practices before you go.

2) you get five to eight free games against pretty good competition.

3) You don't come back tired and sun-burned and have to play a conference game right away. Even if you do come back tired, sun-burned, or injured, you have three months to recover

4) Your players will appreciate the opportunity to experience other cultures, not now (they would much rather be on the beach ogling the girls as they walk by) but twenty years from now when they are mature enough to realize what they experienced.

5) There is nothing like being in a different country to bond a team together.

6) You can get bigger and better guarantees in Europe. One year (1987) we played six games but stayed in the same resort (Lake of the Ozarks level or below) the entire time as part of our guarantee and got a free breakfast every morning.

Things may have changed since I last had a team in Europe (I know the dollar is weaker versus the euro), and it's more expensive than a trip to Hawaii, but not that much. All you have to do is fund raise for another year, maybe two. I also know that freshman and transfers were not allowed to make a trip like that but can once the season starts.

It's good to get coaches away from players and players away from players during the Christmas Holidays. When you return for practice, it's like October 15 all over again; the petty grievances have been forgotten and everyone has a fresh start.

[hopefan]

Good to see you are still following the old stomping grounds Former sliaccommish - 

Personally, as a fan,  I like the tourneys that are amongst D3 schools only... one of the few opportunities to get a feel for how teams from different parts of the country compare....  When retirement arrives, I might even try to talk the wife into a trip to be where one is.... she can hit the beach or the shopping centers...  I'll watch four or 5 games of D3hoops per day.. 
The Vegas touurney is VERY appealing

[hopefan]

I also have what I consider to be a definitive answer on our question regarding transfer... it may be paraphrasing what Red said, but it is worthwhile reading for those interested

•   A student-athlete currently enrolled at a Division III school looking to transfer to another D-III may self-release, which is completing an NCAA-created form and provides a 30-day window during which the student-athlete and second institution may talk without the knowledge of the current institution.  After the 30-days, contact either needs to end or the current institution must be made aware of the discussions and release for discussions to continue.  The self-release may be renewed once.  Again, this is only for S-A currently enrolled at D-III schools.

•   In the case of student-athletes at D-I, D-II, NAIA, other four-year affiliated institutions as well as D-III (if they choose not to use the self-release) looking to transfer to a Division III institution, the new institution must obtain permission to contact from the student-athlete's current institution.  This is most commonly acquired through a faxed or email release form.  There is basic content on this form that is necessary, but additional information on the form varies by institution.

•   If a coach or athletic department personnel is contacted by or about an prospective transfer, the extent of permissible conversation is to inform the individual s/he must be released by current institution (or self-release for a current D-III S-A) to have any further discussion then the conversation must end.

•   It is impermissible (read: NCAA violation) to speak with a student-athlete enrolled at another four-year institution without permission.  Among other penalty, the S-A is ineligible to compete at the new institution until receiving reinstatement from the NCAA.

[y_jack_lok]

Nice win for Webster at Blackburn tonight. Willie Trimble with 26 points (5 of 6 3-pointers). The home court advantage predicted by AAred didn't happen. But Blackburn's Madison Medley is one heck of a player and real competitor - 25 points on 10 of 13 shooting.

[Denny McKinney]

Basketball wise it was not a very good nite. The ball just won't fall. And another 20+ turnover nite. Buford starts at point. Jett in his first 2 min of the season gets trip (accidently) hits the floor shoulder first. Dislocation with possible tendon damage to non shooting arm. Eric Hamilton played some real good minutes at the point.

Every time FU got the game to 12, turnovers let EC right back in. Wagner had a heck of a game for EC. Thomas fouled Lessen out. FU had 3 players with 10 or more rebounds Thomas, Dioum, Fleming. But I didn't even look at the FG%. It was not pretty.

Woods just got 3 or 4 minutes, but should be ready to go with 3 more practices. Before the board goes Lisch crazy. Before the game he asked not to dress. So he could play in Thursdays JV game. He was told to dress but his non appearance was obliged.

As much shooting as this team does in practice. The ball has to start dropping. Maybe the most athletes but the ball has to go in to win.