MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Denny McKinney]

FU shoots 17% FG in the first half 09% 3pt. When I said the ball will not go in (previous posts) I meant it. Wow. Some staggering numbers put up.

That said: I was proud of Eric Hamilton today. It's been 4 years since he played the point. Just a soph in a big game. Versitile skills. Good job defensively, also. Nice when your point can guard Jones.

Tyler Garner proved to me he can play in these type of games. Although, only 4-12, 3-7 from 3's and 1-5 going to the hole. Two I know he was fouled. 5-6 from the line. Not a complaint. Rebounded. Played some good defense. Believe stat crew missed a couple of Blks, also.

Fleming always gives Dad a 120%. Woods 5-7 11 pts 0 turnovers in 17 mins. Scored and got foulded beating his man down the floor. Truth. Ray weighed 278 opening day. Friday 246. He has a JV game to give next week. I think FU will get 25-27 minutes from the Big man before it's over.


All that said the ball has to go in that hoop.

Trimble was as advertised. Very nice player. Probable POY.
I like what Cody Bradfisch is doing this year. Made himself into a guy who is tough not to play.
Will hold off on Huskey . Yes 3-3 on the day. I think 2 of his turnovers were walking calls. Don't get me wrong. A nice looking young player. But, I guess I was expecting more.
Good to see Drew Moore back. I hate senior injuries.

FU tried some new looks. Has a very Big week coming.

Mac, GC and FU will be playing for 2 spots. FU plays both next week and then Mac and GC play the following.

[hopefan]

I may be proven wrong, and if so, great, but I don't think there is much of a chance that Fontbonne will be in the same group as Mac and Greenville...  But Denny makes a good point, that thought makes for a Huge week for Fontbonne next week.

Huskey has had very good games against some good teams... The size of Fontbonne, particularly Woods, seemed to bother him yesterday... Woods didn't go for the fakes like others have.  Huskey looked like a frosh with immense potential... so did Garner

Fontbonne shoots 29% from the field, 16% from 3's, 24 turnovers... as I have said, certain guys getting lots of minutes are contributing very little or Nothing on a consistant basis...  

Once again hooray for a 5 second blast by Patrick McKoy at a player who didn't hustle back after a turnover...  the effort made by some on Fontbonne makes it an extremely distasteful team to watch... one Fontbonne fan was letting them have it good at the end of the game about hanging heads and quitting.. they deserved it..... no effort at all from Mike Riva, he quit, watching from the second row behind Coach Mckinney with roomy who quit last year... was this a show of support, or sticking up your middle finger at your coach and former teammates....  how can these guys be so classless?

I feel bad, very bad, for Coach, for Mrs. for Denny...and so I say it now, get out Coach, rest 24 hours a day with your wife, get healthier, be peaceful with the rest of your life....  this can't be fun, this can only be having negative impact on you and those who love you..   You don't deserve any more of this.....  You have nothing more to prove....

[hopefan]

That is what my post said......  We won't see Jarred McKoy again either, though the reasons are sketchy so I'll remain quiet on them

[hopefan]

Greenville plays Westmin on Wednesday, a crucial game for positioning among the top 4 or 5...  but I am really curious as  to how Webster will do against Wash U.... Huskey vs Gay, Jones vs Richter, Wash U's young guards vs Trimble....  very interesting matchups...   

[y_jack_lok]

Hopefan, do you see Huskey guarding Gay? I can see Huskey guarding Toth and Moore guarding Gay. I think Moore has to start Wednesday for that reason. But, I've never played and never coached, so I will yield to the experienced folks on this one.

[hopefan]

I just aligned my comments height and build wise.. but you are probably right... Gay is more mobile, and Moore would probably match better with him....  You will be my assistant when we get in the business!!!!!  hope, Jack and McKinney Jr  

note also Kuhl vs Toth.. very similar bodies and games.....

[y_jack_lok]

You will be my assistant when we get in the business!!!!!  hope, Jack and McKinney Jr  

This would be a dream come true!!!!

[Denny McKinney]

Mike Riva did choose to leave the team. His decision was made after the EC game. He was unhappy with the playing time received by 3 freshmen at the end of the bench. Mike is a great young man. Who started every game this year? Will graduate in the spring. Wish him all the best. Hope he doesn't regret the influences that led to his decision.

Stepping down as Head Coach would mean Cancer won. This goes against everything he has stood for the past 16 years. During his first go around with treatments (wrong) he spent 3 weeks in the hospital with pneumonia and we almost lost him twice. On a nite when tomorrow was not looking good, he asked me as a son and best friend to Please get him to every game. He did not want the disease to control the way he left the game. I made him a promise and I plan on keeping it.

For two hours every day he feels no pain. He is doing the only thing he knows. The thing he loves the most. His interaction with his team.

When faced with ones own mortality a lot of thought goes into thinking about the short term future. At this point in his life going home and leaving all he loves, does not increase his survival rate. His cancer doctor has said, "He needs something to wake up to that inspires him. I have no problems with him continuing."

The family has discussed this and he has the full support of his wife, children and grandchildren. One thing about doing something this long, you've earned the right to choose how you leave.

I made my Best Friend a promise and I will fulfill it.

[hopefan]

I'll respect it Denny.

[Denny McKinney]

If you poll the players, asst. coaches and even the womens team, No one wants Dad to step down. Dad's head assistant Lance Thornhill (who has been there 16 years) has said he refuses to coach Coach's team this year. Coach Thornhill who has spent more hours setting in the hospital with us then I can count. He has said all along. He doesn't mind running practices (3) when Dad has a medical conflict. But, he said "This is Coach's team to Coach, not mie."

There is a core group of players that live to see Dad at practice. He is one of the most important Men in their lives.

That covered. GC is 3-1 with wins over EC, PC and BC. They have not played Webster or Westminister. This is still a three horse race for the final 2 spots.

Don't bet against Dad finding 7 guys that will do what it takes to win. For him!

[Denny McKinney]

Thanks Hope. Being a Father and son I figured you'd understand.

[y_jack_lok]

Denny, well said. Everyone is entitled to an opinion on this. I see no reason for coach to give up doing what means the most to him, especially if he has the blessing and support of his family, doctors, and FU.

[hopefan]

if it's a 3 team race for spots three and four, then they are n ot expected to beat Westmin, Webster, or Spalding, they are expected to hold home court against each other, and they are not expected to lose to Prin, BC, and EC

assigning + 1 for wins against the top 3
assign a + 1 for a win on the road against a middle 3 and a -1 for a home loss against a middle 3
assign a -1 for a loss against the bottom 3

This system makes it easy to track who is leading for the battle for 4th and differeniates the competition some what

right now
Mac is a +1   for their win over Webster  (they were expected to lose to Spalding and Westmin, and to beat BC)

Greenville is at 0  (they were expected to beat BC, EC, and PC, and they were expected to lose to Spalding)

Fontbonne is at 0 (they were expected to beat EC and Prin, they were Expected to lose to Webster and Westmin)

I'll follow it this way as as long as practical.... it is very meaningful.

to me, the tough point to earn or not to lose will be beating the bottom 3.... not sure there is as much separation as I once thought...  Mac won at BC already, Greenville and Fontbonne have to run that Gauntlet....  another subjective + for Mac....

[WUPHF]

I just aligned my comments height and build wise... but you are probably right... Gay is more mobile, and Moore would probably match better with him...

Maybe Webster should have them both ready.  At least a few teams have had to alternate players to try and slow him down.

[hopefan]

WUH  ... give Gay his 20...... key is what kind of game Richter has...  if he goes off for a big game, Wash U will win, but if he is stopped, or has one of his down games, Webbster could be competitive

Of course I am guilty at getting caught up in the excitement of a SLIAC team being good, but not recognizing that WASH U 'may have' better talent up and down the lineup.... 'MAY have'....  for instance, how do Jones and Richter match... Jones is very athletic and very good at the SLIAC Level.. but can he match up with Richter.... Will Toth dominate Huskie and Kuhl?    That's the intrigue of watching Wash U against a leading SLIAC team....

I should go to see Westmin and Greenville, but it's so hard to pass on Wash U Webster.....