MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

wilburt · October 11, 2006, 01:32:08 PM

Okay now we are playing semantical games here. What you took and what I intended are two different things. You think that may be a possibility?

QUOTE from Greg
"No. Two different approaches to discussing the same subject. That was what I meant by the use of the word "way". I'm not sure how you've derived that semantic generalization about the word "way"."

It's still "two" by my count. However you want to characterize it be it - way, approach or point, you used one of them to support your argument on the other of them as I read it. I don't see how anyone can draw the conclusion that you weren't talking about two different things here. But then again you might not have intended it that way (sound familiar)!

I see you like to argue for the sake of arguing...

I think I'm going back to the time machine

Gregory Sager · October 11, 2006, 02:13:31 PM

Quote from: wilburt on October 11, 2006, 01:32:08 PM
Okay now we are playing semantical games here. What you took and what I intended are two different things. You think that may be a possibility?

A distinct one!

Quote from: wilburt on October 11, 2006, 01:32:08 PMI see you like to argue for the sake of arguing...

Nah, it's just a slow day here at work.

Quote from: wilburt on October 11, 2006, 01:32:08 PMI think I'm going back to the time machine

Try to avoid the Morlocks.

wilburt · October 11, 2006, 02:25:11 PM

You are too funny Greg. I must say that you have been a good sport about this

y_jack_lok · October 11, 2006, 11:33:50 PM

I've been trying to read all this dense talk about walk-ons, but it got to be too much so I just skipped ahead to tell another story. A player who attened D3 UC-Santa Cruz (the Banana Slugs) as a freshman and sophomore transferred to Fordham University in New York (Bronx) a D1 team that plays in the Atlantic 10. He walked on there as a junior, made the team, but didn't play much. Last year, as a senior, his playing time increased and he even started nine games. His name is Nicholas Vita and you can go to Fordham.edu, find their athletics website and look up last year's stats for verification.

There are lots of walk-on stories. Dane Looker, who plays wide receiver for the Saint Louis Rams was a walk on at the University of Washington. There's a major league pitcher (can't remember his name now) who walked on at USC and became their winningest pitcher ever.

I'm sure this could go on forever.

Mr. Ypsi · October 12, 2006, 12:17:55 AM

Quote from: Gregory Sager on October 10, 2006, 10:55:45 AM
Any school that is relying upon walk-ons for anything other than promotional purposes is sunk. Yes, there have been walk-ons that actually amounted to something on the D3 level, but they are far and few between. Even if they play a prominent role in practices by being a member of the second team (i.e., the ninth or tenth man) they are almost always hindering the team. Any good college basketball coach worth his salary has at least a dozen (and more like fifteen as a better minimum) of his own recruits on the team at any given time. If there are unrecruited players on campus who show up for tryouts and are good enough to play any sort of useful role on the team, that's a surefire sign that the program has a serious talent shortage.

Most coaches will use the JV team as a catchbasin for walk-ons, giving the walk-on the satisfaction of wearing a uniform and getting playing time. Again, though, it's questionable how much better it'll make your recruited freshmen and sophomores who are playing junior varsity if the bulk of their JV teammates are walk-ons. There are different philosophies as to how to stock and run a JV program; heck, there are some D3 coaches who don't like JV teams at all, considering them a waste of the program's limited resources of time and money.

I did read what you said: "far and few between"!

Actually, I knew what you meant, but as Q kept accumulating examples, it didn't seem quite as unusual as you implied.

Mac Attack · October 12, 2006, 10:25:15 AM

Meanwhile, back to SLIAC basketball......

Practice is scheduled to start this Sunday, I believe. What's the latest from around the conference? Any surprises, in terms of who is back and who isn't? Early thoughts on strengths and weaknesses?

MacMurray looks to have a core group of eight players who contributed last year: Whalum, Hipsher, Compton, Kowa, Huff, Robertson, Greene, and Long. Whalum left the team midway through the season last year, but is back and should be the starting PG. Good kid with great quickness. Greene and Long were sidelined by grades halfway through last season, but both are back and should contribute at both ends of the floor. Long is the team's best long-range shooter and Greene is probably the team's best defender and one of their best rebounders. Kowa, Huff, Compton and Hipsher (all multi-year lettermen) are solid inside and out and will collectively play a lot of minutes. Kowa's success will be a key, if not THE key, to the Highlander's season. Wiith his height and ability, Kowa can be a real difference maker. Robertson was an impact player last year and had several real nice games. Struggles with his shot, but is a tremendous jumper and plays light's out when he's on the floor.

Others to be counted on will be PG Adonis Fuller, SF Lance Wallace, SG Jim Michels, and several newcomers who will push the returning players. Most interesting in the pack of new players is a new point guard who may be a real nice surprise and an out-of-state player who some say will have an immediate impact. Names and more background to follow. Those not coming back include Craig Workman, Evan Birch, and Nick Schmidt, all of whom played little in 2005-2006.

More information on Mac next week, but at first blush it would appear the Highlanders have the personnel to plug into the holes left by graduation - with the possible exception of All Conference performer Ryan Eberhart. Eberhart was a warrior in the post on defense and was the unquestioned team leader. His shoes will be difficult to fill, but Kowa seems like the logical replacement.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - Mac will be above .500 in 2006-2007 and be in the SLIAC play-off hunt going in to the last week of the season. Write it down.

Anyone else want to jump in with a pre-season look?

fcnews · October 12, 2006, 07:07:04 PM

Once again we've been educated, frustrated and had our vocabulary expanded by the Dean of the D3Hoops. Oh yea, and reminded that we here in the SLIAC should just be happy to be here.

It must be Bball Season !!!!!!!

fcnews · October 12, 2006, 07:09:48 PM

Wilburt - Hope to see you at the FU - Fisk game. If you need any info, directions or just about anything to make your trip easier, feel free to holler.

We look forword to having you!

wilburt · October 13, 2006, 07:14:33 AM

Thanks fcnews but I don't think I will be able to make it. I plan on going to Fisk's first two games this season in Nashville. My work schedule won't allow me (at this time) to go to the "Lou" for the two games with Fontbonne and Webster.

Funny sound to it FU vs. FU.

Little scouting report from Fisk. We will be down this season. I expect only a .500 record at best. Be gentle with us!

Gregory Sager · October 13, 2006, 08:21:23 AM

Quote from: fcnews on October 12, 2006, 07:07:04 PM
Once again we've been educated, frustrated and had our vocabulary expanded by the Dean of the D3Hoops. Oh yea, and reminded that we here in the SLIAC should just be happy to be here.

C'mon, man. You know that I'm rooting for you guys to make headway on this level. I've said so before, and I meant it. I don't want it to be at the expense of the CCIW, of course, but if you SLIACers were to start beating Wash U and/or the HCAC boys with regularity you would receive long, sustained applause from yours truly.

centilbball · October 13, 2006, 02:20:07 PM

What does eureka bring to the conference? Who do they have playing this year??? I heard they dont have much returning or newbies. Whats up with this. Is it the coach?

or what else.

Mac Attack · October 16, 2006, 04:51:04 PM

From my post last July 26:

In anyone's book, 4-22 is a flat out awful season. It's kind of like the good news, bad news. Good news is everyone's back. Bad news is everyone's back. That being said about Eureka, let's take a closer look at how the Devils did against the SLIAC last season.

Westminster W 64-62
Webster W 83-76
at Blackburn L 91-63
at Greenville W 84-74
at Westminster L 86-68
at Principia W 72-39
at Webster L 64-62

Based on the above, and with their two best players (AJ Richard and Tim Peffer) coming back, Eureka looks to be very competitive in the SLIAC - but time will tell.

AJ Richard is a very good player. Stands 6'7", runs the floor well, can play inside and out, and is a terrific defender. From their website:

" Richard, a junior from Gibson City, Ill. (GCMS HS), was named to the 10-member All-Conference team. The 6'7'' pivot and history/secondary education major ranked in the top six in four important categories during league play. He was fourth in blocks (1.55 bpg), fifth in rebounds (7.7 rpg) and field goal percentage (50.7-percent), and sixth in scoring (15.5 ppg)."

"Peffer, a 6'2'' guard and criminal justice major, scored at least 11 points in all but one conference game and also posted three games of over 20 tallies. He ranked sixth in the league in scoring (15.5 ppg) and seventh in three-point field goal percentage (42.9-percent). Although he fell 12 attempts short of having enough to be ranked nationally, Peffer's 98.1-percent (52-53) from the free throw line would bested the top ranked Division III foul shooter."

dynasty22 · October 17, 2006, 08:36:47 PM

Blackburn should have another good year of basketball. With the hiring of new men's coach Kirk Chandler, it will take some time for the chemistry to get goin.
Key returners this year are Zak Allen, Zeb Hammond, and also Bryan Waters.
This year Blackburn will look for contributions from Ryan Smith and Grant Lamsargis who were also apart of last years squad. Frazier Simmons and Leotis Howard have also been a duo working hard on their game to seek playing time this year.
Their are also some new good players this year that should help BC on their road to a successful season, Thomas Baro, Brandon Bundren, and Anthony Thebeau.
The season is just around the corner and I can't wait for it to begin!

fcnews · October 18, 2006, 10:47:12 AM

Fontbonne will hold the distinction of having the oldest freshmen in the SLIAC. 6'6 Terrannce Lovett from University City H.S., turned 31 just days before practice started. He's older than asst. coach John Thomas.

Mac Attack · October 20, 2006, 06:38:20 PM

Early news from Mac land is the Highlanders are extremely pleased with a juco transfer who will start at the point guard position. This was a glaring need for this year's squad, and apparently they have filled it with a high quality player. Very good news. Highlanders also have Adam Poulson, a first-team All Area player from Armstrong-Potomac, who is a light's out shooter. Good recruit. There are two or three other newcomers as well who are looking good. And it looks like there may be two or three football players join the team after football season. Don't forget that MacMurray's best player last year, Ryan Eberhart, played football. From what I hear, a couple of these kids are very good athletes. MacMurray will mix in the players mentioned above with a solid core of eight returning players. Exhibition game at Western Illinois on November 2, with Millikin coming to town on November 18. I think good things are going to happen in Jacksonville this year. Can't wait to get started.