MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Greek Tragedy]

Be sure to head over to the Multi-Regional Topics Board and select your team for the new Survivor Pool! 

You might actually win something! 
Deadline is Friday before the first game's tipoff

[hopefan]

yjaklock - I appreciate your interest in the level of play of the SLIAC - having been around D3 for quite some time, I'd enjoy sharing some thoughts about that.  If you go to the tourney at Maryville this weekend, look for me - I'll wear a Hope sweatshirt, sitting on team side mid court.

[yjacklok]

hopefan - My wife and I plan to be there tomorrow night and I will be there Saturday afternoon, likely along with another Webster U fan. I'll look for you. I think I'll be wearing an orange sweatshirt in support of Webster High's football game tomorrow night.

[hopefan]

Will look for you and will be cordial  (even though I'm from Eureka!!!!)

[Mac Attack]

Some posters on the CCIW board are picking MacMurray tonight at Millikin. That's a long-shot - which for the Highlanders usually isn't a problem, if you know what I mean, and I think you do - but it could be semi-close if Mac plays tough half-court defense, doesn't get scorched on the boards, and shoots worth a lick. Mac lost to the Big Blue by 22 last year in Jacksonville, that's some kind of a measuring stick going into tonight's game. Millikin graduated three of its starters, including both guards who were leading scorers. Mac had a few players not return, including leading scorer Rockie Robinson, but my sense is the Highlanders are an improved "team." I'm predicting Mac will start slow from the gate, and get behind by 10-15 early - then make a game of it. If it's under ten with less than five minutes to play, Mac could do it. Regardless, there's no question this is an improved team with a very good chance of a winning record and a legitimate shot at the post-season play-offs. I think it's just going to take a few games for the new players like Robertson, Greene, Birch, Workman, and Sanders to get their feet on the ground and acclimate themselves to the 94-foot game.

Good luck to all SLIAC teams tonight! Stay injury free and get home safe-and-sound.

Go Highlanders!!!

Note: Someone needs to wake up the SID at Mac and get a 2005-2006 team picture on its website, post pictures of all their players, and ditch the picture of LAST YEAR'S" football team on the athletic's home page.......jeeeeeshhhhh.....

[Daryl L Lloyd]

Hanover 28
Webster 23

After a half of play

[Daryl L Lloyd]

Webster 60
Hanover 60

End of Regulation

[Daryl L Lloyd]

Hanover by 3 in OT
Close game that could have went either way.  If the Gorloks continue to play like they did tonight it could turn out to be a very nice season.

[Mac Attack]

Millikin 85   MacMurray 82

Terrific game from start to finish. The difference - Highlanders missed 17 free throws. Mac led the first ten minutes, then fell behind by six. They closed it to one with about three minutes left, and missed a lay-up at the buzzer to end the half. Big Blue led 33-29 at the break. Way too many turnovers for Mac, and they were 6-15 from the FT line in the first 20 minutes. Big Blue was much bigger than Mac, but the Highlanders were tough and held their ground. Millikin led by as much as 12 in the second half, but Mac pulled within one twice down the stretch and had two different chances to take the lead with less than two minutes to play. Compton, Kowa, Downham, and Hipshir played very well. This is a much, much different team than it was a year ago. They play much better defense, they pass the ball much better in the half-court, and their shot selection - with three or four exceptions - was very good. Their full court pressure forced a ton of Millikin turnovers. Mac is still undersized, but they are a tough bunch of kids who never quit tonight. Take my word for it - Millikin was very fortunate to win this game tonight. Hopefully the trip to Grinnell won't take the team backwards, in terms of running and gunning. The SLIAC would have been proud of Mac tonight.

[hopefan]

2 tough losses for the SLIAC teams vs The cream of the crop of the HCAC.
Webster had Hanover dead to rights with a 5 point lead with a minute left, but turned the ball over twice within 20 seconds to give up the lead. A tipin by Webster's Corey Kuhn at the buzzer sent the game to OT, and a 3 pointer by Webster's Tim Timmerman would have sent the game to double OT, but was ruled to come after the buzzer -VERY CLOSE....

Maryville trailed Transy, but close, the whole game, took a lead with 1:35 left, but lost their poise with a turnover and a questionable shot as Transy took advantage to win from the line in the last minute.

Hanover over Webster in OT 71-68
Transy over Maryville 75-69
Maryville played sloppy, but I was most disappointed in the lack of spark from the bench. If Coach Rogers system is to work, we can't have such a drop off on level of play when guys come off the bench. The starters can only go up tempo 25-30  minutes-there's lots of time available for those who play like they want it.  Several guys didn't do it tonite.

[diehardfan]

I know last year, MacMurray was trying out their own version of the system. Since they opened with it against Wheaton, it caught my memory. The fact that the MacMurray coach came up to me and asked if I was "diehardfan" probably also helped me remember that game more than usual... 

Arguably, I thought it seemed to helped MacMurray do better recordwise than they had been doing for a while, so I thought they might stick with it.

Tonight's game score against Millikin is "fairly low" for that style of play... I'm curious, MacMurray gave up on fast tempo basketball for good? Did the composition of their team change such that it didn't work? Was it something else? Just curious. Thanks!

[Mac Attack]

In terms of total points, MacMurray could have easily been in the 90s had they hit a few more free throws and a couple of close in shots. That being said, I think Mac has given up its "fast tempo" game at all. They still play 94 feet from start to finish, still look for the three if they can get it, still press for 40 minutes, and still fast break at every opportunity. I think what's different is the personnel has changed - and the coach has a year of experience under his belt and knows what will and won't work. Two or three of the smaller shooters didn't come back, and were replaced by younger players who are stronger rebounders and defenders, like Robertson, Greene, and Workman. Mac will still points - and look for them to score plenty next Tuesday night at Grinnell. But it seems like this year's team is more adaptable in the half court than last year's team. Still need to cut down on the turnovers, still need to eliminate the breakdowns in defense that lead to lay-ups, and still need to hit free throws. But this is a pretty solid group of kids who should get better and better as the season progresses. Congratulations to the coaching staff and players for a great game last night!!!

[hopefan]

FC News   -  You out there???   Can't find a Fontbonne score from Chicago - How'd they do vs MSOE?

[fcnews]

Sorry folks finding a comp up here is tough. MSOE beat FC 68-55. MSOE had a D2 transfer guard who scored 26 and that was the game. FC led by 5 at the 10 min mark of the 1st, cut a 16 pt. defficit to 5 with 3 min to go. MSOE would be a sliac top 3. FC was led by Patrict McCoy who had 18 the second half. FC started 1 soph and 4 fr., lot of bright spots. will post more tommorrow afternoon.

[Daryl L Lloyd]

Guess my last post got swallowed.  Anyway.
Hopefan:  The SLIAC site has most the scores up from yesterday, just none of the stats are posted yet.   Looks like none of the SLIAC teams faired well yesterday.  Hopefully Webster can get things going today against Transy.