MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hopefan]

This coming from a guy who reads novels and magazines that I can't understand the first paragraph from...

[Darryl Nester]

The tie-breaking procedure I used is based on my interpretation of the rules used in the HCAC (given below) ... up to a point.  Specifically, I do not attempt to account for steps 3 and 4 below in that process.  If I cannot break a tie based on the first two steps, my program flips a coin.

The case where Westmin ends up 5th is one such case:  In a five-way tie for first between Fontbonne, Maryville, Webster, Westminster, and Eureka, my interpretation of the "head-to-head" step of the tie-breaking procedure drops Maryville and Westminster, because in competition against the other teams that group, they finished below .500.  That leaves them in an unbreakable two-way tie for #4, which my program reports as a coin flip, so under that scenario, Westmin has a 50% chance at a #4 seed, and a 50% chance at #5.  Even assuming my interpretation of the tie-breaking procedure is correct, the reality is that it should not come down to a coin flip; I think Westmin would get the nod over Maryville in that case.

HCAC tie-breaker description
When ties in the final regular season standings occur the following steps will be used to break these ties.

• Head-to-head competition
• Competition against rank/order of regular season standings
• The NCAA Quality-of-win-index
• Win-loss percentage in-region
• If these four steps do not break the tie than a coin toss or lottery will be used

I think I must be jealous that my mind is incapable of processinig all these possible scenarios. It's a great analytical exercise, but other than that I don't much see the point. ...

Yeah, it's just an analytical exercise ... but it gives me (and some others) something to do while we pass the time between Wednesday and Saturday ...

[y_jack_lok]

Hard to tell how sincere that post is, hopefan.  

[fcnews]

Check the MU v. EC boxscore. Several more roster moves have taken place at MU.

[fcnews]

GC rallies from16 down, but FU holds on to win 84-79. Big game for Fogerty and Agomo. Forrest back to back big 3's.

WGRN - Play by play crew said the officiating was horrible both ways.

EC's win (as reported by sliac.org) keeps alot of teams alive for the 4 spot.

[Darryl Nester]

With today's results, there is a bit more clarity ... but no one has completely locked in a tourney spot yet.

Team	Overall	Home	Away	Remaining Games
Westminster (Mo.)	10-3	5-1	5-2	vs. Princ, vs. EC, @ FC
Fontbonne	10-4	4-3	6-1	@ MacMur, vs. Westmin
Webster	9-4	4-2	5-2	@ Maryvl, vs. GC, vs. Princ
Eureka	9-5	4-3	5-2	@ Westmin, vs. MacMur
Maryville (Mo.)	8-5	6-1	2-4	vs. Webst, @ MacMur, @ Blkburn
Greenville	8-6	4-4	4-2	@ Blkburn, @ Webst
MacMurray	4-9	2-4	2-5	vs. FC, vs. Maryvl, @ EC
Blackburn	2-11	2-4	0-7	vs. GC, @ Princ, vs. Maryvl
Principia	0-13	0-7	0-6	@ Westmin, vs. Blkburn, @ Webst

Team	#1	#2	#3	#4	Tournament?
Westminster (Mo.)	45.31%	25.00%	18.41%	10.40%	99.12%
Fontbonne	31.64%	24.22%	26.42%	14.55%	96.83%
Webster	15.28%	27.29%	21.04%	14.40%	78.03%
Eureka	7.76%	19.63%	16.99%	22.85%	67.24%
Maryville (Mo.)	--	2.88%	12.60%	24.22%	39.70%
Greenville	--	0.98%	4.54%	13.57%	19.09%

If the top 6 win out against the bottom 3:

Team	#1	#2	#3	#4	Tournament?
Westminster (Mo.)	50.00%	18.75%	18.75%	12.50%	Yes
Fontbonne	37.50%	25.00%	18.75%	18.75%	Yes
Webster	12.50%	25.00%	25.00%	6.25%	68.75%
Eureka	--	31.25%	18.75%	6.25%	56.25%
Maryville (Mo.)	--	--	18.75%	43.75%	62.50%
Greenville	--	--	--	12.50%	12.50%

[JAdaPrince]

The final three games are going to be very interesting. I can see a lot of jockeying for the coveted four spots ... I think that the standings as a right now, will undergo at least two changes by the end of the season.

[furbug]

So far 9 out of the 10 outcomes that furbug predicted on February 6 (page 431) have occurred. The only one that was wrong is that Westminster did not lose to Greenville. That just means that furbug has to be wrong one time in the other direction on those predictions he made for Webster to come out a hosting winner. Westminster has to lose to either Eureka or Fontbonne to make up for it, with the other of furbug's predictions holding. 

[Gibson17K]

Furbug is a very accurate prognosticator, but it looks as if he channels his inner Rickey Henderson when assessing his said accuracy. 

[hopefan]

Quite a game in Greenville

The MOST physical game I've seen in the SLIAC this year - with that I'll voice some small amount of agreement with FC's comment regarding the officiating  -  there was a critical play near the end of the game when Fontbonne's Brian Fogarty went to the basket and got absolutely mugged - he and 2 guilty Greenville players went to the floor - HARD - it is very fortunate that no one got hurt on the play - and to Brian Fogerty's credit, he did not act in a malicious way - he got up and went to the line.  The refs allowed too much banging.....

I had the misfortune of AGAIN sitting next to a Fontbonne parent who was virtually out of control during the 2nd half - I HAD to move.  You know, at Greenville, they read the good sportsmanship statement before the game - a Greenville player reads it - it's almost hypocritical to read it, because clearly it is not respected by certain members of the Fontbonne community.  This was the worst I've seen - EVERY PLAY, the officials were condemned by this individual LOUDLY- so bad that I even saw Coach McKinney look up at the individual with a somewahat befuddled, embarrassed look.  If Greenville is going to read this statement, and a visiting Fontbonne community is going to respect it, an individual should be REMOVED from the game when they go too far.  I once saw the infamous Kevin Slaten removed from a high school game - today approached that level of disruption.

Ahhh that's off my conscience, now the game    -----    GOOD GAME    ----   man these teams played hard.   If you want a detailed breakdow, here it comes  -  I sometimes wonder if anyone reads these......

Fontbonne led for the better part of the first half - but Greenville, playing platoon basketball, had a nice comeback and tied it 35 35 with 10 seconds left - then an amusing 10 seconds...  Greenville takes a bad shot rather than running the clock down, Fontbonne rushes down the court only to throw it away... Greenville ball OB to go full court with 2 seconds, they try a long pass, it gets batted back to half court where Patrick MCCoy grabs it with one dribble and hits a 3 point runner at the buzzer.....  BAD PLAY FOR GREENVILLE
The 2nd half opened and Fontbonne could do no wrong... going from a 38-35 half time to 61-44 at 12 minutes  -  they beat up Greenville's first unit, then the 2nd unit.   But with Gvilles 2nd team still in, the comeback started - they cut it to 11, and when Laphonso Ellis hit a 3 at the 8 minute mark, it was 66-58-  Buckets were exchanged, then Brooks hit a 3, and Agomo scored a fast break basket off a Branch miss, and bang, it's 68-63.  A Mccoy 3 and another Agomo hoop took it to 71-65...  the place is going nuts (Best Greenville crowd I've seen) and greenville is pressing and McCoy throws it thru Branch's hands...  Agomo drives, dishes to Brooks for a layup and FT, and it 71-68 with 4:30  ....  then the big timers took over.... Forest hits a Huge 3, brooks gets a hoop, and Forest hits another huge 3...  it's 77-70 with 3:30 -   now Laphonso Eliis hits a 3, 77 -73, greenville gets the ball back and Terrance Crosby scores underneath --   77-75 at 2:30  then the possession that won the game - Fontbonne holds the ball and McKoy misses- Ellis has the rebound but comes down between players awkwardly and falls .. and gets called for travelling - Fontbonne gets the ball back and uses the clock again, and with 2 seconds on the shot clock  Fogarty is forced into a fadeaway 3 from the top of the key, high arcing...SWISH  ..  and a five point lead at 1:15... from there on there were exchanges and fouls...Ben Rapp made 4 in the last 15 seconds to keep the lead out of reach to Greenville.  

Once again the two man F Troop of Forest and Fogerty were just unstoppable....40+ points between them - they just played super - Frank Sheetz had one of his best games off the bench.....McCoy made some big shots, but once again Fontbonne faltered badly vs the press  -  this game was uncomfortably close to being a repeat of the Eureka fiasco.

Like I said . best crowd at Greenville I've seen - the far side from the benches was totally full with students and they were loud - great atmosphere.

Watch out for Greenville next year  -  the three youngsters, Agomo, Hilliard and Brooks are all very good, Andy Traeger plays hard and will get better, and sub point guard Rashod Seaton penetrated and dished much more in control than Ben Cochrane.   ALL those names are frosh and sophs......

[fcnews]

Just noticed MU's McCoy and Collins have been removed from the Saints roster on their website. I believe there is one more.

[hopefan]

Regarding Maryville Eureka

I said yesterday that if Maryville was going to win Simmons and Dulle had to dominate inside (it appears they did), and that Maryville wasn't going to win shooting 30 3's   -  they shot 6 for 32 and lost  -  I must be smart.....  and guess what MU, if you shoot 30 plus on Wednesday, you'll lose to Webster too - you'll make it EASY for Webster.....I am totally frustrated -  and even more so with the loss of three more good kids like Baker and McKoy and Collins......  I don't know the story behind it, but the coaches have to get along with the kids and viceversa - something is very wrong if these guys walked, or were dismissed  -  I hope neither.....

And Eureka keeps on pluggin  -  how can I miss the Eureka Westmin game Saturday even with Gville at Webster........

[furbug]

I am totally frustrated -  and even more so with the loss of three more good kids like Baker and McKoy and Collins......  I don't know the story behind it, but the coaches have to get along with the kids and viceversa - something is very wrong if these guys walked, or were dismissed  -  I hope neither.....

And Eureka keeps on pluggin  -  how can I miss the Eureka Westmin game Saturday even with Gville at Webster........

Losing these players, as you say, is terrible, and unprecedented in this conference as far as I know. What can be behind all this? When it is this many players, I would think it is the coach, would you not?

Easy choice for Saturday, Hopefan! Why drive 200 miles round trip when you can catch the local Gorloks in action once again? 

[fcnews]

Matt Baker. Thanks Hopefan. Thats the three I was thinking of in the earlier post. Wanted to confirm from boxscore and roster. Hope MU can pull it together for the finish. Big Game wednesday nite. Could be GC and EC fighting for #4. Makes the GC @ WU game a little more important to the Panthers

[y_jack_lok]

I am totally frustrated -  and even more so with the loss of three more good kids like Baker and McKoy and Collins......  I don't know the story behind it, but the coaches have to get along with the kids and viceversa - something is very wrong if these guys walked, or were dismissed  -  I hope neither.....

Clearing the roster for scholarship players next year??