MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hopefan]

FC   responses to your responses

  that's 5 good D3 games out of 9 non conference games - like I said, a 'tweener

If the Tourney in Chicago was hosted by a D3 team, ie Chicago, Wheaton , Benedictine, Concordia etc, and had three or four D3 teams in it, I'd consider going up for a weekend of hoops  -   but I'm not going to travel to see a Bible College and NAIA schools with which I have no connection

Sure CalTech plays those schools - it's a thrill for most to step foot on the campus of the most prestigious undergrad science/engineering school in the country - but my point is that it hasn't done a thing to improve their basketball program.  They have not fielded a competitve team in a long time if ever...  AND if you've seen the SCIAC teams that have played at WASH U in the Lopata or NCAA regionals, they've not been very good either - quite likely at about the SLIAC level as a group.  I'd have been much more intrigued by a Fontbonne vs Occidental or Cal Lutheran etc, or an NWC team.

from a fan's perspective
1) I want as many home games or games within travelling distance as possible
2) I want as many D3 games, preferably in region as possible, so I can see the teams the SLIAC is compared to...
3) If non D3 games, I'd rather see local NAIA teams with local kids and again be able to compare a McKendree or Lindenwood with local D3 teams.

Again, as I said, Fontbonne's sked serves a positive purpose in prepping for the conference, but to me as a fan, some of those games are certainly 'who cares' for the 'average' fan like me....

[Titan Q]

TQ
they 'steal' players from D3 schools by offering athletic funds  -  come on TQ, my comment was not made looking for trouble.....   My preference and dedication to D3 has always been due to the non scholarship theory - the level playing field, so to speak.  My use of the word bandit was not meant in a disparaging unethical implication, rather than to say that the $ they can offer can sway kids in their direction.   I would love to see local NAIA schools become D3.

I wasn't looking for trouble either, hope, I just don't understand the negativity towards scholarships.

I think most on these boards know I am as big of a D3 guys as there is, but I'm still glad those NAIAs are out there to help kids go to school.  My alma mater, IWU, now costs about $40,000 per year (which is the price range a lot of D3 schools are now in).  I don't view the NAIAs as "stealing players", as I don't think a lot of those kids were going to end up paying the D3 pricetag anyway.

IWU lost its top recruit this year to an NAIA school, and the decision came down to money per the kid and his family.  As I see it, the NAIA school has afforded him the opportunity to continue playing basketball in college.  Had the NAIA not come along with a scholarship, he still wasn't going to end up at IWU (or any of the D3s that recruited him) - it just was not financially feasible.

NAIA schools help a lot of kids.

[petemcb]

$41,788 plus books.  Ouch.

[petemcb]

Which helps even more to make your point, Bob.

[ec_fan14]

I'm a new poster to the board and have read over recent topics and i say i agree with much of what has been said.  First I would like to send my regards to ec_sid.  He did a heck of a job at Eureka and I wish him well in the future where ever he may end up.  Obviously Westminster and Fontbonne should be considered early season favorites, however how will Fontbonne replace Fogerty, McKoy, and Storandt? Big shoes to fill for players who haven't gotten many minutes behind them the past few seasons...

That being said I think that Eureka will have a solid season and should be consider as a definite contender for one of the top 4 spots at the end of the season for a few reasons

They bring back a lot of depth again this year like they did last year.   They went from being 8-8 to 9-7.  I expect them to have an even better record this year

Also I think Eureka brings back possibly the best 1, 2 punch in Michael Zasada (16.1 ppg 9.7rpg) and Kameron Bell (15.6ppg 7.6rpg).  Bell was greatly unnoticed last year and if that happens again this year I have a feeling he will put up some serious numbers again, and Bell only played about 24 min per game.  Hopefully that will go up this year as well.

Also returning is PG Jordan Kindred who might be the quickest guard in conf and will mature this year having a year under his belt.  Murad Abbed, Andy Leppard, and Craig Black are others who should see some minutes.

Havent heard much about the recruits but i know there are some new faces that will be on campus hungry for playing time.

Practice starts in less than 3 months. Cant wait to see some good action in the SLIAC again

[hopefan]

Welcome ECfan14  -  hope we'll hear from you regularly with all the goings on from up north!!!!

[Titan Q]

Also returning is PG Jordan Kindred who might be the quickest guard in conf and will mature this year having a year under his belt. 

I only saw him play once last year (at Westminster), but I really liked Kindred.  Seems like he is going to be a very good point-guard as he gets older.

[fcnews]

Hopefan - As a spectator, I do understand your desire to see as many home games as possible. But, as a player, the travel is part pf the life experience of playing D3. And a great bonding time for the team.

Why go to Chicago if not playing in the Moody? It has been discussed on hear for a couple of years. Others understand the purpose of the trip. Fontbonne does play reps from CCIW, MWC and HCAC. That covers IL. and IN. Throw in Wash U. and you have a good sampling of the Midwest.

FU only plays 11 home games this year. That's about the usual. The past couple of years the team has been pretty salty on the road.

EC Fan14 - Welcome to the board. FU did lose alot. But, the JV program has been very successful for a few years. I'd take the returners from last year and say they'd make the SLIAC Tourney. Coach has added a couple of Juco's with experience. And return two players with the capability of putting up 30 any given night. Forrest should be a front runner in the POY balloting and Josh Branch will kill ya if you ignore him.

It's going to be a fun season.

A coach sets his sked up to serve a purpose and the current Griffin run seems to indicate something is working

[ec_fan14]

I agree FC both Branch and Forrest are capable of scoring 30 on any given night and being the defending champs i'm sure they will play with a chip on thier shoulder. Coach McKinney will have his boys ready. Although I wouldn't hand Forrest the POY trophy yet, there are a lot of good players in the conf that will surely give him a run for his money.

I could only imagine how much tougher FU would have been last year and would be this year if they didn't lose White after his freshman year.  Saw him play in the Conf Tourney Championship Eureka vs. Fontbonne and he was unbelievable as a freshman.

I wish Eureka would post its schedule already.

My view on the conf this year

Top 4 in no particular order
          Fontbonne - reigning champs
          Westminster - lots of depth and stan crawford is a stud
          Greenville - return a lot and have brooks for a whole year
          Eureka - 
Middle 3
         Webster - turk is a big loss
         Spalding - only because i know nothing about them
         Blackburn - tougher team at home
Need Help
         Principia
         MacMurray - have 2 nice players in miller and sichting
         
         

[y_jack_lok]

Nice projection there ec_fan. I'd have to agree with it based on current information. Spalding did play competitively against Webster and Westminster last season, the only two SLIAC schools who scheduled them. They lost 3 of  the 4, the lone win being by 3 or 4 at Spalding over Webster in a VERY low scoring game -- something like 47-43. From the box score it appeared that each team played lockdown defense on the other's top scorer and nobody else stepped up for either team. Maybe just an overall great defensive game for both teams.

There are always things we simply don't know about some teams going into the season. We seem to have the best info on FU and EC right now. But I think MacMurray has the potential to be a surprise. And Principia's Achille's heel to me always seems to be shooting. They generally play ok defense and run their offense well, but their guys just aren't good shooters. At least that's the pattern I've observed over the past 7-8 seasons. We'll  have the answers to all our questions in February.

[hopefan]

A coach sets his sked up to serve a purpose and the current Griffin run seems to indicate something is working

I would submit that Fontbonne's run has had little or nothing to do with the scheduling, but rather everything to do with a remarkable run of good recruiting with Fogerty, Fournie, Storandt, Forrest, McKoy, Branch and the quick to depart White all coming during that span.  And yes a heck of a good coaching run by Coach Mac to keep those guys together through a couple of hard times....

Why go to Chicago if not playing in the Moody? It has been discussed on hear for a couple of years. Others understand the purpose of the trip.

FC  -  refresh my memory  -   why the Moody tournament each year?

[fcnews]

Hope- Scroll back about 75 pages and re read the Moody discussion from last year. I have niether the time or desire to explain it to you again.

Fogerty was lightly recruited out of HS. In fact one coach said he should stick to baseball. It was his own hard work and being in the right system and right coach, that led to his success. He put in more hours then any player I've been around. Storandt was not overwhelmed with offers either. McCoy had looks from D2 SBU and UMSL, but final decision came down to FU and Webster. Same goes for Branch. Fournie followed his brother to FU (Dean Fournie was FC's first pt. guard). Forrest was brought to FU by a contact with a former player.

Scheduling does play a part in this picture. The chance to travel to places like Hawaii, Cali and Chicago goes along way into recruiting. Ask any former player or his family what they remember most about their days at FU (besides going to the National Tourney) and they will tell you fond memories of these trips and Chicago will be High on the list.

Scheduling a game you lose by 30 just for the sake of saying they were on your schedule makes no sense. A schedule needs to have tests and confidence builders. Starting the SLIAC 0-9 serves no purpose.

If scheduling has nothing to do with success then why is there so much discussion about FU's schedule each year.

EC_Fan - That was a hell of a game White had in that Conference Championship game. And the past two years could of been alot better. But, Trevor was in a position to stay around. The last time I saw him was at a FU home game. Full beard, hair down to his shoulders and very happy.

Also, I said front runner in regards to Forrest. I in know way meant lock.

[ec_fan14]

I agree recruiting plays almost a bigger part in a program than the actual x's and o's.  Its hard for lots of d3's especially smaller ones (eureka) to bring in top caliber players without trips such as the ones fc spoke of.  kids look forward to that kind of stuff especially when they are "paying to play" and not receiving scholarships.  Coach Dave Darnall of Eureka's glory days did a heck of a job and thats why those teams during his time at Eureka were so good.

also my fault on the POY, i was confused but thanks for clearing the air

[hopefan]

Hope- Scroll back about 75 pages and re read the Moody discussion from last year. I have niether the time or desire to explain it to you again.  

It's going to be another one of THOSE years in this room....  Before I do scroll back and try to find that conversation, does anyone else remember the reason FC gave as to why Fontbonne is mandated to reappear every year at the Moody Bible College Tourney?

If scheduling has nothing to do with success then why is there so much discussion about FU's schedule each year.

Each year I give a cursory review of each team's schedule  - just like I give a complete review of what each team has returning, mentioning the output of virtually every player coming back - scroll back 75 pages, then 150, then 225 pages to check  -  I do it because likely anyone else that reads these pages does not take the time  to check up on it and they may be interested in my evaluation of each team's schedule or returners.  I always HOPE it will keep up interest in the SLIAC for some..... YOU extend the conversation by getting defensive regarding Font's sked and their  playing the Moody's and Caltech's of the world and somehow connecting it to Fontbonne continuing its streak of appearances in the tourney.  

We both enjoy the last word, don't we??

[y_jack_lok]

After a season of relative calm between fcnews and hopefan it looks like they are reverting to old habits. I guess we are in for some fun!!??