MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[fcnews]

Yes Furbug they all COUNT. And the kids will play at 100% each contest.

I mean the season is a mine field. It's everyones goal to survive to the final four. Then steal the flag. The NCAA appearance is by far the main focus every year. And, you don't get a shot unless you have one of the four invites.

Just my opinion. It's not BCS Football where if you lose a game your hopes are over.

[hopefan]

Per Yjak's comment regarding the Webster Lady Gorlocks also playing on Sunday  -  great idea!  They play at 1:00 PM, the Mac men play over at Wash U at 3:00    a doubleheader could be in order!!!   I would also note that the Wash U women host Augustana at the same time, but Auggie women have had a rough time of it the last 5 years, and were 3-21 last year.

Here is as easy a place to ask as any   -  with the Big Bend bridge assumedly still down, what's the easiest way to get from Webster to Wash U in a dash for opening tip-off?

[Wydown Blvd.]

Hanley to Forsyth.
or twists and turns can take you to McCausland/Skinker but I don't think its faster.

[y_jack_lok]

Hanley to Forsyth.
or twists and turns can take you to McCausland/Skinker but I don't think its faster.

I would agree with the above.

If you take the first option you can go Big Bend to Laclede Station and turn left. Laclede changes names to Hanley. Take it to Forsyth and turn right.

If you opt for the McCausland/Skiner route take Big Bend to Manchester, turn right, go to McCausland, turn left. McCausland changes names to Skinker after you go under I-64/Highway 40. Take Skinker to Forsyth and turn left.

[hopefan]

so... hanley is open over 40....?

[fcnews]

Easy Guy's !!! Big Bend over-pass will be open on Tuesday.

LOTG- Any Player reports from Webster. We've covered FU from top to bottom. Something besides "a bunch of big and strong guys".

[y_jack_lok]

Easy Guy's !!! Big Bend over-pass will be open on Tuesday.

That's great news. But just in case...

so... hanley is open over 40....?

...the answer to your quesiton, hopefan, is yes. I drove across it a couple of weeks ago.

[Love_for_the_Game]

First I would have to agree with Furbug... The saying of " the last two games of Feb. are the only ones that count" is a terrible saying and really should not be said. I know that it is kind of true but telling players and even letting yourself think that is not a good way of thinking. It lets you be okay with not winning some games and not being a great team. It allows team to lose games that they are suppose to win. If that is how you look at things FCNEWS that is why your on this chat board and not coaching  bc I know I would not want to play under you or have you coach my son. Webster again is looking very new and fresh. They have some players that came back but for the most part they have some new guys. THier coach will have them ready like always and will be contending this year for the conference tourny. They are never out of it bc of the coach( DO no know the guy personally but have heard he is one of the best or the best in conference) Does anyone know how Marryville is looking and will they be able to play with the D2 teams?

[fcnews]

Yes Furbug they all COUNT. And the kids will play at 100% each contest.

I mean the season is a mine field. It's everyones goal to survive to the final four. Then steal the flag. The NCAA appearance is by far the main focus every year. And, you don't get a shot unless you have one of the four invites.
Just my opinion. It's not BCS Football where if you lose a game your hopes are over.

Why do I get myself in to these things.

It is no secret that I believe there is only one Jewell in the SLIAC Crown. Post Seanson Tournament Champs. Why? It's the only team that gets to go to the Dance. I've used the "last two games" phrase before. This is my definition.

One of four invites, means all games are important. And, I hate to lose at anything.

The mine field is what I view this season as for the Griffins. It's going to take some time.

The BCS comment is just basketball. It's not the end of a season if you stumble. It's all about getting your team ready to peak at the right time.

Coach Bunch is a great guy and a very good coach. Look at the conference victories. But. how many teams has he taken to the tournament. And, there has been some great talent. Spinner, Watterkotte, Kani, Hoggett, Robinson, Kuhn, Hrdlicka, Neibrugge and Turk. Plus a couple I've drawn a blank on.

And. I have spent my years on the sidelines. So have quite a few of the posters. Ask Hopefan about his days.

I'm going to turn the FU news over to the Game for the time being. He has the ear of a player, ex player, father of a player.... Anyway we've given the other SLIAC coaches who read this enough of a scouting report on FU.

[FrostBite]

WC tips off this Sunday against Illinois College, and this game just got a lot more interesting.  Over the weekend IC beat D-1 SIUE.  That's right the same SIUE team what WC beat last year.  I know that SIUE is a pretty bad D-1, but still anytime a D3 beats a D1, that is a remarkable feat.  It will be a tough game to win on the road for the Blue Jays.

It doesn't get any easier for WC, as they play Central Missouri Nov 17.   D2 Central MO just beat D1 Austin Peay at AP 81-68 and AP is not a bad D1, they contend every year in the OVC.  I think it is safe to say WC has the hardest non-conference schedule in the SLIAC this year.

[y_jack_lok]

Coach Bunch is a great guy and a very good coach. Look at the conference victories. But. how many teams has he taken to the tournament.

It took Dean Smith about 21 season of coaching at UNC to win a national championship and he only won 2 in 36 years of coaching. The coach up at Hope College has been there a long time and been to a number of D3 Final Fours but never won it all. I'll take longevity and a steady record of winning seasons as a just as good a measure of coaching ability and success as winning two to 6 game tournaments. Lots of time left for coaches in the SLIAC to get their teams to the NCAAs. How long did it take Coach McKinney coaching at Fontbonne to get a team to the NCAAs and how long did it take for him to get there a second time?

I am much more impressed with the fact that Coach McKinney is close to reaching his 800th career coaching victory than I am with FUs three consecutive NCAA appearances.

[y_jack_lok]

And let's not forget Mark Edwards at Wash U who coached some great teams but it took him over 20 to get to the final four. Good coaches who stay with a program for a long time usually end up with those post season wins. Like I said above, plenty of time for a lot of the coaches in the SLIAC to do that. I'm glad it happened for Coach McKinney when it did, because he doesn't have as much time left as a lot of coaches.

[hopefan]

shoot, Coach Mac will be there for my grandson, and he's only 3 (already showing a nice 2 handed chest pass)   

[fcnews]

I got a phone call about the responses to my post.

To set the record straight I think Coach Bunch has done a great job at Webster. It was more of a response to the fact that someone mentioned a coaches great players carried him.

Coach McKinney went to the National Little College final four his first year at the college level. Mo Baot. was 0-8 when he took over the team that year. FC's first was I believe '95 in the programs 6 th year of existance.

The Over due comments wear on me. Where does age play a part in coaching college basketball. It's called experience. This Jan. marks the 7th diffrent decade Coach McKinney has coached in (1959 was first year with a gap between HS and College). While averaging like 17 wins a season. I don't think (other then that Grinnell game) there is anything he hasn't experienced on the court.

Age plays no part. And, Hopefan your probably right. Make sure he can dribble with both hands.

[FrostBite]

If I remember correctly I believe there was talk a couple years back about a SLIAC team playing SLU in an exhibition game. Did that ever take place? If not, does anyone know if that are any plans in the future for this to happen. I would assume if a SLIAC school did play SLU it would be Webster, Fontbonne, or former SLIAC member Maryville.

It would be interesting to see how a SLIAC school matches up with a local D1 team.  I have seen SLU play the last couple years and have some good knowledge on the team this year. I think a top SLIAC team could hang with SLU, at least not get embarrassed.