MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hs_pg_qb]

Rumor on campus is that Josh Branch is no longer with the team.  Cany anyone confirm or deny this?

LOTG...Should we still consider him as POY??? 

[hopefan]

Wow  - that's huge - hope we can get a verification and background from love of the game  -  lovof the game must  love it more than Josh did.....  I feel bad for Coach - bet he thought things might settle down a little after last year, instead, this....


BLUE  -  goodness, read the paragraph again  -  SWISH off the board  -  HE MADE IT, but after the whisle....

Another thing I just noticed in the box  -  Webster 14 of 28 from the line, Gville 22 of 28....   one of the places the game was won and lost!!!

[Into_the_Blue]

BLUE  -  goodness, read the paragraph again  -  SWISH off the board  -  HE MADE IT, but after the whisle....

The ball goes to Jones at half court,, he is hit by Seaton on the left side of his body and ALMOST in the same motion turns and throws the ball at the basket  -  bang  - bank, swish  ....  but he was clearly fouled before he turned and threw.....and the shot, and the potential 4 point play is no good.  

I didnt ask if it touched the rim.  I asked if it was a half court shot or if he took a dribble and it was actually closer than a half court shot.  Not very often kids make half court shots, much less while getting fouled.   

Did Jones make the shot that got called off from half court or take a dribble? 

[Into_the_Blue]

Bad news to hear about Branch not being with the team anymore.  Sounded like he was a talented young man. 

[hopefan]

ahhh  blue, got  what you were asking  no dribble  -  it was a turn and throw!!!!  so my attitude was that it was half court, right of the the center jump circle!!!!

[hopefan]

And some quick comments regarding Saturday's games....

Westmin at Webster  - Westmin is the natural favorite, but Bunch will have Webster ready  -  losing Strickland is a concern for the team's depth though

Prin at Eureka  -   Prin has been competitive lately, but I think Eureka will hit the century mark in this one

Spalding at Mac   -   crucial for Mac in their effort to hold their lead in the race for 4th

Greenville at BC  -  Given the effort that BC gave vs Eureka, this could be the most entertaining game of the day....   Greenville needs this one to keep the momentum going   -   this one will have lots of scoring.

Fontbonne  at Lincoln Christian  -  Win one for the coach....  there may not be many more good opportunities this season.

[y_jack_lok]

Fontbonne  at Lincoln Christian  -  Win one for the coach....  there may not be many more good opportunities this season.

Lincoln Christian's record against SLIAC teams this season:
Lost to Blackburn by 10 on 11/16
Beat Greenville by 3 on 12/8
Lost to Eureka by 2 on 1/13

[Love_for_the_Game]

Yes, I have to say it is true. I heard today that Josh Branch is not longer with the team. I heard it is because of the problems he had with the coach. FU is in a lot of trouble and players are coming and going like a fast food resturant .. I think about 10 tens have left to go to different schools and some are still at FU but I guess dont want to play anymore. FU had so much hype coming in but they end up with thier worst season. Might not be until next year good old Coach Mac gets his 800th win...but wait like I said from the very begining, is he even going to be here  I said I heard a rumor that he wasnt and it would be a bad time for him to leave so FU can get back to its winning ways . I have been right on some of my opinions and the Josh Branch is wrong. I was wrong about him, seems like a great kid but prob. had enough of FU after playing there for 4 years. Another name comes to me is Ronnie Rust, I forgot about him. What happened to him, is he still at the school? Someone give me some answers!!!! Where is my buddy FCNEWS! Come back and tell us whats going on, I miss you 

[distantobserver]

Haven't read the board in a few weeks - had to catch up -  thanks to all for the good recaps. Stats don't always tell the story.

Tough season so far for FU - saw them play a few times this year.  Branch is missing from the Fontbonne stat sheet and Strickland missing from the Webster stat sheet?  Not sure what's going on there.  But I have to believe that there must be GOOD reasons for the decisions and I am confident that it is the best for the athletes. 

What is happening in the FU camp...Is it coaching, is it the players?  It is a different team "make up" It is a re-building year.  I thought I would not use that term - but I think it is true.  It seems that they have yet to find who (or them) is controlling the floor - keeping the team at an even keel.  In my opinion that can only be done by a player(s)! Encouraged  by the coach but ultimately the players.

Players coming and going – don't know any numbers but I'm sure if you looked you would find it at every school.   So many factors in DIII that would influence a player's decision – what about Greenvilles loss of 2 players this year?  Were they tired of putting up with Greenville....  I still think Fontbonne can be a turn it around -never give up till the fat lady sings (guess that is kinda politically incorrect these days!!).   

[hopefan]

distant observer - you are a solid voice of reason, but your comments paint a rosier picture regarding Branch and Strickland than is merited - put bluntly, both of these athletes failed to live up to their side of the deal, one academicly, one evidently by his actions, and were dismissed from their respective teams.  They have disappointed a lot of people, and let down their teams.

[Into_the_Blue]

And some quick comments regarding Saturday's games....

Westmin at Webster  - Westmin is the natural favorite, but Bunch will have Webster ready  -  losing Strickland is a concern for the team's depth though

Prin at Eureka  -   Prin has been competitive lately, but I think Eureka will hit the century mark in this one

Spalding at Mac   -   crucial for Mac in their effort to hold their lead in the race for 4th

Greenville at BC  -  Given the effort that BC gave vs Eureka, this could be the most entertaining game of the day....   Greenville needs this one to keep the momentum going   -   this one will have lots of scoring.

Fontbonne  at Lincoln Christian  -  Win one for the coach....  there may not be many more good opportunities this season.

Webster has a chance of getting one back here since they are at home, although I think WC is playing the best ball in the SLIAC right now, and has to like their chances after Webster played a 2OT game in Greenville Wednesday night.  Id go WC by 3.

Eureka wins a blowout, Prin cant keep up.

Mac needs this win and gets it.

Greenville keeps the ball rolling against the battlin', i mean strugglin' beavers. 

As Y_Jack said, LC has played some SLIAC teams tough at home this year.  The way FU is playing I cant pick them against anyone.  LC by 10. 

[hopefan]

Blue   -  we should take a poll  -  how many more games will Fontbonne win this year...   even without Branch, their talent level is reasonable... but they have to start doing things right....  very strange....

[Into_the_Blue]

As well coached as they are they have to win a few, right?  Maybe theyll knock a few teams off.  That loss at home to Prin really scares me though.  Prin is playing better this year though. 

Id say FU gets to 6 wins....

[hopefan]

Blue   -  Blackburn at home......

[ec_fan14]

Great Recap of Webster Greenville.  Sounds like both teams really battled.  Outstanding numbers by Jones.

The Branch situation is unfortunate.  however i have seen him play a few times and i thought he had a poor attitude on the court. tough break for FU hopefulluy they can get things turned around.

I wasnt at the Blackburn game but i got a recap so ill tell you what i was told.

1st half-  all Eureka.  Kindred was really lighting it up.  Fast paced game helped EC cruise into the half with a 23 point lead.

2nd half- started out even.  teams traded baskets for awhile.  Kindred goes down with an some sort of foot/ankle injury and the tide turns.  Blackburn slowly chips away at the lead and before you know it its a tie game with 10sec left.  Bell misses a chance at the buzzer to win it.

OT- Bell and Zasada step up big.  Bell hits 2 3's to start the extra period.  Zasada gets a few buckets inside.  Both his free throws and Blackburn's comeback attempt comes up short.

Leppard had a very nice game with 17 and 7.  Sykes and West had big games for the Beavers.

Back to the all-conf team.  If you look at stats Bell is worthy 1st team

PPG- 21.6 2nd
RPG- 7.6   5th
FG%- 52.3 13th
FT%- 72.7 12th
STL- 1.71  5th
3FG% 40.5 14th

Hopefully Kindred will be ready for the game tomorrow.  Not sure how severe he injury was.  Hes a tough kid and wont be out for long im sure as long as the injury isnt too bad.

Big game this weekend WU vs WC.  I like WC by 8+
Spalding at Mac- Spalding by 5
Greenville vs Blackburn  Greenville by 10
Eureka Beats Prin by 15+
LC beats FU (although i hope FU pulls this one out)