MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Gregory Sager]

If this person disagrees with what I have to say, then get back on the board and discuss it, don't be sending emails with terminology like 'hopefan cheap shots', and 'consider the source'....  I've had it with that baloney

Exactly. FCnews, if you have something to say about Fontbonne, or about Hopefan's critiques of Fontbonne, then come on the board and say it. Hopefan's keeping this room going. What have you done to keep the dialogue going in here?

[hs_pg_qb]

Gregory-

I completely agree...having read this board from the time it was opened, hopefan has been nothing but insiteful regarding what he sees on the court both positive and negative.  Any "hopes" for a particular team to lose or win is not for some persoanl satisfaction for that particular team but to see and enjoy the most exciting games that have the most meaning.  I have never read anything that wasn't his honest opinion based on years of knowledge and experience with the game.

If the person attacking hopefan's comments is FCnews, I find it a bit ironic. After all, he left under the same circumstances yet here he is doing the same to hopefan.

FCnews... grow up man.  FU is going to have some down years.  Face the music and just deal with it like an adult.  Saying that a player coming to a team that is losing its two top players, after a year losing its three top players and hasn't shown huge depth isn't a personal attack on you, FU or the team.  Its simply one person's evaluation.  If you disagree, stop hiding behind emails and post so others can weigh in on the debate. 

At any rate, hopefan, don't let the thoughts of one person sway you from what you do and write.  As you stated, there are a great many people who may not post, but certainly do read what is written.  Keep up the good work!

[GCBball13]

GC will you be making it to Fulton if the Panthers do in fact pull off the improbable?

Blue, 7:30am class on Friday does not make it an ideal situation, but if GC does make it, I am planning on going out to cheer them on! (You only live once, right?)

However, I do agree with what you said in your previous post... I just have a bad feeling that Webster is going to put it together tonight to seal up the last spot...

Hope, sorry to hear about your situation.  It's unfortunate that someone would stoop that low...
I do appreciate the time you put into this board though.  I had been reading for the last month or so and really enjoy your insight, so thank you!

[Into_the_Blue]

Well Webster gets it done and will face WC Thursday.  I'm looking forward to those matchups.

It seems as though Westminster has forgotten how to play defense. They'll need it to win Thursday.

Not expecting a ton of D in mac vs eureka. Should be entertaining! 

Congrats to the four teams left.

[hopefan]

Webster wins relatively easily.... Fontbonne cut it to 7 with 8 or 9 minutes left and had the ball, but didn't score, Webster comes down and hits a three, and I don't think it ever got any closer....  don't know if it was the game plan, but Drew Moore apparently had the green light and took a lot of shots.... finished with 29 points... nice job by Whitcombe around the basket too - hopefully his game is peaking for the tourney.... I agree with previous writers... Westmin really needs to be ready for the Gorlocks... this game is no lock.....

[Pat Coleman]

If this person disagrees with what I have to say, then get back on the board and discuss it, don't be sending emails with terminology like 'hopefan cheap shots', and 'consider the source'....  I've had it with that baloney

Exactly. FCnews, if you have something to say about Fontbonne, or about Hopefan's critiques of Fontbonne, then come on the board and say it. Hopefan's keeping this room going. What have you done to keep the dialogue going in here?

Great post, Hopefan.

[hopefan]

While the result is rendered meaningless, to the conference tourney,  still looking for a Greenville Eureka score!!!!

[GCBball13]

GC 91
EC 88

Sorry it took me so long, the game went a lot longer than expected...
EC went up big early, 28-14 and the Panthers clawed their way back into it, being up by a couple at the half.  From there, GC went up about 6 and it stayed around 6 for the rest of the game until the closing minutes.  With a TON of fouls being called, Kindred and Bell fouled out late (EC was only down 2 when Bell fouled out).  GC made their FT's and EC kept evening it up with a layup at the other end.  With a chance to put it away, GC missed 1 of 2, leaving EC in it, Leppard (I think?) had a good decent look at a last chance 3 but missed short.
Unfortunately for GC, WU won, but congrats to GC for finishing strong, and I wish Webster, Eureka, Mac, and Westmin the best of luck the rest of the season, and hopefully the SLIAC can represent well at the D3 level!

[hopefan]

Greenville beats Eureka, winning their last 4 league games, but fall short of Webster.... (once again, a prime example of why I personally advocate the 6 team conference tourney that several leagues use).
In the long run, the loss at home to fontbonne in December and the loss at BC were the games that killed them...   How's that for predictions... prior to the season, very early (last spring), my two picks for this year were Greenville and Fontbonne   -  niether make the tourney!!!!

[Into_the_Blue]

Kovach really played well last night. Vislay had another solid night as well.  Where has Sam Douglas been for PC?  33 last night, good game.  Zimmerman had another good outing as well, 11 asts, 24 pts i think, 7rebs.

[mardats]

I just want to commend the Panthers of Principia for their improved season this year. They
tested nearly every team in the conference with grit and teamwork.  While still only winning three conference games they took many teams to task until the end of the fourth quarter and ended their season by sweeping Fontbonne for the first time since joining the league and taking Westminster's last season game to a nail-biter  111-105 win. I applaud the entire team for their hard work and determination! ~ a  Faraway Fan

[Into_the_Blue]

Good writeup Mardats!  Prin did work very hard and was in a lot of games.  Who do they have coming back? 

[mardats]

From the starting lineup,Todd Zimmerman will be a Senior , Colin Angle a Junior , and Stanley Beal, a sophomore. But with a team of 9 players Prin's bench is pretty strong, Justin MacDonald a sophomore this year has been a strong shooter all along and so has Jeremy Gilman a freshman.  Expect good things next year from another Freshman , Ty Bennett.

[Into_the_Blue]

Is Jeremy Gilman Sam Gilman's brother?

[hopefan]

Preview of Westmin - Webster game

Prior
1/23/10  Westmin won at Webster  71-59    were leading at half  34-31
Both teams had tremendous Balance in scoring...  but Westmin's bench Tolson, gilmore and Rudd had 26 points, 13 boards to Webster bench 9 point, 12 boards.   Nick jones had 16 points for Webster.   overall, rebounds and turnovers are relatively even, but Westmin shoots 47% from the field, Webster 37%.... Westmin 21/29 from FT, Webster 8/13

2/10/10   Westmin won in OT at Westmin, 88-84  Westmin leading 33-29 at half
Again, Westminster has huge contribution from bench, 40 points, 13 rebounds to Webster's bench 26 point 10 rebounds.   Webster's first game without Nick Jones (Broken hand), Drew Moore has big game 26 points, 7 rebounds.
Again, rebounds and turnovers are relatively even, but Westmin shoots 55% from the field, Webster 43%.... Westmin 16/22 from FT, Webster 13/20

Point to make....  Webster has won games (theoreticly), forcing opponents to take poor shots and shoot lower than normal % from the field   -   they  have not accomplished that vs Westmin, plus they've put Westmin on the line far too much.

W/L vs 3 tourney teams
Westmin  4-2
Webster  1-5

point - Westmin has a far better record vs 3 other touney teams, but they have lost their last two to eureka and Mac

Last 6 games
Westmin is 3-3, with the wins being OT vs Webster, OT vs Greenville, and +6 vs Prin
Webster is 4-2 including the OT loss vs westmin

Likely matchups
Ortworth  Web-  Mallette  Westmin       edge Ortworth  Web
Moore Web  -  Vislay Westmin   tossup
Meeh Web  -  Millard Westmin   Edge Millard Westmin
Bradfish  Web - Kovach Westmin   edge  Kovach Westmin
Restoff  Web  -  Crawford Westmin   Edge Crawford Westmin
Bench Trippit, Whitcombe, Smith Cookson Web - Tolson, Gilmore, Rudd Westmin   Edge  Westmin


Final comment   When Webster had to go to Fulton 2 weeks ago without Nick Jones, I could not come up with any way that they could compete with Westmin  -  Except that Moore and Restoff HAD to have big games  -  they did....   just goes to show anything can happen  ... and for some reason, Westmin is on a down tick.... can they get it back?    I once again know what I expect ... but I've been wrong before.....