MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Gregory Sager]

One thing for sure that Westmin needs to be ready for is the rowdy portion of the Wash U fan base...  the boys in the corner in their fatigues are loud, entertaining to most, but most decidedly unfriendly to opposition and officials.  It is something that Westmin has not experienced previously!!!!

Word on the UAA board is that Wash U is on spring break this coming weekend, and that the student section will be significantly thinned out.

[WUPHF]

I'll do a comparison of the two teams...

I have been reading your posts all season long and I can only remember disagreeing with you once, over something very small.  I think it was in regards to the Washington University-Webster game.

I know more about the Churchill speech and the Berlin wall than I do the Westminster squad.  I cannot wait to hear what you have to say.

Spring Break does start this weekend, but expect a good number of fans here on Friday.  Less on Saturday if they win.

[WUPHF]

"From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended..."

Hopefan: at this point, I still know more about the famous Churchill-Westminster graduation speech.  You got two more days for a head to head summary. 

[hopefan]

ok   Westmin at Wash U

Right off the bat - a real hangup   -  how good is Westminster, really?   hard to tell... when you're the best team in the SLIAC, you really haven't had much of a chance to play the big boys, so there is no way to tell whether the parts of the game that were so effective during the season will be effective against Wash U.  I liken it to Fontbonne last season, where an experienced Fontbonne squad with every reason to hope for NCAA success got manhandled by Wheaton.  Westminster hasn't played a D3 team all season that even sniffed an NCAA bid (though they did play a D1 team and D2 team).... are they really ready for 'the next level'?   If not, this game could be a blow out...

HOWEVER, man for man, talent wise, There doesn't seem to be that much of a difference.... Westmin hasn't seen a precise offence like that of Wash u's - they'll have to be ready or they're going to be giving up layups....  on the other hand, Westmin has a solid head coach in Matt Mitchell who always prepares his team well, so they may be up to the task.   And i worry about Westmin scoring... they can't rely on one on one stuff  (Kovach, Vislay)... Wash U is too good... they need to stay in their offense and get good shots.

Both teams have excellent benches... buy the difference here is that Westmin's bench is two frosh, + Gilmore whoo plays 3 quarters of the game...  Wash U has 4 upper classmen who have contributed big time to one or two National Championships..

I would define both teams as above average athletic....  no edge either way..... Vislay will be the superior leaper on the floor, but Richter is a close 2nd....


So... hypothetical matchups....

Wallis Wash U vs Kovach Westmin...   not as big of a difference as one might expect...  Kovach has to value the ball if Wallis is defending him... Wallis sneaky quick, anticipates.  And good defense against Wallis is absolutely critical for Westmin... make him shoot from outside and hope he isn't hot... prevent the dribble penetration and pass to open man in the offense.  Heck... lots of luck, Wallis is just really good

Thompson Wash U va Crawford Westmin.....   Thompson lost his stroke midseason and may have cost himself All American honors, but he seems to have found it in the last two weeks....  Crawford is quick enough and smart enough to give him problems...  Can't let up on him.. Aaron can disappear for 7 or 8 minutes, then bang, 10 points in 4 possessions.....

Kelly Wash U  -  Mallette Westmin....   Mallette doesn't get a lot of minutes, but in a couple of games has gotten Westmin off to a fast start by stepping out to the perimeter and nailing several 3 pointers...  he needs to be guarded.   Kelly is a work horse in the middle for Wash U and also splits time about evenly with Toth.  His numbers are down a bit since he came back from being ill with mono, but he still gets the job done.  curious how he would fair against Westmin's Backup, Gilmore, who seems quicker, better jumper... but Kelly is tough... played so well in the tourney last year....

Gay Wash U - Vislay Westmin     Gay has come on incredibly this year... from a little used bench man at beginning of the season to a critical part of the offense through the final 2/3 of the year.  He has saved Wash's butt this year, especially after Knepper went down with a concussion.  Still though, vislay should have an advantage with his quickness...  there is a chance Vislay could really go off for some points beating  Gay to the basket.  I know, Gay long arms smart d, but if advantage is to be advertised, I think Vislay has it...

Smith  Wash U   -  Millard Westmin    Great matchup....   Smith is a favorite of mine because he just plays so tough and hard....  Millard is a favorite because he has played so well in the big games....Millard has scored big in conference tourney games and need to continue.  Smith makes it very difficult for people to score big if he's guarding them...


Bench  Wash u  Richter, Ross Kelly, Knepper, Toth;   Westmin  Gilmore, Tolson Rudd    that bench for Westmin is extremely impressive in the SLIAC, but not so when compared to Wash U's bench.   given that gilmore will play most of the game for Westmin, I think Westmin getting any kind of lift from the two frosh is unlikely...  Wash U, heck they don't miss a beat when their guys come in...

and so....    with one exception (visly gay, which is pretty even), there is, as I see it, a pretty big advantage for Wash U personnel over Westmin......   I would be thrilled for Westmin to be competitive, or score the upset of the ages, but I think this will be a 75-60 type game.....

[hopefan]

now that i have set myself up for ridicule on the Wash U - Westmin writeup...  is there anyone out there who could comment on the Vislay situation...  Blue implied it was a no big deal ejection, but .... IS HE PLAYING?   let's hope so... there are levels of 'problems'... this didn't seem at the level that should keep him from playing.....

[hopefan]

AC Slater... i see you out there.. will you be there on friday night... let me know...

[Into_the_Blue]

Good writeup Hope.  WUH maybe I was probably wrong to say that WC would be more athletic.  That is my fault.  WC is very athletic, but without seeing WashU with my own eyes I shouldnt compare the two. 

As for Vislay's situation...all that I know comes from credible sources.  Coaches at the game from multiple schools, parents of both teams players (with video of the play), and players involved from both teams say that Vislay did not throw a punch or act in such a way as to get ejected. 

Apparently he tried to take a charge, the players went down, there was a scrum for the ball and in trying to come up with the ball the refs determined that Vislay had acted so inappropriately that he needed to be ejected.  According to many involved, this play should not have been a big deal and definitely should not have led where it has.   At this time he is not eligible to play Friday. 

As far as I know the rule is that a player ejected must sit out the teams next game.  However I do believe that a team can appeal this situation and try to get the ruling reversed so that the player is eligible.  A source tells me WC is appealing the ruling with many credible sources and video from different angles.

So with about 1 minute left in the conference championship and a national tournament berth on the line the refs thought that the best option was to eject a kid.  I wasnt there but from all the angles Ive heard the refs definitely were not correct in their judgement.  Its a shame.

[hopefan]

THAT is totally absurd....  I can only hope that the SLIAC commissioner is doing EVERYTHING possibe to have this further reviewed...  Would give anything to see the tape and form my own opinion...  I am so sorry for Vislay and Westmin if it ends up that way...  if it does I can only remind Westmin to look back at their game with Webster when Webster's nick Jones was lost with the broken hand.... it generated optimum games from the rest of the kids and they almost pulled an incredible upset over Westmin...  take strength in that and do the same..... 

[WUPHF]

now that i have set myself up for ridicule on the Wash U - Westmin writeup

You definitely did not set yourself up for ridicule.  Thanks for the thoughtful post.  It seems likely that you have had more exposure to SLIAC and Washington University basketball than anyone, with the possible exception of Westminister alum and Washington University Assistant Coach Buddy Sodemann.  And, of course, he is not posting his thoughts here.  At least not on this.

Talk about a conflict of interest though!  

Seriously though, knowing his pedigree, I have no doubt that Coach Soedemann is only pulling for one team this weekend.

[hopefan]

If Vislay is benched by the ruling, I have thoughts of a totally different game...  still one that /westmin could compete with, but rather than playing with Wash U, attempting more to control the tempo  (ie slowing it down)....   I just don't know whether a team could change their game that quickly

[Pat Coleman]

Don't forget, final three-plus hours to enter the D3hoops.com bracket challenge.

You have extra time for the women's bracket, since the first game isn't until 4 p.m. ET on Friday.

http://www.d3hoops.com/pickem/

[Into_the_Blue]

Don't forget, final three-plus hours to enter the D3hoops.com bracket challenge.

You have extra time for the women's bracket, since the first game isn't until 4 p.m. ET on Friday.

http://www.d3hoops.com/pickem/

I am very impressed with the format of the bracket challenge.  Being able to see matchups, top players, etc....very awesome!

[Into_the_Blue]

Don't forget, final three-plus hours to enter the D3hoops.com bracket challenge.

You have extra time for the women's bracket, since the first game isn't until 4 p.m. ET on Friday.

http://www.d3hoops.com/pickem/

I am very impressed with the format of the bracket challenge.  Being able to see matchups, top players, etc....very awesome!

Oops I was talking about ncaa's website.  ill check out d3hoops version tho too

[Into_the_Blue]

d3's is good too!  get in guys!

[hopefan]

Blue, you haven't mentioned it, but will you be at Wash U tonite?

WUH... I'm sure you will be there... I'll try to find you  ... but if you want to catch me during first game, I'm usually upstairs, behind the benches, center court, tonite ble plaid shirt, glasses,  dark hair with 'just a little' gray.

Yjak - hope you'll be there....

And commish, if you're reading this, hope we can chat......  I think I know who you will be rooting for in both games....