MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hopefan]

Very positive note received from Coach McKinney's son....  Day 1 of a 40 day process went well....
Hang in there Coach!!!!!

[hopefan]

Coach McKinney is through the first week of treatments... sounds like things got a little tougher towards the end of the first week, but that is to be expected...  great support system from the family.....  keep fightin', coach

[hopefan]

Coach, I'm gonna say that 5-4 come from behind win by the Cardinal's JV (for the most part) over the Dodgers was just for YOU....  Good luck in week 2.. keep the faith...

[hopefan]

The Cardinals keep winning for coach...  they haven't lost since Coach's treatment started!!!!!!

I understand Coach had a tough weekend with the treatments...... hang in there Coach, week 2 is almost done.....

[hopefan]

Unless you're in a pipeline of insider info, some happenings in D3 hoops will go right by you....  

This one, which was announced in May... Blows me away

Matt Rogers, former Men's coach at Maryville, has been named the head coach at D3 LaVerne in California..............     Head Coach of the Women's Basketball Program!!!!

Rogers, whose harsh critisisms of seemingly anything and everything many of his players did at Maryville hardly elicited any favorable reactions from former players, will have to turn that methodology around if he is to find happiness at LaVerne...  the ladies will melt under his constant berating rants, the constant substitutions,  a heck of a lot quicker than his men did.

I was a big fan of Matt Rogers at one time, but, well, let's say, my impression was he didn't like to hear my humble opinions....

Laverne ladies were 12-13 last season


But I'm easy, and I really do wish Matt the best of luck... I can't express how much I enjoyed some of his early Maryville teams with Bash, Klein, Regan, Hebl, Elwell and the rest...  Definitely the most fun I've had following SLIAC hoops..

[hopefan]

Several months ago, I sent 2 emails, spaced out about 3 weeks apart, to the hoops coaches of the 9 SLIAC schools....   I explained that I would like to provide some publicity for each school's incoming class of recruits, just as the CCIW room has done this summer and summers past for their recruits. I mentioned that I wanted to get the information directly from the coaches, so as not to perpetuate any rumors or falsehoods that were inaccurate.   You know, my personal efforts to give back to the SLIAC.

I heard back, all in a positive manner, from four coaches... One, Coach McKinney from Fontbonne, was more than anxious for me to post info on his recruiting class, and I will do so in the very near future.   Coaches Bunch  (Webster), Barber (Greenville), and  Mitchell (Westminster) each were very positive in their responses but asked that I hold off until end of August so as to be sure who was coming and not to impact any ongoing summer recruiting.  I understand that and look forward to contacting each in several weeks.

I was disappointed not to receive any response from coaches from the other 5 schools....   perhaps they don't read emails from May thru August, or perhaps they were already out on their yacht, heck, maybe they are in China or Europe or Africa recruiting....  But one woud think common curtesy would have dictated some kind of response, even if it was "drop dead".   The fact that I have had face to face discussions during the season with the Coaches at Mac and Eureka, and some contact with the Blackburn coach in the past makes it all the more disappointing   -  granted, the coaches from Spalding and Prin don't know 'hopefan' unless they read these pages and sense my support of the conference

Next Post....;.. Fontbonne Recruiting

[hopefan]

Well, Coach McKinney has good reason to want the word to go out about Fontbonne's recruiting.....   It appears to be the best recruiting class he's had at Fontbonne, yes, even better than the trio of Fogerty, Storandt and McKoy.... now granted, my source is infamous for seeing all things Fontbonne through rose colored glasses.... BUT, these guys are coming in with good numbers, All Conference and All District credentials, and or decent juco or college background.  It is an impressive list indeed....

Frosh :
Matt Jett  6'0" PG  Owensville  24.4 ppg  3 apg, 3 steals per game.....  first Team All State 4A, 1st Team All District 4A 2009,2010   1st Team All 4 Rivers Conf 2009, 2010
Heard on the street.... "This kid could start right away"

Tyler Garner  6'6" 2,3 man   Sullivan   15ppg  8rpg   46% 3's..........1st Team All District 4A 2010   1st Team All 4 Rivers Conf 2009, 2010   Heard on the street.... "athletic, defender, rebounder"

Alex Rowling  6'6" PF  Union     21 ppg, 12 rpg.....   1st Team All District 4A 2010   1st Team All 4 Rivers Conf 2009, 2010   Heard on the street...."mobile big man, good hands"

NOTE....Jett, Garner, and Rowling played on same AAU team for two seasons...

Jon Connell  6'3" Guard   St James   12.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg    1st Team All District 3A 2010   1st Team All 4 Rivers Conf 2010     Heard on the street...."shooter, athlete, defender"

John Bell  6'1" guard    Sullivan    11.8 ppg, 5 rpg, 5apg   2nd Team All District 4A 2010   1st Team All 4 Rivers Conf 2010

Yes... amazingly, 5 1st team 4 rivers All conference


Brendon Dowdy   6'5" Forward    Rolla    16.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg    1st Team All District 5A 2010   1st Team All Ozarks Conf 2010     56% shooter

Johnny Mudd  6'1" pg    Newburg    16.6 ppg, 7 rpg, 5apg     1st Team All District 5A 2010   1st Team All Frisco Conf 2010

Eric Jenkins  6'5" 2,3,4 man  Eureka...  1st Team All Suburban South....   Hopefan says... "Plays hard, plays smart... Craig Kennedy one of top HS coaches in area"

Kyle Roehler   6'2" Guard   Sullivan    2nd team All Conf   4 rivers

That's 9 frosh all with solid hs background, each All Conference, 7 All District...

AND THEN, how about the transfers...

Jarred McKoy.....6'1" point guard  from Maryville..... exciting Point guard who can really run the court and create... great hands, good d....   hasn't played in 2 years, but was a real good kid at Maryville who finally couldn't take it anymore....  I REALLY hope he gives it one more shot...

Raymond Wood  6'8"   East St Louis, attende Seward JC in Kansas, but got hurt....
heard on the street... "a beast"

Sokulu Dioum   6'6" Nigeria  Oakton JC    heard on the street... "perhaps best vertical in SLIAC"

Ryan Wojtowicz  6'8" Kennedy HS... Merrimac CC.... "a sleeper - but just maybe"

Andrew Chism... Central Methodist....  Had been first Team All District at Rolla..."He can play"

Jeff Hinshaw....  played on Westminster JV last year

That's 15 new faces!!!  add that to at least 10 returners, each who has to prove they deserve a spot on the team, much less time on the court, and you get what should be some spirited sessions in the gym in September-October....

[hopefan]

Readers........Please continue to keep Coach McKinney in your thoughts and prayers....  the battle is a very tough one right now......

[Denny McKinney]

Hopefan Thank You very much for your comments and Prayers.

Tomorrow morning Dad starts his final six days of chemo. This is the toughest section of the battle. Monday - Friday and following Monday he will get 4 hours of chemo and a raidiation treatment. Then he is done. Last week was suppose to be a build up week. Instead it was spent battling a high fever. His white blood cell count has bounced from critical after first series to the High portion of Normal. That is the important part.

A Huge shout out to Coach Barber and Coach Faulkner of Greenville. Your visit to the hospital was a "Special Visit". Your guys prayers and those of the students and faculty of GC have seen him through this twice. I have no doubts your third won't be another victory. FU and GC will always have a great relationship.

Thank you for the Prayers, flowers, calls, cards, emails............. Each one meant a lot.

Last Dr. visit is August 19th. That gives him two months to get ready for another season.

God still has plans for him and they must be important. Thanks, Again.

[Denny McKinney]

We are down to 5 treatments remaining. Six hours today. He handled it well.

I would like to send out family prayers for Coach Spoonhaur, Jay and the entire family. You are in our prayers.

Coach was diagnosed with a lung disease that will require a transplant. The Las Vegas resident is staying in Durham NC. Duke Medical Center will be doing the transplant. Coach is on a waiting list.

One of the great personalities in the Coaching Business. Use to come to the lake and dine at my restaraunt back in his Springfield days.

[y_jack_lok]

If you haven't already done so, go to www.sliac.org and check out the terrific new look of the conference website.

[Denny McKinney]

I did notice that Yjak. I hear there may be live stat possibilities. Also, Fontbonne is powering up a new Website. Athletic portion should be greatly improved.

[y_jack_lok]

Good to know about the FU website. I've found that one a bit frustrating to use.

[Denny McKinney]

Update on Coach McKinney:

Dad has completed his treatments. It was a battle to the end. Doctors don't want to see him for a month. He is a walking testimonial of the Power of Prayer.

The out pouring of love and concern, from former players, student athletes, families and friends has been overwelming. From incoming freshmen calling to see if they could mow yard to meals prepared for Mom by parents and friends. It's all been unbelievable.

Time to get his strength back and get ready for another season. Thanks to EVERYONE. We'll see ya at the games.

[hopefan]

I quickly checked the new site - Noticing the campus photos of each school - most are attractive (Greenville and Westmin in particular caught my eye), but the shot of Principia is a HOME RUN!!!