MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hopefan]

Pat... that's really... weird...  Big Red must have gotten rid of his own stuff....

Big Red, we hardly got to know you.....

[hopefan]

A D3 fan I ran into at a game the other day (who was obviously on the uneducated side of D3Hoops) loudly lectured me on how this was the year that the SLIAC would get 2 teams into the tourney...  Westminster and Webster.....  I calmly explained how the system works, but he was pretty steadfast in his belief.....  here is some data to support my stance...

Massey ratings of all D3 schools:

the SLIAC is rated lower this year than at any time I can remember...  43 out of 45 D3 conferences

of 411 D3 schools
Sliac schools rate:

Webster    145
Westminster 224
Spalding  277
Greenville   306
MacMurray  326
Fontbonne   384
Principia    389
Eureka   402
Blackburn   404

Signature wins???   There are none...  SLIAC teams have not beaten an NCAA D3 team with a winning record this year....   Webster's win over Wash U was huge for our league, but the fact is Wash U is off to a horrendous start for that program, 2 games under .500, as the team struggles to find winning combos after losing so much to graduation....   I will note that Wash U rated 96 in Massey, so yes a great win....   Best record of a NCAA team we've beaten  Westmin over Central (Iowa), who is 7-7

The enjoyment of SLIAC hoops is clearly the competition within the conference, the race for a conference tourney spot, the conference tourney itself..... success in the NCAA tourney would be a dream come true, but the close losses that Westminster and Fontbonne provided in recent years won't likely happen often.....

[Denny McKinney]

Thanks for the work supplying the above info Hopefan. Is this the season the WU squad rewards Coach Bunch with a much deserved trip to the NCAA's?

[hopefan]

Hope I've kept all the readers entertained, as I sure haven't generated much writing from anyone...  Denny and I will have to start fighting again... at least we get an occasional complaint then...

anyway, with the day off today, but a busy rest of the week, I better start talking about upcoming games....

Spalding at Prin...  no the long trip won't impact Spalding in this one... they'll win....this game is Tuesday, watch the weather....

BC at Fontbonne... BC has been bad on the road, in conference, everywhere since 2 early season close losses to Mac and Robert Morris Springfield.  Font played well for 35 minutes vs Greenville... with the right people on the court, playing at that level, this win should be easy.  Just hope they don't think it's in the bag... they need to blow somebody out....

Mac at Greenville....  Mac's wins close over Fontbonne at home and at Prin this past week just aren't what I expected....  Greenville showed me so much athleticism and heart in the win at Fontbonne, I have to give them the edge....  some good matchups here though with Agomo and Hilliard against Burton and Robertson....  McClellan has a big edge on McBride, but I think Jonas just might step up his game...  Seaton vs Lee both are so quick....if Trager stays hot it's a big edge....  both benches used liberally, and I think I like Greenville's a little better...  Greenville gets this one close... it's one I'd like to see.....

of course the big game is Westmin at Webster...  this would be a battle of undefeateds except for Mac's fantastic win earlier over Webster....  This could mean that Webster will have to beat Westmin twice to collect home court in the tourney, so this game is extremely crucial to Webster.. of course Westmin would love to keep the thought of an undefeated conference season alive... so it's critical to them too...
the matchups..   Ill go through them the next time.....
 

[Denny McKinney]

FU JV 79  McKendree JV 63

FU was led by Kyle Roehers 18, Bell 15, Connell 11, Jenkins 8 and Lisch had 2.

[hopefan]

good for Kyle Roehers.... in the original writeups of recruits, he was pretty much downplayed compared to a number of the others...

Doesn't look like either of the big kids are doing much.... are they playing, or injured?  (Wojtowicz, Rowling )

Lisch 2   uh oh

[Denny McKinney]

Bell and Connell were in that report, also. Ryan Wojo had 9 last nite. Alex Rolwing was on the injured list I posted awhile back. Rolwing is done for the year with broken foot. Matt Jett has upcoming schoulder surgery. Chism has just returned to practice from knee surgery and quad injury. His status in the process does not allow him to set out the season. I don't know how far he can come. Great shooter.
Ahern is out with torn lowere leg tendon.

John Reese and med staff decided before season for him to rest chronic ankle problems this year.

Jenkins will play on the JV road game tonite at Greenville. He needs minutes. Needs to adapt to the pace of play and his hearing situation. He has all the tools and his Dad hired Fogerty as a personal trainer for Eric this coming summer.

The three I thought who could contribute right away. Jett, Rolwing and Garner. Tyler is growing into his role and still learning.

Dan had some assists and played hard.

[Denny McKinney]

Thurday Nite FU JV hosts Concordia. Lisch, Jenkins and Woods will be playing in that one. Ray needs as much time as he can play to get his game sharpened. Now that he's 85% healthy. Will help in Louiville.

[hopefan]

The big game of the year to date.... Westminster at Webster....  Game is far bigger for Webster than Westminster at this stage....  Both have been playing well lately..

The matchups

point... Trimble (Web) vs Tolson (Wes)...  two of the best in the conference... Trimble explosiveness, quickness... Tolson savvy, consistant....  if Trimble is on one of his hot steaks from outside, he's virtually unstoppable, because he can blow by you if you play him tightly... Tolson just plays so smart, fits into Coach Mitchell's offense well, good shooter, good shot selection...    
Tolson has scored a little more in conference, Trimble better assists, assists/turnover ratio
this is a tossup... but I'd go with Willie

2 guard.... Restoff (Web) vs James (Westmin)   more or less role players to the dominant point guards on their respective teams, either of these guys can hurt you from the 3 point line if people sluff off of them...  Restoff has picked his spot to make some big shots this year...  again close, but I'd go with the senior who has a little more size... restoff

3 spot.... Jones (Webster) vs Vislay (Westmin)  ....  Vislay is more capable of a big game, but darn, I see him disappear for stretches, and take what I see as bad shots....  not so much from Nick Jones... Vislay really jumps, but I just like Jones running the court and fitting into the offense more than Jake's one on one stuff......

4/5    Let's match Huskey (Webster) vs Gilmore (Westmin)...   Huskey hasn't had the success he had prior to his ankle injuty... teams know his one or two offensive moves and have made him look awkward at times... Gilmore has come on strong, and is much more athletic... runs the floor, can jump, can hit the 15 foot jump shot... Gilmore has a clear advantage here... UNLESS... Foul trouble...

4/5   Meeh (Webster) vs Weymuth (Westmin).   Similar undersized players who have great work ethics...Scoring is at a minimum for either, Meeh hit a couple of nice shots vs Wash U.....   toss up

Bench... Webster has 3 off the bench that are totally positive... Drew Moore will  play 25-30 minutes and seems to be getting it back after the foot injury at Rust; Cody Bradfish is totally dependable, and Hollis Edwards may be as quick as Willie Trimble...  Stefon Whittingham may see some time too, and is capable of getting a couple of hoops....   Westmin counters with Frosh Charlie Henderson, a player much like Huskey who has great potential, Dan Hohenstein, a very good shooter, tough nosed player who I really like, and Adam Mallette, good size, nice perimeter shooter... all in all Webster offers more

Webster home court....

2 good coaches... coach mitch is good for winning games I don't think he should... but not this one...   Webster, by more than you might think....

[GC Panther 01]

Hope and Denny, I greatly appreciate the updates, helps me keep in touch with the conference and my alma mater.  Wish I could get to more games to watch but with alot of miles between me and the games and 3 youngsters at home on top of officiating duties I don't make many.  I do look forward to watching GC at MAC next month and anxious to see the outcome of tomorrows game to "set teh tone".  If times have not changed sine I graduated there is no love lost between those 2 programs.

[hopefan]

Thanks GCpanther01... tough to be away from the alma matre... any time you have any questions regard GC, feel free to ask... I'll at least try to give you my perspective.....

[GC Panther 01]

Appreciate it Hope.  I do keep in contact with Coach Barber so get some updates there.

Just to get inducted to the room, first I'll check my grammar a little better in the future!  Second my list of favorite venues to play in. 

1 Had to be at home at HJ Long. Great crowd, always a great atmosphere.

2 Fontbonne.  Always competitive game and absolutely fantaastic facilities, probably best in the league. (appologies to any new additions).

3 Webster. Again always competitive, great campus and gym, always wished they had more seating there.

4 Macmurray.  Selfish reasons here, we always had a good rivalry and it was close to home so the family always attended.

5 Maryville U.  Again I really liked the atmosphere and had a couple decent games there.

  Less than optimum for me were Principia, beautiful campus, and my appologies to the place but seemed like you were entering a different world when you went through the gate.

  Westmister, beautiful campus but it was a forever long road trip over there and the gym seemed ancient and dark.

Blackburn, again just seemed you had entered a far away world in that gym in Carlinville.

[y_jack_lok]

I don't mean to interrupt a dialogue between hopefan and GC01. Don't want to offend anyone. hopefan is always wanting more contributors so I'll make a couple of comments regarding the venues mentioned by GC01.

First, Maryville is no longer in the conference, so we can scratch them off the list.

Westminster has renovated its gym, and seems a little friendlier for visiting teams now.

Blackburn has a nice new floor, some improved lighting, and I think a new paint job on the walls. Still has that "old gym" feel, but is nicer now.

Webster redid its floor a couple of years ago. From the "man-in-the-stands" perspective I'd think it is the easiest gym for a visiting team to play in.

Prin has always seemed like a hard gym for a visiting team to play in. Might be going up there next week. Haven't been in a couple of years, so maybe it will have some changes.

Greenville's remodeled gym is terrific and it is, as many people have noted, a great atmosphere for fans.

Haven't seen Eureka or Spalding.

Agree that Fontbonne is really nice.

Haven't been to Mac this season or last so don't know if it's changed since my last visit.

[Denny McKinney]

GCO1 - Thanks for the compliment on the FU gym. Back in the day when we had the free standing gooseneck goals. I thought it was as nice a little arena as you could find. It was a sad day when Dad was told to change goals. Just because it was to much trouble for maintance to move them for social events. Not a fan of the cieling mounted goal.

Fun Fact:
The origonal designs and layout were drawn on dinner naptkins by Dad and Dr. Dunham at Applebee's at Clayton and Big Bend. Also, through fundraising By Dr. D, then VP Mel Patton and Dad, the entire construction was paid for before it was completed.

[Denny McKinney]

Hopefan - I think it's a huge game for WU. Unless something drastic happens, I'm rooting for Coach Bunch and WU to represent the SLIAC. Coach Mitchell got his chance to Dance last year. Coach Bunch is a great coach and a better person.

But, I think for WU to win it all it has to host. For some reason WU has had it tough in post season play. Home court would be a huge plus.