MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[GC Panther 01]

Man I didnt realize they took away the gooseneck goals at FU, that is a bummer as it really added to the place.   I was a big fan of the place and always wished that GC would build a facility similar.

Y Jack glad to hear that schools are keeping up and upgrading facilities, obviously my observations were basis the years I played 97-01.  Have only since been to Blackburn once, Mac several times and GC several times. 

[Into_the_Blue]

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.

GC I'll never forget the dudes in overalls beating on 5 gallon buckets while we played.  We had to battle some tough teams and crowds over there.  

FU has great facilities but the crowd never seemed to be too wild there.  It was a fun place to play.  

Hated playing at Webster.  Not sure if it was the crowd, little gym, or that the lights seemed darker on the visitors end than the home end.  Dont know, could be imagined, but hated playing there.  It also could have been the two big hawaiians inside waiting to block all our shots.  

Mac was fun, some good crowds, good battles there.  

Prin was scary, always interesting.  I remember being in the basement locker rooms, kid hits a half court shot to win a car, and it ends up being a remote control car.  they were driving it around while we warmed up.  also got a lot of interesting nicknames from that crowd.  

The Beaver Dome was the roughest place to play. I never felt comfortable throwing the ball in in front of that crowd.  Conference tourney there senior year was wild.  

WC's gym is very nicely remodeled.  Looks like small version of Washington's court.  Also Coach Mitchell took the time to remodel the locker room using the old wooden bleachers to build lockers for each player.  It is very nice and he spent a lot of time working hard on that.  The reason the gym is called the "Historic Gym" and stays that way is because Churchill gave the Iron Curtain speech on its steps.  That's not something they're ever likely to remodel.  In the last ten years Dick Cheney, John Kerry, Ralph Nader and other notables have visited and given speeches.  Also Digger Phelps came a couple years ago as well as Ron Jeremy although he did not speak in the gym.  

I know Maryville is gone, but the kids dressed up as hot dogs, pizza, hamburgers, whatever else were fun to shoot free throws against.  That might have been the toughest shooting gym in the league but we loved playing there.  

[Into_the_Blue]

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.

What is something drastic that could happen that could cause you to not pull for Webster? I don't understand that statement, please give an example.  An earthquake?  Fontbonne get back in contention?  They're probably equally likely at this point.  

I don't care who you root for but to say that one coach is a better person baffles me.  I know this is an opinion board and obviously you have one here.  Just curious what you know about Coach Mitchell that makes him less of a good person than Coach Bunch.  

I do agree Coach Bunch is a great coach and if his team got there, would be deserving of a national tournament berth.  But I think there are a lot of really good coaches in the league who are just as deserving and probably great guys off the court as well.  I don't know that for sure though so I personally won't let who I think is a "better" person sway my decision on who I hope wins the league.  

[Denny McKinney]

Missunderstood again. I said Coach Matt got his last year. My comment "great coach and a better person." Spoke entirely about my feelings for Coach Bunch. He is a great coach and as good a coach he's an even better person. Was not a comparsion of the 2 coaches.

I have known Coach Mitchell since he came to the league. Great guy. Good Family. Was a heck of a player. Have played golf together. No slaps at him at All. Now that he's made his trip, I'd just like to see Coach Bunch get his chance to feel it.

I think it was plainly interpretted by those who had no ties to WC. But, I do respect the fact that you stood up for your Coach. +1 Karma (if I could).

[Into_the_Blue]

Missunderstood again. I said Coach Matt got his last year. My comment "great coach and a better person." Spoke entirely about my feelings for Coach Bunch. he is a great coach, but he's an even better person. Was not a comparsion of the 2 coaches.

I have known Coach Mitchell since he came to the league. Great guy. Good Family. Was a heck of a player. No slaps at him. Now that he's made his trip, I'd just like to see Coach Bunch get his chance to feel it.

Gotcha.  Worst thing about message boards is trying to understand context.

[hopefan]

I learned to read and speak "Denny-ese" long ago, and we STILL have misunderstandings

[Into_the_Blue]

I think it was plainly interpretted by those who had no ties to WC. But, I do respect the fact that you stood up for your Coach. +1 Karma (if I could).

Ya, sorry I should have read it a few more times.  Normally I'm not so defensive but couldn't figure out why someone would think Coach Mitchell isn't a good guy.  

[Denny McKinney]

Plus the New Madrid Fault is still active.

[Into_the_Blue]

Any inclement weather headed that direction?  Hope WC doesnt have any problems heading back to Fulton after the game.  Any chance storm hits STL or Illinois?

KC is shutting down.  Schools letting out early, activities canceled.  8 inches of snow expected tonight and overnight.  

[Into_the_Blue]

Plus the New Madrid Fault is still active.

That's my point, there's a good chance for both!   

[Denny McKinney]

The last I heard was weather was coming in after midnight. Should be safe travels. But, then again what do they Know. lol

[hopefan]

I think all the gyms in the SLIAC have a certain amount of charm with the exception (sorry Coach Creal) of Mac, which simply is bland....   my favorites are the oldies but goodies BC, Eureka, Westmin, and I loved exploring the hallways of Eureka and Westmin viewing many many old team and action photos....   Of course Greenville and Fontbonne are the nicest as far as floor, lighting, seating....

[Into_the_Blue]

The last I heard was weather was coming in after midnight. Should be safe travels. But, then again what do they Know. lol

It was autumn, and the Indians on the remote reservation asked their new Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was a new Indian Chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets, and when he looked at the sky, he couldn't tell what the weather was going to be. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he replied to his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect wood to be prepared. But also being a practical leader, after several days he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked,
"Is the coming winter going to be cold?"
"It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold indeed," the meteorologist at the weather service responded.
So the Chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more wood in order to be prepared. A week later he called the National Weather Service again.
"Is it going to be a very cold winter?"
"Yes," the man at National Weather Service again replied, "it's going to be a very cold winter."
The Chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of wood they could find. Two weeks later he called the National Weather Service again.
"Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?"
"Absolutely," the man replied. "It's going to be one of the coldest winters ever."
"How can you be so sure?" the Chief asked.
The weatherman replied, "The Indians are collecting wood like crazy!"

[hopefan]

now I don't want to turn this into a joke forum,  but,   +1

[Into_the_Blue]

A couple of tonights games are tough to pick.  FU should win easy if they come out focused.

I think Greenville gets a big home win here.  Theyre very good there, only losing their first home game to a tough Hendrix squad.

I think WU gets a big home win too.  WC should be really focused and if it can get a win it puts some space between itself and the rest of the pack.  I just think WU needs this more and gets it done.