MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[WUPHF]

Hoping for Westmin at Wash U....

let's have Transy and a CCIW school.. how about Wheaton.... in the other game... would be something to look forward to... if that's too good, maybe Rose Hulman instead of Transy?

You and me both.  And, with almost the entire Westminster roster built around St. Louis area players, I am sure we are not alone.  It would be a rematch of the game played two years ago.  A very close 79-71 win by Washington University.

[MObball41]

Hope, any thoughts or recap of Saturday's conf championship?

[hopefan]

If Westmin's Joe Prophet had not been injured, I wonder what we would be thinking now...   he was playing very well before the injury... and that gave them Kovachs off the bench to replace just about any position in the Westmin lineup.....  now, in the event that they face Wash U on Friday, even if they can match up with Wash U's starters, Wash U depth would likely wear them down, or foul problems could be a serious issue...

other comments looking back on the Conference tourney

The format of the All Tourney Team MUST be to have at least one player from each team on it...
and granted, there are only a few moments to vote on it...
The All Tourney Team was:
Dustin Frisch    Eureka
Roman Robinson   Webster
Clint Lee   Mac
Brady Slagle  Mac
Verdis Lee Westmin
Joe James   Westmin

I'm not too sure i agree
If there must be one player from each team...  I go with Jordan Kindred from Eureka, he sparked them into at least competing the last 7 or 8 minutes, Frisch did not influence the game... Really, Eureka should have been shut out of the voting based on their play that game...
Roman Robinson good choice for Webster
Mac...... Clayton Whitlock dominated in the Webster game, 10-12, 8 boards in a come back win... he needs to be there... Clint Lee, no... he had 0 FG against Webster, and while he hit a huge 3 vs Westmin, poor shot selection down the stretch hurt... Slagle, consistent, not exceptional in these two games, and of course, the free throws hurt big time....
If a bunch of guys from the winners deserve it, give it to them... Kovach was sensational at times in both games, was the offensive drive that Westmin had to have...and Weymouth.. holds Lessen to 3 points, holds Whitlock to 11, plus has probably a career game offensively vs Mac with 18....

Hopefan's all tourney
Weymouth
V. Lee
Whitlock
Robinson
Kovach
James   MVP


Talked to Mac Assistant afterwards... Dylan Burton couldn't play in the 2nd half as head injury started to become a problem again.... a shame, they really could have used him... he played very well vs Webster and in 1st half vs Westmin.....

the missed free throws, the poor shot selection... James shot won it, but it never should have been close enough to matter

Good crowd with both teams having to travel... student section from Mac again teriffic, though a little more mellow than on Thursday Night  (getting up at 8 on Saturday to travel to Webster likely accounting for that).
Westmin didn't seem to bring nearly as many students, but lots of Family and alums..... and the James shot and crowd reaction was pure D3... Westmin fans onto the court, the Mac kids numb.....

oh and while I think of it...I don't usually talk at all about calls from the officials, but wow, one that was critical and seemed questionable...   at 5:15 left Best steals the ball, gets it ahead to Dylan Guthrie who goes right to the hoop, EVERYONE is moving, Guthri knocked off balance, makes the layup, whistle .... offensive foul...  the hoop and a FT would have put Mac up 4, instead, up 1, Westmin scores on next possession and They're up 1...
I just could not see, wit the play right in front of me, how that could have been offensive.......ah well, that's why I'm in the stands and the guys who know are on the floor.....

Westmin... if the score is low, they're in it... and they kept the score low with great defense...  got the shots they wanted too, just didn't shoot well, until down the stretch... true team effort.....

REMEMBER... closest game by a SLIAC team in first round on the home court of their opponent  (Fontbonne's near miss of several years ago was the SLIAC's lone NCAA matchup on a neutral court)... was Westmin at Wash U 2 years ago.....   if that matchup occurs again, it could be competitive.... Wash U this year is not the Wash U of 2,3,4 years ago....

[hopefan]

UNBELIEVABLE  Westmin at HOPE....

and I can't go... work......

[hopefan]

So Westmin travels to Holland Michigan and Hope

Guys, it will be the D3 experience of your lives....

One of the nicest D3 facilities you will ever play in

The largest D3 crowd you will ever play in front of..

and, if you get a chance to meet them, some of the nicest D3 people you will ever meet....

Play your best, the same hustle and drive you showed in the conference tourney, and you will get 100% respect from the Hope crowd.....

[Mr. Ypsi]

UNBELIEVABLE  Westmin at HOPE....

and I can't go... work......

Hey, show some fan spirit!  Surely a SLIAC team playing at Hope is worth risking your job!

[MObball41]

Thanks Hopefan, good luck to Westminster in Michigan.

I agree Kovach and Weymuth deserved places on the all tournament team.

[ac slater]

Link to Joe James' shot...https://fbcdn-video-a.akamaihd.net/cfs-ak-snc6/435770/56/10150559158352133_31450.mp4?oh=85f857cdd81c007dfdabc2023cee1f37&oe=4F4D1000&__gda__=1330450432_2ca12320c5a6d09f1119ad9ea5c520e1

[hopefan]

Link to Joe James' shot...https://fbcdn-video-a.akamaihd.net/cfs-ak-snc6/435770/56/10150559158352133_31450.mp4?oh=85f857cdd81c007dfdabc2023cee1f37&oe=4F4D1000&__gda__=1330450432_2ca12320c5a6d09f1119ad9ea5c520e1

Can't get it to run on windows media..... DARN

[WUPHF]

So Westmin travels to Holland Michigan and Hope

I am surprised that the committee did not invite Buena Vista to River Falls and Westminster to St. Louis, but maybe I should not be.  I do think you should head to Holland, Michigan regardless, but otherwise, I will look for you in your usual seats in the Field House.

[sac]

Hope's DeVos Fieldhouse, it will be full guaranteed.

[Denny McKinney]

Based solely on my deep reasearch of D3Hoops Top 25 and reading a few pages of chat, I think the committee did a pretty darn good job. I thought Transy had as much right to host as Wash U. They both were rewarded. Based on a 64 team bracket theory WC vs Hope @ Hope, is your classic #1 vs #16 match up. They took full use of the 500 mile radius and avoided the temptation of SLIAC @ Wash U. WC travel group will get a once in a lifetime experience and the Pep bus will have a great time, if done right. Simalar case of FU to Wheaton in '09.

Soak it all in and enjoy the experience.

[Denny McKinney]

I agree Hopefan. If you walk out on that floor and give 110% of what you have that nite, you will always gain a of respect at the classy venue's. The game at Wheaton, Kent Raymond, it was not pretty. That being said, Fogerty went for 19 and 8 I think, anyway. And the crowd gave Brian his dues. A 6'4 PF played tough in the trees that nite. It's about showing up and playing the game. Our trip to Mississippi we had the Maryville fans clapping for us.

WC players Seniors. If you go out play flat out, leave it on the floor basketball, your life wil be better for it. No matter the out come, your after days will be easier. It's hard wondering what if?

OH And spend every last dollar the NCAA allots you. Have Fun. You've have earned the right to play in March!

[Pat Coleman]

The buzzer beater video is up:

http://www.d3hoops.com/buzzerbeaters/2011-12/index

[hopefan]

Thanks Pat, wish it had been from the other side so it would show the sequence of events, but I really appreciate you getting it on the site...... The exhileration really came through even if the camera couldnt quite catch up with the ball!!!!