MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Denny McKinney · February 05, 2014, 11:41:11 PM

Westminster gets the win. Nice to have a Senior to go to when you need a basket. Joe James answered the call every time in the 2nd Half. The Moore Kid led the way in first half. Very Nice looking player. Very Nice. GC just didn't convert when they had chances. Plus, why did the Panthers keep getting away from the low block play? WC had no answer for GC's Bigs. WC is going to have a hard time against anyone with a strong post game. Great video feed, again.

Not a match up tomorrow nite that would interest me. Go Griff's!!!

formersliaccommish · February 05, 2014, 11:49:52 PM

Doug Faulkner is one of the nicest guys in D3 athletics but he could be tough when the situation called for toughness. He built a solid program at Greenville, has, or had, the best office in the SLIAC, and made a legion of friends everywhere.

Ron Zetcher was a terrific pitcher at Washington University. In those days WU and SLU would play once a year, at the old Sportsmans Park on North Grand where the Cardinals played for decades, and Zetch threw a nine inning no-hitter at SLU in 1960. He was also a very good basketball referee who worked a bunch of D1 NCAA Tournament games and was a fine Supervisor of Basketball Officials in both the SLIAC and D2 MIAA.

Denny McKinney · February 06, 2014, 12:09:22 AM

Well said, Coach.

hopefan · February 06, 2014, 07:17:23 AM

Disappointing performance by Greenville last night...as Denny noted, no one really stepped up when GC had to have it, and the usually strong bench contributed little... Coach Barber tried to get his kids to push the ball inside, but instead we saw 6'8" frosh Nick Trisko shooting 3 point rocks and 5'5" Alex Mumphard getting shots blocked in the lane .. very backwards...

A couple weeks ago, I mentioned it might be worth a try for Westmin to start a fourth Guard, Jordan Jones, as Westmin's big men were contributing little scoring punch.. coach Mitchell went with it, and it gave Westmin a speed and athleticism advantage over Greenville that didn't show in their first meeting. For Westmin to beat anybody in the top 5, all 3 of their big 3, Lee, James, and Moore have to be clicking, and Jones gives them scoring potential too.. it also keeps Lee working more from15 feet, where he is far more effective than he is when hanging around the 3 point line... Lee James and Moore get 60 between them, and Jones adds 9.. with that combo each contributing, they can play with anyone in the league.... and in fact, when Sub Tanner Gentges was in the lineup, Westmin had 5 guards playing at once....

Westmin's win over Greenville may very well lead to a tie for the fourth and final spot in the conference tourney.. Gville and Westmin split their games vs each other, both have won all games vs the bottom 5, and have yet to beat Spalding, Mac, or Webster.. if that continues through the end of the season, the commish will have to figure out a tiebreaker... they should let hopefan flip the coin!!!

And what a difference the homecourt makes - my comments after Greenville's win over Westmin onn Jan 11 were: "Westmin, as I thought might be the case... was no match for Greenville... never close.. Greenville too athletic, too quick, too deep, too good... this could be the panther's year... haven't seen the jays so out of a league game in a long time... one comment on them.. I like Jordan Jones for Westmin.. could the Jays go to a 4 guard lineup (James, Lee, Jones, and Moore)? Their young big men aren't giving them many positive stats anyway... Greenville goes 8 or 9 deep, all contributing, and Coach Barber loves to use that bench..."

Now Westmin beats Greenville in Fulton, and I mention above that Jordan Jones made Westmin quicker and more athletic than Greenville, and that Greenville's bench contributed little in the loss

Goes to show you never can tell...

One other 'amusing' sidelight regarding last night was Coach Barber's attempted adjustment coming out for second half.. GC SHOULD have been able to win this game by dominating the inside game, but hadn't in the first half.. so he starts 5'5 Alex Mumpherd, along with 6'8" Trisko, 6'5" Metzler, 6'5" Rollins, and 6'6"Harris... it looked good one or two times on offense, but that group's attempt to play a pressing defense was an abysmal failure, and the plan was quickly abandoned...

hopefan · February 06, 2014, 09:39:05 AM

Will be at Fontbonne to see the Griffs take on Eureka tonight... hoping for a strong Fontbonne performance that could generate continued potential for the Griffs to still challenge for a playoff spot... I know unlikely.. but IF the Griffs were able to defeat Greenville and Westminster 2nd time around, and they continue to beat the bottom 4 (including eureka tonight), there would be a Three way tie, with Fontbonne, Westmin, and Greenville each splitting with the other, not losing to the bottom 4, and not beating the top 3.... once again, hopefan is available for all coin tosses....

ecreddevils · February 06, 2014, 10:31:58 AM

Quote from: hopefan on February 06, 2014, 09:39:05 AM
Will be at Fontbonne to see the Griffs take on Eureka tonight... hoping for a strong Fontbonne performance that could generate continued potential for the Griffs to still challenge for a playoff spot... I know unlikely.. but IF the Griffs were able to defeat Greenville and Westminster 2nd time around, and they continue to beat the bottom 4 (including eureka tonight), there would be a Three way tie, with Fontbonne, Westmin, and Greenville each splitting with the other, not losing to the bottom 4, and not beating the top 3.... once again, hopefan is available for all coin tosses....

EC is a team in disarray right now. Hoping for an inspired "us against the world" performance tonight that likely won't happen. First game was close but right now EC just does not have the horses inside to defend size. Greenlee and Degeare could be primed for big games.

hopefan · February 06, 2014, 01:03:41 PM

Quote from: ecreddevils on February 06, 2014, 10:31:58 AM
Quote from: hopefan on February 06, 2014, 09:39:05 AM
Will be at Fontbonne to see the Griffs take on Eureka tonight... hoping for a strong Fontbonne performance that could generate continued potential for the Griffs to still challenge for a playoff spot... I know unlikely.. but IF the Griffs were able to defeat Greenville and Westminster 2nd time around, and they continue to beat the bottom 4 (including eureka tonight), there would be a Three way tie, with Fontbonne, Westmin, and Greenville each splitting with the other, not losing to the bottom 4, and not beating the top 3.... once again, hopefan is available for all coin tosses....

EC is a team in disarray right now. Hoping for an inspired "us against the world" performance tonight that likely won't happen. First game was close but right now EC just does not have the horses inside to defend size. Greenlee and Degeare could be primed for big games.

You are a good fan EC... I feel your pain... Hopefully Coach Wilde's recruiting gets back on track this year and the program begins to build a foundation that can grow to the level it has seen in previous seasons... We have one solid program that has really crashed in Blackburn, I surely hope EC doesn't fall to that level too... the league is so much better if EC and BC are also competing for top 4 spots... (and it will give me many more alternatives for games to see!!!!)

Denny McKinney · February 06, 2014, 05:36:58 PM

Hopefan you are a trooper. That will be two tough games to watch, Back to Back. I sure would hope tonites game is a W for the Griff's. EC has fallen off the DIII map. FU should have a field day. Sorry ecreddevil, but EC only has 2 wins all year. I know the Griff's are not far ahead with 4. But, Hopefan believes this group of Griff's will compete for top 4 in the future. They don't want to take a step backwards now.

I hope the FU video feed is better tonite. Probably will try catching the first half. Go Griff's keep the streak alive.

Dutch32 · February 06, 2014, 08:28:14 PM

Quote from: Denny McKinney on February 06, 2014, 05:36:58 PMI hope the FU video feed is better tonite.

I've tried to watch the women's game on two different computers. I don't think you're going to have much luck.

Denny McKinney · February 06, 2014, 09:18:21 PM

I've got a feed now ECRD.

Denny McKinney · February 06, 2014, 09:30:43 PM

What a tough game to watch. FU leads 13-2 after 10 minutes.

Denny McKinney · February 06, 2014, 09:53:31 PM

Fontbonne leads 36-23 @ half. EC just doesn't have anyone who can shoot. But, FU usually fouls as opposed to moving their feet and playing "D". That's all I can watch. I looked at the back of Hopefan's head for a half. He had his pen and paper going, so I'm sure he'll have more.

EC- It wasn't Greelee and Degreare. They went into Greenlee about twice and for 6'8 Degreare never gets inside of 10'.

hopefan · February 06, 2014, 11:41:13 PM

Denny... did my bald spot show? the horror!!!!

From what I saw tonight, I don't think Westmin or Greenville need to worry about a Fontbonne challenge...

Was with the commish... if indeed Westmin and Greenville finish tied, having split their games and both losing 6 to the top 3 and winning 10 from the bottom 5... I would bet that no one could tell me the unique tiebreaker that is to be used ... I doubt that any other conference has used it... and it is brand new.. it is real... any guesses?.... I'll divulge in a day or two... and in a situation where all else is tied within the conference, it's an interesting method....

Joevegas · February 07, 2014, 12:38:19 AM

Both eureka and fontbonne aren't real good. Shafer needed to empty the bench a lot sooner in this game. Hopefan. Can they win two or three more games

y_jack_lok · February 07, 2014, 08:15:29 AM

Quote from: hopefan on February 06, 2014, 11:41:13 PM
Denny... did my bald spot show? the horror!!!!

From what I saw tonight, I don't think Westmin or Greenville need to worry about a Fontbonne challenge...

Was with the commish... if indeed Westmin and Greenville finish tied, having split their games and both losing 6 to the top 3 and winning 10 from the bottom 5... I would bet that no one could tell me the unique tiebreaker that is to be used ... I doubt that any other conference has used it... and it is brand new.. it is real... any guesses?.... I'll divulge in a day or two... and in a situation where all else is tied within the conference, it's an interesting method....

I thought the final tiebreaker, after exhausting all other possibilities, was a coin toss. If it's something other than that I can't wait to learn what it is.