MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hopefan]

Bunchman's writeup was missing a name or two that I felt would play primetime roles for Webster this year, so i had to check the posted roster.... Disappointed to see that the 6'5" kid from Ohio (freshman) is no longer there... I was hoping he would be first off the bench to spell Griffin and Miller as key boardmen... not sure whether a JV roster has him, or he already called it quits... that leaves Hunter Ward to move to PF when necessary, or perhaps Leonard Smith, who got some minutes last year until he injured his shoulder.... The Gorlocks are hurting for size behind Griffin and Miller, but sure have an overflow of guards/small forwards... another name not mentioned whom I think will get a shot is Taylor Walton.. remember, he was actually starting at the 3 last year until Hunter Ward became eligible in the 2nd semester, and he played a role off the bench two years ago....

[y_jack_lok]

Thanks for that info, BunchTime. Nice to have someone with your connection identifying the new guys likely to contribute the most. I think a key for Webster this year is going to be guard play, especially early in the season. Someone like Hollis Edwards is hard to replace. While all three returning sophomore guards saw ample action last season and did well, replacing a senior guard like Edwards with sophomores always leaves me with a question mark until we see some games. I wonder if one of the transfer guards (Dunn or Henry) might find his way into the starting lineup at the beginning of the season.

[BunchTime]

Y_jack, I think the Gorloks will be fine despite Edwards departure.  No knock on Hollis, who had a very good career, but the 3 PGs (4 if you include Dunn) are more than capable to fill in.  At times down the stretch, I think Edwards struggled a bit and was careless with the ball.  This team certainly doesn't need a scoring PG, but rather someone who can take of the ball, play solid defense, and distribute the rock to the scorers.  Like I said, the biggest challenge for Coach Bunch and the staff will be to keep everyone happy with PT and getting their shots.  If this team buys in and they play as a cohesive unit, look out. 

[y_jack_lok]

Hollis definitely had his moments when it seemed like his head wasn't in the game. And I agree that the guard play on offense will be okay given the other potential scoring strengths of the team. Hollis wasn't a huge scorer, either. But experience helps on both ends of the floor and seniors have more than sophomores or freshmen. I watched you play for four years and you were much better as a senior than any other year. If any of last year's freshmen guards had been better than Hollis they would have played more. That's why I'm interested in how the guards do early in the season. If things go well this year, then 2015-16 has the possibility of being even better assuming everyone remains healthy, injury free, academically eligible and decides to stay and keep playing.

[BunchTime]

Well said, y_jack.  I concur.

Hope, the freshman you speak of did in fact call it quits. 

As for as front court depth for the Gorloks, it appears Leonard Smith, Hank Hawkins (who played in nearly every game), and some of the smaller, athletics wings like Tevin Evans or Kenan Haywood can spell Griffin and Miller.  I really don't think depth in either the backcourt or front court will be an issue with this squad. 

[y_jack_lok]

This conversation has me anxious for the start of the season. And this year, unlike the last two years, I won't have to miss the men's home opening weekend. Starting to count the days.

[ecreddevils]

EC probable starting lineup:

G- Greg Kent 5' 10" JR. (transfer from Black Hawk JC)
G- Seth Wickert 6' 3" SR.
F- Ian Saathoff 6' 5" FR.
F- Parker Gibson 6' 6" SO.
F- Sam James 6' 4" SR.

Others possibly factoring into the rotation:

Marious Lobdell 6' 0" SR.
Mike Sain 5' 10" JR.
Brandon Gossett 6' 0" JR.
Nick Finney 6' 3" SR.
Zac Hansen 6' 2" FR.

[hopefan]

EC   thanks.... does Eureka have an exhibition game in the next two weeks?

[hopefan]

SLIAC readers... I'd like to point out there are two pages elsewhere with discussion of whether Webster, or schools like Webster (a team with great potential in a historically weak conference) merit consideration in D3hoops top 25... you might want to check it out...   it's in the multi regional basketball area, top 25 talk room....   it's interesting stuff.....

[hopefan]

Word on the street...
Ian Saathoff a real catch for Eureka... recruited heavily by CCIW schools... could be the impetus to getting Eureka back to the conference tourney..
JC recruit Chris Davis could make a big impact at Blackburn if he can maintain his FOCUS...
Two big men from McKendree transfer to Westminster, providing some much needed size.. who's going to play point for the Jays
Big time transfer will appear at start of second semester for one of the contending teams may have major impact on Conference standings.

New faces could catch Eureka, BC up to Conference Tourney contenders... it's going to be a heck of a season....who's to say who will be top four... seemingly only Iowa Wesleyan and Principia are behind the rest....and Prin got a kid from Texas who is compared favorably to Kenny Sydness!!

[hopefan]

Incidentally.. I mentioned Kenny Sydness of Principia in my last post... just noticed Kenny is now an Assistant Coach at Prin learning under Mike Bushong....  will be good to see him still representing Principia.. good kid, good player...

[y_jack_lok]

So, hopefan, does any of this new info alter your ideas about how you would rank the SLIAC from top to bottom? I know in the past you have created some tiers, or groupings, of schools that you think are at the top, middle and bottom of the conference. Do you have enough info now to take a first shot at that? And will we be seeing the "hopefan rankings" again this season?

[hopefan]

So, hopefan, does any of this new info alter your ideas about how you would rank the SLIAC from top to bottom? I know in the past you have created some tiers, or groupings, of schools that you think are at the top, middle and bottom of the conference. Do you have enough info now to take a first shot at that? And will we be seeing the "hopefan rankings" again this season?

So many faces I haven't seen... another thing I just noticed is that Spalding roster is up.. including 10 frosh, 5 of them in the 6'3"-6'7" range... also noticed big man Taylor King, who saw some time in the middle for Spalding last year, is not on the roster... So beyond Brandon Gabriel and Brandon Going, Experience is pretty light... 

Think we'll have to see a week or two of games to sort out the 'middle 7'.... and one of those teams will be getting much better in second semester....

[y_jack_lok]

So at this point are you willing to name the top three and other seven? Not asking for an actual ranking. Just name the ones you see as "top three" and "other seven". Alphabetical order would be fine.

[hopefan]

So at this point are you willing to name the top three and other seven? Not asking for an actual ranking. Just name the ones you see as "top three" and "other seven". Alphabetical order would be fine.

Wrong - Top 1 and bottom 2
at this point, I have no clue whom I name as number 2 and beyond, until we get to 9 and 10, which would obviously be (in alphabetical order) Iowa Wesleyan and Principia...  Almost afraid to name no.1 team given the abuse I took over in the top 25 room