MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[y_jack_lok]

Thank God for Twitter.  In what way was Fontbonne giving the Bears fits?

I don't think anyone said FU was giving them fits -- unless it was something you saw on Twitter. jaybird44 said Wash U was "struggling".

[jaybird44]

I think I mentioned "fits" in the Top 25 board.

Considering the Bears' very strong 5-0 start this season, being ahead by 2 vs. Fontbonne was somewhat surprising.  But, as Denny has mentioned, the Grifs appear to have talent and some direction by a coach who has experience at the prep and collegiate level.  And, since Wash-U and Fontbonne know each other fairly well, it wouldn't be out of the question to see the Grifs stay close at halftime and remain competitive in the 2nd half.

Without the chance to see a box score yet, perhaps my choice of "fits" may not have been the best.

[Denny McKinney]

Wash U had one T. I wonder if Coach Edwards was trying to get a point across.

[WUPHF]

I ask about the fits reference in case the the SID covering the game was giving you more details.

[WUPHF]

To the tight first half, remember too, Fontbonne did not have a game last night.

[WUPHF]

Looks like fits was probably about right.  Washington University had 22 turnovers and trailed Fontbonne by 10 but the Bears murdered Fontbonne on the boards and had a great shooting night.

[hopefan]

Each SLIAC team has two conference games this week.  Things get started tonight with Fontbonne playing at Principia.  With Prin having two frosh putting up big numbers, and Fontbonne still getting inconsistent performance from many key performers, the outcome is up in the air.  I know who SHOULD win this game, but I'm anxious to watch tonight.

[hopefan]

Font 40 Prin 29 at half

[Denny McKinney]

Thanks Hopefan +1K

[hopefan]

Final font 80 prin 65

Kissing 19
Greenlee 18
Welch 20

Ball 22
Davidson 19
Ross10

[Denny McKinney]

Thank You, Sir.

[hopefan]

a large number of thoughts on my visit to Principia last night....

I love going over to Prin to watch games, even thogh I always manage to make a wrong turn finding the gym or finding the campus exit after the game... Prin has nice fan support, the kids have a blast playing knockout at half time, and it's a beautiful gym, right at the top of the SLIAC facilities along with Fontbonne... however, wish there was a refreshment stand to get a soda or popcorn...   In getting lost last night, I ended up in the Armory parking lot, and could clearly see an indoor track in the building.. Wonder if that housed Prin's basketball court in years past?

As a SLIAC supporter who travels to most of the gyms during the season, I've enjoyed meeting many of the coaches in the league.. it's easy to tell which guys at least seem to appreciate my attendance and those who could care less... count Coach Hall from Fontbonne in the latter group, as he had his game face on and diligently studied the ladies game when I sat down next to him to say hi, receiving not much more than a hello back and a thanks 5 minutes later when I wished him good luck.. that's ok, I get it, lesson learned.  On the other hand, new Prin assistant Kenny Sydness greeted me warmly and we had a great conversation about his outlook for Prin hoops and how the conference race might shape up... Also got a big hi from Matt Jones who graduated with Sydness last year and is doing campus broadcast of Prin games.

Coach Hall may have been quiet before the game, but wow, definitely moves to the top of the ladder as far as hard working coaches during the game.. never sits down, coaching loudly the whole game.. and this isn't messing with the officials either, it's all teaching and giving direction to his players..very  impressive to me..... Coach Creal moves to 2nd place on the 'Coaching loudness' ladder...

Ladies game was a thriller, close the whole way, won in come from behind style by Fontbonne with full court pressure creating Prin turnovers in the last two minutes... poor Prin missed a wide open layup off a great pass that would have tied the game and sent it to OT.  Fontbonne has a number of quick athletic guards, but is hurting for size...

I don't go to Fontbonne practices and haven't seen many games yet this year, so this isn't a critique, but some of the player minutes were baffling to me... particularly seeing Darius Rucker hardly playing at all... I considered he and Jarred Greenly as the main components of offense and leadership for the Griffs coming into the season, so even with the arrival of Ben Kissing, hard to fathom the reduced role Rucker played last night, unless he was ill or some other circumstance... as I said though, I'm not inside the program... lots goes into these decisions that a fan is never aware of...

Turning point of the game... Greg Gentry enters the game for the first time with 13 minutes left, and a single digit Fontbonne lead moves to a 20 point lead in about 5 minutes... he does make things happen...  5 assists and 2 steals in less than 13 minutes, the 2 turnovers were easier to overlook... also fun to watch he and Prin's Larry Patterson work against each other.. both made it a challenge for the other to get the ball up the court..

Greenly and Kissing made a terrific one-two punch for Fontbonne around the basket... significant more muscle than Prin could match up against

Big man Justin Ball of Prin sat out the first 10 minutes of the game, then came in to play the rest of the way and finish with 22 points and 9 rebounds... wonder if this was a game plan to keep Ball available for the final 30, or if there was some other reason?  Ball's speed/quickness makes Clayton Whitlock look like a world class sprinter, but he does use his size nicely around the hoop for easy baskets.... I need to see Ball go against Greenville's point per minute big man Nick Tristo.. an earthquake waiting to happen!

Prin's two frosh Parker Davidson and Jeff Ross are both the real deal.. body types like the high scoring Kenny Sydness, both are real players... expect big things, but Prin desperately needs to find some help on the perimeter to get them the ball... Larry Patterson is the only true handler they have, and he's a senior... he will get help when supersub Conner Savoye returns from a wrist injury in the next couple weeks...

Speaking of Patterson... 0 assists?  with the 2 frosh and Ball all capable of scoring, Patterson doesn't have to score himself, but needs to use his quickness to penetrate and dish more often.. like Gentry....

Blake Welch has really taken advantage when the opportunity to start at the no 2 guard position presented itself... he's clearly gotten stronger this year, playing more within himself than in the past, taking good shots and hitting them... he'll be open with Greenly and Kissing forcing defenses to collapse on them.

Fontbonne starters Williams and Bakis both went down early in the second half with ankle injuries and did not return... hope both OK ... when Greenlee went down several minutes later, it looked like disaster, but it ended up being a cramp and he returned soon thereafter..

Rich Dorhauer, a blonde Mohawk?

Not able to get over to Westmin tonite to see Webster - Westmin, but hope to see Spalding at Greenville on Thursday....

[WUPHF]

Ladies game was a thriller, close the whole way, won in come from behind style by Fontbonne with full court pressure creating Prin turnovers in the last two minutes... poor Prin missed a wide open layup off a great pass that would have tied the game and sent it to OT.  Fontbonne has a number of quick athletic guards, but is hurting for size...

I noticed that Emmie Haring is ranked 9th nationally in assists.  I would not be surprised to see her stay in the Top 10 throughout the rest of her career.  She is very good.  The Fontbonne press release mentioned that Hollander was out last night.  She definitely adds size in addition to 12 points and 6 rebounds per game.

[WUPHF]

By the way, the Principia Women play with a roster of 8 while the men have 10.  Is it safe to say that these are two of the shortest benches in the nation?

Gregory Sager: I am looking at you!

[Gregory Sager]

I'll do a little research and then get back to you on that.