MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[y_jack_lok]

Just checked the article on the D3hoops home page. Kelsey Shoemake of Eureka and Brianna Rae of Blackburn are both among the women's Jostens nominees.

[Denny McKinney]

Good Job, Yjak. I'm really not that familiar with that award.

[y_jack_lok]

It's a great honor and recognition for the player and the school. Troy Ruths won it a few years back.

[WUPHF]

The MacMurray press release which offers more details as to why Clayton Whitlock was named a Jostens Trophy finalist: http://www.mac.edu/news/press_release.asp?ID=3310

[y_jack_lok]

^^^ Thanks WUH

[hopefan]

Further thanks WUH..... terrific write up on Clayton Whitlock....

You know, this brings a thought up for SIDs/Publicists in the SLIAC and elsewhere to consider... why aren't more good writeups available like this, and why do we have to learn of Clayton's good deeds only after the season... Why can't the school's online sites or basketball programs dispense info like this during the season so that fans can recognize these student-athletes for their diverse accomplishments and interests rather than just as basketball players....(Yes, I realize SLIAC.org has the interviews... I appreciate that).  One easy inclusion might be 'major' as a part of the roster info...

[WUPHF]

Clayton Whitlock has a great story, but there are certainly many more great stories to share throughout the conference.

[WUPHF]

Spalding women will give Wash U a good game.

I see what you mean...Spalding leading 32-29 at the half.

[WUPHF]

Washington University is starting to pull away, leading by 15, but Spalding is a very good team.

Emory defeated the Spalding men, 88-59 in Atlanta.

[hopefan]

Per hopefan on 1/23/2015:

"This year, it just plain is not going to happen....  I'll take whoever our champ plays, -25.. there is no chance of a repeat of the Webster near miracle of 2014...."

Emory 88  Spalding 59

[hopefan]

With the 2014-15 season concluded, let's review how much each team will be losing thru graduation.. I'm only going by roster listings... if listed as a senior, I'm assuming eligibility is complete (with one exception), if listed as an underclassman, I'm assuming the return of the player next year... I'm only reviewing those players leaving in this writeup... next fall, I'll review what's coming back.....

Blackburn :  BC lists only one senior, Can Girgin, who appeared in 7 games in 2014-15.  However, I am aware that Chris A Davis, 6'3", the transfer, left Blackburn shortly at the beginning of February, and is not likely to return... a shame this kid couldn't adapt to college life, as in the two games I saw him, he was clearly a kid who could play...Averaged 9 points, 5 rebound per game in 15 games...

Eureka  :   EC loses some significant Contribution...
               Sam James 6'4", leading scorer at 12.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg
               Seth Wickert 6'3", 2nd team All SLIAC, 10.4 ppg, 5 rpg, 4 apg
               Cody Behrens 6'1"  10.3 ppg     earned starting role 2nd half of season
               Nick Finney 6'4"  4 ppr, 3.4 rpg    6th man
Coach Wilde may well have to jump back into the JC ranks to replace this much production, unless he kept some talent hidden far down the bench....

Fontbonne :  Font shows only one Senior, Evan Johnson, 6'0"... Johnson worked his way into the starting lineup by Christmas, and played with a firey attitude that mirrored Coach Hall's tendencies.  His minutes were earned with aggressive defense, but he did get hot from the perimeter in a couple of games.  Finished averaging 6.9 ppg.  I though he deserved a spot on the All Defensive team, but it wasn't to be.

Greenville : GC loses one starter, and some significant depth from the bench...
                 Ron Harris 6'5"  1st Team All SLIAC , 14 ppg, 8.7 rpg...best athlete in the conference, I wish he could have done what was necessary to get Greenville to the Conference Tourney...
                  Austin Potts, Todd Albertson, Austin Hershberger.... Each saw sparse minutes, but were willing to contribute any way they could...

Iowa Wesleyan  :  Not a senior on the roster!!!

MacMurray   :  OUCH, second straight year of significant losses, Mac loses 3 starters and 6th man
                 Clayton  Whitlock  6'8"  1st Team All SLIAC , SLIAC Most Outstanding Player, Josten's Award Finalist,  17.2ppg, 6.3 rpg......After a horrible jr year resulting from injury and poor conditioning, he came back, all the way back... he deserved a better fate in the conference tourney...
                 Hunter Sutton  6'5"   10.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg......After serving only as a role player in his junior year, was a regular whom I thought deserved All Conference mention his senior year...
                 Dylan Guthrie  6'0"  3rd Team All SLIAC ,  14.2ppg
                 James Williams  5'11"  7.8 ppg.... 6th man, came in firin'

Principia  :  Just one.... Maybe
                 Larry Patterson  5'10"  ... 13.4 ppg, 3.7 apg.... Kept his team in a large number of games they had no right being close in... he can be proud, heck of a player....  Word on the street, just remote possibility, we may see him on the court again

Spalding  :  SU loses two criticals
                 Brandon Gabriel  6'1", 1st Team All SLIAC,  14.6 ppg....  Did extremely well with a diminished supporting crew... one of my favorites to watch, at his best slashing to the basket
                 Renaldo Moore  6'5"   9 ppg, 6 rpg.... Perhaps under achieved during the season, but his performance in Conference tournament was the little bit extra that made the difference

Webster  :  Two criticals leave, along with two off the bench
                 Ahmad Smith  6'1"  1st Team All SLIAC   15.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg
                 Aaron Griffin   6'7" 2nd Team All SLIAC  10.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg...  played with enthusiasm!!!  Tough to replace....
                  Leonard Smith 6'6" saw some time in the middle, Devon Hayes appeared in 4 games...

Westminster  : Lose two criticals
                 Verdis Lee  6'2"   7.6 ppg,  prior year  All Conference player saw his senior year mired by injuries
                 Brandon Moore  6'2"  11.5 ppg,  just couldn't do it himself....


So if I were to put the losses in buckets:

Lose nothing or next to it, ready to play tomorrow:  Blackburn, Fontbonne, Iowa Wesleyan

Losing something, but replaceable:  Greenville, Spalding, Westminster

Losing significant quality or quantity, need immediate new help  :  Eureka, MacMurray, Webster

To be determined  :  Principia... but they need immediate help with or without Larry Patterson

[ecreddevils]

Eureka  :   EC loses some significant Contribution...
               Sam James 6'4", leading scorer at 12.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg
               Seth Wickert 6'3", 2nd team All SLIAC, 10.4 ppg, 5 rpg, 4 apg
               Cody Behrens 6'1"  10.3 ppg     earned starting role 2nd half of season
               Nick Finney 6'4"  4 ppr, 3.4 rpg    6th man
Coach Wilde may well have to jump back into the JC ranks to replace this much production, unless he kept some talent hidden far down the bench....

There are two potential players who did not play this year that could be adequate replacements for Sam James (athletic, 6' 3"-ish wing) and Cody Behrens (pure long-range shooter).  EC has a solid core with Greg Kent and Ian Saathoff, possibly getting some further development out of Parker Gibson, such that the future looks good. 

Like every other SLIAC team, size is a need area. I have no idea who is interested/being recruited, but there are a good number of local posts around this area that would be a good fit.  I'm sure competition is fierce. 

With Coach Wilde's system, EC also needs shooters.  This area produces a huge number of small school marksmen, but it is tough getting them to commit to EC with so many other JC and D-III options in the area, or just going to ISU down the road as a non-player.

[hopefan]

All-region teams are out and I realize that no SLIAC player performed at the level necessary to get mention for the 3 All Region teams...

BUT

When I saw the stats of the Region's Rookie of the Year, Dominican's Tim Robertson, vs the stats of the SLIAC Rookie of the year, Principia's Parker Davidson, it did give rise to a "ahhh, Fiddlesticks!!!"

Tim Robertson Dominican... 14 ppg, 6.1 rpg,  .459 fg%, .667 ft%  Dominican record  2-23

Parker Davidson Principia  15.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg, .515 fg%, .712 ft%   Principia record 5-17

Just hoping that if the close votes are determined by slaps on the back throughout the season, that SLIAC officials didn't drop the ball here... would have been nice to see Davidson's name 'in the lights".

[Pat Coleman]

Hopefan, at this point it's just safer to assume that someone in the SLIAC did not nominate their player, rather than it was some grand conspiracy to deny honors to SLIAC teams.

[y_jack_lok]

All-region teams are out and I realize that no SLIAC player performed at the level necessary to get mention for the 3 All Region teams...

BUT

When I saw the stats of the Region's Rookie of the Year, Dominican's Tim Robertson, vs the stats of the SLIAC Rookie of the year, Principia's Parker Davidson, it did give rise to a "ahhh, Fiddlesticks!!!"

Tim Robertson Dominican... 14 ppg, 6.1 rpg,  .459 fg%, .667 ft%  Dominican record  2-23

Parker Davidson Principia  15.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg, .515 fg%, .712 ft%   Principia record 5-17

Just hoping that if the close votes are determined by slaps on the back throughout the season, that SLIAC officials didn't drop the ball here... would have been nice to see Davidson's name 'in the lights".

Not sure who other deserving candidates might have been on the women's side of this equation, but a SLIAC player took home Central Region RoY: http://sliac.org/sports/wbkb/2014-15/releases/stylesd3