MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[WUPHF]

Forgot to remind that Prin plays at Maryville (Mo.) tonight... of course, every time I think of Maryville, I'm twinged with disappointment that they left the SLIAC to join D2... I enjoy the SLIAC so much now, but it was even more fun when the Saints were in the conference too....

I would love to know if Webster ever considers the move to Division II.

[y_jack_lok]

Forgot to remind that Prin plays at Maryville (Mo.) tonight... of course, every time I think of Maryville, I'm twinged with disappointment that they left the SLIAC to join D2... I enjoy the SLIAC so much now, but it was even more fun when the Saints were in the conference too....

I would love to know if Webster ever considers the move to Division II.

I would love to know if Wash U ever consider the move to Division II.

[hopefan]

Congrats Principia on an 82-81 OT, last second win over D2 Maryville University... JC transfer Adaku Anumu gets 29 points, Justin Ball 20, Parker Davidson 17, Jeff Ross the winning hoop in last second of OT....

9th place?

Hey... this is really exciting for anyone who values SLIAC hoops....

[Denny McKinney]

Thanks for the update Hopefan. So proud of PC.

Tonite FU paid tribute to Dad at their alumni game. They recognized FC's first team from '88. Mom got 12 of the original 15. The gym was packed with both women and men Alumni. The family enjoyed seeing all the Kids. I just don't enjoy going back in that field house. Still a good nite.

[WUPHF]

I would love to know if Wash U ever consider the move to Division II.

I can field this one.

Answer: definitely not.

Reason: lack of peer schools in Division II.

No move until either the UAA moves as a quorom (or a few UAA schools with Johns Hopkins, MIT, etc) to Division II or part of the Ivy League moves to Division II.

Maryville made the move, in part, as part of an enrollment management strategy.  That is why I wonder about Webster.

[WUPHF]

Congrats Principia on an 82-81 OT, last second win over D2 Maryville University... JC transfer Adaku Anumu gets 29 points, Justin Ball 20, Parker Davidson 17, Jeff Ross the winning hoop in last second of OT....

9th place?

Hey... this is really exciting for anyone who values SLIAC hoops....

You do not need to value SLIAC hoops to be thrilled by one of the worst teams in recent SLIAC history suddenly reversing course last season and then standing down a Division II team this year.  Even in an exhibition, very, very cool.

[y_jack_lok]

I would love to know if Wash U ever consider the move to Division II.

I can field this one.

Answer: definitely not.

Reason: lack of peer schools in Division II.

No move until either the UAA moves as a quorom (or a few UAA schools with Johns Hopkins, MIT, etc) to Division II or part of the Ivy League moves to Division II.

Maryville made the move, in part, as part of an enrollment management strategy.  That is why I wonder about Webster.

I was curious why you tossed out that comment about Webster. Thanks for the explanation. I know nothing about what goes on in terms of institutional strategy at Webster, but when they hired their new AD a couple of years ago his background was almost exclusively D3, and the other finalist had a D2 background. So that may be a clue regarding how they view the future of the athletic department.

[hopefan]

I got a brief note on Facebook that MacMurray beat Monmouth, 85-76, on Saturday night... it wasn't posted on either school's schedule, but was referenced as an exhibtion game... it noted it was come from behind for Mac, and pressure defense played a big role in the win... no individual names mentioned.... 

That tells me that Eureka will have its hands full when they play them for real next Monday, 11/16, at Monmouth...

Fontbonne plays Southern Illinois Edwardsville tomorrow night in an exhibition... looking forward to checking out my first hoops action of the year!!

[hopefan]

Fontbonne thumped by SIUE... 80-48

SIUE much bigger, quicker, athletic than the Grffs... they're D1, they're supposed to be...

Fontbonne actually played very well the first 10 minutes of each half... kept it close in the first half despite a huge foul discrepancy.. at one point SIUE had 11 ft attempts, the Griffs 2...this was due mainly to outsized griff inside players aggressively attempting to keep SIUE off the boards... Fontbonne  had cut the SIUE lead to 20 midway in the 2nd half, looking its best when they got a running game going that generated open shots and Rich Dorhauer got hot....

Positives... Ben Kissing played tough all night, much more involved than I remember from last year... new face Bryce Zimmerman reminded me of Prin's big man Justin Ball.. he's big and solid, strong with the ball... Greg Gentry started at point and seemed calmed down, no bad shots or turnovers, with a couple of pretty assists.... Lelis Djona is forced to be an inside player at 6'2" looked strong, aggressive, made a couple of hoops around the basket...

The unknown.. Orkin Bakus didn't play? injury?  The Griffs need him....     Jarrod Greenlee didn't start, looked pained when he did play?  Sore back??     My impression was that Gentry is key to creating offense for the Griffs.. things were out of sync when he wasn't in pushing the ball..   Now of course, this was against D1 competition, things may look very different vs D3 players....
Griff fans shouldn't be disillusioned with this one....

SIUE better find their perimeter shooting touch quickly... 4 for 23 from 3 point range, they're not going to get all those easy putbacks and 10 footers inside the key vs D1 opponents.   I will say SLIAC could learn something from SIUE in gametime entertainment.. lots of very active cheerleaders, dancers, music with pep band, fun contests for fans during timeouts etc... it might help get get some fans into the seats.....of course, how many SLIAC schools can afford to scatter $100 in ones around the floor and give a student a minute to see how many he can collect?? ...     THE BAD, it cost me $9 to get in to see the game.... UGH

[Denny McKinney]

Hopefan after attending the alumni game last Friday, I can comment on a few of your questions. Bakis is out with an ankle injury. Greenlee dressed but didn't play. It appeared to me to be a back issue. And, they had a 6'8 JUCO transfer in street clothes. I was told it was a knee issue.

I also noticed Gentry was Much More under control. In the few minutes I saw him.

Thanks Sir for the game summary.

[hopefan]

Hopefan after attending the alumni game last Friday, I can comment on a few of your questions. Bakis is out with an ankle injury. Greenlee dressed but didn't play. It appeared to me to be a back issue. And, they had a 6'8 JUCO transfer in street clothes. I was told it was a knee issue.

I also noticed Gentry was Much More under control. In the few minutes I saw him.

Thanks Sir for the game summary.

Good to hear the JUCO is still a part of the program...they need the size... hope he and Bakis recover quickly..

My two week tour seeing each of the SLIAC teams begins this Saturday with Blackburn at Wash U... will try to give complete writeups of each game to introduce every team to our readers... though remember, I'm going to tell it as I see it.... at the end of the two weeks, I'll put out my predictions for standings... will be interesting to see how they compare with Coaches forecast.. Prin at 9th already is questionable after their win over Maryville... what if BC (10th in coach poll) beats Wash U?

[hopefan]

Three days before the season opens, and Webster and Greenville still don't have their rosters up....   WHY?

Surely by now varsity and JV squads have been determined....

I still love to daydream that perhaps Webster is keeping a BIG secret... but I just can't imagine.....

Anyway, if this is just an oversight, come on SIDs...  some of us are interested.....

[WUPHF]

Regarding the Webster roster, did you read this about the possibility that Webster may need to cancel the JV season?

http://wp.me/p1kBad-8KD

[hopefan]

Regarding the Webster roster, did you read this about the possibility that Webster may need to cancel the JV season?

http://wp.me/p1kBad-8KD

Thanks WUH... that article quoting COACH Kevin Miller does put to rest my "BIG daydream"... unless Webster has the first Player-Coach in D3 Hoops history..

[Denny McKinney]

I enjoyed the article from Webster. I'm a big fan of Kevin. But, even if WU plays a 12 man rotation, you have 9 players that aren't getting the benefit of playing time. JV games give those players a chance to improve their skills and learn the system. Just my opinion.