MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hopefan]

Mac at Webster... These two should be the league favorites, but both underachieving... Webster zone has given Mac fits in the past, and no one on Mac shoots with consistency from the perimeter... this game could be ugly..

You must be forgetting last year at Mac.

As you say.. 'AT Mac'   

[hopefan]

Are you guys taking in Mac at Webster?

I know Y Jack is counting on it... I have an unavoidable conflict, but am hoping to get there for 2nd half of men's game... but IT IS SNOWING...

[y_jack_lok]

Mac at Webster... These two should be the league favorites, but both underachieving... Webster zone has given Mac fits in the past, and no one on Mac shoots with consistency from the perimeter... this game could be ugly..

You must be forgetting last year at Mac.

As you say.. 'AT Mac'   

So zone defenses don't work on the road? That particular game wasn't even close and Mac had no problem ("fits") with the zone.

[hopefan]

how about Mac losing to Luther's zone at Webster this year, or losing at Webster to Webster by 22 last year?    

Well, we'll see shortly...

[y_jack_lok]

how about Mac losing to Luther's zone at Webster this year, or losing at Webster to Webster by 22 last year?    

Well, we'll see shortly...

You win. You are the man.

[BunchTime]

96-66 Webster over Mac.  MUCH better performance after this last Wednesday by my Gorloks. Pretty much all positives today all the way around. Lots of balance in the scoring column, starters played well, good bench production highlighted by Dortch and Evans. Feeling better about the Gorloks after that one vs Wednesday. Unfortunately, I think Webster may continue to be Jeykl and Hyde. Hope I'm wrong. Big home game on Wednesday vs Westminster.

[y_jack_lok]

96-66 Webster over Mac.  MUCH better performance after this last Wednesday by my Gorloks. Pretty much all positives today all the way around. Lots of balance in the scoring column, starters played well, good bench production highlighted by Dortch and Evans. Feeling better about the Gorloks after that one vs Wednesday. Unfortunately, I think Webster may continue to be Jeykl and Hyde. Hope I'm wrong. Big home game on Wednesday vs Westminster.

Yes, which team will show up each game day? I do think Tevin Evans is trying to do too much on his own. He dialed it back a bit today, but Wednesday was a disaster.

[BunchTime]

100% agree about Evans, Yjack. He dialed it back just a smidge today. Just hit a few more shots. Haven't seen the box score but at one point I think he was 3-9 from the floor in about 10 min. of PT. The thing is, he's is very athletic and is an asset to this team, he just needs to reign it in.

[hopefan]

A quick review of yesterday's SLIAC action:

I got to see most of the Mac at Webster game... the only positive aspect I saw from the Highlanders were the handsome haircuts several of them sported... hardly recognized them...  but the on the floor action cemented my pregame thoughts.. Mac's undeniably weak perimeter shooting was going to make it very difficult to combat Webster's zone defense, and Brent Long isn't equipped to get those pretty 10 to 15 foot shots off against quick athletic defenders that Webster can stream on to the court... with the exception of a brief run in the first half when Mac cut the lead to one, this game was never close... and even more depressing for Mac, they couldn't slow down Webster at all... every Gorlock in uniform scored, and the quickness off the bench just blew out MacMurray... the lead at one point in time approached 40!!!

but only in the SLIAC does one team go from the deuce of clubs, to the ace of spades in one night, while another suffers an opposite cataclysmic fall... Fontbonne, on a high for the first time since the days of Fogerty etal after winning at Webster on Wednesday night, lays a giant egg at Greenville and gets crushed by the system.  I had fears about this one for the Griffs, wondering if the various guard combos were strong enough, savvy enough to move the ball through Greenville's pressure and get 50 or so layups.. evidently not... Fontbonne got within 7 with 13 minutes left, but the blowout to a 30 point loss proceeded the rest of the way... The Griffs turned it over 31 times, and shot poorly from the line to hurt their chances... GC's Tim Daniel shot as he is expected to, hitting 10 3's, but the huge plus for Greenville was an additional 28 points including 7 3's from Ken Green... I thought Green was outstanding early in the year when I saw Greenville at Ill Wez, but an injury sidelined him for several games and he seemed to lose 'system' conditioning while he was out... if he has rediscovered his legs, it's a huge plus for GC, and it makes their 2nd unit as much of a threat as their first..

The addition of Shea Feehan to the Eureka lineup was certainly a plus, but not enough to get EC a win at Iowa Wesleyan.. the younger Feehan got 15 shots in 17 minutes, as well as 11 FT attempts, meaning the green light was on from the get go for him, and he finished with 25 points in those 17 minutes... hoping I can find a night to see Eureka again to witness the Feehan Brothers playing together.. it obviously is producing a major change...  IWC gets balanced scoring, all 5 starters had 13 or more points and shoot extremely well.. 94% from the line, 45% from 3's, to get the win...

Westmin slows down the rising aspirations of BC, winning at home 84-73... the box score shows great shooting from Westmin, 10 of 17 from 3's keyed by a combined 7 for 10 from 2 guys off the bench, Jim Villalobos and Nick Carlos... But the real diff was from the line, where WC was 22 for  29, while BC went 8 for 13... BC called for 9 more fouls than Westmin..

Finally Spalding tops Prin, 73-66.. much closer than I would have expected... Spalding's Nick Trisko wins the battle of the big men vs Justin Ball... goes 9 for 11 from the field, 11 rebounds, Spalding kills Prin on the boards... Prin turns it over 21 times, as their massive decline from early season successes continues....

[hopefan]

So, I haven't been in complete agreement with SLIAC.org selections for player of the week, so I'm now instituting a hopefan SLIAC player of the week...  I'll try to get it out on Sunday.. we'll see how it varies from the SLIAC Monday selection...this in no ways condemns their selection... just perhaps a different set of criteria... I'll add my comments to support my selection..

this week:
no, not Deavis Johnson of Mac.. throw out big numbers vs Greenville, and much of his scoring vs Webster was when the game was in garbage time with Webster's huge lead

no not Sam Feehan from EC.. Feehan had a good night vs Westmin with a double double in an OT win, but shot poorly vs IWC in a losing effort

throw out Prin, 2 losses; throw out Fontbonne losing to GC, throw out Webster, abysmal vs Fontbonne, no one from BC, no one from Spalding (Trisko had numbers vs Prin, but sat quite a bit vs IWC; Turner a super half vs IWC, but not big vs Prin)..

That leaves Westmin, Greenville, and IWC..
Westmin split, but had two strong shooting efforts from new name Nick Carlos...going for 19 and 14 points, 8 for 15 from 3's..

Greenville gave Mac a total game, and clobbered Fontbonne, to get back into people's mind as a threat on any given night within the conference... Tim Daniel goes 18 for 32 from 3's in the two games, 58 points

IWC wins two competitive games... Chris Fowler runs up his usual positives, but has a boatload of turnovers, Brock Butler has key hoops vs Spalding, but limited production vs Eureka... Mitch Drey has two good games... key hoops vs Spalding, 43 points in two wins.

I'm giving it to Mitch Drey, IWC...  Daniel shot the 3's, but he's supposed to... Drey, who plays second fiddle to the Fowler/Butler guard duo, really was the additional key to the two tough wins for IWC!!!

[y_jack_lok]

100% agree about Evans, Yjack. He dialed it back just a smidge today. Just hit a few more shots. Haven't seen the box score but at one point I think he was 3-9 from the floor in about 10 min. of PT. The thing is, he's is very athletic and is an asset to this team, he just needs to reign it in.

Evans was 4-10 for the game. If he'll continue to dial it back a bit more, have a little mor patience, not take so many jump shots early in the shot clock I imagine his results will improve. On the plus side he was 6-6 from the free throw line. And how about CJ Moore -- 7-7 from the field. A number of those were when he was posted up early in the game and Mac's guards couldn't defend him because he is simply too quick. Great to see those results for him after the frustrations he experienced against Fontbonne. 

[hopefan]

The only thing I don't like about Evans is his taking 3's very early in the shot clock.. otherwise, I view him as a spark that lights the fire that the Gorlocks may need from time to time... I have no problem with him going to the hoop.. he's shown touch, jumping ability, and he gets fouled...  I'd much rather have a guy like him coming off the bench that makes things happen, than someone who just takes up minutes... If Coach Bunch didn't see positives outweighing negatives, the kid wouldn't be playing...

[hopefan]

So, I haven't been in complete agreement with SLIAC.org selections for player of the week, so I'm now instituting a hopefan SLIAC player of the week...  I'll try to get it out on Sunday.. we'll see how it varies from the SLIAC Monday selection...this in no ways condemns their selection... just perhaps a different set of criteria... I'll add my comments to support my selection..

this week:
no, not Deavis Johnson of Mac.. throw out big numbers vs Greenville, and much of his scoring vs Webster was when the game was in garbage time with Webster's huge lead

no not Sam Feehan from EC.. Feehan had a good night vs Westmin with a double double in an OT win, but shot poorly vs IWC in a losing effort

throw out Prin, 2 losses; throw out Fontbonne losing to GC, throw out Webster, abysmal vs Fontbonne, no one from BC, no one from Spalding (Trisko had numbers vs Prin, but sat quite a bit vs IWC; Turner a super half vs IWC, but not big vs Prin)..

That leaves Westmin, Greenville, and IWC..
Westmin split, but had two strong shooting efforts from new name Nick Carlos...going for 19 and 14 points, 8 for 15 from 3's..

Greenville gave Mac a total game, and clobbered Fontbonne, to get back into people's mind as a threat on any given night within the conference... Tim Daniel goes 18 for 32 from 3's in the two games, 58 points

IWC wins two competitive games... Chris Fowler runs up his usual positives, but has a boatload of turnovers, Brock Butler has key hoops vs Spalding, but limited production vs Eureka... Mitch Drey has two good games... key hoops vs Spalding, 43 points in two wins.

I'm giving it to Mitch Drey, IWC...  Daniel shot the 3's, but he's supposed to... Drey, who plays second fiddle to the Fowler/Butler guard duo, really was the additional key to the two tough wins for IWC!!!

SLIAC.org awards Deavis Johnson its Player of the Week.... for the reasons I listed above regarding Deavis' performance this week, I would disagree....  But most sincere congrats to Deavis for hitting 1000 points!!

[hopefan]

It's so much fun not having an allegiance to any particular SLIAC team, just enjoying following all teams in the conference, hoping every game I go to is a close one... last week was special, getting to see 5 conference games in one week... unfortunately, only 2 games were really closely contested, but it didn't keep me from looking forward to going to each game, with a thought going into the game that with certain pluses and minuses, either team could win... It allows me to escape the subjectivity that most fans suffer through, that their team is usually 'right', that the opposition is usually 'wrong'.. I can be, in my mind, objective about officiating, about player performance, about coaching performance, about fan behavior... it's a great seat to be in... (though granted, when the SLIAC, or my old favorite Hope, or Wash U  faces the rest of the world, my objectivity likely weakens)..

and so, I really enjoy projecting thoughts on what could happen in upcoming SLIAC games.. a full midweek slate...

Tuesday night... Prin at Greenville....If Principia hasn't been dreading this matchup, they should be... Though they have 4 very good players their performance level has been disintegrating the last several weeks, and it is doubtful that they will receive any  help from their bench... with little quicks, limited ball handling skills, and starters who already look worn out from going 40 minutes per game, I can't conceive how Prin will stay in this game.... Add to that, things are looking up for GC.. they darn near beat Mac, then crush Fontbonne.. and Kenny Green seems to be back playing well, Tim Daniel shooting better...  I THINK this game could be fun for awhile, but get lopsided before half time.

Wednesday night... All four games would seem to be tossups

Westminster at Webster... these are the two conference leaders*****, facing off for the early (night 7) conference lead (***** IWC not eligible for tourney participation).  Two strong shooting  nights in a row from new Westmin face Nick Carlos gives Westmin some hope vs Webster zone.  Both teams have quickness, but man for man, Webster seems to have an edge....

Mac at Spalding.... Mac disappointed at Webster, but matches up much better vs Spalding.  Mac's pressure defense should give Spalding Frosh ball handlers trouble, make it difficult for Brandon Goeing to get open looks... can Long stop Trisko in the middle?  Spalding doesn't really match up well vs the Johnson/Long combo.... I think Mac bounces back with a tough win on the road.. it will be a BIG win for whoever gets it...

Eureka at Fontbonne... Will the real Fontbonne please stand up?  Tonight will tell us a lot.  Eureka plays with great intensity, and now has a big addition in skill level and bench depth with Shea Feehan... I'm not seeing Fontbonne being able to keep up....Fontbonne's shot would seem to be the size advantage with Kissing and Zimmerman.. if they see the ball often enough, they could keep it close..

Iowa Wesleyan at Blackburn... Two athletic, quick teams...tough to win on the road at BC... IWC is playing like the best team in the conference, though getting sloppy with the ball... but that's Blackburn's major problem too.. I think IWC maturity as a team will produce a tough win...

Wednesday's games.. any of the four would be worth seeing... a great night of SLIAC hoops

[hopefan]

Surprise in Greenville.

Prin 57  GC  56 at half. Despite 15 turnovers for Prin. Davidson 23 points, Anumu 23 points.  Daniel 17 for GC