MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[WUPHF]

Thanks for reporting.

Hopefully the next game will be better.

[WUPHF]

The SLIAC just released the all conference team.

http://www.sliac.org/sports/mbkb/2015-16/releases/mbballconf

[hopefan]

I'm not gonna post during game, but BIG CROWD for Mac Spalding. Very fired up   Hooray for Deavis johnson getting POY

[hopefan]

First half Mac SU outstanding. Mac bigs vs Spalding perimeters. SU up 30 26. Rylan Rowe Dom Ellis both started hot. Mac shooting poor from line or it would be even. Long and Johnson 20 of macs 26.

[hopefan]

First game disaster GC 8 for 40 from 3s. Frosh guards wands and Erby made a huge difference for Westmin. And tabb and Hollingsworth really go to the basket.

[hopefan]

Buhlig 8 points off bench. Mac down 5 with  11 left

[hopefan]

Uh oh. 2 3s by SU rowe and Goeing and SU up 11 with 9 left

[hopefan]

Mac dying   61 43.   5 mins

[hopefan]

A shame. Great crowd. They might get 70 for Westmin Spalding at Mac final

[hopefan]

71 53  2 mins

[hopefan]

74 60 final

[hopefan]

Notes on last night

Good basketball conversation with many... so enjoyable

First time I've seen tears after a game in a long time... very emotional loss for Mac...

I was very pleased with the SLIAC All Conference teams... they recognized two Westminster players that I did not put on my 3 teams, Romo Tabb and Nick Carlos... I came so close to having Tabb on my teams, but there were a few games where he didn't contribute... Carlos just didn't play well when I saw him, but clearly had some big games... Parker Davidson from Prin and James Turner of Spalding were on my lists and did not make the SLIAC teams... I wouldn't change my mind on either..  all close calls... I think the thing that surprised me the most was Shea Feehan on the 3rd team for the SLIAC where he was on my 1st team, I can only assume that some coaches moved him down because he played in only 13 games..he was terrific when I saw him....The SLIAC had Chris Fowler on the first team instead.. He was super in the first part of the season, but really fell off in the 2nd part of the year...
The Choice of Deavis Johnson as MOP was fine.. he was my 2nd choice behind Sam Feehan... I couldn't overcome the attitude problems I perceived during the season with Deavis Johnson....

Hard to understand why Greenville played so poorly last night... they not only shot poorly, but they seemed to play scared, rushing shots, missing layups, turning the ball over.. I saw this team so often this year, loved the system, really liked the kids, I feel so bad this is the way the season ended for them...Westmin, wow, great balance, and playing against the system really brings the best of them out... this team doesn't screw around with the ball on the perimeter, they go to the hole, and that's what beats the system's defense....

I guess I can say now, and I did confide in a couple of people before the game, that I felt Spalding more than matched up well with Mac...They had the size and athleticism that could keep Brent Long from getting good shots and that is a major key to Mac scoring enough to win.. kudos to Lance Buhlig for giving Mac a spark with his shooting (I actually thought he passed up some shots) but it was far too little too late.. I see Buhlig as having a great chance to step into the 2 guard role next season...I will miss the Keltner family as Kollin graduates, really good people...hope to see Kollin get a chance to coach next year, he has a great attitude....Spalding played REALLY well.. if there was such a thing as an all frosh team, Spalding's Rylan Rowe would be on it.. he didn't play like a freshman... and James Turner justified his selection to my all conference team with a solid game.. he is a pure shooter...I was disappointed that he was unaware of D3hoops.com, maybe he'll check it out now...Nick Trisko looked good last night too, a little more mobile than I thought.. what a great decision for him to move to Spalding, especially with GC using the system this year...

Tomorrow Westmin vs Spalding... two teams so similar... I see advantages for Spalding, with perimeter shooting, with the size inside... but Westmin has surprised me all year, and very well could tomorrow..

Over under on the crowd tomorrow will be 85... the crowd shown in the box score last night was 300 ..... come on, there HAD to be much much more than that.. probably triple that or more....

[WUPHF]

...Westmin, wow, great balance, and playing against the system really brings the best of them out... this team doesn't screw around with the ball on the perimeter, they go to the hole, and that's what beats the system's defense...

That was definitely the case when Westminster hosted Greenville.

The good news, in theory, about Spalding winning last night is they brought the broadcast crew so hopefully they will be broadcasting the game tonight.  I say in theory because the video did not work last night and the audio was off and on.

The updates were appreciated in both games.

[WUPHF]

Also, four teams competed last night and none of them were from St. Louis.

I think it is finally time to change the name of the conference.  Every team could have taken a steam boat to Jacksonville if the trip included a short train or wagon ride.  Western Rivers Conference!

[hopefan]

I spent quite a bit of time with Spalding Broadcast crew.. yes, they'll be there tomorrow....