MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[CoachM]

I may have missed it on SLIAC.org, but I didn't see the All tourney team announced, except for the two who made it from the Westminster Championship team...

Greenville... Daniel Saelli... he's the point on Greenville's second unit, and was the only Greenville player who made anything from the perimeter on Thursday night..

MacMurray... Lance Buhlig.... reserve guard, he too was about it for his team offensively

Spalding... Nick Trisko...incredible on the boards in the finals, collected every rebound in sight.. and to give my interpretation of the last play of the game... a perfect miss on the free throw by James Turner allowed Trisko to get his hands on the rebound, and in the rebounding melee, he tapped, pushed the ball back at the hoop, and it went to the side of the rim.. it was NOT a 'jump shot' or a 'layup'....
                James Turner... shot very well both nights

Westmin ... Jimmy Villallabos... reserve guard, huge steals defensively led to win in championship game, several key hoops...

MOP of Tournament... Nick Carlos... one man show from 3's in the finals....

If there had to be at least one person from each team, these were the perfect selections... if someone from either Mac or GC was not selected, then Romo Tabb or Rylan Rowe would have been good selections....

Rylan Rowe was more than deserving and should have been selected. Two excellent performances and his fouling out in the championship game was a huge loss for Spalding. Was a pleasure watching him play the two games.

[hopefan]

Yep.... Westminster gets Augie in the first round... and Hope playing at same site.... after Westmin upsets Augie, a second round Westmin vs Hope matchup... think I'd need to get up to Augie to see that one!!!!



Unfortunately, an inescapable prior commitment has me tied up for that Friday, so no, I won't be able to get to the first round... interesting, this is exactly the same situation Webster was in several years ago... Webster played Augie, Hope was in other game... Hope Augie played in 2nd round.. was a fun weekend for me....

[WUPHF]

Not to be outdone... the projections have our Women's champs, Greenville, going over to the South, to play No 1 Thomas More (ever heard of Sydney Moss, SLIAC fans?

Greenville is headed to the Field House along with Bluffton and Wisconsin-Whitewater.

[iwumichigander]

Yep.... Westminster gets Augie in the first round... and Hope playing at same site.... after Westmin upsets Augie, a second round Westmin vs Hope matchup... think I'd need to get up to Augie to see that one!!!!



Unfortunately, an inescapable prior commitment has me tied up for that Friday, so no, I won't be able to get to the first round... interesting, this is exactly the same situation Webster was in several years ago... Webster played Augie, Hope was in other game... Hope Augie played in 2nd round.. was a fun weekend for me....

Augie will be broadcasting that game.  The broadcast crew pretty good - not students but two guys that have been broadcasting for sometime.

[Gregory Sager]

Amusing... it just doesn't pay to be the SLIAC, located in the very center of the country, where your rep can be sent to the Central Region, or the Great Lakes region, or the South Region..we could even go to the West region if the Iowa Conf was hosting...  Whereever a lamb for the slaughter was needed..

So D3Hoops.com projections have our Conference champs on the men's side, Westminster, going up to play No 1 in D3 Men's rankings, Augustana...

Not to be outdone... the projections have our Women's champs, Greenville, going over to the South, to play No 1 Thomas More (ever heard of Sydney Moss, SLIAC fans?

aaaaah, if only we were located east of the Ohio River and could play ANYONE over there, maybe we'd be better than a 50 point underdog...

Some seasons it's valid to feel sorry for the SLIAC rep for getting a tough draw, hopefan. But this season isn't one of them. Westminster (MO) is 12-15; not only are the Blue Jays the only team in the field that has a record that's underwater, but the next-worst team according to W-L record, Denison, is miles better at 17-11.

When you're 12-15 you have to be thankful just to be in the field at all, no matter which league you represent. The Blue Jays would be a "lamb for the slaughter" no matter what part of the country they were in.

[hopefan]

Amusing... it just doesn't pay to be the SLIAC, located in the very center of the country, where your rep can be sent to the Central Region, or the Great Lakes region, or the South Region..we could even go to the West region if the Iowa Conf was hosting...  Whereever a lamb for the slaughter was needed..

So D3Hoops.com projections have our Conference champs on the men's side, Westminster, going up to play No 1 in D3 Men's rankings, Augustana...

Not to be outdone... the projections have our Women's champs, Greenville, going over to the South, to play No 1 Thomas More (ever heard of Sydney Moss, SLIAC fans?

aaaaah, if only we were located east of the Ohio River and could play ANYONE over there, maybe we'd be better than a 50 point underdog...

Some seasons it's valid to feel sorry for the SLIAC rep for getting a tough draw, hopefan. But this season isn't one of them. Westminster (MO) is 12-15; not only are the Blue Jays the only team in the field that has a record that's underwater, but the next-worst team according to W-L record, Denison, is miles better at 17-11.

When you're 12-15 you have to be thankful just to be in the field at all, no matter which league you represent. The Blue Jays would be a "lamb for the slaughter" no matter what part of the country they were in.

I'll take Westmin plus 50 vs any team east of the Ohio!!! 😄😄😜

[hopefan]

Why I look forward to next year....

Blackburn....  Davis, Meaestranzi, Orange, Manuel, Lockhead, McMillen

Eureka....  Shea Feehan, Gibson, Weigand, Thomas

Fontbonne...  Kissing, Williams, Ettinger, Watkins, Zimmerman

Greenville...  Greene, Brown, Hohm, Smith, Saelli, Caldoza

Iowa Wesleyan.... Butler, Drey, Johnson, Singletary, Jones

Principia.... Ball, Ross, Davidson, Anumu, Hernandez-Beiner

MacMurray... Long, Buhlig, Cameron, Bourke, Frazer

Spalding.... Trisko, Smith, Turner, Rowe, Ellis, Mumphry

Webster... Ward, Moore, Etter, Milligan, Turner, Dortch, Evans, Henry, Odjo

Westminster... Carlos, Cochrane, Tabb, Hollinsworth, Villalabos, Erby, Gentges, Wands, Nelson

[hopefan]

Why I look forward to next year....

Blackburn....  Davis, Meaestranzi, Orange, Manuel, Lockhead, McMillen

Eureka....  Shea Feehan, Gibson, Weigand, Thomas

Fontbonne...  Kissing, Williams, Ettinger, Watkins, Zimmerman

Greenville...  Greene, Brown, Hohm, Smith, Saelli, Caldoza

Iowa Wesleyan.... Butler, Drey, Johnson, Singletary, Jones

Principia.... Ball, Ross, Davidson, Anumu, Hernandez-Beiner

MacMurray... Long, Buhlig, Cameron, Bourke, Frazer

Spalding.... Trisko, Smith, Turner, Rowe, Ellis, Mumphry

Webster... Ward, Moore, Etter, Milligan, Turner, Dortch, Evans, Henry, Odjo

Westminster... Carlos, Cochrane, Tabb, Hollinsworth, Villalabos, Erby, Gentges, Wands, Nelson

I know who my top 4 are... want to see?   I want one, JUST ONE, new poster to say, "YES, I
WANT TO SEE!!"

[hopefan]

YES   Greenville's Tim Daniel named Jostens' Finalist.... Congrats!!!

http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2016/03/jostens-finalists-announced

[WUPHF]

Westminster... Carlos (soph), Cochrane (soph), Tabb (soph), Hollinsworth (frosh), Villalabos (soph), Erby (frosh), Gentges (junior), Wands (frosh), Nelson (junior)

Only two seniors next year for Westminster.

Also, I would love to see your top 4 for next year.

[Pat Coleman]

Disappointing for Iowa Wesleyan and the SLIAC, Iowa Wesleyan does not make the field of eight for the USCAA D1 National Championships... They really crashed in the 2nd half of the conference season..  The Iowa Wesleyan Women's team did make the USCAA D1 Women's Tourney field.. best of luck to them...Last year, both the men's and the women's squad made the tourney..

This was the 3rd year of Iowa Wesleyan's Provisional status with the NCAA... 4 years are required..so IWU*** will have another shot at the USCAA next year....

This was actually the second year of provisional status -- unfortunately, Iowa Wesleyan did not fulfill the requirements for being moved forward previously so it did not advance. Hopefully they have their act together this year.

[hopefan]

Disappointing for Iowa Wesleyan and the SLIAC, Iowa Wesleyan does not make the field of eight for the USCAA D1 National Championships... They really crashed in the 2nd half of the conference season..  The Iowa Wesleyan Women's team did make the USCAA D1 Women's Tourney field.. best of luck to them...Last year, both the men's and the women's squad made the tourney..

This was the 3rd year of Iowa Wesleyan's Provisional status with the NCAA... 4 years are required..so IWU*** will have another shot at the USCAA next year....

This was actually the second year of provisional status -- unfortunately, Iowa Wesleyan did not fulfill the requirements for being moved forward previously so it did not advance. Hopefully they have their act together this year.

Ouch, now that I think about, I remember posting something about that ...  A shame, as their basketball program blends in very nicely with the rest of the SLIAC teams....

[hopefan]

Westminster... Carlos (soph), Cochrane (soph), Tabb (soph), Hollinsworth (frosh), Villalabos (soph), Erby (frosh), Gentges (junior), Wands (frosh), Nelson (junior)

Only two seniors next year for Westminster.

Also, I would love to see your top 4 for next year.

Nope, sorry WUH, I need a NEW poster.. a FIRST TIME poster.... you all know who you are....right, Brad?

[cheapseats]

I would love to hear your thoughts on next season's top 4 teams in your projection, Hopefan!

[hopefan]

ALL RIGHT!!!  IT WORKED!!!!!!!

There you go, Gordo Mann, a new poster under your reign!!!!!

Well, Mr. Seats...

Certainly I like the bottom 3 on the list....
Spalding has what I consider the best talent returning... Trisko and Smith are unmatched as a big man tandem inside, Turner is probable the best 3 man shooter in the conference, and Rowe and Ellis both can handle the ball and score... add to that a very solid bench that was brought along to contribute more by season's end, they will hardly miss the dynamic scoring of the graduated Brendon Goeing...

Right there with them is Westminster... that team will no longer be a surprise to hopefan... I'm now a believer in Nick Carlos, who hadn't really knocked me over, until the conference championship game, where he was just incredible.   As I said before, Romo Tabb could quickly become the type of player that Deavis Johnson is, unstoppable around the hoop and a super rebounder.  Guards aplenty with Cochrane, Wands, Nelson, Villalabos, Gentges,and Erby,  and Hollinsworth showed signs of being able to help in the 3-4 spot... a little size would help, but Westmin showed they can win with 3 or four guards playing at once..

Webster has virtually everyone back, which hopefully is good news.. this group has to prove they can win big games consistently, that they can play as a team and get away from the one on one playground mentality... to me they were this year's biggest disappointment.. for some of the guys, only one year left to show they can rise to the championship level.. The talent is there...

Fourth, wow...a case can be made for Prin, Mac, Greenville, Blackburn, IWU***... I'd rule out only Fontbonne and Eureka at this point, given what is coming back(I'm not convinced on Fontbonne's talent level, and Eureka has spots and depth to fill)
Who do I pick as fourth?
not Prin... super talent, but they need depth and someone to hammer them into shape and teach them to play 40 minutes... do I WISH I could say Prin, you bet....
not IWU***.... with Fowler gone, who is really going to make them go....
not Mac... besides Long, where is the scoring going to come from?  They play hard, but.....
so, GC and BC...BC's collapse in the last week was really disappointing... are they 'mature' enough to learn how to continue to improve.. they'll have to prove it to me..
I'll go with Greenville as my 4 team... I really like the names I mentioned.. Smith, Green, Brown, Hohm are all solid athletic players... the guards, Caldoza, Saelli, Dix, Clemons have to get better in a hurry, but the system could be very attractive to new faces who sense an opportunity to come in and play....