MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[WUPHF]

The Webster Journal published an article on how the basketball programs at Webster recruit.  I love it when the student-journalists go beyond game and season updates.

http://websterjournal.com/2017/12/05/webster-competes-recruits/

[hopefan]

So saw 2nd half of Fontbonne game.. beating Stl Pharma... 96-87... far out prediction, if the frosh/sophs all stay and play, Fontbonne is a conference champion threat in 2 years, if not one... they are not particularly big, but very athletic... they need to learn to to win, have the confidence that they can do it... they frittered away a 17 point lead last night, and when it cut to 5 with a couple minutes left, I thought here we go again.. Blackburn all over... but they sank free throws when needed to win... the defense needs a lot of work... Anderson of Pharma had a ridiculously easy time of getting to the basket....
Saw a couple of the Webster players at the game... wonder if Wilcox will be available for the Saturday Fontbonne-Webster matchup....you know, I'm thinking I'll go up to Carlinville for Eureka-Blackburn, but, after seeing Fontbonne again, I'm thinking the battle of Big Bend might be a lot of fun..and a good women's game too...

[y_jack_lok]

I'm interested to see how it goes for the Gorloks tonight vs Robert Morris Peoria -- 1-8 and only one player over 6'3". Other than a game against Eureka (which Eureka won easily) RMP has played a very different group of opponents than Webster plays. I hope the Gorloks come to play and don't overlook these guys.

[hopefan]

I'm interested to see how it goes for the Gorloks tonight vs Robert Morris Peoria -- 1-8 and only one player over 6'3". Other than a game against Eureka (which Eureka won easily) RMP has played a very different group of opponents than Webster plays. I hope the Gorloks come to play and don't overlook these guys.

I second that....Wonder if our missing frosh will show up.....

[hopefan]

Webster has no problem with Robert Morris Peoria, 89-65, though somewhat lulled into ugly play by a less than disciplined RMP team... Frosh Christian Crespo red hot the WHOLE game, 11 for 13, 24 points, beginning to convince Gorlock fans he's for real... Josh Johnson again streaky, great when he's hitting, not so much when he's missing, 17 points on 6 for 15 from the field... most impressive though was an incredibly quiet 'almost' triple double by Enrique Tankins, 13 points, 10 assists, 9 rebounds (and 4 steals)... quite a night....

Yet still, knowledgeable observers point to several beautiful passes for layups by RMP, and can't understand why we don't see it from Webster.. Webster's offense always seems to be mainly from one on one stuff, perimeter activity, rarely finding open cutters to the hole...so if the perimeter shots aren't dropping, the scoring drops significantly... there just doesn't seem to be screening and cutting with purpose off the ball...

two final comments... Nigel Wilcox did return, didn't start, didn't see the ball much, then brought down the house with an incredibly athletic slam dunk off a break, blowing by a defender with two long strides and throwing it down..
AND.. had to feel bad for RMP's Jamor Stewart, extremely talented, finishes with 33 despite having to watch teammates take MANY horrendous shots... wish this guy was playing for a SLIAC team, he would start for any of our teams...Creal, Wilde, Kollar, how did this guy get away from us?

[hopefan]

Gameday #3 for the SLIAC

Fontbonne at Webster... Yes Fontbonne is the underdog, but hopefan loves to root for underdogs...  Fontbonne has quick experienced guards who could give Webster's guards a tough time getting started, and both teams have athletic guys at the 3-4-5 positions.  The game decider could be, however, Webster's zone... can Fontbonne shoot well enough from the perimeter to open up the middle....

Eureka at Blackburn... seemingly a contrast in styles, Eureka run and gun, Blackburn gets it set up and finds the shot... Will be following this one closely from Gorlockville... Both 2-0 in conference, one will end up in the lead after gameday 3

Greenville at Iowa Wesleyan... I don't thing IWU will be able to handle the waves of Greenville substitutions... in fact, this one could be a major romp....

Westminster at Spalding... this one will tell us if Spalding is for real... still surprised at Westmin's loss to Greenville, hoping to see recovery to jam up the standings a little...

MacMurray at Prin.... When will the EXPECTED MacMurray show up?  It better be tomorrow, because Prin is good.. if Prin learns to play the 40th minute of a game, watch out...their 1-4 record could easily be 4-1..  wonder if Mac Coach Creal will change something up to get his team going.....

a fun day to be a SLIAC fan... 4 of these games could go either way  ( and now that I said that, watch Wez beat Gville )

[Greek Tragedy]

It will be interesting if anyone besides Butler shows up for Iowa Wesleyan vs Greenville, and I mean that literally. Both Elijah Johnson and Mitch Drey have missed games, so if one or both don't play, Butler could see 35 shots today.

Blackburn spreads the ball out with no fantasy worthy players on the team, but Eureka has Feehan and Thomas to stop. I don't know much about Blackburn, but they're 2-0 despite giving up an average of over 80 to Iowa Wesleyan and Fontbonne. And now you have Eureka to slow down?

Spalding is like Blackburn as they spread the ball around, so it'll be a team going up against a two-man team in Wands and Hollandsworth. Wands disappointed against Greenville, so I hope for a bounce back game from him against a "normal" defense.

Two of the best Gus Macker teams face off as Long, Davis and Cameron take on Goodman, Davidson and Paulson. This could be a fantasy gold mine.

Sorry, Fontbonne and Webster...

[hopefan]

Great writeup Greek.. love to read how the SLIAC is viewed from afar, with a decided tilttowards the fantasy point of view!!!

Unfortunately today turned out to be pretty disappointing for those of us who want to see close competitive games.. only one turned out close, the Westmin-Spalding game, and that one threw me off as the men's game was played FIRST, followed by the ladies game.. when I checked the internet to see a final for the women's game, there was the men's score... Westmin 67-64... Wonder why???   Anyway, a comeback of incredible proportions by Westminster... they were ahead the whole first half, got caught midway through the 2nd half, and with 2:56 left Spalding was up 9... from that point on, Westmin outscores Spalding 14-2!!!.. in that final 3 minutes, in 8 possessions, Spalding gets 2 free throws, turning the ball over 3 times, missing free throws or field goals 4 other times...in the mean time, Westmin scores on 6 of 7 possessions...The "Magic" Wands lead Westmin, Kobe 21 points, Carter with 10 point and 4 assists....

Glad I didn't go up to Blackburn for the game vs Eureka, as Shea Feehan did not play, and while Eureka competed and kept it close in the first half, Blackburn pulled away to win easily, 78-61.  One of the things that frustrates me about D3 is that NEWS isn't communicated.. Shea Feehan, the 3rd leading scorer in the nation doesn't play in a BIG conference matchup, but the recap, from either school, never mentions his name...
I'm hoping Eureka poster ECRed can shed light on it.. whether it was illness, injury, or "coach's decision".. I'd sure like to know if Shea Feehan is playing against Webster up at Eureka next  Saturday before I drive 4 hours to see the game....anyway, Eureka's real problem is the boards, they give up 19 offensive rebounds to BC...BC again gets almost half of their points from the bench... they are SO MUCH ON A ROLL!!!!

Fontbonne fell behind 10-0 but were able to cut the Webster lead to 5 in the 2nd, but after that, Webster quickly pulled away... Fontbonnes guards could not contain Webster guards Josh Johnson and Christian Crespo, nor could they stop the inside game of Nigel Wilcox and Enrique Tankins... but the major difference maker for the Gorlocks was the play off the bench by senior Parker Van Nest... he has a career day against the rival Griffs with a double double 16 points and 10 boards... Crespo continues to shoot well finishing with 22, and Enrique Tankins has another "quiet" EXCELLENT game 13 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists...
FANTASY READER ALERT.... FANTSY READER ALERT....  Tankins, Crespo....

Principia embarrasses MacMurray 80-52... I have a great deal of respect for what Todd Creal has achieved at Mac.. I'm really worried for him and the state of the program now...Prin puts 4 in double figures led by Micah Paulson with 22, Parker Davidson gets 18... Brent Long hits the double double with 18 and 11.. Pins kills them on the boards, Mac shoots miserably...

Greenville jumps out to a huge 1st half lead, likely plays out the string in the 2nd half to win 126-112...gotta give Iowa Wesleyan credit that they cut the lead to 9 at one point...had they shot better from the foul line (33-52), they might have had a real chance....Brett Butler goes for 39, Aussie Freshman Jarryd Fernandes gets 29...and, in the ever growing mystery of who's healthy today, Mitch Drey doesn't play....Johari Dix leads Greenville with 24, and Greenville puts 6 in double figures... but putting Iowa Wes on the line for 52 shots and generating only 19 turnovers is not a good sign...

[Greek Tragedy]

In fantasy land...

The Gus Macker game turned into a rout as the trio of Goodman, Paulson and Davidson destroyed Long, Davis and Cameron. Long continues to be the only viable fantasy player on MacMurray as he comes up with 32 fpts. Davis and Cameron combine for 3-20 shooting. Paulson scores a solid 34 fpts and Davidson also does well with 31 fpts. Goodman manages a nice stat line of 15 pts and 6 rebounds but 6 turnovers costs him a decent fantasy line and ends up with just 18 fpts. You're get docked for missed free throws and turnovers.

I'd be interested to know if why Principia is up 25 with 5 minutes to go and the starters are still in. The Paulsons play 37 and 35 minutes each and Davidson plays the full 40. Really?

Butler obviously has a career night against Greenville going 48 fpts, but misses 4 FTs and has 5 TOs. Fernandes has 37 fpts despite 7 missed FTs. That's probably a one-time deal, so I'm not going to rush out and get Fernandes.

Feehan doesn't play and Hank Thomas doesn't fill the shoes very well with only 22 fpts.

Wands finishes with a good but not great 28 fantasy points, still worthy of a roster spot in the Keeper League.

Interestingly, WUH are having a season long debate on who will finish with a better stat line, Goodman or Wands. I had Goodman in the Keeper League and dropped him for Wands. Goodman is probably the better player but I felt, fantasy-wise, Wands was the better option because he has less around him as Goodman has to split points with Paulson and Davidson.

As it stands, Wands now leads 93-69 in three games.

[hopefan]

I'd be interested to know if why Principia is up 25 with 5 minutes to go and the starters are still in. The Paulsons play 37 and 35 minutes each and Davidson plays the full 40. Really?

In SLIAC fantasy land, the Prin bench is empty beyond 6th man Payton Sellers.... Eisenhaur, Holt, Jacobs, and Hoffman don't exist... they are merely stuffed caricatures placed carefully to strike fear in opposing coaches...
In real life the answer is also fairly obvious when these players are observed in warmups....I give those guys credit for putting in the time, but.....Let's just say Prin has 5 starters, and a sixth man, and the rest of the team....

[Greek Tragedy]

I understand that completely. But even being up 25 with about 5 to play, you could stick cones out there and not catch up. I'm sure guys from 7-12 or whatever never see the floor, that would've been a good time. I'm not the coach though and I suppose some of them got 3 minutes in.

[hopefan]

Greek... yes, Prin only has 10 in uniform, so the bench was emptied....

[hopefan]

Next Saturday is a long way off, but looking forward to SLIAC gameday #4

Prin at Westmin and Webster at Eureka loom big.... and of course every SLIAC fan AND fantasy player hopes to know whether Shea Feehan will face the Gorlocks...

Fontbonne could give Greenville some trouble, and there is hope that Mac can get it turned around vs Spalding.... but if I were a betting man on either of those games....

And I can't think that Iowa Wez will be able to match up at Blackburn.... Which means BC SHOULD end up at 4-0 and in first place in the conference race by themselves as we enter Christmas break.....

Only two games during the week as I imagine the kids are prepping for, or taking, finals... Fontbonne hosts Wash U on Tuesday  (this one could be ugly if Wash U comes to play), and Spalding hosts Centre on Wednesday (could be a good game, but no, the ol' hopefan will not be driving to Louisville...)

[hopefan]

Any Shea Feehan sightings today?  Will he play vs Webster on Saturday?? Why didn't he play vs Blackburn?  Someone help us out!!

[Greek Tragedy]

Yeah, a week is a long time to wait!