MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[y_jack_lok]

Congrats to Webster's Rodson Etienne on being named to the d3hoops.com team of the week.

https://www.d3hoops.com/awards/tow/2018-19/week9

https://websterathletics.com/news/2019/1/21/mens-basketball-etienne-earns-d3hoops-com-team-of-the-week-accolade.aspx?fbclid=IwAR1jb7pJCqHrTsFrG5MY8DkLx0wVJfgHE4uASk1kNyZaXBRC8emHwK5EYHo

[hopefan]

Some readers have enjoyed my "hopefan standings" in the past.... it's time to start up

As the first half of the season has played out, my expectations are that the top 7 teams should not lose to the bottom 3, Principia, MacMurray, and Iowa Wesleyan, and that the top seven teams should not lose at home...   if that happened perfectly during the season, we would have a 7 way tie for first at the end of the season with a 12-6 record .... deviations from this are what bring teams up and down the ladder...
In hopefan standings, The top 7 teams get a +1 for wins on the road against each other, a -1 for a home loss against each other, and a -1 for any loss to Mac, Prin or IWU
No points assigned for home wins or road losses against each other in the top 7

Currently... hopefan standings are:

Webster  +3  won at Fontbonne, won at Spalding, won at Greenville
Greenville  0   won at Fontbonne, lost at home to Webster
Westminster  0 won at Eureka, lost to Iowa Wesleyan
Eureka   0  lost at home to Westminster, won at Blackburn.........  Big surprise here.... If Eureka wins at home in the 2nd half, they're likely IN (though that does mean beating Webster and Greenville at home)
Spalding   -1  lost at home to Webster
Fontbonne  -2 lost at home to Webster, lost at home to Greenville
Blackburn   -3  lost to MacMurray, lost at home to Eureka, lost to Principia

Any losses to the bottom 3 can be the kiss of death as it must be made up with road wins against the top 7..... consequently, Blackburn is in tough shape....

[y_jack_lok]

^^^ Glad to see the return of the hopefan standings. Question for you. Do the hopefan standings always assume there will be a 7/3 top/bottom split no matter when it is in the conference season? Or do you wait until the first half is over, then set the scene? I.e., might there be an 8/2 or 6/4 split after 9 games?

[hopefan]

I wait until the first half is over (or some other "feel like it" date), and then make a judgement as to which teams are reasonably still with a shot at the conference tourney... I almost could have gone 4 and 6 this year, given the spread from 4th to 5th, but we would have missed the fact that Eureka really still is in this thing... it's a fun way to look at things....

Maybe give ECred a chance for optimism....WIN at HOME!!!!

Also like the fact that you reiterated my thought that the long bus trips can be a major factor in the players being ready to play... It's a long ride to Eureka from Webster, from Greenville, from Spalding... each of them have to go to EC.  Unfortunately, EC still has to go to Westmin, and Greenville. 

[hopefan]

oh.... and...

SLIAC.org POW... Rod Etienne... certainly... understandable.... BUT

I like my CO-Players of the week idea, for this particular week.... far more..

ALSO, if the reason that Webster's Nigel Wilcox is not mentioned in the other notables section is that only one player from a team can be nominated, that's just silly.... in fact, ANY reason that Nigel Wilcox was not mentioned as an other notable is just plain silly....

[Smitty Oom]

Agree with y_jack. Love the hopefan standings!

[y_jack_lok]

oh.... and...

SLIAC.org POW... Rod Etienne... certainly... understandable.... BUT

I like my CO-Players of the week idea, for this particular week.... far more..

ALSO, if the reason that Webster's Nigel Wilcox is not mentioned in the other notables section is that only one player from a team can be nominated, that's just silly.... in fact, ANY reason that Nigel Wilcox was not mentioned as an other notable is just plain silly....

I think it's happened (though rarely -- and maybe not in basketball) that there have been co-POWs. Also, more than one player from the same team has appeared in the POWs/notables in a given week (again, maybe not in basketball).

[hopefan]

Prin stays with Greenville in the first half, but wilts later....Micah Paulson finishes with 44 points, but 11 turnovers... Johari Dix doesn't shoot it well, but collects 7 bounds, 9 assistst, 7 steals to go with 18 points for Greenville... Marv Bateman leads with 20 points, 8 in double figures for Greenville...

Tonight   
Spalding at Eureka   the first of many "must Wins" for Eureka... I think they'll do it...

Mac at Fontbonne    Fontbonne wins easy at home

Iowa Wesleyan at Webster....  down the street, Webster coasts too

Blackburn at Westmin.... the long trip, BC likely the first of the top 7 to fall too far behind... Westmin close....

[Greek Tragedy]

I see the finally rescheduled the Eureka v Greenville game to Monday, February 11.

[WUPHF]

I see the finally rescheduled the Eureka v Greenville game to Monday, February 11.

I think  you should just come down for the conference tournament instead.

[hopefan]

I see the finally rescheduled the Eureka v Greenville game to Monday, February 11.

I think  you should just come down for the conference tournament instead.

It'd be a good time Greek

Let's see...
How about at Webster...
1-4   Webster vs Spalding
2-3   Greenville vs Westmin

Finals   ?  vs  ?

only thing that would spruce it up more would be if Eureka could overtake Westmin or Spalding... more run and gun, a few more fans

sounds great.....

[WUPHF]

Yeah, I guess Greenville winning it all with Eureka as the fourth team and the games played in Greenville may be the best in terms of overall attendance.  Maybe?

If Webster hosts and advances to the final, I'll be there, though Grant Gym will be standing room only.

[hopefan]

Yeah, I guess Greenville winning it all with Eureka as the fourth team and the games played in Greenville may be the best in terms of overall attendance.  Maybe?

If Webster hosts and advances to the final, I'll be there, though Grant Gym will be standing room only.

Webster-Fontbonne 10 years ago didn't get SRO, I'd be shocked if Webster vs anybody got it now...  At Greenville or Eureka, yes...Webster, it'd be "what game?"

[WUPHF]

Maybe I am imagining the crowds for the Webster-Washington University games as being crowded and not all that far away from a full house.  There are always some especially loud fans at those match-ups.

By the way, I was thinking about Denny McKinney when I typed that last message.  The last time he was active on the boards was when Webster lost that heart breaker to Illinois Wesleyan in the tourney.  I would like to see Webster get another shot...

[y_jack_lok]

^^^ I think the crowds at Webster when playing Wash U are at least in part due to Wash U fans showing up.