MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Gregory Sager]

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...

Probably won't be this year ... and not because of Webster.

[hopefan]

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...

Probably won't be this year ... and not because of Webster.

  Took me a second to catch the humor... Webster will not get another shot at Illinois Wesleyan this year, because Illinois Wesleyan will not make the tourney unless they miraculously win the CCIW Tourney....

[hopefan]

Well, the SLIAC Conference race for a tournament spot just got MUCH more interesting last night, as 3rd place and 4th place Westminster and Spalding fall to 5th place and 6th place Blackburn and Eureka.... All of a sudden, a 2 game lead for tourney spots becomes a one game lead, and 3rd and 4th place seem up for grabs...

Briefly last night...
Webster clobbers IWU... the big news here is Webster's Josh Johnson didn't play... anyone, anyone?  injury? class?  Coach's decision?   I'd love to know...

Eureka leads Spalding most of the way... Eureka's big scorers Bennington and Thomas have poor shooting nights.... rescued by big games from Alex Wiegand and Austin Juergens  (a combined 12 for 14 from the field) and the rebounding of Jordan Dehm.. great team effort...

Mac's performance unexpected as they run up a big 1st half lead over Fontbonne, but they can't hang on....Another big game for Font's Luke DeLine, he has made a quick recovery from injury

Blackburn gets the close win over Westmin... absolutely crucial win for BC... the box score looks ugly for both teams, but an ugly win is a lot nicer than a pretty loss...4 starters in double figures for BC, but BC shoots 38%, Westmin 37%.... Westmin hard to figure, are they tiring out?

so the impact on hopefan standings

Webster  +3  won at Fontbonne, won at Spalding, won at Greenville
Greenville  0   won at Fontbonne, lost at home to Webster
Eureka   0  lost at home to Westminster, won at Blackburn
Westminster  -1 won at Eureka, lost to Iowa Wesleyan, lost at home to Blackburn
Spalding   -1  lost at home to Webster
Fontbonne  -2 lost at home to Webster, lost at home to Greenville
Blackburn   -2  lost to MacMurray, lost at home to Eureka, lost to Principia, won at Westminster

[y_jack_lok]

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...

Probably won't be this year ... and not because of Webster.

Let's not forget that Webster did get a shot at Illinois Wesleyan earlier this season. But I get the dig.

[WUPHF]

Hey, I think my phrases leaves open the possibility that I was referring to tourney rather than Illinois Wesleyan.

[y_jack_lok]

To answer hopefan's question about Josh Johnson, he was in street clothes helping out under the basket during warmups and cheering loudly from the bench during the game. Did not appear to be injured.

Looking at the box score -- Webster starters were 27 of 45 from the field. Overall 23 assists on 35 field goals for Webster. Between both teams a total of 18 fouls called in the game -- IWU whistled for only one foul in the first half.

[y_jack_lok]

Hey, I think my phrases leaves open the possibility that I was referring to tourney rather than Illinois Wesleyan.

Right. I get that.

[Gregory Sager]

Hey, I think my phrases leaves open the possibility that I was referring to tourney rather than Illinois Wesleyan.

It suited my purpose to read it otherwise.

[WUPHF]

It suited my purpose to read it otherwise.

Indeed and I should acknowledged that.

The thing is, I feel bad for the Illinois Wesleyan fans for the first time ever.  If they do not find a way in to the tourney after one of the toughest schedules in the nation and a host of close losses... 

Let's keep this between us though.

As an aside, way too early for this, but it looks like both Webster and Greenville are within 500 miles of Lincoln, NE.

[Gregory Sager]

As an aside, way too early for this, but it looks like both Webster and Greenville are within 500 miles of Lincoln, NE.

Yeah, I'd already looked that up with the same idea in mind. It's not a given that the SLIAC rep will have to face Nebraska Wesleyan in the opening round on the home floor of the Prairie Wolves, since the two likely suspects to get the UMAC's bid, Northwestern and Bethany Lutheran, are also both located within 500 miles of Lincoln, NE. But there's a strong possibility that it will happen -- and if UW-Oshkosh, St. Thomas, or St. John's hosts a pod, then the odds that the SLIAC rep would have to travel to Huskerville become that much greater, because the only 500-mile connection you can make between Webster/Greenville and one of those three powerhouses is Greenville @ UWO.

[WUPHF]

Yeah, I'd already looked that up with the same idea in mind. It's not a given that the SLIAC rep will have to face Nebraska Wesleyan in the opening round on the home floor of the Prairie Wolves, since the two likely suspects to get the UMAC's bid, Northwestern and Bethany Lutheran, are also both located within 500 miles of Lincoln, NE. But there's a strong possibility that it will happen -- and if UW-Oshkosh, St. Thomas, or St. John's hosts a pod, then the odds that the SLIAC rep would have to travel to Huskerville become that much greater, because the only 500-mile connection you can make between Webster/Greenville and one of those three powerhouses is Greenville @ UWO.

Thanks for sharing that context.  I was thinking about that, but there was no way I would be able to come up with that.

[Greek Tragedy]

There's a reason why Greg is a HOFer and we're not.

I would pay to see Greenville up at Oshkosh. I remember when Grinnell played up there.

[GU1999]

Mr. Sager and Greek - Great info on the potential match-ups.  I, too, would love the GU at UWO first round.  Chiefly, because it would mean that GU (losers of 2 of 3) righted the ship near the end  and pulled off a Conf. Tourney win.     

When contemplating a GU v. UWO match up the only reasonable thing to do would be to compare their respective performances against common opponent(s) this year.  Because everyone knows that means something very significant...  Turns out here is only one and GU won their game by 40 and UWO won theirs by 33.  A Heavy Clear edge to GU, for sure, wink wink...  The unfortunate recipient of both of these highly significant outcomes for comparison sake is the rooting interest of the revered HOFer who shared the match-up info in the first place.  5 national championships.  We know... 

Clearly no one wants NWU in NE.  For what its worth, Massey has them as their 221 team overall. This has to be one of the highest Massey rated D3 teams ever. They are ahead of more than 100 D1 teams.

[hopefan]

Looking ahead to Saturday....Will it be a day of upsets???

Hey what the heck... Mac beat Blackburn, Iowa Wes beat Westminster, Prin beat Blackburn, Blackburn beat Webster, Westmin beat Greenville..
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN

Let's face it... if Spalding were to fall asleep after the hellacious long trip to Iowa Wesleyan and lose, and Eureka were to keep their winning streak going, we'd have one super race (aka... logjam) for 3rd and 4th place in the conference....

Spalding does travel to IWU... the talent level is not that much different... Go IWU!!!!!!

Unfortunately, Eureka does make that long trip to Westmin... and it seems that every time I begin to get down on the Bluejays, Coach Mitchell brings them back... But for the fun of it all, I gotta go with Eureka in this game....

Fontbonne at Prin... with Luke DeLine, there is no way Fontbonne can lose this game... right???   Be careful.....

Greenville goes to Blackburn... Greenville lost two in a row, then beat Prin, are they tiring out? Eric Williams hasn't lit it up in a while, he was the difference maker... is he trying to do too much?     Blackburn kept the first game close.... watch out.... This game is absolutely CRITICAL to both teams, to Greenville for hopes of getting home court in the tourney, for Blackburn to remain in the running to make the conference tourney...let's crunch those standings!!

Webster should take care of Mac... sorry Coach...

[ecreddevils]

Looking ahead to Saturday....Will it be a day of upsets???

Hey what the heck... Mac beat Blackburn, Iowa Wes beat Westminster, Prin beat Blackburn, Blackburn beat Webster, Westmin beat Greenville..
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN

Let's face it... if Spalding were to fall asleep after the hellacious long trip to Iowa Wesleyan and lose, and Eureka were to keep their winning streak going, we'd have one super race (aka... logjam) for 3rd and 4th place in the conference....

Spalding does travel to IWU... the talent level is not that much different... Go IWU!!!!!!

Unfortunately, Eureka does make that long trip to Westmin... and it seems that every time I begin to get down on the Bluejays, Coach Mitchell brings them back... But for the fun of it all, I gotta go with Eureka in this game....

Fontbonne at Prin... with Luke DeLine, there is no way Fontbonne can lose this game... right???   Be careful.....

Greenville goes to Blackburn... Greenville lost two in a row, then beat Prin, are they tiring out? Eric Williams hasn't lit it up in a while, he was the difference maker... is he trying to do too much?     Blackburn kept the first game close.... watch out.... This game is absolutely CRITICAL to both teams, to Greenville for hopes of getting home court in the tourney, for Blackburn to remain in the running to make the conference tourney...let's crunch those standings!!

Webster should take care of Mac... sorry Coach...

ECRed's minor league predictions for the weekend:

Spalding over IWU  The trip isn't THAT far, Hope. As much as I want the upset, Eagles roll in and make it Mt. Unpleasant

Prin over FU  The hills of Elsah are alive with the sound of Goodman and Paulson.  Prin's two conference wins were at home, make it three.

GC over BC  Will be a dogfight, but The System Prevails

Web over Mac  Seven game skid doesn't end here.

EC over Westmin  My Red Devils are on a mini-run, 3 in a row and 5-2 since home Westmin loss.  Huot's 29 off the bench was the difference in that one, but he's gone AWOL since.  Westmin coming off bad home loss to Blackburn, more of the same here as Bennington dunks all over Fulton.