MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[y_jack_lok]

Not a great start for the preseason favorite. Illinois College predicted just 7th in the MWC, a distant 16 points behind 6th place Lawrence. The bottom half of that conference isn't very good.

If one game is enough to go on I think IC will finish better than 7th in the MWC and Webster is unlikely to be SLIAC champs.

[hopefan]

I do feel the absence of Wilcox made a major difference for Webster... with Wilcox in the middle on offense last year, so much more was available for  Josh Johnson and Enrique Tankins.... if the defense pulled back to keep Wilcox from getting the ball, there was more room on the perimeter... if Wilcox got the ball in the middle, he was an offensive threat, or if they collapsed on him, he quickly put it back outside for open shots.... Tankins, Johnson, Ettienne, none of them are really good one on one players who can create...
Then of course, the rebounding, particularly in the first 10 minutes, was totally lopsided... Webster has little size, they were completely at ICs mercy on rebounds around the basket....  and Wilcox's shot blocking was also badly missed around the basket...

And last but not least, except for Aaron Hopp, I hate to say it... Webster showed very little initiative to GO HARD when they were down... Coach and Tankins (I view him as the leader) need to kick some butt next practice....

My take after seeing the top 3 in the SLIAC preseason poll on the internet last night... If GC has lost both Williams and Bateman, and if Webster doesn't find an answer in the middle and start thinking PASS on offense, the conference race has a clear front runner in Eureka... We all (well, some of us), knew Bennington, Dehm and Jurgens were good... but I saw a lot more than those 3 last night.. Jalen Hosea played perfectly at point (get the ball up the court, start the offense, and play defense), and big man Jaedon Banks did exactly what he needed to do (rebound, and shot block)... those two guys don't need to score...  then add in two ready to play (very well) at this level JC transfers with Ian Milsteadt and Chris Daniels, and EC all of a sudden looks well stocked to defend their conference championship crown....

[ecreddevils]

over to Eureka... fast start up double digits for Eureka... ECred on the mic!!!!!

Two JC transfers for Eureka looking good... Daniels and Milsteadt...

Geesh  EC up over Berea 53-25 at half...Dehm Jurgens Bennington all looking good... as well as supporting cast...

Berea whittles a 30+ margin down to 13, EC  wins 94-76

Think I'll leave the Webster summary to Y-jack 

Really nice opening win for EC. I think there's a lot to be excited about here. Primarily, the balanced offensive attack.  Five players in double digits and Hosea with nine.  The returners all looked great, but really excited about the addition of Millsteadt and Daniels coming off the bench.  Both are heady and experienced, combined for 24 pts.  Jaedon Banks at 6' 9" is an intriguing rim protector, an unusual player for the SLIAC, had five blocks last night.  Great to see his development. 

Berea is a decent team, but they were taken apart in the first half by EC's intensity, went 0-12 from three in the first half, largely due to hurried takes off close-outs.  This Eureka team can hurt you in a lot of ways, and will wear teams down if you can't match our added depth.  Monmouth will be a stern test next week, but the early returns are great.

[GU1999]

Cognitive dissonance alert. 

- IWU soccer had such a "lack of control" they're not allowed to play in tournament. 
- Focus on team penalties vis-à-vis individual penalties is deemed proper because coach is in control of team.
- League gives Coach Odorisio from IWU SLIAC Coach of the year. 

https://www.sliac.org/sports/msoc/2019-20/all_conf

[GU1999]

ok Can't resist... sorry..

GU with its first Tech of the year... 32 minutes in to the season.....for a naughty word



uh oh......    T number 2, hanging on the rim....

Not to be out T'd.. Centre just picked up their 2nd....

I will not be surprised that some folks will be excited when teams, preferably the "right teams" get Ts this year.  Having only been able to check in was GU acting with a lack of control that would properly set them on pace to have 3 times plus the allowable standard?  On pace for 50 Ts.  Standard is 14(?). 

[GU1999]

Shot lights out first 10 minutes... but GU, how do you feel about what Ryan said regarding Coach Barber's "they had a few players "we had to ask to sit out a year and we hope they'll be back next season.""   I'm pretty disgusted unless further info comes out.. and I'm not an alum..

I'm guessing Bateman is either injured or is subject to punishment, as he is with the team in OH.  Although seeing another player in a #11 jersey could mean a redshirt.  ??

I would not be surprised at all if Williams was a redshirt.

GU has done a really good job with the transfers who have two years of eligibility left and 2+ years of classes left by synching up their final basketball season with their last year academically.  Graduation is a huge key for Coach Barber. 

[GU1999]

Not a great start for the preseason favorite. Illinois College predicted just 7th in the MWC, a distant 16 points behind 6th place Lawrence. The bottom half of that conference isn't very good.

If one game is enough to go on I think IC will finish better than 7th in the MWC and Webster is unlikely to be SLIAC champs.

It is good to see Deandre Enoch (a GU transfer) having success for IC. A nice kid and good player who didn't play varsity last year. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

ok Can't resist... sorry..

GU with its first Tech of the year... 32 minutes in to the season.....for a naughty word



uh oh......    T number 2, hanging on the rim....

Not to be out T'd.. Centre just picked up their 2nd....

I will not be surprised that some folks will be excited when teams, preferably the "right teams" get Ts this year.  Having only been able to check in was GU acting with a lack of control that would properly set them on pace to have 3 times plus the allowable standard?  On pace for 50 Ts.  Standard is 14(?).

I heard from Coach Barber this morning.  He said the other tech last night was for flopping, which is apparently a point of emphasis for officials this year.  That's going to hurt everyone, I think, but especially teams that like to draw fouls - certainly a System tactic.

[hopefan]

ok Can't resist... sorry..

GU with its first Tech of the year... 32 minutes in to the season.....for a naughty word



uh oh......    T number 2, hanging on the rim....

Not to be out T'd.. Centre just picked up their 2nd....

I will not be surprised that some folks will be excited when teams, preferably the "right teams" get Ts this year.  Having only been able to check in was GU acting with a lack of control that would properly set them on pace to have 3 times plus the allowable standard?  On pace for 50 Ts.  Standard is 14(?).

I heard from Coach Barber this morning.  He said the other tech last night was for flopping, which is apparently a point of emphasis for officials this year.  That's going to hurt everyone, I think, but especially teams that like to draw fouls - certainly a System tactic.

Thanks for that info... I could only think in watching the play that a player uttered a magic word... glad that was not the case...

A tech for flopping is ridiculous.. guys are trying to draw charges, they go down with contact... how can any call be objective for flopping... call a personal and say the defense didn't establish position..

I thought the Technical Foul article was excellent... I wrote a pretty passionate refrain, but deleted.... it was probably tooooo much...but two points about my thoughts

1) I don't care if GU's recruits are from L.A., Maine, Europe, of Samoa... this is NCAA D3 basketball... follow the rules of conduct that are mandated, and obvious

2) and in reference to a comment GU made, I also think the practice of redshirting a kid who played his Junior Year, so he can play a fifth year two years out, is virtually cheating... hopefully the SLIAC and the NCAA will see through it, and prohibit it.. if a kid comes in very short on academics (somehow getting through the Admissions requirements), he should legitimately redshirt his first year, satisfy himself and the school that he can (and will) do the work, then be eligible for his forth year, and 5th year if necessary.  Spalding did this with Dewonne McAfee several years ago, all league as a junior, sit out a year, play his 5th year when Spalding was SLIAC tourney eligible....and I'm sure was condemned for the practice.   Some SLIAC coaches refer to it as "grayshirting", a term which I believe is derogatory....

[Gregory Sager]

ok Can't resist... sorry..

GU with its first Tech of the year... 32 minutes in to the season.....for a naughty word



uh oh......    T number 2, hanging on the rim....

Not to be out T'd.. Centre just picked up their 2nd....

I will not be surprised that some folks will be excited when teams, preferably the "right teams" get Ts this year.  Having only been able to check in was GU acting with a lack of control that would properly set them on pace to have 3 times plus the allowable standard?  On pace for 50 Ts.  Standard is 14(?).

I heard from Coach Barber this morning.  He said the other tech last night was for flopping, which is apparently a point of emphasis for officials this year.  That's going to hurt everyone, I think, but especially teams that like to draw fouls - certainly a System tactic.

Thanks for that info... I could only think in watching the play that a player uttered a magic word... glad that was not the case...

A tech for flopping is ridiculous.. guys are trying to draw charges, they go down with contact... how can any call be objective for flopping... call a personal and say the defense didn't establish position..

I thought the Technical Foul article was excellent... I wrote a pretty passionate refrain, but deleted.... it was probably tooooo much...but two points about my thoughts

1) I don't care if GU's recruits are from L.A., Maine, Europe, of Samoa... this is NCAA D3 basketball... follow the rules of conduct that are mandated, and obvious

2) and in reference to a comment GU made, I also think the practice of redshirting a kid who played his Junior Year, so he can play a fifth year two years out, is virtually cheating... hopefully the SLIAC and the NCAA will see through it, and prohibit it.. if a kid comes in very short on academics (somehow getting through the Admissions requirements), he should legitimately redshirt his first year, satisfy himself and the school that he can (and will) do the work, then be eligible for his forth year, and 5th year if necessary.  Spalding did this with Dewonne McAfee several years ago, all league as a junior, sit out a year, play his 5th year when Spalding was SLIAC tourney eligible....and I'm sure was condemned for the practice.   Some SLIAC coaches refer to it as "grayshirting", a term which I believe is derogatory....

What you're describing is not redshirting, hopefan. Redshirting is practicing but not playing. It's also illegal in D3. If you practice you use a year of eligibility, whether you ever suit up for a game or not.

What you're describing is grayshirting. It's not considered to be derogatory.

There's nothing wrong with this. After all, this is D3. If a student-athlete wants to push back his participation for a year, or is willing to do so if requested by his coach, that's entirely his call. After all, he's the one who has to pay the money for his schooling.

[hopefan]

Does this process occur often in the CCIW Greg?  Just curious... 

my opinion won't change whether legal, illegal, ethical or unethical.... to me, it's just not sensible....

But if I need to be corrected, thanks for correcting me...

[Gregory Sager]

Does this process occur often in the CCIW Greg?  Just curious... 

It doesn't happen often, for the simple reason that tuition is very expensive at a CCIW school. There aren't a lot of young people (or their parents) who are willing to spring for another year of schooling just to use up remaining eligibility.

my opinion won't change whether legal, illegal, ethical or unethical.... to me, it's just not sensible....

But if I need to be corrected, thanks for correcting me...

Oh, I don't think it's particularly sensible, either, for the economic reasons I just cited. But if it fits in with the trajectory of one's college education and the graduation requirements that still lie ahead of the student/athlete ... why not? If you're going to still be in school, anyway, it can make sense in certain situations. But in most situations, it doesn't make cents sense.

[hopefan]

WOW     our projected basement dwellers have a heck of a day.... Prin hangs with Berea, could have won... and Iowa Wesleyan beats NAIA Culver Stockton!!!!

[hopefan]

Mac down 7 late beats Central Christian (Mo.) by one.. play by play shows tie game, Central Christian misses with 5 seconds left, Mac's Camron Jamison rebounds and gets fouled with 1 second left... makes first FT, probably misses second intentionally for a one point win!!!

Greenville wins over Central close...Sonti Grady again leads the Panthers with 27.. 55 points for the two games (incidentally, Sonti was one of those grayshirts that Greg and I discussed previously)........ Greenville was down by as much as 12 in the 2nd half and was able to come back for the win...

Iowa Wesleyan missed several free throws in last minute giving Culver Stockton two possessions to tie, but they missed 3 point shots both times, IWU gets the 3 point win...

[hopefan]

I'll give my SLIAC Player of the week after Sunday games each week... SLIAC.org also has a Player of the Week each Week... fun to compare my selection with theirs..

My POW for Week No 1 is Greenville's Santi Grady... 55 points in two games at the Case Western Tourney...Santi is on the floor to shoot, he had virtually no other stats.. but he did shoot this weekend  18-31 from the floor, 7 for 17 from 3, 12 for 14 from the line...
Each of the other teams that played, only played one game... the strong Eureka 3some of Bennington, Dehm, and Juergens all shot well and rebounded;
Mac's Trevor Voss had 22 points and 4 assists;  Mac's Logan Doherty had a memorable day of 18 points and 16 rebounds, but was 0 for 8 from the line;
Prin's Tre Goodman had 23 points, but a mediocre 6-15 from the field;

I'm also going to have a newcomer of the week... either a frosh, a transfer from out of the league, or a guy who had never had the chance to contribute on the varsity level before
Newcomer of the week goes to Greenville's Quincy Pinkard... in 2 games, 31 points, 4/9 from 3's, 7 rebs, 6 assts, 6 steals...  a JC transfer

other newcomers who started our impressively
Greenville's Henry Johnson, Chris Jackson, and Kameron Vinsell all flowed right into the system and played well... each are JC transfers..
Greenville's Dustin Bankowski did not score vs Central, but he had 8 assists!!   JC transfer
IWU's Fosh David Seber got only 8 minutes, but he may have earned more going 3-6, 2-5 from 3's for 8 points
Eurekas 2 JC transfers were very impressive... Ian Milsteadt had 11 points, Chris Daniels had 13
Eureka's Jaedon Banks, who played in only 6 varsity games last year, was a force on defense in EC's win, had 5 blocks
Mac's frosh Elijah Powell started and had 12 points
Prin transfer AJ Byrd had 11 points on a tough shooting day, but added 6 boards and 2 assists....

double doubles this week...
Dakota Bennington  EC    18 pts, 11 rebs  in win over Berea
Alberto Torrez Municio  IWU    16 pts, 11 rebs  in win over Culver Stockton
Logan Doherty   Mac   18 pts, 16 rebs  in win over Central Baptist (Mo.)