MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[GU1999]

February 12, 2020

Fontbonne @ Eureka (Eureka -7)

Eureka ramps up its run to the playoffs.  This is a very important game if they are going to pull it off and they will be more than ready for the challenge.  Just too many good and seasoned players on Eureka.  That said, Eureka does have to run a pretty nasty guntlet to finish with games against the top three seeds as of today left.  The only easy one being Spaulding.  If they fall short and lose their 7th game here, they will have a hard time winning out to get to 11 wins with @Webster and GU left.  For these reasons, EU will benefit from the urgency of the situation and pull it out.   

Greenville @ Iowa Wesleyan (GU -8.5)

IWU hung with GU earlier this season at GU.  That was one of GUs worst games of the year.  Shooting less than 30% from 3 and turning it over 23 times.  These two things will not repete themselves.  Also, IWU hit 41% from 3 in that game on 24 attempts.  That too will not repete.  That said, the long trip and the steady hand of Fernandaz (48 and 19 last game) are always tough for GU. 

Blackburn @ Mac (Mac -3)

Mac with a stunner in Jacksonville.  Dorethy shows why he is a top player in the league and dominates in the paint.  A toss up game to me but I'll give the home team the standard 3 pts. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

First Regional Rankings are out: https://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2020/02/men-regional-rankings-first

[Greek Tragedy]

Yjack. Totally correct about location.  The game was certainly at Prin. 

Greek - as for the line... This line may have better than your box score review may reveal.  Specifically, at the 8 minute mark of the second half after Prin had extended the lead to 10 and was pulling away when AJ Byrd went down in pretty dramatic fashion.  Byrd laid on the three point line writhing for the last 10 seconds of the defensive possession.  I am not sure what happened then as the camera panned away from the injured player and those that rushed to his aide.  It may have been something as minor as an ankle sprain (albeit a bad one due to the reaction) or something potentially worse.  That said, unexpectedly losing a player of AJ's caliber from a team that has severely limited depth is quite tough.  AJ only managed 20 minutes last night after playing 34 in Prin's quite competitive game against Webster last Saturday.  Prin did well to hang on for the win in this one, especially with the way that MM was shooting it.  This posters thoughts are with AJ and hope he is ready to go on Saturday when Prin visits GU. 

And to MM.  Dang man.  43 points on 21 shots. with a game shooting slash of .620/.555/.923

You are correct, I really only have boxscores to look at as I don't have time to watch games on a semi-regular basis, if any basis, at all. I do, sometimes, scan through the PbP though.

[GU1999]

2/12/20

Greenville over IWU -  Barry Nixon (Sr.) has his best scoring game of the year in leading GU with 25 on 13 shots.  There was a very interesting paralell between the first and second halves.  IWU dominated the first five minutes of each.  To start the first GU fell behind 25 - 10 and then used a 20 - 2 run to take the lead 30-27.  GU finished the half up 12.  To start the second half, IWU went on a 24 - 4 run to take an 8 pt lead.  GU stabilized and surged for the balance of the half to win going away by 17.  GU went 29-32 from the FT line and 23/59 from 3. GU was only -4 on the boards.  This is a great number for a system team.  GU was +16 in TO margin.  If GU hits these marks, they win.     

Eureka dominates Fontbonne - These boys are doing the same thing they did last year.  Watch out everybody. No Hank, No problem. 

Mac was no match for Blackburn

[GU1999]

2/13/20:

Webster @ Westminster (Webster by 9.5)

[y_jack_lok]

With no changes to hopefan standings last night, (Webster +1, BC 0, Font -1, GU -1, EC -2, Westmin -3), this would seem to a good place to break off my posts

I'm going to attempt a hopefan stamdings update -- corrected from last night, I had EC at FU but it was FU at EC

Webster goes to +2 with road win at Westmin
BC remains at 0 with win over non-contender Mac
GU remains -1 with win over non-contender IWU
FU remains -1 with road loss at EC
EC remains -2 with home win over FU
Westmin drops to -4 with home loss to Webster

[WUPHF]

That was quite a game in Fulton.

Westminster had 4-5 good looks down the stretch but could not get those to fall.

Webster has a one game lead with Blackburn, Eureka and Iowa Wesleyan and a 1-1 record against Greenville.

Greenville has Principia, Blackburn and Eureka.

Looking like another fun end to the season ahead.

[y_jack_lok]

^^^ Box score shows Webster shooting 57.7% for the game (62% in the 2nd half) including 50% from three (5-10, but 4-6 in the second half). I couldn't watch but was able to check the score periodically. Webster wss down 12 in the first half, but led by four at halftime. Built that to 13 before having it cut to one, then hung on for the win. Certainly does seem like quite a game.

[WUPHF]

I watched 10-15 minutes of the game turning it off and on.

Definitely a good game.

I may have oversold Webster, but I do really like this team.

[y_jack_lok]

^^^ Webster sems to keep improving, as most teams will throughout the season. But I think this group is doing an especiallly good job. Jordan Clay, who I've mentioned to you as Webster's version of Wash U's Jonathan Arenas, is coming on strong, having scored 20+ points in several games recently. Kudos to the coaches.

[GU1999]

Y_Jack:

Thank you for carrying this on for Hope and the readers.  I logged on this morning with the intent to do the same and it was done!  +1

I have taken a stab at my take on the final standings.

Webster (already clinched playoff spot):
16 - 2 (W at Blackburn, W v Eureka, W at IWU)

Greenville (could clinch a playoff spot Saturday with a win and a Fontbonne or Eureka loss):
13 - 5 (W v. Prin, W at Blackburn, L at Eureka)

Fontbonne:
12-6 (W v. Westminster, W v. IWU, W at Prin)

Blackburn:
12-6 (L v. Webster, L v. Greenville, W at Spalding)

Eureka:
11 - 7 (W at Spalding, L at Webster, W v. Greenville)

Westminster:
9-9 (L at Fontbonne, W at Spaulding, W v Mac)

IWU
6-12 (W v. Mac, L at Fontbonne, L v Webster)

Mac:
6-12 (L v. IWU, W v. Prin, L v. Westminster)

Principia:

3 -15 (L at GU, L v. Mac, L v. Fontbonne)

Spalding :
3-15 (L v. Eureka, L v. Westminster, L v. Blackburn)

[y_jack_lok]

^^^ i thought you might be planning to do the hopefan standings, but didn't want to leave it undone if you weren't. Since I got it wrong at first, maybe I should have left it in your hands. 

I like your predictions and hope you are right about Webster. They won at home fairly easily against Blackburn, but I don't think that means anything when it comes to tomorrow in the Beaverdome. Also, I think they don't match up well vs Eureka, so the Wednesday home game against the Red Devils is a dicey proposition. The there's the final road trip to Mt. Pleasant. If it's a game that doesn't affect placement in the standings it coild be a "let down" game. If it does affect placement, well, there's the anxiety that comes with that. Nothing is easy this season.

[y_jack_lok]

hopefan standings update after games of Sat. 2/15:

Webster goes to +3 with road win at BC
BC goez to -1 with home loss to Webster
GU remains -1 with win over non-contender Prin
FU remains -1 with home win over Westmin
EC remains -2 with win over non-contender Spalding
Westmin remains -4 with road loss at FU

Westminster now out of the running for a tourney spot. A win in one of the two remaining games and Webster secures #1, but is in no matter what. Greenville is likely in, but not guaranteed. FU, EC and BC at 10-6 are battling for the remaining two spots. EC plays at Webster then hosts GU. GU finishes on the road at BC and EC. This stuff gets complicated. Too many scenarios that affect the 2, 3, and 4 spots. Someone smarter and who really cares can give more detail.

[WUPHF]

So, Greenville is likely to finish second in the league behind the clear favorite...

A berth in the conference tournament within reach...

Is it safe to say that the lack of late season technical foul updates is a confirmation that Greenville was able to adjust their play and still live up to expectations while complying with the "Greenville rule" as history would suggest was entirely possible and predictable?

[ecreddevils]

greenville 12-4 locks up two seed with one win over either bc or ec

ec, fontbonne, blackburn all 10-6 likely batting for three and four seeds

fontbonne easiest path home against iowa wes and road against prin

ec goes at webster and home against greenville

blackburn home against greenville and road against spalding

a strong scenario to me is 1. webster 16-2 2. greenville 13-5  3. fontbonne 12-6  4.  ec and bc tied at 11-7 

what is the second tiebreaker after head-to-head?