MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hopefan]

Wash U embarrasses Maryville....  Mom always said, if you can't find anything good to say, don't say anything.

Good night

[Mac Attack]

Rockford 83   MacMurray 78

Highlanders complete their non-conference schedule 2-8. Huff played well, as did Ebergart and Hipshir. Still too many turnovers, poor shot selection, and breakdowns on defense. Mac kept it close throughout the game and had their chances. Just couldn't get over the hump. Looks like there were some academic casualities as well, as two of Mac's younger players who had been playing didn't make the trip. Not good. I would have predicted no worse than 5-5. Everyone has to be disappointed. While I think Mac still as a legitimate shot at the post-season, their chances appear to be fading.

[hopefan]

Maryville was missing 2 key players vs Wash U - if they can't adjust quickly to life without them - this is a whole new horserace

[hopefan]

you know, the trouble with this room is that I bait the hook, but the fish don't bite  -  just not enough fish I guess.

[yjacklok]

hopefan -- greetings from Virginia. I didn't know Maryville was down two players against Wash U. You had mentioned Ryan Klein. Who was the other one? That certainly changes the equation for conference play, and puts a greater burden on the rest of the team. But the Saints have an experienced team, and an excellent coach, and I don't think any other team in the conference now has a clear cut shot to be the favorite. I guess we'll see -- that's what the games are for.

[hopefan]

Jason Rezabeck, who hadn't been seeing much time anyway with knee and back problems, is out too... saw him at the WashU game and his back is VERY bad.  I feel sorry for him.  He showed great potential frosh and soph years, but has really been hobbled ever since.  And McCarthy, the transfer from Fontbonne also went down vs Wash U with a knee problem - don't know if he'll play either.

The matchup vs Webster will be interesting, because other than Bash, MU is now really hurting on the boards, unless a couple of the frosh step it up like they did against Mo Bap.   Webster's big men ate MU up last year - I still remember Hoggit having a career nite, and I've always liked the Hawaiiian - I don't know now how MU will stop them.

Incidently, I just awarded you a karma point for your trip
I think the whole world needs to know that while you sent your family on a vacation to Mexico, you chose to travel from St Louis to Virginia to watch your alma mater Randolph Macon play D3 Hoops.

Another interesting point - say hi for me to Bob Johnson, the coach of Emory &  Henry.   30 years ago, he took my place as assistant at RPI in Troy Ny when I left to pursue a different future.  4 or 5 years later, he got the job at E&H

[fcnews]

Let's get this started. My Predicitions for today.
FU over GC by 15
WC over Prin by 10
Blackburn over Mac by 12
Maryville over WU in a squeaker (home court advantage), I'm not up to date on MU's injuries so this is just a flier.

Good Luck All.

[Peterson]

I'll throw mine out there...
FU by 25 (Greenville has no scoring since Foster got kicked off)
WC by 25 (Prin lost everyone last year)
Blackburn by 15 (Blackburn is too experienced)
Maryville by 10 (Good matchup even though Maryville is struggling with injuries)

[hopefan]

Maryville beats Webster 80-63

Webster opened the game going to Hoggit inside, but after missing a couple of close in shots, seemed to abandon that strategy.  Maryville jumped to a big first half lead led by Casey Holland off the bench and Ben Hebl's 3 3 pointers.  Webster closed to seven at half as Maryville started turning the ball over.
At the start of the second half, Webster closed to a two point deficeit, But Hoggit hardly played due to fouls, Basillio disappeared, and Maryville seemed to dominate the boards with a small team.  Only Corey Kuhn's shooting kept them close, and eventually Maryville pulled away as the clock ran down.

Good points - Maryville played big around the basket despite being outsized... it appeared Bash had a double double, and off guards Hebl, Regan and Holland seemed to do a great job around the basket.
Also -the running came perked really well - generated a large number of open 3's and many trips to the line
On the bad - turnovers -ugh - far too many - my main guy Elwell has to value the ball more - where's the penetrate and dish?
Big men besides Bash did nothing today when they were needed - Frosh big men have got to get a bunch tougher -  Mac has to play smarter when the opportunity comes
ok hope I don't get in trouble....

[fcnews]

GC 82 FU 67
No jet lag excuses! Stat of the game. GC 11-20 3pt and FU 4-21, enough said. Lone bright spot for FU was Justin Storandt 17 pts and 16 rebs.

This is a very young FU team and it showed today 10 freshmen and one sophmore saw minutes for the Griffins.

They better grow up quick.

Maryville is a tough place to play, but that score does suprise me.

[hopefan]

Westminster over Prin  72 - 52

looking for a Mac- Blackburn score

[Mac Attack]

Blackburn 67  Mac 66

More later....

[hopefan]

Hey Mac - was hoping we'd hear from you, tho I know you're hurting with a one point loss.  How did the last minue go?  Did Mac have a shot to win, or did Blackburn make a shot to win?  Anyway, it goes to show that Mac is definitely in the mix for a conference tourney berth. 

One can read as much as they want to into the first day of conference play and the results.  A prior writer said Greenville would be weak as a result of a dismisal -obviously not.  FCnews had high hopes for the frosh at Fontbonne - I'm sure a disappointment for him as the youngsters get acquainted with conference play.  Westminster is an unknown and remains that way - it's a forgone conclusion that Prin is facing a tough year.  I had my doubts about Maryville with the loss of Klein and Rezabeck, and while Webster and MU are closer than the score indicated, the remaining seniors stepped it up to win by 17.  And I don't think we can count Webster out... they have too much talent to have the record they do - if a direction can be found, they should have a winning record  in conference.  Now Mac shows they will compete - and we know Blackburn is good. 

It's 7 teams playing for 4 spots - anxious to see how day 2 plays out on Wednesday
Blackburn gets the win over Prin, but the other 3 are interesting
Maryville goes to Greenville - big homecourt advantage for Greenville no matter how much better MU might be
Westminster comes to Webster - seemingly an early season must win for Webster to get things turned around
Fontbonne goes to Mac - the young Fontbonne team vs the usually ultra-uptempo Mac - another very interesting game

It's a shame more people aren't aware of SLIAC hoops - this conference season should be alot of fun.

I give credit to the Post Dispatch today  -  box scores of each game, and even a little one line paragraph on each game.

Would be nice if each of our fans gave a little detail on game results here if they attend, tho I realize it's easier to do if your team wins than if it loses.  I'm gonna go to Greenville Wednesday Evening - could be tough getting up on Thursday 5AM

[macnews]

Mac had last shot and shot was missed in last second.  Most of the game was back and forth.  If the coach keeps up like yesterday Mac has a good shot maybe not first but a realistic second or third.   He just needs to keep playing with the main ten guys as yesterday.  No one had a great game but all added something.

Freshman Brady Greene did not return after break.  Two players out with injury,  one senior and one freshman.

[J-Kidd]

Whats up folks.  Greenville got a win a few days ago against Fontbonne.  Ben Hensold has been killin lately, especially from 3 pt.-range.  Darin Williams, Greenville's 6'9'' center is developing quickly and improving his low post moves.  Game this wednesday against Maryville.  One of the best guards and has talent that comes off the bench is Antonio Conquest. No one really know about him he can come off the bench and will be a very big factor during the confrence play these next couple of weeks.