MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hopefan]

WOW   -  monster upsets By Maryville and Prin   -  and monster wins for Mac and Webster-  Mac's win puts them a game up on most of the competition -
If Eureka beats Greenville on Saturday, two teams with two losses and four teams with 3, barring no more upsets.  And with Maryville getting a taste of winning, Mac can't take them lightly this Saturday!  Of course if Gville beats Eureka, they"ll be in the drivers seat as the first half of conference play ends.

Maryville's win will have to be explained to me  -  I figured there was no way they could stop Davis, and that Westmin's guard play would also be superior.   There is a story on the game on MU's site - Davis finished with 18, but MU's two big men, Bollinger and Steinke finished with 31 between them - career nights for both guys  -  great to see.

And as I've been saying, after seeing LCC lose to Maryville badly, I didn't know how they came close to some of our leaders - the real LCC loses to Prin by a bunch!!

[Gregory Sager]

WOW   -  monster upsets By Maryville and Prin 

I guess I just don't see how Principia's win over Lincoln Christian constitutes a "monster upset". An 0-10, 0-5 home team beats a 1-8, 0-6 visiting team; sure, the lopsided final margin is a bit surprising, but does the result really qualify as a "monster upset"? Looks to me as though one really bad team (Massey MOV #388 out of 403 D3 teams) beat another really bad team (Massey MOV #382). Whenever a really bad team is involved, there's always a good chance for a blowout on any given night -- even if the opponent is really bad themselves, since all it takes is for one team to get hot that particular night and the other one will thus almost automatically be toast.

To me, "monster upset" implies that a much, much bigger gap existed between the two teams coming into the game than six spaces out of 403 in the Massey ratings. That's especially true when the two teams in question are so close to each other in terms of their records both inside and outside of the conference.

The Saints' win over the Blue Jays definitely looks as though it qualifies for "monster upset" status, though.

[hopefan]

Greg  - monster upset because LCC had come within last shot status of beating 3 of the conference leaders, Mac, Webster and Eureka.  While I wasn't a believer because I had seen Maryville beat them badly, they have most others edgy about them.
On the other hand Prin's closest loss in conf was by 11, with all other conf games blowouts.
In my mind, there was a pretty wide gap between the two going into the game, and I certainly expected an LCC win   -  BUT, wrong again!

[Gregory Sager]

Greg  - monster upset because LCC had come within last shot status of beating 3 of the conference leaders, Mac, Webster and Eureka.  While I wasn't a believer because I had seen Maryville beat them badly, they have most others edgy about them.
On the other hand Prin's closest loss in conf was by 11, with all other conf games blowouts.

It crossed my mind that that might've been your reasoning, and it's a pretty plausible explanation. But, going by the principle that the most recent games a team's played are its best indicators, it should be noted that LCC's last two SLIAC losses were by 19 (Westmo) and 31 (Greenville), while Principia's were by 11 (MacMurray) and 17 (Fontbonne). Plus, last night's game was played at Principia. If you've seen both the Panthers and the Preachers play, I'll of course readily concede the point that LCC should've been considered a heavy favorite. It just doesn't seem to me that that's the case in terms of the numbers, though.

[Mac Attack]

hopefan - MacMurray hasn't been and won't be taking anyone lightly. We're thin in numbers and thinner in experience. Believe me, Coach Hettinga has the Highlanders thinking one game at a time. Maryville looks to be VERY dangerous, especially after the win last night at Westminster. A closer review shows the Saints have lost some tough, close games. The loss at Webster by 16 was a strong effort by Maryville, considering Webster's experience and talent. Maryville beat LCC much worse than MacMurray did. Losing by 12 to a very good Eureka team - at Eureka - is also a very competitive effort. An ultra-close three point loss to conference leader Greenville indicates this is a Saint's team getting better and better. And the six point loss to a solid Blackburn team that features two of the league's best players shows that Maryville is just about over the hump. The win at Westminster may very well prove the Saints have turned the corner. They are MUCH bigger than MacMurray, which would indicate a distinct rebounding and in-the-paint issues for the Highlanders. MacMurray starts one senior, two juniors, and two sophomores, so the experience issue is just about even - especially when one considers that three of MacMurray's starters (Whalum, Coleman, Greene) weren't even on the team at this time last year. In spite of the records, Maryville might be considered the favorite in this game. I smell trouble. MacMurray will have to play a lot better for 40 minutes than they've been playing to get in done.

[pantherpride06]

Ah another visit from Sager.  Isn't life grand?

Lost of stuff going on last night.  Interesting! GC back at it this weekend as we travel to Eureka.  GC needs to get a win this weekend.  GC coming off the foul-fest at Webster on Tuesday and off a good week of practice is ready to go to work.

SLIAC is going to be a log jam come tourney time if things keep the way they are. You couldn't as for a better case though... having 6-7-8 teams legitimately in the race late in the year!  Great basketball our of the SLIAC.

[Mac Attack]

What's the best way to get to Maryville's campus and gymnasium from I-55? Maps show two different versions - one getting off on I-270 West exit #13 (LaDue Rd) and the other says take Exit #12 on to I-64 West toward Wentzville. This country boy is confused.....

[pantherpride06]

If you are going around I-270 take that until I-64 West to Wentzville.  You will pass a big church on the right then you'll come into Maryville.  You should see the signs.  That's they way we go from Greenville.

[Mac Attack]

Thanks, PantherPride - hope we don't wind up in the Mississippi River....

[hopefan]

Mac  any chance you're coming down to Maryville?   -  I was thinking of going to Eureka, but the wife says too much of Saturday required for that, so I think I'll see Mac - MU instead.   It is interesting that Mac's two big men were so successful against Westminster - lends credence to your thoughts that the Mac - MU game will be competitive.   Lets just say that I would not have thought that - until seeing the MU westminster result  -  I had spoken with Coach Rogers recently and he said several of the guys were coming along well - but I had to see a positive result to believe it  -  now I've seen a positive result.

Just saw you posted while I did  --take 40-64 west from 270  to very quick Mason Road exit - follow the outer road west over Mason, across Maryville Center drive  to Maryville University drive on the right  - the proper drive runs right into the gymnasium parking lot  there's alot of big churches out there, not sure which one panther is talking about.  If you miss the school and cross 141, you're too far west and in trouble.   Just remember  -  school is on north outerroad of 40/64 west of Mason and Maryville Center drive, East of 141

[Mac Attack]

Thanks, hopefan. I'm planning on being there unless weather or national crisis intervenes....

[hopefan]

look for me  -  I'll wear Hope sweatshirt, sitting high up behind Maryville bench....

[Mac Attack]

Will do, hopefan...

[hopefan]

FCNews

Would be interested as to your take on Fontbonne - Webster game?  Wonder what coaching stafff felt needed to change?

Also, noted you were sitting with a mystery guest during a part of the game ?   WHO was that???

I think FU can get healthy quickly on Saturday....

[FU_Pride]

Tough loss for the Griffins last nite.  And congrats to a well played game by the Gorloks.  Looks like they remembered Fontbonne coming into their place late last season and pulling out a victory.  A couple of my notes on the game.  Scott Spinner-best point guard in the conference, end of story. Hoggat, even though he got some pretty weak trips to the line from the men in stripes, is still a premier player in the SLIAC.  
Now to FU.  Number one, I am willing to be the farm that Josh Branch will not shoot 3-16 from the field again this season.  McCoy looked to force a little last night, especially late, however, he does box out well for his size.  White had the best showing for the Griffins last night.  Fogerty was a non-factor in the second half last night, give Webster some credit, but he needs more looks from his teammates out on the premiter.  If Storandt isn't going to look to score more, play Fourne more, because he gives you a much better defensive precense than Storandt.  It was a tough loss last night, but I still am optimistic that the Griffins will find a way to make the tournament.

Also, two side notes.....I spoke with Cartez Parker yesterday, he said he cannot play the rest of this semester.  However, he is going to continue to practice to prepare himself for next year.  His number one goal right now is to maintain focus in the classroom.  He called the first semester of college for him a "wake-up" call.  I wish him the best of luck.

And second, I found the technical foul that Coach Mckinney got last night to be a little bit more out of frustration of an official, more than what coach said.  The officials attitudes showed last night.  You talk to any good official and they will always tell you to never show emotion because that just leads to getting the coaches and the crowd even more stirred up, which is what happened last night.  Other than that I thought it was a pretty balanced game called by the officials.