MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hopefan]

While  I did not see Webster - Blackburn, I've seen several Webster games in the last two weeks.... The Blackburn game marked a new starting lineup with Nicholds in and Regan out  --  Nicholds had played well the last several weeks, and while Regan had earned a starting spot with his "sparkplug" play, his time and contribution had been diminishing - easy to put Kuhn and Hredlicka in the 2-3 slot and have a better board game with Nicholds at the 4.  Whitcomb has also played well  recently and got his minutes vs Blackburn.  In Turk's case,he's really played himself off the court  -  Hredlicka and Regan both were steadier as Spinner's running mate - Turk's time recently has been more as a replacement for Spinner, and he has not done well from the point at running the team - bad shots, forcing the action with bad decisions.  Stegimier's time vs Blackburn is a surprise, as he has been playing well off the bench, but it may be attributed to the fact that the box shows he had 3 fouls in 3 minutes of play.

[fcnews]

A little history on the past few FU @ WU games. In most all years it's one of the final one or two games of the season.

02-03
FU 85- WU 77 This game cost WU a chance to share conference championship.

03-04
WU 65 - FU 62

04-05
WU 64 - FU 63 This game was won on a last second shot. WU wins conference Champs.

05-06
FU 67- WU 65 OT This game also cost WU seed position.

[fcnews]

Let's look at tommorrow nites match ups. PROBABLE ??

Hoggatt / Storandt - Let Darin go 10-12 fg. just don't foul him. Straight Up!!

Kuhn / White - I like that.

Hrdlicka / Branch - Intersting

Nichoalds / Fogerty - I gotta like it.

Spinner / McCoy - Spinner is a great guard. Period! McCoy can cancel his points. Question? Can McCoy control to's. He has been shooting well.

FU has to shoot well. Someone is going to have to score alot from the Perimeter for WU. Gorlock's 3pt shooters are questionable. Corey Kuhn will knock it down if left open. Can you say sag.

[Beaver_SID]

Windy and a few inches on the ground here at BC

[BunchTime]

FC...on paper, it seems Fontbonne matches up decent with Webster.  I guess thats why they play the games.  I agree, I think Webster, as they typically do, will try to pound it inside.  When they are able to do that, Spinner, Turk, and Kuhn get freed up!  Spinner can beat you with the dribble too, unlike some of the other WU guards!  Shooting will be key for FU - as you have mentioned in previous posts --  they seem to go as their shooters do.

[hopefan]

In the first matchup, Hogget dominated the game - the only time that he was neutralized was when Fontbonne went zone early in the 2nd half  -  when they went back to man, Hogget again finished strong.  Fontbonne has to either do a much better job of help and recover, or perhaps consider the zone. They can do that as long as they pay attention to Kuhn - Spinner and Hredlicka are not great perimeter shooters, and Turk seems to have lost his touch too.  I am doubtful that Storandt can stop Hogget one on one - he has to have help to make hogget react more quickly than he wants.

[fcnews]

This is the season boys! Title on the line! Pride at stake!

Anybody that has been around Fontbonne basketball ought to know one thing. The Gorlocks will see a wide array of defensive looks just to slow the Gorlocks down. Griffin Nation knows we when by out scoring you. We just need to put out a defensive speed bump and let's roll.

If we don't out shoot you we lose. That's always been the FU style. If we play well we'll score 85^ and try and hold you to 80.

And just a bright spot that gives me hope, before New Year 2-7, 2007 record 10-3.

[fcnews]

With the conference tournament approaching, let's look ahead. SLIAC champ will undoubtedly be the #8 seed. So it looks like first round opponents might be Augustana, Chicago and Wash U.

Who ever wins this battle deserves to go somewhere besides Wash U.

[Mac Attack]

Massey Rating (thru Feb. 11), including strength of scedule:

Webster (190)
MacMurray (211)
Fontbonne (219)
Westminster (258)
Eureka (272)
Greenville (301)
Blackburn (314)
Maryville (348)
LCC (386)
Principia (392)

Other notables:

Augustana (5) 19-4
Wash U (9)  18-3
Chicago (11)  18-4
Illinois Wesleyan (88)  10-12
Illinois College (237)  8-14

[fcnews]

Some fun facts or stats for tommorrows main event.

FU avgs. 4 more pts. per game
WU  allows 2 less points

FU and WU are #1 and #2 in scoring margin

Rebounding is also a wash.

FU #1 fg%
FU #3 3pt. % - WU #9
FU #1 3 pt. made - WU #8

Big One: WU #1 turnover margin - FU #6

FU Scoring: Fogerty 19.3, White 16.3, Branch 14.8, McCoy 11.0
WU Scoring: Hoggatt 21.9, Spinner 13.0, Kuhn 11.4

[hopefan]

looking at recent performance, I think a real key tonight is the performance of Fontbonne's guards, McCoy and Branch.  In Fontbonne's last 3 losses  (all after Cartez Parker left the team), Branch has shot horribly - 8/42 from the field 19%; and 3/24 from 3 point land 12.5%.  Fontbonne can't afford to have a performance like that tonite - seems if Josh starts out ok, he shoots with confidence the whole game, but if he misses his first couple, watch out.   My attitude, give Fournie a lot of minutes if it's clear Branch isn't hitting.   McCoy - one time down the court he penetrates and dishes beautiful, the next time, an air head turnover.  As well as he handles and with his quickness, the turnovers should be decreased big time.  His shot selection has improved noticably over the season,  But Font can't afford those turnovers tonight.
If big men Nichlods, Hogget and Kuhn offset big men Fogarty, White and Storandt, the guard play could be the deciding factor.

[BunchTime]

Well, the  big day is here!  FC, I am sure you are ready!  I think there will be a decent size crowd present considering the various implications and significances this game has!  For the players, this is what playing ball is all about.  Everything on the line for one game against your biggest nemesis.  Couldn't ask for more!  Enjoy it!

[hopefan]

FC is so ready he probably didn't sleep last night!!!!

See you there FC, Yjak

Mac, will you be at Blackburn, or have access to the score?

I'm not sure we'll have access to Maryville - Westmin, and Panther, that GC-COP game is off the charts!

[Mac Attack]

Will be at the Beaver Dome tonight. Very dangerous game for the Highlanders. Blackburn has shown they can beat tough teams, home and away. MacMurray needed 19 points from Billy Long off the bench to put away the Beavers the first time around in Jacksonville. With Robertson less than 100%, bench play will be extra critical for MacMurray tonight. Despite Blackburn's record, they are more than competitive, and I'm certain Hammond, Allen, and company will give the Highlanders their best shot. Game will probably go down to the last possession. MacMurray can still make the post-season, win or lose. But with a shot at an outright SLIAC championship, or shared title, on the line with a chance to host the tournament, you can bet Coach Hettinga will have his team ready to go. Will need huge efforts from Whalum, Coleman, Compton, and Greene tonight - and one or two others off the bench will need to play the game of their life. We'll see how it goes. Either way, it's been a wonderful for year for the Highlanders. No reason to stop now. Good luck to all teams.

[fcnews]

Hopefan - I posted much earlier that we have to shoot well to win. You don't have to tell me what happens when we go cold. And, Cartez Parker is no longer FU's pt. guard. So we have to play with what we got. McCoy get the Mac game as close as it was. He had 24 pts. 7 assists and 3 to's. I'll take that tonite.

Webster's three bigs against FU's ? It all depends on how they match up. Hoggatt v. Fogerty won't happen, niether team can afford the foul trouble. Nicholds on Foggerty, Kuhn on White, Storandt on Hoggatt. I think Nicholds could have his hands full and Kuhn will need to be very focused on the "D" end to keep White in check. One, think I've noticed about Hoggatt. Great scorer and rebounds well, his defensive desire is questionable.

Bunchtime - It's like "Run what ya brung day" at Pevely Speedway. I'm just glad WU graduated that kid with the "cheesy" tan. Now he would flat kill us. And, did on numerous occasions.