MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[WU_SID]

Meeh finished the game with 13 points and nine boards.

[pantherpride06]

Final from Greenville, Illinois

Greenville 67, Maryville (Mo.) 59 (Final)

Looks like freshman Ben Cochran and sophomore LaPhonso Ellis strapped the Panther team on their backs and took care of business.  Cochran with 18 points, 4 steals, and 2 assist while Ellis lead all scoring with 20, 5 rebounds, and 3 assist.  Other key scorers include Ben Hensold with 8 and Panther Academy Standout Andy Traeger with 6.

Althought Greenville only shot 8 free throws, they hit all eight which has been crucial in some big games around the nation including the Indiana/Illinois game the other night.

Teddy McGrath (Maryville) brought down the house with 17 points for the Saints and 5-9 from behind the arch.  For the Saints, they were 5-13 (38%) from the free throw line which could have played a role in the Saints loss.

Huge win for Greenville, putting them in front of Maryville for fifth and on the toes of Eureka for fourth.  This puts alot of pressure on the Feb. 20 meeting between Greenville & Eureka.  Last season, the final spot was all but wrapped up in this match-up.  Hopefully, with it being a weeknight game, the Panthers can pack the house for that game.

Greenville is looking to do a few things in the upcoming weeks.  Secure their second consecutive winning season, qualify for the NCCAA Regional Tournament, and qualify for the SLIAC Tournament.  Five huge games and three should be wins. 

Greenville at Webster (on Galaxy)
Greenville at Blackburn

Both road trips that Greenville has struggled with in the past but needs to play Webster well and beat Blackburn.  I'll be listening to Webster's broadcast.  GO GREENVILLE!!!

[y_jack_lok]

Dumbest bumper sticker seen in a long time: "If God isn't a Penn State fan, then why is the sky blue and white?" Obviously, because God is a Westminster or Principia fan -- or pick you school with those two colors.

[hopefan]

Yes barring upsets, 4th place and a SLIAC playoff spot comes down to the Eureka at Greenville game on February 20th.  If Greenville wins, they're in, beating out both Maryville and Eureka by a game, by virtue of their win over Westminster.  If Eureka wins, they're in by a game by virtue of their win away at Greenville, while Greenville's win over Wetmin would be cancelled out by the loss at home to Eureka.

Playing with possibilities, one upset by Maryville, over either Fontbonne or Webster, would vault them over either Eureka or Greenville...  Eureka has Westmin at home, a win would help them immensely going into the Greenville game.  That 4th spot is still relatively wide open.

This is what is so much fun about SLIAC hoops.....

[hopefan]

Potpurri

Dang - I miss FC already  -  I almost feel like I'm writing to myself...

overheard or observed yesterday

regarding SLIAC reallignment  -  "There's alot on the table right now"

an OPPOSING coach  "Chad Fournie COULD be the conference MVP"

A SLIAC administrator "Why wouldn't a D3 school consider a move to D2?"
My response  - while gagging - "Why would they?"

Observation -  Want to see the prototypical quaint small college in a small midwestern town?  Vist Eureka or Greenville - take your pick, both are beautiful towns, schools.

I'm beginning to feel personal support for Laphonso Ellis for All Conference - his game seems so much more consistant than during his freshman year. 

[Pat Coleman]

A SLIAC administrator "Why wouldn't a D3 school consider a move to D2?"
My response  - while gagging - "Why would they?"

Shoot, perhaps because it's inconsistent with the school's educational mission. Perhaps they can't raise the money necessary to fund the minimum scholarship levels required to stay in the division.

[BunchTime]

Hopefan, who is considering moving from D3 to D2.  And why are you so against the move?  Just curious!

[hopefan]

I'm very much against a current Sliac school moving to D2 because:

The Sliac affords a large group of student athletes the opportunity to play intercollegent sports

The school considering it is one of the backbone schools of the SLIAC

My impression of D3 athletics - true student athletes, playing because they love it
D2 athletics - D1 wannabes unhappy at D2

Big rivalry the jumping school vs UMSL?  WHO CARES?

[Titan Q]

I'm very much against a current Sliac school moving to D2 because:

The Sliac affords a large group of student athletes the opportunity to play intercollegent sports

The school considering it is one of the backbone schools of the SLIAC

My impression of D3 athletics - true student athletes, playing because they love it
D2 athletics - D1 wannabes unhappy at D2

Big rivalry the jumping school vs UMSL?  WHO CARES?

hopefan, just as none of us like it when people stereotype Division III in a variety of negative ways, I'd encourage you not to do the same with Division II.  I know a lot of student-athletes that Illinois Wesleyan has recruited over the years who ended up selecting a D2 school for various reasons, such as wanting to compete at a little higher level or of course, wanting to take advantage of an athletic scholarship.  There are a ton of great students at D2 schools, just like there are at our D3's.  Guys like Josh Edmonds (Peoria Notre Dame H.S.) who is a freshman at Quincy, or Mike Balleto (Lake Park H.S.), a freshman at Grand Valley State.  Good kids, good students, good basketball players.

The reality is that most private D3 schools cost $30,000+ now.  I never question a student-athlete who decides to go to school for free vs paying $120,000+.  And there are plenty of good schools in Division II.  It is always nice to get kids who choose a D3 for what the division is about over a D2 scholarship, like former IWU All-Americans Adam Dauksas and Keelan Amelianovich, but I really don't question those that need to go another direction.

I just think you're making some sweeping, and inaccurate, generalizations about Division II.

[wusliac1]

come on hope, let us no who it is!  i cant imagine its my gorloks, but i want to be sure!  spill the beans- which school is thinking about d2?  my guess is it rymes with jontbonne.  am i right?

[BunchTime]

I believe it is Maryville.

[hopefan]

TQ  --   I got chastised several months ago for being condescending about NAIA schools too - somehow when comparisons get made between D3 and anything else, I put my foot in my mouth.

On the other hand. if IWU is working hard to get a kid who is deciding between IWU and D2, is it not conducive to sell him on a better chance of playing at D3 vs competing with other scholarship players, or the story line of a better academic atmosphere because a D3 athlete is NOT being paid to play?

OK shame on me for the remark about D1 wannabes.....  as I said, foot in mouth disease....

[pantherpride06]

I know but am not going to post the school.  However, the problem I have with this school going to NCAA II is the fact that they, along with the rest of the SLIAC cannot compete at the NCAA III level.  How in the world can they expect to go to NCAA II and be remotely competitive.  If you cannot win a SLIAC Championship, how can you expect to be successful at the NCAA II level.  Maybe it's just me.

Just a strategically bad move, I feel, for this institution to do this.

[Titan Q]

On the other hand. if IWU is working hard to get a kid who is deciding between IWU and D2, is it not conducive to sell him on a better chance of playing at D3 vs competing with other scholarship players, or the story line of a better academic atmosphere because a D3 athlete is NOT being paid to play?

Absolutely.

[BunchTime]

Panther, I agree whole-heartedly with your statement!