MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[HCACBBALL]

What is the 8th?  It must be a scrimmage?  Surely, Just because they start in a scrimmage does not put them in the staring line up for the opener or season.  I see there being many different line ups due to the many talented new comers.  I would guess the opener starters as Knox, Coleman, Schmidt, Greene and Sichting.  I see Crowder possibly starting once he gets his feet wet.  With Randall playing football he will behind early on. 

I also see Bonds being in the mix on the varisty.  Not sure how much jv he will see.  He is a solid ball player.

[Razor Back]

Mac at SEMO on November 8. Exhibition game, not a scrimmage. I assume there's a difference but others on this board know more about this than I do...

Several freshmen, including Bonds, will contribute early and often at the varsity level, but my guess is the older players will lead the way out of the gate...

One thing is certain - MacMurray will have much more competitive and spirited practices than they did last year, which should help everyone improve and hopefully lead to a more competitive team once the season starts...

Welcome aboard HCACBBALL! Glad to see another Mac follower excited about the coming season...

Razor

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[pantherpride06]

Here is my player to watch from Greenville. 

6-5 Sophomore from Bloomington, IL - Andy Traeger.

Watching this kid in the few games I've seen and during the summer, Andy is going to play a big role in the Panthers success this season.  Andy is a very strong man who is going to power the ball to the hole and not also anyone to push him around. 

The Panther roster is online at gcpanthers.com.  Obviously there's a ton of guys out for the team.  Coach Barber will have a host of players to mull through before opening day.  Look for the Panthers to have a break though season and make an appearance in the SLIAC Tournament.

[Gregory Sager]

Mac at SEMO on November 8. Exhibition game, not a scrimmage. I assume there's a difference but others on this board know more about this than I do...

An exhibition game is an authentic basketball game; the only difference between an exhibition game and a regular-season game is that an exhibition doesn't count towards a team's record. A scrimmage is a two-team preseason practice that consists of separate halves and/or quarters, after each of which the scoreboard is reset to 0-0, rather than a full-blown forty-minute game. Sometimes scrimmages also include end-of-half simulations as well; the two head coaches might agree beforehand to run a series of such scenarios as putting two minutes on the clock and giving Team A the ball with Team B up by two points, followed by putting one minute on the clock and having Team B shoot two free throws with Team A up by three points, etc. In other words, a scrimmage simulates game conditions and involves two separate teams, but it's not really a basketball game per se. And to reinforce the point that scrimmages are practices rather than games, informality is strongly emphasized; the two teams wear their warmups rather than game uniforms, there is no prior publicity by either school, and admission is not charged.

An exhibition is an actual basketball game. A scrimmage is a practice that involves two teams rather than just one.

[sully309]

It's good to be back! I would like to thank everyone for the nice words written about my award. I am very much used to making the story be about everyone but me, so I was not really wanting it to be a big deal. I am never comfortable being the subject, but whatever I can do to get Eureka and the SLIAC a tad of recognition, I guess is good.

OK, time to look beyond an extremely busy fall sports season at EC. If you watched Eureka play last season, you will notice many of the same faces playing again this year. Obviously, Matt McComb will be a huge loss. Heck, he was a huge loss LAST year when he missed the 2nd half vs. Westminster (6 pt. loss) and the entire Greenville game (3 pt. loss). I believe a win in either game would have landing the Red Devils in the tournament and Maryville never would have had a shot at the buzzer to get to the NCAA dance. But, hey, like I said, time to look beyond...

It sounds looks like the ol' hype machine in up and running in fine form at quite a few SLIAC outposts on the board already! Everybody sounds so great, I wonder if Eureka should even bother fielding a squad this season  . But anyway, I believe we have 19 guys going through preseason training and very much looking forward to the start of practice Wednesday. I'm not going to toss out any starting lineups because it's really who FINISHES the game the matters most, plus, I just don't know at this point. I can tell you we have 4 starters back from last year: Darnall, Wildenradt, Zasada and Beecher.

As far as newcomers go, yes, there are some. I've seen most of them play in open gyms and through my keen eye, I've determined they are much better than I am. Beyond that, it's difficult to assess in an open gym I think. Yes, I'm being a tad mysterious here, but if I really knew how the season woud play out, I would not be writing on the board, now would I? To be fair, we do have a number of freshmen and transfers that could contribute a lot to the team. I could name 2 in particular that have the talent to be 2 of our best 5 players from day 1. Will it happen? Again, I don't have the answers.

I'll have our roster up for your viewing pleasure later this week after practice starts. In the meantime, at least you know I'm officially back on the board from my self-imposed exile and you can shoot me any questions if you can't wait until my next update.

Thanks Sager, for your informative post. Few actually know the difference between an exhibition game and a scrimmage and I think your post pretty much covers it.

Finally, I would like to say congrats to the Hawaiian little leagers on their World Series title this summer. Maybe the Flyin' Hawaiian will lead the Phillies to one in the big leagues too and we can all have a pina colada to celebrate! Good day from Reaganland.

[hopefan]

Good to have our eskimo back posting from the northern outreaches of the SLIAC  -  hope to find a suitable weekend to plan a Eureka - Mac trip and in between a visit to that fine entertainment spot on the water 
--- unfortunately this year, I'm assuming conference games are Wednesday Saturday only, so no such opportunity will exist - well, it will keep me out of trouble....  good to have you back Eureka SID - keep us posted with preseason news.....  and while I have your attention, tough day for the Reganites on the Gridiron this past Saturday - well, that's why you get paid the Big Bucks

[Razor Back]

Thanks for the explanation on exhibition vs. scrimmage, Greg...

Eureka will be tough and will be in the race from start to finish...

Congrats on your good work, eurkea_sid!

No one answered my question concerning the date when the coaches meet and cast their pre-season poll...

My ballot would read:

Fontbonne
Maryville
Webster
Greenville
Eureka
Westminster
MacMurray
Principia
Blackburn

Westminster could easily move up to 4th, or higher, but with only one starter back, they have much to prove. Same for MacMurray...

Razor

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[Mac Daddy]

Looking forward to a great year in the SLIAC!  I am hoping the Highlanders can get it going in the right direction this season under ShaCreal.  Nice recruiting class and a good mix of veterans could be a positive!

[fcnews]

Congrats to SLIAC and Fontbonne Sr. Brian Fogerty for being selected to DIII News Pre Season All Americans.

Well deserved Brian. All the hard work has paid off. Not bad for a kid another SLIAC coach told to "stick to baseball".

[fcnews]

And there off!!!!!

Maryville could give Illinois Wesleyan all they want on November 29...

Not hardly Razor Back DII or Not.

[iwumichigander]

And there off!!!!!

Maryville could give Illinois Wesleyan all they want on November 29...

Not hardly Razor Back DII or Not.

FC - Razor Back is likely correct about the 29th.  The real question maybe what can Maryville give Illinois Wesleyan on November 30 when they actually play

Game date aside, it could be an interesting contest yet I just don't see Maryville coming out on top.

[fcnews]

Front comes through during practice and we come out to a little crispness in the air. Must be BASKETBALL SEASON!!!

No need for a scouting report from FU. New season. Same story. Can your five beat our five. I will say the intensity level will be a notch higher out of the Purple and Gold. The boys feel like they still have unfinished business. The three seniors will not go away quietly.

[y_jack_lok]

Nor would we want them to go away quietly. We want to see great basketball games. Let's hope the senior slump doesn't extend from the classroom to the basketball court -- for any of the teams.

[Razor Back]

"FC - Razor Back is likely correct about the 29th.  The real question maybe what can Maryville give Illinois Wesleyan on November 30 when they actually play."

The SLIAC basketball website has the game listed for November 29...

IWU is still rebuilding. Not saying Maryville will win, but the Saints could give IWU a tussle...

MacMurray will be scrimmaging IWU...

Any other SLIAC teams with upcoming scrimmages?

Razor

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[fcnews]

I am rather disappointed that the opening day of basketball has come and gone without a post from Hopefan.

He must be busy raking leaves.