MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[fcnews]

I wouldn't exactly call a two year Juco starter as inexperienced. This posters opionon is that the post and power forword positions are probably the quickest to pick up in a new system. Webster's past offenses have been mostly a motion type with the guards and the three come off the screens and the post finding strong position.

Webster will be fine with what they returned and the caliber of news it sounds like they brought in.

[y_jack_lok]

fc asked about Corey Kuhn. He is working and saving money to enter grad school in the Fall of '09. Turned down a H.S. JV coaching job because he couldn't fit it in with his other work schedule.

[fcnews]

Thanks for the info Yjak.

[fcnews]

Any word on the Webster v. Meremac scrimmage?

[BunchTime]

FC, from what I heard, the scrimmage went well for the Gorloks.  They played 3 halves.  Webster won all 3.  They won by 12, 3, and 8.  I was told thet Gorloks looked pretty good.  I never heard who played well, or what any of the numbers or statistics were from the scrimmage.  I will try to get a little more information and pass it on.

[BLA]

You heard right BunchTime.  They took all three halves.  Ever since Webster and Meramec started these scrimmages they have always played this three half format where they wipe the score clean after each half.  From my experience Meramec has typically taking the majority of the halves be it for whatever reason (typically though this scrimmage would take place after the first week of practice for Webster. By this time Meramec has a few weeks under their belts).  Meramec will be tough once again.  Coach Albrecht hasn't had a losing season in like 25 years (or very few in that period of time).  He has a lot of talented players again this year with a couple DI transfers.  So outplaying them all three halves is promising this early in the season.  But it's just a scrimmage. Can't put too much stock into it.  One thing is for sure this Gorloks team has nice chemistry.  Which is nice to see with all the talent they have.

I only saw the last part of the second half and the whole third.  Saw some nice things.  Different, but good things.  Sorry for being vague but you will just have to wait and see. Guard play will be the Gorloks strength.  Health is already an issue after the first week and a half.  Some guys that are going to be needed to play important roles are already banged up a bit.  But hopefully they can recover in time to get their legs ready for the first weekend. 

They play another scrimmage out at SIUe next week which will be a tough match up.  Not sure if I can make it out there for that one but I will try and keep you informed on their progress.   

[BunchTime]

BLA, thank you for elaborating on my rather limited and vague information.  I am pleased to see the Gorloks are already gelling as a team.  This will be important with so many new faces poised to play significant minutes this year.

[fcnews]

I'm hoping to be sitting right next to Bunchtime in the Gorlok Gym for this years SLIAC Tourney. But then again he's no showed the last two years.

Maybe this year won't be a text-a-thon like the past. Right Bunchtime. As usual I'll by the first round or two at McClain's.

[BunchTime]

FC, if the Gorloks are in the SLIAC tourney, I'll make it happen this year!

[fcnews]

If they don't make it, Hell has officially frozen over. Plus we need a good host gym. Remember it's now been 14 years since the #1 has won the tourney.

[hopefan]

Maryville's roster is posted  - some interesting names missing on it

Missing are Teddy McGrath (Teddy was a streaky player who at times really kicked it up big)  -  BIG Matt Deimeke  (viewed as a non factor by most, Matt had two great appearances in last year's conference tourney - I really thought off that performance that he and coach Rogers would be motivated to have him fit into the lineup this year - I expected 15-20 minutes a game - he was big enough that at the SLIAC level, he wouldn't be stopped when he got the ball low - but alas, off the roster - a big disappointment)   -  Nick Hentis (started last year off as an outstanding perimeter shooter, but when the shot stopped falling, the playing minutes decreased to nothing) - Chris McClaren -(aggressive forward off the bench, but didn't play as much as most of the guys)

There are a significant number of new names we dicussed a couple months ago - some had no info on the roster, one kid who did was Jacob Dulle from Breese Mater Dei - 6' 7" - nice stats 15ppg, 6 rpg, but I'm not familiar with the level of competition.

So the returners :

pg  Jarred McKoy

1-2  Tyler Saxton, Chris Collins

2  Curt Goodwin  Jake Buechle

2-3  Drew Simmons, Ben Koopman

4  Aaron Steinke  Josh Lawley

5  Matt Baker 

All of a sudden, Maryville looks short on size (losing Deicke 6'9", Hentis 6'4", and McClaren 6'4"), though Simmons, Buechle, and Koopman all are solid athletic 6'1, 6'2 guys who can jump.

New faces will have to help around the basket.....

I also note the Fontbonne roster is up  one surprise is Terrance Lovett is back - I thought he would be gone, but kudos for loving the game - an abundance of Frosh along with the transfer -

will be interesting to see the new faces at each of the St Louis schools - seems like a great recruiting season, at least in quantity and hopefully in quality, for all three schools.  Will any of the three school's frosh be able to develop into three all conference players like this year's Fontbonne senior class?

[fcnews]

Hopefan - Wasn't McGrath MU's only senior last year?

Also, Baker and Stienke aren't midgets.

[hopefan]

Casey Holland was Maryville's loan senior last year - Teddy had another year of eligibility

Baker and Steinke are obvious starters amongst returning players at the 4/5 positions, but losing 3 big men expected to return as well as Holland takes away all depth.  As I said, there are two ways to go - new faces or a small lineup.  Coach Rogers fell in love with the perimeter and running game the last two years, he may be forced to go that way this year.

[fcnews]

He also recruited some good size. And the SLIAC is one conference where a freshmen can get quality minutes. Look for FU's freshmen Nolan Zoellner to get his share.

[BLA]

Hopefan, don't worry Maryville will be fine even after the departure of most their size.  They still got all those players that got the wink wink scholarships to replace them. Ha.

I still would have to think that the Saints will still compete for a spot in the tourney. Rogers always seems to turn whoever he has into a tough player that  competes night in, night out.  I believe that the loss of McGrath hurts more than Deimeke or Hentis.  Streaky yes, but he was a good scorer that you had to worry about when he was on the floor. So the question of who is going to score for Maryville remains. You know what you will get on defense as everyone seems to give it their best but scoring is know a huge concern.