SLIAC

[y_jack_lok]

The home teams go 2-2, so what do you think?

Jan. 2
Webster 63, at Spalding 52
MacMurray 60, at Westminster (Mo.) 74
Blackburn 58, at Principia 38
Eureka 51, at Fontbonne 77

Earlier in the season Eureka beat Greenville by 5 points and Greenville beat Fontbonne by 7 points. So it surprises me that Fontbonne beat Eureka by 26. The one equalizer is that in each of the games above the home team was the winner.

Watching the 2nd half of the FU/Eureka game it seemed that Eureka played rather timidly on defense. They only had 8 players, so foul trouble would certainly be a concern (and they didn't commit many fouls), but the consequence was that Fontbonne was able to score way too easily.

Nothing too out of the ordinary in the results of the other three games.

[WUPHF]

I watched Washington University defeat Webster University on Saturday 88-40.  And, it looked to me like a much better Gorlocks squad than the 88-40 score would suggest.  They did rebound tonight with a 70-49 win over Eureka College (3-8).

I did notice an intriguing biographical note on the game program.  Webster has a Junior named Brittany Grant from St. Louis who apparently played, or at least studied at the University of Tennessee.  She played maybe two or three minutes at the end of the game and finished with two points or maybe a few more. 

I do not remember this name from the high school scene.  Does someone know if this player was on the roster at Tennessee?

[y_jack_lok]

Brittany Grant was on the WU women's roster second semester last season, was always suited up, was always participating in pre-game warm-ups, but did not play in any games. She has played sparingly this season. I have just been to the UT women's basketball site and looked at their 2008-2009 roster. Brittany Grant was not on it. http://www.utladyvols.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/08-09-w-baskbl-roster.html There appears to be no link to a jv roster, if they even have a jv. My guess is that she simply transfered from UT to Webster and decided to go out for the basketball team.

[WUPHF]

Thanks Y_Jack!  I have to think that if you are more of a player than a fan, it must be hard living in the basketball Mecca that is Knoxville.

[y_jack_lok]

Thanks Y_Jack!  I have to think that if you are more of a player than a fan, it must be hard living in the basketball Mecca that is Knoxville.

Or other places that aren't basketball mecccas -- such as St. Louis. There is another Webster player who went to SLU for a semester, was unhappy, transferred to Webster, watched from the stands for a semester, then went out for the team last season and played last year and is playing again this year.

Also, a few years ago a Webster player transferred to Arizona State for academic reasons and because of a coaching change at Webster. But she missed basketball so she left Az State to return to St. Louis and finished her education attending and playing for Maryville.

[y_jack_lok]

A few strange and inconsistent results so far this season. Principia loses by wide margins at Spalding and at home against Blackburn, two teams that Webster beat, then Webster only beats Principia by 5 at Prin. Is Prin improving? Westminster loses at Spalding scoring only 36 points, then turns around and demolishes Greenville at home 80-37. Fontbonne loses at Greenville and Blackburn, teams that, based on other results, they ought to be able to beat. Is this season going to be tough on the visiting teams?

Webster, now 5-0, in the next two weeks gets its first shots at Fontbonne (3-2) and Westminster (3-1) at home and has to travel to Greenville (2-2). Very important games for all 4 teams as the first half of conference play ends. At this stage no one is out of a shot at the tournament. If one of the bottom three teams puts together a good run in the next 3-4 games it's going to make the race very interesting.

[NO RESPECT]

Y-Jak,

With Blackburn having three starters out for the season, it will be hard for them to beat the top teams in the conference. Principia is a good team, Blackburn just played well that day. I said before the season started that it would be a dogfight night in and out in the SLIAC. Mac, Greenvlle, Eureka and Spaulding are all tough.

The number 1 goal is to get to the conference tournament; then anything can happen.

[y_jack_lok]

Very tough on your Lady Beavers with those injuries this season, coach. Wish we could be seeing the real Blackburn.

Fontbonne, Webster and Westminser play each other as the first half of conference play comes to a conclusion. Those are huge games. I've seen Fontbonne three times and they've looked better each time.

[NO RESPECT]

That is true Y Jack...Coach Quigley does a good job. Please don't count out the other programs in the SLIAC, as they are all hungry.

[y_jack_lok]

Not counting anybody out at this point. True parity would mean all 9 teams finish with 8-8 records. That would be a mess to sort out with tie-breakers. But that isn't likely to happen. Eventually a couple teams will be mathematically eliminated, but I can see it being a 6 or 7 team race to make the tournament going into the final games of the season.

[y_jack_lok]

Eureka almost pulls the upset at Wesminster. A final seconds shot from the side of the hoop hit the rim on the near side then on the far side and dropped off the edge. Eureka had a shot at a put back but couldn't quite get it there. WC wins 54-53. A very nicely played game by both teams. The third time I've seen Eureka this season and by far their best game of the three. The rest of the teams need to be ready for them in the remainder of conference play.

[watchdog]

Jan. 16
12:00 PM  Blackburn  41  Spalding  57  Final   
1:00 PM  Eureka  53  Westminster (Mo.)  54  Final   
1:00 PM  Principia  50  Fontbonne  88  Final   
1:00 PM  MacMurray  68  Greenville  66  Final

SLIAC Records
Webster 5-1
Westminster 5-1
Spalding 5-2
Fontbonne 5-2
Blackburn 3-3
Greenville 2-4
MacMurray 2-4
Eureka 1-5
Principia 0-6

Big games coming up:
Fontbonne at Westminster
Westminster at Webster

[hopefan]

Hadn't mentioned it, as I normally write about the men, but I had a blast watching the Eureka-Westmin Lady's game.....   Found myself clearly rooting for the underdog Eureka team, who are limited to 8 players and were beaten pretty decisively twice in St Louis....  they gave Westmin all they could handle, and after some incredibly poor clock management and shot selection by Westmin, had a shot to win - unfortunately it rattled in and out as Yjak told us-  Eureka has a prototypical hustler on the court, Lauren Snopek, who is just a lot of fun to watch, all over the court, trying her darnedest to get her team a win... hope they can hold it together the rest of the season and get at least a couple more......

[hopefan]

Webster beats Westmin to retain first place alone....   UGLY win, it was a game of who played poorer to lose than who played better to win  ... westmin had 25 turnovers to 23 for Webster...   and personnel decisions from both coaches that were very hard to understand.....   

I'm not ruling BC out of this thing yet  ..   

and yes, this year, the ladies conference tourney may be more entertaining than the men's... Did I really just say that?

[y_jack_lok]

and yes, this year, the ladies conference tourney may be more entertaining than the men's... Did I really just say that?

I suppose it all depends on how you define "entertainment".