SLIAC

[sully309]

Whoops! Looks like I mispoke. I actually voted for Laura Oetjen on Maryville, who unfortunately did not make the all-region team. So I guess I was 5-for-6 on my picks. It would have been interesting to see how many points Oetjen would have scored had she played on a team like Eureka, given she would have played way more minutes and taken more shots. Maryville's style of play has proven very efective on a team level, but it deflates individual player's stats, which hurts them in postseason voting awards like all-region. Had more of the voters been able to see Oetjen in person, I'm sure she would have gained more votes.

[y_jack_lok]

Having Maryville's depth does cut down on individual stats, but makes for a more total team kind of play and helps win games. A good trade off, I'd say. I think Wash U this year is another example of total team play. They have no star like Kelly Manning, but have accomplished more in this year's tournament than they did during Manning's four years. Another case is my alma mater, Randolph-Macon. Granted they only made it to the Sweet Sixteen this year, versus Elite Eight in 2006 and championship game in 2005. However, after graduating the D3 player of the year, they were written off as a mid-level team in the ODAC at the beginning of the season. Instead they went 18-2 in the conference and won the conference tournament as well. Good coaching, hard work and a total team concept is often a successful formula.

[y_jack_lok]

Just thought I'd post something so the SLIAC could get back to the top of the list in the Central Region. I did hear that Webster has a freshman point guard coming next season who sees the floor well and averaged 10 assists per game. Not sure if that's last season, or all varsity seasons in high school, or what. Doesn't matter. That's a lot of assists. Half that would be quite satisfactory on just about any team. Only two SLIAC players averaged more than 5 asssits per game last season and the third highest was just under 4 per game.

[y_jack_lok]

Anybody out there? jdoug, has Lauren said anything about new players coming to Fontbonne? In addition to the one recruit mentioned in my previous post, I heard that Webster has a couple more recruits who will make the team more competitive next season.

[Wydown Blvd.]

From the men's SLIAC board:
New Blackburn Women's Coach

News from Blackburn; We now have a new women's coach...Mike Williams...a former top assistant at D1 Chicago State, he also was an assistant at North Central College and Trinity International University.  Good Luck to Coach Williams....also the AD opening is coming down to the end with 2 candidates coming in at the end of the week, with one being named next week...

[sully309]

Abby Hearn will be the new women's basketball coach at Eureka this coming season. You can read more about her with the link on the top of the d3hoops main page (thanks Pat) or from the EC athletics web site.

The Red Devils should have a pretty good team this year with Nicole Fisher, Brittany Gardner and Brandi Payne set to return. I think Coach Hearn will get off to a great start in her head coaching career.

[Pat Coleman]

No problem -- thanks for sending it.

[y_jack_lok]

Nice to see a little activity on the women's side. Thanks to Wydown Blvd. for moving the women's info from the men's side and jump stating a little conversation here.

After starting over from square one last season I hear that Webster, which seldom had more than 8 players on the roster last season, will have a roster in the mid teens this season. This will clearly bring more depth and make it possible for some players who logged average minutes well into the 30s last season to get more rest. It could also mean a higher overall talent level.

With a terrific second year head coach Webster could be a surprise team this season.

[right_guard]

It will be interesting to see what the new Blackburn College  coach will do for next season.  Being hired so late in the summer makes it difficult to get any late recruits for the new year.  I also hadnt heard any word on incoming freshman women players that the previous coach had managed to commit.  It may be another long year for the team

[y_jack_lok]

If Blackburn's new coach can establish good rapport with the players and get them to have fun, that will be a big step forward. Blackburn has a great player in Meghan Polston, and who knows what the rest of the players can do under good leadership.

[sully309]

I agree, y_jack. It was a rare down season for Webster last season, but there were extenuating circumstances obviously leading up to the season. It would not be surprising to see the Gorloks near the top of the standings this year. I think Coach Callihan will rebuild that team quickly.

Principia's roster could be depleted due to graduation, so we'll have wait to see for them. Greenville should be pretty good, but Maryville and Fontbonne will be the favorites to decide the championship again this season.

[Wydown Blvd.]

I'm hearing a huge rumor that would shake up FU, one of the teams at the top of the conference. More to come in the next week or so, when I get it verified. But, does jdoug or FUnews or y_jack_lok know what I am referring to.

[y_jack_lok]

Wydown, I do not know what you are referring to. However, I am not "in the loop". FCnews probably knows. If it's just a rumor and nothing actually happens, many of us may never know. But if something does occur we will all eventually know what happened, even if we don't get full details.

[fcnews]

The only news I've heard is that Liz Sharpe-Taylor will not be playing this coming season. With Michelle Reale returning to the post this year, after coming off successful knee surgery, this will be a positive trade off.

[y_jack_lok]

fc, thanks for that info. Nothing particularly earth shattering about it, though, and Wydown implied something much more significant could be happening.

Fontbonne would be deeper with both players, but that's the way things go.