SLIAC

[y_jack_lok]

Great Ceasers's Ghost!! Toni makes another layup! 34-21 IWU.

[y_jack_lok]

So Maryville scores 42 points in the first half. In most games that would mean you are leading, or at least close. But IWU scores 63!. Maryville had cut the lead to 2 points with just under 6 minutes left in the half. The score was 38-36 at that point. IWU outscores MU 25-6 the rest of the half.

[sully309]

I was at the the game tonight at IWU. Maryville got murdered in transition. They were beaten back at least 3 times for easy IWU lay ups after MADE baskets! How does that happen this late in the season?

Tough break for Maryville with Wilhelm getting in foul trouble. Illinois Wesleyan's post defense leaves much to be desired and Wilhelm was having her way inside to say the least when they got her the ball.

In the end though, it was a very disappointing effort defensively by Maryville. IWU shot 60% on the night mostly because they had open shots or open lanes to the basket all night. It was a fine season for the Saints, and the conference winning streak is still ongoing. This game was not a fitting end to the season in my opinion, which is too bad.

[y_jack_lok]

This is just further evidence of how far SLIAC women's hoops has to go. It won't make any difference if there are three or four teams that can compete with a Maryville team of this caliber. The bar has to be raised significantly in the conference, or this will happen year, after year, after year. I suppose the only consolation in this is that IWU is ranked #7 and probably has a legitimate shot at the final 4, and perhaps even the national championship, unless their post defense is as suspect as eureka_sid says.

[jdoug2]

Big news with Maryville going D2. No offense, but here's hoping Fontbonne beats them this season before they go. Otherwise I wish them well.

[WLCALUM83]

I remember reading about Maryville knocking off a good Lakeland squad in a 1st round NCAA hoops game in 05-06. Muskies reportedly gave the MO squad all it could handle until going could offensively the last few minutes.

(Interesting how much tougher Maryville's scheduling may get, eh?)

[NO RESPECT]

Everyone agrees that Maryville will be on top of the conference, how do you all see the rest of the conference shaping out for the upcoming season. Will Greenville or Fontbonne send Maryville off with a conference loss? How much better will Blackburn be since they did not graduate any seniors? Can Webster and Westmin move into the top four? This is going to be a season to remember.

[y_jack_lok]

I think Webster is a huge question mark this year. Principia still has Christina Speer, so they can't be dismissed from consideration for a conference tourney spot. Westminster might be a bit better than last year. Eureka graduated POY Nicole Fisher, so we need eureka_sid to give us some insights.  MacMurray is also a question mark.

[jdoug2]

Fontbonne lost their post players including their best player. They still have 3 good scorers. Of course I have no idea if they any good transfers.

I still see Fontbonne in the top 3 of the conference. At least they better be, it's my niece's senior season.

[y_jack_lok]

It appears that Fontbonne and Eureka lost the most from last season as each team graduated two of the 15 all conference players. Eureka graduated Nicole Fisher (1st team and POY) and Brittany Gardner (2nd team). Fontbonne graduated Heather McAllister (2nd team) and Michele Reale (3rd team). The remaining 11 all-conference players were underclassmen.

I did hear today that Webster is optimistic about its incoming players -- but then what team isn't before the season starts. I don't mean that to sound pessimistic or skeptical about Webster, I hope they are right. This always sorts itself out on the court.

[sully309]

My guess would be that Maryville will be favored to win every SLIAC game they play once again this season and I expect they will run the table to keep their streak alive. But, while we're on the subject, I would give Fontbonne and Principia the best chances of knocking them off this season. Fontbonne probably has the most talent returning and usually brings in some good players each year. Principia will have the best returning player in Speer and arguably gave Maryville their toughest game last season despite having a very inexperienced backcourt.

I would put Greenville on the list of squads that lost the most to graduation. I believe 4 starters have graduated, but I could be wrong on that. Don't take that as me counting the Panthers out. Coach Mulholland runs a great program there and will somehow have his team in the running this year.

Blackburn has some talent, no question about it. But let's keep in mind they also benefited from winning a lot of close games and finished in the bottom half of the league in point differential. Still, you would have to put BC among the favorites to make the tournament in the preseason.

Webster and Westminster have plenty of potential to challenge them as well. They, along with my Red Devils will need some new recruits to help out big time to make that happen though. My guess would be that Eureka will be better than most people think, but we obviously have some big shoes to fill as has already been mentioned.

[y_jack_lok]

Good analysis e_sid. I still think Webster is a big question mark and would not predict them to ba a candidate for the top four spots before seeing who they have this year. And it was apparent from the drubbing Maryville took from IWU in the NCAA tournament last year, just how far the women's side of the SLIAC has to go. No matter how good Maryville is inside the conference, the rest of the schools have to get up to at least that level and push each other to be even better, or we will see the same thing happen to SLIAC teams that make the NCAA tournament in the future.

[hopefan]

yep they all have to catch Maryville  -  oops, wait, after this year, no they don't     

[y_jack_lok]

Good point hopefan. With Maryville gone after this season the bar drops considerably. The conference, and/or the schools in the conference, really have to do something about the competitive level of the women's programs.

[jdoug2]

Maybe that's why Maryville is leaving to go D2. Not enough competition.

As for the SLIAC post Maryville, it might just have to settle for being a lower rung conference when it comes to womens bball. That or several programs will have to severely step up their games.