SLIAC

[y_jack_lok]

Not to burst any bubbles but I have seen a few conferences play and the SLIAC is not a very competitive league (outside of Maryville).  All of the other teams would finish near the bottom of the more competitive conferences in the Midwest (i.e. CCIW, WIAC, MIAC, IIAC, etc.)

Sorry!  Didn't mean to come across like that at all.  I was just saying in general from games that I have seen over the past two years.  I really enjoy reading your posts and am glad to see so much support for your conference.  Best of luck to all the teams the rest of the way.

No problem. We know where SLIAC women's hoops stands in the conference pecking order. Last year's champ, Maryville, lost in the first round of the NCAAs to IWU by about 37 points. Those two teams have already played each other this year and IWU won by 10.

In 2002 the Webster team made it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAAs, losing to eventual champ UWSP by 10. Since then it's been a downhill slide. But we have hope for the future.

[NO RESPECT]

As a coach in this conference I can say that there are quality players and teams in the SLIAC. I wish people who have no idea about the evolution of this conference would stop taking negatives shots. I prepare as hard for Mac as I will for Maryville. There are no easy nights off here. Now I played in the CCIW and I know that the CCIW is a tougher conference, but if any of our schools were in that conference I think that our recruiting would be slightly better.

Lastly, I agree that Maryville is a great program, but we must give praise to Coach Braden at Westminster as they are 4 and 0.

[HCACBBALL]

Coach Dubb, I would agree that some schools if they were in CCIW would be able to recruit better but with that said there is no reason that Fontbonne and Webster should not be able to compete against CCIW schools.  St. Louis should be a major recruiting ground.  I know they have had success but they both should be powerhouses in the SLIAC year in and year out.

[fcnews]

HCAC- Have you seen any girls games in St. Louis. Not what I would call a hot bed. These two schools are still the only teams to have post season success. Look at the age of the league. FU has only had women's basketball for 20 years, compared to tradition of CCIW programs.

Remember John Wooden still has FU to thank for his consecutive wins record.

[HCACBBALL]

Yes, I have seen some hs basketball in St. Louis.  The basketball is okay but there is some good basketball in the surrounding areas in Missouri and Illinois and St. Louis is a much better draw then Carlinville or Jacksonville.  With a little hard work there is no reason that these St. Louis teams can not be competitive with CCIW schools.  I for one would rather go to school in St. Louis than Decatur but that is just me.

[fcnews]

Carlinville does have the advantage when money is a factor.

.

[HCACBBALL]

They do, but you do still have to get them to want to come there.  Webster, and Fontbonne have much better logistics.

[fcnews]

Not to mention recruiting competition. If your looking at a real quality player, you know your up against a lot of free rides. The top of the crop has SLU or Mizzou. Next level has UMSL and now Maryville at the DII level. Then there is 4 NAIA and about 6 Juco in the area. That's not counting the biggie Wash U. Before you think about $30,000 for the two remaining DIII's (FU and Webster).

That's about 15 coaches after the player that can put your program to the next level. And, it takes more then just one good quality player.

I know the rural areas of IL. has a lot of quality players. And if one wants to stay close to home I would think Carlinville and Jacksonville would be an option

[NO RESPECT]

Players and parents want to go to a place where a great education can be recieved and where the coach will take great care of the student athelete.  Players can be recruited to play anywhere as long as the recruiter exhausts all to get the kid. I think that it is a bunch of crap that people dont think that places like Carlinville and jacksonville can't get players.

If the coaches can't get players to come to them programs, then each school needs to find a new coach. It's not alawys about the facilities.

[sully309]

Eureka lost to Principia Saturday 69-59. This was a wierd game in that neither team made any kind of a run until right at the end when Prin broke free from a 50-48 deficit for a 60-50 lead with 2 minutes to play.  Prin is better than their record indicated, but I'm afraid that rely too much on 2 players (Speer and Bushong) to meet the coaches' preseason projection of 5th place.

Bushong went off against Eureka for 29 points, which included 13-14 at the line. She played an awesome game all the way around and basically carved up Eureka single-handedly.

It's been fun watching Lisa Byard match up against some of the veteran posts in the league like Wilhelm of Maryville and Speer of Principia.  Byard has played very well against them and has shown great promise for the future.

Eureka has folded under the pressure of close games this year. Games against Monmouth, Mt. Mary, Greenville, Knox and Prin have been there for the taking and EC has lost all of them. But then they beat Fontbonne by 17, who just played Maryville to a 7 point game on the road. As I said earlier on here, wild ups and downs for this team this season.

[JAdaPrince]

Webster joins barefoot campaign ... head coach Chris Bunch and Jordan Olufson will be coaching barefoot during Saturday's game as part of a NBCA campaign with Samaritan's Feet. The Webster athletic department will be collecting shoes at the door ...

[hopefan]

Fontbonne played Maryville very close on Saturday - they had a lead with 6 or 7 minutes left in the game, then fell apart  -   Several Webster players were at the game, they know they don't have to go scared into the game with Maryville - Furbug may have hit on something, the MU-WU game could be very competitive.....

Coach Dubb - we'll have to chat some time - I'm passionate about D3hoops and so are you

[jdoug2]

And yes, a little love for Fontbonne hanging with Maryville.  Wish I could have been there, but I'll be there this Saturday.

[HCACBBALL]

Dubb, Not sure that I ever said that Mac or Blackburn can not get players.  I just think it would be easier to recruit at some of the St. Louis schools and there is no reason they should not be on the top of the SLIAC year in and year out if they recruited like Blackburn.  Sorry I touched a nerve, yikes!!!!

[HCACBBALL]

Maryville has two tough ones this week with Westmin and Blackburn.  Both of those teams can give them a test if they show up, play hard and listen to their coaches.