SLIAC

[Wydown Blvd.]

I think Spalding looked like they won the games they should have won and lost to some decent (Centre College) and good (Thomas More and Depauw) d3 opponents. They won their association's national championship:

"The Spalding University women's basketball team capped off a banner season this past weekend in Uniontown, Pennsylvania by defeating Southern Virginia University in the championship game of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national tournament.  The Golden Eagles, who reached the Final Four of the tournament a year ago, earned the school's first national championship in basketball."

alright trying this again with Spalding:

1. Blackburn
2. Spalding
3. Westminster
4. Fontbonne
5. Webster
6. Principia
7. MacMurray
8. Greenville
9. Eureka

[y_jack_lok]

Thhis season Spalding plays all D3 competition except for two games against St. Mary of the Woods College.

[y_jack_lok]

Coaches' poll is on the SLIAC website: http://www.sliac.org/headlines/2009-10/bkbpoll_102509.htm

2009 SLIAC Women's Basketball
Pre-Season Coaches' Poll

Rank    Team     

1      Westminster (2)
2      Blackburn (3)
3      Spalding (2)
4      Fontbonne (1)
5      Webster
6      MacMurray
7      Greenville
8      Principia
9      Eureka

Can't find much to disagree with. We'll know in February how it all turns out for real.

[Coach Will]

The rankings won't matter, as every team in conference will be prepared to fight for a victory. Good luck to all!

[hopefan]

Theory

Maryville has dominated this conference  -  why?  -  in my estimation, because they had the best tie ins to St. Louis schools - the schools that are likely to send kids to more costly small private schools -  These schools (the St. Louis Catholic, Suburban Conference Schools and the Gateway conf) would rarely if ever have kids that go across the river to the Illinois SLIAC schools, and not too often to Westminster.   Westmin gets mid missouri kids, the Illinois schools get small school Illinos kids.

To my way of thinking, if Fontbonne and Webster do things right, THEY should DOMINATE SLIAC Lady's hoops every year.  They have access to more kids, who are better prepared on the court, than the SLIAC competition.  Sure the Gvilles Blackburns etc may get some good players, but to me the numbers that Fontbonne and Webster should pull in means that they win the attrition war... ie if BC loses a player, they may have limited resources on the bench to replace that player with - If Fontbonne, Webster lose a player, they should have far more replacement quality to come back with.  The Illinois SLIAC schools also have to play second fiddle to CCIW schools, as well as the Northern Athletic conference for Illinois kids  -  it's an extremely tough sell....

With Maryville out, the overall quality of the conference falls -  Division 3 minded local kids will have 2 schools to choose from, not 3-  And Maryville may hope to step up their recruiting and not consider a certain level of player that they would have taken before...  These kids should be persuaded to go to Fontbonne or Webster

I really feel that Font and Webster should quickly rise to the top of the conference with their access to more and better players.   If not, something is wrong, and it's not necessarily my thinking.


I often write this kind of stuff but chicken out and don't post  -  but I'll put this one in just to see if anyone  has thoughts of agreement  - or ridicule..!!

[Wydown Blvd.]

hopefan, i think you're right.

[y_jack_lok]

Theory

Maryville has dominated this conference  -  why?  -  in my estimation, because they had the best tie ins to St. Louis schools - the schools that are likely to send kids to more costly small private schools -  These schools (the St. Louis Catholic, Suburban Conference Schools and the Gateway conf) would rarely if ever have kids that go across the river to the Illinois SLIAC schools, and not too often to Westminster.   Westmin gets mid missouri kids, the Illinois schools get small school Illinos kids.

To my way of thinking, if Fontbonne and Webster do things right, THEY should DOMINATE SLIAC Lady's hoops every year.  They have access to more kids, who are better prepared on the court, than the SLIAC competition.  Sure the Gvilles Blackburns etc may get some good players, but to me the numbers that Fontbonne and Webster should pull in means that they win the attrition war... ie if BC loses a player, they may have limited resources on the bench to replace that player with - If Fontbonne, Webster lose a player, they should have far more replacement quality to come back with.  The Illinois SLIAC schools also have to play second fiddle to CCIW schools, as well as the Northern Athletic conference for Illinois kids  -  it's an extremely tough sell....

With Maryville out, the overall quality of the conference falls -  Division 3 minded local kids will have 2 schools to choose from, not 3-  And Maryville may hope to step up their recruiting and not consider a certain level of player that they would have taken before...  These kids should be persuaded to go to Fontbonne or Webster

I really feel that Font and Webster should quickly rise to the top of the conference with their access to more and better players.   If not, something is wrong, and it's not necessarily my thinking.

I often write this kind of stuff but chicken out and don't post  -  but I'll put this one in just to see if anyone  has thoughts of agreement  - or ridicule..!!

Hopefan, have you checked the rosters to verify your theory about where the players at each institution are from ?

[HCACBBALL]

Do not underestimate the drive of the Maryville staff either.  Maybe they did get some St. Louis kids, but they also had kids from other areas.  I know they had a very good player from Bloomington, IL.  Their drive to recruit was a major reason why they dominated the SLIAC.  If you want to be successful you have to put the miles on the car and get out and get the talent. 

[Coach Will]

Hopefan, please tell me how many teams can lose their top players and still do well in this conference. Take Maryville's top two away last year, and I think that they would have suffered a lost or two. Yes the CCIW is a great league, I played in that conference, but I really feel that the SLIAC is up and coming, and that the coaches in this conference need to get more respect.

There are 4 new coaches in this conference (MacMurray, Spaulding, Blackburn, Webster), and if giving time, they all will do really well in the SLIAC. I do agree that the main way to better your team is via recruiting. I can't wait for the day when the SLIAC team makes a run in the NCAA tournament. It's coming!

[hopefan]

Good point Yjak  

for a wierd reason, I can't see Blackburns site from work (the computer police here have somehow determined about 3 years ago that something awful is on the BC athletic site)

but recent rosters depending on whats available shows

Greenville, 3 st Louis kids (2 from Clayton, 1 frosh homeschooler)
Mac ,  4 st louis  - All Frosh!!!!
Eureka, none
Prin, 2 st louis
Westmin  4 st louis

Webster  12 (including a Belleville East)
Fontbonne  8 st louis

given that the 4 from Mac are frosh, as is one from gville, not too many STl kids coming out of last year into this year at the Illinois schools, though as I said, I'm not sure regarding BC........

Wonder if Mac made a concerted effort down here? (2 from Jenning, 1 St Dom's, one from Pkwy North)    the Parkway North girl is 6 ft 2    score 10 pts, 7 rbs per game for a very good parkway north squad  Kianna Hogan; both girls from Jennings played a lot, one averaged 9 points the other 5, and the girl from St Dom's averaged about 8........    not a bad group experience wise....

[Coach Will]

Blackburn has a roster of 23 or 24 and I think 2 are from the St. Louis area. Most of their recruiting is done in the chicagoland area.

[hopefan]

Coach, clearly my advice would be - hit the St Louis recruiting circuit - an affable guy like yourself should be an outstanding recruiter.......  I just don't think a team can win the SLIAC with mostly small town school kids....  

as to your remark regarding a team losing key kids... well Maryville has lost kids year in and year out and still dominated.  Granted, this year they would have needed a heck of a class to continue the streak losing 7 playing seniors......Quite frankly, take away two starters last year, I think their depth was solid enough they still contend, if not win..you have to remember, they really didn't depent on any one player.... though it would be a different makeup without their big girl arounfd the basket.   2nd suggestion for BC  -  get someone over 5'8"  

[Coach Will]

I am from a area with big school, so I do understand that point. There are also some great kids playing in small areas...its important to get a mixture of kids. Take away the big kid from Maryville and Wemlinger, and their games would have been more competitive. I do agree that Maryville had subs that could flat out play, but those two kids for Maryville were special.

As for the height issue, noted. Blackburn will not have that problem this year. 4 Players over 6 feet. Shipley will be playng her natural position (the 3) for her last two years at Blackburn. I am sure that she is happy that she does not have to battle all of them tough post players in the SLIAC anymore. LOL

Lastly, tell your job to stop discriminating against Blackburn so that you can look at the school web-site...lol!

[theoneandonly]

First and foremost congrats to coach williams on the pre season sliac coaches poll

Rank Team
1 Westminster (2)
2 Blackburn (3)
3 Spalding (2)
4 Fontbonne (1)
5 Webster
6 MacMurray
7 Greenville
8 Principia
9 Eureka

How does it work that westmin had 2 votes and blackburn 3 and they are number 2? Just wondering. It also looks like spalding may make an immediate impact in the SLIAC it would be nice to get some of their fans in this chat room..

ALSO this is directed at coach williams as well. Looks like you have your work cut out for you starting out the season 6 away games, all against pretty good teams. There of course is faith in Blackburn from my end but we are going to have to do some convincing with these other guys.

[theoneandonly]

This will be somewhat of a humerous post from my part and mean no disrespect... but Illinois basketball vs st louis basketball... You really seem to think highly of St. Louis Ball. Im pretty sure the Bulls have won MANY more championships then..... Oh wait no Missouri Basketball team. HA! This is merely a joke and I hope no one takes offense to this!  

Theory

Maryville has dominated this conference  -  why?  -  in my estimation, because they had the best tie ins to St. Louis schools - the schools that are likely to send kids to more costly small private schools -  These schools (the St. Louis Catholic, Suburban Conference Schools and the Gateway conf) would rarely if ever have kids that go across the river to the Illinois SLIAC schools, and not too often to Westminster.   Westmin gets mid missouri kids, the Illinois schools get small school Illinos kids.

To my way of thinking, if Fontbonne and Webster do things right, THEY should DOMINATE SLIAC Lady's hoops every year.  They have access to more kids, who are better prepared on the court, than the SLIAC competition.  Sure the Gvilles Blackburns etc may get some good players, but to me the numbers that Fontbonne and Webster should pull in means that they win the attrition war... ie if BC loses a player, they may have limited resources on the bench to replace that player with - If Fontbonne, Webster lose a player, they should have far more replacement quality to come back with.  The Illinois SLIAC schools also have to play second fiddle to CCIW schools, as well as the Northern Athletic conference for Illinois kids  -  it's an extremely tough sell....

With Maryville out, the overall quality of the conference falls -  Division 3 minded local kids will have 2 schools to choose from, not 3-  And Maryville may hope to step up their recruiting and not consider a certain level of player that they would have taken before...  These kids should be persuaded to go to Fontbonne or Webster

I really feel that Font and Webster should quickly rise to the top of the conference with their access to more and better players.   If not, something is wrong, and it's not necessarily my thinking.


I often write this kind of stuff but chicken out and don't post  -  but I'll put this one in just to see if anyone  has thoughts of agreement  - or ridicule..!!