SLIAC

[MUalltheway]

As the conference tourney is approaching and everyone is discussing who they think will come out on top, I think its interesting the lack of support that Maryville has received. Maryville has won 59 or some odd straight conference games. Every time they step on the floor they face everyones best game of the season. I dont think anyone can honestly say that any other team in the conference has the talent or the depth to compete with Maryville for an entire 40 minutes. Yes Greenville played them close at Greenville and congrats on Greenvilles great season but realistically speaking it would be very tough for anyone to beat Maryville on their home floor.  Not only does Maryville have the talent but also the experience in big game situations.

[Fawkes316]

That's the kind of stuff that goes up in opponents' locker rooms, and gets said right before a team loses its winning streak.

[MUalltheway]

If a team is going to lose a winning streak over someone talking bout that winning streak then it is definitely time for that streak to be over. Games are won or lost on a basketball court not because someone hangs up a post in a locker room to get fired up for a game.

[jdoug2]

MU I don't think anyone was slighting Maryville. Quite the contrary, everyone knows they are the topdog right now. As for why no one was talking about them... I've never seen anyone post anything about them. I have been wondering why no one ever spoke on their behalf. Heck, I if lived up there I'd love to watch them play Fontbonne.

[y_jack_lok]

MU, as jdoug notes, no one has been posting on behalf of Maryville. Everyone who posts here has an interest in a different school. So it looks like you just applied for and have been awarded the job of speaking for Maryville.

I must say that a one horse race is pretty boring. Maryville clearly has more talent than any other SLIAC team. But it will surprise me if they win their first NCAA tournament game. They are not as talented as last year.

To deviate from the SLIAC for just a moment, while remaining in St. Louis,  I've seen Wash U's women play a number of time this season. They are no where near as talented as in the past. I don't think they are good enough to be ranked #12. I predict they won't go far in the NCAA tournament either. I think there are a number of women's teams out there, perhaps in the lower quarter of the top 25, who no one has on their radar screen that will surprise everyone in the tournament. I don't know exactly which ones they are, but I believe they are out there.

[y_jack_lok]

jdoug, forgot to congratulate you on Lauren's excellent game on Saturday. When they played Webster last Wednesday she didn't do anything noteworthy in the first half, and I couldn't stay for the second half. Always good to bounce back from a mediocre performance and show what you are capable of.

[bearsfan]

To deviate from the SLIAC for just a moment, while remaining in St. Louis,  I've seen Wash U's women play a number of time this season. They are no where near as talented as in the past. I don't think they are good enough to be ranked #12. I predict they won't go far in the NCAA tournament either.

It is difficult to compare any Wash U team to the championship teams of the past. If you look at the records and point differentials of those teams, they where far and away better than almost any other team ever in Division III. To compare current teams to them is an unfair comparison.

This year's Wash U team went undefeated against the SLIAC (which hasn't happened in the last two seasons) and are currently 11-2 in the UAA with sweeps of Brandeis and Rochester and a split with NYU who were all ranked in the top 10 at some point this season. They lost by 3 at Chicago in a game they had many opportunities to win. They have a young team that has taken some time to gel and find their place and is why they struggled early but they definitely have worked hard and earned their #12 ranking. They have alot of talent from the games I have watched and will not be an easy out in the tournament.

Their inexperience has led to alot of up and down play throughout the season but that is to be expected anytime you have a team starting sophomores and playing numerous freshmen. The last 5 champions since those Wash U teams of the past (Hope, Milikin, Wilmington, Trinity, and Stevens Point) have all been young teams who were off the radar until the end of the season but figured out how all the pieces fit together in time for the important games. This years Wash U team has hit their stride during UAA play and while maybe not as good as the teams of the past (who were frequently in the top 10) are still a top 25 team.

[sully309]

MU, the way I see it, the fact that no one on here has really been talking about Maryville should be seen as a testiment to their dominance. With as long as a winning streak that they have going, it's no secret that teams will get fired up to play them and often just playing MU to a close game could make a team's season. For better or worse, many times message boards are used to tear down teams rather than build them up. So the fact that no one on here has been even attempting to tear Maryville down speaks volumes in my mind.

Anyone who has followed the SLIAC women's race this year knows it will take a titanic effort to upset Maryville. But the facts are Greenville has played them tough twice and I would not be surprised to see them do it again should they meet up in the tournament.

Interesting scenario tonight with Fontbonne going to Maryville. The same two teams could end up playing at the same place, same time 2 days later. Could make for some odd strategy.

[y_jack_lok]

bearsfan, I am not comparing this years Wash U team to the national championship teams of the past. I have only been in the area 6 seasons, so I never saw any of those teams. I will grant that Wash U might be a top 25 team, but not a #12 team. Also, they start 3 seniors (Parker, Schell, and Southworth), so there will be another big hole to fill next season. I still predict an early exit for the Bears from the NCAA tournamnet.

[sully309]

Eureka leads Prin 29-24 at half. Prin looked out of gas the last 3 or 4 minutes. They didn't shoot that well either. EC will need to keep pushing the ball and hope Prin keeps missing from the outside to pull this thing out.

[jdoug2]

Good luck to eureka.

[sully309]

Eureka hangs on 62-54 to defeat Principia. Probably Eureka's best game of the season. EC was helped by an off night by Prin shooting 2-17 on 3-pointers. It was nice to see Eureka improve over the season and go out on a good note, even if they missed out on the tourney. EC had 4 players score 10+ after struggling to put even 3 in double figures for most of the season.

[y_jack_lok]

Since Eureka beat Prin, Prin is now 13-5. I'm assuming that Maryville beat Fontbonne and Greenville beat Westminster. If so, that puts Fontbonne and Greenville at 13-5 also. Check the SLIAC website tomorrow for the pairings as I have no idea how the tie breakers will determine #s 2, 3, and 4.

[jdoug2]

Maryville over Fontbonne 82-63. From what I understand Fontbonne is in 4th.

So, rematch between Fontbonne and Maryville Thursday.

[sully309]

I think that's right, jdoug. Based on my knowledge of the tie-breakers, Prin will be #2, Greenville #3 and Fontbonne #4. Prin wins the tie-breaker based on a 3-1 record vs. the other 2 teams. GC was 2-2 and Font. was 1-3.