SLIAC

[hopefan]

JDoug - agaist Maryville pressure, Fontbonne had a rough time getting into their sets - period.  Consequently, the shot clock ran down, and they either forced passes inside, or forced drives into traffic - both generated many turnovers - too much reliance on the point dribbling vs pressure.... Maryvilles 5 starters + the first three or 4 off the bench were all ATHLETES - not too many of them on Fontbonne's team (and please, this is not condemning the other programs - it's just a little different level) ..... or  on many other SLIAC teams  - it makes for a fun competitve playing field, for the other eight...

[jdoug2]

Hope, I totally understand what you are saying. It does appear obvious Maryville is on another level compared to the rest of the SLIAC. And I know Fontbonne is not very athletic. And to me that is where coaching comes in. It's not like just because you have more athletes you automatically win. I've seen well coached, smart teams beat more athletic teams at all levels. It's just frustrating to watch and hear about. Oh well. Enough of my venting.

Once again, thanks for some views on the game Hope.

[y_jack_lok]

Nice article in today's Post-Dispatch about Maryville's Sara Wemlinger and the Maryville program.

[jdoug2]

So my niece calls me this afternoon with Spring Break questions. I'm hoping her mind is on the game tonight. 

Let's go Fontbonne vs Westminster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hopefan]

BIG game at Greenville on Wednesday - a chance for Fontbonne to show the loss to Blackburn was a fluke, a chance for Greenville to gain separation from the rest of the pack for 2nd place....

[jdoug2]

You're right hopefan. I'm hoping Fontbonne steps it up against one of the better teams in the conference.

And I'll be back up there this Saturday for the rematch against Blackburn.

[hopefan]

Blackburn dressed only 8 players for the Maryville game, and one of those dressed did not look, should I say, to be in Basketball playing condition - don't know what went wrong in the first meeting, but after seeing Fontbonne beat Westmin badly, I'd have to think they're capable of the same vs BC.

[furbug]

It is interesting that the Blackburn women have always have squads of only 8 or 9, yet they often seem to over-achieve. Back in the 2003 – 2004 season, they had that size squad and beat a pretty good Webster team at Webster 67-59. Later that same year they lost to Webster in a close 64-66 game at Blackburn. Amber Daulbaugh was the coach at Blackburn then. Two years later she coached at Webster.

[jdoug2]

Hopefan, it always seems as though Fontbonne has at least one "odd" loss per season. Not that Fontbonne is that much better than any other team in the conference. But there are games you think they should win.

Furbug, I'd personally rather have a team with only 8-9 players. That way you have a more set rotation and the better players get more minutes. Is that wrong of me?

[furbug]

I don't think that is wrong of you, jdoug2, providing that they are in excellent condition. As I recall that team to which I referred was in such condition, as the Webster squad was large in number and pressed most of the game. I myself am in favor of the better players playing lots of minutes, but, as I think you infer, some good players on large squads can get discouraged from lack of playing time. There are good players at Maryville, for example, that would get a lot more playing time elsewhere. If I were they, I would rather have the playing time.

[jdoug2]

That is true the players would need to be in good shape. But good grief, they're 18-22 yrs old. They should be in good shape.

I've watched tons of ball and it always seems to work better with a shorter bench. It's really tough getting 12 people playing time. Guess it's the age old question... big fish in a small pond. Or small fish in a big pond. Although, if you were a Maryville player switching teams you might not get all the W's. And that can be tough. I know my niece is still not used to so many L's.

[furbug]

jdoug2, your niece has only two L's in conference and 8 overall. Even Maryville has 3 L's. I see that in the last game she had 17 minutes. I don't know if that is typical for her or how much she would get at Maryville. I'll bet, however, that if you ask her, she will take substantial playing time in L's than riding the bench in W's. And I agree with you that they should be in shape. Players are rare that enjoy being taken out of a game for even a few minutes. Normally their attitude is, "Who needs a rest?"

[jdoug2]

First, don't get me wrong into thinking my niece would play for U Conn or Tennessee. And since I have never seen Maryville play I have no clue as to what her role would be. Second, it's the total number of losses and the drubbing they sometimes take. I know high school and AAU is different, but she always played on a top level team that went deep into the playoffs.  And played a lot.

Overall, I think she is fairly happy with her pt. She generally gets to play when it counts. Unless the coach is pissed at her. 

[furbug]

jdoug2, the drubbings are usually when the SLIAC teams go outside the conference, and you have probably seen that the posters on this site have mixed feelings about that, how difficult the non-conference schedule should be. Going back to what we were saying before, one problem with the smaller squad is that the women sustain injuries more frequently, especially the ACL tears. Starting off a season with a squad of 8 or 9 is quite risky.

[hopefan]

it helps to have 10 to practice.....