Quote from: Gregory Sager on December 15, 2025, 09:49:31 PMToday I saw Greenville live after having watched a couple of Panthers games online, and my conclusion is that this is actually a fairly talented team as System teams go, more so than the 2-8 record of the Panthers would seem to indicate. I think that the problem is that the roster is too thin to really run the System properly. From what I was told, George Barber has lost some players he was counting upon to fill out what should be the third shift, and as far as I can tell -- I don't claim to be a System expert -- you can't really be effective against a more talented foe if you're only running two shifts for the entire 40 minutes. By the end of the game the Panthers were looking as heavy-legged as North Park, which definitely shouldn't be the case.

This is a good assessment.  Thank you for the good coverage of the match up also over on the CCIW board.  Pete McBride and I discussed making a joint appearance, but neither could pull it off with our schedules.  I am optimistic that this team can fight for a top half finish in the SLIAC, but after an 0-3 start that could even be difficult.

Quote from: Gregory Sager on December 08, 2025, 07:59:31 PMWhat gave it away? The fact that I indicated that it wasn't Vinnie Adjahoungbeta?

(I can't help it. I just like the name "Vinnie Adjahoungbeta" ... a name that I am happy is on Elmhurst's roster rather than Greenville's, because I'm already having nightmares about calling next Monday's Greenville @ North Park game.)

Tahj (#23) and Tiaeem (#24) Comeaux, the twins from Las Vegas usually play on the same shift too.  So that should be fun for you.

UWO is built for continuted success.  So much firepower eligible to return in '26.  Congrats to the Titans.  A fun run to watch.     

A few thoughts on GUs poor start compared to last years conf winning team:

Shooting

2025/6 Team slash .396/.288/.685

2024/5 Team slash .425/.295/.639

Turnover Margin

2025/6 Turnover margin - 9.5
2024/5 Turnover margin - 14.9


Rebounding
2025/6 - -9.4
2024/5 - -4.5

So, if they just fix their shooting, rebounding and turnover margin, they will be better.  Thank you for coming to my Tedtalk.

Glass houses indeed, although Gu has had a nice level of success in T&F, Gymnastics, Tennis, and I would even say Volleyball. Volleyball really played well against UWO in the tourney last week after beating WashU the week prior.  Greenville had the best showing of any team in the first 3 rounds against the mighty Titans. 

It was really fun to watch too, as I will have a WIAC kid next year, so get ready for a bunch of GU and UWO posts. 

NYC must have been a great trip for the Panthers.  John Jay is blocks away from Central Park.  And to get a win is always nice.  But, from what I saw of the game, John Jay was really poor.  In fact the CUNYC (if that is how the abbreviate) has to be the worst league in d3.  John Jay looks to be a upper half team in that league and they were poor.  To date the league is 7-36. Which by comparison makes the SLIAC's 15-29 look absolutly brilliant.    

GU loses at home to Depauw 108-100.  This is the third time these teams have met in the past 5 years and GU continues to close the gap.  The outcome is an encouragment as GU has a fair amount of new players who are still learning and physically adjusting to the pace which is demanded of a winning Barber style system team. 

The game was tied at 54 at the half after GU led most of the way leading up to the break.  But the pace was too slow for GUs liking.  You could see Coach Barber physically willing his team to be more aggressive and to play with more consistant energy.  At one point early in the second, in order to encouarge a faster pace, he shifted the press into the super agressive variety where the back man is a part of front court traps.  Depauw was able to take advantage of it by heaving the ball over the top to Reph Stevenson (49p/14r) was throwing in all sorts of wild dunks.  This was, in my opinion, what allowed for the ultimate 8 point margin. 

Despite the loss, this felt like a game that will help GUs new guys continue to learn just how hard they need to play to make the system be successful. 

Next stop, NYC on Friday to play John Jay. 

Grinnell is a good team.  I was pleased with the fight from Greenville in the first half, bit as predicted, Grinnells length was a problem for the panthers.  Many altered shots.

Greenvilles FT shooting was an encouragement. It will bode well for them if they can be anyway close to that over the course of the year as they shoot so many.  Greenville needs to get more from the returning bigs.  Lofton and the Comeaux twins are good players who did not play up to their standard last night.  THe Comeaux brother turned it over 11 times between them.  Many were unforced.   

And Greg, its a good one to watch to get familiar with the names in advance of Greenvilles trip to NP in December.   I attended the last match up between GU and NPU at Carlson.  I am sure that this time it will be a closer matchup.

Grinnell vs. Greenville: A System Showdown

Game Overview

Grinnell hosts Greenville today at 5 p.m. in what promises to be another high-paced matchup between two teams known for their "System" style of play. Historically, these meetings have favored Grinnell, and past results suggest tonight may follow a similar trend.
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Previous Encounters

2016–17 Season
The first meeting between these programs during the 2016–17 season was a foul-heavy contest. Greenville committed 44 fouls and picked up multiple technical fouls, while Grinnell capitalized by setting an NCAA record for free throws attempted and made. The final score: Grinnell 151, Greenville 128.

2023–24 Season
The second matchup was lower scoring. Greenville limited fouls to 14 and forced 37 turnovers, but Grinnell shot significantly better and still won comfortably, 125–101. Interestingly, Grinnell was the team to pick up multiple technical fouls in this game.
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Team Trajectories

Both Greenville squads from those seasons posted 20-win campaigns. Greenville has since lost many of its top players to graduation. Grinnell, on the other hand, returns considerable firepower, including standout Kai Te Huki from New Zealand. A quick look at Grinnell's roster reveals impressive length—a key advantage against a Greenville team that thrives when attacking the basket.
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Prediction

While an upset would be welcome to me, the evidence points toward another decisive Grinnell victory tonight.

Are you sure the working name is not the Gorons?   Recruiting coordinators will start saying things like, "Don't be a Goron, come to Greenville"...

HAPPY SLIAC OPENING DAY

Spurgeon College @ Greenville University - give me GU by 10.  GU is taking on a NCCAA team that finished well above .500 last season.  Keys to watch for will be the play of the new guards for GU (Willingford, Grant II and Mobley). They look long and athletic and were major contributers on the JUCO scene last year in CA and TX.  Great back line play coming back in the Comeaux twins and Tim Lofton.  I am also really excited to see Caleb Johnson from Frisco, TX.  His dad, (Cole Johnson GU '96) is a previous SLIAC Co-POY, an award shared the award with Jason White.  Cole and Jason are two of the very best to do it in the SLIAC history.  

Austin College @ Lyon College - A new look Lyon with all of the old scholarship talent gone. Give me Austin by 5.

Webster University @ Welch College - another NCCAA team. Their athletic website is essentially non-existant.  While I guess they could be the ultimer sleeper team, I think the better bet is that they are really poor at basketball. Give me Webster by 37.

Eureka College @ Dominican University (Ill.) - Dominican by 10.

Principia College @ Illinois College - IC by 18.

        Preseason / Actual

15/16    5        /    T-1
16/17    4        /    1
17/18    1        /    2
18/19    4        /    T-2
19/20    COVID*
20/21    WANT TO FORGET THIS SEASON AND BLAME COVID**
22/23    ?        /    6
23/24    8        /    1
24/25    4        /    T-1

* Incomplete season 19/20 due to Covid
** Complete season, but i have chosen to categorically forget everything about it. I guess I'll just blame it on COVID...  

I am grateful that the coaches think that GU will be mid-table.  Since the 2015/6 season, when GU went to the System, they have been ranked 5, 5, 4, 8, 4, in the 5 years they have tied for or outright won the league.  So, a preseason coachs poll #4 seed sounds great to this panther fan. 

A rare "no contest" this weekend in Greenville.  Storms affected the ability to continue the game.  They did play almost one full quarter, with the score standing at 21 - 7 Greenville.  Lyon, the visitors from Arkansas, are a member of GU's primary athletic conference the SLIAC.

Traditional Undergraduate: 1,761
Accelerated Undergraduate: 586
High School Dual Credit: 179

These numbers are from their own 2023 profile.  I suspect the jump from 1700 to 2400 happens when you add the three numbers together.