MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[fcnews]

Gone a whole month and not a lot of news to read. There has to be some recruiting updates or something. Let's go guys.

[hopefan]

Went thru the SLIAC schools' sites to check out schedules  -  thus far, only Blackburn, Webster and Greenville are posted that I could see. 

Obviously, the growth to 10 teams in the SLIAC with additions Eureka and Lincoln Christian reduces non conference games to 7.

Webster highlights are Hanover and Transy in the Sodexho Classic, Fisk, Millikin, Wash U, MSOE, and NAIA? Rheinhardt  - A VERY solid non conf schedule whether Rheinhardt is good, soso or bad.
Blackburn has Wash U, Rose Hulman,  Millikin, and UMSL with several others-  not bad
Greenville has Mckendree and not much else (ie Logan, STL Pharmacy, Robert Morris Springfield, Concordia Ill)  pretty soft stuff.

Anxious to see the rest of the league.....

[hopefan]

Incidently, hopefan became 'Grandpa hopefan' on July 6.
At 8 lbs, 10 oz,  22 inches, I'll be promoting him to SLIAC schools as a power forward in the recruiting class of 2024  - 

[Mac Attack]

Here's MacMurray's schedule. I understand there is one game to be added, hopefully with Illinois College.

11/18 Millikin
11/21 Monmouth
11/25 Grinnell
12/6 at Lincoln Christian
12/9 at Webster
12/29 at LaGrange College Classic
12/30 at LaGrange College Classic
1/3 Rockford College
1/6 Westminster
1/9 Principia
1/12 at Greenville
1/13 at Fontbonne
1/16 at Eureka
1/18 Blackburn
1/20 at Maryville
1/27 Webster
1/30 Lincoln Christian
2/1 at Principia
2/3 at Westminster
2/6 Eureka
2/9 Greenville
2/10 Fontbonne
2/14 at Blackburn
2/17 Maryville

Will get a look at some of the returning players and new recruits in a couple of weeks. I'll let you know what I think.

[Gregory Sager]

Congrats, Hopefan!

[Mac Attack]

MacMurray loses about 40% of its points scored and about 40% of its rebounds per game. How does that compare to the other SLIAC schools? I heard an excellent coach say one  time you should always strive to have a program that starts seniors - every year. By doing this, you should be strong year in, year out. He also said that a program that relies too much on underclassmen will always be in trouble - and the analogy he used was how successful would a high school program be if it relied on underclassmen every year. Not sure if the point is valid or not. I would think that philosophy would work better with football than basketball, simply because more kids get to play. It would also help if you an active junior varsity program that allowed freshmen and sophomores to play 10-12 games every year.

With Compton, Hipshir, Kowa, Huff, and Roberson all coming back, MacMurray can put some kids on the floor who played a lot of minutes last season and who contributed quite a bit. Mix in the kids coming back after missing the second semester - Greene, Saunders, Birch, and Whalum - the Highlanders should be competitive. I think Kowa will be the key, along with how well the incoming point guard can play right out of the shoot. At 6'6", Kowa can play inside and outside - if he's motivated. I saw him really play well in some games last year (terrific against Millikin) - and in other games, he disappeared. Much of that had to do with DeNeve's "system," where kids would come in and out like they were chasing their tails. My sense is those days are over.

I think the other thing that will change is you will see some players who can play 94 feet playing more minutes, and players who can't contribute at both ends of the floor movig towards the end of the bench. From what I hear, the new coach is already emphasizing weight training and conditioning - and that should pay immedate dividends.

Would be nice to see Pat do a story on the new ManMurray coach........

[Pat Coleman]

Would be nice to see Pat do a story on the new ManMurray coach........

I looked the last time you hinted at it and MacMurray had nothing at all on its site for us to work with. If MacMurray had a press release the way other schools do then we would run it. But if MacMurray isn't promoting itself we will have a hard time promoting MacMurray.

[Mac Attack]

Thanks, Pat. I appreciate the follow-up. Not sure what the issues are with Mac's SID. I assume they have one, and that would be the shop where such information is generated. I know their new AD is doing a terrific job turning the entire athletic department around and making some very good things happen, particularly with facilities and fundraising. I thought that maybe you had some knowledge of Coach Heddinger's past coaching work at Olivet, and might use that as the angle. Didn't know you waited for a press release or information on the school's website.  Hopefully some information will be forthcoming on the new coach at MacMurray, as well as the new coach at Blackburn when that is announced. Keep up the good work.

[Pat Coleman]

Well, first of all, there has to be some sort of reliable source for the information, not just a fan posting on a message board. I assume you mean they hired former Olivet coach Steve Hettinga, who resigned from there after the 2003-04 season, but even if that's the gey you're thinking of, I can't just go on your say-so.

[Mac Attack]

No problem. You can't run with every rumor or innuendo and publish it as fact. I understand that part of it. That being said, Hettinga will be the new coach.  When MacMurray does make an official announcement, I look forward to reading about the new coach and what he hopes to bring to Highlander Country.

[Pat Coleman]

You may have to be the one who lets me know when there's an official announcement to be seen.

[fcnews]

A little Fontbonne news. It is official now, FU will play St. Louis U. next season in an exhibition game to open SLU's new on campus facility.

This years non - conf. schedule includes Hannibal - La Grange and possibly MSOE at Big Four Classic in Chicago., @Rose Hulman, Wash. U., Fisk, Concordia, U of Tampa.

Due to family reasons Ryan Kirkpatrick will not return to FU this school year. It looks like potential starters are Storandt, McCoy, Fogerty with freshmen Cartez Parker at point and Trevor White at the small forword.

On a non basketball news item. FU head softball coach John Conway has been hired by St. Louis U to resurect their program. Good Luck John.

Also FU mens Lacrosse team has 23 in coming freahmen from five states with a total of 29 players. FU will be the first NCAA sanctioned team in area.

Let's hear some news.

[wilburt]

Do you have a time/date/location for when Fisk will be playing Fontbonne?  Is it still part of a Thanksgiving weekend tourney?

[hopefan]

I viewed Kirkpatrick as a crucial piece of the puzzle for Fontbonne - when the coaching staff could light the fire under him and if he got the ball in the offense, he had the potential to be the best returning big man in the conference along with Webster's big guy.  It's a tough loss - he was a part of the nucleus.  Is this just a one year or semester family problem (ie, going to a local 2 year school near home), or is he gone for good?

Also with the schedule  -  Tampa??   Is that a one game trip down south?  Good to see the SLIAC schedule tough games..

[Mac Attack]

Losing Kirkpatrick is a stunner. Hope things work out for him.

Word on the street in Jacksonville is most of the returning Mac players met with the new coach last Saturday. From what the players are saying, Coach Hettinga is going to be terrific. No more run and gun. Execution on offense and tough, hard-nosed defense. After the coach left, there was an open gym. From a second-hand source, apparently the kids looked real good. Still need some size and another point guard. But MacMurray has definitely landed a top-notch coach and has a solid nucleus coming back. Congrats to the entire Mac program! First day of practice is October 15, I think. Can't wait. Hope the SLIAC really competes in 2006-2007, and takes a big step forward.