Buena Vista over Luther by 13
Central over Cornell by 17
Simpson over Loras by 7   
Coe over Wartburg by 11

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Let's start w/ predictions for tomorrow nights' games.

I would say the pollsters have it right so far.  Top 3 will be Coe, BV, and Simpson.  Don't count out Simpson, I think they are primed for a good year if everyone stays healthy.....and BV?? what can you say bad about them??  Take a beating and 3 days later come back and beat Gustavus on the road.  Wartburg will fight to get into that top 3, but I definitely see these 3 teams as the class of the conference.  MUCH MUCH MUCH deeper conference this year in my opinion, with the top 3 being better than the top 3 from a year ago.

On a more serious note....how close will BV keep it tonight??  I say Hawks by 22.

I've been around the IIAC for a long time now, and all I'm saying that in this league 'the dunkers' are more than likely not 'the players.'  If they could jump like crazy and play, they'd be getting a scholarship somewhere, and not paying 20 grand a year to play.  I played in the IIAC w/ guys like this......trust me...it's true.

I have always put a lot of stock in dunk contests as a measuring stick for basketball ability.  Watch out for the dunkers from Coe.

Any more recruiting news?  A lot of returnees this year for many teams.  Still would like to keep up on the news.

how about a score??  recap??

any updates?

Sounds like some great games.  The way BV has finished the year is a true testament to VH.  I told some people that I wouldn't rule them out when the tourney started.  I'm going out a limb, and saying another year w/ the Beavers in the tourney.  They will win a close one Saturday and earn another trip. 

This raises a very valid question:  Is the conference as a whole any better than it has ever been? or is it a sign that all teams are weaker that an inexperienced BV team can possibly win the title? 

I know past BV teams have competed nationally much better and were 'better' teams....by far..  But at the end of the year they could still be the conference representative.....  good sign for the conference or not??

My guess is Soppe is done for the year.  From what I heard it was a pretty bad break.  But who knows for sure....crazier things have happened.  Pretty obvious that even w/ solid perimeter players (Hittenmiller a shoe in for 1st team, and Parkinson who has struggled shooting as of late) it is hard to win w/out some kind of post presence.  Losing Soppe cost the Storm at least 2 spots in the tourney.

I'm not going to bother picking for tomorrow:  1.  I have been sucking it up, and 2. all the teams that are expected to win are going to win. 

Keith.....was not surprised Loras got beat by UD, but your comment about Stineman threw me for a loop.  He has always been a solid shooter, and part of what made Loras so hard to defend a few years ago was the fact that they ran that high pick and roll w/ Stineman and if you went behind the screen at all he would stop behind and drain it.  If you look at IIAC stats this year he is 19-40 from the 3 in conference play.  I'd take that.

Alright....weekend picks.

Friday
Cornell over Central  -  I think I gave Central too much credit early in the year.
Wartburg over UD  -  15 plus
Coe over Loras  -  About the time of year when Loras always fades....plus Coe is solid
Simpson over BV  -  Simpson's group they are playing have always played well at BV.

Saturday
Loras over Central -
BV over Cornell
Coe over UD
Simpson over Wartburg  -  My weekend upset special. 

I'll take Coe, Loras, Simpson, and Central tonight in a shocker...a little hangover on the road by the Knights.

A quiet 32?? How does that happen?? Especially when you go 15-22 from the field.  I wasn't there, but that doesn't make sense.  My question is how does our conference MVP only play 22 minutes in a huge game like that?? 

Just a guess.....but my thought is Coach Peth (probably the best defensive coach in the league) wasn't happy w/ his defense (resulting in a 32 point night for Kilburg) and thus sat him on the bench. 

I wasn't there, but that seems to be a realistic and logical guess to me.