MBB: American Rivers Conference

[j-ballgame]

Pat:  We did have had an earlier game on the website at that time.  The Wartburg vs Grinnell contest from Wednesday night is available right now...Everything from pregame to postgame is available.  The archived webcast will be available until next week(probably next Wednesday since there is only so much bandwidth available).  Hopefully this helps.  Am I following your original inquiry?  We're you referring to KGRN as WGRN?

[keith45]

Pretty quiet in here...whats going on?? Did you leave and not tell anyone??

Wart, Coe and UD off to good starts..although I'm confused by UD beating #20 Platteville, then geting blasted by COE..and Platteville blasted Loras, who beat a very athletic Aurora team...and BV is struggling, which I don't think was a surprise this year..
Oh, and I am starting up the Thomas for MVP train again..20 points, shooting 51% from the field, 33% from 3, 90% from free throw land 2 steals in less minutes than last year...but Schmidt and Steege are putting up good numbers as well, so it may be an IIAC MVP repeat

[balla_1982]

Yeah, this board is dead, maybe it will pick up more once the conference season begins.  As for Nick Thomas, he won't be MVP unless Dubuque wins conference, and the odds of that are very slim.  If you look over the course of the past 6 seasons or so, the MVP of the league has come from the conference championship every year, and I don't see that changing this year with Wartburg most likely winning the conference and having Steege and Schmidt on the team.  Besides, you have to look at some of the schools Dubuque has been playing...granted they did beat Platteville, but they were also playing Andrews, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, and Emmaus Baptist Bible...three teams who would struggle to beat some high school teams

[IIAC Observer]

After watching Simpson play on Saturday, I think it is safe to say they are much better than their 3-5 record.  If you look at their losses, they are all close games to quality opponents (w/ the exception of Platteville in the opener).  Soppe's offensive game has come full circle from what I've seen, and w/ Hittenmiller and Parkinson on the wings they have a solid inside/outside combination.  Not saying they are going to win the title, but I wouldn't count them out.  I am thinking a top 3 finish is probably very likely.  Can't wait to see how things unfold w/ the added parity this year.

[balla_1982]

I agree that Simpson should finish in the top three with those three good players, whether they will or not is another question.  It seems like every year Simpson has the talent and then underachieves.  If they play to their potential, I agree with you, they are a top 3 team in the IIAC

[welseyanbulldog]

I would watch out for Luther!!!  They had a tough game at Wartburg but just look at what they have done recently without Brantner!!  They are the sleeper no one is talking about.

[IIAC Observer]

I would wait on the Luther thing for a bit just like I'd wait on the UD competing for a top 3 spot.  Not saying it won't happen, but have to see it develop before I believe it.

[rebound3000]

Watch out for the Simpson Storm.  Been to a couple games this year and they are looking pretty good.  They play hard and the guys they have back seem to be playing with a confidence they didnt have before.  They do not have a good record as of yet, but they have played a pretty good non-conference schedule. 

Soppe looks much stronger this year and has been putting up a good shooting percentage.  Look for him to be a first-team all conference selection this year.  I think its a given that he will put up double digit rebound average as well. 

The point guards will need to prove they can shoot if they want to be an upper tier team though.  Teams sag on the big 3 quite a bit, would be nice to see someone else step up. 

Also would like to see Simpson be a touch more consistent in the future.

[balla_1982]

Luther won't be as bad as they usually are this year, they will surprise some teams and beat some upper tier teams in the conference, but I still see them in the bottom half of the conference.  I don't see them jumping Wartburg, Coe, Simpson, Loras, Dubuque, or BV.  By the way, where was Lappe last year, was he hurt or what?  I always wondered why he didn't play.  But with Lappe, Brantner, and Rump Luther will compete.  Johnson will be the X-factor this season, if he plays well Luther could have a good season.

[keith45]

Based on current standings and results, what are predictions for conference? Any changes from pre-season? I'm thinking Wartburg, Loras, Coe or Simpson, UD as top 4, but I dont know...Luther has been getting some buzz on the board..and I can't figure our Loras..they beat an athletic Aurora team, that started the year ranked and had an all american forward, they got blown out by Platteville, beat UWW and lost to Simpson...so they could finish 2 though 6 in my mind now..same with UD..soft non-conference schedule, except for beating Platteville, who then blew out Loras..they beat Mount Mercy, but got blown out by Coe..and Simpson also got blown out by Platteville..and they let the all american candidate from Elmhurst go off for 40 in 33 minutes..so I guess I am saying I don't know!!

[RBM]

Keith, whats your email address, i'd like in touch with you about hoopin.

[IIAC Observer]

My preditctions...bold as they may be are

Wartburg
Simpson
BV
Coe
UD
Loras
Central
Luther
Cornell

Not sure that is the way things will end up, and I know BV is struggling, but until I see them struggle in conference I'm not going to count them out.  Wartburg we know will be solid, and like I said ealier Simpson is my sleeper.  Will be interesting to see how things progress this year.

[balla_1982]

I think most everyone will agree that there is a pretty safe pick for first and last in the conference, being Wartburg and Cornell.  After that it's anybody's guess how the rest of the conference will break down.  Here's my picks:

Wartburg
Coe
Simpson
Loras
Dubque
BV
Luther
Central
Cornell

[welseyanbulldog]

I am going to say this once and only once, that Luther is the real deal and are winning right now without Tony Brantner the best player in IIAC.  They will be in the hunt for the conference title and will be a thorn in the side of many schools who downplay how good they really are this season.  They stumbled at Wartburg but have been playing really well since then.

Watch out for the NORSE!!!!!!!!!!

[IIAC Observer]

one word to describe the last post:

IGNORANCE

...or alcohol...take your pick