MBB: American Rivers Conference

[Charlie Kohawk]

Coe had its home opener tonight before a sparse Thanksgiving break crowd and got the W against Knox. Looks like Tatman is the man for the Kohawks.

[doolittledog]

Dubuque loses first game of the season at Mt. Mercy

http://www.dbq.edu/udathletics/news.cfm?ID=1012&team=Mens%20Basketball

Knox has lost games to Dubuque, Coe and I believe Cornell.  They might want to rethink their non-con schedule next year

[stickman]

I see everyone has at least 2 wins, except Luther - and they have not even been close to one.  Looks like a 3rd consecutive long year season for the Norse. 

[Kohawk Krazy]

No chatter with the IIAC season opening this week? 

The Kohawks have two big games, hosting Loras and at Buena Vista, to start the season.  I see the Kohawks splitting these games.

What about everyone else?

[doolittledog]

Dubuque up on Wartburg at the half 33-27

[doolittledog]

Dubuque beats Wartburg 64-54

Listened to the Wartburg feed.  Student announcers did a pretty good job.  Might have got a bit excited on a few 3 point baskets in the first half...but better than most student broadcasts you hear. 

[doolittledog]

BV wins @ Simpson 91-66   
Central wins @ Luther 41-38   Apparently they didn't use the shot clock!!!
Loras wins @ Coe 66-57   
Dubuque is the only home team to win tonight.  Winning 64-54 over Wartburg

[sportsknight]

Central wins @ Luther 41-38   Apparently they didn't use the shot clock!!!

The two teams were a combined 35% from the field and 4-19 (21%) from three point range.  Talk about uhhhh-gleeee.

Also, I'm starting to notice a couple trends in Wartburg's stats.  In their losses, it looks like Wartburg has been bombing away from behind the arc and getting far fewer FT attempts than their opponents.  Sounds like some of the Knight guards need to do a little more attacking the basket more and a little less settling for outside shots.

[Klompen]

Central wins @ Luther 41-38   Apparently they didn't use the shot clock!!!

Or they can't shoot very well.    To read the write up both teams played great defense, but icy shooting by both teams.  Oh well, I am happy to have a win on the first conference game of the season.  Look quick while the Dutch are in first place, it has been too long.  Would love to see it last, but cold shooting won't cut it.  Last year a bad Luther really bombed Central at Luther, so it was huge improvement for the Dutch who lost some 4 year starters to graduation. 

I think this year's Dutch will really surprise some people, but they have to be more consistent.  They can't have cold shooting sprees like they did against Bethany Lutheran or poor shooting nights as they had last night.  Nice to have the other team be just as off as we were though.

[Alfredeneumann]

Central wins @ Luther 41-38   Apparently they didn't use the shot clock!!!

The two teams were a combined 35% from the field and 4-19 (21%) from three point range.  Talk about uhhhh-gleeee.

Also, I'm starting to notice a couple trends in Wartburg's stats.  In their losses, it looks like Wartburg has been bombing away from behind the arc and getting far fewer FT attempts than their opponents.  Sounds like some of the Knight guards need to do a little more attacking the basket more and a little less settling for outside shots.

I would add "UNDER CONTROL to attacking the basket. The starting Point guard had 3 offensive fouls and 7 TO's.  They also got hammered on the boards though.

I did notice the play by play report did not include all the times the buzzer went off without reason.

[doolittledog]

Central wins @ Luther 41-38   Apparently they didn't use the shot clock!!!

The two teams were a combined 35% from the field and 4-19 (21%) from three point range.  Talk about uhhhh-gleeee.

Also, I'm starting to notice a couple trends in Wartburg's stats.  In their losses, it looks like Wartburg has been bombing away from behind the arc and getting far fewer FT attempts than their opponents.  Sounds like some of the Knight guards need to do a little more attacking the basket more and a little less settling for outside shots.

I would add "UNDER CONTROL to attacking the basket. The starting Point guard had 3 offensive fouls and 7 TO's.  They also got hammered on the boards though.

I did notice the play by play report did not include all the times the buzzer went off without reason.

That could be added to that link Walston Hoover had over on the football board about ghosts  

[doolittledog]

Central wins @ Luther 41-38    Apparently they didn't use the shot clock!!!

The two teams were a combined 35% from the field and 4-19 (21%) from three point range.  Talk about uhhhh-gleeee.

Also, I'm starting to notice a couple trends in Wartburg's stats.  In their losses, it looks like Wartburg has been bombing away from behind the arc and getting far fewer FT attempts than their opponents.  Sounds like some of the Knight guards need to do a little more attacking the basket more and a little less settling for outside shots.

I have a 92 year old great uncle that played for Central in the 1930's.  Maybe you could talk him and his Central grad wife into moving back up to Iowa from Texas to become the shooting coach.  He is really good and the two handed set shot

[Klompen]

I have a 92 year old great uncle that played for Central in the 1930's.  Maybe you could talk him and his Central grad wife into moving back up to Iowa from Texas to become the shooting coach.  He is really good and the two handed set shot

Since we now have the kicking duties well under control for football, maybe when the time comes for a new college president we can look for a president with experience at coaching shooting.   

[doolittledog]

Central wins at home over UD 68-53

Two similar halves.  Central let 35-27 at halftime.  The Dutch won the second half 33-26. 

[Klompen]

What are they putting in the water at Central this year.  The football team loses 4 games and has a very rare final standings in the conference.  Central football starts out 0-2 in IIAC and now Central men's BB is 2-0 and in first place in the IIAC?  Wow, we get to say that for at least a month, were tied for first after the Luther game Dec 3, don't play another IIAC game until Jan 3.  Awesome!  Did the men's BB team steal the football team's Gatorade?   

Seriously, it was great to see this team play more consistently, as noted by Doolittle's comparison of the halves, and playing well together.  I think the bench is much stronger than in recent years allowing us to move players in and out better.  Who would have thought that with Petersaon, Clark, DeHoogh and Lang all graduating last year we would be looking this strong this early.  Boshee said we would surprise people. 

Last year the team played well against teams they thought they would struggle with and won games most folks would not have picked them to win, but played poorly against teams that they thought would be easier games.  I hope the way they played against Luther and Dubuque is not an indication that it will be another season like that.  Had some of the same struggles in football this year.  They better get over that real fast.  You can't pick and choose who you want to prepare and show up to play, you have to be prepared and focused on one game at a time and you have to play solid ball the whole game.  Fundamentals guys. 

Either way, it is nice to see some enthusiasm in the crowd at games again. 

Oh, and did I mention, Central is in 1st place?      It's been so long I have to say it while I can.