MBB: American Rivers Conference

keith45 · January 05, 2006, 07:28:42 PM

I was in Florida.....CENTRAL??? Don't know what to say yet..Loras over Wart..well, who saw that coming?

IIAC Observer · January 06, 2006, 08:24:56 AM

Welcome back Keith. I hope you weren't down there for the Iowa debacle. I actually picked the Loras over Wartburg game. Not sure why, I just had a good feeling about things. I will be out w/ some predictions later today. Most of them are pretty obvious Saturday though.....one I'm not too sure about. Happy Friday.

keith45 · January 06, 2006, 08:50:38 AM

No, had to go do some work there...The cebtral game has me dumbfounded....I would feel better if we lost, but Nick was more aggressive, he only took 15 shots (which, for him is low)..anyone see that game?

And Wartburg, like I said before, looks like they are a 2 man show, and Schmidt's stats have fallen off ...any comments on that? Steege is still a killer though

IIAC Observer · January 06, 2006, 12:53:38 PM

Ok. Here goes with the predictions. I'm going to try my best to stay perfect in '06 but I'm not betting on it.

Loras over BV - hard for me to pick against BV, even though they are young and
inexperienced, but I'm not sure they are ready to win on the road against a
a quality team.

UD over Luther - A pick to shove it in the face of those that thought Luther would
contend.

Simpson over Central - I really think Simpson has turned the corner. Should be a good game
with a MUCH improved and skilled Central team. 2 of the best big
guys going at it in this one with Driftmeyer and Soppe. Those 2
cancel each other out and Parkinson and Hittenmiller are the
difference.

Wartbur over Cornell - NOT EVEN CLOSE

The Show · January 06, 2006, 01:53:06 PM

I'm taking Wartburg, Central, UD, and BV.

balla_1982 · January 06, 2006, 10:31:38 PM

Loras always wins early in the season and then chokes towards the end, happens every year...and where are all the Luther fans at now? They seem a little quiet.

Walston Hoover · January 07, 2006, 12:21:01 PM

Big Rivalry matchup tonight. The Storm blows Central through the roof.
Coach OC makes all the difference for the rolling RedMen

hoops4ever13 · January 07, 2006, 01:35:26 PM

Simpson and Central this evening should be one hell of a game... ill take simpson by 15 but its a very close game till the end

balla_1982 · January 07, 2006, 04:05:13 PM

Luther/Dubuque should be an interesting game tonight, lot of hype, atleast on this board, about how both these programs are turning the corner. I think Dubuque is closer to getting there because of the fact that they have Thomas. I think it's obvious Dubuque needs him to shoot as much as he can after the Central game, despite how much people complain about how many times he shoots...he's your horse, you've got to ride him Dubuque. Luther could cause problems with Lappe however because Dubuque isn't traditionally known for being good in the post, and maybe Brantner, but I saw he only played 11 minutes last game. so he might not be 100%...but I'm taking Dubuque

Simpson/Central could be the game of the night. I think Simpson is there and in my opinion might actually be as good as Wartburg. Soppe is my MVP of the league so far and Hittenmiller and Parkinson draw the D out to provide a very solid in-out game...if they can be solid at the point I'd be convinced they could challenge Wartburg. Central's decent, but still too young and not strong enough so I'm taking Simpson

Loras/BV could be a good game and I could also see it as a blow out. White's having a good year, but I have one question...what the hell has King been doing this year...I would have put him on my preseason all-conference team but he hasn't done shat so far. This will be a tough road test for the young Beavers, they had a good game against Cornell, but that says nothing considering Cornell isn't going to win a conference game all year. Plus Loras has the advantage of that thing they call a gym so I'm taking the Duhawks

Wartburg/Cornell...honestly, who cares, this game will be over after two minutes

keith45 · January 07, 2006, 10:57:15 PM

Damn..Luther?? Did they really get top 25 votes and blow out UD like that? Looks like somne bench players stepped up for Luther...
speachless, don't know what to say..and I didnt see Loras losing either

The Show · January 08, 2006, 11:12:23 AM

It could be that UD hasn't improved from years past even though most thought they would...

We'll see how good Luther really is when they travel to Storm Lake. Young squad or not, winning at BV hasn't been done by many as of late. And I think Fogleman might end up on some "Top 5" lists before the year is over. I'd love to see him match up with Wartburg's Schmidt but BV plays Wartburg on a Wed. night both times.

Only 3 games into the conference season and everyone already has 1 loss except Coe, who has only played 1 game (vs UD). Looks like another parity filled year in the IIAC.

IIAC Observer · January 08, 2006, 02:30:21 PM

I guess it wasn't meant to be . Missed a couple games last night to ruin my perfect season.
Have to say I didn't see Luther blowing out UD, and I didn't see Cornell keeping it close against Wartburg.

The Simpson/Central game was a good one. Both teams are MUCH improved. I would even venture to say the top 5 in the league in any order would include both of them. I honestly could see each w/ a top 4 finish. Central's guards are very skilled and did a good job of beating the Simpson pressure and finding open shooters (which at least yesterday they had plenty of). Driftmeyer should start to be mentioned as one of the better bigs in the conference. The kid is talented. Simpson actually killed themselves late in this one w/ silly fouls that put a very good free throw shooting team on the line in a close one. I would guess Central got 8 points in the last 5 minutes where Simpson fouled 60+ feet away from the basket. Dehoogh's game winner was a tough shot, but the way they had scored in transition all night w/ jumpers I wasn't that surprised he hit it. The Coe and Simpson game on Tuesday should be telling.

The Show · January 10, 2006, 09:52:08 AM

I'm taking all the home teams tonight.

Wartburg, BV, Simpson, and even UD.

Just a hunch that Loras has a let down after beating both BV and Wartburg at home.

Driftmier must have improved a ton from last year if he is one of the best posts in the league this year. We'll see how he does against Schmidt on the road tonight.

IIAC Observer · January 10, 2006, 03:35:34 PM

I also am going w/ all of the home teams tonight.

Wartburg will handle Central. I'd think about this one a little closer if it was in Pella.

Simpson over Coe. Should be a battle. I know Coe is solid this year and has some physical posts. I like Simpson to rebound tonight.

UD over Loras. Rivalry game...UD has struggled. I think they put it together tonight, at least enough to get one against Loras.

BV will win also. They are at home and still can keep a piece of the top spot in the league.

keith45 · January 10, 2006, 05:28:11 PM

I think UD can pull it out, but I am disappointed in the post play so far..Thomas is holding up his scoring end, shooting 50% from the field and averaging 19....but other than teh PG, no one else is stepping up

I'm taking the home teams EXCEPT Coe..I think they can pull one..pretty impressed with their post players

And I think someone brought this up, but why are the rivalry games on Tuesdays?

I know a few UD and Loras alumns would go to the game tonight, but Chicago to Dubuque on tuesday?? You got to take the next day off for that, since there wil be drinking afterwards....any idea what spurred that change a few years ago?