MBB: American Rivers Conference

[Klompen]

Isn't Blum like 25 years old? A great player none the less. I think Blum will save Klompen the drama and score 25 points before the last 5 minutes of the game and enjoy watching it from the bench as Dubuque beats Central both times this year.

Sadly, with 5 new starters for the Dutch, I wouldn't be surprised. 

[Alfredeneumann]

Wartburg TV's season preview story

http://www.wartburgcircuit.org/CircuitTV/CircuitTVVideoPlayer/TabId/266/VideoId/247/Mens-Basketball-Preview.aspx

[Klompen]

Central gets their season underway tonight in Pella.  Looking forward to the game, but I will likely need to spend a lot of time checking the program for all the new numbers and names.  Good luck Dutch!  I don't think anyone expects you to defend your title when the IIAC games start, but feel free to surprise!   

[IntramuralChamp]

I am glad you are optimistic about your Dutch! Unfortunately I don't see it happening. They will be lucky to finish in top 6 of the league with all those new comers. Tough first night for IIAC as Loras, Buena Vista and Central all lose on the opening night. Not a good start for the representation of the IIAC as they play non-conference teams against different conferences.

Couple other thoughts on the first couple of games--

Wartburg gets first win in the IIAC at home against Carelton, Cornell gets big win in OT against Elmhurst in day two.
Buena Vista gives up 95 points in the opening night? Maybe they are going to try to outscore opponents all year giving up 95 to Gustavus team that usually prides them selves in running clock and taking good shots.

Thoughts on preseason rankings to come-- any other comments out there?

[Alfredeneumann]

Wartbrug 56- Carleton 52

http://www.go-knights.net/news/2010/11/16/MBB_1116100020.aspx
BOX SCORE http://www.go-knights.net/custompages/201011mbasketballstats/carl101.htm

"WAVERLY – Wartburg College jumped out to a 19-8 lead as part of a 56-52 win over Carleton College of Northfield, Minn., Nov. 16.

The Knights, beginning a stretch of six consecutive games inside Levick Arena, used a 38-29 rebounding advantage and some cold three-point shooting from their Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference visitors to spark the victory. Carleton canned only six-of-27 long-range shots.

The home side continued to maintain a strong advantage at the break, leading 30-21. Carleton crept back in the second half, closing within two (48-46) with over four minutes left. From that point forward, junior forward Jordan Sathoff of Packwood hit four-of-six charity tosses and sophomore forward Jake Reinhardt of Waverly hit two from the line to keep the visiting Knights at bay."

At 1 point Wartburg had 4 freshmen and 1 jr on the floor. They are going to have a lot of 1st and 2nd year players play a lot.

Carleton was 3-18 from 3 in 1st half.  They brought 11 players dressed 10 played 8.
Wartburg's Cole Danielson dnp (ankle sprain)

[Alfredeneumann]

UNI 84 Coe 45
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20101116/SPORTS020704/101116028/UNI-men-s-basketball-Panthers-rout-Coe

43-17 @ half

[doolittledog]

Dubuque preview from the Telegraph-Herald

http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=302644

The forecast -- The Spartans are projected to finish fourth in the IIAC in the league's preseason coaches' poll.

Outlook -- Forget contending. After their best season in years, the Spartans are thinking Iowa Conference championship. If the electric Blum -- perhaps the IIAC's best player -- stays healthy, UD will be at worst an IIAC player. Blum bruised a knee in Tuesday's season-opening 75-73 loss to UW-Superior and will be evaluated today.

Freshmen like Scales Mound (Ill.) forward Joe Kelly and Dubuque Senior product Malcolm Stewart give Dubuque depth. Post defense and an ability to win on the road will be huge factors in how far the Spartans go in what projects to be a wide-open IIAC. With reigning champion Central having lost all five starters, the league is up for grabs.

"The Iowa Conference is going to be as tough as ever," Central coach Mike Boschee said.

Blum says a key element for UD will be staying the course.

"We're trying to stress to the newcomers all those things that helped us tie for second in the Iowa Conference (last season)," he said.

[Klompen]

I really don't expect Central to repeat in any way, shape or form what they accomplished last year.  But I don't expect them to automatically sink to the bottom of the conference again either.  I think last year will give the team a good foundation to grow on.  They saw that if they put in the hard work and really played hard they could accomplish something nobody expected.  If I recall, Central was picked to finish second last year because of returning talent.  I highly doubt anyone believed they would win the conference with a four game margin. 

I saw a different attitude last year.  They didn't give up, they kept playing to win, they fought through the runs teams made on them and they won.  I think last year was the start of something, even though it was the end for the 5 senior starters.  We have a lot of talent, but we lack height.  I have no idea how good Monmouth is considered to be, but if the Dutch had shot better at the charity stripe, I think they would have won the game.  The score was the margin it was because they fouled a ton in the closing minutes.  It was closer than the final score indicates.

The big question will be how fast can these players learn to play well together?  Last year's team had 4 years of playing together and knew each other inside and out.  It is a whole new story when you start from scratch.  On the plus side, the women won their first game, one more win and they equal last year's win record.   

[IntramuralChamp]

I told you my comments were coming about the preseason picks and here they are. First off, how did Wartburg receive one vote for number one? Didn't there starting point guard tear his ACL, that will be tough to replace if they were planning on big things for him. I could see them finishing below 3rd. I think the top two teams will separate themselves from the rest of the pack as the season goes, both teams have a lot of returners that they will benefit from. As for Dubuque, as long as Blum is still there (he is finally a senior right?) they will be in a lot of games. Luther I think will be a surprise team, they return all there starters from last year and will be tough to beat at home. Klompen is going to get mad, but Central is a team I could see finishing in the bottom 2..they lost all their starters and need to replace a lot of weapons. As for Coe, as long as Tatman is running the show at point, I think they will continue to struggle. However, look for them to get some upset wins at home. Cornell started off the year well with a big win over Elmhurst and I could see them finishing in top 6 of league. Zanders didn't inherit much at Simpson, but he will have his guys playing hard and will improve throughout the year.

I see it finishing like this:
1.Buena Vista
2.Loras
3.Dubuque
4.Wartburg
5.Luther
6.Cornell
7.Central
8.Coe
9.Simpson

[Titan Q]

Ripon vs Buena Vista (6:00pm), probable starters and link to live stats...

http://www.iwuhoops.com/notes11.htm

[IntramuralChamp]

Question to all the message board posters- is it better to play teams that you are almost guaranteed a win early on in the season to build confidence within the team or better to play some good competition and risk losing the game but getting better?

I see Wartburg, Loras and Buena Vista playing some good competition and year after year finishing in the top 4 of the league. Simpson also plays good competition in Elmhurst, and Augustana- usually top finishers in the CCIW, results will come for the Storm.

Then there are the rest of the schools playing Knox, Martin Luther, Silver Lake and Dominican, I guess when you are not so good you might as well pile up the wins early on.

[John Gleich]

Question to all the message board posters- is it better to play teams that you are almost guaranteed a win early on in the season to build confidence within the team or better to play some good competition and risk losing the game but getting better?

I see Wartburg, Loras and Buena Vista playing some good competition and year after year finishing in the top 4 of the league. Simpson also plays good competition in Elmhurst, and Augustana- usually top finishers in the CCIW, results will come for the Storm.

Then there are the rest of the schools playing Knox, Martin Luther, Silver Lake and Dominican, I guess when you are not so good you might as well pile up the wins early on.

While it helps to have a cupcake or two to help a team get their confidence up, they can be a hindrance too.  If your starters only play a half, then they won't get as much work in as if they'd played a full game. 

However, if they're getting blown out, then they may only play a half too... and they won't get as much work in.

There has to be a nice mix.  It kind of depends if a team realistically has a shot at getting a Pool C bid.  If that's the case, then regional wins matter.  It might be worthwhile to play some tough out of region competition... that way, your team has the experience of playing a tough team, but it can't hurt you.

Now, it won't help you either... at least as the numbers go for a Pool C bid, but the experience can help.

If you look at the John Carroll/ Carthage matchup tonight that John Carroll won, it effectively means nothing for the post-season.  Yes, it counts for their over-all record, but that doesn't matter for the NCAA.  It likely will factor in for top-25 voting, but, again, that doesn't have anything to do with bids for the tournament.

[Klompen]

Hey, IC, I don't get mad that easy.  If I was from another school and saw a team graduate all 5 of the starters, I wouldn't expect much out of them either.  But I do find it strange that you could see Central finishing in the bottom two, but did not place them there on you projection.  I guess my prediction that they could surprise some teams must have influenced you.   

As far as the teams that Central is playing in the early going, I don't know that they are much different from teams that we have played early the last several years, but it didn't stop the Dutch from winning the conference last year.  I do tend to agree though that better teams get more out of playing better teams because it pushes them.  On the other hand, if a team is trying to find a starting line-up, playing some teams that allow you to try different mixes of players isn't a bad thing. 

I think Central is getting to a point where you can see which players are rising to the top and will get their playing time and which ones will more likely be on the clean-up crew, though we might not get to that point many times.  I also don't see the competition level of any team in the IIAC really helping or hindering them.  The IIAC is not a strong competitor in the playoffs so the odds of a Pool C going to any IIAC team are pretty small. 

[Klompen]

Okay, I will throw my guesses in as well.  Here is how I see things shaking out.

1.  Loras/Buena Vista
3.  Dubuque
4.  Luther
5.  Central
6.  Wartburg
7.  Cornell/Coe
9.  Simpson

Don't worry too much about my picks though, I had Wartburg finishing 4th in football.   

[Alfredeneumann]

Okay, I will throw my guesses in as well.  Here is how I see things shaking out.

1.  Loras/Buena Vista
3.  Dubuque
4.  Luther
5.  Central
6.  Wartburg
7.  Cornell/Coe
9.  Simpson

Don't worry too much about my picks though, I had Wartburg finishing 4th in football.   

Klop, before the season started I would have probably agreed with Wartburg being lower 1/2. But after seeing the Knights play 3 times (UNI, Carleton + Mt. Mercy) I like the Knights being in the mix for #1 if they play as well on the road as they have @ home. Jordan Hester will be a very good replacement for PG Mitchell Murphy (out w/ACL). He also has a little more of an outside shot than Mitchell. Also Drew Crawford can give Danielson a break and still have a real 3 point threat on the floor. And looking through my orange colored glasses I can see Jordan Sathoff as conference MVP.