MBB: American Rivers Conference

[coebball70]

Happy to see the Beavers really handled the Duhawks tonight.  I knew Buena Vista had a 10 turnover or less game in them and tonight was the night!  As Coach VH likes to say, we are getting a little better each time we play.  The conference race looks to be tightening up very quickly.  Good work, Beavers!

[coebball70]

840 miles, that's what the distance is, just a little too far for a Saturday round-trip drive.  Buena Vista vs Luther at Storm Lake.  Thank the Lord, not Al Gore, for the Internet.  I'll trust the college communications geeks are on their game.  Streaming, it's what D3 basketball junkies call their "fix."  Hit me Beavers, it's the first of several 'must have' conference games this year.  Since I know so much, I picked the Norse for 7th on November 23rd.  Now, with my apologies and new found respect, the Decorah bunch are in first place!  A surprise to say the least.  My prediction, the game is a toss-up.  No guts, no glory.  I'll just say if the Beavers respect ball possession and play defense like they did at Loras, Buena Vista will win.  Here's another off-the-top (not much there most of the time) thought.  Which ever team wins this game will win the conference tourney in March.

[Klompen]

I think BV will handle Luther just fine.  Found out it was injuries keeping Caves and Chapline from playing as well as top replacement Jacob Winkler.  I knew another key player seemed to be missing, just couldn't think of who.  I don't think, in spite of their current position, that Luther will be in the hunt very long.  Sadly, if these injuries are serious, it might well take Central out of the hunt as well.  Too bad, because I honestly believed they were on their way to at least a share of another championship.  Not that I am writing them off by any means, but replacing 5 graduated starters is bad enough, replacing 3 more top players on top of that would be too much for any team. 

I'm ironically glad to hear it is injury rather than stupid behavior that kept them out of the game, but I hope they are minor, rather than season ending injuries.  Still incredibly impressed that Central was in the game right to the end and had opportunities that could have changed the outcome.  Props to the Dutch for fighting hard under such adversity!

[5 Words or Less]

I think BV will handle Luther just fine.  ... I don't think, in spite of their current position, that Luther will be in the hunt very long.  ...

Blasphemy ... we're small but slow

[5 Words or Less]

Swami say - Tempo determines outcome

A score <60 favors Luther

[IntramuralChamp]

Are we seriously talking about Luther and Central having a chance to win the league come the end of February? I understand Luther is unbeaten and Central was unbeaten prior to last night, but posters come on. Central was good last year with a dominated senior class that was the best in the league. Luther is winning games scoring an average of 61 points (thats with scoring 62 points in one half against Coe). I'm sorry i'm not buying it yet, I hope I am wrong cause the IIAC could use some new teams at the top of the league, but I don't think its going to be Luther or Central this year. Luther can prove me wrong if they can go to Storm Lake and get a win. Time shall tell us all.

[doolittledog]

Everyone has their own shades of glasses in which they view IIAC basketball.  Therefore, any scenario can be justified to put their team at the top of the heap...even Central and Luther!!!  

For me, I want to see UD win the conference title...with Blum averaging 10 3 pointers per game (50% of which he falls down afterwards) just to see if that could drive Klompen to drink

[Klompen]

I am not seriously talking about Luther winning the league.  The Central team that you choose not to believe has a chance played them close at home with 2 starters and a top sub injured.  If a team you think will finish in the bottom half nearly beats them under those circumstances, I agree they won't likely stay at the top.  Then again, didn't both Luther and Central beat Loras, a team picked to win the conference by many?

As to Central, I didn't pick them to win the conference this year.  I did pick them to surprise some teams and they proved me right early with wins over Loras and Wartburg.  I do believe that they would have won the game had the team been healthy on Wednesday night, but all teams have to deal with injuries and unfortunately they hit the Dutch hard all at once.  Which is so ironic given that Central has not played for quite some time.  

Do I believe Central will battle for the championship?  I don't know, a lot will depend on how injured those players are, which I don't know.  But like last year, I'm not automatically giving it to BV either.  I think a healthy Dutch are much better than you are willing to believe and I happen to believe that BV is not the team that it used to be.  I think, for a time, BV absolutely ruled the conference, but they have let the rest of the conference start gaining on them in the same way that the rest of the conference gained on Central in football.  BV has to be considered a top team, but "a" top team, not "the only" top team.  

[Klompen]

Everyone has their own shades of glasses in which they view IIAC basketball.  Therefore, any scenario can be justified to put their team at the top of the heap...even Central and Luther!!!  

For me, I want to see UD win the conference title...with Blum averaging 10 3 pointers per game (50% of which he falls down afterwards) just to see if that could drive Klompen to drink

It might!  Unless of course, he has an off night against Central.  Then it won't bother me at all.     He might not have to fall down as much this year though, Doolittle, Central is considerably shorter this year, so it might not take as much effort.   

[5 Words or Less]

Teams flying under the radar

• 2009-10 = Cornell
• 2010-11 = Central
• 2011-12 = Luther???

Coe head coach Pat Juckem says, "The last few years in the IIAC, a team has emerged that challenged for the title that flew under the radar. We are working to continue this trend."

[Kohawk Krazy]

Teams flying under the radar

• 2009-10 = Cornell
• 2010-11 = Central
• 2011-12 = Luther???

Coe head coach Pat Juckem says, "The last few years in the IIAC, a team has emerged that challenged for the title that flew under the radar. We are working to continue this trend."

I think you have to include Coe in those talks as well.  The Kohawks were picked for 7th in the league and coming off a four-win season last year.  Luther was at least picked for fifth in the league this year.

[IntramuralChamp]

I'm not hating on the Dutch by no means, they are 2-1 in the league with a couple of surprises, or are they surprises? What has Wartburg done yet? What has Loras done? Two teams picked to be at the top and they are combined 1-6 in league play! Typically very strong teams so got to give the Dutch credit cause they are winning games regardless of who they are playing. I do think the knights and duhawks will play better and find themselves in the middle to top by end of year. I don't know if there is any clear cut favorite at this point in time. BV is not a favorite in my mind right now, although they have won some games and are 3-1. But they have beat Wartburg 0-3, Loras 1-3, Cornell 1-3, and lost to Coe who is 3-1. So they are 3-1 against a combined schedule 5-10, losing to the one winning team. I think the league is wide open, but I feel teams that aren't used to being at the top will find a way to not finish at the top because they haven't been there before. Teams that can win on the road are going to have a chance to win the league. For Luther and Coe to win the league it starts this weekend!

[IntramuralChamp]

Coe @ Central... Is Central's line up still banged up? No one knows how long they will be out or how much of a factor they will be so I will have to go with the road team. I think Coe has surprised people and Juckem has his guys playing almost as well as he did when he inherited some good players from Brase. Coe wins on the road 76 to 70 due to the injured Central team.

Dubuque @ Wartburg... Wartburg has had along time (Dec. 8th) to think about being 0-3 in the league following a 82-48 setback in Storm Lake, and I think the trip to Vegas helped the Knights and they get their first conference win at home. Klompen rejoices even though Central loses, because Blum gets in foul trouble and is a non factor all game. Wartburg 78 to 68.

Cornell @ Loras- Baxter's debut? Does the team welcome him with open arms because they know they need something to help turn their season around? Or are some players bitter because he is taking a lot of minutes away from someone else? Baxter plays and plays well and the Duhawks start their climb up the IIAC standings. Loras wins 81  to 70.   

   Luther @ Buena Vista- What a game this should be in Storm Lake. Two different styles (Luther- Defensive, drag it out, slow tempo) vs Buena Vista (Offensive, uptempo, little defense). One style has to budge and I will go with the home team despite Luther being 3-0 in the league. Buena Vista is tough to beat at home, and are playing better and i think they find a way to beat Luther in a lower scoring game then BV is used to, 66 to 58.

[5 Words or Less]

Luther up 25 in 2nd - whoa!

[coebball70]

Luther 70, Buena Vista 45.  Disappointed in the Beaver's mental preparation.  Norse never trailed.  Oh well, it's one loss .... but it's a hard one.  Must get ready for Dubuque or the conference race becomes a non-issue.  If it isn't already.