MBB: American Rivers Conference

[Mr. Ypsi]

What's up with conference play starting in November? 

Am I really senile and can't remember, or did conference play usually start in January in the past?

When you add a team, you have to add conference dates. I'd say most nine-team conferences play conference dates in November.

The CCIW added Carroll this year to move to nine, but managed to start in December (though, admittedly, the 3rd).  I welcome Carroll back to the conference, but starting conference games before January just feel wrong!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

What's up with conference play starting in November? 

Am I really senile and can't remember, or did conference play usually start in January in the past?

When you add a team, you have to add conference dates. I'd say most nine-team conferences play conference dates in November.

The CCIW added Carroll this year to move to nine, but managed to start in December (though, admittedly, the 3rd).  I welcome Carroll back to the conference, but starting conference games before January just feel wrong!

Ha... the number of conferences that start prior to January I am quite sure out-numbers those who don't. I love to have conference games start in January, but it is funny to see those who post who haven't really experienced it. I honestly don't know a world that hasn't had it in Division III. Even 20 years ago in an 8-team conference, I believe they were playing in December (CAC - Pat could confirm or prove me wrong).

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The NJAC started conference play the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.  Stockton's second game was against arch conference rival Rowan.  December is pretty normal for many conferences.

[doolittledog]

The IIAC was a 9 team conference as recently as the 2011-12 season. I thought I remembered a conference game or two in December, but not as early as November. As my wife can tell you though, I'm not always the most observant one out there!

[doolittledog]

First weekend of conference play...

Coe won @ Luther 60-58
NWU beat BVU 88-82
Simpson beat Wartburg 81-68
Dubuque beat Loras 96-78

out of conference...
Central beat Platteville 86-77

[DBQ1965]

First weekend of conference play...

Coe won @ Luther 60-58
NWU beat BVU 88-82
Simpson beat Wartburg 81-68
Dubuque beat Loras 96-78

out of conference...
Central beat Platteville 86-77

Thanks for keeping us up to date on IIAC action in your usual prompt style.

[Klompen]

Congratulations to Dubuque for outplaying the Dutch on our own floor.  A very lackluster Central team played just enough to pull out a win over Dubuque tonight.  Once again the Dutch really didn't look like they cared one way or another who won the game for most of the first half and part of the second.  They did finally come alive and showed a little spunk midway though the second half.  I have to put some responsibility on the coaches for not having the team ready to play and not calling a time out and doing some actual coaching. 

Sorry to say DD, but my friend and I were talking in the first half that UD didn't look very impressive and sadly, they had a double digit lead on Central at the time.  They nearly doubled the score on Central in the first half.  UD does have one very good player in #15.  I don't mean to disparage UD, but the Central that played tonight and against Coe was not the same Central that has played the other games.  Why they can't get fired up for conference games is unknown to me.  You would think you would have a little fire in the belly to try to win a conference title and tourney, make a playoff run, etc.  Central just looked really flat.  They weren't shooting well, weren't rebounding well, didn't play good defense.  Love the Dutch.  I want to say will the real Dutch basketball team please show up, but I'm a little afraid of which team it would be. 

A win is good, but they really just did enough to get by.  I expected to see some amazing senior leadership on the basketball team this year.  The football team had it, even though they stumbled twice.  I'm really surprised it is missing.  Colby Taylor is an amazing player and from everything I can tell, a great young man who is humble about his skills.  But he and other seniors need to step up and lead.

[doolittledog]

I've only seen bits of two games, but agree UD has some work ahead of them. Don't know if it's a chemistry thing or just a case of not finding the right combo of players to put on the court together.

[Gregory Sager]

I've only seen bits of two games, but agree UD has some work ahead of them. Don't know if it's a chemistry thing or just a case of not finding the right combo of players to put on the court together.

Well, I'm certainly rooting for your boys to get it together. The better the Spartans do, the more it helps North Park's OWP.

[Klompen]

Maybe I understand where the Dutch are coming up with their ho-hum attitude towards conference games.  To quote the story from the UD game: 

'Before breaking for finals, the Dutch will resume action Saturday against No. 13-ranked Washington-St. Louis University (Mo.) at 3 p.m. at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium. The Bears are coming off a 103-64 victory over Fontbonne University (Mo.) Tuesday night.
    Central is eager for Saturday, according to Douma. 
    "It's a statement game for us," he said. "It's a special weekend for us, we have our alumni coming back for the game, it should be a great atmosphere for everyone in Pella to enjoy."'

I like the change in the schedule since Douma came to Central.  It is good to see Central stepping up the non-conference competition and playing teams that will help us should we make it to the playoffs.  But my opinion is that our first priority should be trying to make a statement to the rest of the conference in our play against conference teams.  Hopefully the team can get fired up for a "statement" game because if they play as they do against the non-statement opponents in the conference, they might get slaughtered.

This team really has so much potential, but they have to look at every game as a big game and be excited for every game.  Only then will they reach their true potential and they have so much potential if they play up to it.

[Klompen]

Dutch prove my point beating #13 Washington University 84-80.  They played a great game, made runs when they needed to and showed just the kind of potential I believed this team had all along.  They just have to find a way to get this excited and up for the conference games.  When they have their heads and hearts in the game, they can play with the best and could have had two impressive conference wins.  The coaches are up to the challenge of the good team, and I believe they can be up to the challenge of the conference, but they have to show excitement for each game.  The only game that matters is the next one. 

Congratulations Dutch on your statement win.  Central fans, stop already with the "over rated" chant.  If we beat a top team, it would say so much more to chant "Dutch should be rated!"

[Mr. Ypsi]

Dutch prove my point beating #13 Washington University 84-80.  They played a great game, made runs when they needed to and showed just the kind of potential I believed this team had all along.  They just have to find a way to get this excited and up for the conference games.  When they have their heads and hearts in the game, they can play with the best and could have had two impressive conference wins.  The coaches are up to the challenge of the good team, and I believe they can be up to the challenge of the conference, but they have to show excitement for each game.  The only game that matters is the next one. 

Congratulations Dutch on your statement win.  Central fans, stop already with the "over rated" chant.  If we beat a top team, it would say so much more to chant "Dutch should be rated!"

Yeah, the 'overrated' chant has always perplexed me.  You're just diminishing what your team has just accomplished!

[Klompen]

Could not agree more Mr. Ypsi.  Be proud of the win over a rated team instead of marginalizing it.

[Alfredeneumann]

Wartburg beat#10 UW-EC 103-90.

Outscored EC 67-45 in second half. Tough d and great shooting was the difference. A lot of dribble drives and 3 point plays in  second.

"Wartburg turned it on in the second half, hitting .727 from field-goal range, .625 from behind the arc and .737 at the free throw line to score 67 points in the final 20 minutes of the contest"

http://www.go-knights.net/news/2016/12/11/mens-basketball-knights-score-67-in-second-half-upset-no-10-blugolds.aspx

2 wins at home vs. WIAC ranked teams. Beat UW-O in November's  Buzz Levick title game.

[gordonmann]

Very nice win. I'm hoping the IIAC teams get a little more love in our Top 25 after the wins by Wartburg and Central this week.