MBB: American Rivers Conference

[SpartyBlue]

ARC off to a start, albeit a rocky start with some cancellations. 

UD off to a great start at 3-0, including a convincing 88-71 home non-con win over Wartburg yesterday.  Patrick Mayfield has scored over 20 points in each game and this team feels like chemistry and teamwork has improved over last year's squad.  UD picked fourth in the ARC, early returns suggest they could be a contender for a title.

There are questions at the top of the ARC.  Loras loses season opener 96-84 to CUW, a team they probably should have beaten.  Perennial national power NWU is a question mark having lost those 5 seniors; picked second in the conference, will be interesting to see what they bring to the table and if Wellman changes his system at all with new personnel. 

Here's hoping the games can continue!

[SpartyBlue]

ARC play is lurching along as multiple teams have games cancelled or postponed due to apparent virus issues.  Observations:

UD off to a 4-0 start, convincing win over Simpson on the road last Saturday.  Home vs. Coe tomorrow.  Note that Coe played UNI very tough last night in a 70-60 loss!  This will be a barometer game for both teams. 

Loras rebounded from the CUW loss with a close, unimpressive win over a mediocre Edgewood team but has not played since. 

BV is 1-0 with a nice road win, 82-78 over Wartburg.

NWU, Central, and Luther all appear to have virus problems and have not yet played. 

[SpartyBlue]

UD with a wire to wire 86-71 win over Coe to go to 5-0. 

UD attack led by Ragan with 20 and Mayfield with 19, balanced scoring throughout--this is a team that can hurt you at all three levels.  UD is putting up 82.29 ppg, around a top 30 Massey offense in a normal year.  Granted, it's a small sample size, very encouraging signs and a fun scoring team to watch.

Among all this optimism is the hard reality of sports in 2021, this was the only ARC game of four that was actually played last night.  Several programs appear to be in pause mode, UD game with UNW this weekend is postponed, and the calendar isn't stopping for anyone, so I would have real concerns about whether or not this semblance of a season will be completed and a conference tournament played.  Simpson @ BV and Rockford @ Loras are scheduled for tonight, we shall see if they go off.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The Division III basketball season technically started nearly three months ago, but it has taken until the end of January for it to start feeling like the season is really underway. Even so, only about a quarter of the division has played just a single game. Another quarter of the division will never take to the court. And in between is wide gulf of different options.

On the first video-version of Hoopsville this season, Dave McHugh is joined by much of the D3hoops.com crew, Pat Coleman and Ryan Scott, to react to what has been one of the more unique seasons ... to say it lightly.

We react to the challenges schools are facing, what coaches are grappling with on a daily basis - especially beyond games and practices, and why schools are making so many different decisions.

We also discuss what is likely the future of this season's NCAA Championship Tournaments and, more importantly, when the decision on those tournaments will be made.

Plus, will there be a Top 25? No. Well, yes. Kind of. Tune in to learn more on what's coming. Plus a lot more including Dave spinning off Pat's thoughts on those wishing to attend games.

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[doolittledog]

Coe wins at home 84-64 over Simpson
Dubuque with the road win 72-55 over Wartburg

Dubuque looking good so far.  Really hoping the conference can make it to the finish line. 

[SpartyBlue]

Coe wins at home 84-64 over Simpson
Dubuque with the road win 72-55 over Wartburg

Dubuque looking good so far.  Really hoping the conference can make it to the finish line.

Loras also beat up a weak looking Rockford team 97-90.  Tonight Loras travels to BV in a big ARC game that will give us another data point with which to begin to evaluate the conference.  Wednesday night Loras travels up the street to UD for the Key City Clash: Pandemic Edition. Should be a great game, fingers crossed it goes off. NWU is also on the schedule that night, traveling to BV in what would be a very difficult first game. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

DIII Championships are official canceled: https://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2021/02/committee-decides-championships-fate

[doolittledog]

Wednesday night I believe was our first full night of games.

Coe 84-82 Wartburg
Simpson 80-61 Central
BVU 76-64 NWU
Dubuque 99-91 Loras

Dubuque 3-0
BVU........3-1
Coe........2-1
Loras.......1-1
Simpson.1-2
Luther....0-0
Central...0-1
NWU......0-1
Wartburg 0-3

[SpartyBlue]

UD 99 Loras 91

Huge win for the Spartans, offensive firepower overwhelms preseason ARC favorite, rival, and quality team Loras.  Mayfield, Ragan, and Kilburg all go for 20+.  Spartans are a potent and balanced offensive squad. They belong in the national conversation.

BV 76 NWU 64 

The box score for this one apparently disappeared into the Oak Island swamp, but it looks like BV had an easy time here, leading by as much as 22 in the second half.  It isn't fair to evaluate such a great program on the merits of their first game of the season on the road in a tough gym, although the Prairie Wolves Death Star doesn't appear to be the same threat with that national champion group graduated (no huge surprise).

Simpson 80 Central 61

Storm pick up their first win of the year against a Dutch team playing their first game. Again hard to evaluate off of one game, Central does have Mauck and Flinn, who combined 6-22 from the field last night.

Coe 84 Wartburg 82 OT

Wartburg's woes continue, very tough to lose at home in overtime.  Both of these teams have some talent and are solid, can they break into the top tier for the tournament?  Coe will have Loras, NWU, and BV down the stretch.

[Gregory Sager]

UD 99 Loras 91

Huge win for the Spartans, offensive firepower overwhelms preseason ARC favorite, rival, and quality team Loras.  Mayfield, Ragan, and Kilburg all go for 20+.  Spartans are a potent and balanced offensive squad. They belong in the national conversation.

I'm not sure how much of a "national conversation" there's going to be this season, now that the D3 tourney has been deep-sixed for the second year in a row.

[SpartyBlue]

UD 99 Loras 91

Huge win for the Spartans, offensive firepower overwhelms preseason ARC favorite, rival, and quality team Loras.  Mayfield, Ragan, and Kilburg all go for 20+.  Spartans are a potent and balanced offensive squad. They belong in the national conversation.

I'm not sure how much of a "national conversation" there's going to be this season, now that the D3 tourney has been deep-sixed for the second year in a row.

It's a bummer to be sure. Had a good chance to be the ARC rep at the big dance.

[doolittledog]

The schedule for today...has anyone heard if they are all supposed to be played?

NWU @ Loras  11am
BVU @ Luther  2pm
Coe @ Central  2pm
Simpson @ Dubuque 2pm

Who has some analysis for me?!

[SpartyBlue]

The schedule for today...has anyone heard if they are all supposed to be played?

NWU @ Loras  11am
BVU @ Luther  2pm
Coe @ Central  2pm
Simpson @ Dubuque 2pm

Who has some analysis for me?!

It looks like everything is a go.  Loras was handling NWU at the half--NWU running the same stuff they have the last few years, but there is no replacing Schimonitz and Co.  This is good for more parity in the ARC going forward.

BV should beat Luther, Luther's first game, though, so who knows.  Coe and UD are big favorites.

[doolittledog]

New question.  How does a 9 team tournament work compared to the 6 team tourney?

[SpartyBlue]

Loras 105 NWU 97 OT

Entertaining ending in Dubuque.    NWU goes on a 21-0 run in the last 4:30 of regulation to force overtime before Duhawks wake up and hit 3 three pointers in the extra frame to close it out.  Fun stat of the day: teams combine on 90 three point attempts (36-90).