MBB: American Rivers Conference

[IIAC Observer]

Sounds like some great games.  The way BV has finished the year is a true testament to VH.  I told some people that I wouldn't rule them out when the tourney started.  I'm going out a limb, and saying another year w/ the Beavers in the tourney.  They will win a close one Saturday and earn another trip. 

This raises a very valid question:  Is the conference as a whole any better than it has ever been? or is it a sign that all teams are weaker that an inexperienced BV team can possibly win the title? 

I know past BV teams have competed nationally much better and were 'better' teams....by far..  But at the end of the year they could still be the conference representative.....  good sign for the conference or not??

[The Show]

I'm not going to say they'll win the regular season conference, but they're going to send quite a few teams home in the conference tournament. Give the young squad a season of playing together on the court, plus seeing each team twice...throw in VH's coaching and these guys will make some noise.

Dare I say genius?

[Lance Harbor]

OK, I just went through the big list and I found this:

--2 teams have already qualified for the tournament
--100 teams have a regional win % of .667 or above
--An additional 44 teams belong to Pool A/C conferences and are still alive in their conference tournaments (as of this writing)

So, that's a grand total of 146 teams that still have a reasonable shot at the big dance.  That number is going to get whittled down to 59.

I'm not totally pessimistic about Wartburg's chances.  Keep in mind, I think they had the same number of regional losses last year.  However, this time around, Wartburg didn't make it to the conference finals, and they also struggle down the stretch.  It's going be interesting.

[Charlie Kohawk]

Lance, what color is the sky in your world? Orange? Reality check time -- Wartburg is not going to the dance.

Sportsknight, why did you cancel the bus? Knight fans obviously know quality basketball. I think they would have enjoyed tomorrow night's demonstration in Cedar Rapids. BV and Coe will put on a great show.

[balla_1982]

There is no way Wartburg gets into the tournament this year.  They had a better chance last year when there were fewer teams in the tournament.  As for BV, the one thing they do, and do extremely well, is play defense and rebound.  If you do those two things you're going to be in every single game.  The slow start is attributed to the younger guys getting used to VH's style on defense and buying into the defense first mentality.  It takes some time getting used to, but once you get it down you are going to win games.  So as far as the question about the conference being weaker or what not, it comes down to the fact that BV just plays better all around basketball.  I think most would agree BV doesn't have the most talent in the league this year, but they play the best basketball when it comes down to fundamentals and defensive execution.

So as for tonight...I'm picking BV.  VH will pack it in and not let Kilburg and Kuentsling beat him inside.  Coe has shown twice this year against the Beavers that they will throw up a million threes if you do so, and when it comes to conference tourny time, nerves kick in, especially with a young team like Coe, which makes it harder for shots to go down, therefore it will come down to the team that plays the best defense and I've got to believe that will be BV.

[coocooforcoekohawk]

Coe has shown twice this year against the Beavers that they will throw up a million threes if you do so, and when it comes to conference tourny time, nerves kick in, especially with a young team like Coe, which makes it harder for shots to go down,

I think Axdahl's two threes in the last twenty seconds of regulation against Simpson, the latter from 27 feet, and the fact that he and Deshaw are seniors dispels that myth. 


Go Kohawks!!!!! 

[sportsknight]

Can somebody post score updates?  Coe's website is having troubles loading.

[Charlie Kohawk]

69-66 BV. Congratulations Beavers. I knew you'd pose problems in the playoffs. Congratulations also and especially to the Kohawks. You're hurting right now, but you can hold your heads high for all you accomplished this year. You've established Coe as an IIAC contender. I'd also like to throw a special shout out to the Coe students who demonstrated outstanding school spirit while still showing a lot of class. You've made Eby Fieldhouse a very difficult place for opponents to play. Let's do it again next year.

[coocooforcoekohawk]

Congratulations B.V.  and regardless of the outcome it was an exciting well played game.  The officiating was great.  Not once did I feel the refs impacted the game with the calls they made.  As for the Kohawks, you should be proud.  A twenty win season is a magnificent accomplishment especially in the first season of a head coach.  Be proud Kohawks, but use this loss to get motivated.  There is alot of work to get done between now and next October.  Believe you are a contender and that next year can be even better.  Most of all, thanks, to coach Juckem, the players, the fans, and Mr. Chandler for making my visits back to Coe so exciting and enjoyable.

still,

COOCOOFORCOEKOHAWKS!!!!!

[balla_1982]

I think me and Show should be D3 basketball analysts because we pretty much haven't been wrong all year.  Coe shoots 6 of 20 from beyond the arc, so as much as I hate to say it, I was right.  Huge win for the Beavers, they really turned their season around going 11-2 after a 4-11 start.  Tough defense and good rebounding have been the key to success all season and once again the Beavers use it to win a huge game.  It will be interesting to see who the Beavers  draw in the first round, I'm guessing it will be one of the better teams in the nation considering the Beavers record.  I wouldn't be surprised if we see a rematch of the national tournament game of a few years back when Lawrence and BV met up in Siebens field house.  Certainly going to be a tough game regardless of who it is, but VH will have the team ready to go.

[ExCoehawk]

My question is for CooCoo.  What things have you seen that Coach Juckem did this year that Brase wasn't?  I know you have to tip your hat to the man for coming in his 1st year and getting 20 wins under his belt but also keep in mind it was w/ Brase's recruits.  I do think he has to be one of the main guys in the running for coach of the year.  But as always the very classy VH, and a heck of a coach from my run ins w/ him, should be in the driver's seat for the honor. 

[Lance Harbor]

First off, congrats to the Beavers for an awesome finish to the season.  I think anyone with a sense of IIAC history was definitely not overlooking BV as they entered the conference tourney.  That BV did so well in the tournament should come as a surprise to no one.  Again, props to VH and the boys.

Second, I know this is going to ruffle some feathers, but I have Wartburg placed 59th out of 59 on my list of teams to get into the tourney.  It's a long shot, but not as much as you might think. 

[coocooforcoekohawk]

My question is for CooCoo.  What things have you seen that Coach Juckem did this year that Brase wasn't? 

Brase chose to leave Coe.  He wasn't fired, but I would take a chance to coach my alma mater also.  So, I was just thanking coach Juckem for coming in and coaching the Kohawks as best he could, which wasn't too bad.  Especially under all the distractions and stress his family was tackling all season.  As far as differences, I think that question is best left for Charlie Kohawk.  

[sportsknight]

Neither Wartburg or Coe on the D3hoops staff projections.  I don't think either team has a real great chance of getting in, but I'd say Wartburg probably has the better shot considering their regional and national rankings over the course of the season.

[primetime]

I don't think Wartburg or Coe will make it. Coe needed to win the tourney and I think Wartburg had to atleast get to the finals. Congrats to BV! They got hot at the right time and hopefully they continue their play and make the IIAC look good. Very competitive year this year and I think it will be even more competitive next year with everyone having lots coming back. Howevere now that conference play is all done who do you think will be on the all-conference teams? I know I posted before but that might have been a tad early so I am posting again to get some discussion. Here are my predictions:
MVP- Steege- Wartburg
1st Team
Thomas- Dubuque
Hittenmiller- Simpson
Driftmier- Central
Kilburg- Coe
Kuenstling- Coe
Schmidt- Wartburg
2nd Team
White- Loras
Soppe- Simpson
Rump- Luther
Daugherty- Dubuque
Lappe- Luther
Fogleman- Buena Vista
Others that could contend....
Wittry- Buena Vista
Axdahl- Coe
Clark- Central
LaDew- Cornell
King- Loras
Slater- Loras
Parkinson- Simpson
Cartmill- Wartburg