MBB: American Rivers Conference

[True Basketball Fan]

Didn't Simpson win only 8 games last year? And is Dubuque ready to move into a strange new territory.....the top half of the league?  Those are high expectations.

[welseyanbulldog]

Luther will win the IIAC this year!!!!

You will see by their roster when it is posted!!!

[True Basketball Fan]

You mean Luther will win A GAME in the IIAC this season, I can believe that at least.

[The Show]

It's tough to pick against the team that's represented the IIAC in the post season the past 6 years or so...

[True Basketball Fan]

Exactly, even when BV or Wartburg lose key players, there always seems to be a player or two who emerges to be just as good or better.  That certainly defines great programs, which they definitely are.

[keith45]

If UD gets some size, they'll be top 4 in the league...all they need is 3 big men to give them a combined 15pts 10 reb a game, and they are there..they have scorers, they have defenders, they have the IIAC's most dominating offensive threat (who also plays decent defense), and they have the added bonus of being able to sneak up on people..I actually think Nick Thomas will average less points this year, and UD is top 4 in the conference, plus pulls a shocker in teh conference tournament

[True Basketball Fan]

Dubuque definitely has the ability of stealth.  I don't need to elaborate on their success as of late.  Maybe it won't be such a shocker after all of this talk, if they knock somebody out of the tourney.  I'm sure we'll get a clearer picture by Christmas.

[sportsknight]

From what I hear, UD picked up a couple juco big men that the Spartans are hoping can be that 15-10 combination that Keith was talking about.  I think McDermott is very close to getting that program turned all the way around at this point.  I think his biggest battle will be convincing his guys they can win against the Wartburgs, BVs, Coes and Loras' of the world.

As far as Simpson goes, everyone had them picked to be #2 or 3 in the league in the pre-season last year.  They have a ton of talent, but for whatever reason, couldn't put it together game in and game out.  They gave Wartburg one hell of a game in the first round of the IIAC tourney, and I think they'll be back to the top half this year.  If they get some breaks, and things go against BV more often than they go for the Beavers, Simpson could end up looking down at BV in the standings.

Two dates for Wartburg fans to write down:
November 9 (50 days away):  Wartburg at Iowa in an exhibition game
December 20/22 (90 days away):  Wartburg plays in adidas D3 Desert Shootout in Las Vegas

[pdmcgee]

I think that the Player of the year poll is a crock of crap because there are players that are on it that didn't even make all- conference teams last year.  Furthermore, Jason Steege is not on that list either.  How can you leave Steege off of the list when he has been a first team all- conference selection each of the past two seasons?  Totally ridiculous if you ask me.  Schmidt and Steege are the only ones who should be considered with Wiebers, Bissen, Cameron, Ludovissy, and all those other guys out of the mix. 

It's gonna be all Wartburg all the time this year.....

[keith45]

pdmcgee,
That's why it says.."Player from Wartburg", etc..and if everything from last year shakes out, it will be Schmidt or Thomas, no question..the edge goes to Schmidt because of his team..I think Thomas is the most valuable to his team, and the most unstoppable scoring threat, but traditionally the award has gone to a member of the 1st place team

[True Basketball Fan]

Who are the big transfers for Dubuque, and where did they come from?

[The Show]

I don't know if I'd write down that November 9th game...  Unless Iowa pulls its starters early, it will be about a 30-40 point game if you're lucky.  Good for publicity though... 

[True Basketball Fan]

Wartburg might fare better than you think.  I agree Iowa will definitely win, but I think it will be closer, more like 20-25 points.

[pdmcgee]

You know as good as wartburg is going to be this year I think that they will be able to surprise a lot of people when they play Iowa.  They are going to be able to do some good things against Iowa and it will give them a great experience and some great confidence heading into their season opening home tourney, the Buzz Levick Classic.  It is a chance for them to play against high quality players and in a fun atmosphere.  It will be a good experince for both sides.  Iowa will get a tune up out of it and wartburg will have a game under their belt as I said before, prior to starting their quest for a second consecutive IIAC regular season championship.

[pdmcgee]

Crowdpleaser??? Just giving a shout out to my boy..... Get up to waverly sometime after the season.

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