MBB: American Rivers Conference

[lorbec47]

pdmcgee--
You're setting yourself up for a fall! Wartburg beats UD by 1 at home last season...in McDermott's first season the Knights rally from being down what was it 16? at half. Steege goes insane at Loras last season and upends the Duhawks. 2 years ago Loras beats Wartburg twice. I wouldn't be overlooking the Dubuque schools if I were Wartburg.

[pdmcgee]

Keith

yeah and Wartburg beat UD at UD by 15 and beat Loras at home last year. Doesnt matter how you win, a win is a win and Wartburg had 23 of them last year.  How many did UD have?? Yup that's what I thought.  I don't think there is much room to talk and even if Thomas does average 17 against the knights like you say he does, it must be a quiet 17.  Seventeen points after 30 shots a game or whatever it is isn't that impressive.  Bottom line is Wartburg will not lose 2 or 3 games.  How can that possibly be when last year they lost one conference game and this year they are way more talented.  It doesn't add up.  Think about it......

[sportsknight]

Do Loras and UD always play Wartburg tough?  Yes, but when was the last time UD beat Wartburg?  Exactly.  As for all the rest of these last couple posts, the past two years are just that...past.  All that matters is this season and mark my words that Wartburg will find a way to improve on that 23-5 record they had last year.

As for the Knights going unbeaten in the IIAC, it is very possible.  You guys (pdmcgee not included) act like Wartburg lost 4 or 5 games in the conference last year.  They only lost one, and that team graduated their starting five.  And if you want to bring up the point spreads from last year or the year before I'd probably agree with you that a lot of teams play Wartburg close (UD by 1, Simpson in OT, etc), but playing somebody close and winning are two totally different things.

19 Days until the 5th Annual SportsKnight Men's Basketball Tour gets started at Carver Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City...

[keith45]

My point is, I don't think Wartburg will go undefeated in the IIAC..they won too many close games in the conference ( 6 games won by 6 points or less).....so as good as Wartburg was last year, and will be this year, they were a few shots away from being 10-6....and since the teams that played Wartburg close (Simpson, UD, Loras) last year return their best (all conference) players, I can't say that Wartburg will go undefeated....but besides BV losing a ton, the conference will be as good, if not better, than last year....so I understand the emotional side of the arguement..but the fact is, they didn't blow 15 teams out last year..I am not saying they aren't good, maybe the best in the IIAC next season..but 16-0..nope

[The Show]

How far did those 23 wins get Wartburg in the post season?

No matter how good a team is, they're bound to have an off game every once in awhile, especially in a pretty competitive league like the IIAC.  BV always seemed to drop a road game over at Cornell for a couple years in a row and I think those BV teams were quite a bit better than the current Wartburg squad...

[pdmcgee]

Wartburg was very deserving of being in the post season tournament last year, the committee just doesn't give any love to the Iowa Conference besides BV.  So their 23 wins got them a conference title and their 5th consecutive 20 win season... so to say it didnt get wartburg anywhere is ridiculous.  Plus now that they expanded the tournament field I will GUARANTEE wartburg goes to the tourney this year.  A yup!! 16-0 and tourney bound.  I'm sticking to my guns all year.

[selectsix]

Will Nick Thomas finally recieve the MVP honors he blatantly deserved last year?

[mg-3434]

I think it all depends on who they play in the non conference games for Nick Thomas to get M.V.P

[selectsix]

The schedule could be tougher but we all know he deserved it outright as a sophomore.  No player in the conference needs to be double teamed more than Thomas

[mg-3434]

What up fellas not to many know who I am this is Marlon Griffin who played two years ago for U.D.  I've got the word on U.D's first scrimmage on Tuesday.  Word is the backcourt of Thomas, Scott, and Daugherty couldnt miss at all.  They have a backup point from CHicago who is pretty good.  He will give U.D some solid minutes off the bench.  Langford another shooter off the bench long and skinny will also give thomas a breather.  The two juco post look decent yesterday.  One is 6'6 280 he came into the year at 310 he lost 30 pounds.  The other is a lefty 6'4 210 big solid body can jump,rebound, and score on the block.  This could be the 15 and 10 that U.D. needs
K.P holla at me

[mg-3434]

i agree he should've have gotten it no questions ask

[mg-3434]

whats the word on Loras

[keith45]

MG..What up son?!?!?!? My ankle is still hurting from that beat down we handed out at homecoming, next time we need more drinks!!!  You playing with us vs Rockford, or what? November 6th, get at me..Los said he is in....No word on Loras yet, I know King will be the focal point...Is the PG still there, the short kid?
We are bring up a nice squad to scrimmage UD on November 12th, so we'll see how they look..we'll have Charlie Wills from UW-Madison (6-8 post that went to Final Four with Wisconsin), and another post player who plays overseas (graduated from Carthage in the early 90's)..so we'll see how the post players look..I'm not sure about Thomas getting MVP last year,as he didn't have huge games agains the top teams in the league...I think his stats may be down a few points this year, but that will be because he will have more offensive help..I still think that UD is top 4 this season, in IIAC..Wartburg, Loras, BV, UD

[keith45]

Marlon,
By the way..I got my wedding video the other day...when you and Nick are doing the Soul Train Line at the reception..PRICELESS

[sportsknight]

Wow, Dubuque guys taking over the board...
Anyway, has anyone seen any of the conference teams in action (probably just practice or scrimmages at this point)?  Any surprises out there?  Did I hear correctly that Loras has a couple of bigs that aren't playing this year?

11 Days Until Wartburg vs. Iowa