MBB: American Rivers Conference

[keith45]

UD Coach resigns, going to a juco in Michigan as AD

http://www.dbq.edu/udathletics/mensbasketball/news1.cfm?ID=654

I like Robbie as a player (played against him at Iowa games when he was at UNI) and from what I've seen of him as a coach..so looks like a seamless transition.

[sportsknight]

Beat me to it, Keith.  Sounds like a good oppurtunity for Marty.  And like you said, shouldn't be a real tough transition to Robbie.

[Alfredeneumann]

Photo and article about Wartburg's new facility
http://communitynewspapergroup.com/articles/2007/10/04/waverly_newspapers/news/news01.txt.

It is going to be the best in the conf.

[Rock Chalk DuHawk]

I dont know about that.  Loras's new athletic facility is going to be pretty sweet too. 

Who will be the top 4 teams this year along with player of the year?

[keith45]

I dont know about that.  Loras's new athletic facility is going to be pretty sweet too. 

Who will be the top 4 teams this year along with player of the year?

I'm a homer, Daugherty for POY

[Rock Chalk DuHawk]

Keith cmon now.....you know POY only goes to the team that wins conference

[keith45]

I know, I know...damn
I have no idea what UD will look like this year..a few athletic bigs (but when I say bigs, 6-5 ish), the kid from Texas is back, the 6-7 kid that broke his hand last year....

[doolittledog]

I know, I know...damn
I have no idea what UD will look like this year..a few athletic bigs (but when I say bigs, 6-5 ish), the kid from Texas is back, the 6-7 kid that broke his hand last year....

Isn't everybody big compared to you?!?!  I kid, I kid.

[coebball70]

Well...it's the best time of the year!  The official start of basketball in the IIAC is now history.  As an old Kohawk, I'm curious does the IIAC have a pre-season coach's poll?  And, if so, has it been released?  It looks like much of the same for 2008 season.....Loras, Coe, BV and the ever-present 'surprise team', Wartburg maybe.  So who's it gonna be in March?  Let's get some chatter on this board.  I'm used to the CCIW discussion board, so this place is pretty reserved.  Maybe that's it, Iowa is pretty reserved.  Except the Hawks finally did the Illini in football...a real loss due to coach's decisions!

[primetime]

Nice to see someone bring up the Iowa Conference. I think this year will be a very balanced conference from what teams have coming back and what teams lost. Loras will be the favorite but just by a little bit. They return everyone and picked up some nice freshman and transfers. Buena Vista is very close behind. Great tradition up there in Storm Lake. Have basically everyone back and the most size in the league. I think Wartburg, Coe, and Central will all be in the mix for 3rd-5th with one of these teams possibly being higher or winning it all. Coe has maybe the best and most versatile bigman in Kuenstling but he will have to do it without Kilburg, but he has solid guards around him to help out. Wartburg brings back basically everyone from a disappointing season. Have lots of lanky athletic players and a new gym. Central loses their bigman in Driftmier but everyone is back. Will have one of the best backcourts and should be more athletic. Cornell is a team that I think can get in there as well with their guard play which will in the tops of the league and the post play will have a year of experience. Simpson, Luther, and Dubuque will be teams that will be completely new looking. Simpson may lose the most out of the league with basically all of their scoring leaving but will have some talented young guys. Luther is the same losing some key players but have Brantner to build around with some better than average guards. Dubuque loses Thomas and now their coach but have Daugherty back who may be the best guard in the league. Usually have athletes but can they play together and they will need to find another scorer or two. Here are my predictions but it could easily change.
Prediction
1. Loras
2. Buena Vista
3. Wartburg
4. Central
5. Coe
6. Cornell
7. Simpson
8. Luther
9. Dubuque
All-Conference
Daugherty- Dubuque
Kuenstling- Coe
Clark- Central
Fogleman- Buena Vista
LaDew- Cornell
Nelson- Wartburg
White- Loras
Brantner- Luther

[sportsknight]

IIAC Preview, with the coaches' poll, is usually released the week of the beginning of games.  You'll probably see it in a month or so.

As far as the conference this year, I think it'll come down to a three team race between Loras, BV, and Wartburg.  Loras should be the odds-on fave because of what they bring back and how good they were a year ago.  I really don't think there'll be much of a drop off with them, even with the coaching change.  As long as BVH is coaching BV, they'll be right in the mix.  I don't know that they'll ever have a team as good as the squads that came through in the 2003-2005 era, but they can always put together a squad that will compete in this league.  Far as Wartburg goes, I hear a big part of the stumbles last year could be attributed to youth and injuries.  If they can avoid those two things this year, I'd look for the Knights to be right back where they belong.

[Rock Chalk DuHawk]

Loras is the best team in the league no matter what.......they lost one player from last years team (15-1).  BV will contend and Wartburg will compete.   

1. Loras
2. BV
3. Wartburg
4. Coe
5. Cornell
6. Central
7. Simpson
8. UD

UD has found a way to make it back to the bottom of the league.  Too bad because they have one of the most talented guards in the conference.

POY: Slater
1. White - Loras
2. Nelson - Wartburg
3. Fogelman - BV
4. Kuenstling - Coe
5. Daugherty - UD
6. Kolze - Loras

Look out for the mighty Duhawks this year as they have a brand new faclitlity that looks like a mini Carver Arena. 

Loras has the depth out of any team this year and this is going to play a major role for their success. 

Any word on Wartburg's gymnasium....I hear it is beautfiful...pics anyone?

[doolittledog]

Any pics of Loras' new place???  I didn't notice any as of yet. 

And you left Luther out of your rankings RCD!!!

[keith45]

I know, I know...damn
I have no idea what UD will look like this year..a few athletic bigs (but when I say bigs, 6-5 ish), the kid from Texas is back, the 6-7 kid that broke his hand last year....

Isn't everybody big compared to you?!?!  I kid, I kid.

Dont forget my senior year I was 6-3, 190!! and listed in the program as 6-6, 200! My sophomore year against Adam Doll, he actually told me, at the free throw line, that Simpson really thought I was 6-6 and figured I wasnt playing that game, since there was no 6-6 guy in warm ups!!!

[keith45]

UD last??? come on..where is the love?