MBB: American Rivers Conference

[Klompen]

The Dutch have planted themselves firmly in the driver's seat.  I am rooting for my Ram's to run them off the road.   

Between the men and the women, Central has the conference top and bottom covered.  It is good to see at least one of the teams making progress.  I think the women have some potential for improvement, they just haven't shown it yet.   

[Klompen]

The Norse played a scrappy game against the Dutch and hung around much longer than was comfortable.  Sadly, the Luther bus apparently broke down on the way to Central and the games got started late.  I went in time to see only the men's game and had to sit through the torture of the second half of the women's game.  They may have been playing other teams well, but they looked like a last place team against Luther.  It was just not their night and sloppy passing killed them.

[doolittledog]

Dubuque letting the Cornell game slip away from them at Dubuque a few weeks ago might come back to haunt them.  The Spartans have talent to stick with the top teams in the conference, you just don't know how things will go from night to night. 

[Klompen]

Dubuque letting the Cornell game slip away from them at Dubuque a few weeks ago might come back to haunt them.  The Spartans have talent to stick with the top teams in the conference, you just don't know how things will go from night to night. 

Central nearly gave the Cornell game away when playing there, turning over the ball 3 times and missing something like 4 free throws after building an 11 point lead with only 2 minutes to play.  I keep trying to decide if Cornell is that good or if they have just gotten lucky a lot.  I guess I have to go with them being good, otherwise I would have to admit that the Central football team of 3 years ago was just lucky.   

Congratulations to Loren Liming for a well deserved conference player of the week.  He has really been a force this year under the basket for Central and while Ley gets lots of points and recognition, Liming is the more consistent shooter.  Then again, he does a better job of actually looking where he is shooting.   

[doolittledog]

Dubuque Telegraph-Herald with a short write up of the Loras victory @ Coe and the Dubuque victory over BVU.

http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=270275

[Purple Heys]

I keep trying to decide if Cornell is that good or if they have just gotten lucky a lot.

They're pretty good...the experience of last year pays off in making breaks when they've needed them.  I can see that they believe they'll find a way to get it done.  They have a certain self-confidence that you get from building on success.  I think you'll recognize this trait when you watch Dutch football.

I honestly believe that the Rams are better than I thought they would be when I heard they lost Riley Larson at the beginning of the year.  With him and his size to go along with Handke, they would be very formidable and I think a legit top 20-25 team.   As it stands, they managed to get some votes.  Beating Loras @ Loras and handling a tough Wartburg team is a good pair of wins.  The Rams play several more tough roadies @ BV, @ Central, @ Wartburg, and @ Luther.

Rams haven't won @ BV in a long while.  A win there would show this team has the stuff to win the IIAC.

[doolittledog]

At this time last year you had a lot of posters on here laughing at the idea of Cornell being a title contender in this conference.  You don't seem to hear any of that now. 

[Klompen]

I keep trying to decide if Cornell is that good or if they have just gotten lucky a lot.

They're pretty good...the experience of last year pays off in making breaks when they've needed them.  I can see that they believe they'll find a way to get it done.  They have a certain self-confidence that you get from building on success.  I think you'll recognize this trait when you watch Dutch football.

I honestly believe that the Rams are better than I thought they would be when I heard they lost Riley Larson at the beginning of the year.  With him and his size to go along with Handke, they would be very formidable and I think a legit top 20-25 team.   As it stands, they managed to get some votes.  Beating Loras @ Loras and handling a tough Wartburg team is a good pair of wins.  The Rams play several more tough roadies @ BV, @ Central, @ Wartburg, and @ Luther.

Rams haven't won @ BV in a long while.  A win there would show this team has the stuff to win the IIAC.

I know all about that confidence level in finding a way to win, it was still worries me about the Dutch men's team.  I really believe they have the players and ability to beat any team in the conference this year.  I'm not sure they have the confidence to do it.  It has been improving as their record improves, but I think that and BV's belief in themselves that had them losing a lead and the game at BV.  I want this team to instill that belief in the rest of the team this year because so many great players graduate this year.  The ones that come back will have to be able to play with confidence to help offset the graduation losses. 

I would like to have seen Central play some tougher non-conference games to get them ready for the IIAC, but this group of guys has helped turn things around for the Dutch and I give them big props for doing so.  They are in charge of their own destiny, a conference championship is within the realm of possibility if they start believing in themselves as apparently Cornell's team does. 

[Klompen]

Central's games with Loras tonight are postponed to tomorrow night.

[Klompen]

Congratulations to Central on getting one vote in this week's top 25 poll.  Only 624 more and we'll be tied with the leaders.   

[warthog]

I'm disappointed in Wartburg basketball.  I can't put my finger on the problem, but things have changed since the move to the "palace".  Maybe the players and coaches have become soft now that they have a nice place to call home.  In old Knights Gymnasium the Wartburg teams would play with an attitude we no longer see in Waverly.  If things don't shape up I'll suggest we rent the horse auction barn and play the games there.

[doolittledog]

I'm disappointed in Wartburg basketball.  I can't put my finger on the problem, but things have changed since the move to the "palace".  Maybe the players and coaches have become soft now that they have a nice place to call home.  In old Knights Gymnasium the Wartburg teams would play with an attitude we no longer see in Waverly.  If things don't shape up I'll suggest we rent the horse auction barn and play the games there.

Buzz definately had his players play with an attitude back in the day.  Lot's of elbows and hip checks...and even tripping if the refs weren't looking

I'm not sure refs let you play like that anymore.  Then again, in those days of playing in the old barn, with sold out crowds on friday and saturday nights, I suspect you could intimidate refs just as much as the visiting team.  Something that doesn't happen in the "palace" these days.  It's just too nice. 

[Klompen]

I'm disappointed in Wartburg basketball.  I can't put my finger on the problem, but things have changed since the move to the "palace".  Maybe the players and coaches have become soft now that they have a nice place to call home.  In old Knights Gymnasium the Wartburg teams would play with an attitude we no longer see in Waverly.  If things don't shape up I'll suggest we rent the horse auction barn and play the games there.

I would like to suggest that you move to indoor palace football.  

When they moved to the palace, did they bring along the plaque with the quote from Vern Den Herder with it? 

[doolittledog]

Dubuque up 18 early at Simpson.  Then hangs on for a 4 point road victory.  83-79. 

The Spartans move to 5-3 in conference play. 

[Klompen]

BV manages to hang on against Cornell and win by 3.  Good thing because the Dutch are going down in flames.  That one vote in the rankings must have been as much of a hex as being ranked first.