MBB: American Rivers Conference

[Klompen]

Loras video wasn't working so I didn't get to see any of the game, but I watched live stats through the first half and Central was up by 2 at the half.  What kind of melt down did they have that when I came back to catch some second half stats, 6 minutes into the second half we were down by 17?  What happened!!!  I was right to be worried about this one. 

We are currently down by 10 with 38 seconds left.  I had hoped that maybe the team finally started to gel, but they sure had some kind of breakdown tonight.

[doolittledog]

Former UD player Michael Okpalaeze apparently is playing for a club in Qatar. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVECt-HsWA8

I'm curious as to how much money one could make there.  On the one hand there is a lot of oil money there.  On the other hand, it looks like no one was in attendance at the game they show highlights from. 

How many other former IIAC players are playing basketball overseas?  I thought Central had that big guy playing in Germany a year or two ago. 

[Alfredeneumann]

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. 

The student attendance last nights game  against Luther was the best so far this year and at times really got into the game. The second half defense against BV and Luther the scrappiness was there. More trapping and full court pressing. Hopefully the amount of students @ games continues to grow. There were about 50 LC students with  "Wuck Fartburg" shirts.

Remember the kids that are seniors never got into the habit of going to games as FRESHMEN when the HOME games were @ the West Gym @ UNI.

[Klompen]

Congratulations to the Dutch for getting back on track at Simpson today.  It was not as easy as when they played in Pella, but I have a feeling that is because I wasn't there.    Good luck to the Duhawks, may you please knock off a top team for the second time in 3 days.

[Klompen]

Wish those Cornell guys would quit knocking the plug on the video cast out. 

[doolittledog]

Dubuque wins at home over Coe 60-55.  Dubuque moves to 6-3 in conference play.  Most games have seemed to be close calls for Dubuque this year.  

For some reason no video or audio tonight.  Not sure why.  

Current standings...

Central  7-2  14-4
Dubuque 6-3 13-5
Cornell  6-3  12-6
Loras  6-3  11-7
Buena Vista 6-3  10-8 
Wartburg 5-4  11-7  
Luther  2-6  8-8  
Simpson 1-8  4-14
Coe   1-8  3-15

And upcoming games...

Jan. 25 Luther @ Bethany Lutheran
Jan. 27 Buena Vista @ Central
Jan. 27 Dubuque @ Wartburg
Jan. 27 Luther @ Coe
Jan. 27 Simpson @ Cornell

Loras gets a mid-week break.

Looks like the top 6 could finish about anywhere amongst themselves.  Luther, Simpson, and Coe I am afraid won't be making the conference tourney. 

[IntramuralChamp]

Cornell loses again this time at home wrapping up a tough week for the Rams! What a week for the DuHawks! They got their defense figured out and got two big wins against top two teams in league. BV gets a big win at home, in a game I thought would go the other way. Central pulls one off and with the win takes the lead in the conference. Have no doubt the Dutch will be ready for the Beavers Wednesday night in Pella!


Comment on Wartburg basketball and its fans- Ever since the new arena- it hasn't been the same- Also Wartburg basketball hasn't been the same in regards to winning. Loras has seen somewhat of a change in that also, going to a bigger arena which takes away the crowd and fan atmosphere.

From what I gather BV's students usually always turn out for conference games and make the game fun. Coe has also been great in the past!

[Klompen]

Congratulations to Central on taking over sole possession of first place.  It has been a long time coming and this year's group of seniors get a lot of credit for making it happen.  Now, make sure you are ready for BV at home on Wednesday.  None of the players on this BV team have won in Pella, make sure it stays that way.  You came close to beating them on their own floor this year, I know you can do it on yours.  Let the group battling at second place duke it out, control your destiny!

It was nice to see the Dutch play a good game as a team yesterday, some nice balance with everyone doing their part and no one player having to take it all on themselves.  Well done.

[zander]

what happened to the Freshman  guard from Wisconsin Loras was so high on? They have 2 on the roster. 1 has played 1 game? maybe he's the one and got injured?

[DBQ1965]

UD men's bball is in the rarifield atmosphere ... at least for a few days. 

GO SPARTANS!

[IntramuralChamp]

Now, make sure you are ready for BV at home on Wednesday.  None of the players on this BV team have won in Pella, make sure it stays that way. 

Didn't BV win last year at Central? Prior to that Central has had their number at their place. It will be interesting to see what team shows up. BV is coming off two big wins at home, but also has given Coe their only conference win playing on the road. Central meanwhile lost at Loras last week and pulled one out at Simpson.

Time will tell!

[DBQ1965]

UD men's bball is in the rarifield atmosphere ... at least for a few days. 

GO SPARTANS!

Geez ... I can't even spell rarefied!

[doolittledog]

UD men's bball is in the rarifield atmosphere ... at least for a few days. 

GO SPARTANS!

Geez ... I can't even spell rarefied!

I could go a lot of different directions with this.  Like...

You have a UD education...you aren't expected to spell correctly

or...

When reading from your notes during a sermon, the congregation can't see if your notes are spelled correctly.

And no, I have not checked to see if my post is spelled correctly or if my grammar is proper.   

As for your UD comments.  While I was at UD, the conference title came down to UD or Wartburg every year.  Alas, that has now been quite a few years

[Klompen]

Now, make sure you are ready for BV at home on Wednesday.  None of the players on this BV team have won in Pella, make sure it stays that way. 

Didn't BV win last year at Central? Prior to that Central has had their number at their place. It will be interesting to see what team shows up. BV is coming off two big wins at home, but also has given Coe their only conference win playing on the road. Central meanwhile lost at Loras last week and pulled one out at Simpson.

Time will tell!

Oh shoot, must have had my blinders on as they did indeed beat us at home last year.  Well, time to change that back to the gains we had made.

[DBQ1965]

UD men's bball is in the rarifield atmosphere ... at least for a few days. 

GO SPARTANS!

Geez ... I can't even spell rarefied!

I could go a lot of different directions with this.  Like...

You have a UD education...you aren't expected to spell correctly

or...

When reading from your notes during a sermon, the congregation can't see if your notes are spelled correctly.

And no, I have not checked to see if my post is spelled correctly or if my grammar is proper.   

As for your UD comments.  While I was at UD, the conference title came down to UD or Wartburg every year.  Alas, that has now been quite a few years

When I was a student at UD, we weren't much better in bball than in football.  The bball coach believed in tough defense ... which we had ... which meant we lost many games when the opponents scored about 50 points.

In the late 60s when I was chaplain there,  Jon Davison was coach then and things were much  better.  The IIAC title often (at least as I remember) was a dog-fight between UD, Central, and Wartburg.