MBB: American Rivers Conference

[doolittledog]

Don't know how UD did from the line in non-conf but they were 12-24 from the line @ Wartburg last Saturday.

[/quote]

I think we found UD's Achilles heal...free throws.

14-21
8-12
13-18
16-27 Loss 61-51 @ UW-Sout
12-18
14-27
14-21
5-11
24-34
14-21
12-24 Loss 69-58 @ Wartburg
14-27

Of course, the flip side of that is if Dubuque can be 11-2 while shooting that poorly from the line, then they could be REALLY good if they can improve their FT shooting.  They play good defense, rebound well, shoot decent from the field.  It looked mental from the line while I watched the Coe game.  Some FT shots barely hit the rim. 

[Klompen]

Sorry I have been absent for awhile, but the Christmas curse on Central men's bb continues.  We started the season off great, I had to admit they were exceeding my expectations.  They played great together, everyone looked like they were having fun and the team put team ahead of individual accomplishments.  Then things started turning down a bit and with just the slightest downturn, everything started to turn.  We pulled out some wins against so-so teams, but not as big as early season would have lead me to believe we could have.  And the individuals started playing for themselves.  I don't know that they were putting themselves first, maybe they all just wanted to be the one to bring the team up, but it no longer looked like a team effort.  Then with a few more wins under their belt, they took Christmas break off and they haven't won since.  Every year the same thing.  Not sure if that is because the early competition was that bad or what, but the Dutch really struggle to get it together for the second half of the season.  I listened to the Coe game and thought I heard that while we were taking time off, they played 4 games.  No surprise who was ready to play. 

Somehow we lead by 8 at the half against Coe, then only score 15 points the entire second half.  We spot WB a 26 point lead, then decide to finally start playing.  Tonight we lead nearly the whole first half, but couldn't hit the few free throw attempts we got and couldn't get any kind of consistency going.  Luther does have very good post players, and we played with the Norse better than I thought we might have.  If we would bring that kind of effort to all the games, we probably would not be 0-3 in the conference. 

Ugh, so frustrating.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Sorry I have been absent for awhile, but the Christmas curse on Central men's bb continues.  We started the season off great, I had to admit they were exceeding my expectations.  They played great together, everyone looked like they were having fun and the team put team ahead of individual accomplishments.  Then things started turning down a bit and with just the slightest downturn, everything started to turn.  We pulled out some wins against so-so teams, but not as big as early season would have lead me to believe we could have.  And the individuals started playing for themselves.  I don't know that they were putting themselves first, maybe they all just wanted to be the one to bring the team up, but it no longer looked like a team effort.  Then with a few more wins under their belt, they took Christmas break off and they haven't won since.  Every year the same thing.  Not sure if that is because the early competition was that bad or what, but the Dutch really struggle to get it together for the second half of the season.  I listened to the Coe game and thought I heard that while we were taking time off, they played 4 games.  No surprise who was ready to play. 

Somehow we lead by 8 at the half against Coe, then only score 15 points the entire second half.  We spot WB a 26 point lead, then decide to finally start playing.  Tonight we lead nearly the whole first half, but couldn't hit the few free throw attempts we got and couldn't get any kind of consistency going.  Luther does have very good post players, and we played with the Norse better than I thought we might have.  If we would bring that kind of effort to all the games, we probably would not be 0-3 in the conference. 

Ugh, so frustrating.

I only got to watch the 2nd half on the computer, but it looks to me like Central still has some guys that can shoot the ball (like St. Olaf). 

It did look like the Norse had a big advantage inside, but I thought that last year as well even when I saw the Dutch beat the Norse in double overtime.  Since Luther missed a regular season co-championship by one game, the Central and Coe games are still pretty fresh in my memory.

Tyler Wedemeier has been fun to watch all season, but the Dutch got to see Zach Matos at his best.  He had 28 points after not scoring against Simpson.  He is averaging 11 a game on the season.

[Norsanity]

Great to see Norse at 3-0, but 3 wins (loras Simpson central) combined 0-9.
A lot of years wins against loras and central are good wins but might be this year.
We will know a lot more in a week.

[Phred]

BV vs Norse seems to be the big game tonight.  My coin is on the Beavers but Luther's defense may come through.  Toss up !!

[Klompen]

Can't make it over to the gym tonight, flu bug.  So i'm trying to get the video and it tells me I am watching the game, but the screen is blank.  I had that trying to watch the Coe game too, what do I need to do?  I can't seem to find anything about it on the web.  Stretch site says if I can watch you tube, I can watch stretch internet and you tube still works fine.  Ideas?

[5 Words or Less]

Can't make it over to the gym tonight, flu bug.  So i'm trying to get the video and it tells me I am watching the game, but the screen is blank.  I had that trying to watch the Coe game too, what do I need to do?  I can't seem to find anything about it on the web.  Stretch site says if I can watch you tube, I can watch stretch internet and you tube still works fine.  Ideas?

email SID - remove lense cover 

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Great to see Norse at 3-0, but 3 wins (loras Simpson central) combined 0-9.
A lot of years wins against loras and central are good wins but might be this year.
We will know a lot more in a week.

I thought the same thing as I watched parts of all three games, but Central did beat Dubuque last night to move into the win column.

It is still so early in the season though, and so many of the conference games have been close scores.  I am happy the Norse are 4-0 as they do not have a big margin for error with the inconsistent offense.

A 10-6 or 11-5 record this year could be enough to tie for the league title.  I haven't seen Wartburg or Coe yet though.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Can't make it over to the gym tonight, flu bug.  So i'm trying to get the video and it tells me I am watching the game, but the screen is blank.  I had that trying to watch the Coe game too, what do I need to do?  I can't seem to find anything about it on the web.  Stretch site says if I can watch you tube, I can watch stretch internet and you tube still works fine.  Ideas?

email SID - remove lense cover 

Overall through the years I have been happy seeing Norse home games on the computer, especially compared to telecasts (or lack of them) by other schools.  I also have thought that the audio and video were done better than some others (especially during baseball season), but the video work has not been quite as solid during basketball season so far.  The team winning the games makes everything better though.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

BV vs Norse seems to be the big game tonight.  My coin is on the Beavers but Luther's defense may come through.  Toss up !!

It was even as both teams struggled on offense overall yet the post players for both teams came up big down the stretch.  I only saw the game from the end of the 1st half to the conclusion, and Tyler Wedemeier looked great for most of that.

Wes Nordquist looked very good as well for the Beavers.  They should have a very good season!

Luther plays good defense and has a good inside game on offense, but I would feel better about them if they had guys they could count on to score from the outside.  Crocker and others have provided that on some nights, but often it is outside scoring by committee.

Big win for the Norse though as they have lots of road games in a short amount of time.

[doolittledog]

UD wins in OT at home over Luther 76-73.

I figured out tonight that for UD to win I have to stay away from the computer.  Each time I would tune in the Norse would go on a run, so I walked away from the computer.  If only I had done that last weekend for the UD/Central game. 

Luther gets their shot at revenge on Saturday with a rematch against the Spartans. 

This is making for an interesting year as 0-5 Loras beat 5-0 Wartburg last night.  Who knows what the rest of the season has waiting for us. 

[Floyd in Iowa City]

UD wins in OT at home over Luther 76-73.

I figured out tonight that for UD to win I have to stay away from the computer.  Each time I would tune in the Norse would go on a run, so I walked away from the computer.  If only I had done that last weekend for the UD/Central game. 

Luther gets their shot at revenge on Saturday with a rematch against the Spartans. 

This is making for an interesting year as 0-5 Loras beat 5-0 Wartburg last night.  Who knows what the rest of the season has waiting for us.

Maybe Luther lost because I did not watch any of it last night?  I am very sorry if that was the case.  Sounds like the Spartans made some big plays to force OT.

The reality for the Norse is that they are 5-1 in the league but that most of the games have been close (2 in OT).  They have been leading in most of the games (at times by double digits like last night), but every road game they have played has been pretty tight in the closing minutes.

Some team might go on a big run here pretty quick, but it feels like 10-4 (Not 11-5 ) will put you in the hunt for the title.

This stretch of games seemed tough in that the Norse were playing 3 road games and the B.V. home game in such a short period of time.  Even if Luther beats Wartburg on Wednesday, they still have Dubuque on Saturday and then two road games right after that.

If you like close games then this is the league for you!

[Norsanity]

I'll take 5-1. Nice win by mr doolittledog. You guys always find a way to win those close games

Remember only 14 game conference this yr

I think will have to be 10-4 to win it

After we beat wartburg Saturday will have to go 4-3 the rest of way to get there.

[Alfredeneumann]

I will bet you Luther does NOT beat Wartburg Saturday. They play TOMORROW !

I thought Wart would go 1-1 in the Sat @BV - Monday @Loras games

Congrats to Mitchell Murphy for setting the Wartburg School record for career assists @ BV.
Go Knights!

I'll take 5-1. Nice win by mr doolittledog. You guys always find a way to win those close games

Remember only 14 game conference this yr

I think will have to be 10-4 to win it

After we beat wartburg Saturday will have to go 4-3 the rest of way to get there.

[doolittledog]

We have Dish Network so no Channel 9.2 for us means watching the Loras feed on the computer.  Apparently, if the Loras defender doesn't draw blood against a UD player, it's considered a "touch foul" by the Loras pbp announcer. 

Good game though.  19-19 with 7:00 left in the 1st half. 

Dubuque leads 30-28 at the half.  Loras hit a 3 pointer at the buzzer.  All 9 Spartans that have got into the game in the 1st half have scored. 

After listening to this Loras announcer, I appreciate the job Tim Lary has done broadcasting UD games the last few years.  This takes homerism to a whole knew level. 

UD pulls away late for a 78-66 win over cross town rival Loras   

Luther beat Wartburg 75-61

BVU beat Coe 70-64

Simpson beat Central 75-70