MBB: American Rivers Conference

Floyd in Iowa City · January 23, 2013, 11:53:38 PM

Congrats to the Spartans on the win. I don't know if I feel that much better that they won again after beating the Norse on Monday, but it looks better for the Norse. It should be another good game on Saturday. I will watch this one though.

I also watched big chunks of the Luther-Wartburg game tonight. The Norse big guys inside played well and the Norse hit some 3s, so that usually bodes well for the fans from Decorah. Luther led for much of the game like the other league road games this year, but unlike the road games against Central, Coe, and Dubuque this game did not tighten up down the stretch.

I can't for sure say I have watched games on the computer through all of the other schools websites in the league, but for at least two straight seasons the Knights broadcast of a basketball game was tough to watch. The audio was tough with lots of streaming noise and the video was not sharp at all. The video speed was up and down, especially in the 2nd half. So congrats to Wartburg as they once again figured out a way to stick it to Norse fans.

The Norse broadcasts have been a little off this year compared to some others, but I guess I needed to see the Knights broadcast to remind me of what it could be. I would rather have the better football program though than the better video-audio production.

The BV-Coe game would have been fun to watch tonight. Coe still has a good shot to get back in the race.

duhawk · January 24, 2013, 10:53:46 AM

Haven't checked in during the basketball season but after taking in last evening's raucous affair, I thought I'd chime in. I have seen most of Loras' games this year and they are a play or two from being .500 The night they beat Wartburg, Loras was the better team, I could see Loras putting together a good stretch and make the conf. tourney if only a few things go their way. They are young but Mooney's leadership steadies the ship a little as the young guys are growing up.

The atmosphere was great and it was televised on 9.2 which will hopefully give both programs a tiny bit more exposure. The student sections for both teams were large and rowdy with some entertaining chants. One of my favorites was the UD section chanting "we've got the key" (referring to the key to the city that the football teams play for) and the Loras fans responding "we'll get jobs" I'm sure there were some off-color moments but I didn't hear too much and I'd rather have an atmosphere like that than a dead one and I'm sure the players enjoyed it.

doolittledog · January 24, 2013, 02:44:13 PM

Quote from: duhawk on January 24, 2013, 10:53:46 AM
Haven't checked in during the basketball season but after taking in last evening's raucous affair, I thought I'd chime in. I have seen most of Loras' games this year and they are a play or two from being .500 The night they beat Wartburg, Loras was the better team, I could see Loras putting together a good stretch and make the conf. tourney if only a few things go their way. They are young but Mooney's leadership steadies the ship a little as the young guys are growing up.

The atmosphere was great and it was televised on 9.2 which will hopefully give both programs a tiny bit more exposure. The student sections for both teams were large and rowdy with some entertaining chants. One of my favorites was the UD section chanting "we've got the key" (referring to the key to the city that the football teams play for) and the Loras fans responding "we'll get jobs" I'm sure there were some off-color moments but I didn't hear too much and I'd rather have an atmosphere like that than a dead one and I'm sure the players enjoyed it.

Well said. Loras looks a lot better than their 1-6 conference mark suggests. They look talented but like they lack confidence in themselves to pull out a hard fought game.

As far as the atmosphere last night, I thought it looked great. Like an old fashioned IIAC game from 20-30 years ago, when gyms around the conference would be packed and rowdy for a game. Too often these days the gyms are 1/3 - 1-2 full and the fans that are there are sitting on their hands very quietly. Last night was a breath of fresh air for an old guy like me to see.

Alfredeneumann · January 26, 2013, 07:13:55 PM

Wartburg beats Loras 58-55. 10 pt game @ 1/2 in favor of Knights. 2nd half pretty physical. both coaches upset @ times with zebras.... so typical IIAC reffed game.

Eddie Diemer did not play due to ankle injury against Luther on Wed. Middle a lot less cluttered and Murphy drove a lot more than usual.

Alfredeneumann · January 26, 2013, 09:08:53 PM

Dbq up 5 @ Luther 11:00 to go! Knight's back in tie for first by end of day??

Why does Luther have international Trapezoid lane painted on there floor? Anyone know?

Norsanity · January 26, 2013, 11:04:22 PM

No surprises today. All home teams win.

I like our chances for another league title!

carletonsid · January 27, 2013, 11:08:21 AM

Quote from: Alfredeneumann on January 26, 2013, 09:08:53 PM
Dbq up 5 @ Luther 11:00 to go! Knight's back in tie for first by end of day??

Why does Luther have international Trapezoid lane painted on there floor? Anyone know?

When Luther repainted its floor a while back there was lots of talk that college hoops would incorporate that lane shape. Of course, it didn't happen. Maybe Luther can host some international qualifiers or be a training ground for the Norwegian National Team?

Floyd in Iowa City · January 28, 2013, 11:57:22 AM

Quote from: Floyd in Iowa City on January 22, 2013, 01:27:57 PM
Quote from: doolittledog on January 21, 2013, 11:07:20 PM
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.

I did watch the men's game against the Spartans on the computer (and the wrestling matches with Simpson, Loras, and Coe), so whether that was the difference in the game or not I was happy to not repeat anything from the loss on Monday.

Frazier is fun to watch on offense for Dubuque! I hope he is feeling well and not sidelined for any more games. Between him and the big freshman that looks very fluid, Dubuque is still in the race even though they are now 4-4. They play Wartburg, Coe, and B.V. in the next three, so they can clearly play a role in getting back into the race.

Tyler Wedemeier played very well again for the Norse with the 16 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks. If he stays healthy and out of foul trouble the Norse should stay in contention. Matos has been huge in some of the games as well as he had 18 on Saturday. The outside shooting is almost more erratic than the Iowa Hawkeyes, so the league race is still wide open.

The next two games are on the road again, so hopefully the Norse are ready. The Duhawks seem to be playing much better than the record shows.

Norsanity · January 28, 2013, 04:57:20 PM

Floyd,
Completely agree with everything. It is still wide open. Dubuque is scary and we all know what bv can do. And wartburg won't go away. Coe is the mystery to me.

Was wondering what the coe fans think of the new coach? Basically team as last yrs championship team. Already have same amount of conference losses as last yr.

Kohawk Krazy · January 29, 2013, 01:21:52 PM

Quote from: Norsanity on January 28, 2013, 04:57:20 PM
Floyd,
Completely agree with everything. It is still wide open. Dubuque is scary and we all know what bv can do. And wartburg won't go away. Coe is the mystery to me.

Was wondering what the coe fans think of the new coach? Basically team as last yrs championship team. Already have same amount of conference losses as last yr.

Through 8 games this year, Coe is 4-4. Through 8 league games last year, they were 5-3. Big difference I've seen in the 8-game starts between the two years is that Coe hit 7 more 3's last year than this year and made 22 more FT's.

Have no problems with the new coach. Think he's doing just fine. League is tough this year, as Coe's first three losses were by a combined 10 points.

I think the league title is out of question right now possibly, but getting the two seed and a bye is still possible.

doolittledog · January 31, 2013, 10:53:17 PM

Games played tonight...
Loras beats Luther 63-50
Dubuque beats Wartburg 77-64

duhawk · January 31, 2013, 10:55:06 PM

...and Loras beats Luther by 13. I honestly think if Loras could somehow make the conference tournament, they could do some damage. Hopefully this gets them on a run and they can finish strong, I don't see any reason why they won't.

Floyd in Iowa City · January 31, 2013, 11:01:43 PM

Tough Norse game to watch as Loras clearly outplayed the Norse tonight in Dubuque.

The Duhawks were up 8-10 points almost the whole game and outrebounded the Norse by about the same margin.

Bad shot selection and decisions for much of the 2nd half for Luther as they kept shooting weak and unskilled jumpers rather than going to the hoop. Loras also pushed and shoved Norse players out of the post, but the refs and Norse let it happen. I think the Norse shot 2 free throws that I saw.

Tyler W. was in foul trouble in the first half and still had 14 for the game. I would have fed him more in the 2nd half, but I wasn't a Luther wing player tonight.

Congrats to Loras for shooting well from the field and the free throw line. They should win several more games if they play like that.

They were also the more physical team and yet had less fouls called. You usually will win when that happens and you shoot well.

Congrats to Dubuque for beating Wartburg. Luther and Wartburg have not done well in the city this season.

doolittledog · February 02, 2013, 06:44:41 PM

Coe avenges an early season home loss to Dubuque with a 68-60 win today on the Spartans home court.

Floyd in Iowa City · February 02, 2013, 08:42:24 PM

Luther wins in OT @ Simpson, 93-86. The Norse have one road game left in league play (but it is at Storm Lake).

Simpson played much better than the earlier game this year. They looked much better than a 2-8 team this week. A big three pointer forced OT, so they deserve a lot of credit for hitting shots when it counted.

Tyler W. had 28 points, 10 boards, and 6 blocks for the Norse. Keeping him in the game (he had 4 fouls) and the team free throw shooting was the key to the win.

Congrats to B.V., Coe, and Wartburg for the wins today.