MBB: American Rivers Conference

[SpartyBlue]

Simpson 71 Coe 58  Horrific (3-17) three point shooting on their own floor does in Coe

Central 92 Wartburg 79

Loras 66 Luther 58  Luther able to cut the lead to 4 with under two minutes to play, but Loras closes out as expected.  Two straight games where the Duhawks have had to weather second half surges.

NWU 78 BVU 65  BV was in this game at halftime and early in second, but NWU took over put up a double digit gap for most of the second half.  Another sizable free throw attempt differential for the Prairie Wolves, 26-7 (25-26 vs. 4-7).  As expected, NWU is extremely calculating and efficient at all offensive levels, and when they are able to get to the line so much they are very difficult to overcome.

[SpartyBlue]

Saturday, 12/7

NWU 8 @ UD 56   Should be a good one.  UD shooting the three at 42% as a team so far this season.  If they can continue that percentage in their gym, they should be in this game.

Loras 28 @ Simpson 78  I think this will be a dogfight that could go either way.  The UD loss at home was bad for Simpson and they will not want to drop another home conference game.  Loras probably more talented overall, but Simpson battling for ARC position knowing they don't play another conference game for a month.  Could go down to the wire.

Luther 240 @ Coe 119  Luther doesn't have a quality win, coming off predicable mashing by UNI and home loss to Loras.  Coe has lost three straight to good opposition, should roll here.

Wartburg 128 @ BV 39  BV proved they're a contender with respectable showing at NWU.  Should win this easily.

Bethany Lutheran 150 @ Central 140   BL continues its Tour de ARC.  Close to a pick em', will go with the home team with the slightly better resume.

[Greek Tragedy]

Thanks for the posts, Sparty!

[doolittledog]

I'll be watching my son in his middle school honor band concert today, so I'll be relying on Sparty to keep me updated on the big game this evening in Stoltz. 

[Goldy97]

Loras picks up a gutsy win at Simpson by 4. I believe the Duhawks held as much as a 14 point lead on multiple occasions, but allowed the Storm back in it to make it interesting. Made free throws down the stretch to close it out. Loras was led by sophomores Jordan Matthews and Jordan Boyd, who contributed 21 & 20 points, respectively. Week off now for the Duhawks before they head to Trine for a pair of non-conference games.

[Schipper Strong]

Central over Bethany Lutheran 90-89. Nice to get a win over a team that beat us last year with two of our starters out with injuries.  Central played pretty well the whole game. Each game a different player seems to be stepping up. Mauck had a real good game tonight. Ashford has been playing great defense the games I have seen. Flinn has stepped up to the scoring challenge and freshmen Johnson and Rodgers have been playing well. Good job Dutch.

[SpartyBlue]

NWU 88 UD 63  Breaking News:  NWU is really, really good at what they do.  38-30 at the half, Schimonitz came out in the second half and took over. UD makes 14 threes and still loses by 25.  Key stat:  Points off turnovers, 32-6 NWU.  The 3-2 zone is a tough nut to crack. 

Loras 82 Simpson 78  Huge road win for Loras

Coe 84 Luther 65

BV 89 Wartburg 75

Central 90 BL 89

Early conference returns are in.  As I see it, several tiers are starting to form. 

Tier One:  NWU  At the top until someone proves otherwise

Tier Two: Loras (7-1, 3-0)  Winning when they need to, but not the scary level they were last year with Ruggles and Dicanio.  BV  (9-1, 1-1) Hot start and competitive game with NWU shows they belong here. 

Tier Three: UD (5-1, 1-1)  At the top of this tier based on road win at Simpson.   Central (4-4, 1-1) Some close losses to good teams and took Loras to the brink on the road. Playing with some early season injuries that could change things for them going forward.  Simpson (6-2, 1-2)  Surprisingly slow start for team picked to finish second in ARC.  Two early home defeats means they have work to do in picking off some conference wins on the road.  Relying on three players is difficult, not a lot of depth.

Tier Four:  Coe (4-4, 1-1)  A bit of a question mark team.  Roller coaster start against some really good opposition.  Wartburg (4-5, 0-2)   Two of their wins over 2-5 Cornell, lost five straight.   Luther 4-6, 0-2  Lost five of last six, only one game in next month leading into conference play won't help them regain lost momentum.

[SpartyBlue]

NWU 88 UD 63  Breaking News:  NWU is really, really good at what they do.  38-30 at the half, Schimonitz came out in the second half and took over. UD makes 14 threes and still loses by 25.  Key stat:  Points off turnovers, 32-6 NWU.  The 3-2 zone is a tough nut to crack. 

Loras 82 Simpson 78  Huge road win for Loras

Coe 84 Luther 65

BV 89 Wartburg 75

Central 90 BL 89

Early conference returns are in.  As I see it, several tiers are starting to form. 

Tier One:  NWU  At the top until someone proves otherwise

Tier Two: Loras (7-1, 3-0)  Winning when they need to, but not the scary level they were last year with Ruggles and Dicanio.  BV  (9-1, 1-1) Hot start and competitive game with NWU shows they belong here. 

Tier Three: UD (5-1, 1-1)  At the top of this tier based on road win at Simpson.   Central (4-4, 1-1) Some close losses to good teams and took Loras to the brink on the road. Playing with some early season injuries that could change things for them going forward.  Simpson (6-2, 1-2)  Surprisingly slow start for team picked to finish second in ARC.  Two early home defeats means they have work to do in picking off some conference wins on the road.  Relying on three players is difficult, not a lot of depth.

Tier Four:  Coe (4-4, 1-1)  A bit of a question mark team.  Roller coaster start against some really good opposition.  Wartburg (4-5, 0-2)   Two of their wins over 2-5 Cornell, lost five straight.   Luther 4-6, 0-2  Lost five of last six, only one game in next month leading into conference play won't help them regain lost momentum.

As an addendum, the computer tells us teams are rated as follows:

6. NWU
23. Loras
30. BV
75. UD
97. Simpson
125. Coe
140. Central
154. Wartburg
283. Luther

(out of 426)

[dunkin3117]

Of all the games between now and Christmas, only 2 have any kind of viewing appeal.  NWU at River Falls and Loras v. Trine. Other than those, I feel that the ARC will handle their business heading into the New Year.

Can we just skip ahead to conference play!?

[doolittledog]

Dubuque with a 98-90 win over Alma. 

Who can tell me about Alma?  Great win?  Good win? Eh, a win?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Dubuque with a 98-90 win over Alma. 

Who can tell me about Alma?  Great win?  Good win? Eh, a win?

Good team.  They've played one of the toughest schedules in the country so far.  I was looking at this game as a bellwether for both teams.  Good win for Dubuque, for sure.  They jump to #2 in the ARC in my mind with this one.

[rlgyank]

I guess NWU better not lose anymore, or they will drop completely out of the rankings. They drop 2 spots after winning their only game and are passed by 2 teams that did not even play. Sheesh.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I guess NWU better not lose anymore, or they will drop completely out of the rankings. They drop 2 spots after winning their only game and are passed by 2 teams that did not even play. Sheesh.

They gained points overall, though.  Generally the voters are consolidating their Top 10.

[Pat Coleman]

I guess NWU better not lose anymore, or they will drop completely out of the rankings. They drop 2 spots after winning their only game and are passed by 2 teams that did not even play. Sheesh.

Felt like we were careful to point out last week that teams were in clusters in the Top 25.

When you have three teams packed this closely together, you simply have to suspect there will be some movement.

6   Nebraska Wesleyan   9-1   467
7   Marietta   6-0   466
8   Randolph-Macon   9-0   464

[dunkin3117]

Dubuque with a 98-90 win over Alma. 

Who can tell me about Alma?  Great win?  Good win? Eh, a win?

Good team.  They've played one of the toughest schedules in the country so far.  I was looking at this game as a bellwether for both teams.  Good win for Dubuque, for sure.  They jump to #2 in the ARC in my mind with this one.

#2 in the ARC??  4 of their 6 wins are over Finlandia, Iowa Wesleyan, Edgewood and Milikin.  Simpson is always a challenging place to play, so to come out with a win their was certainly a positive.  I just don't know that wins over the previously mentioned 4 justify being #2 in the league. 

I think UD/BV are exceeding 'outside' expectations...Simpson and Wartburg, on the other hand, are on the other side of that.  Still think NWU and Loras sit at the top.  UD/BV not far behind.