MBB: American Rivers Conference

[doolittledog]

I'm curious about a few things.
How many guys that announced they were committed to a school showed up at that school this fall.
How many of those are still at that school.
How many of those will contribute to that team this year.
Will those that don't get minutes right away stick around for their four years.

[SpartyBlue]

UD receives 23 votes in preseason poll.  I think this is a top 25 team, but losing Peter Ragen probably affected some voters.   

This is a senior laden team coming off of two of the best seasons in program history...Sam Kilburg was already the best point guard in the ARC and is a year stronger and McCants is a nightmare defensive matchup for any ARC team.  The mix of experience and younger firepower should make UD the heavy favorite to win the conference and go back to the dance.

UD has a mixed schedule.  I like coming out of the gate against UNI and then North Central and Carroll.  Beating two CCIW teams would cement the national recognition.  Augustana and Franklin and Marshall are also good opponents.  Edgewood, Monmouth, and Blackburn don't prove much, yet better than the Finlandia and Iowa Wesleyan games. 

I'd like to see a WIAC team or two added.  To that point, UD scrimmaged and outplayed UW-Platteville over 20 minutes last night, a good sign of where things stand. 

[D3hoopsinsider]

Wartburg playing UNI tonight. The usual suspects for the Knights with a couple new faces off the bench. Marshun Williams leading W with 7 points at the half.

Most ARC teams open up their season tomorrow night:
Loras vs Concordia-Chicago
Luther vs Grinnell
Central at Waldorf
Simpson vs Faith Baptist

Coe opens up at home Wednesday against Cornell.

[D3hoopsinsider]

Some interesting scores from around the ARC.

Luther shakes off the system to roll Grinnell 95-76

Simpson beats Faith Baptist handily. A few new faces for the Storm including leading scorer/transfer Andrew Gibbs but interestingly no Tajen Ross on the roster.

Loras loses to Concordia Chicago 98-88 and were down double digits for most of the game. Sabet and Bass the mainstays in scoring for the Duhawks.

Central looked tough early against Waldorf but went cold in the second half, losing 58-53.

Next up is Coe vs Cornell tomorrow and big regional games this Friday with Dubuque taking on North Central and Wartburg going to Macalester.

[SpartyBlue]

Some interesting scores from around the ARC.

Luther shakes off the system to roll Grinnell 95-76

Simpson beats Faith Baptist handily. A few new faces for the Storm including leading scorer/transfer Andrew Gibbs but interestingly no Tajen Ross on the roster.

Loras loses to Concordia Chicago 98-88 and were down double digits for most of the game. Sabet and Bass the mainstays in scoring for the Duhawks.

Central looked tough early against Waldorf but went cold in the second half, losing 58-53.

Next up is Coe vs Cornell tomorrow and big regional games this Friday with Dubuque taking on North Central and Wartburg going to Macalester.

The Luther result is a bit of a shock, not sure whether Luther has improved or just a result of System variance. 

Loras also a shocker.  It doesn't look to me like Loras added any pieces, they are relying on Sabet, Singleton, and Bass to make improvements.  CUC is a team yo should beat on your home floor.

Simpson and Central don't tell me much.  I know nothing about Waldorf, does a close game there mean anything?

Coe sneaks by Cornell...again, the usual suspects for Coe, don't see any new pieces doing much but I feel like they should have won this more handily at home. 

[D3hoopsinsider]

Some interesting scores from around the ARC.

Luther shakes off the system to roll Grinnell 95-76

Simpson beats Faith Baptist handily. A few new faces for the Storm including leading scorer/transfer Andrew Gibbs but interestingly no Tajen Ross on the roster.

Loras loses to Concordia Chicago 98-88 and were down double digits for most of the game. Sabet and Bass the mainstays in scoring for the Duhawks.

Central looked tough early against Waldorf but went cold in the second half, losing 58-53.

Next up is Coe vs Cornell tomorrow and big regional games this Friday with Dubuque taking on North Central and Wartburg going to Macalester.

The Luther result is a bit of a shock, not sure whether Luther has improved or just a result of System variance. 

Loras also a shocker.  It doesn't look to me like Loras added any pieces, they are relying on Sabet, Singleton, and Bass to make improvements.  CUC is a team yo should beat on your home floor.

Simpson and Central don't tell me much.  I know nothing about Waldorf, does a close game there mean anything?

Coe sneaks by Cornell...again, the usual suspects for Coe, don't see any new pieces doing much but I feel like they should have won this more handily at home.

I would agree on Simpson and Central, hard to gauge both of those teams without knowing much about the opponent. My guess is Simpson will be much improved this year with some strong transfers that came in.

Coe was up big at half and early second half but went on a scoring drought late in the second half. Their starting 5 looked solid but they will need to find some depth. Again hard to judge in an opener vs a rival, their game Saturday vs Graceland will be interesting.

Luther hasn't won many games the last few years but they have an experienced group and looked to have good size against Grinnell. They have always defended well so if they can piece together the offense they could have a much better year.

[doolittledog]

Welcome d3hoopsinsider. Always nice to have an additional voice on here. I'm anxious for the season to really get going.

[D3hoopsinsider]

Welcome d3hoopsinsider. Always nice to have an additional voice on here. I'm anxious for the season to really get going.

Nothing better than D3 hoops! Looking forward to contributing any way I can. More great games today!

[SpartyBlue]

Weekend Results:

North Central 81 UD 70  Ouch.  North Central is for real--shoots over 50% from three, Matt Helwig goes off.  I don't see how NCC won't be at the top of the CCIW.

UD 68 Carroll 53  UD back on track after NCC loss.  Great team defense and intensity on Carroll's home floor--great bounce back game shows UD deserves to be favored in the ARC again.

Loras 120 Greenville 92  Loras feasts on The System after the bad loss to CUC.

Macalaster 79 Wartburg 71  OT  This is game the Knights should win over a middling team even on the road.  Wartburg is loaded with 5th year seniors, but I'm not sure they deserved three conference first place preseason votes.   Guard oriented team that shot terribly in this one.

NWU 86 Colorado College 67  Wolves beat up a traditionally weak CC. 

BVU beats two SLIAC teams, Westminster and Fontbonne.   Not sure what to take from that.

Graceland 73 Coe 63  Elvis goes for a double double as Coe falls to the King and his Court. 

Hamline 61 Luther 58  ARC order is restored as Luther back to losing ways.

[D3hoopsinsider]

Weekend Results:

North Central 81 UD 70  Ouch.  North Central is for real--shoots over 50% from three, Matt Helwig goes off.  I don't see how NCC won't be at the top of the CCIW.

UD 68 Carroll 53  UD back on track after NCC loss.  Great team defense and intensity on Carroll's home floor--great bounce back game shows UD deserves to be favored in the ARC again.

Loras 120 Greenville 92  Loras feasts on The System after the bad loss to CUC.

Macalaster 79 Wartburg 71  OT  This is game the Knights should win over a middling team even on the road.  Wartburg is loaded with 5th year seniors, but I'm not sure they deserved three conference first place preseason votes.   Guard oriented team that shot terribly in this one.

NWU 86 Colorado College 67  Wolves beat up a traditionally weak CC. 

BVU beats two SLIAC teams, Westminster and Fontbonne.   Not sure what to take from that.

Graceland 73 Coe 63  Elvis goes for a double double as Coe falls to the King and his Court. 

Hamline 61 Luther 58  ARC order is restored as Luther back to losing ways.

I have to disagree on the Wartburg take. Macalester went on a run at the end of last season and  almost won the MIAC conference tournament. They  have most of their scoring back from that team and Wartburg was playing without all-conference guard Drew Olson. Not to mention being on the road.

I watched both UD games and while they should be favored, I think the ARC is far more wide open than many think it will be. The Spartans lack consistent 3pt shooting (11-42 in two games) and depth which can sneak up on you when you least expect it. Their starting 5 is likely the best in the ARC from what I have seen however.

[SpartyBlue]

We'll see about Wartburg, same guys who haven't been able to get over the UD hump the last two years, but hey it's a new season.

UD has been without Hunter Snyder, out with injury, his return will add a second unit point guard and 3 point shooting.  I'm not worried about UD from beyond the arc, shot 34.5 % as a team last year, I understand no Peter Ragan, but five rotation guys were 33% or better.  Two games is a small sample size, especially against NCC who might turn out to be the best team UD plays all season. 

[D3hoopsinsider]

Agreed SpartyBlue, Snyder will make a big difference in their 3pt shooting. Dubuque is clearly the favorite and opening against a team as good as NCC was a tough draw.

Crazy to think we will see conference matchups next Tuesday already. Luther @ Coe, Dubuque at Wartburg and Loras @ Simpson.

Should be a great season!

[SpartyBlue]

Agreed SpartyBlue, Snyder will make a big difference in their 3pt shooting. Dubuque is clearly the favorite and opening against a team as good as NCC was a tough draw.

Crazy to think we will see conference matchups next Tuesday already. Luther @ Coe, Dubuque at Wartburg and Loras @ Simpson.

Should be a great season!

Nice to have you aboard!

[SpartyBlue]

ARC Games of Interest This Week:

Wartburg vs. Grinnell  Knights should get first win here--they have the formula to dice up the The System, ballhandlers

BVU @ St. John's  We'll learn a lot about the Beavers against a high quality opponent. 

Illinois Wesleyan vs. NWU  Battle of the methodists...intriguing matchup...IWU will be out for blood after UWSP slip up...has NWU made improvements? 

NWU vs. UW-Oshkosh  Another quality opponent for the Wolves coming off a bad loss.  Very interesting matchup here. How will Peter Lash do against these teams?

Elmhurst @ BVU  #23 Elmhust has been rolling--will the long trip to Storm Lake factor here?

[D3hoopsinsider]

Tough day in the ARC as everyone lost except for Central. A few recaps:

NWU went 0-2 but looked VERY good against top flight opponents in Illinois Wesleyan and Oshkosh. Could have very easily won both games the way they played. I think they will be one of the teams most likely to push UD for the top spot in the conference this year.

Wartburg went 1-1 with a win over Concordia Wisconsin and a loss to a ranked UW-Lacrosse team. Still no Drew Olson for the Knights as they head into a big matchup with Dubuque on Tuesday.

Coe was down 20 at half to Ripon and lost 80-64. They really struggled to defend and take care of the ball (20 turnovers). Ripon is a very good team that was picked to win the MWC but the Kohawks need to figure some things out if they are going to compete in the ARC this year.

Buena Vista lost by large margins to St. John's and Elmhurst. Tough to gauge these games as both teams were ranked. I think BV will be in the top half of the league but their depth will ultimately decide where they end up in my opinion.

Central went 2-0 this weekend beating Webster and Westminster pretty handily. While the opponents for the Dutch have not been the strongest, there seems to be a renewed vigor in the playing style for the Dutch under new head coach Joe Steinkamp.

Loras moves to 1-2 after a bad loss against Principia. Loras really struggles to defend, as has been the issue in past years, and seem to be searching for their offensive identity without McGowen and Navigato. Heading to Indianola on Tuesday will be a very intriguing matchup as Simpson is still undefeated on the year.

Luther loses 49-48 against MSOE. They head to Cedar Rapids to take on the Kohawks Tuesday, so we will know much more about both programs coming out of that game.

To me the most intriguing matchups on Tuesday are Wartburg vs. Dubuque and Simpson vs. Loras. Simpson was picked low in the conference but is playing very well to start the year. We will see if SpartyBlue is right and the Knights struggle again to get over the UD hump on Tuesday!

My Tuesday ARC Picks:
Wartburg over Dubuque
Coe over Luther
Simpson over Loras

Let the ARC season begin!