MBB: American Rivers Conference

[onlooker]

I agree Loras made a good choice. Coach Gorton will continue the winning ways.

Any news from any of the teams on how recruiting is going ?

[sportsknight]

Attn: Pat Coleman
Headline at top of page reads "Dubuque coach heads for Iowa."  While Loras is in Dubuque, I think there are a few readers that will assume you mean the coach from the U. of Dubuque, who also has connections to Div. I coaches in Iowa.

[Alfredeneumann]

Naming the new Area @  Wartburg - Per release by Pres. O

Levick Arena
Levick Arena, a 1,800-seat performance gym, will host basketball, volleyball, and wrestling matches and other college and community events. The arena is named in honor of Lewis "Buzz" Levick, who is widely considered to be one of the all-time greatest NCAA Division III and NAIA basketball coaches. Levick guided Wartburg to 14 Iowa Conference championships in 28 seasons as leader of the men's basketball program. The run of nine consecutive league crowns from 1966 to 1975 is still a record. Levick coached two All-Americans and three academic All-Americans during his career. He retired with 13 NCAA/NAIA national tournament appearances and a record of 510-225.

Was given a tour last week. When  gym was empty it was huge. We were told still on schedule for fall opening for athletes and athletic facility. Community area later in the fall.

[coebball70]

Not much has been shared about IIAC recruiting.  Can anyone tell me how Coe, BV, Wartburg, and Loras are doing with regard to incoming freshmen recruits?

[sportsknight]

Levick Arena, a 1,800-seat performance gym, will host basketball, volleyball, and wrestling matches and other college and community events. The arena is named in honor of Lewis "Buzz" Levick, who is widely considered to be one of the all-time greatest NCAA Division III and NAIA basketball coaches.

Good to hear.  I was hoping the College would do this, but didn't know if Buzz would be very receptive to it.  Hopefully I'll be able to get a look at the place on Homecoming.

Alfred,
Any idea what the school's planning for the first b-ball games this fall?

[Alfredeneumann]

I have NOT heard of anything YET. I'll check around and see if there are definite plans for what will happen.
I know they are still planning on opening Sept 4 w/ volleyball.

The "official" word is they are still on schedule. Most of North wall will be done before commencement ( May 27) but I doubt the entire building will be enclosed by then- all walls and roof on.

[Alfredeneumann]

SK - The is a new web-page to select all-time best Wartburg athletes who played in the old Knights Gym. There is also dates when all-time teams will be announced.

http://www.go-knights.net/legends/

No news yet on opening ceremonies.

[primetime]

What are everyone's thoughts on next year? Obviously the favorite has to be Loras with everyone coming back and some nice incoming players that will give them some more depth. Buena Vista and Wartburg I think will be next with lots of talent returning. After that it could be a big mess. Will Kuenstling and Daugherty be able to carry the whole load with the graduation of Kilburg and Thomas. Central without Driftmier will be a completely new team but lots of experience returns. Cornell has the guard play but can they sustain and inside prescense? Simpson loses the big three so they will be completely different and Luther loses some solid seniors. Lots of good players graduated so it will be interesting to see who steps up and makes a name for themselves. Here is my early prediction.
1. Loras
2. Buena Vista
3. Wartburg
4. Coe
5. Central
6. Cornell
7. Luther
8. Simpson
9. Dubuque

Also anyone know if Kilburg will be trying to go overseas for basketball? I know Thomas and Driftmier are.

[Alfredeneumann]

The newest Wartburg wellness center photos have just been posted. Main gym floor is being put down.
http://www.wartburg.edu/wellness/71307/index.htm

[keith45]

What are everyone's thoughts on next year? Obviously the favorite has to be Loras with everyone coming back and some nice incoming players that will give them some more depth. Buena Vista and Wartburg I think will be next with lots of talent returning. After that it could be a big mess. Will Kuenstling and Daugherty be able to carry the whole load with the graduation of Kilburg and Thomas. Central without Driftmier will be a completely new team but lots of experience returns. Cornell has the guard play but can they sustain and inside prescense? Simpson loses the big three so they will be completely different and Luther loses some solid seniors. Lots of good players graduated so it will be interesting to see who steps up and makes a name for themselves. Here is my early prediction.
1. Loras
2. Buena Vista
3. Wartburg
4. Coe
5. Central
6. Cornell
7. Luther
8. Simpson
9. Dubuque

Also anyone know if Kilburg will be trying to go overseas for basketball? I know Thomas and Driftmier are.

Not sure if Daugherty will have to do it alone..he'll have the big kid back (he broke his hand last season) and a few other athletes...UD was a handle to try and stop, I think they just got outscored a lot...I dont know if they can get above top 6 in the league though, depends on the other recruits..

[sportsknight]

Looks like three IIAC teams will face Division I opponents this season.  Central and Cornell both play Drake, while Simpson will play the U. of Iowa.  All but the Cornell-Drake games will be exhibition contests.

[Walston Hoover]

Dubuque plays Iowa State.

[doolittledog]

Dubuque plays Iowa State.

Yikes, but then again the coaches are brothers. 

On a side note my dads 89 and 90 year old aunt and uncle just visited us.  They are Central graduates from the 1930's.  He was on the basketball team at Central and according to him Central was more known as a basketball school then than for football.  Of course he might be a bit biased from playing on the bball team!!!

One of the stories he told was at that time during your senior year you would get your picture on the cover of the program of one game.  The game he was on the cover he really wanted to have a good game.  The coach of the team would set a number of passes the team had to complete before they were allowed to shoot their first attempt at basket.  On about the third pass he got the ball underneath the basket with no defenders near him so he thought he couldn't get in trouble for making an easy layup even though they hadn't made the set number of passes yet.  After he made the basket the coach called time out, benched my uncle and never let him back in the game that night.  He says he learned a valuable lesson not to anger your coach, and my aunt still married him so it all ended well!!!

[sportsknight]

One of the stories he told was at that time during your senior year you would get your picture on the cover of the program of one game.  The game he was on the cover he really wanted to have a good game.  The coach of the team would set a number of passes the team had to complete before they were allowed to shoot their first attempt at basket.  On about the third pass he got the ball underneath the basket with no defenders near him so he thought he couldn't get in trouble for making an easy layup even though they hadn't made the set number of passes yet.  After he made the basket the coach called time out, benched my uncle and never let him back in the game that night.  He says he learned a valuable lesson not to anger your coach, and my aunt still married him so it all ended well!!!

Yeah, Coach Dale could be a real pain at times.  But the season really turned when Jimmy Chitwood decided to play ball.

[sportsknight]

Wartburg will play UNI in a regular season game again this year.