MBB: American Rivers Conference

[The Show]

Pretty good game last night.  I was impressed with the crowd and was glad to see the student section out in full force.

Very impressed with Slater.  If he didn't play like he did, Loras would've easily been beaten by double digits.  He came up with the big rebounds, second chance points, and hit nearly all of his 3's.  This is based on one game's performance, but I would take him over Kolze, who was really quiet besides the late 3.  Centella is probably the most physical guard I've seen in awhile.  Ostey should've had him in the backfield with his forearm shivers (which were never called by the way  ).

I thought BV owned the paint and Fogleman could back his way in whenever he needed to, but Loras was able to come away with nearly all of the longer rebounds and essentially won the rebound margin. I was also hoping for a little full court pressure from the Beavers, especially since they are able to basically do a "line change" on substitutions. I think it's safe to say there's not a quicker guard in the conference than Wagner. His ability to get vertical is just as impressive. He should have sealed his MVP campaign last night.

Overall, I think one word decided the game last night: composure.

[Klopenhiemer]

Birds I know I have provoked the Loras faithful some this season, but I am not doing it this time, or anymore for that fact. 

I can see where you are coming from.  I have followed Loras the best that I can all season through statistics and press releases.  It appears that Loras as a very IN YOUR FACE type of play and toes the line every time that they play. 

Since I am a Beaver, I can not say I agree with you, but I can see where you are coming from.  I was a not a bball player, my sport was football.  I have seen this same type of thing happen on the grid iron.  You have an oline who fires off and gets after it, and they get holding penalties all game long.  In reality they are not holding anymore/less than the other team, the officials are just seeing it more. 

I would ask how many times that offciating crew has worked BV games and Loras games this season?  I hate to say it, but everyones rear ends get a bit tigher when the chips are down, officials included. 

I will make one statement, BV is not assured an automatic spot into the tourney yet, so we still have to wade through the conference tourney.  Good luck to the Beavers, and Wagner does deserve the MVP. 

Side Note:  It appears that Kolze has not played well in either of the two meetings, is his ankle still a question mark?

[birds of prey]

Thanks for seeing where I'm coming from. As for Kolze, he's 100 percent. Hasn't shown ill effects of that ankle in quite some time. BV must just have his number.

I look forward to the rematch this Saturday. Cross your fingers nothing gets in the way of that. lol.

[sportsknight]

I'm starting to get the feeling I'm the only one around here that doesn't root for Loras or BV.  Guess winning brings more fans out of the woodwork.

[Klopenhiemer]

I'm starting to get the feeling I'm the only one around here that doesn't root for Loras or BV.  Guess winning brings more fans out of the woodwork.

Take a look at the football board SK.  Knights and Dutch dominate. 

[Klopenhiemer]

Thanks for seeing where I'm coming from. As for Kolze, he's 100 percent. Hasn't shown ill effects of that ankle in quite some time. BV must just have his number.

I look forward to the rematch this Saturday. Cross your fingers nothing gets in the way of that. lol.

Well in all reality I hope that something does get in the way of that.  Beating a team 3 times in one season is very VERY hard. 

[doolittledog]

BV and Loras have been the class of the conference this year.  BUT, it might be a bit early to be predicting these two teams meeting again in the finals of the conference tourney.  Central beats BV and then the next game out loses to last place Luther 90-45!!!  You never know what you will find when the two teams step onto the court.  Though I probably wouldn't bet against BV and Loras making it to the final 

[sportsknight]

I'm starting to get the feeling I'm the only one around here that doesn't root for Loras or BV.  Guess winning brings more fans out of the woodwork.

Take a look at the football board SK.  Knights and Dutch dominate. 

Fair point, but there's usually a better mix over there.  Sure there are more Wartburg and Central supporters, but most every other school is also represented at one time or another.  When's the last time you saw a Simpson or Luther or Central or Cornell fan make a post over here?

[Klopenhiemer]

I'm starting to get the feeling I'm the only one around here that doesn't root for Loras or BV.  Guess winning brings more fans out of the woodwork.

Take a look at the football board SK.  Knights and Dutch dominate. 

Fair point, but there's usually a better mix over there.  Sure there are more Wartburg and Central supporters, but most every other school is also represented at one time or another.  When's the last time you saw a Simpson or Luther or Central or Cornell fan make a post over here?

Fair point right back to you sir  8)

[doolittledog]

Do you think the popularity of basketball in general is declining?  It's hard for me to have a good read on this other than looking at attendance reports from IIAC schools.  When I was in school in the late 80's to early 90's most schools packed their gyms for basketball and now when I look at attendence reports a typical IIAC crowd is around 800 it seems.  It's almost like football and basketball have switched places as far as fan following in the IIAC.  While I was at Dubuque the only school that I remember bringing a fan following to football games was Central and now it seems most schools travel well.  I know with winter weather you won't necessarily get traveling fans but it did seem in the past the home students would help fill up the gyms for basketball.  I don't see that happening now unless their team is doing well.  And if their team isn't doing well there is an apathy towards them.  I was thinking when I found this board that the football part of here would be busy during the season and then everyone would migrate over to the basketball part during basketball season but I am seeing that really isn't the case. 

Just curious what your opinions are. 

[Full Court Sorcerer]

I concur the BEST D3 game I have ever witnessed! Can't wait tell next saterday to see it again.

Don't know how you can saythis with confidence considering that Central just beat BV, and then Luther beats Central by 40+.  This conference is in anyones hands.

[sportsknight]

Good point, doolittle.

I think there are 3 main things that are probably factoring into the perceived drop in attendance.

1.  Winning cures everything.  Loras and BV are probably getting the best crowds in the league right now.  A couple years ago, there was nary a game that Wartburg didn't pack the fans in.  Wartburg @ Loras in '05 was the fullest I'd ever seen the old Fieldhouse, but both teams were in the running for a league title.  3 years earlier, when Wartburg was good and Loras was middle of the road at best, seats were much easier to come by.

2.  The move away from the Friday/Saturday schedule.  I sometimes feel like I'm beating a dead horse when I talk about this, but let's face facts:  it is a lot easier for people to attend games on Fridays and Saturdays.  Tuesday night conflicts with high school games (as do Fridays to a certain extent), Wednesday is church night, Thursday creates conflicts with other IIAC sports (that's when a lot of wrestling meets are).

3.  There are so many other options out there now.  In the 80s and early 90s, most people did not yet have a cable or satellite subscription that brought hundreds of basketball games per week into their homes.  I had this conversation with a longtime Wartburg fan a couple years ago.  He said that when he was growing up in Waverly in the late 60s and 70s, Wartburg basketball was much more popular to the people of Waverly and the surrounding towns than Iowa or Iowa State.  But with the expansion of TV networks and the internet, there's a lot less of a draw now.  Think about it this way:  You are a basketball fan without a connection to a particular IIAC team and you have 3 options:  You can do nothing on a Saturday night, you can drive 20 minutes (or less) to the nearest IIAC school and watch some ball, or you can stay home and watch the best DI teams on TV.  In order, you're going to pick #3, then #2, then #1.

[doolittledog]

I had forgotten they played friday/saturday back then.  Certainly easier for people with jobs to make friday/saturday games and if memory serves me right the saturday games were night games and not 4pm starts.  And easier for college kids to start their night out at the game before heading out to do other things.  And I also should say with my old memory that Dubuque and Wartburg were the top schools while I was there so that would make sense they had rowdy crowds along with Loras being a rivalry game that would have been easy to fill out both gyms.  I don't remember how good Luther was back then but they usually had pretty good crowds.  Like you say, without as many people having cable or satellite going to the local IIAC game might have been a more attractive option back then...along with a winning team. 

Another thing was there wasn't indoor track back then.  While we were at the Wartburg game this weekend there was also a track meet going on in the same building that took a few fans away from basketball.  Me being the old man I am now it took me awhile to figure out the WTF on the track athletes jackets stood for Wartburg Track and Field and not something else with a dirty meaning 

[keith45]

Good point, doolittle.

I think there are 3 main things that are probably factoring into the perceived drop in attendance.


2.  The move away from the Friday/Saturday schedule.  I sometimes feel like I'm beating a dead horse when I talk about this, but let's face facts:  it is a lot easier for people to attend games on Fridays and Saturdays.  Tuesday night conflicts with high school games (as do Fridays to a certain extent), Wednesday is church night, Thursday creates conflicts with other IIAC sports (that's when a lot of wrestling meets are).

I HATE THE SCHEDULE...before it changed, there were 10-15 UD alumni who would make the trip from Chicago and the burbs for the 2 Lorass-UD games..now...no way in hell, especially in the winter..I have no idea why they did that. How does that affect the BV trip for schools like UD, Lorass, etc? Do they stay overnight and miss 2 days of class?

[Klopenhiemer]

Good point, doolittle.

I think there are 3 main things that are probably factoring into the perceived drop in attendance.


2.  The move away from the Friday/Saturday schedule.  I sometimes feel like I'm beating a dead horse when I talk about this, but let's face facts:  it is a lot easier for people to attend games on Fridays and Saturdays.  Tuesday night conflicts with high school games (as do Fridays to a certain extent), Wednesday is church night, Thursday creates conflicts with other IIAC sports (that's when a lot of wrestling meets are).

I HATE THE SCHEDULE...before it changed, there were 10-15 UD alumni who would make the trip from Chicago and the burbs for the 2 Lorass-UD games..now...no way in hell, especially in the winter..I have no idea why they did that. How does that affect the BV trip for schools like UD, Lorass, etc? Do they stay overnight and miss 2 days of class?

The men and women are bussed over in the day time and turn right back around and head back after the game.  It makes for some late nights and early mornings.  I did not play bball but I knew many who did.