The official IBL season talk 2007-2008

[jman3134]

On another note, do you think there could ever be an interleague championship? I would like to see how the Express stacks up with the Razorsharks, ABA champions, and some CBA teams. That could be an interesting premise. And hey, it may happen next year if they switch their season.

[jman3134]

Mammal,

Excellent writeup on the preview for the IBL playoffs....

EAST

Elkhart Express

Head Coach: Daimon Bethea

Record: 21-1

Note: Two time defending IBL Champions

Comments: What more can be said about Elkhart? They are the gold standard for the IBL. On and off the court this is a first class organization. Elkhart is lead by their three core players, Tim Pledger, Cedric Moodie and Coleco Buie. This is not just a three man show however. Elkhart is the deepest team in the IBL. Lincoln Glass, Jarrod Lovette, Chris Charles and Will Whittington make major contributions. How do you guard Elkhart? Do you take away the inside game of Lovette, Charles, and

7-2 James Tyler or do you guard the perimeter players, Buie, Pledger, Moodie and three point specialist Whittington? I am glad I don't have to coach against them. I guess this is why they are 21-1 (the lone loss being to Gary) and two time defending IBL champs.



Elgin Racers

Head Coach: Michael Murphy

Record: 8-10

Note: Second place in the Midwest division

Comments: Elgin has been a bit up and down this season. They are 0-3 against Elkhart this season but no game was decided by more than 7 points. The Racers have played very well at times but have never managed to put a long streak together. DeAnthony Bowden has been a nice pick up for Elgin. He is averaging 15 points and 5 boards in eight games. The Racers are lead by guard Brandon Watkins and his 23 points and 6 dimes per game. Keith Gayden provide inside muscle with 17 points and 10 rebounds per game. Parrish Brown and Phil Watson also contribute double figure scoring for Elgin. If Elgin gets a decent draw in the first round and they get to play Elkhart it could be a heck of a game as Elgin knows they can play with Elkhart.



Battle Creek Knights

Head Coach: Terry Sare

Record: 8-11

Note: 2005 IBL Champions.

Comments: It's been a year of roster and coaching changes for the Knights. They have never really found their groove. Terry Sare took over the head coaching duties early on after ownership decided they wanted to move in a different direction. Many roster moves have led to an up and down season. Leading the way for the Knights is Bobby Madison and his 19 points per game and 7 rebounds. He has been the one consistent player this season. Also contributing to BC this season is Rashi Johnson who is averaging 14 points and 5 boards. Nick Zachery, Ryan Edwards, Ed McCants and Jamal Ward all have been contributors but none have played in over seven games. Tough to have a team gel when half the roster is new.



Chicago Windy City Soldiers

Record: 11-15

Note: Second-year IBL Franchise

Comments: What a difference a year makes. Last season the Soldiers finished 0-18-this year they have 15 wins. The Soldiers are lead by a core group of five solid players. 6'9 Eric Rhinehart leads the way with 23 points and 6 rebounds per game. He closely followed by DeMarcus Bolten and his 20 points and 7 boards per game. Rounding out the big five are Barry Bradford, Anthony Spencer and Marcus Jackson. On any given night Windy City can sneak up and beat someone. They are coming into the playoffs on a four game losing skid.



WEST



Vancouver Volcanoes

Head Coach: Theo Evens

Record: 17-6

Note: Second place in the West division

Comment: Aside from Windy City, Vancouver made the biggest turn around in the

IBL. From never winning more than six games in the previous three seasons the Volcanoes have racked up 17 W's this year. Vancouver has flown a little under the radar because they do not have the star power of teams like SnoCo, Portland and LA. It would be a major mistake to underestimate the talent on the Volcanoes roster. Vancouver is lead by a group of seven players who have all played in the vast majority of games this season. Porter Troupe leads the way with 22 points a game, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Close behind is point guard Kevin Tyner with very similar stats as Troupe. Jake Carlisle, Kevin Bloodsaw, Alex Hartman, Brad Lechtenberg, and Josh Jackson all average at least 14 points per game. Vancouver will be a tough out.



Snohomish County Explosion

Head Coach: Randy Redwine

Record: 13-9

Note: Third place in the West Division

Comments: SnoCo struggled to be a .500 team this season after a fantastic first year record of 17-6. Much of the struggle can be attributed to the absence of Rashaad Powell and Justin Murray. Both were playing overseas and just recently rejoined the Explosion. No surprise after playing in two games they are 1-2 in scoring on the Explosion. Aleksey Adediran was a very good mid season pick up and is scoring 18 points a game along with seven rebounds. Jamaal Miller, Chris Weakly and Chris Keller have scored in double figures for SnoCo. With Powell and Murray back SnoCo could make a run in the wild-wild West I would not bank on them winning it.



Central Oregon Hotshots

Head Coach: Joe Becera

Record: 8-16

Note: Charter member of the IBL

Comments: Joe Becera and the Hotshots thought this would be a breakout season.

Some solid returning players and the addition of sharp shooter Jeff Dunn made the season a promising one. Things never clicked and the Hotshots stumbled to an

8-16 record. Dunn left the team at the end of the season sighting he was not having much fun and he promptly signed with the Edmonton Grizzlies. During the season fan favorite Arthur Lewis Jr. only played in four games. He was not only a crowd favorite but an excellent point guard. Central Oregon is lead by Terry Horton who averages 24 points and 10 rebounds per game. Supporting Horton are Jalontae Martin, Cliff White, Chris Nixon and Philip Freeman. All are scoring over 14 points a game. The loss of Jeff Dunn and his 25 points a game will really hurt Central Oregon. They can still score some points but can they score enough to compete with the upper echelon teams?



Bellingham Slam

Head Coach: Rob Ridnour

Record: 16-4

Note: First-year IBL team

Comments: The Slam has made a very smooth transition from the ABA to the IBL.

They, like Vancouver, have flown a bit under the radar because they do not have the 'star players' like some other Western teams. Make no mistake, Bellingham has a load of talent, and they play well together as a team. Guard Ryan Diggs is having an MVP season averaging 26 points 6 rebounds and 6 assists per game. Diggs receives lots of help from Tyler Amaya, Jacob Stevenson, Lukas Henne, Paul Hafford, Brandon Hartley and Jared Stevenson. All score in double digits and can pass and rebound. For my money there is no better 'team' than Bellingham. They may not have star power, but they have talent, and they play together.



Edmonton Chill

Head Coach: Paul Sir

Record: 12-7

Note: Expansion team

Comments: It's hard to tell who was the better expansion team this season, Gary or

Edmonton? Edmonton head coach Paul Sir recruited an excellent mix of players and it shows on and off the court. Talented guard JR Patrick leads a balanced offensive attack. Patrick is scoring 20 points a game along with dishing out 4 assists. Rashaun Broadus runs the point for Edmonton and has been a very pleasant surprise. Broadus could not make the Portland Chinook roster but has found a home with the Chill. Late season pick up Marco Morgan adds muscle inside and sharp shooter Jeff Dunn, just signed after playing the season for Central Oregon, adds experience and a deft shooting touch. Jermaine Bucknor, another late season pick up may not be available for the playoffs. Lee Scrugs is another valuable inside player averaging 16 points and nine boards per game. If shooter Stepher Sir rejoins the team in time for the playoffs Edmonton can give any team a run for their money.



Portland Chinooks

Head Coach: Terrance Dickens

Record: 14-14

Note: Lost in the IBL finals last year

Comments: Record-wise this season was not nearly as good as last year's 20-7 mark but a large part of this can be attributed to the Chinooks not having the big three all season. David Lucas, Shammgod Wells and David Jackson were not available for large stretches of this season do to overseas commitments. Lucas has played in thirteen games and leads the IBL in scoring at a 36 point a game clip. Shammgod Wells has only played in two games and David Jackson has not played a game yet but will be ready for the playoffs according to head coach Terrance Dickens. Kenny Tate has had a very nice season for Portland averaging 18 points 8 rebounds and 5 assists per game. Other major contributors are Larry Smith, Chris Stephens, Mark Robinowitz and Dean Browne. If Lucas, Wells, Jackson, Tate and Browne are the starting five like I have been told, watch out for Portland. They could make another run at an IBL title.

http://www.usbasket.com/ibl/ibl.asp

[jman3134]

I think Edmonton could have made a major run with Stephen Sir in the roster.....Scruggs is probably the best or second best big man in the league, behind David Lucas.

[mammal]

If anyone in the West can give Elkhart a run for their money it's Bellingham. They have a lot of talent, Diggs, Amaya, the Stevenson brothers, Hafford, etc..., and they are very well coached. Having the game at home is great but I wonder if Elkhart will be pissed off at having to travel and come out smokin' I think it will be a close game but Elkhart pulls away in the 4th quarter. Elkhart's size may be the difference. I will be writing my IBL championship preview pretty soon. I am hoping to talk with both coaches.

[jman3134]

I hope you will keep us informed....thanks. Anyway, is there any live feed for the championship game that you know of?

[sacking123]

Hi guys.
I have been studying a little bit about the IBL.
Do you know if/how many teams run at a profit?

I am looking into maybe purchasing a team.
I couldn't believe it when I seen in Mammals last post about the Stevenson brothers.
It caught my eye because I stayed with their family when i was on a basketball tour many years ago.
I think it is the same guys.
I live in Australia and in 1997 we went on a tour up the West coast of the US and into Canada for a month and stayed with players on the other team and went to school etc.
I haven't spoken to them since though so he wouldnt even remember me i wouldnt think.
I recall that he was going to go to WWU (Western Washington?) the following year.

[jman3134]

Any status update on the championship preview?

[jman3134]

I think the big thing for IBL teams is their cost effective scheduling. These guys do not have to fly half way across the country all the time. I remember reading that they do not play their players huge sums either. So they are left with enough money to compete.

[jman3134]

The Slam upset the Express!! I know that I am a little late on the update, but this was shocking news. Moodie did not play well and the team faltered down the stretch.

[mammal]

Bellingham played very inspired basketball. Elkhart came out of the gate fast but after a good first quarter couldn't shoot the ball. The Slam played well as a team. Most of the roster has either been together for a few years or they played with each other in high school and/or college. It's a pretty tight team. I hope the majority of the roster is back next season.

[jman3134]

Any update on that preview for the championship?

[mammal]

I dropped the ball on the championship preview. I had some personal issues to deal with and my day job was kicking my tail. My prediction was Elkhart though. Elkhart came out hot like I thought but they could not sustain it. Check out the "Own my team" forums. Come join us at OMT and actually own part of an IBL team!!!!

[jman3134]

No harm no foul....I'm not upset or anything. If it was out there, I just would have liked to read it. Yeah, I'm going to be a part of it.....I'm super excited as well.

[Walt Cronkite]

Can someone explain the immediate inbounds policy?