Conference Preview: Western Iowa

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AHSTW (21-3, 17.7% of scoring returning): </strong>The Vikings lost three program greats to graduation over the last few years, so they'll have a lot of new faces taking the floor this season. Luckily for them, they do bring back a pair of starters in junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1759951' first='Luke' last='Sternberg'] (6.8) and senior guard Nick Denning (3.5), giving them a few experienced pieces to build around. Sternberg is a long wing who didn't shoot it well from deep last season, but he's a capable shooting threat who will step into a primary scoring role this season, while Denning is a good catch-and-shoot option who will likely be asked to take over some ball-handling responsibilities. No other returnee scored more than seven points last season, so a lot will be asked of Sternberg and Denning early on. This is a program that has won double digit games every year since the 2011-12 season, so don't expect the bottom to completely fall out here, but they also probably won't be competing at the top of the league. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Audubon (6-16, 49.3%): </strong>The Wheelers lost two of their top three scorers to graduation, but bring back one of the best players in the conference in senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2204868' first='Edward' last='Miller'] (pictured, 13.1, 9.1 rebounds). Miller was very productive last season and is coming off a great fall showcase season, looking primed to step up and become a star within the WIC. At 6-6, he can do a little bit of everything on the floor and he should be a matchup problem. Junior Aaron Olsen (5.1) and sophomores Carson Wessel (2.7) and Brody Schultes (1.5) are the other returnees of note. While Miller should be excellent, it's hard to see Audubon winning many more games this season unless they can cut down on the turnovers (15.5 a game) and start knocking down some shots from deep (20.7 3P%).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>IKM-Manning (14-10, 53.0%):</strong> The Wolves bring back their top two scorers from last year's 14-win team in senior Ross Kusel (12.8) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1765538' first='Ben' last='Ramsey'] (11.9), giving them a pair of skilled scorers and playmakers on the perimeter. The next three scorers, and pretty much all of their size and rebounding, graduated, however, so there will need to be some new faces stepping into much larger roles this season for IKM. Ben Langel (1.2) will need to step up and become a force in the paint, the tallest returnee outside of Kusel, who is a perimeter-oriented option. Against some of the more physical teams on the schedule, they may struggle to compete on the glass. But the Kusel-Ramsey tandem in the backcourt should keep them in the middle of the pack within the conference. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Logan-Magnolia (4-20, 57.6%): </strong>The Panthers lost their top three scorers from a team that largely struggled to compete on a nightly basis last season. Evan Roden (6.3) and Jed Lake (3.3) give them a pair of experienced ball-handlers, combining to dish 4.5 assists a game last season, and they'll be tasked with taking on bigger scoring roles this season as well. Look for a trio of sophomores - Adam Roden, Jason Kastner, and Luke Walski - to step into bigger roles this season as they begin building towards the next two years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Missouri Valley (9-13, 67.1%): </strong>The Big Reds return a pair of double-figure scorers, including one of the best pure scorers in the conference in [player_tooltip player_id='2221609' first='Brody' last='Lager'] (16.5), which should make them a dangerous foe this season. Lager, who also led the team in assists at 3.1 a game, is a versatile offensive weapon who can put the ball on the floor and create as well as knock down shots from deep. Dane Janssen (11.5, 37.0 3P%) is the other notable returnee, complementing Lager's game well as a good catch-and-shoot threat who keeps the ball moving. Layton Maasen (3.8) was productive off the bench as a freshman and should step into a bigger role as well. They should win a few more games this season and could push for a finish above .500.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Riverside (8-14, 52.2%): </strong>Half of the Bulldogs losses last season came by single digits, including three by a single possession. They lost a pair of double-figure scorers but bring back leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='1171690' first='Grady' last='Jeppesen'] (21.3), a dynamic scoring guard who can fill it up in a hurry. Jeppesen has been one of the best scorers in the 2024 class since he was a freshman, and he looks like he's primed to have a huge senior season. Mason McCready (5.4) started nearly every game last season, and Garrett Hough (1.8) and Kyler Rieken (1.4) also got starts last season, giving them four experienced pieces to build around. They'll need one of McCready, Hough, and Rieken to step up and produce alongside Jeppesen to take some of the scoring pressure off of him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Treynor (17-7, 71.5%): </strong>The WIC race likely comes down to Treynor and Underwood this season. The Cardinals swept Underwood in all three meetings last season and they bring back three of the top four scorers from that group, led by the senior trio of [player_tooltip player_id='1376717' first='Jace' last='Tams'] (16.1), Ethan Konz (10.8), and Karson Elwood (7.4, 3.5 assists). All three players are capable ball-handlers and playmakers who can initiate the offense, and Tams in particular is an explosive scoring threat who can get scorching hot and carry this team for long stretches. Look for a deep crop of sophomores to contribute this season as well. That group is paced by [player_tooltip player_id='1978103' first='Alec' last='Lovely'] (2.4), who appeared in all 24 games last season, while [player_tooltip player_id='2413619' first='Corbin' last='Thien'], [player_tooltip player_id='2886836' first='Ethan' last='Hill'], Grant Hughey, and Jude Minska each saw some varsity minutes last year and will step into bigger roles this year. This program is accustomed to winning and winning a lot, and they have to be considered the favorites in the WIC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tri-Center (13-10, 53.2%): </strong>Six of the Trojans' 10 losses came by single digits last season, including four by a single possession. They lost their leading scorer, but bring back the next three scorers and bring back five players who appeared in at least 19 games last season, giving them a good base to build with. Senior forward Christian Dahir (10.3, 11.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks) is the headliner of the group. An athletic big man who pounds the glass on both ends of the floor and protects the paint defensively, he's the team's anchor on both sides of the ball. In addition to his scoring, rebounding, and shot blocking, he also showed himself to be a good, willing passer, dishing out 2.6 assists a game. Isaac Wohlhuter (7.4, 7.1 rebounds) is another really good rebounder, while Zach Murley (7.3, 38.4 3P%) is the team's top perimeter scoring threat. Ball-handling will be a question early on following the graduation of Michael Turner, but this team should compete for a top-3 finish in the WIC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Underwood (19-4, 83.4%): </strong>The Eagles lost just four games last season, but three of them came against Treynor, a hump they'll need to get over if they want to win the league this season. They were great defensively last year, allowing just 48 points a game, including eight games in which they allowed 44 or less. [player_tooltip player_id='1751187' first='Jack' last='Vanfossan'] (13.9, 12.5 rebounds, 1.7 blocks), an athletic senior forward, is the anchor of the team on both ends of the floor. He's a mobile big who runs the floor hard and finishes around the rim effectively. Two other double-figure scorers return in Mason Boothby (12.3) and Josh Ravlin (10.8), giving them three reliable scoring options. That trio also combined to dish out 8.9 assists a game last season, showing that they like to share the ball and play well with each other. Luke Seidler (6.0) and [player_tooltip player_id='2377360' first='Owen' last='Larsen'] (5.2), another pair of seniors, also return to provide some additional scoring and ball movement. Look for sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2731691' first='Garrett' last='Luett'] (3.6) to get more involved this season as well after a productive freshman season. This is a group that defends, pounds the glass, and shares the ball, which makes them dangerous. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Projected Order of Finish</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Treynor<br>2. Underwood<br>3. Tri-Center<br>4. IKM-Manning<br>5. AHSTW<br>6. Missouri Valley<br>7. Riverside<br>8. Audubon<br>9. Logan-Magnolia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>Until Underwood beats Treynor, it's the Cardinals' league. After sweeping all three games in the series last season, Treynor gets the edge here, but Underwood will be a formidable foe. Tri-Center, IKM-Manning, and AHSTW have potential to be thorns in the sides of the top two teams as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Preseason Player of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751187' first='Jack' last='Vanfossan'] (Underwood):</strong> A walking double-double, Vanfossan was dominant on both ends of the floor last season for the Eagles, who will have a chance to get to the top of the league standings this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751187' first='Jack' last='Vanfossan'] (Underwood)<br>2024 Mason Boothby (Underwood)<br>2024 Josh Ravlin (Underwood)<br>2024 Luke Seidler (Underwood)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376717' first='Jace' last='Tams'] (Treynor)<br>2024 Ethan Konz (Treynor)<br>2024 Karson Elwood (Treynor)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171690' first='Grady' last='Jeppesen'] (Riverside)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2221609' first='Brody' last='Lager'] (Missouri Valley)<br>2024 Dane Janssen (Missouri Valley)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2204868' first='Edward' last='Miller'] (Audubon)<br>2024 Ross Kusel (IKM-Manning)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765538' first='Ben' last='Ramsey'] (IKM-Manning)<br>2024 Christian Dahir (Tri-Center)<br>2024 Isaac Wohlhuter (Tri-Center)<br>2024 Zach Murley (Tri-Center)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759951' first='Luke' last='Sternberg'] (AHSTW)<br>2024 Evan Roden (Logan-Magnolia)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->