Who Will Be The Favorites In The Ibl???

[sportsnut2000]

Even though some teams don't have their full rosters what IBL teams will be the strongest?

[bballnut]

I think it will be Battle Creek and Elkart.

[CanadianBaller]

Here is the LINK to the IBL champions baby!
http://www.edmontonchill.com/

http://www.iblhoopsonline.com/teamEdmonton.asp

[bballnut]

How many Championships have the Chill won? I think the Express and the Knights have 3 between them.

[mammal]

Portland will be very good. I heard they will have several of their better players back from last season. Elkhart, as usual, will be very good. Battle Creek is always solid. Watch out for the China-Shanxi, I bet they will be very well coached. I have a feeling LA, Bellingham and Gary will be good as well.

[homeboypla]

The Explosion team returns 10 of 15 players from last year and won the Western Division splitting with Portland and are currently ranked #2 on the Massey Ratings..

With Portland changing ownership and hosting the IBL Playoffs someone might want to look at a Everett Explosion (or what ever they are called this year)

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3590507

Later Player

[preeths]

The ratings don't change until several games into the season. They rely on game results and because there are no results yet, the ratings haven't started.

[bballnut]

Wow, it look like Gary is putting together a team that should be tough to beat. Look out Elkart and Battle Creek, you guys are in trouble.

[homeboypla]

And they won the Western Division League last year so forget this nonsense on the east side of the US. The team that will win it all is the MONROE EXPLOSION ...BABY

:p :p :p :p


"Enough Said Pretenders" The only other team that has a claim is the two time defending Champions "The Express" so unless your following these teams and not writing about teams with no results forget about it.

[Minor League Man]

My predictions:

DIVISION CHAMPIONS:
EAST: Elkhart Express
MIDWEST: Gary Steelheads
SOUTHWEST: Bellingham Slam
WEST: Snohomish County Explosion

FINAL FOUR:
Gary over Elkhart
Bellingham over SnoCo

2008 IBL CHAMPIONS:
Gary Steelheads

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

My predictions:

DIVISION CHAMPIONS:
EAST: Elkhart Express
MIDWEST: Gary Steelheads
SOUTHWEST: Bellingham Slam
WEST: Snohomish County Explosion

FINAL FOUR:
Gary over Elkhart
Bellingham over SnoCo

2008 IBL CHAMPIONS:
Gary Steelheads

Did I just make the above post or something?!? Naw, not me. I don't recognize the IP address. 8)

[bballnut]

Gary just signed another big time player. It looks like it will be Gary, and then the rest of the league. There pay roll is twice as much as the other IBL teams. In the minors the team with the most money usually wins. Elkart will be around, I don't expect to see Battle Creek. They have not even signed a player. With that being said, it looks like the IBL Champion will be out East again. Gary is the cream of the crop.

[mammal]

SnoCo is loaded again-they should be the favorite out West.
The Portland Chinooks look real good. They return David Lucas, Shammgod Wells and David Jackson. They also added Dujuan Tate.
The Vancouver Volcanoes have a pretty decent roster as do the CO Hotshots.
It's hard to pick against the Express. They added Michael Brownlee, formally of Marysville. Gary will be good along with Battle Creek.

[bballnut]

Has anybody heard anything from Battle Creek. I have not seen where they have signed anybody. Looks like Grand Rapids and Holland have over taken them. Could it be a long season for the Knights?

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Has anybody heard anything from Battle Creek. I have not seen where they have signed anybody. Looks like Grand Rapids and Holland have over taken them. Could it be a long season for the Knights?


...either that, or Battle Creek has a poor PR department.

[bballnut]

I see the league has a number of games against an All Star's team this week-end. Look's like everybody out East is playing except Battle Creek. Do they still plan on playing this year?

[MJHankel]

Well, according to an article (http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080302/SPORTS/803020319/1006) on March 2, they already have part of their roster. They just don't get into specifics. With training camps and all, and the minor note that they realize that they need to get higher calibre players, I wouldn't say they are fading away, it may simply be as Ken said, bad PR. Unfortunately bad PR makes a franchise look bad.

[bballnut]

Good info on Battle Creek. With a group of core guys, that nice. Do they really think they are going to find players at free agent camps that can really play at this level. If that is the case, they are going to really struggle with Gary and Elkhart. Wish I could get to Gary this week-end. Would be fun to see the teams. I wonder if Grand Rapids will have Sun Ming Ming there?

[bballnut]

I see Gary has signed Sam Mack and Rob Griffin. These guys might not drop a game. Both of those guys have played in the NBA. Great Shooters. There is no one else that come close to this team. Gary has the money, and they have put together a Championship team. Have fun Gary fan's, it's time to support your team again. Good Luck rest of the league. Battle Creek fans may want to stay home next Thursday. It won't be pretty in Battle Creek.

[MJHankel]

According to this article (http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2008/03/13/sports/top_sports/doca64c48b702cd11ec8625740a007696a1.txt):
Among those players already locked up by the Steelheads are Ron Howard (Valparaiso University), Hammond native DeAnthony Bowden (Creighton), Royce Parran (Chicago State) and Marlon London (DePaul). Also set to return are former Gary stars Rob Griffin, Gary's Akeem Clark, Marlowe Curry and Kankakee Valley grad Adam Schaper.

Spon's hit parade of talent continues with Benson Collier (Florida State), Thornridge grad Sam Mack, who played eight seasons in the NBA; Bishop Noll grad Keenan Browder, Lew Wallace products Terrence and Torrance Hayes, 2007 CBA scoring champion Shaun Fountain, and the 6-foot-11 threesome of Kenyon Gamble, Walt Waters and Aron Spears.
Griffin, Currie, Clark, and Schaper were with the Steelheads last season in the USBL. Griffin and Currie were Steelheads back in the CBA. Schaper was the USBL rookie of the year and played in Spain this season.

The article also had this little tidbit:
Though still a longshot, Steelheads fans may be in for a treat when league play begins March 20.

Former No. 1 NBA draft pick Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson, who hasn't played for three seasons but never officially announced his retirement, may be returning to his hometown.

"I'm not kidding," Spon said. "We'll see. If he's in shape, we're gonna sign him. Or outta shape, c'mon now, an NBA guy like that -- I'll take half of Glenn Robinson in shape.

"Big Dog don't need the money. He just wants to come out and play."

This season could be interesting.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Here is a YouTube video of Griffith, Currie, Clark, and Schaper (among others) being introduced to the Gary draft party crowd last year:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riktokrSQkE

[MJHankel]

It's too bad there has been no mention of big man Chris Alexander. He might come in handy.

[bballnut]

I understand that Gary has had over 20 guys at camp. can anybody confirm that. With the players they have signed, why so many at camp? They have a game this week-end, and then hit the road next Thursday. I don't think they have to worry about the All Star team or Battle Creek. Elkhart comes right after Battle Creek. They had better be ready for Damion's guys. He will have them ready.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

It's too bad there has been no mention of big man Chris Alexander. He might come in handy.

Chris Alexander fell out of favor last season with the coach. I don't think you'll be seeing him in a Gary uniform again anytime soon.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

I understand that Gary has had over 20 guys at camp. can anybody confirm that. With the players they have signed, why so many at camp? They have a game this week-end, and then hit the road next Thursday. I don't think they have to worry about the All Star team or Battle Creek. Elkhart comes right after Battle Creek. They had better be ready for Damion's guys. He will have them ready.

The over 20 guys in camp ARE the USA all*star team.

[MJHankel]

Chris Alexander fell out of favor last season with the coach. I don't think you'll be seeing him in a Gary uniform again anytime soon.

So that is why he ended up on the inactive list, I had no idea. I mean, I knew he was suspended for a few games but I did not know the extent of it. What happened?

[bdyer]

Chris Alexander is averaging a double-double in the D-League. There's no reason for him to go anywhere else until April.

http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/index.jsp?player=chris_alexander

[bballnut]

When the D-League is done, he's going to need a job. Gary is the place for him. He did'nt have his problems with this coach did he? What a great pick up.

[winds55]

You're right about one thing, bballnut. Daimon will have the Express ready. They looked great Saturday. The fans are ready to go, too - I know my ticket is waiting at will-call and my vocal cords are primed.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

This is a little video from the Genesis Convention Center in Gary. Steelheads home opener vs. Elkhart Express. The quality of play seemed comparable to the USBL and the old CBA between these two teams. Have to see some of the rest of the league before picking a favorite though. I'm a HUGE homer though, so you know where I'm leaning. 8)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YFsIdbxqA0