Storm men open IIAC play looking to build on solid start

The games
The Simpson men's basketball team opens Iowa Conference play at Buena Vista on Tuesday, Jan. 6. Start time is set for 8 p.m. at Siebens Fieldhouse in Storm Lake. Simpson will then travel to Coe on Saturday, Jan. 9. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.

Live coverage
Live video and live stats will be available for both games this week. Saturday's game will be broadcast live on KNIA 1320 AM/95.3 FM or heard online at www.kniakrls.com. Veteran broadcaster Rick Wilson will have the call.

Wednesday at Buena Vista, 8 p.m. - Video | Stats
Saturday at Coe, 4 p.m. - Video | Audio

Setting the stage
Despite a challenging non-conference schedule, the Storm managed to post a 7-4 mark and surpass last year's win total. Simpson is off to its best 11-game start since 2006-07, which is also the last time the team finished with a winning record. 

A look at Buena Vista
The Beavers went 5-6 in the non-conference slate and are coming off an 81-79 loss agaisnt DePauw in the championship game of the Tampa Bay Shootout on Dec. 30. The defending Iowa Conference champions lead the league in scoring at nearly 90 ppg and lead the nation with 20.3 assists per game. Returning second team all-IIAC guard Nick Clark leads the team with 20.5 ppg and ranks fifth in Division III with 6.7 assists per outing. The Beavers aren't afraid to let it fly from deep, averaging almost 27 3-point attempts per game.

Simpson is 78-70 in the all-time series with Buena Vista, which dates back to the 1921-22 season. Since 1984, Simpson is 12-21 on the road against the Beavers, compared to 20-12 at home. Buena Vista has won six of the last seven in the series, as the teams split the two meetings in 2014-15. The Storm won 65-62 at home and lost 102-75 in Storm Lake.

A look at Coe
The Kohawks go into Tuesday's IIAC opener with Loras at 5-6 overall and riding a three-game losing streak. Matt Vonderhaar is the team's leading scorer with 16.2 ppg while Marshall Shedeck averages 15.9 and a team-high 8.2 rebounds. The 6-6 Shedeck is also a defensive force, averaging 1.3 blocks per game. Fourth-year head coach Bryan Martin played collegiately at Simpson, where he helped the Storm to an IIAC Championship in 1998.

Simpson is 37-46 in the all-time series with Coe, which dates back to the 1911-12 season. Since 1978, Simpson is 10-14 on the road against Coe and 13-13 at home. The Kohawks have won the last six games in the series, including an 81-74 overtime win in Indianola last season. Simpson has also lost its last six in Cedar Rapids.

Last time out
Simpson went 1-1 at Dubuque's Jon Davison Classic held Dec. 29-30. The Storm lost to NAIA Mt. Mercy 78-74 before coming back with a 78-72 win over Illinois Tech. Sam Amsbaugh earned a spot on the all-tournament team after averaging 19.5 points off the bench. Dillon Gretzky scored 19 in the win over Illinois Tech.

Taking care of the ball
Simpson is one of the top teams in Division III in turnover margin, entering the week ranked 12th in the nation (+6.3). The Storm force 18.6 turnovers per game and give it up just 12.4 times. Simpson has commited fewer turnovers than each opponent so far in 2015-16.

Stepping up by committee
Simpson has had five different players lead the team in scoring in its seven wins in 2015-16. Dillon Gretzky has led the way three times, with Austin Turner, Sam Amsbaugh, Ryan Skaar and DJ Dafney all adding one. 

What a difference a year makes
It took the 2015-16 Storm just 11 games to surpass last year's win total. First-year head coach Brad Bjorkgren has led Simpson to a 7-4 mark, the best record through 11 games since the 2006-07 team also went 7-4. That team finished 18-9, the program's last winning season.

Team quick hits
- Simpson leads the IIAC in three categories: scoring defense (71.6 ppg), free throw percentage (74.8) and turnover margin (+6.27).
- The team's turnover margin ranks 12th in Division III
- The Storm rank 23rd in Division III in forced turnovers with 18.64 per game
- Simpson is 3-0 at home, winning by an average of 15 points and scoring 90 points per game.
- Simpson's bench has outscored opponents 293-240 this season. 

Individual quick hits
- Guard Ryan Skaar ranks second in Division III in free throw percentage (97.0). Central's Kyle Smith leads the nation (97.1).
- Point guard Austin Turner owns the league's No. 2 assist-to-turnover ratio (2.9).
- Sophomore forward Sam Amsbaugh is averaging 13.0 ppg and 5.1 rpg, up from 5.3 ppg and 2.5 rpg as a freshman. 
- After starting the first seven games of the season, Amsbaugh has come off the bench in the last four, averaging 14.3 points and 6.3 rebounds. 

2015-16 Awards
All-Tournament Team - Sam Amsbaugh [Dubuque Jon Davison Classic]
IIAC Player of the Week - Dillon Gretzky [11/29]

The coach
Brad Bjorkgren is in his first season as head coach of the Storm. The Simpson alum coached Urbandale High School for 27 seasons, winning nearly 400 games, nine conference championships and appearing in seven Class 4A State Tournaments.