New International Basketball League teams in Waterloo and Des Moines opened their season last weekend by matching up in Waterloo. Former Iowa State play Paul Doerrfeld is part owner of the Des Moines Heat and also serves as head coach. He says it has been hard this first year to get everything ready.Among those on the roster for the heat are former Iowa player Kurt Spurgeon and former Drake player David Newman. Doerfeld says they need to get some more size inside, but he says the guard court can compete with anybody.Doerfeld likes the premise of the IBL which is to expand opportunities for young players. Former NBA standout Tim Hardaway played in the first game for the Waterloo Kings and says the league will give players a chance to be scouted and make an NBA camp. Hardaway scored 45 points but it was not enough as Waterloo fell to Des Moines 131-129 in overtime. Both teams have home games this weekend. The Heat will host Windy City on Friday at the Drake Knapp Center. Waterloo will host Windy City on Saturday night.
