The Iowa Conference men’s basketball tournament opens with a couple of first round games this evening. Coe is the top seed after sharing the regular season crown with Wartburg and will host the winner of tonight’s game between Loras and Simpson in Thursday’s semifinal round.

Coe coach Pat Juchem says the winner of the conference tournament gets the automatic spot in the division three national tournament. He says that means any of the six teams that get in has a chance, especially this year, as he says there’s a lot of parity.

Coe will host all of its games in the tournament. Juchem says everything they’ve worked for was to put themselves in this position and he says while it doesn’t guarantee anything, it helps you out. Juchem says experience was a key at the end of the regular season and will be in the tournament. Wartburg is the second seed and awaits the winner of tonight’s game between Luther and Buena Vista.