BHawks:   

Do you expect Hackett to let Lunt have his shot at running the show?  I know he was named interm coach, but it sounds like the situation is less than certain.  I assume Lunt would continue to run Bridgeland's system, which would keep up the excitement level for fans and hopefully retain most of the current players.  UPS could bring in someone else with more experience, but it would almost certainly be at the expense of 100 point games and 40 mintues of the press.  Ah, this is why athletic directors get paid the big bucks.  Wait, almost forgot that this was D3 for  mintue . . . 

Good representation of the NWC on the all West Region Team.

1st Team:
Pecht

2nd Team:
Schmick

3rd Team:
Curtiss (3rd?!)
McVey  (3rd?!)

Rick, those of us in the northwest are interested in the OXY/CMS game, but as a wise man once told you . . . "its not THAT important".  The Loggers will roll regardless.  If you make it up to Tacoma, I hope you're ready . . .  this isnt the California Penal League!

Yikes, pinecone, talk about getting too personal.  That post seems out of character for you . . .

NWC bball fan:

Lets get serious.  Are you trying to tell me that you guys wouldnt have been all over Bhawks if Whitworth had won?  Could you really have resisted pulling out some of his quotes from the past few weeks?  I doubt it.

As for Curtiss, I think "classless" is being pretty harsh.  As a fan of an opposing team you may not enjoy his antics or style of play, but you would LOVE the guy if he were on your squad.  You cant deny that.

Quote from: bbaddict on February 26, 2006, 01:00:20 PM
-- they're just the latest flash in the pan --

44-4?!  You've got to be kidding me!

Regional Rankings are out . . . with UW-Stout #1 and UPS #2 in the West.  What are the chances of UPS hosting a regional if they win out and Stout falls?  I think UPS finished first in the region last year when they were forced to go on the road after the first round.  At the time, I believe that an argument was made that the NCAA doesnt like to allow teams to host on consecutive years (obviously $ is always a consideration as well). 

BHawks: 

Are you really going to let this guy ride shotgun?  Might be a long ride to Wisconsin with him in your ear.


bbaddict: 

Another loss might not affect the standings, but I think you're walking into a trap game tonight.  Fox has been playing better recently and something tells me Schmick is going out in a blaze of glory with three fingers held high. 

I thought it might not be long before a WU fan cried "foul" about this game.  No UPS fan has ever disputed the fact that the Loggers push, pull, and hold in any effort to turn you over or get to a loose ball.  It has become a trademark of the Logger's run over the past three years.  I thought the refs established early that they would not call every ticky-tack foul in the back court, but would reward teams if they forced the action and took the ball to the hoop.  Certainly, this plays right into the Loggers style, but most players/coaches will tell you that all they want from refs is consistency and WU never adjusted.

As for your conspiracy theory . . .


Fouls

WU - 27
UPS - 27


FT Attempts
WU - 34
UPS - 40

Certainly one night doesn't make a POTY, but BHawks is right that Curtis vs Olinger wasn't a contest tonight.  An uninformed  observer might even have had a hard time identifying Olinger as WU's best player.  However, it wasn't a bad night by Olinger that determined this game.  Curtis and McVey set the tone with an intensity that the Bearcats simply couldn't match.  Willamette was never comfortable with the Loggers D and found a way to travel or fumble away the few easy looks they got when they broke the press.  Either WW or WU will have a nearly impossible time beating UPS in Tacoma if the Loggers turn in a remotely similar effort.  

Based on the conference tie-breaking procedures, I've got to believe the TNT is wrong . . . 

http://www.nwcsports.com/information/governance/bkbprocedures8-05.pdf

Tie-breakers?  I thought we had this figured out.  The Tribune seems to think that a UPS/Whitworth tie would go in favor of the Loggers . . .

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/colleges/ups/story/5531613p-4981877c.html

Quote from: NWC bball fan on February 14, 2006, 01:51:41 AM
How do you know he is no where near the best (Pecht) Have you seen all these team play?  I have seen quite a few of them play!!  And will say he is in the top of the nation for D3 athletes.  I did not say he was the best, but his play as of late is right up there!  His abilities that he brings to the court each night are unlike any player in the conference. 

bball, I'm afraid you are going to have to do some name-dropping if you want to compare Pecht to the best in D3.  Who are these great teams/players you have seen?  Oh please, please tell me you're talking about OXY!

Even IF Pecht was regarded as having the best skill set in the conference, this doesnt necessarily mean he would stack up against guys from around the country.  As much as we all love the NWC, there's no disputing the fact that the league does not traditionally compare well against the likes of the WIAC, OAC, etc.  A player capable of dominating in these conferences would have an absolute field day on most nights in the NWC (and I'm not talking about the kind of numbers Pecht has put up recently).

bbaddict:  Ture, I have been somewhat of a "Lurker" on this board so perhaps it is time that I added my own (predictibly biased) analysis/predictions.  I will be the first to admit that UPS has been somewhat over-rated all year.  While it is obvious that Willamette and Whiworth have closed the gap, even UPS' wins have lacked the feeling of total domination that was present the past two seasons.  Williams has neutralized the loss of Cross for the most part, but the Loggers sorely miss Shelton and O'Donnel. 

That being said, I think that UPS has to remain the favorite until they lose a home game (in the midst of a three-year NWC undefeated streak).  They do control their own fate, and I have to believe Curis and McVey will be hard to deny on their home court. 

bbaddict:  Nobody is amused with your "guess where my loyalties are" act.  Stop trying to play the middle ground so that you can jump on either the Willamette or Whitworth bandwagon if one of them happens to win. 

" . . .others have tried"  When was this?  Didn't you just post your first message yesterday?

By the way, its pretty easy to sit back and second guess people's predictions after the fact.  Why don't you step up to the plate and make one of your own?