WBB: Northwest Conference

chemguy · March 05, 2006, 02:18:20 AM

I'm here to eat my healthy portion of crow. Congratuations to PLU and good luck in the balance of the tournament. I hope to see a NWC team in Springfield!

Kibitzer · March 05, 2006, 01:32:09 PM

I would echo Loggerville's and chemguy's thoughts and extend my own congratulations to the PLU Lutes who really showed last night that they deserve to advance. I know they will represent our conference well and I hope they make it to The Final Four in Springfield. They will be playing at home next week so hopefully they will draw a large supportive crowd and use it to their advantage.

Speaking of the Final Four, here are my own Final Four closing thoughts:

1. There are a lot of good players around the NWC and if they gave a Hondo Havlicek Sixth Man Award my nominee would be Brie Adderley. The more I watch her the more I like her game.

2. I predicted the fall of PLU down the stretch and said they couldn't win without their starting point guard, Mallory Mann. But they proved last night that they could. Here's hoping she is at full strength next week.

3. My favorite moment of the season occurred last week during the closing seconds of the UPS vs. PLU conference play-off game. With UPS trailing by about 15 points, the ball went out of bounds, the whistle blew, and the clock showed 8 seconds left. Realizing that the scorekeeper had let an extra second run off the clock, the UPS coach screamed at the refs and demanded another second be put back on the clock. They gave her the extra tick. It was priceless.

4. Any chance we could take up a collection among the 9 or 10 folks who read this board to buy the UPS coach a crying towel? I think a buck a piece would cover it.

rimshot · March 05, 2006, 02:01:15 PM

3. My favorite moment of the season occurred last week during the closing seconds of the UPS vs. PLU conference play-off game. With UPS trailing by about 15 points, the ball went out of bounds, the whistle blew, and the clock showed 8 seconds left. Realizing that the scorekeeper had let an extra second run off the clock, the UPS coach screamed at the refs and demanded another second be put back on the clock. They gave her the extra tick. It was priceless.
(I was at the game---and it wasn't 1 second it was 3 seconds but congrats on getting one last dig in on the UPS coach---job well done!!)

4. Any chance we could take up a collection among the 9 or 10 folks who read this board to buy the UPS coach a crying towel? I think a buck a piece would cover it.
(maybe-one from the final four---maybe they will have that instead of a T-shirt---I am sure she will appreciate the humor in that.)

ghr · March 05, 2006, 07:46:53 PM

Kibitzer, I am sure Mann appreciates your best wishes. There is absolutely no way she will be back at full strength by this weekend or next. Its going to be a play by play situation for her for the rest of her career(hopefully four more games). The Lutes are playing well even with her limited ability and as they get used to ever changing rolls I think they will get even better. We got some great minutes from Senior Anna Sticklin last night in a big win agianst a tough UPS squad. Turner also did a nice job of swithching from her role as a scorer to one who keeps the team moving.

Getting the opportuinity to host is huge for PLU and helps them get one step closer to the last goal on their preseason list. I hope all of you who have the chance will come and support your NWC representative. Now is the time to support the Lutes and hope they can carry the NWC banner deep into the tournament. The fans have been great over the last few games for PLU but we could always use more. So how about enjoying a nice ride up Tacoma on Friday night and help the Lutes take on Hardin Simmons?

rimshot · March 05, 2006, 09:50:20 PM

ghr-
You are right this is a big opportunity for PLU and the NWC to show(off) a bit if you will. Once again---i think this might be 5 years in a row that the NWC is the lone west region team standing---could be wrong----where's Parkland--- when you need him.

best of luck to PLU!

parklandpride · March 05, 2006, 10:43:52 PM

Quote from: rimshot on March 05, 2006, 09:50:20 PM
ghr-
You are right this is a big opportunity for PLU and the NWC to show(off) a bit if you will. Once again---i think this might be 5 years in a row that the NWC is the lone west region team standing---could be wrong----where's Parkland--- when you need him.

If i remember correctly the last time a West team NOT in the NWC made the Sweet 16 it was Chapman (when Coach Heagarty was still at the controls). They split up Chapman and PLU. I think Chapman had to go through Claremont MS and Carleton while PLU got a bye and played St. Ben's at home. That put Chapman and PLU against one another in the Sweet 16. PLU won that game then lost to eventual National Champion UW-SP.

parklandpride · March 05, 2006, 10:58:58 PM

On another note...do you think anyone from UPS would come over and join the PLU crowd and cheer for a NWC team? I know UPS/PLU are rivals and I know it would be a stretch. I found myself enjoying the UPS fan that was working his crowd, flashing hand signals on how to cheer for a made freethrow. I love that sort of enthusiasm for the game and for being a fan.

I thought PLU's crowd was pretty loud and did a good job, but am still disappointed with the lack of total attendance. One of the major benefits of hosting is your crowd being #1 Present, #2 Loud, and #3 Organized. PLU doesnt get as much pure community attendance as other NWC schools, so student attendance is a major factor.

Hope the student body can get fired up about hosting the Sweet 16. Taken 7 years for the NWC to get this...we need to show we deserve it.

ghr · March 06, 2006, 01:54:38 AM

Parkland - That kid from UPS was alot of fun to watch and the Senior fans loved him leading the Cheers. Right up until the police escorted him out. I could not believe that none of the parents stood up for the young man. I almost did and I am a PLU fan. I was not happy that they felt the need to go to such extremes when he was not harming anyone with what he was doing. I guess the powers to be don't watch many of the Duke or Gonzaga games and see how real fans act. To me thats part of what makes basketball so much fun to watch. Why take the student body out of the game by constantly sitting on them. Most of the comments are in fun and cause no harm so lighten up a little. By the way its been great to see the Mens basketball team taking a very active role in bringing our PLU fans together. They seem to be having a great time and it really means alot to the girls.

Challenge of the week, Coach Rueck if you will bring your girls dressed in GFU attire to Fridays game and let them sit with our boys basketball team and cheer on the Lutes I will die my hair pink for Saturdays game. 1. rules, you must have at least 7 players with you and you personally have to wear a PLU shirt and lead the fans in a cheer at the start of the game.

parklandpride · March 06, 2006, 03:30:58 PM

He was escourted out? Wow...that is a little over the top. I was sitting within ear shot of him much of the time and don't remember him being rude or loose lipped. Maybe someone had enough, althought it seems a "please stop" would do it.

swiss · March 06, 2006, 04:00:13 PM

Quote from: ghr on March 06, 2006, 01:54:38 AM

Challenge of the week, Coach Rueck if you will bring your girls dressed in GFU attire to Fridays game and let them sit with our boys basketball team and cheer on the Lutes I will die my hair pink for Saturdays game. 1. rules, you must have at least 7 players with you and you personally have to wear a PLU shirt and lead the fans in a cheer at the start of the game.

The pink would wash out....

Besides, you don't need to be making up challenges. You'll have enough of a challenge on your hands should your team end up facing RMC in the Elite Eight.

ghr · March 06, 2006, 07:12:06 PM

Swiss - I don't think that as a fan I will be subject to much of challenge in the stands. Just thought that the sight of a old man with pink hair might entice scott to travel north. But thanks for your words of encouragement and advice. I am sure that we are taking the next round lightly (Not!) but thanks for letting us know that the Randolph Macon is not to be overlooked.

On a serious note do you actually think that PLU will not be focused for this weekends game or games? As always we will worry about Stout or Macon after we deal with HSU. I am very aware of the point guard for RM and her stats. I also know they are going to be the biggest team in the gym. What makes you so sure they will get by Stout who is playing great ball as well?

parklandpride · March 06, 2006, 07:54:12 PM

It was particularly tough for the Loggers since their leading scorer, Kilty Keaton, suffered a mid-foot sprain to her left foot last weekend against PLU and will likely need surgery. After wearing a protective boot all week, Keaton saw her output drop from her 14.4-point average to 10 points in 24 minutes in the Loggers' first-round win over California Lutheran on Friday and five points against the Lutes in 25 minutes Saturday.

"I asked her if she could even play, and she said she wanted to finish her career on the floor," Barcomb said. "She shouldn't have even been out there."

I got my answer on Keaton. Wish she would have been full strength. She had a nice career at UPS, was a pleasure to watch.

swiss · March 06, 2006, 10:41:23 PM

Quote from: ghr on March 06, 2006, 07:12:06 PM
Swiss - I don't think that as a fan I will be subject to much of challenge in the stands. Just thought that the sight of a old man with pink hair might entice scott to travel north. But thanks for your words of encouragement and advice. I am sure that we are taking the next round lightly (Not!) but thanks for letting us know that the Randolph Macon is not to be overlooked.

On a serious note do you actually think that PLU will not be focused for this weekends game or games? As always we will worry about Stout or Macon after we deal with HSU. I am very aware of the point guard for RM and her stats. I also know they are going to be the biggest team in the gym. What makes you so sure they will get by Stout who is playing great ball as well?

Heck, even I would come to watch an old man with pink hair in the stands. I'll even take your picture and post it on Flickr for the rest of the world to see. But I wouldn't count on Fox fans, coaches or players making fools of themselves as an equal trade. Just "letting you beat us"

and getting an opportunity to host the sectional has made most of the Bruins I know feel plenty foolish enough!

On a serious note: You better take care of HSU on Friday because I can't get there until Saturday. For Heaven's sake, don't mess this thing up and lose! Pass out pink hair dye to everyone if you must.

RMC will take care of Stout. They had a taste last year of the finals and I'm betting they are counting on being there again. They can be beaten, though, and I'm counting on PLU doing it. It's the only real satisfaction left for me in this season, as bitter a pill as it has been. RMC is, indeed, BIG, and Silva is very, very, good. But, other than Silva, I didn't think they were very fast. Keep them away from the basket and they won't be able to find it. I think PLU can outshoot them and outquick them. Here's hoping we get a chance to see it! Good luck.

GAVA · March 08, 2006, 02:02:55 PM

Quote from: hoopstermom on March 01, 2006, 09:52:37 PM
I suspect, though, that Randolph-Macon will be an even greater challenge this year than last. They're big, they'll probably get to play at home again (a true yellow-jacket nest), and they have one of the best point guards in D3 (Megan Silva). One of my big regrets this year is not seeing the Bruins get another shot at them. We had them on the ropes last year but let the crowd get back in the game which took us out of it. If PLU or UPS can knock them off it won't hurt my feelings.

Quote

RMC won't host sectionals this year. I thought I saw Pat say it rotates to the West this year, so the "hive" won't be a factor for a NWC/Texas team if RMC gets that far. It will be a tough test for RMC for sure. I was at the games Trinity/Fox vs RMC games last year and they were very tough for the Jackets even on their home court. George Fox was a classy team (so were the fans), not to mention VERY tough. Sounds like PLU and UPS are in that same category. If RMC gets knocked out, I will be rooting for PLU or UPS all the way. Good luck.

How could you ??

I thought you were an ODAC fan??

And there you are on the ODAC board rooting for RMC.

I guess if you bet on both teams you break even, huh?

arforbes · March 08, 2006, 07:45:52 PM

GAVA, aren't you being a little hard on hoopstermom? Especially since you combined the first email from Swiss with hoopstermom's 1 post to make her look like a NWC traitor.
I am looking forward to listening to PLU on the webcast. Maybe with a little less enthusiasm than last year at this time.
I saw a post that insinuated that Wis-Stout played a little undisciplined and were very beatable secondary to a lot of turnovers. That was a ST. Ben's post. I really didn't see much about HSU.