WBB: Northwest Conference

BruinFan · February 08, 2009, 12:16:35 PM

Quote from: Pugetsoundfan on February 04, 2009, 09:50:43 PM
The Logs don't have much firepower, but wow are they solid defensively and smart offensively. It'd be hard to ignore Fox going undefeated or darn close with 10 frosh, but Barcomb has done a truly amazing job with this crew--coach of the year?

And from LogShow
"Got to agree with you Pugetsoundfan. Barcomb is a great coach! Big big game for UPS this saturday."

Early in the season I did some calculations based on last year's 16-game conference schedule. I calculated how many minutes played last year in conference by players that are back this year on each team. The percent is total minutes played in conference divided by 3200 minutes. (16 games at 200 minutes per game). If a player started at least 8 games, I counted her as a starter. I have not gone back to check that players on the roster in December are still with their respective teams.

Team % minutes # returning (starters) 07-08 conf. wins
PLU 71% 6 (4) 7
Whitworth 61% 5 (3) 8
Whitman 60% 8 (2) 8
Pacific 53% 4 (3) 3
Willamette 50% 4 (2) 3
UPS 48% 6 (2) 14
Lewis&Clark 40% 8 (2) 10
Linfield 17% 2 (1) 5
George Fox 16% 4 (0) 14

Now take the number of conference wins from last year and multiply it by the percent of conference minutes returning for this year. I use this to factor in competitive level and to help gauge what a coach has to work with to start the year.

UPS 6.72
PLU 4.97
Whitworth 4.88
Whitman 4.80
Lewis&Clark 4.00
George Fox 2.24
Pacific 1.59
Willamette 1.50
Linfield 0.85

I do agree that Coach Barcomb is a good coach and is always competing for the conference title, but this year Coach Rueck has put together a team that has had to learn so much on the fly and through it all managed to have the longest winning streak in school history.

80sshorts · February 08, 2009, 04:46:27 PM

Solid win for the Bruins last night. The 2nd place team in the league literally couldn't hit a shot in the first half. Now that they've taken care of Puget Sound, I see it 90% likely that they're going to run the table in the Northwest Conference, unless they hiccup bigtime against Willamette or PLU 2 weekends from now.

BruinFan · February 08, 2009, 07:15:35 PM

80sshorts,
Don't forget about the game this Tuesday at Pacific. On the road and the potential for a let down after getting the big win over the Loggers. Pacific is fighting for a play-off spot. Bruins will be the favorite, but they must stay focused.

LogShow · February 08, 2009, 08:20:28 PM

Quote from: BruinFan on February 08, 2009, 12:16:35 PM
Quote from: Pugetsoundfan on February 04, 2009, 09:50:43 PM
The Logs don't have much firepower, but wow are they solid defensively and smart offensively. It'd be hard to ignore Fox going undefeated or darn close with 10 frosh, but Barcomb has done a truly amazing job with this crew--coach of the year?
And from LogShow
"Got to agree with you Pugetsoundfan. Barcomb is a great coach! Big big game for UPS this saturday."

Early in the season I did some calculations based on last year's 16-game conference schedule. I calculated how many minutes played last year in conference by players that are back this year on each team. The percent is total minutes played in conference divided by 3200 minutes. (16 games at 200 minutes per game). If a player started at least 8 games, I counted her as a starter. I have not gone back to check that players on the roster in December are still with their respective teams.

Team % minutes # returning (starters) 07-08 conf. wins
PLU 71% 6 (4) 7
Whitworth 61% 5 (3) 8
Whitman 60% 8 (2) 8
Pacific 53% 4 (3) 3
Willamette 50% 4 (2) 3
UPS 48% 6 (2) 14
Lewis&Clark 40% 8 (2) 10
Linfield 17% 2 (1) 5
George Fox 16% 4 (0) 14

Now take the number of conference wins from last year and multiply it by the percent of conference minutes returning for this year. I use this to factor in competitive level and to help gauge what a coach has to work with to start the year.

UPS 6.72
PLU 4.97
Whitworth 4.88
Whitman 4.80
Lewis&Clark 4.00
George Fox 2.24
Pacific 1.59
Willamette 1.50
Linfield 0.85

I do agree that Coach Barcomb is a good coach and is always competing for the conference title, but this year Coach Rueck has put together a team that has had to learn so much on the fly and through it all managed to have the longest winning streak in school history.

uh, that is a lot of math...

BruinFan · February 08, 2009, 10:11:11 PM

LogShow,
Fair enough, I know all the numbers aren't for everyone. How about this? After 12 conference games, George Fox averages more points than anyone else and gives up the least points. Scott Rueck for coach of the year.

NWCSportsFan · February 09, 2009, 01:43:56 AM

BruinFan,

Thanks for the analysis. The Bruins have had an amazing year so far. Here are some numbers I think about in relation to this team:

0 - No returning starters
1 - Only one senior of the team
4 - Number of returning starters for NEXT year
5 - Currently #5 in the country
10 - Ten freshmen on the team, and they all can play
12 and 0 - Current conference record
21 and 0 - Current season record
21.5 - Average margin of victory
249 - Number of wins in Scott Rueck's time at George Fox in 13 years (249 wins and 85 losses)

Tuesday night's game against Pacific in their dimly lit gym should be a tough test but with coach Rueck's 250th win a possibilty I don't think the Bruins will have a letdown.

LogShow · February 15, 2009, 12:00:16 PM

NIce weekend Loggers 8)

80sshorts · February 23, 2009, 01:49:57 AM

Congratulations to the George Fox Bruins on a job well done and 16-0.

LogShow · February 27, 2009, 02:09:26 AM

Nice win Loggers! Now lets see what we can do about GFU.

Handles · February 27, 2009, 04:15:46 PM

I'm new to the board but have been a long time Northwest conference fan! Was anyone at the Fox game last night? Looking at the score it seems Whitman stayed on the bus? Any chance the Loggers can upset the bruins?

NWCSportsFan · February 27, 2009, 07:27:17 PM

I was at the George Fox-Whitman game last night. Whitman was not on the bus, but it appears to me that the Bruins are getting better and better as the season goes on. Last night they just overpowered Whitman and were ahead 10-0, then 20-4 and at half 53-26.

It always seems to come down to George Fox and UPS as the end of the season. This year Fox has the home court advantage but in the past that hasn't meant much. It will take a big effort for UPS to win, but it has happened before. The Bruins, however, are playing great team basketball.

80sshorts · February 27, 2009, 08:39:44 PM

I expect that tomorrow will be another typical game between Fox and the Loggers as it always has been in the past. I'd get in line early at Miller if I'm going to the game, it will be packed tight

BruinFan · February 27, 2009, 11:11:49 PM

I was at the GFox-Whitman game.

The Bruins had a terrific start to the game. Less than 10 minutes into the game they had shot 14-17 from the field including 7-8 on 3's. After missing their first shot, they hit 8 in a row. Couple that with 5 steals in the first 10 minutes and they had wracked up a 36-12 lead just before the mid-way point of the half.

They are moving well, passing well, shooting well, and aggressive on defense. A strong confidence without being cocky. Whitman didn't offer much defense, but the execution by George Fox was impressive.

Puget Sound will bring a tougher, more physical defense and I will not count them out, but it would definitely be an upset if the Loggers win.

UPS has to win to advance to the NCAA tournament. George Fox does not want to lose and have to play UPS in a regional. Who would want to play a team 4 times every year?

I predict George Fox to win by 15-20 points.

Handles · March 01, 2009, 10:40:10 AM

I hear it was a great battle in New Berg last night?? Loggers hold Fox to only 3 three balls......WOW. Seems like Indendi and Shielee had their way?? Great run Loggers, you should be proud!!!!

80sshorts · March 01, 2009, 02:32:06 PM

Loggers gave George Fox a tough battle, they were able to turn it into a defensive matchup. The interesting thing about the game was that the Bruins got good looks at 3's all night but fell short on all of them, but while the Loggers focused on shutting down the lanes, George Fox was able to get most of their baskets on drives and 3 point plays. I think Ely had the game of her life, but besides Shaw, no one else really showed up on offense for UPS