WBB: Northwest Conference

Handles · February 15, 2011, 05:46:13 PM

Its never a good situation when everything is blamed on the coach!! This is college basketball NOT high school. Its a priviledge to put the uniform on, not a right. This is always the time of the year when unsuccessful teams start making excuses for why they didn't play up to their abilities. I know that when PLU took Fox to OT they played pretty well. And when they beat Whitman in OT, they were playing hard.

You can have the best players in the world on paper and not win many games if you don't have chemistry on the floor. That does not have much to do with the coach, but rather the players and their attitudes toward what they are trying to accomplish.

Lutefisk · February 16, 2011, 11:08:03 AM

Quote from: Handles on February 15, 2011, 05:46:13 PM
Its never a good situation when everything is blamed on the coach!! This is college basketball NOT high school. Its a priviledge to put the uniform on, not a right. This is always the time of the year when unsuccessful teams start making excuses for why they didn't play up to their abilities. I know that when PLU took Fox to OT they played pretty well. And when they beat Whitman in OT, they were playing hard.

You can have the best players in the world on paper and not win many games if you don't have chemistry on the floor. That does not have much to do with the coach, but rather the players and their attitudes toward what they are trying to accomplish.

Let me get this right.... the coach has nothing to do with team chemistry?! LOL! The coach has no impact on player attitudes?! Seems to me the coach is DIRECTLY responsible to develop team chemistry and positive attitudes. That IS what being a coach is all about. i've seen many teams turned around simply by bringing in a new coach who knows how to develop chemistry and positive attitudes. Same players, different result. Seems to me you want to place ALL the blame on the players. What's the point of having a coach if all that coach has to do is throw up their hands a go "oh, well." In fact, in this case, it's my impression that this coach does just that: blames the players without accepting responsibility for her poor decisions. That destroys morale, confidence and attitude.

As for the Fox game, Gordon was out.... BIG difference. And they did not beat Whitman...

Also want to know where being on a high school basketball team is a RIGHT?! Seems to me it is a privilege whether it's HS, college or any other team where you are selected to participate. And at any level, the coach is responsible for team chemistry and attitude.

bballfan05 · February 16, 2011, 03:10:03 PM

So anyways.....

Big weekend in the NWC. UPS, FOX, and LC will all be fighting for that top spot.

UPS VS LC on Friday (LC senior night)
Fox vs. Linfield on Friday
Fox vs. UPS on Saturday (Fox senior night)
LC vs. Willamette on saturday

What are peoples predictions on who will win and what players will step up and shine?

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 16, 2011, 03:38:27 PM

Week 3 Regional Rankings are out: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2011/02/16/ncaa-2011-regional-rankings-week-3/

Lutefisk · February 16, 2011, 03:39:57 PM

Think Fox has the upper hand but had better watch out for a surprise from Linfield. UPS clearly has the toughest "road" given how tough teams are in this league at home.

Handles · February 16, 2011, 04:25:35 PM

Lutefisk,

I don't believe I said the coach has "Nothing" to do with team chemistry?? Of course they have some.....Attitude though, is controlled by the individual and a coach can only influence that. Its up to the athlete to choose their attitude!! So, if a team is worried more about petty behaviors and who is and is not playing, scoring, sitting, rebounding, etc. then their attitudes will show as bad chemistry. Seems to me....you want all the blame on the coach and I want you to open your eyes to the fact that its not just the coach. Is the coach part of the downfall?? Absolutely!! All wins and losses fall on the shoulders of the coach.

As far as the Fox game goes.....With Gordon or without Gordon PLU still took them to OT. Don't you think a win over Fox would have boosted the teams morale? A win over Fox is still a win over Fox, with or without Gordon!

Your right they did not beat Whitman BUT THEY DID BEAT WHITWORTH!!!

I firmly disagree with you.....at the high school level parents think its their kids right to play no matter how good or bad they are. They feel since their kid is putting in the time they should be given the playing time. It should be a priviledge at all levels.

Lutefisk · February 17, 2011, 07:44:10 AM

Handles, I certainly agree it is a combination of factors that include both the coach and players. And in this instance, I will only say I probably have a little more information about the team dynamic than you that I've accumulated in the last few years. Appreciate hearing your thoughts. And my only concern is the team.

College players deserve a good experience which isn't just about winning. While winning is nice and the goal, there is certainly more to it than that. I am questioning the quality of the experience. I expect college students to have quality instructors. When the instructor does a poor job, I expect a college to act. People are paying good money and they deserve their money's worth. Especially, considering the cost of the education at NWC schools. I don't believe you spend that much money and turn a blind eye to the quality of what a student is receiving.

Best of luck to your favorite team!

Handles · February 17, 2011, 04:17:37 PM

Well said Lutefisk!!! Quality instruction is a key element.

I will be rooting for the underdogs this weekend

Lutefisk · February 17, 2011, 04:45:37 PM

Handles, I am with you on the underdogs... but I really like this league... it's fun to see these young ladies play hard at a game they love to play. That's the cool thing about D-3 - these young women play because they love sports.

Handles · February 17, 2011, 05:47:57 PM

This is an amazing conference!! I just wish everyone could see that....we have a tendancy to get overlooked by the other conferences and voting committtees. "For the love of the game," holds firm when it comes to DIII athletes.

Predictions on the 4th place finisher?

Whitman, Whitworth, or Linfield?? Its a race.......

BlueZoneBruin · February 17, 2011, 06:28:44 PM

Yay! There's discussion on the NWC board! It's just like the old days.

Weekend predictions to come...

Lutefisk · February 17, 2011, 07:20:42 PM

Looks like Whitman... but if Linfield can pull off the upset over Fox.... Not sure about the tie breakers. This might be the most competitive playoffs the league has seen in awhile!

BlueZoneBruin · February 17, 2011, 08:05:00 PM

Quote from: bballfan05 on February 16, 2011, 03:10:03 PM
So anyways.....

Big weekend in the NWC. UPS, FOX, and LC will all be fighting for that top spot.

UPS VS LC on Friday (LC senior night)
Fox vs. Linfield on Friday
Fox vs. UPS on Saturday (Fox senior night)
LC vs. Willamette on saturday

What are peoples predictions on who will win and what players will step up and shine?

My weekend predictions for the contenders...

Friday-
UPS at LC - UPS pulls the (minor) upset. Upsetting the LC senior night crowd. And making the last night of conference play really mean something. UPS by 7.

Fox at Linfield - Although closer than the last meeting (Fox by 15), the Bruins pull out a tough win against a much-improved Linfield squad. The much smaller Cats give Munger trouble, but Hannah still goes for 20+ and another double-double. Fox by 11. (Big question of the game...can the Bruins limit TOs to 15 or fewer?)

Saturday -
LC at Willamette - Duh. Pios by 15

UPS at Fox - If UPS wins, there is a three-way tie for first and I believe the loggers get the #1 seed - having beat Fox twice. Not gonna happen. Bruin crowd shows up en masse for only their second home game since Jan. 28. It's a classic Fox/UPS battle with the home team winning by 5. (FYI bballfan05 - "Fox senior night" isn't. The Bruins don't have any seniors.)

Final Conference standings
George Fox 14-2
Lewis and Clark 13-3
Puget Sound 12-4
*Whitworth 8-8 (Pirates get the bid due to a 3 point victory over LC on Dec. 3 - tiebreaker #2)
Whitman 8-8
Linfield 7-9
Pacific Lutheran 5-11
Pacific 2-14
Willamette 2-14

BlueZoneBruin · February 17, 2011, 08:07:03 PM

Quote from: Lutefisk on February 17, 2011, 07:20:42 PM
Looks like Whitman... but if Linfield can pull off the upset over Fox.... Not sure about the tie breakers. This might be the most competitive playoffs the league has seen in awhile!

From the NWC basketball championship handbook...

Ties shall be broken by:
1. Head to Head competition in conference games only
2. Results against conference teams in descending rank order
3. Best conference road record
4. Sempert System in conference games
5. Record versus non-conference common opponents at a common site
6. Pre-arranged draw by Athletics Directors at the fall meeting
(Adopted Winter 2008)

Lutefisk · February 17, 2011, 08:07:31 PM

Thanks for the tie breaker info.