WBB: Northwest Conference

[BruinFan]

I think Whitman defeats Pacific tonight and claims the #4 spot.

I have noticed not that many seniors on rosters and finally got around to checking the entire conference. I used each school's website as my source. I counted academic seniors as seniors even if they have remaining eligibility for next year.

KEY:  School (# of seniors on roster); (sr. starters - sr. reserves ave. 10+ min. per game)

LC (1); (1-0)
GF (0)
UPS (0)
Whitman (3); (2-1)
Whitworth (0)
Linfield (1); (1-0)
PLU (2); (1-1)
Pacific (1); (0-0)
Willamette (3); (3-0)

Total NWC Seniors (11); (8-2)

Wow! A very young year. Only 11 seniors in the entire conference and 8 of them as regular starters. Coaches will have many familiar faces to work with next year.

[Out_Of_My_Kitchen]

Just posted this on the IIAC board, but what does anyone think they are going to do with the groupings this year?  Since there are no first round byes, do the NWC school(s) fly into the Midwest or do schools come to the NW? 

[dahlby]

Just speculating, but if the NWC gets a Pool C bid, and Chapman is selected, that would create a four team first round, to be played in the NW or Southern California.

[Bird Dog]

Just speculating, but if the NWC gets a Pool C bid, and Chapman is selected, that would create a four team first round, to be played in the NW or Southern California.

I agree with your theory.

[bballfan05]

any predictions for this weekend?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Final Regional Rankings before Selection Sunday: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/category/ncaa-stuff/regional-rankings/

[steveflegel]

As of this afternoon, all NWC playoff games going on as scheduled tonight, despite the weather.

[BlueZoneBruin]

I was trying to follow the L&C/Whitman game tonight and found that Lewis and Clark doesn't often live stats or audio of their home games. All that they offer is a video broadcast that they charge for. I know that Fox offer free live stats, audio, and video of all of its home games.

Does any other school in the NWC charge for access? I feel like that's pretty petty for a school that has a sticker price of 48K+ per year.

And do other schools not offer live stats? That seems like a pretty standard practice these days.

[dahlby]

Most of the schools in D3 offer free live stats &/or audio &/or video for their games. It would seem that it would be good public relations to offer this for free, as a tool to get alumni that don't live close enough to witness the games (especially prior athletes) to become more involved with their alma mater and eventually donate much needed dollars to the school and/or athletic program. With the costs of such productions dropping every year due to the technological advances nowadays, it is almost penny wise and dollar foolish not to offer this for free. This would be especially true during conference and national tourney's.

[bballfan05]

February 25, 2011
2011 All-NWC Women's Basketball Team

Player of the Year: Kristina Williams, Lewis & Clark
Coach of the Year:  Juli Fulks, Lewis & Clark

First Team All-NWC -
Kristina Williams, Lewis & Clark (G, 5-9, So., El Dorado Hills, Calif. - Oak Ridge)
Keisha Gordon, George Fox (W, 5-10, Jr./Jr., Vancouver, Wash. - Heritage)
Hannah Munger, George Fox (P, 6-5, So./So., Newberg, Ore. - Newberg)
Gretchen Owens, Linfield (G/F, 5-10, Jr./Jr., Glendale, Ore. - Umpqua C.C.)
Jocelyn Riordan, Puget Sound (G , 5-9 , Jr./Jr. , Lake Forest Park, Wash. – Shorecrest)
Jenele Peterson, Whitman (G, 5-7, Sr./Jr., Redondo Beach, Calif. – South)

Second Team All-NWC -
Kelsey McKinnis, Puget Sound (G, 5-8, So./So., Ashland, Ore. – Ashland)
Christina Herring, Lewis & Clark (G, 5-6, Sr., San Dimas, Calif. - Vivian Webb School)
Emily Guthrie, Whitworth (G, 5-7, So./So., Snohomish, Wash. - Snohomish)
Megan Spence, Lewis & Clark (P, 6-0, Jr., Kingston, Wash. – King's West)
Erica Schultz, Pacific (Ore.) (F, 5-10, Jr./Jr. , Medford, Ore. - North Medford)

Honorable Mention –
George Fox:  Arianna Mohsenian (W, 5-8, Jr./Jr.)
Linfield:  Kaely Maltman (F, 5-11, Fr./Fr.)
Pacific (Ore.): Paige Jensen (F, 5-11, So./So.)
Pacific Lutheran: Shelly Kilcup (G, 5-7, So./Fr.); Samantha Potter (P, 5-10, Fr./Fr.)
Whitman: Kelly Peterson (F, 5-8, So./So.); Rebecca Sexton (P, 6-3, Sr.-Sr.)

[BlueZoneBruin]

[Also posted on SCIAC/Chapman board]

First Round Predictions
-Oxy at NWC Winner
-Chapman against NWC Pool C bid @ NWC Winner

Second Round
-NWC #1 hosts NWC #2

Reasoning for predictions are simple...
-GFU and L&C are regionally ranked ahead of Chapman. Oxy isn't ranked.
-Both remaining NWC schools will get in, regardless of championship outcome.
-Chapman played two games against teams with poor records in the D3-I tournament, whereas GFU and L&C have played solid teams in the NWC tournament (L&C beat Whitman, and Fox beat UPS which was regionally ranked for two weeks - once ranked...). As a result, both NWC SOS go up, Chapman's goes down. 

[dahlby]

BlueZone.
You are probably right regarding pairings, but do you feel my pain on your predictions?
(Just kidding)

[BlueZoneBruin]

Dahlby,

Although I'm back in the NWC, I was at Cal Lutheran for seven years. So yes, I certainly understand. Of course, from my current seat, I enjoy the circumstances.

[dahlby]

BlueZone,
We just need some of your more physical type players down here. We have the coaching, heart, desire and motivation...but lack in a few other areas.

Cal Lu has been making great strides in the past few years. They have put much emphasis into their athletic programs.

Yes, your seat is probably very comfortable. What can I say?

[BlueZoneBruin]

Bruins win with a gutsy performance in overtime! Congrats to Coach Michael Meek for coaching this young team on to the Northwest Conference Championship. With a new coaching staff and seven new players, they are very deserving of cutting down the nets!  On to the first round!

My revised prediction...

Regional Ranking
1. Coe
2. George Fox
3. Lewis & Clark
4. Chapman
5. Simpson
6. Concordia-Moorhead

George Fox hosts First and Second Rounds...
Fox plays Oxy in Round One...
Lewis & Clark plays Chapman...
Fox plays Lewis & Clark in round two for the fourth time this year in yet another physical game. Fox wins by 14.