WBB: Northwest Conference

BruinFan · December 17, 2011, 07:13:12 PM

An early weekend of conference play has passed. Conference play begins in earnest in 3 weeks. I am looking forward to the George Fox vs. Lewis and Clark match-up in Portland on January 3. Lewis and Clark picked up a quality win over Kean at the beginning of the season. Both GFU and LC have the opportunity to be highly ranked in the West region by late January. But ... there is a lot of tough Northwest Conference basketball to be played between now and then with other teams wanting to knock the Bruins and Pios down a peg.

Any thoughts?

BlueZoneBruin · December 18, 2011, 04:14:35 PM

BruinFan,

Thanks for starting the conversation. I've checked e board a few times and there wasn't any action yet. Having only seen the last three minutes of the George Fox vs. Colorado College game, I didn't feel like I had enough info too get things going.

What I have seen, and read, seems to indicate that it will once again be a two team ace in the NWC again this year. That is not to say that the other teams can't knock either of those two teams around. I think it is unlikely for either team to go undated through the conference this year. However, I don't this the other seven teams have what it takes to crack the top two in the final standings. I just saw that UPS fell to Chapman, as has been demonstrated in past years, and twice already in this young season, the Panthers don't have near enough horses to run with the class of the NWC, which no longer includes the Loggers. Still, it should be a fun season to watch.

My first full game is going to be on the 27th at Concordia. Anyone else heading to that one?

BlueZoneBruin

Lutefisk · December 20, 2011, 10:51:58 PM

Understood but thought a new thread would bring attention to question of who is paying attention.

BruinFan · December 21, 2011, 01:36:32 AM

I've been thinking about the question Lutefisk had about who is checking the board in the NWC.

I'm not surprised that there is little conversation regarding NWC hoops. It appears that other conferences have contributors that want to talk no matter how well their team is doing. Our conference tends to be more fair weather. Over the years, we have heard very little from those that follow Whitman and Pacific. Given Lewis and Clark's rise to dominance, their fan base has not jumped in here too much. PLU is not what they were under Gil, UPS appears to be slipping, and Willamette is still trying to get out of the cellar ... so the chat pool gets a bit small if only those at the top of the standings get involved.

I don't post that often either and am fine if we are just a quieter bunch.

Concordia vs. George Fox on 12/27. If the Bruins win that one then they go to Lewis and Clark on 1/3 for a conference match-up between two undefeated teams (11-0). I hope that gets some attention.

LCpio26 · December 27, 2011, 09:12:53 PM

If a topic gets brought up I will gladly be the lone LCfan

BruinFan · December 28, 2011, 03:27:36 PM

Quote from: LCpio26 on December 27, 2011, 09:12:53 PM
If a topic gets brought up I will gladly be the lone LCfan

LCpio26,
Welcome to the board. Are you going to attend the LC vs. GFU game on January 3? I plan to be there. A big test for both teams.

It is rather early to tell which teams will join GF and LC in the top 4 of the conference and make it to the conference tournament. The only teams I would eliminate now with confidence are PLU and Willamette. Linfield is a long shot, so I guess it comes down to whether UPS or Pacific has enough to finish higher than either Whitworth or Whitman.

Lutefisk · January 08, 2012, 09:39:24 AM

Hopefully, PLU will finally understand the need to get a new coach.... There is a reason the team lost good players from last year...

LCpio26 · January 09, 2012, 03:34:12 PM

Bruinfan... I did not make it to that game but I will most likely be at the remaining games and hopefully will make it down to the rematch.

BruinFan · January 14, 2012, 06:24:00 PM

Quote from: Lutefisk on January 08, 2012, 09:39:24 AM
Hopefully, PLU will finally understand the need to get a new coach.... There is a reason the team lost good players from last year...

PLU got my attention this week. The players are apparently playing hard and I see that as a plus for the program. I did not expect them to play UPS and LC so tough. I give them credit for their effort and it is too bad they weren't able to get the upset in either game. I wonder if this week will propel them to beating some teams in the middle of the conference pack.

Lutefisk · January 15, 2012, 11:14:31 PM

Bruin fan, nice sentiment but the PLU coach has run roughshod over that program the last several years. Take away Potter and that team would be 0-15. Just lucky to have that one player...
This coach has driven away good players by inexplicably supporting players who lack bball skills and team ethic.... witness the two guards with the following stats... FG-FGA 27-111 3PT 12-62, 31-114, 1-10.... add in the bad rebounding and other stats and you can see why PLU struggles. Sad because if the coach had not treated other players like all league Melissa Pixler so badly, this team might be competitive... All I can say is that teams like UPS and LC are taking this team very lightly...which explains close on paper scores in a couple games (LC killing them until letting up big time in last 4 minutes). Ask Robinson's former assistant why she left... will tell you all you need to know... Sad to see some kids lose their chance to enjoy college basketball because of a coach with an ego and no coaching talent to back it up.

Lutefisk · February 04, 2012, 01:26:35 PM

Imagine PLU without Potter.... 0-20 is what you'd be imagining. Kelly Robinson has mis-managed this program to the Nth degree and she needs to go. She has no clue about sports psychology which will come as a shock to her... She has no clue to judge player skills - witness the players she has lost due to their frustration with her bad decisions. Her teams NEVER have any chemistry on the floor which is no surprise as she seems fascinated with players who have NO team concept.

Parents of young ladies considering a DIII school, run... not walk... away from this program. Unless this university ends the Kelly Robinson reign of terror/incompetence.

Manny24 · February 06, 2012, 11:32:00 AM

Lutefisk, we here your frustration loud and clear. It was good to see them have a balanced game against Whitworth on Saturday. Hopefully the program identifies and initiates the best plan moving forward. Speaking of moving forward. Weeks away from NWC Tourney. With UPS sliding a bit with the whit's sweeping them this past weekend and the challenge of still facing GF and Lewis & Clark on their schedule the next couple of weeks, coupled with Whitman's remaining foes, one would put GF facing UPS and LC facing Whitman. With the only outside chance of Whitworth winning out (need to beat Whitman) and UPS winning the other two games on their schedule then they would scrap for the #4. Not saying that an upset is out of the question for UPS against GF and LC but highly unlikely. We'll see if Coach Payne can get them up as GF travels to the fieldhouse on Friday.
With all the local action I can't help but track GF and LC on the national level. GF as one of only four undefeated teams left in the country, and LC hanging in the top 10 is another great representaion of the NWC. It will be interesting to see the regional rankings as they are set to come out this week. I can hardly wait for the NWC to make some noise on the national stage this year.
Only a couple weeks left in conference play. Get out and support your local teams!

Manny24 · February 08, 2012, 06:43:27 PM

1st Regional Rankings are out. No surprise GF takes the top spot with an unblemished record. LC slides in at #3. First record shows in region record, second overall record.

1 George Fox 16-0 21-0
2 St. Thomas (Minn.) 20-1 20-1
3 Lewis & Clark 12-2 20-2
4 Gustavus Adolphus 17-4 17-4
5 Wartburg 16-5 16-5
6 Simpson 13-5 16-5

One more lamp to brighten the target for any upset minded NWC foes as we wind down conference play. Anyone know if GF maintains their ranking and gets past the NWC if they might get to host the first rounds?

BruinFan · February 14, 2012, 09:00:09 PM

Not much drama as the NWC heads into the final week. According to the Whitworth website the Pirates would win the tiebreaker over UPS if they win at Whitman and win versus Willamette, while UPS loses at both LC and Linfield. This will not happen.

Thus, it appears straight forward that George Fox will host Puget Sound while Lewis and Clark will host Whitman. Lewis and Clark has not been as dominant since Margaret Dowling has been injured and not playing. I don't know when she is expected to return. If she does not, I think Whitman has a shot to beat the Pioneers and then face George Fox in the championship for the automatic bid.

Manny - I won't try to predict what the NCAA will do with host sites. More often than not, George Fox has been awarded the first weekend. Last year they were sent to SoCal - don't see that happening this year. A bigger question for me is whether or not multiple NWC schools will be placed in different brackets. I would love to have that happen.

Manny24 · February 15, 2012, 11:04:41 AM

I see Whitman did take care of business last night with another strong performance from Peterson. I would agree with you that they have a shot to beat LC. They did come close to upending the Bruins in the early season and almost pulled off a win over LC in their last meeting and it wouldn't surprise me if they did. If they did I would say that the NWC would only be sending one if they loose in the finals as their overall record and lack of national attention would keep them from an at large bid ( just speculating). If they would somehow beat GF then yea I think GF would still get bid but I don't see that happening. Now if LC beats Whitman then I see them getting one even if they loose to GF due to their national ranking all year. We shall see soon enough.

So as we have another week and a half to chat about and witness how the NWC wraps up any interest it fast forwarding to next year? Alot of change happening watchng all of the senior nights and who will be wrapping up their college careers. GF being the most evident as 5 prominent seniors will be recognized at Fridays game against Linfield and LC with 4 at home Friday against UPS.

1. George Fox -
(Gordon, Mohsenian, Rhineheart-Young, Meyers, Towne.) The Rueck era of players begins to fade and the Meek era of players begins to take shape. He is fortunate to have another season with Munger and has a talented group of players that will step in that will keep them contenders but won't have the depth he has enjoyed the last two seasons.

2. LC -
(Dowling, Hauser, Spence, Snider.) K Williams and Villanueva will need a strong effort from the rest of the supporting cast.

3. Whitman -
(Peterson, Forge, Keyes). Loose their court leader in Peterson. Two other starters

4. UPS-
(Lowe, Riordan, Basilio) Liked the play of their frosh point guard that will help with loosing Riordan.

Just picked these 4 as they are in the NWC tourney this year. Lots of other changing of the guards.