WBB: Northwest Conference

[sethhpu]

Hoopnut or my buddy Ralph, what would you say Puget Sound's weaknesses are? Obviously they distrbute the ball well and are offensively very balanced, but I saw some low shooting percentage games???

[swiss]

Swiss,

So, where is this attack of which you so strongly protest? 

Go back and read the thread. It's pretty obvious.  LoggerBall had two different negative or provocative posts about Hubka over the weekend and a thinly veiled one regarding Behary.  Most of my ire was directed at LB.  I inadvertently included you in my response to what I thought were his classless comments about specific players.  You have my apology for that.  What I said about the Loggers as a team still stands.  They were a worthy opponent and I'd love to see them bring home a championship. 

[wildcat11]

I know enough about athletes to know that generally it is not ex players who take those kind of cheap shots at other players.  Most athletes are well aware of how difficult and how much sacrifice it takes to excel at a sport to disrespect another's efforts.

Swiss you would think that would be the case but I guess some athletes don't carry that respect.  Why would I say that....

After Linfield lost their NWC playoff game in Tacoma the lady 'Cats had a pretty crappy deal happen with some of the UPS fans after the game.

Two of our girls where alone outside of the UPS field house after the game when a car full of guys pulled up and stated to call the girls some pretty terrible names.  They started in with calling them losers then worked they way up to calling the girls some names I would rather not say.

The worst part is that the main culprit in the car is a player on the Logger's men varsity team.  You think a NCAA player would know better to verbally assault another athlete after a game….especially women.   

The girls recognized him because this player was also the same person who read the NWC/NCAA good sportsmanship policy before the palyoff game that night. 

Maybe I'm wrong to air that out in public but there is a group of fans that need a reality check before something really bad happens during a game or after.  However, I want to be clear that I think the UPS women's team and staff is excellent and has done nothing wrong at all and wish them victory at the sweet 16.  The UPS women's team can't control what some of their fans do but the UPS administration can...

[swiss]

I know enough about athletes to know that generally it is not ex players who take those kind of cheap shots at other players.  Most athletes are well aware of how difficult and how much sacrifice it takes to excel at a sport to disrespect another's efforts.

Swiss you would think that would be the case but I guess some athletes don't carry that respect.

Wildcat... It's really unfortunate that kind of thing occurs.  I suppose my broader point is that happens because people feel inadequate rather than adequate.  Dedicated people tend to recognize and value dedication in others while wounded people often go out of their way to wound others.

[LoggerBall]

In response to Swiss... don't start getting off on the rest of us about bad-mouthing players, you rode UPS posts after the first two losses constantly. I do recall there was a lot about how unstoppable the 33 and 40 were and how our little 5'8" couldn't do anything to stop them, if you look at the stats, I believe Campbell didn't score on Adderley all night.

You blatantly called out UPS players in earlier posts and get offended when we do the same. This is much like the refereeing that went on during the game. GFU does no wrong, NEVER commits a foul, but when they do, pardon the pun, but god have mercy on the ref's!!! The fans at GFU act like their players are god-sends. The game was a little one-sided in the second half but that's what happens when you have players who drive the ball to the hoop (UPS) and players who throw shots up the moment they cross half-court (GFU). It's hard to foul someone when they don't do anything but shoot from the perimeter.

I am happy that we got HPU in the Sweet 16 because it will be nice to see a strong McMurry showing against, at the time, the #1 school in the nation.  I believe that since there is no home court advantage, barring any unbelievable nights from their post, HPU will have a hard time defending against the constant barrage of fresh players that Barcomb will be throwing at them.

[LoggerBall]

I would like to offer my apologies as to the behavior of the few fans in the car that evening. I too saw this happen and would like to say that this is NOT typical of UPS fans. We may ride the players during the game, but not to the extent that GFU did Saturday night. Starting off the Airball wasn't bad.... I must say. But there comes a time when fans cross the line to degradation of players and that is completely unnecessary.

[swiss]

In response to Swiss... don't start getting off on the rest of us about bad-mouthing players, you rode UPS posts after the first two losses constantly. I do recall there was a lot about how unstoppable the 33 and 40 were and how our little 5'8" couldn't do anything to stop them, ...

What do you do LB, just make up stuff as you go along?

You really don't get it, do you?

[dballa]

Loggerball, your team goes 9 deep HPU goes 9 deep what makes you think yours will be any fresher than HPU's?  If you can't stop our posts Stacey Blalock and Kim Hoffman inside then you won't stand a chance.  if you slow them down then the guards on the outside will drain 3's all day.  Who do you have that can stop our all-american Meia Daniels? 

I think it will be a matter of who can penetrate the other teams zone and make shots.  Neither team turns the ball over a whole lot so i'm sure both teams will get plenty of chances for to score.

[LoggerBall]

I believe we have a deeper bench. Our players off the bench could be starters on almost any other team in the nation. I do believe HP,U's stats show that they are OUTSTANDING 3 point shooters - 31 for 127?? 145 for 442, 32% as a team Wow, and your stars are roughly 28% beyond the arc? I mean sure, you have players shooting 57%, but come on, when you are 5-9 in a season..... I don't think that says a whole lot.

Meia Daniels, if and when she gets shut down, it will be done by our four oustanding posts who can rotate to wings who can even rotate to guards when need be. Our players are versatile, quick, and play unbelievable defense. This will probably be one of the best games of the tournament and am sad that I won't be able to make it out to lovely Iowa to see it happen. Hopefully see you at the Final Four though!!! Go Logs!!!

[dballa]

What you don't see in those 3 point stats are when they occur.  Our players make big shots when they need to and that's usually during a big run.  If you look at any of the play by play stats you'll see that they hit them in big situations to pull away from the team.

As far as putting a post on Meia Daniels, I hope they do because she'll fly right by them.  I don't think UPS can show HPU anything they haven't seen before.

As far as defense goes, look at the national stats, HPU ranks 1st or in the top 10 in just about every category. 

I do think it will be a great game and like you I wish I could be there.  But this weekend I'll be stuck at home listening to the radio broadcast.

How many people from UPS are going to Iowa?  I know HPU has a charter bus full of fans going as well as Coach K's family and friends from his home state of Iowa.  I think HPU will be well represented up there and making some noise.

[arforbes]

Soo, I am gone for a couple weeks and the site turns into a spirited mud slinging session.  Congratulations UPS.  1 out of 4 ain't bad.  Unfortunately for my Bruins, you did win the tourney game to keep playing.  Of course, a loss a week prior and the Bruins probably would not have made the tourney.  In that case, UPS may have been playing Chapman or someone else from Cal and had a much easier time of it.
There is not much room for gloating in this, since the teams were evenly matched and played 4 relatively close games.  And we know who won the series and was the better team on 3/4 nights.
Good luck UPS.  Your success only improves the reputation of the NWC and makes it easier for all of us to get into the tourney in the future.  I will be following closely, although it will be on somebody else's internet feed.  Come on UPS, wake up to the new century and give us NWC addicts something to listen to from our NWC representative.

[Ralph Turner]

Welcome back, arforbes!

UPS and HPU should be a great game!

[hoopnut]

The more I look at the statistics, the more I'm convinced that the UPS/HPU game will be a toss-up. The teams appear to be almost a wash at every level. The size of the players is comperable, they both have similar depth, and neither team really has one "go to" player. Looking at the games involving their one and only common opponent, HPU had an average of 32% on FG, compared with 38% for UPS, HPU averaged 38 rebounds compaired to 44 for UPS. Just not really a significant differance.
Looks like it will be a great game, and whoever wants it the most will win. I'm looking forward to seeing it. There will be a small, but vocal UPS fan roup there, I'm guessing HPU fans will outnumber us.

I only wish it didn't take all day to get their. Good luck to both teams.

[dballa]

Another stat you should look at is free throws...on the year HPU has attempted over 200 more than UPS, both teams shoot just over 70%.  HPU is aggressive and finds ways to get to the free throw line.

With comparing the numbers against McMurry it's kind of hard to do since HPU played them 3 times and UPS only played them once.  HPU played all 3 games after tough games against Top 15 Hardin-Simmons.  Both teams are big rivals for HPU and thats draining on a team to play them back to back 3 different times and during the regular season it was in back to back weeks.


I agree it should be a fun game to watch...at least for the few that will be lucky enough to attend the games in Iowa.  I hope both teams play well and neither one come out with any injuries. 

[hoopnut]

I wouldn't count on a huge free throw advantage for HPU. While HPU is fairly low on fouls commited per game (13.7), UPS is not too far behind them (14.9). I doubt 1 or 2 additional trips to the line will be a deciding difference in the game, (or maybe it will!) Both teams tend to get more foul shots than they give up.

Again, I anticipate a very close game. While UPS has more losses than HPU, 3 of the six losses were to the same team, and they have never lost by more than 8 points this season. The NWC is a very strong conference, there are really only 2 of the 9 teams that would be considered "weak".