MBB: Northwest Conference

[rms78645]

Does it matter that 4 of PLU's 5 losses came without Brandeberry and the other loss was a doulbe ot loss to UPS?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Does it matter that 4 of PLU's 5 losses came without Brandeberry and the other loss was a doulbe ot loss to UPS?

All-time winningest d3 team Wittenberg is 8-5 but received no votes.  In their case, a 1-5 start has totally overshadowed a current 7-game winning streak.  If PLU can make it to 11 or 12 and 5, those sorts of mitigating factors will become relevant, but no one bothers to take a close look at a 7-5 team.

[Pio20]

LC is going to have trouble climbing back into the top 25 as well. I doubt they would have gotten in at all if they weren't there to start the season off. Because of the two losses to DI teams, they were up against the wall with two losses early. Now, standing at 8-4 with only 10 votes, it will take them at least a few weeks (assuming they win all their games) to climb back in. Of course, more important than that is winning conference.

Willamette (2-2) heads to Linfield (3-1) tonight. My prediction: Linfield wins easily 84-71. A Willamette upset would be big though, as it would drop both teams to two losses and Linfield would drop form the top tier of the standings. Anyone else have thoughts?

[rms78645]

While I'm sure being ranked in the top 25 would be thrilling I am more concerned with winning games.  I am new to the program and I am excited with the "winning attitude" that I see this year. Last year it was like we just didn't know how to win games. We just couldn't seem to pull off close games. We are doing a better job at that this year.

[LogShow]

While I'm sure being ranked in the top 25 would be thrilling I am more concerned with winning games.  I am new to the program and I am excited with the "winning attitude" that I see this year. Last year it was like we just didn't know how to win games. We just couldn't seem to pull off close games. We are doing a better job at that this year.

I would agree that PLU is much improved, I don't think they truly know how to win games.  They have a history of giving away games at the end.  They were up on UPS, but couldn't close the deal.  Almost every conference game is close so we will see what kind of team PLU has in the coming weeks.  This weekend is huge for PLU, especially if they can hold off WW.

[LogShow]

So there you go SoundLogs, a PLU poster...Ask and thou shall receive

[UPSoundLogs]

"So there you go SoundLogs, a PLU poster...Ask and thou shall receive"

-Logshow

Thats awesome!  It's almost like Christmas all over again!

"Does it matter that 4 of PLU's 5 losses came without Brandeberry and the other loss was a doulbe ot loss to UPS?"

-rms,

You do have a good point about PLU's loses this year(although I think you guys are almost better without Berryberry's cause he slows the team down) and I was VERY impressed with how the Lutes played at UPS as I have mentioned many times.  However,I think Logshow brings up a good point, PLU is unable to slam the door shut on teams.  If you get WW this weekend and crush Whitman you'll be on the right track to getting some national votes though.

[pineconefan]

Glad to see that there is a PLU fan on the board now.  Welcome RMS, the more the merrier.

But that is the natural ebb and flow of these posting boards.  As teams do well, you hear from their fans.  If Linfield wins a few more, I am sure we'll see a mirgration of their myriad football followers over this way.  We started seeing L&C fans show up again last year.

At the same time, we haven't heard from the regular Willamette followers in quite a while.

I respect NWCfan for being here for his Boxers through thick and thin (mostly thin).

[pineconefan]

As far as this weekend goes, it is a tough test for Whitworth.  The Pirates have struggled in Tacoma in recent years, getting swept in both 2005 and 2006.  Whitworth has not won both over there during Hayford's tenure.

Also was reminded today that Whitworth is actually playing three road games in five days (at Whitman next Tuesday).  Tough stretch.

[Pugetsoundfan]

I watch quite a bit of UPS basketball and this year's team looks really, really good.  The question for me is whether the league is now so comfortable with the press that it's not so effective against NWC opponents.  In the first few seasons, most opponents in the NWC would eventually just melt down.  Two big three-to-five minute runs by UPS  would end the game.  We've seen this against some non-NWC opponents this year (see Cal-State Stanislaus, down by 30 after 12 minutes of basketball and not knowing what hit them), but conference opponents seem to have worked hard to match what the Loggers do and seem to be successfully standing up to the pressure.

I think that the PLU game was a case in point.  PLU has a nice team, but I think that if UPS played them straight up the Loggers would beat them easily.  In my opinion, UPS is too athletic on the front line and at the point for the Lutes.  PLU's ability to break the press repeatedly for easy buckets (and lots of 3s--those guys can shoot) made them competitive with what I think of as a superior team.  The Lutes did have some breakdowns under the pressure, but for most of the game they were torturing UPS.   I've seen games over the years where the pressure didn't work as well as the Loggers hoped, but I hadn't seen a game where it seemed to me that the other team was actually better off because UPS was coming at them with the kitchen sink.   

Linfield unfolded the same way, except in this game UPS gave up on the full court, manic pressure for good portions of the game....the tempo was as slow for a Logger game as I've seen in four years or so...It will be an interesting year in the NWC, and interesting to see how the Ls adjust to the good challenges solid competition is throwing up every night.

[Ralph Turner]

Welcome to the boards, p's'fan!

Good post!  +1

[cawcdad]

Glad to see that there is a PLU fan on the board now.  Welcome RMS, the more the merrier.

But that is the natural ebb and flow of these posting boards.  As teams do well, you hear from their fans.  If Linfield wins a few more, I am sure we'll see a mirgration of their myriad football followers over this way.  We started seeing L&C fans show up again last year.

At the same time, we haven't heard from the regular Willamette followers in quite a while.

I respect NWCfan for being here for his Boxers through thick and thin (mostly thin).

Hey pineconefan, I've been here since the beginning of the season. A lone voice in the wilderness.

[pineconefan]

You are right CAWCDAD, you've been here all along this season.

My apologies.

[LogShow]

PS-fan welcome to the board!  It always nice to have another poster...especially when its a Logger!  This board has been really lively this year...its been great!


I think your post was interesting and hit on some good points.  I felt that way last year that teams now seem to have good strategies for breaking UPS' press and when that happens lay-ups result.  I don't think that UPS can go crazy and trap all game long.  Don't get me wrong, I love the pressure, but I think we could do without the traps.  The Loggers don't seem to get much out of them, other then giving up a numbers situation on the defensive end.  I would like UPS to switch up their pressure more.  Trap hard for 5 mins, don't trap for 5, play half court d for 5, or change strategies whether its a make or miss or FT, ect  .  I think that would keep the opposing team guessing and not let them get comfortable.

UPS is too athletic and too good defensively to be giving up easy buckets.

[cawcdad]

The Cats move to 4 - 1 in NWC play with an 84 - 78 win over the B'cats. Built the lead up to 9 and 10 several times and would let Willamette back into it. Held on at the end.