MBB: Northwest Conference

Pio20 · January 20, 2008, 01:19:02 AM

Sad sad game for LC. After getting off to a slow start and being down 8-0 just like last night, the second unit played well and the game went to the Pios control. We were up by as many as 15 at one point in the first I think. Then at about the 13 minute mark of the second half, the offense just went stagnant. It took them a while, but Willamette cut down the 11 point deficit slowly, and the Pio offense continued to reel. Every game that the Pios play well and look consistent, they follow it up with an inconsistent game. Now they really need to play to win every game from here on out if they want a shot at even making the conference tournament.

nwhoops1903 · January 20, 2008, 01:37:34 AM

Pirates Win 83-78! With one returning starter from last season and what a game that starter, Ryan Symes had (24p 6a). Foster and Ryan both had nice games with some showcase dunks, but my gameball goes to WW point, Ross Nakamura. This 1st year junior had ZERO turnovers against UPS tonight. How many conference point guards can play 35+ minutes against UPS and say that over the past 6 years. Willemsen was also very good. Double double with 13 pts, pulled 11 def. RB and 2 steals.

Great gameplan by WW. I think WW coaches "hid" Sellereit against PLU then rolled him out tonight and he fired away for 17 pts and 24 minutes. WW ended up playing 9 without Montgomery, their starting post.

I am not sure when WW last swept in Tacoma, I do know this is the first time under Hayford. I waxed and warned that WW defense was for real. That PLU win obviously turned some heads based on those post and predictions I saw. Great job Pirates and I will be anxious to see and talk about polls next week.

pineconefan · January 20, 2008, 02:50:58 AM

nwhoops,

According to the story on the Whitworth website, this is the first time Whitworth has swept PLU and UPS on the same trip since UPS joined the league in the late 1990's. I knew this had been a tough trip annually for the Bucs, but didn't know that.

Maybe now that Whitworth has broken through, this trip won't seem so daunting in the future.

It is obviously a big win. If the Bucs can take care of business this week against the NWC's only winless teams, they will head into the second half 7-1 and have five of the last eight at home. Included in that group of five nome games are UPS (5-1), PLU (4-2) and Linfield (4-2).

nwhoops1903 · January 20, 2008, 03:39:01 AM

thanks pinecone, hadn't read the release yet.

http://www.whitworth.edu/Athletics/Teams/Basketball_Men/Releases/07_08/UPS1.htm

Pio20 · January 20, 2008, 02:06:32 PM

I would expect WW to at least get a few votes for the top 25 after they made the front page writeup too.

LogShow · January 20, 2008, 07:14:07 PM

Well the Loggers played uninspired last night and probably turned in one of their worst preformances this year. UPS dfinately did not have it, but got to hand it to WW they played well and are a good team.

I was suprised that the Logs came out so flat, they were lucky to be down only 3 at half. The 2nd half was somewhat better but the Loggers missed shots and turned it over late in the game while WW capitalized on the mistakes.

Well the Logs can't dwell on these games because they have two huge ones next weekend.

LogShow · January 20, 2008, 07:28:37 PM

Here are the standing after 3 weeks of conference play:

Puget Sound 5-1
Whitworth 5-1
Linfield 4-2
Pacific Lutheran 4-2
Lewis & Clark 3-3
Pacific 3-3
Willamette 3-3
George Fox 0-6
Whitman 0-6

LCPios07 · January 20, 2008, 08:50:16 PM

Definitely a frustrating weekend for Pio fans. Despite having a ton of experience, this year's team has just been extremely inconsistent. There has been so little to get excited about with LC sports, it is certainly disappointing how this season has gone so far. I am excited about seeing UPS Friday night, should be a fun game.

Have to give a lot of credit to WW as well. After losing all those seniors, to come back with another strong squad is pretty impressive.

Pirat · January 20, 2008, 10:47:25 PM

Nice job RATS

Points off the UPS press: UPS: 0 Whitworth: a lot

Do-Work25 · January 21, 2008, 12:21:33 PM

Well...crap.

Very disappointing performance by the Loggers on Saturday. Got to give props to WW.

Hopefully UPS will use this as fuel for the rest of the season.

Craziness all over the league it looks like. Just proves on any given night.....

LogShow · January 21, 2008, 11:18:54 PM

Latest poll is out

UPS drops 4 spots down to #11. WW was receiving votes. My guess is it will take WW 2 more weekends of sweeps before they break the Top 25

LogShow · January 21, 2008, 11:20:28 PM

So with this weekend behind us, its time to focus on next weekend. It seems like each game packs more and more pressure. I know the Logs have a huge weekend @LC and @Willamette

WW posters...are any of you concerned about the game Tues?

pineconefan · January 22, 2008, 12:58:07 AM

Tuesday is a potential trap game for the Pirates:

1. There has to be a natural let-down after such a big weekend
2. Third road game in a span of five days - fatigue
3. Fatigue could be a big issue because the starters played so many minutes this weekend

pineconefan · January 22, 2008, 12:58:58 AM

Congrats to Ryan Symes - NWC Player of the Week.

nwhoops1903 · January 22, 2008, 01:36:29 AM

I personally am not worried about the Tuesday game from a fatigue standpoint. I do think winning on the road in conf. is never simply about showing up. You must still play your game. I don't see Whitman changing things up much so the tempo should play into WW's style. WW is deeper than they let on.

Congrats to Symes. Other than 6-6 from line to seal at PLU, he didn't even play that great. Certainly was a force Sat. That's 3 for 3 for WA schools for POTW.

The top 25 Poll is apparently very difficult to break into. Our Massey with MOV is 14th in the country and although it doesn't even factor, our defense rating is #1 nationally. WW is holding teams 16.5 pts below their scoring average and doing so without making the game boring or slow, ie..they press, break and play man to man primarily.