MBB: Northwest Conference

Pio20 · February 06, 2008, 05:07:02 PM

I don't know about everyone else, but of the third place contenders, all of which I have seen play this season, PLU really sticks out to me as legit. I see them being the third seed in the playoff. They also have two games against Linfield left as well as one against Willamette, so they can easily pick up games against the teams ahead of them right now.

Chuck_Curtis · February 06, 2008, 07:31:49 PM

PLU has it's next three games on the road, Willamette, Whitworth, and Whitman. If they can take two of those three I think they'll be in good shape. The Lutes have Linfield and Pacific at home for their final two games. PLU lost both those games on the road but being in the Big-O will help our chances. PLU has only lost twice at home this year, to Whitworth & UPS, by a combined total of five points. I'm really excited to see Linfield in action too.

LogShow · February 06, 2008, 09:54:19 PM

Wanted to say congrats again to the Loggers for their hard fought victory last night. PLU played a heck of a game, and they are definately a good team. But the Logs came through when it mattered the most!

Quick points about the game. UPS played hard, PLU made some plays and Dressler hit some big shots. As I have said befroe, UPS can really play D when they want to. One player who I was very impressed with last night was Walker. He is a role player that really works hard. He was all over the place last night and had some huge steals. We spend a lot of time talking about the big guns, but UPS has some great supporting players that deserve some credit too (Wood, Walker, Boyce, and Brown).

Two concerns I do have are: 1) Turnovers- UPS had lots of unforced or careless TOs. They have to cut those down...20 a game won't cut it.
2) Lack of 3-point shooting...they were 5-17 last night, yikes.

nwhoops1903 · February 07, 2008, 12:24:49 AM

I went to the game and the PLU support was very good. The place was loud and there was plenty of logger fans too. The atmosphere was exactly what makes college basketball such a special thing.

The game....WOW a thrilla. Both teams wanted this game bad and when either would let up, the other would make a move. In my book, PLU should have won in regulation. Free throw misses cost PLU bigtime. Had they not missed a couple of big ones, PLU would have been in a much better position to ward off UPS's final push. Oh well. Congrats to Loggers for winning a tough game.

If life was fair, UPS loses last night but beats GF last Sat. COLLEGE HOOPS IS NOT FAIR. NWC is tough. My Pirates have a big test at LC. I was hoping a PLU win would give us a small, if even a very small cushion.

LogShow · February 07, 2008, 12:35:13 AM

NWHoops, how are you feeling about WW game at LC? Obviously confident...cause they are your team. But are you worried at all? It is a huge game for WW and LC is fighting for their playoff life (not to mention payback for the 30 point drubbing in Spokane).

nwhoops1903 · February 07, 2008, 11:11:22 AM

I don't think the LC game is by any means a W. I think we will have to play harder and better than LC at every position. When we play with focus and defensive intensity we are very good. If we do not, we are beatable.

The guard positions are so critical in our Conf. LC's backcourst has a tremendous NWC experience advantage over ours and so Nakamura and Riley must play like veterans for us to win decisively. Fortunately, our point guard leads the nation in assist to TO ratio and Tillery leads the world in dumb fouls (unverified stat).

I am also concerned about our ability to overcome a 10+ deficit. If we get a lead early, we tend to take control. Get out front on us by 8-9 in the first 7-8 minutes and we are in some potential trouble.

LogShow · February 07, 2008, 01:00:42 PM

QuoteTillery leads the world in dumb fouls

Lol...probably true

QuoteI am also concerned about our ability to overcome a 10+ deficit. If we get a lead early, we tend to take control. Get out front on us by 8-9 in the first 7-8 minutes and we are in some potential trouble.

That's an interesting observation. Do you think it's a lack of confidence? Maybe their lack of experience leads to dispair if they get down early?

LogShow · February 07, 2008, 01:29:07 PM

UPS has played in a lot of close games this year, lots of times coming down to overtime.

They have already played 3 OT games this year, inlcuding a double OT against PLU. They have won all 3 OT games. Interesting that both the PLU games were decided in overtime this year.

Last year the Logs played 2 OT games including the unforgettable 3 OT thriller against Willamette, and were 2-0 in both OT games. So that's 5-0 for the past 2 year.

The total overtime periods played for last year and this year is 8!

The 3 years that UPS won the conference title 04-06. UPS only had 2 overtime games, both coming in 2004. Both were Logger wins.

Suprisingly the Logs are 7-0 in OT games. Sure does make for some exciting games...but I bet Lunt would prefer a 15 point win

pineconefan · February 07, 2008, 05:26:33 PM

"I am also concerned about our ability to overcome a 10+ deficit. If we get a lead early, we tend to take control. Get out front on us by 8-9 in the first 7-8 minutes and we are in some potential trouble." - nwhoops1903

nwhoops makes a very valid point. But I don't think it has anything to do with confidence. It has everything to do with style. This year the Pirates are like their football team was, defensive and grind it out on offense. When that kind of team gets ahead, it can dictate tempo and control the flow. When that kind of team gets behind, that style makes it harder to make sustained offensive runs.

Whitworth expended so much energy just to catch up against Willamette last weekend, they were spent when it came time to make the final push over the top.

LogShow · February 07, 2008, 07:00:07 PM

Here is the conference schedule for tomorrow night:

Feb 8th
Whitman @Pac
WW @LC
UPS @Linfield
Willamette @ G Fox

nwhoops1903 · February 08, 2008, 04:08:52 AM

Pinecone is right. It has nothing to do with confidence. I think WW believes in themselves and is not surprised to be on or near the top. WW needs to dictate the style/tempo to be dominant like they were against LC at home. They can still win games where they relax becasue they are good and have talent, but I am sure WW coaches prefer the defensive intensity style over anything else.

LogShow · February 08, 2008, 04:48:42 AM

Quote from: nwhoops1903 on February 08, 2008, 04:08:52 AM
Pinecone is right. It has nothing to do with confidence. I think WW believes in themselves and is not surprised to be on or near the top. WW needs to dictate the style/tempo to be dominant like they were against LC at home. They can still win games where they relax becasue they are good and have talent, but I am sure WW coaches prefer the defensive intensity style over anything else.

Yeah I agree...I was just throwing out different thoughts. This weekend is huge for WW especially tomorrow night at LC. If they get both...look out next weekend will esstentially be for the conference title!

LogShow · February 08, 2008, 12:50:37 PM

Anyone have thoughts on this weekend's games?

Pio20, how are you feeling about the big game tonight? LC isn't out of the race yet.

Pio20 · February 08, 2008, 01:34:09 PM

I'm feeling like we have to win..haha. I mean at this point, we basically need everything to go our way in order to get that third spot. That includes winning out. I will say this much, we have always played better with our back to the wall. This includes the season and games when we were down. We simply play not to lose when we are up in a game instead of playing to win. That being said, I don't see us scoring 33 points again. That game was a fluke. Of course, I give a ton of credit to Whitworth's defense, but we struggled to make a shot as well. I really have no idea what to expect tonight. I think either we come out wanting to win every game or we come out giving up on a very disappointing season. I think we need a big game from Tillery. We need to take the ball inside, even if that means penetrating off one-on-one matchups. One of our problems is we have no real offense, we don't set picks or screens or really do anything but play one-on-one. So if Tillery can stay out of foul trouble and penetrate and either take it all the way or kick it out then we can be ok. Otherwise, as with the UPS game, we end up standing around and then missing a three. But, like I said, really no idea what to expect tonight.

NWCer · February 08, 2008, 01:46:06 PM

I'm going to take your bait Logshow and throw out some predictions............

Whitworth 65, LC 54, played at a slower pace than LC likes...........

UPS 110, Linfield 109, OT, UPS keeps winning the close ones..........

George Fox 68, Willamette 64, George Fox uses the UPS win to propel them to a strong finish with 5 of the last 6 at home

Pacific 78, Whitman 65, Pacific gets it done at home against the Missionaries.........