MBB: Northwest Conference

Pio20 · February 17, 2008, 04:18:54 PM

The Pios do it again. Up 14 in the first half they slowly collapse. The second half was us missing a ton of threes and missing even more free throws. We were still in it late in the second half but it seemed every time we needed a stop they drained a three. Down by one with under 10 seconds left we threw the ball away and then Toboni airballed a three to tie. A fitting end to an extremely inconsistent season. This team could easily be in first, or last.

LogShow · February 17, 2008, 04:43:42 PM

Sound like a real Jeckyll and Hyde preformance

LogShow · February 17, 2008, 04:44:52 PM

Strangely UPS has seemed to have the same kind of problems...get up in the first half, lose it in the second half. Those are the painful ones

Pio20 · February 17, 2008, 05:08:48 PM

Quote from: LogShow on February 17, 2008, 04:43:42 PM
Sound like a real Jeckyll and Hyde preformance

The whole season has been that way really. Win two, lose two, win one, lose one...Even within games we have been inconsistent. Play great one half, horrible the next. Be up 26 against a nationally ranked team, lose to an under .500 team. The season kind of went like all a lot of our games. Play well then stop trying as hard and play poorly then still have a shot at the end but come up just short.

NWCer · February 17, 2008, 06:11:31 PM

Logshow, I wouldn't say Willamette is definitely in the top 3. They have 2 very tough road games left (Pac and UPS), they could easily drop both, and if Linfield can win out then they're in, if they get 1 they should have the tie breaker, even though there are only two games left a lot can happen

LogShow · February 17, 2008, 06:14:59 PM

Quote from: NWCer on February 17, 2008, 06:11:31 PM
Logshow, I wouldn't say Willamette is definitely in the top 3. They have 2 very tough road games left (Pac and UPS), they could easily drop both, and if Linfield can win out then they're in, if they get 1 they should have the tie breaker, even though there are only two games left a lot can happen

Very true

LogShow · February 17, 2008, 06:16:07 PM

Pio20, do you think LC is done or will they give a good effort these last 2 games...they have two pretty tough ones.

Pio20 · February 17, 2008, 07:01:20 PM

The feeling I got from being at Willamette is that LC is done. Rivera said they would win all their games, everyone was confident that they controlled their own destiny. But the way they played didn't translate. They love to play well for a while then seem to lose all composure. I don't see a win at UPS and a win at Linfield plus two Willamette losses happening. But then again, anything I expected from the Pios this season never happened, so who knows.

nwhoops1903 · February 17, 2008, 07:40:10 PM

Logshow, the game was pretty evenly contested in my opinion. UPS did get the first run and went up 10. WW got the next run to pull even. UPS had a mini run to go back up 5 and Marsh missed a 3 that would have been 8. We converted, then UPS missed 3 more 3's and Krauel missed 2 free throws and we were back in it with 6:40 to play. WW switched to a zone during second half and Foster never found a spot to dunk against it. (3 first half slams)!
The guy might be a 1-2 team All-American next season. He has my vote, if I had one.

I think WW showed some composure and heart. I do not think UPS choked on anything in the second half, I think WW just played better and dictated the style. Without A. Williams incredible clutch 3pt buckets (3 in final 3 minutes), WW would have won by at least 5 and not sweated the final :30. If WW can find the stroke from 3pt line, Pirates can win out next week and prepare for a all out war in playoffs agains whoever makes it.

I think WW is practically guaranteed a spot right now. Am I right?

pineconefan · February 17, 2008, 08:26:41 PM

"I think WW is practically guaranteed a spot right now. Am I right?"

If Whitworth wins on Tuesday, yes.

I'll try not to brag too much about Whitman shocking a team in the last two weekends...

Now that they have their win, they can play out the string against Whitworth and GFU.

pineconefan · February 17, 2008, 08:29:20 PM

About last night's game -

Great crowd, great teams, great atmosphere. Exactly what DIII basketball is all about.

It was a pleasure to watch Foster and Symes go head to head, essentially a match up of the two top Player of the Year candidates (in my opinion). Foster had the advantage in the first half after Symes had to sit for extended stretches with foul trouble.

Would've liked to have seen the Pirates make a few more free throws down the stretch.

LogShow · February 17, 2008, 08:45:19 PM

I might have been misunderstood. I didn't think UPS choked, they simply couldn't hit shots when they had to, and they couldn't stop Symes in the 2nd half.

nwhoops1903 · February 17, 2008, 09:15:35 PM

Here is the tiebreaker info for NWC 2008 Basketball with some helpful info. I know you didn't ask but....YOUR WELCOME!

In case of a tie in the regular-season Conference standing affecting
post-season advancement, ties shall be broken by:
1. Head-to-Head competition in conference games only
WW was not swept by any team and did sweep UPS...WW wins (v UPS) or pushes all rule 1 scenarios it may encounter
2. Results against above teams in rank order in conference games only
Should UPS finish with best record, WW would win all rule 2 scenarios because they swept UPS
3. Best conference road record
WW is currently 4-3 on road with 1 to play, UPS 6-2 on road, WIL 3-3 on road, LC 3-3 on the road, LF 1-6 on road.
4. Sempert System in conference game someone have a calculator?
The Sempert point system is as follows:
1. 4 points win on road over a .500 team or better.
2. 3 points win at home over a .500 team or better win on road over a team below .500
3. 2 points win at home over a team below .500
4. 1 point losing to a .500 or better team anywhere
5. 0 points losing to a team below .500
6. A .500 or better record in conference play determines you are a winning team.
5. Record versus non-conference common opponents at a common site research.com
6. Pre-arranged draw by Athletic Directors at the fall meeting bad luck Chuck
(Adopted January 2008)

nwhoops1903 · February 17, 2008, 09:30:18 PM

The scenario where WW and/or UPS misses playoffs requires these 2 teams to lose both of their remaining games. Even if that did happen and WIL wins both of their remaining , LC or LF would have to win both, but since they play each other the loser of that game Sat will be eliminated. Which means there is actually only 4 teams still in contention. Who the fourth team is remains to be seen.

If WW wins Tuesday then they can lose at GF Friday and still be guaranteed the third spot. UPS wins Friday and also guarantees a spot and virtually eliminates LC who would need WIL to lose both. LF is on a slim hope.

LogShow · February 17, 2008, 10:07:24 PM

Quote from: nwhoops1903 on February 17, 2008, 09:30:18 PM
The scenario where WW and/or UPS misses playoffs requires these 2 teams to lose both of their remaining games. Even if that did happen and WIL wins both of their remaining , LC or LF would have to win both, but since they play each other the loser of that game Sat will be eliminated. Which means there is actually only 4 teams still in contention. Who the fourth team is remains to be seen.

If WW wins Tuesday then they can lose at GF Friday and still be guaranteed the third spot. UPS wins Friday and also guarantees a spot and virtually eliminates LC who would need WIL to lose both. LF is on a slim hope.

This playoff picture rundown is sounding like the NFL playoffs scenarios.