MBB: Northwest Conference

[pineconefan]

I've mentioned this before, but I think it is worth repeating.

The team that will benefit the most from Whitman hiring Bridgeland, besides the Missionaries, is Whitworth.  Just guessing here, but in the past I believe opponents would spend 80+% of their time preparing for Whitworth during the week, then take their chances against Whitman.  Now coaches will have to spend at least 50% of their time preparing for the "system" - assuming Bridgeland installs it at Whitman.

Also, its clear that for good or bad, Bridgeland gets into people's head (just reading this board over the last week proves that).  I think the same is true for a lot of the coaches in this league.

Should be interesting.

[LogShow]

I swear...so many posts...damnit...i am outta the loop

[LogShow]

Mtnman, we are all on the same team...so its all good baby

Bridgeland did lots of good things at UPS (read: 3 conference champions) all did a lot of things people didn't approve of...ask around.  Point is he won, but did it by ways that some people are gonna disagree with.  So either way you slice it, some are gonna like him and some are gonna hate him and some are gonna be inbetween.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion....but we are all on the same team

[LogShow]

Dang!   Can't give myself Karma!  I was trying to pull a Bridgeland 

NWCer, who writes your material...you are killing me!

[LogShow]

I'm not hating on Bridgeland, the guy was 44-4 and won 3 titles from 04-06 with an elite 8 appearance, that's awesome....  He's good, and Whitman will be much better I'm anticipating, I think they could finish as high as 6th actually this year, but 1st is a bit out of the question for 08-09.

He was also 23-27 in his first 2 years. and the second year was all his guys...don't expect Whitman to compete anytime soon...3 years at the earliest.  He could turn it around, but that would be some true magic, I don't think he could get the same sort of student athlete in to Whitman as he did at UPS...I wonder how the Whitman guy are doing right now...

[LogShow]

Also, its clear that for good or bad, Bridgeland gets into people's head (just reading this board over the last week proves that).  I think the same is true for a lot of the coaches in this league.

Should be interesting.

I kinda like this point/topic of conversation...who is the best at working the ref/creative arguing/ect?
I would go with Gordie as the best (he knows how to work 'em and everything falls his way in Cone) and probably Dickerson as the worst (all ihe does is hold a rolled up program)

any thoughts?  

[bbaddict]

That's rich coming from a "can't get a fair call in Tacoma" fan.  Have you watched the games at PLU & UPS when visiting teams come in?  I'm not sure how they handle it when the Loggers play the Lutes!

I think it's pretty universal -- we all live with bad calls some nights.   Some coaches just choose not to go postal over it -- Gordie James is one of them!

[logshock101]

on the topic of coaches did any of you guys ever catch when a couple of the UPS fans dressed up like Hayford and mimiced his every action? I never saw it but heard it was priceless

[Pugetsoundfan]

Well, this is close to out of hand. 

I am interested to see whether UPS maintains its commitment to the press this year.  By the end of last season the Loggers were offering only token pressure in the frontcourt much of the time, because it was apparent that the old monster wasn't working very well against teams in the league.  The pressure blew away a few non-league teams, but the only NWC teams I saw really fall apart in Tacoma last year were Whitman and Pacific.  In fact, I thought that PLU--with far less talent--was able to stay in games against the Loggers because they so effectively exploited the press. 

One of the big differences I've seen with the Loggers under Lunt has been related to personnel.  The best Logger teams under Bridgeland had at least two dead 3 point shooters.  He head one of those guys on the floor at all times, running the wing to the corner, then crossing the court to the other corner for the bomb.  The last two years I think they've had just one guy (Marsh), a tough player who was a little inconsistent last year.  When Marsh went to the bench to rest up from running in the defense they play, UPS didn't really have a guy to put up on the floor who had the quick release and accuracy they needed to open things up and--with the 3s--to ratchet up the panic and make the press feel more intense.

Just my thoughts.

[Pugetsoundfan]

I also want to respond to the point that in the NWC and DIII that it's "all about winning."  Knowing literally nothing about the internal dynamics of the athletic department and the basketball program at Puget Sound at any time, and nothing about the Bridgeland years except the great ball I saw from way up in the bleachers, I'd say this: Puget Sound is quite intense academically, and DIII is what it is--no scholarships, something that people do for the competition and the love of the game.  It's got to crush guys to try to keep up with tough courses while traveling and practicing as much as these guys do.  If it isn't fun, can it be worth doing?

[logshock101]

I also want to respond to the point that in the NWC and DIII that it's "all about winning."  Knowing literally nothing about the internal dynamics of the athletic department and the basketball program at Puget Sound at any time, and nothing about the Bridgeland years except the great ball I saw from way up in the bleachers, I'd say this: Puget Sound is quite intense academically, and DIII is what it is--no scholarships, something that people do for the competition and the love of the game.  It's got to crush guys to try to keep up with tough courses while traveling and practicing as much as these guys do.  If it isn't fun, can it be worth doing?

I give props to guys who can play hoops at the college level while maintaing good enough grades at a school like ups where school was tough enough by itself. and doing it all without any kind of financial compensation.

[logshock101]

Well, this is close to out of hand. 

I am interested to see whether UPS maintains its commitment to the press this year.  By the end of last season the Loggers were offering only token pressure in the frontcourt much of the time, because it was apparent that the old monster wasn't working very well against teams in the league.  The pressure blew away a few non-league teams, but the only NWC teams I saw really fall apart in Tacoma last year were Whitman and Pacific.  In fact, I thought that PLU--with far less talent--was able to stay in games against the Loggers because they so effectively exploited the press. 

One of the big differences I've seen with the Loggers under Lunt has been related to personnel.  The best Logger teams under Bridgeland had at least two dead 3 point shooters.  He head one of those guys on the floor at all times, running the wing to the corner, then crossing the court to the other corner for the bomb.  The last two years I think they've had just one guy (Marsh), a tough player who was a little inconsistent last year.  When Marsh went to the bench to rest up from running in the defense they play, UPS didn't really have a guy to put up on the floor who had the quick release and accuracy they needed to open things up and--with the 3s--to ratchet up the panic and make the press feel more intense.

Just my thoughts.

I'm guessing that UPS is still going to press, but in a modified form. The press has not had the same effect the passed couple years as it did initially. I'm guessing this is for 2 reason. 1) Teams have had a long time to make adjustments to how they attack it. Which is why most non-conference teams struggle. 2) Teams have managed to bring in press killers. Even in its earliest most effective days, the press was always susceptible to great guards and bigs who can handle the rock. Many teams in the NWC have good guards to attack the press. Players like Brent Satern, Landon from PLU, Tillery, Nakumura, Williams, and the PG for IWU, just to name a few, have always given the press trouble. But also big guys who can handle the ball have the ability to see over the press (Kalsow (sp?) and colin willemson) making it virtually ineffective when the ball is in their hands.

[logshock101]

Quick question for anybody. Do you guys think coaches ever get on here to read what people say about them or their team?

Any thoughts?

[LogShow]

I also want to respond to the point that in the NWC and DIII that it's "all about winning."  Knowing literally nothing about the internal dynamics of the athletic department and the basketball program at Puget Sound at any time, and nothing about the Bridgeland years except the great ball I saw from way up in the bleachers, I'd say this: Puget Sound is quite intense academically, and DIII is what it is--no scholarships, something that people do for the competition and the love of the game.  It's got to crush guys to try to keep up with tough courses while traveling and practicing as much as these guys do.  If it isn't fun, can it be worth doing?

Yeah its got to be tough on the players, but most seem to handle it pretty well.  If they don't like it they can stop playing or transfer or whatever.  You see it all the time, but its not just limited to D3.  It happens in D1 and D2 as well. You have to love the game or love your teammates to do it, because it is a heck of a time commitment.  The season runs from Oct-Feb.  Talking to players over the years, I have asked them if it is fun...they usually say the games are fun because you are out there preforming in front of a crowd and the end product of winning is fun, but the process of achieving that result isn't always fun and games.  It is a lot of hard work.  I have heard lots of stories about the grueling Puget Sound practices...some starting as early as 6AM!  To me that definately doesn't sound fun.  But they (UPS players) do it, and I respect them a great deal for tha.

[LogShow]

UPS is supposed to have their first "home" game of the year Nov. 15th...I think the UPS website said the fieldhouse was down till Dec 1st.  Where are they going to play?