MBB: Northwest Conference

[pineconefan]

Me too.

In anticipation of the start of the season, let's get some predictions going.  How about:
Predicted top four -
Whitworth
UPS
Willamette
Pacific

Predicted upset of the year:
Whitman over UPS just once (Bridgeland will get into his former players' heads somehow).

Predicted player of the year:
Jason Foster - UPS (most likely to put up the biggest numbers over the course of the season).

Predicted biggest impact by a newcomer:
Felix Freidt - Whitworth (everything I've heard says he's a real stud).

That's about all I can think of for now.

[(509)Rat]

top 4
Whitworth
UPS
Pacific
Linfield (Wiser is a stud)

upset
The Lutes drop cross-town rival UPS @ PLU...in other news UPS's bus gets car-jacked in Parkland

Player of the year
After watching the Whitworth scrimmage I don't think Nakamura will have to put up MVP type numbers for the Pirates to win the conference...too many other weapons.  So I too have to go with Foster from UPS

Newcomer
Easily Felix from Whitworth...he had some happy feet in their scrimmage against WVCC but is too big and physical for the rest of the conference.

In a recent scrimmage Whitworth beat up on Wenatchee Valley CC...not much to report other than Whitworth did a nice job of taking care of business against a lesser opponent.  I know they were up by over 20 at half with some pretty liberal substitutions, can't remember the final score.  Don't know much about WVCC other than they finished 8-18 last year (5-9 in their division), but they didn't look that good.  Sellereit had a great night shooting and Nakamura did the whole dish it out without turning it over thing he does.  Bo Gregg started and played well but got pushed around a little bit while the 3 big men (Jurich, Montgomery, Felix Friedt) all played very well in the post with the exception of felix having a few too many traveling calls.

[bbaddict]

Sure Rat, in your dreams!  Don't discount the Bearcats or Lewis & Clark for that matter.  You'd love for Whitworth to only have to contend with Pacific & Linfield!  Linfield always has plenty of talent, they just never quite get it done.  Pacific might take off this year and I still think that Bridgeland at Whitman is a threat.  It'll be an interesting year of NWC basketball, that's for sure.

Whitworth teams always dread the trips to WU & L&C!  And, for good reason.

[pineconefan]

bbaddict -
I'm not sure, but you might be overstating your case somewhat:
"Whitworth teams always dread the trips to WU"

If by "dread" you mean they are afraid they might lose twice out of every nine games, then a I guess you are right... 

Whitworth's recent results at Willamette (from NWC website) -
01/05/08     * at Willamette          WOT  72-65
01/19/07     * at Willamette          W    79-66
2/3/2006     * at Willamette          W    76-61
1/28/05      * at Willamette          WOT  71-66
02/07/04     * at Willamette          W    58-57
2/15/03      * at Willamette               56-66  L
2-21-02      at Willamette           W      64-49
1-5-02       at Willamette             L    60-63
1-27-01      * at Willamette Univ.    WOT  89-87

[bbaddict]

Just look at your own numbers pineconefan.  Look at the number of OT games or close games.  They just do -- I know this.

[bbaddict]

Pinecone, "dread" or "fear" isn't always based on rational facts.   My following of Whitworth BB precedes 2001.  Nuff said.

[LogShow]

Ah the WW fans are calling for UPS upsets...I love it!  But seriously no way!   

No way, no how will the Logs lose to Whitman...UPS has way too much pride for that one.  PLU does scare me a bit, since they haven't been able to beat us since 02-03...that would be 10 straight.  PLU has played the Logs tough.  I think a lot of it will have to do with if UPS decides to change up their pressure.

(Side Note: what team has the longest winning streak over another school, ignoring UPS over PLU)

[(509)Rat]

Ah the WW fans are calling for UPS upsets...I love it!  But seriously no way!

Makes sense though...topic is BIGGEST upset and since UPS is #1 based on the preseason poll, then the biggest upset would most likely include the #1 losing.  Plus with the run-n-gun style of play at UPS it can lead to some very up and down play. With Whitworth playing mostly possesion basketball with sound defense and a very patient offense I think they are less likely to get "upset" against a lesser opponent.  And seriously, why would I pick Whitworth to get beaten? 

[LogShow]

Oh I know!  Just like I am out there defending UPS 

[pineconefan]

OK bbaddict, that's fine.

I go pretty far back in my familiarity with Whitworth basketball too.  I only copied what was available on the NWC website.

But if you want to argue that Whitworth dreads going to a place it wins more than 70% of the time over the last eight or so years, that's cool.   I would think that if a team came to our house and won more than 70% of the time over an extended period, my team would tend to "dread" the arrival of that visiting school.

But if a once-proud program like Willamette ('93 NAIA champs) has gotten to the point that it is satisfied with close/OT losses at home against other good programs, than good for you.

[logshock101]

Going with the predictions theme we got going on:

Top 4:
UPS
WW
Willamette
Pacific

Player of The Year: Jason Foster, Wiser may give him a run, but its usually gonna go to a guy on one of the top teams. If WW is as well rounded as everybody claims, I don't see one individual putting up MVP type numbers.

Newcomer of the year: Can't say because I only know the UPS guys who are all frosh and probably won't have as big an impact as a JUCO transfer.

Upset of the year: Either Whitman over WW or Linfield over WW at the lesser teams home court, where the officiating always seems a bit partial. Reasoning Bridgeland vs whitworth is always a battle. Linfield"s Wiser puts on a hell of a show and outbattles WW's rotation of bigs.

Conditional Upset alert (as much as I hate to say it): Willamette over UPS and maybe even WW IF they bring back the drawbridge hoops.

Only a few more days til the games begin. Until conference starts good luck to all...

[bbaddict]

OK pinecone -- you're right.  Whatever the topic or question -- you're right.  Now quit dinking with my karma.   Cheering for Whitworth automatically makes you right -- about everything!  So, I guess the rest of us should quit cheering & give up.  No wait -- the season hasn't started.  Think I'll take a wait & see . . .

[NWCer]

Predictions!  Now we're talking....

I'm a stick with what the coaches said their top 4 would be (UPS, WW, Pac, Will), but I'll hold off on the order (for now).......

I am going to predict however that after going 7-1 and 6-2 at home the last two years, my Boxers will duplicate Linfield's feat last year and LC's in '07 and be perfect at home at 8-0.  So if they can get 4, or at worst 3 on the road this year as they did last season, I think that puts them comfortably in a good spot heading into the conference tourney.

I can see the upset of Whitman over UPS, didn't Bridgeland teach Lunt everything he knows?  Interesting to see how all this size Whitworth have will handle the press of Whitman and UPS, I know they have Nakamura, but if I'm not mistaking posters have said Willemson and Symes played a huge role in helping break the press as well.

It's starting soon, can't wait to get out to some games.

[logshock101]

Interesting to see how all this size Whitworth have will handle the press of Whitman and UPS, I know they have Nakamura, but if I'm not mistaking posters have said Willemson and Symes played a huge role in helping break the press as well.

NWCer

Is Bridgeland running the same press at Whitman as he did at UPS?

[NWCer]

Logshock,

I'm not positive, just assuming Bridgeland will be himself and implement what has brought him so much success.  I think he would want to do it, I'm sure the style alone will pump a lot of excitement into building that  program.