MBB: Northwest Conference

[TryMeTeam]

NWCer:

I wouldn't say I know the league all that well, but I am a stat guy and get to as many games as I can in the OR area.  It is not too hard since there are 5 schools within 40 miles of my home in Beaverton and 4 within 25 miles.  Keep in mind a lot of what I print is opinion and speculation.  But I have watched this league for a long time.

So, you want me to go first this year.  Okay, I'll give it a try, but I might want to redo it after a couple of games to get the new guys into the mix.

1st -  Whitworth - Nakamura is a huge loss, and Sellereit and Jurich are big losses, but they just keep on reloading.  Riley and Montgomery will provide the leadership it takes to stay on top.

2nd - Whitman -  They were a player or two away from being a playoff contender last year, and if you read between the inflated lines, they may have those players this year.  Shaw is another beast in this league and Faidley will be a loss, but I think he will be replaced with other good talent.

3rd - LC -  There are some ifs here, but you have to make some guesses along the way.  Kollasch has to come back full strength and their bigs have to be productive.  I heard yesterday they got a guard that UPS, Whitw and Whitm were all after.  They could easily finish as low as 6th too.

4th - Lin - I have to go with another OR school because I am tired of UPS beating up on all of the OR schools over the last several years.  Tesoro and Wiser will tough to stop, and if Weber is back, that might put them in the playoffs again.  McCollum has another year of eligibility and he would make them very tough inside.  And they always play their tails off!

5th - UPS - Okay, they will probably finish higher than 5th, but I just can't do it.  They will be tough, but beatable I think.  Obviously, losing F/W/K will be huge and I just don't think they can replace them with Heyman/Koach/Boyce.  Boyce will be the target of every defense, and the others will have to step up to get them into the playoffs.

6th - Pac - (sorry NWCer, I know you want a higher prediction!)  The Bartletts will be tough and will take them a long way, but I don't see other all-league players to support them.  Gaulton may help, but other than that, they will need help from the new guys to make them a top tier team.  I could happen!

7th - PLU - They always are tough.  I just noticed Stackhouse is missing from this years' roster.  That is a big loss, but they have some players who could produce and provide for a higher finish:  McTaggert, Smith and Bull.  But I just don't see them finishing higher than this.

8th - Wil - They lost so much last year with only Mitchell back with any major playing time.  I like Kunke, but I don't see him as a big scorer.  And speaking of big, they got a lot smaller with the incoming class.  Add a new coach to that mix, and you have an 8th place team.

9th - GF -  I don't have a roster to refer to, so it will have to be "I think".  I think they lost a couple of seniors.  Martin was tough, but sort of unathletic.  I think Atwater and Stockner graduated.  I just don't see them doing too well this year.

Sorry, too long!    

[NWCer]

Sounds solid TMT, Whitman at 2nd is tuff to see, but who knows...

[NWCer]

I'm pretty sure those 3 guys you mentioned from Fox were all juniors last year....

[TryMeTeam]

Okay, NWCer!

I have been waiting for 2 days, now it is your turn. 

Predictions, please

[NWCer]

OK, TMT, here you go....  With the disclaimer that I'm going on what I've heard on this board and that I may change prior to conference play, or even non-conference play starting because you have to see who the new guys are and what they can do, so this is NOT my FINAL answer!!!  So consider it a "soft" prediction....

Whitworth  12-4
Linfield  11-5
UPS 10-6
LC 9-7
Pac 9-7
Whitman 8-8
Willamette 6-10
PLU 4-12
Fox 3-13

Let the debates begin....  Let's get this board jumpin!

[Pugetsoundfan]

I was thinking about the recent history of the UPS program and could think of relatively few frosh who played significant roles.  They've been loaded with upperclass talent for years, so it's understandable.  (For Logger fans, the only names over the last several years I could come up with were Medved and Heyman, Shelton was a factor last year).

This led me to the question:  who were the top five freshman in the NWC last year? 

[NWCer]

Great question PS Fan....  You have to say Heyman as an all leaguer, Shaw, and the Hollins kid from LC.  The 4th would have to be Stackhouse from PLU, and the 5th probably Edwards from LC.  Wow TMT, maybe I do know a bit more about the league than I thought!

[TryMeTeam]

You da man!!!!!!!!!!

Good choices.  The only other two I could come up with are Jury from PacU and Conti from PLU.  But I don't think I would move either one into your top five.

[Pugetsoundfan]

I think NWCer had it about right.  I thought Heyman was terrific, but not featured on a great Loggers team that did not need him to flash. The most impressive frosh I saw play against the Loggers was Stackhouse from PLU. 

[pineconefan]

Boy I wish I had the chance to get over to Tacoma for the season-opening tournament at UPS.  Watching both the Pirates and the Loggers go head-to-head with Wisconsin Stevens Point on back to back nights would be fun.

I hope some of the Logger fans have a chance to give a full report on both nights.

Everything I've heard about this year's Pirate team is positive.  Looking forward to another great year.

[Titan Q]

For help with my D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 ballot, can you guys help me sort out the 2010 NWC race?  Who do you see finishing 1st through 3rd?  What teams should be on the Top 25 radar?

Thanks!

[LogShow]

For help with my D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 ballot, can you guys help me sort out the 2010 NWC race?  Who do you see finishing 1st through 3rd?  What teams should be on the Top 25 radar?

Thanks!

Titan Q,

Based on recent success you have to consider UPS (obviously with a sight bias on my part    ).  Yes, they lost a lot...but they are still the defending NWC champions.  I fully expect to them to contend this year and be one of the top 3 teams in the league.  It will be an interesting year for UPS, a lot of unknowns...sort of like your Titans in 06-07.

[pineconefan]

Top Three Teams:
1. Whitworth (returns 1st Team All-NWC David Riley, probable All-NWC post Nate Montgomery).
2.  Linfield (returns stong post - Wiser - and scoring guard - Tesoro).
3.  Puget Sound (A. Boyce, Heyman).

Possible wildcards:
1. Whitman
2. Lewis & Clark
3. Pacific

[NWCer]

I think I agree with you Pineconefan as far as that first 3 and second 3 or "wildcards"...

[A Buc Forever]

For help with my D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 ballot, can you guys help me sort out the 2010 NWC race?  Who do you see finishing 1st through 3rd?  What teams should be on the Top 25 radar?

Thanks!

Titan Q,

Using recent history as an indicator, I'd rank my Bucs pretty high.  Objectively, the premier program in the NWC the last 3 years:

Year                             Conference Champ                                   Conference Tournament Winner
2006-07                       Whitworth/Lewis & Clark Tie                         Whitworth
2007-08                       Whitworth                                                    Whitworth
2007-09                       UPS                                                              Whitworth

   That said, I'd rank at least 2 and probably 3 teams from the conference in the top 25.  This conference beats each other up pretty badly during the season and then only gets 1 team in the tournament (except for last year).  Clearly, the NWC has more than 1 team worthy of getting into a field of 60 or so teams come March.