MBB: Northwest Conference

[logshock101]

Logshow, what's good my man.

Listening to the back and forth from the Logger faithful, I understand both sides.  I think they will be good, but UPS's standard for "good" is a little different, can they live up to that?  That will be tuff.

Also hearing about Bridgeland's recruits, I jumped on their site and read their season preview, according to him they are ALL STEALS.  Who knows.  He does think this kid plays hard though, you think? 

Drew Raher, a 6-foot-3 forward, earned First-Team All-West Catholic League honors last season at San Francisco's St. Ignatius College Prep.

"In the last eight to 10 years, I haven't seen anyone play as hard as Drew does on a consistent basis," Bridgeland says. "You look at Quam and he has national-level quickness. You look at Peter and he can shoot it as well as anyone in Division III. Then you look at Drew and he plays so hard that it's a skill. He plays harder than anyone, and he plays for his teammates. He's a throwback.

Raher battled for 10 rebounds in 20 minutes on the court in a recent exhibition, Bridgeland says. "With our style of play benefitting the team that works the hardest, Drew sets the bar. There will be games when he'll blow up. He'll get 15 rebounds.

"All of our guys play hard, but Drew takes it to a whole new level. He works harder than any human alive today. He works so hard that it's a skill and a weapon. It's his gift from God. He goes 100 percent every possession, and he's totally selfless. He plays for his teammates."

haha, kinda sounds like a used car salesman trying really hard to sell a car that is decent, but definitely isnt the best on the lot. someone better ask for the carfax.

[nwhoops1903]

WW tips it at 6 Friday against Point, potential @ Wash U., 2 more WIAC's before New Years Day.  Looks like WW is scheduling to gear up for a deep run in postseason and in addition bring some national attention and respect to the NWC.  Victories in all of those games could bring some top 3? rankings. 

Beating the alum by 40 means they played as a team.  WW has some good newcomers and that one D1 transfer player is just the start.  Beals will impress as will a couple of freshmen.  Basically WW is 10 deep, when was the last time you could say that?

[formercat]

89 Pirate:
It's good to hear that Gunner can still fly. I played with him in a tournament in Canada long ago and he cut baseline for an alley oop, but the passer threw the ball as a regular chest pass so Gunner reached down below his knees in the air and did a reverse dunk. Possibly still the best dunk I have ever seen in person. Best part about him is he did not look like a leaper, he got out of his truck with cowboy boots and hat on, wranglers and a flannel shirt... doesn't exactly say off the charts vertical at first sight.

[Gregory Sager]

I work harder at composing Posting Up messages than any human alive today. I work so hard at composing Posting Up messages that it's a skill and a weapon. It's my gift from God.

[NWCer]

I work harder at composing Posting Up messages than any human alive today. I work so hard at composing Posting Up messages that it's a skill and a weapon. It's my gift from God.

Haha!

I really should let this go, Bridgeland's track record as a coach and recruiter speaks for itself, he's very good, much respect.  But according to this season preview they have

1)  Possibly a future president - "Jordan's leadership is off the charts. He could be a future president -– that's how talented he is"

2) A machine who's up at 6:30 AM and is national level Division II player - "When I was watching and recruiting Peter last summer, I wrote in my notes that he was a national-level Division II player," Bridgeland says. "That's exactly what he is. He oozes maturity, leadership and integrity, and he can play.

"Peter's teammates call him The Machine. He's up at 6:30 in the morning, going through basketball drills. He's going to challenge Whitman's 3-point records, but he's not just a shooter. He can put the ball on the ground and find open teammates. He's going to be a special player at Whitman"

3)  A national level Division II or low Division I guy with national level quickness - "Quam is a legitimate Division II or low Division I guy," Bridgeland says. "He brings national-level quickness"

4)  A guy who ANOTHER conference coach (Lunt?) says will be the best player in the NWC in a couple of years -  "One of the other coaches in the conference said he's going to be the best player in the conference by the time he's a junior"

5)  The before mentioned hardest worker alive today... - "In the last eight to 10 years, I haven't seen anyone play as hard as Drew does on a consistent basis," Bridgeland says. "You look at Quam and he has national-level quickness. You look at Peter and he can shoot it as well as anyone in Division III. Then you look at Drew and he plays so hard that it's a skill. He plays harder than anyone, and he plays for his teammates. He's a throwback......  All of our guys play hard, but Drew takes it to a whole new level. He works harder than any human alive today. He works so hard that it's a skill and a weapon. It's his gift from God. He goes 100 percent every possession, and he's totally selfless. He plays for his teammates.

Just funny stuff, no doubt these kids can play and that Whitman will be a factor and that Bridgeland is a very good coach, but once again, this stuff is funny....

[NWCer]

Go Boxers!

Go Loggers!

Go Missionaries!

[3peatchamp10]

couple of games tonight. looking forward to seeing the loggers for the 1st time. might be a little early to judge their direction from the game tonight since they are so young. regardless im pumped for ncaa hoops to be back. good luck to all NWC teams playing tonight. Gotta represent!!!

[TryMeTeam]

NWCer:  I am trying to get out of work early enough tonight to see your Boxers.  I am eager to see how the Barlett's do and what impact the new players have.  I'll be interested in hearing what you have to say tomorrow.

Whitman should get thumped by DI, but it will be interesting to see by how much.  The Fab3-less UPS gets its first look tonight.   Wonder how the young ones will do.  Boyce needs to be huge.

Go NWC!
 

[NWCer]

TMT,

I won't be there tonight, but will be at both games this weekend.  If you go tonight shoot us a report. 

Evergreen is a pretty good NAIA correct?  What is everyone thinking about the Loggers and their chances?

[formercat]

Evergreen has the second leading scorer in the NAIA last year, they did lose some people though.

[TryMeTeam]

I got there early, and Pac pretty much stunk it up early going down by 11 at half.  They picked up the intensity in the second half and R Bartlett just went off hitting shots inside and mid-range. 

Portland Bible had played 6 games before this one according to the program while this was Pac first game, and it showed.  Port Bible only had 7 players dressed up, and the pressure in the 2nd half was the difference.

Ross Barlett tips in the game winner at the buzzer.  I thought is was after the horn, but the officials said it was before and that was it.  Pac could have easily lost this game.  They have a lot of work to do as Portland Bible is no NWC team, but they can build from this.

Carson Barlett looked a step slow, but (are you ready for this) the guard play of Jury and Gaulton was very good. 

Pac made a lot of dumb mistakes, but there is some good signs and lots to build on.  Overall, a pretty good opening night showing.

[Tglassman55]

Loggers lost.  

http://www.loggerathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2009-10/files/ups1117.htm

That kid Menefee dropped 57 on us.  It was disgusting. He can shoot the lights out and go to the basket.  Especially with no hand in his face.  

One of the Loggers Freshman who is (according to the website) 6'8" is out with a boot on (stress fracture).  

The Loggers kept it close in the first half but a severe lack of size hurt them all game long.  Nadav Heyman flashed some brilliant moves but consistently forced shots going to the basket.  

The Loggers reserve back court is young and they show it.  Far too many ill advised shots tonight.  

The defense is no longer the typical suffocating press they used to run.  Though after the lack of success on the defensive end (108 points allowed).  There was still a press but they didn't guard the inbound pass opting to instead double team the person attempting to receive the inbounds.  Usually they opted for the football type pass all the way down the court which allowed menefee so many easy buckets.  

Austin Boyce is still fantastic at getting to the basket though his three point shot choice needs work.  

The worst thing that the Loggers showed was a lack of leadership and heart.  Jason Foster and Robert Kraul last season wore their heart on their sleeve and would get in the team or an individual's face if they needed it.  It seems as though no one has stepped into that role as Austin and Nadav are both more "lead by example" type of players.  Not a bad thing, but when they are down, the energy seems to be sucked out.  

On the positive side they have a real workhorse in Colin Koach (pronounce KOH).  He plays stifling defense and is the quintessential energizer bunny.  Not much of an offensive player but a guy you want on your team.  

The freshman who got the most minutes was Riggs Yarbo.  Nice body, long player with potential.  But he was way overmatched by some larger players and for the most part, pushed around.  

Here is the bottom line ladies and gentlemen

FG% evergreen - 58.7%
FG% UPS - 36.3%

you won't win many games with that ratio.  

ps

anyone who read my earlier posts should note that I don't think they are as bad as I predicted.  

yay...

[3peatchamp10]

loggers didnt play a pretty game tonight, they def showed glimpses of what could be though. inexperiece killed the loggers in the long run. too many fast break points a lot of which were scored when Boyce took a shot underneath the hoop and no one else covered deep. Offense got slowed in the 2nd half, lots of standing and one on one without much ball movement. the loggers rebounded pretty well getting around 18 or 19 oboards not bad against a bigger evergreen st squad. Only thing im disappointed in tonight besides the L is the fact that none of the ups players (experienced or not) knocked menefee on his butt. someone needs to step and set the tone that says you arent scoring on us like that, and if you come to the lane youre gonna take a beating. heyman looked pretty good tonight, hes gonna be tough if he can consistently knock down the pull up j. Boyce played an alright game, didnt shoot a good %. pretty impressed with koach, 19 points in 28 minutes, not bad at all. bottom line is gotta get better. still got some time before conference rolls around UPS could still be dangerous

[Pugetsoundfan]

Impressions of the game:

Evergreen was better than they've been and Menefee, an All-American NAIA player, was all that.   57 points is sick.   I would have loved to have seen him head to head with A. Williams. 

Puget Sound shot very badly, gave up many easy baskets on long passes off the press (I hadn't seen the press exploited in that way before, and it looked like there's some work to do on how to play the long pass over the top), and still had a chance late.   With around 3 minutes to go they were one play from breaking through, missed call on a Boyce shot on one end followed by a runout and score/foul on the other and that was that.  They didn't get crushed on the boards by a much bigger team; the freshman up front (#32) looks like he'll be a good player but at the moment he doesn't look strong enough to hang in there.  I suspect that tonight was a great learning experience for him, and to me he looked much better in the second half than the first. The sophomore (#24) is plenty, plenty strong and I love his effort and his defense but man he's still got to work on finishing at the basket.  It looks like Boyce will be "it" inside for a awhile--if Puget Sound doesn't shoot well, it's gonna go hard on them.

I actually was impressed by the way the team competed in the second half.  The Loggers were way down with 10 minutes to go and they were playing/shooting badly.  They bore down, found some stuff that worked offensively, and came almost all the way back. 

UPS has some guards who can get to the basket and finish.  Heyman is skilled, Colin K goes hard, and #22 is fast and talented.     

The Loggers are not deep at the moment, but the style of play requires that they play it as if they are.  Coach Lunt has some young players to develop, and it's got to happen fast if this team is going to be an NWC contender.  All of the younger players look like they're fast and athletic, so this could happen.  I didn't pay attention to minutes in the second half, but it looked like the rests on the bench were pretty short for the top players in the lineup--wondered if this explained some of the airballs and poor shooting.

[NWCer]

Wow, 57.....  Wow...

TMT, thanks for the update, you wouldn't expect a game against Portland Bible to be so close (and admittedly I wouldn't know Portland Bible from a hole in the wall)....

What is it exactly they can build from?  Good to see Ross Bartlett be dominant...

I read the write up, it said PBC is now 6-2, so their 8th game, to Pacific's 1st, so it really showed TMT?

I saw the boxscore and that the Boxers played 11 guys, anybody outside Bartlett impress?

Just glad my Boxers won, and hopefully like you said, they can build, look forward to getting out there this weekend...

Nice job by the Missionaries by the way, 12 points at a D1, not bad....