MBB: Northwest Conference

[UPSoundLogs]

It's seems like much of the league will be trying to rebuild this year...it could make for a very interesting race.  With the exception of Stuvland and Kyle Born all of the first and second team all league selections for 05-06 were seniors...meaning much of the talent is gone.  I realize this isn't the only indication of the overall quality of the NWC but it looks like there is plenty of room for young talent to take over this year. 

Some teams will have a much MUCH harder time rebuilding than others (PLU/Linfield) as you mentioned, but for the top half of the league it should be a good show. 

My prediction is that UPS, WU, and Whitworth will be the top three again.  Pacific did have some good big guys last year but with there only real scoring threat gone (Kawazoe) they will be even more hard pressed to find scoring this season, unless they picked up some talented transfers.  I also think this could be the year Whitman makes it out of the basement of the conference.  With Born back (he should be in the hunt for POY) as well as Warner and Faidley, it will be a rough trip to Walla Walla this year.  As for LC...I'm gonna have to see it to believe it, they have been a huge dissapointment the last two years and they are gonna need some bigger, more talanted players for much to change. 

Well, that's about all I got...still thinking about my pre season awards.

[Gilbert McFinnegan]

AHHH Yes!! I found it.  Excuse me as I am new to this whole internet business.  I just got the DSL hooked up this week and a buddy of mine told me about this www. web site.  You could say I have followed NWC basketball for quite some time now and now I have somewhere to talk about it!

I read some of the past posts to try and educate myself on some of the discussion.  It has brought out some thoughts I would like to share.

This B-Hawks character that you speak of seems very confident in the Bridgeland Loggers, and rightfully so.  I take it he is off the board now. Too bad.  It seemed like he brought salsa to the party.

I mention this because, in reference to B-Hawks, it was mentioned that loyalties tend to run with coaches.  Well, whatever they have in the Tacoma water says that loyalties may be strongest among players and those who go through it day in and day out. (Please excuse the "old-school" cliché, I am an old school guy). This may be one of the best things the Loggers have going for them.

Allow me to explain:
I assume that you are a UPS fan UPSoundLogs? Well correct me if I am wrong, but I heard that, despite the coaching change, UPS has everyone returning from last years team that is eligible.

Anyone who has seen NWC hoops knows that each year when the Loggers come to town they have a bench with more new faces than the freshman section of a high school yearbook.  Now that they have a group who has played together and decided to all come back together, it could be very dangerous to the rest of the league.  The Loggers now may not have the same growing pains as they might have incurred in the past and can begin to fine tune even earlier.

[Loggerville]

1. UPS
2. WU
3. Whit.

Loggers don't lose more than 2 NWC games and take a 4th title in 4 year.  Lunt should win COY honors but won't as the coaches think a blind school girl could roll the ball out and let the Loggers win 14 games, so some other general gets the hardware.  Fine, JL can take his ring to the NCAA's with a first round bye and second round home win over a SCIAC school...again.  Then off to Wisc. and all bets are off.  You heard it hear first.  RIP Bhawks.

[bearcatsfan3]

I agree with the comment about Bourne (sp?)...for a guy his size, he surprised me at Willamette with how light on his feet he was...

Now, for my picks:

1. Whitworth
2. UPS
3. Willamette
4. LC
5. Pacific
6. Whitman
7. Linfield
8. George fox
9. PLU

Obviously, I believe my Bearcats capable of winning the whole thing in the NWC, but to avoid being too much like Bhawks, I'll settle them into the third playoff spot (and in reality, when WU goes 1-4 against Whitworth/UPS last year, you can't justify picking your favorite team over those ones)...

Whitworth loses the POY, but rumor has it they've got some nice transfers in, to go along with BWilliams and JYoung, and they played very well down the stretch last year, so I like their odds...

The 3Peat champs, UPS, does have a lot back, but I don't think you can under estimate how much Curtiss and McVey really meant to them...losing them and EB is too much for a 4th title, but expect them to still have a say in the NWC tourney...

Willamette loses Johnny O, but brings back a solid backcourt in Erickson, Fife, and Stuvland, and if it can get consistent play out of Mansfield and whoever they start at the other spot, they should be very good...the question is whether they can find a way to beat Whitworth (I think their website said its been 7 or 8 straight to the Pirates??)

I think LC's pg (Tillery?) was the quickest I saw last year at WU's home games...and overall they seemed to have more talent than what they showed...I'm picking them to be much improved...

Pacific is a tough place to play, and their new coach has some recruiting ties in Cali, so I find it hard to believe they won't be at least mid level this year...

All-NWC picks later...

Nice to see everyone on the Discussion, and it looks like Loggerville will be holding the BHawks mantle of Tacoma for the year...I wonder if Pinecone (Whitworth) is still around...

[UPSoundLogs]

I've got...

UPS
Willamette
Whitworth
Whitman
Pacific
LC
George Fox
Linfield
PLU

UPS...obviously I have to put my guys on top . Not just cause they are my guys but I do believe they will be able to carry on with the Loggers success.  Lunt and the rest of the coaching staff have had great experience from the last few years, I think they have a rough road ahead but will be a power in the NWC and will 4peat as league champs.

I like Willamette this year, I think they had some really good young players last year that will develop nicely, if Stuvland can shoot the ball at the same level as last year but on a more consistent basis I think they will be very difficult to beat especially at home...those drawbridge hoops can't be underestimated.  JO will be missed as a leader/scorer but I still think WU will be tough this year. 

Unfortunately I don't know much about Whitworth, but they do have Williams back and it sounds like they will be getting some good transfers.  Having one of the most difficult places to play on the longest road trip of the year will help them a lot, they shouldn't fall off too much. 

To be honest the rest of the league was a toss up for me, I think Whitman will be tough to beat, especially with Kyle born averaging 50 and 25 as a senior and they have a big advantage in that teams have to drive so far to play them, the Whitworth/Whitman road trip is the toughest by far.

George Fox has been on the decline ever since they lost Gaymen...I see that exceleratiing with the losses of Shmick and Szalay. 

Simply based off of the last couple years I think the bottom of the league will all be equally weak but will suprise teams that don't come in prepared (ex. Whitworth losing to PLU last year).

[pineconefan]

Hello Bearcats3, Loggerville and all - I forget to check this board for a couple weeks and suddenly its come to life, which is great!  Looking forward to another great year of NWC basketball.

I don't know much about the newcomers at Whitworth (transfers, freshmen), but have heard from some close to the program that coaches feel its the best incoming group in at least ten years.  What I do know is that the Pirates will have the most veteran and versatile back court in Williams and Young in the NWC.  I think they will have really good years.  And James Jones could be the breakout player in the conference this year.  He had huge games off of the bench against UPS, and will be a starter this year.

The word is that in addition to the usual suspects (Whitworth, UPS, Willamette), Pacific could be a surprise.  We'll see how things play out.  I think L&C will be right there for a conference playoff spot as well.

Looking forward to some great games and basketball conversation.

[Gilbert McFinnegan]

Predictions:
UPS
WW
WU
Pacific
Whitman
LC
PLU
George Fox
Linfield

You have to give it to the reigning champs.  What did they lose? They graduated McVey, Curtiss, and some non-factor that held up the end of the bench.  I'm not sure if Walker graduated, but it seems like he has been there for a long enough time for him to go. Maybe some clarification UPSoundLogs? Either way you can say the same thing after every UPS title run...they lost Glynn/Mendoza....they lost Cross/Shelton...point being that like every team year in and year out, this years Loggers lost an integral part of last year's squad, but this cannot be held against them.  Their new coach was there for two of the title runs, so I am sure he did his homework going into this season just like they have every other season.  I am not even sure if I would take McVey and Curtiss in that hypothetical "two on two" tournament anyway.

The question is not whether UPS is capable of winning it, but is how more has the rest of the league closed the gap? 

WW has to be reckoned with.  They do have an experienced backcourt, but I think what will be more interesting is who they bring in to fill their smaller forward/bigger guard type spots. Those spots have made the silent difference for WW over the recent years, i.e. Bierlink, Pecht, Tucker, so it will be interesting to see what kind of play they get out of that spot.

Willamette year in and year out has one of the most fundamental half court defenses on the west coast with no one ever making it all the way to the rim.  That teamed with a favorable home court, will make for contention for the NWC tournament no matter who James brings in.

I think the surprise team will be Pacific.  Lowery posted some good wins last year, and nearly pulled off some big ones at home vs UPS and Southern Oregon at home.  Having his first own recruiting class will be a big help for him, but he is probably one more year and recruiting class away from the top three.  Still, look for some good games from this group.

As for breakout player of the year as brought up by PineCone: Ryan DeLong, UPS.  I have seen this kid play for the past two years and he is the most basketball talented player to wear a UPS uniform out of all their runs.  He never seemed like he had the full green light though.  Maybe a new staff at UPS will change that.

Don't look for him to get the POY though, that will probably go to Born over at Whitman.  Honestly, I am just going with league policy.

[UPSoundLogs]

Gil-
I can't completely clarify for you what Walker's situation is, I do believe he has finished up his eligibility but then again I also thought that about last year.  If the logs do get him back it would be a great help leadership wise they are a very young team...I think a "supersenior" would help some.  Even though he's very small (I think he's listed as about 5'8) he plays extremely hard and seems to be one of the guys that allows UPS to play at such a frantic pace.

Also...although I think you have some valid points about the loggers losses from last season I believe you underestimate the role Curtiss played.  I do think Puget Sound will find their way without him but he was the unquestioned leader to their squad.  It's not so much his points/shooting/toughness that will be missed but his relationship with their coach.  I have heard several people say that Curtiss and the departed head coach Bridgeland had almost a father/son type relationship.  Curtiss was able to be an extension of the head coach out on the floor, that is a huge quality to have. 

You are right though, the Loggers have been able to overcome losses in the past it should be a rough start without upperclassmen leadership but I have faith the logs will pull through. 

By the way does anyone know what Curtiss is doing currently?  I thought he was definitely good enough to play overseas. 

[pennstlbu]

Josh Walker has finished his eligibilty @UPS, although his brother, Jeff, is still on the team. Josh was a "supersenior" last season, due to the fact that he broke his ankle as a true freshman and redshirted the next season, still recovering from the injury. He will still be on the Logger bench, though, as he is helping coach the Loggers. He will be missed just as much as Curtiss and McVey, as he was a tenacious defender and rebounder, despite his size. He was so aggressive, that he was able to draw tons of fouls and get to the free throw line.

[bearcatsfan3]

I think you'd get a lot of arguments as to whether or not you can put Josh Walker in the same category as Curtiss and McVey...that might be stretching it a BIT.

[pennstlbu]

I think you'd get a lot of arguments as to whether or not you can put Josh Walker in the same category as Curtiss and McVey...that might be stretching it a BIT.

Well, he didn't score as much as those other two, but he was their top defender and constantly was harassing opposing players. He had a knack of getting to the free throw line, picking up big rebounds, making steals, and taking lots of charges. He was the intangible type player that is always tough to replace.

[Gilbert McFinnegan]

he was a tenacious defender and rebounder, despite his size.

Even though he's very small (I think he's listed as about 5'8)

In speaking about Walker you guys make him seem Earl Boykins/Mugsy Bogues like, almost a Rudy type character.  Maybe I am getting it wrong, and you probably know better than me Penn and UPSound, but when I saw him play that was not the case at all.  He seemed to me to be at least 5'9.  This is not too uncommon in the NWC as most many teams have scrappy smaller guards that can get it done i.e. Schmick GFU, Warner Whit.

As for him being the best defender Penn, well that UPS defense is so intense and crazy, I think the best UPS defender is a timid point guard.  It seemed to me that the UPS defense either works as a whole or fails as a whole making it difficult to distinguish one guy as the best.  I will give it to him though, Walker was not afraid to hit the floor.

Penn. could you answer UPSound's question about Curtiss playing overseas?  I am curious myself.

[pennstlbu]

The thing w/ UPS is that most of the time they play w/ a 4 guard lineup, so that would leave one of their guards against one of the opposing team's post players often. So, they automatically had a disadvantage on the boards, but they make up for it with their gambling defense, and offensive rebounds. Despite their smaller size, they still boxed out relatively well.

Walker is about 6-0 or 6-1, but he played bigger than that, but still had the quickness to defend opposing perimeter players.

As far as Curtiss, I think that I heard that he is at grad school somewhere. Not sure if he is playing at all.

[UPSoundLogs]

Penn-
Walker between 6' and 6-1?  The only way he is over 6' is if he's wearing heals!!!  I'm a little over 6' and when I walked by him after watching a game one time I was looking down at him, he's 5'10 if he's lucky, you are right though he plays bigger than he really is...anyways that's enough little man talk.

Penn do you have any pre-season predictions, you seem to be knowlegeable about the Logger program.  Do you have any information about their incoming freshman?  Did they get any new big guys? 

[pennstlbu]

I'm good friends w/ Walker and I'm just a little over 6 foot. He's about my height or a half inch taller.

Preseason predictions? I don't know. I'm a little out of the circle now. I'm back in Montana now, instead of Tacoma. But I'd predict that UPS would have to be the favorite to repeat yet again based on who they have back. It seems every year that UPS is able to bring in a few talented freshmen, and I don't doubt that they were able to again this year, even with the loss of Bridgeland.