MBB: Northwest Conference

TryMeTeam · October 19, 2011, 06:34:45 PM

Too early for much on the web pages. In alphabetical order, Fox has no news, nor does Linfield, Pacific, or UPS.

LC added 4 bigs to their predominately guard team. That should be a real plus if any of them can play. That would unusual for them too, having a post that can play. Their photos look good, though!
PLU added 8 freshman, so they will be young, some of them have pretty good honors and two post players. Freshmen have it rough in this league, though.
Whitman added 6 freshman, guards and forwards, but I couldn't find where Bridgeland gave his "the new recruits can all walk on water" interview. There is probably a couple of keepers in that group, knowing Bridgeland.
Whitworth, according to their web page, added two posts, a Frosh and a JC transfer, and two forwards, also a Frosh and JC transfer. No mention of anyone from Montana, but it may be old news.
And Willamette added 7 freshmen, including a 6'6" post, all averaging 15+/- points in high school. (See comment above about freshman.).

I think the top three from last year will be the top 3 this year, I just haven't had a chance to line them up yet.

New coaches at LC and Whitworth, young coaches at Wil and PacU. Interesting how that might work out in the standings.

Pat Coleman · October 20, 2011, 06:01:28 PM

Quote from: etule on October 17, 2011, 05:33:19 PM
Heard from the grapevine that Whitworth got another Montana guard ! Amazing! Any other news? Who is the favorite this year? Whitman looks good and Whitworth probably the top two!

The transfer in question, Taylor Farnsworth, redshirted at Montana this past season.

TryMeTeam · October 20, 2011, 07:34:10 PM

Yup, I see it now. Missed the Montana part when I read the recap of him.

Another good big for Whitworth?!?!?!?

etule · October 24, 2011, 06:21:25 PM

Whitworth also picked up a guard from Europe that could not get in to Montana for some reason. I did not know they picked up a big! Wow!

89Pirate · October 25, 2011, 12:39:52 PM

From what I have heard, the kid from Brussels was ineligible to play at Div 1 (although recruited by TCU) due to playing club ball over seas. We only get him for 1 year I believe, but from the players that I have talked to, he is a gamer. They even assigned him #5 which was Michael Taylor's last year and we all know how good he was.

TryMeTeam · October 31, 2011, 12:21:43 PM

Not much out of the camps right now, except I caught that another ACL injury for the Bartlett family. A friend ran into him and he said he is out for the season. A big loss of PacU.

I haven't heard anything out of LC other than Hollins is back full strength and Taylor is looking good. Just generic stuff.

Anyone got anything else on the OR teams. Linfield and Fox have to be down this year with graduation. What about Willamette?

etule · November 03, 2011, 03:06:47 PM

No surprises on coaches poll! After the top two I think three and four are wide open! Looking forward to games!

TryMeTeam · November 03, 2011, 06:46:06 PM

I think the coaches did a good job this year with the poll. The top three for me is an easy call, then it starts to get iffy. UPS and PLU are right there, but I am not sure in which order. Both will give the league a good game. Then the rest of the OR schools. Linfield may be too low, but after losing Wiser to graduation, they may fall way back in the pack. Nobody seems to know about these teams, so kinda hard to pick the order.

Exhibition games are coming up, then a short time to the pre-league! With the NBA locked out, can't wait for these games to start.

Bearcat Press · November 03, 2011, 11:04:12 PM

Quote from: TryMeTeam on October 31, 2011, 12:21:43 PM
Anyone got anything else on the OR teams. Linfield and Fox have to be down this year with graduation. What about Willamette?

Not much yet, but there is one big story I've heard so far: 6'6'' post Sean Dart, who was the Bearcats' only real threat down low last year, is out for the season with an Achilles (?) injury.

Also, junior guard Terrell Malley didn't play football this year, so he'll be available right away and probably ought to start.

TryMeTeam · November 07, 2011, 10:10:57 AM

PacU and LC get blown out by OSU and U of O. Nothing unusual about this except...

PacU holds a D1 to 64 points after trailing 33-9 at the half. And, as their coach said, PacU "actually held them scoreless for a seven-minute stretch of the second half." That's something to build on.

LC was leading U of O by 4 with 12:41 left in the first half, then the wheels came off. And, Hollins doesn't play at all. Transfer Erickson leads the team in scoring and rebounding, getting 22 and 6. If he can score 22 against a D1,...

Really, not much to get from these games. PLU on the 12th before we get to some games that can make some sense.

Bearcat Press · November 07, 2011, 11:51:04 AM

Willamette lost 114-73 at D-I University of Idaho in another exhibition game. The Bearcats were only down 14 at halftime, though.

etule · November 15, 2011, 05:29:57 PM

Games start tonight! Im looking forward to a fun season. I think the NWC is going to be crazy this year! Fun stuff!

Bearcat Press · November 16, 2011, 01:36:48 PM

Willamette played an Alumni game last weekend, with the current Bearcats pulling out an 82-74 win. Lots of familiar names from recent years on the alumni roster:

http://www.willamette.edu/athletics/news/archive/2011/11/12_MBK_Alumni_Game.php

Granted, it was just a scrimmage, but this team's going to have to commit a lot fewer than 30 turnovers if they want to be competitive in the NWC this year ...

(509)Rat · November 17, 2011, 10:35:22 PM

Whitworth at home against UC Santa Cruz

Gebbers and Lasisi will be one of the best backcourts in the conference, Freidt and Loofburrow is the best frontcourt in the conference. Larkin started tonight, but I don't know how long that will last. Between Gebbers, Lasisi, and Loofburrow they have guys that can hit from deep so I'd like to see a rangy guy who can defend at the 3 guard...since there isn't a Dave Riley on the team this year.

So far Whitworth is playing good D, creating a lot of turnovers, but this is UC Santa Cruz and the offense looks a little out of sorts. Wash U should be a much better game even though it looks like they've struggled since the championship teams graduated.

Bearcat Press · November 18, 2011, 04:25:34 PM

Willamette opens the season this afternoon against D'Youville (from Buffalo, NY - had to look that one up) at a neutral site in Grand Rapids, MI. Calvin (the neutral site) is apparently providing LIVE STATS and VIDEO for both the game today and for the Bearcats' matchup with either Calvin or Grace Bible tomorrow.