MBB: Northwest Conference

(509)Rat · January 05, 2013, 05:36:11 PM

Whitworth was in control throughout. They did start to pull away but uncharacteristically let a team back in the game. Pacific closed it from a 17 point deficit to an 8 point deficit, and finally down to 3 with about 2 minutes left in the game. Pacific shot well at the end of the game and I thought the Bucs relaxed a little on D after building the big lead.

The Whitman result isn't shocking. LC has been a guard dominated team for awhile now and always been plenty talented to beat the Whitman press and get easy buckets in transition. Whitman has plenty of guys who can score but their defensive intensity is nothing more than a facade. They "look" like they are trying to stop you from scoring but really they could care less. They haven't stopped anyone all season...

UPS looks like they might finish higher than many of us expected. Doesn't mean they are any good, just means that inconsistent Bearcats are inconsistent...we should make a meme...

Linfield has to win games against teams like Fox if they want to even think about finishing in the top half of the league.

Bearcat Press · January 06, 2013, 01:17:41 AM

Quote from: (509)Rat on January 05, 2013, 05:36:11 PM
inconsistent Bearcats are inconsistent...we should make a meme...

Not sure it's even "Bearcats" so much as it's Malley - if he's on, Willamette wins games. If he's not, look out. Case in point: tonight's game against Fox. Malley starts hot, Bearcats are up 19 early in the second half. Malley cools off, GFU almost pulls off the comeback win.

I'll take it, though. Getting to five wins the first weekend of January feels a heck of a lot better than getting to five wins on senior day. WU vs. a similarly hot/cold L&C next Friday should be a very interesting game.

(509)Rat · January 06, 2013, 03:12:13 AM

Thanks BP, I feel like I am the tiniest bit more prepared to determine what Willamette will do on any given night

Scores tonight
Whitman 76 Pacific 65
Whitworth 78 LC 66
Willamette 85 Fox 74
PLU 75 Linfield 61

(509)Rat · January 06, 2013, 03:24:41 AM

playball,

this is why I love Hollins so much. From tonight:

Hollins, James 6-18 (33% FG) 2-10 (20% 3pt) 14 pts with a team leading 31 minutes played....He is the Jerry Stackhouse of the NWC

playball · January 06, 2013, 03:32:09 AM

Quote from: (509)Rat on January 06, 2013, 03:24:41 AM
playball,

this is why I love Hollins so much. From tonight:

Hollins, James 6-18 (33% FG) 2-10 (20% 3pt) 14 pts with a team leading 31 minutes played....He is the Jerry Stackhouse of the NWC

I woke up early this morning and decided to check the boards. I had to be quiet so I didn't wake anyone else in the house up. This post almost ruined it as I started to actually laugh! Regardless of his stats though, I'm happy for the guy that he is back playing again.

Bearcat: I don't understand why Babcock-Krenk and Dart aren't the main guys of that offense. Any thoughts?

(509)Rat · January 06, 2013, 11:06:08 AM

Completely agree on rooting for Hollins to come back from injury. I don't wish injury on anyone, and that includes Linfield football players.

I'm glad I could provide some comedic relief for you this morning...don't worry, I'm here all week

A Buc Forever · January 07, 2013, 01:48:33 AM

Watched parts of both WW games this weekend. Fun team to watch. Quick and they play hard. Farnsworth is ahead of Felix and Nate at the sophomore level. Could be great before he's done. My friend coached him high school. Didn't even make the JV team when he was a sophomore, grew late. Good player by his senior year. Another late bloomer like Nate.

playball · January 07, 2013, 06:50:34 PM

Quote from: A Buc Forever on January 07, 2013, 01:48:33 AM
Watched parts of both WW games this weekend. Fun team to watch. Quick and they play hard. Farnsworth is ahead of Felix and Nate at the sophomore level. Could be great before he's done. My friend coached him high school. Didn't even make the JV team when he was a sophomore, grew late. Good player by his senior year. Another late bloomer like Nate.

If I remember right, Nate wasn't even on our scouting report until after the first game of my sophomore year. He killed us. What an animal. Who does the freshman kid play like from WW teams of old?

(509)Rat · January 08, 2013, 01:59:39 PM

If you're talking about Valle, I don't know if there's a great comparison. I would say he's like a smaller version of Colin Willemsen. Gets to the rim and finishes well. Can post up smaller defenders (relative to his own size). Has a decent outside shot and defends well. Really doesn't wow you physically, but sort of a solid all around player that you can count on contributing 10-15 per game. A buc might have a better comparison though, Willemsen was just the first one to jump out at me, even though Colin played more of a 4...

A Buc Forever · January 09, 2013, 02:27:22 AM

WW scratches out a win. I watched the first half. If WW had handled the press and got back faster wouldn't have been close. I was surprised WW didn't do a better job on the press, but Whitman is tough.

Not sure who Valle plays like. More of a perimeter player than Colin was and not as big inside. But he's just a freshman. As his game evolves he could be more like Colin inside. If he develops a better outside shot he could be special.

(509)Rat · January 09, 2013, 08:53:45 AM

Is the Whit v Whit game over yet...?

Whitman is a good team. I agree with A buc though that Whitworth struggled with the press more than I thought they would. It was only a couple 3-4 minute stretches that really killed them in this game though. You clean those up and it doesn't go to a first overtime, let alone a second.

Oh well, 13 in a row. Ranked #5 in the country. Tough to complain. Although I will say that #5 ranking is probably a bit high for this team right now. But if everyone else around them is losing....

A Buc Forever · January 10, 2013, 03:25:37 AM

We forgot to mention the impressive 23 point 2nd overtime by the Bucs!!! Keep that up for a whole game and you can put up 180.

You can argue with the #5 ranking and talk about talent levels, etc., but this team finds a way to win. I also like the motion offense that gets everyone involved and doesn't rely on isolation plays.

playball · January 10, 2013, 07:18:45 AM

Getting everyone involved is great and all, but when it comes down to needing a bucket do they have a player they can turn to on a regular basis? I would argue that this is almost a more of a plus during playoff time! I am kind of surprised with that game being as close at it was. I thought Whitman would have a real rough time this year with the loss of Michaels.

A Buc Forever · January 10, 2013, 12:51:48 PM

Quote from: playball on January 10, 2013, 07:18:45 AM
Getting everyone involved is great and all, but when it comes down to needing a bucket do they have a player they can turn to on a regular basis? I would argue that this is almost a more of a plus during playoff time!

Playball,

I have to disagree with you on this one. The idea of isolating someone and letting them go to work comes from NBA style ball in which helping on defense is discouraged by the rules. What constitutes normal help defense in college is illegal in the NBA. NBA rules allow Dennis Rodman types to go sit in a corner on offense and this still gives Michael Jordan space to work. You put the two of them in a game with college rules and the guy guarding Rodman is hanging in the key messing things up for Jordan. Isolation doesn't work in college when you have a good athlete guarding a team's go to guy and you don't have enough ball movement to keep the other guys honest. I think relying on isolation when games get tough is what hurt Whitworth in some of their losses in the Hayford era. If you just agree with me I won't bring up any specific examples of games that you probably want to forget.

Keandre · January 10, 2013, 01:36:59 PM

Gebbers is the guy they will go to when things get tough. He may not get a shot all the time, but he will make the right play to get what their team needs. He is a very special player. He is a GREAT decision maker and big shot taker. I think McConnell is underrated, he can PLAY!