MBB: Northwest Conference

[(509)Rat]

Watching this basketball thing grow has been fun...

Whitworth Midnight Madness Promo

[A Buc Forever]

The Pirates beat their alumni this year. Always a good start. 

[Andy Jamison - Walla Walla Wildcat]

Excited to see new energy at Linfield! Sounds like he has brought in some guys and is recruiting difference makers..

[(509)Rat]

The Pirates beat their alumni this year. Always a good start.

Most talented team they'll see all season.

And that's without Michael Taylor, Felix, Pecht...etc

[A Buc Forever]

Pacific got beat by Eastern Washington University (http://www.ewuhoops.blogspot.com).  I see they are picked to finish in the middle of the conference.  They lost a lot of their scoring.  Not sure how strong they will be.  Whitman should be tough this year.  Most likely team team to unseat WW. The most interesting story will be how big a difference a new coach makes at Linfield.

[madzillagd]

Lutes are at Portland State tonight.  Video link is on the PS page, offered through the Big Sky network which is free and always a pain to use but it does work.  Once you sign up and/or sign in it doesn't automatically place you at the game you originally linked in to - you've got to find your way to the player and once you've done that all the Big Sky games of the night should be listed and you select your game.

http://www.goviks.com/index.aspx?path=mbball

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth beat Trinity (TX) 71-53 in Tacoma

Best part? Leading scorers were two newcomers, both freshmen. Kenny Love had 15 and Christian Jurlina added 12. Wilkes and Farnsworth finished with 10 apiece.

[Bearcat Press]

I wouldn't normally quote myself, but ...

I hate to be the pessimist here, but barring the arrival of some outstanding freshmen or transfers, the Bearcats could be shockingly bad next year.  We lose our top three scorers (Malley, Babcock-Krenk, Dart), and our top three-point shooter (Hughes).  That's four starters gone off a 7-18, 4-10 team that lost eight straight to close the season.  Yuck.

Caltech 58, Willamette 55.

[A Buc Forever]

The first part of the recap of the Willamette game:

PASADENA, CA – Coming down to the game's final possessions, Caltech charged back for a thrilling season opening 58-55 win over Willamette on Friday evening.

It is the first season opening win for a Beavers squad since the 2004-05 season. Furthermore, it is the programs first season opening win against an NCAA opponent since the 1948-49 campaign.

[A Buc Forever]

Whitworth beat Trinity (TX) 71-53 in Tacoma

Best part? Leading scorers were two newcomers, both freshmen. Kenny Love had 15 and Christian Jurlina added 12. Wilkes and Farnsworth finished with 10 apiece.

Have to agree with Rat here. Kenny Love is an awesome recruit.  Lead his team in high school to a Northern Cal championship over a WCAL team. That is a ridiculously tough high school league in the Bay Area.  First game as a freshman and he's already making a huge contribution. Jurlina is an Australian with lots of high level experience.  With these 2 plus Valle I think Logie is showing he can find players that will continue Whitworth's run of success.

[TryMeTeam]

Bearcat:

OUCH!

"I am - and always will be - a Willamette guy."  This year may really challenge this for you.  Keep the faith.  Everyone, except the Whitworth faithful, has been here.

[WoostAr]

I realize a loss to Caltech is not the way any team wants to start the year given Caltechs reputation and record over the past few years (decades?). Before Willamette fans start throwing in the towel on the season, Caltech has an insanely good freshman class and are a much better team than they have ever been.  Give it a few games before calling the season a failure ...Willamette didn't play all that poorly last night.

Willamette at La Verne and Pacific at  Caltech tonight. La Verne has a good freshman class as well from what little I've heard. Caltech will be hitting the boards and scrapping away, if they can limit their turnovers they could be right in this game as well.

[Andy Jamison - Walla Walla Wildcat]

I'm liking the start for the Linfield Wildcats.. A good 1-2. (Counting the loss to WOU).  Portland Bible is a good team and would compete in the NWC. Am very glad we've got new energy and direction for the program and am expecting big things in the future. If Pacific can build a playoff caliber team in 4 years of football I would bet Linfield can do it in 2 years in hoops.  Figure we can get the athletes into the school both financially and academically considering we already do for football, baseball, and softball. We've got great facilities.. Strong support is there just hasn't had anything to cheer the last 8 years... No reason we won't be challenging Whitworth for conference titles soon.

Very glad we didn't make the mistake of hiring that jerk from Whitman. He might win but he wouldn't have been fit for our culture (understanding that football is the sacred cow)...

[TryMeTeam]

My OR teams suffering from some KEY injuries before the season even started....

Danny Brakebush is out for the year with a knee injury.  I would blame the floor, coach, or air in the gym, but this one took place before the season started.  With the recruits PU have coming in, this is a big loss, one of their key players, and a team that has been on the rise since Cleary got there just lost a little momentum.

Andrew Batuik was at LC last night, in street clothes.  Apparently, he is also injured, lost for the season, and has dropped school for the year to recuperate and save money for a gray-shirt (I think that is the definition of gray-shirt) season.  The Linfield fans there last night say Rosenberg is the real deal, and will be one of the top coaches in the league in no time.  Watch out for the Wildcats later in the season, it will take a little while.  Not a title contender, but may make some noise.

LC lost a freshmen expected to see some time this season in the first 3 minutes of his career with a broken arm, out 6-8 weeks.  They also have a 6-9 soph transfer on the bench who is expected to get big minutes.  I couldn't find out why he is not suited now, but is on the roster, so it appears he will be playing this year.  The outside shooting last night was good, and will have to be.  Their bigs (not real big) played 22 minutes, combined.  They have no inside game and will suffer mightily form teams that do.  Same ol' LC, live by the 3, die by the 3.  But they are scrappy and energetic, at least at this time. 

Also,  GF put up some big numbers under new coach Hamilton, winning their first two games by 20 in CA.  Certainly not a bad way to start with a new coach! 

4 really good, middle-of-the-pack teams.  The top tier still appears to be in WA.  Dam!


WWWildcat:

I agree with everything you said, except the comments about Portland Bible.  Probably would compete with Wil, but not sure about the rest of the league.  I would not say a good team, but not horrible either.

Woost:

Sorry, I can't see that optimism.  See Bearcat comments below.  Following a bad season with a marginal recruiting class equals....See Bearcat comments below.  But losing to LaVene by only 6 is a more positive result.

[Andy Jamison - Walla Walla Wildcat]

RE Portland Bible.. I've reffed them 3 times this year and a bunch of times over the past 2-3 years... last year they beat UPS, lost a close one to Lewis and Clark, beat Pacific.. This year they have some really good athletes.. their point guard is probably the best athlete on the floor at the DIII, NAIA, or NAACC level... I'd put them middle of the NWC but lower in the Cascade.  They are young but talented... Don't have much height but play well with what they've got.  Heck, a guy from their team last year is on the Carolina Panthers roster at tight end..

I'm okay with Batuik sitting out this year as that basically gives us a good 2 years with him plus new recruits for 14-15... which makes our "recruiting" class all that much stronger.  Rather than have him burn a year of eligibility during a rebuilding year..