MBB: Northwest Conference

[D O.C.]

Huzzah! While pleased LINFIELD has won 50% as many games so far as all of the last season, I'm surprised to find the coaching controversy kicking I look forward to a tell all book and hope my letter to the former coach, 107 alumni, the president and board will be included.
To drive to Vegas our not drive to Vegas, a good choice to have.

[Pinecone_Curtain]

'Cats pick up a guard out of Nevada for next season.

www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/Manogues-James-Sandoval-Commits-to-Linfield-College-237666191.html

James Sandoval is the son of current Nevada Governor, Brian Sandoval.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it a recruiting violation for Rosenberg to talk about a student athlete that has not matriculated? I know for sure it is at the D1 level, so I'm guessing it is for the D3 level as well.

Also, this is a weird Whitworth team. It feels like McConnell has regressed, and the youth of Jurlina and Love certainly showed down the stretch. I don't think either of those two have lived up to their hype, though to be fair we are only through the non-conference portion of the schedule their freshman year. Whitworth played their best half of the season today, and played the wost half of their season. Their loss to UWSP looks bad, but it really was a good game for about 34 minutes. Four guys fouled out, they couldn't buy a bucket in the second half and shot right around 50% from the line in the second half.

I'm also not convinced that Drew Sears isn't better than Wilkes, Farnsworth and for sure Loiler. Whitworth has certainly come down from the Hayford era. I think Logie is a good coach, but I don't think he's anywhere close to Hayford.

[madzillagd]

'Cats pick up a guard out of Nevada for next season.

www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/Manogues-James-Sandoval-Commits-to-Linfield-College-237666191.html

James Sandoval is the son of current Nevada Governor, Brian Sandoval.

In the small world category, I've apparently seen him play a few games. Here's a link to a game from a couple years ago where my nephew's team played in the Bishop Manogue tournament.

http://youtu.be/kt3Z5paDHEo

[D O.C.]

And FWIW...we cannot get this guy into the HOF either (Ed Griffin)

http://articles.courant.com/1997-06-11/news/9706110667_1_role-models-physical-education-teacher-coach-and-teacher

and he was the most talented b ball player EVER at LINFIELD and is still in the record books for football 48 years later. Coached two boys H.S. Connecticut titles too.

[A Buc Forever]

The Bucs couldn't play a full game against UWSP. Still better than the last time we played them. 

Logie is doing a good job.  Very comparable to Hayford.  Hopefully the young guys can mature quickly and he can go deep in the tournament again. 

League play will be interesting. 

[pointlem]

Kudos to D3Hoops.com for a really excellent broadcast from Vegas.  The announcers are ESPN quality . . . excellent calling of two great Stevens Point v. Whitworth/Whitman.

[wildcat11]

'Cats pick up a guard out of Nevada for next season.

www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/Manogues-James-Sandoval-Commits-to-Linfield-College-237666191.html

James Sandoval is the son of current Nevada Governor, Brian Sandoval.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it a recruiting violation for Rosenberg to talk about a student athlete that has not matriculated? I know for sure it is at the D1 level, so I'm guessing it is for the D3 level as well.

I believe you're correct but according to Linfield's press release those fees have been paid by Sandoval.  http://www.linfield.edu/sports/release.php?id=5200

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Kudos to D3Hoops.com for a really excellent broadcast from Vegas.  The announcers are ESPN quality . . . excellent calling of two great Stevens Point v. Whitworth/Whitman.

Thank you. We work hard to try and bring the best broadcasts possible and appreciate your comment towards that work. We just love D3.

[A Buc Forever]

Kudos to D3Hoops.com for a really excellent broadcast from Vegas.  The announcers are ESPN quality . . . excellent calling of two great Stevens Point v. Whitworth/Whitman.

Thank you. We work hard to try and bring the best broadcasts possible and appreciate your comment towards that work. We just love D3.

I couldn't make the link work last night.  I got to the page showing the game title and a space where the video should be, but no video--any special programs needed, etc?

Nice win for the Bucs last night.  Looks like they are going small.  Is Farnsworth hurt?

[Pat Coleman]

Just a browser -- also, at the bottom of the page, there is a link that says:

"Video frame not loading? Try hitting refresh, or click here."

[(509)Rat]

Have no idea if Farnsworth got hurt...could very well be a move due to lack of production.

With as puzzling as this young Whitworth team has been, I still think they have to be the favorite to win the conference. And I think some of the struggles have been due to Logie tinkering with the lineup and substitution patterns. I'm ok with 34 really good minutes against UWSP and a win against Plateville. Whitman looked good against UWSP, but the Missionaries always play well against OOC opponents who are unfamiliar with Bridgeland's press/system. Whitman had a real shot to knock off the Pointers until Eric did what Eric does and let his ego/temper ruin the game for his team.

I like the way Logie has recruited. It is different than Hayford, for sure. He either doesn't want to or hasn't been able to grab that all-american scorer type transfer that Hayford always seemed to find. But this team is much deeper than in the Hayford days. We're just going to have to put up with some youth and the absence of the dominant big man we've been spoiled with when Montgomery and Friedt were there. At least this year. However, if Logie and his staff can develop the guys he's been bringing in, Whitworth should still be a regular sweet 16 and elite 8 caliber program. I just don't think the top-end talent is there this year... 

The only real frustrating thing for me has been watching the offense consistently struggle from outside and most of the time refuse to quit chucking em up from deep. Shooting 30% and allowing opponents 36% is what's killing them right now.

[John Gleich]

Whitman had a real shot to knock off the Pointers

I agree with that, though at that moment, their shot may have been running out... Stevens Point had tied it after Whitman took a 4 pt lead early in the OT and Tyler Tillema was in the process of taking over the OT period.

until Eric did what Eric does and let his ego/temper ruin the game for his team.

Is that something that has happened often? I can understand disagreeing with a call (or a non-call in this case... I assume he was displeased with the lack of a foul on the previous Missionary offensive possession) but they were only down 2 at that point... they had an opportunity to tie or take the lead with under 2 minutes left in OT!

Pretty unbelievable, any way you shake it.

[blackhawks4]

Did somebody move the party over to social media or do you folks still like to boogie down on Posting Up? Weird, nobody sent me the memo.

Before I start shaking my tail feather, my hat's off to the D3 Classic. LOVING the opportunity to see (1) nationally ranked teams from across the country, (2) during the holidays, (3) at a great venue, and (4) you throw in Vegas?!

Ready. Party on: Stevens Point/Whitman.

I'll have you know that as I post, I'm emptying my pockets, turning on my office lights, and I've got my mace in hand. I don't want to get robbed twice this week.

For those NWC'ers who weren't at the D3 Classic or didn't watch it online, here's the recap: 40 seconds left in OT, 2 point game, Whitman ball, and sideline referee 90 ft away from the ball calls two bench technicals and throws Bridgeland out. The end.

I've watched thousands of basketball games (from pro to college to grade school). NEVER...EVER...in my life...have I seen a referee decide a game in the manner which occurred Sunday night. It was an absolute injustice. 

It's no secret that Bridgeland rides the referees hard. But that (singular) referee had all game to "T" him up. But in the last :40 seconds of a 2 pt. game that had 9 lead changes, and Whitman ball?

Listen, I'm not one to complain about the refereeing of a game. But this was different. The entire NWC needs to be crying "foul" here.  I'm not going to get into what it looked like happened #tourneydarling #protect1, but it was ugly.

And don't let the grammar of others deceive you, this game wasn't Whitman "hanging in" or "having a shot." This game wasn't Whitman "on fire," and they weren't playing a "cold" or "tired" Stevens Point. They went toe-to-toe for 44 minutes and 20 seconds. 

'Hats off to Stevens Point, too (they didn't call the technical fouls). They are an absolute treat to watch. It should come to nobody's surprise that they are disciplined, smart, and GOOD. They made Whitman defend them for :35 seconds over and over.  It either resulted in a Steve's Point layup or a contested 3. As much as Whitman, they deserved to be in a 2 pt game with :40 seconds.

Mark my words: I want Stevens Point on our side of the bracket. I'll even take them at their place. Just give me Stevens Point.

And let's not forget that Whitman has played their entire season, including this game without their 6'10, All Region, NWC Player of the Year, senior, Ben Eisenhardt. Hopefully he's back soon.

Although disappointing, the game was meaningless for the NWC. With slower than usual starts by WW & WMN, the NWC will only send one team dancing. Predictions: Whitman 13-3, WW 12-4, LC 10-6, GF 10-6

[Pat Coleman]

While I agree that it was incredibly disappointing to see that official essentially end the game, I do feel like I should point out one key point: ref may have been far from the ball but he was right next to Bridgeland, who definitely said enough to merit ONE technical.

We've generally had the same officials in Vegas all four years and haven't had this kind of result. I'm disappointed in how many T's we had this weekend.

[Andy Jamison - Walla Walla Wildcat]

For every technical foul that Bridgeland gets he deserves at least 50 more... Let's not blame the refs for his actions... He is a grown man and is in complete control of what he says and does... Obviously he crossed the line and kudos to the ref for having the stones to call him on it.. No ref wants to be the one who makes those calls but there are some things that have to be penalized no matter what.  It would be interesting to hear what he said to earn the first T.   I would bet that the second T came from his reaction.