MBB: Northwest Conference

[playball]

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.

Would you credit that to testy officials who just had enough or unruly coaches/players feeling a little feisty on a bigger stage?


Also, for what its worth, I personally enjoy watching Bridgeland coach.  The guy is a sideshow all his own!

[Pat Coleman]

Don't quite know what to credit it to, to be honest. Like I said, we've had the same crews before and not had seven T's in a tournament (in this case, 18 games).

[blackhawks4]

Take a look at the banter on the Wisconsin board. 

http://d3hoops.com/classic/2013-14/d3hoops-classic/wrapup-day-3

So, d-mac,

Why did the Whitman coach blow up and get two techs after Tillema's layup in OT?

Also, Platteville getting outrebounded 39-20? Ouch!

On the previous play, with the score tied, Whitman attacked and a Whit player went up for a shot and the ball popped up... don't remember who the defender was (I think it was Ryf or Hass).

The Whit bench thought it was a foul (the play was on the wing right in front of them). FWIW, from the perspective of Dave (where ever he was broadcasting from...) it looked like a pretty blatant foul too.

I thought it looked like a clean strip 

What if Bridgeland was right to argue the call?! Whether it was a clean strip or it wasn't, I'm okay with the referee swallowing his whistle. What I'm not okay with is a referee deciding a game. I don't care if Bridgeland strung together fifteen four-letter words and a mother joke.  There is no justification for a technical foul at that point in the game.

[TryMeTeam]

BH4:

For real?  What if he was right to argue?  By rules, a coach is never "right" to argue a call, only how wrong he is.  A little wrong, and the refs allow it.  A lot and they cannot.

Birdgeland is known for pushing the limit and getting away with it.  And when he does it, he knows the risk, especially in unfamiliar territory.  He just can't help himself.  So it is okay to T him up in the first half but not late in the game.  A foul is a foul early but not late.  You (and refs) can't go there!  I get a swallowed whistle late.  Happens all of the time.  But it is no surprise to those of us who watch him year after year that this would happen.  Not one of us here!  I agree with Playball that he is sometimes fun to watch.  But he walks the line and sometimes (some would argue, too often) crosses it, and his team deserves to lose because of it. if that's what happens.  No sympathy here!

15 4-letter words and a mother joke!?!?!?!?  You go too far!
   

[playball]

At times....

Bridgeland=Rumplestilskin 

I wasn't there but the overall quality of officials here in the US is much higher than elsewhere.  We should be feeling kind of lucky actually.

The official decided to decide the outcome of the game with two decisions in less than a minute span.  The sated no call which was an obvious foul (so was stated on here) and then the 2 t's.  The official probably knew he messed up, but to t up a coach in that situation compounds the problem.  Two wrong calls and boom game over.  I'm not sure if Whitman would've won the game regardless but that effectively ended their chances.

[Andy Jamison - Walla Walla Wildcat]

It really depends on what Bridgeland said to earn the first T... There are some things that have to be automatic T's no matter the time and situation. Bridgeland's actions cost Whitman the game... Not the refs.. No ref wants to put themselves in that position but kudos to the ref for having the integrity to make a very tough call. 

I'd expect that the second T was caused by Bridgeland's reaction to the first T.  Again, he has to be held accountable for his actions.

Blaming the refs doesn't make Bridgeland take responsibility for his actions.. He needs to grow up or he will keep costing his team games.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

From being there, calling the game and talking to the refs afterward, here is what I can tell you:

First of all, I thought it might have been a foul on the no-call from where I was sitting and what I heard. However, the ref five feet from the play told me he saw both hands going up in the air and the ball going down. That was proven by our photographer's picture (hands going up, ball going down). There is no picture of actual contact. If both hands are going up, then there wasn't contact on the wrist since physics would force the wrist downward with the ball - or at least keep it where the contact was made... not up with the other arm. By the way, how does anyone who watched the game on our feed know it was or wasn't a foul? It was on the far side of the court and it wasn't like we were providing a close up or a replay.

Second, the same ref who felt it wasn't a foul then T'ed up Bridgeland when the ref said he used two no-no words in his ear. The first started with f... the second started with b... and they were back-to-back. I would assume yelling them didn't help the cause... and it wasn't like it was the first time Bridgeland had uttered those words. I remember him being talked to by the refs at least once during the game. He got the second T for being 15-plus feet from his bench and screaming at the refs - pretty much in their huddle as they discussed the procedures and such. I didn't see him earn the first tech, but when I turned my head and saw him in the face of the officials... I didn't need to know what the first one was and knew he was about to get his second.

The ref who was involved in all of the calls told me in his 15 years of collegiate reffing, that is the second and third technicals he has ever given out and he wasn't happy he had to do it. That means this guy gives a very long leash and isn't whistle happy. He had to have a good enough reason to not "swallow his whistle" (something that really pisses me off when fans want whistles swallowed) and clearly did.

I talked to Coach Bridgeland after the game (about 30 minutes or so) and he was clearly frustrated that they called the T - saying the same things some have said here - he also didn't understand why there wasn't a foul called in the first place (I told him what the photographic proof indicated - he didn't argue that). As much as I appreciate what Coach Bridgeland has done with his team, I will say what I said several times on air... he cost his team a victory. I understand this is a signature game for his team if they win, but you have to compose yourself in those situations. I am sure he would expect the same from his players so if they are down 2 with 42 seconds to go... they don't give up four free foul shots to the opposing team. I don't care how bad a call or big the moment... you can't go there for the sake of your own team and this signature game. Afterward if you want to discuss with the refs your point of view, that is fine, but that is not the time or place.

By the way, the refs didn't know Stevens Point was the #1 team in the country until just before their games. These guys don't get a chance to call D3 games that often and honestly don't care who their opponents are. They do ask us who they are looking at and what kind of game to expect... thus they didn't know UWSP was #1 until minutes before tip-off of their games - so not much "protecting" in my opinion.

[blackhawks4]

I think we can all safely agree that Bridgeland deserved the second Technical.  You definitely can't do that!

If Bridgeland was cussing like a sailor all game, "t" him up early.  If he does it again, boot him.  But gentlemen, there was :40 seconds left in OT.

A technical foul early is not a technical foul late.  Good referees exercise this judgement across the sports board. Can anyone name another sports finish similar to this, in any sport, at any level?  I'd even give credit for a "in my son's U10 game" example. 

A win for Whitman would have been nothing more than a feather in their cap.  Their record doesn't support an at large bid.  Rough start without the Conference Player of the Year.  My goodnees they've improved quickly though, and I just have this feeling Whitman sees Stevens Point again this year.

[John Gleich]

After watching the game,  I agree with many of the sentiments here... Except that Bridgeland cost Whitman the game.  Perhaps he cost them an opportunity at winning the game (and I readily admit that a 5 point game after the 3/4 tech fts changes the game) but in the ensuing offensive possession, Tillema got a blocked shot. Even without the 3/4 tech fts, SP would have still been up two points. SP made 1/2 fts in the next trip (SP +3) and all Whitman could muster was 2 points.  Even after an unforced SP turnover,  Whitman couldn't score.

And Whitman simply couldn't guard Tillema. Yes,  the box score looks gaudy for Hass, and it certainly was... But Tillema was 9/10 for the game and scored 17 in the last 7.5 minutes of the game.

Most or all of you seem to be discounting the fact that Stevens Point made the plays to win the game... they had gotten 3 straight stops and scores.

There are many things that UWSP is and some things they're not. But they showed in their last 3 games that they have the ability to fight against adversity when the shots aren't falling and they have two elite guards who can make a team pay.

[blackhawks4]

Agree.

'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.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

John - not sure I support that because Tillema blocked the shot after the technical free throws the same would have happened if there hadn't been technicals. Whitman is now in a desperate situation to get shots up quickly, so Tillema is sitting on an opportunity there. Should Bridgeland not get the T's, Whitman is carrying the ball the court down two and their game plan and play call is completely different. You can't make a straight line comparison there. Playing calling and shot selection down 2 with 30 seconds remaining versus 5 is night and day different.

[(509)Rat]

Glad somebody else said it. You have no idea who would have won the game. The only thing any of use know for sure is that Bridgeland ruined any chance the Missionaries had at winning. He lost them the game. All UWSP did was make some FT's.

Whitworth swept some OR school's this weekend to start 2-0 in conference play. Controlled Pacific throughout. Then struggled with Willamette for about 20 minutes before pulling away for the 11 point W on the road. The Pacific game was as expected, surprised how much Whitworth struggled with Willamette. They turned the ball over a lot and once again struggled from 3.

They are lucky that a) they are more talented than most of the rest of the conference b) they're playing good defense (even if they aren't forcing as many TO's as they're giving up) and beating opponents on the glass and c) they got some help from Pacific who knocked off Whitman tonight.

Most of the conference will be hanging around in games well into the second half if the 3pt % doesn't come up. They aren't even shooting 30% on the season...Robby Douglas is 2-20...McConnell shooting 18%...had to go back to 07-08 to find a team that shot less than 39% from 3 on the season. They checked in at a measly 37.8%. If this team can buy some buckets on a nightly basis there is no doubt in my mind they are talented enough to make a playoff run. But not playing like they are now. Good enough to finish on top of the NWC but it won't make it out of the second round.

Tacoma schools make the eastern WA swing next weekend. Neither PLU or UPS are playing great basketball. Not even consistent basketball. Whitworth should win both but I have a feeling we are going to get a lot of weird results this season. The conference just feels very average this year overall.

[A Buc Forever]

Rat,

Did not get a chance to watch any of the games this weekend, but the box scores for WW look a little strange.  A total of 29 minutes for two games for Farnsworth. Is he hurt? Others playing better?  What's up?  Jurlina did not play against Willamette--is he hurt?  Wilks looks like he is contributing.  How is he looking?  Kenny Love--he seems up and down in the box scores--any comments?

UPS fans--what happened?   Did they bring back Foster and company and sneak them onto the court?  Did not see them going 2-0 this weekend.

Whitman--Must have let down after the UWSP loss. 

[Keandre]

Hey Buc, I had a chance to see the LC and Linfield game against UPS. Two completely different UPS teams. In the LC game, they scored very well, in the Linfield game, it was very slow. Not sure if we can say they can play an up and down style like against LC AND a slow tempo like against Linfield but they do have some pretty good pieces that will help win them games whether pretty or not. Nelson has been very good for them and Holden is one of the best athletes in the league, kind of a smaller Gittens from 2 years ago. They have lost some close games this year so I am looking to see them put it all together and make another run at the NWC Championship this season. I think this weekends trip to Eastern Washington will tell us a little more about this team. Either they are for real or still trying to find an identity.
On a side note, I really like the Nick Holden kid, if anyone has seen him, please let me know what you think.

PS, sorry I have been gone for a while, my wife and I had a baby boy and certain things just got overlooked.

[playball]

PS, sorry I have been gone for a while, my wife and I had a baby boy and certain things just got overlooked.

Congrats!

I understand Linfield being a fairly young team, but only one guy playing any kind of minutes (Dirks, 19.5 MPG) is shooting over 40% (52.9% on 3.3 of 6.2 shooting)...YIKES.  Words out, this team struggles putting the ball through the hoop.  With that said, it also looks like this team doesn't have a go to guy for when they need a basket.  The most shots on average any player takes is just over 8.  A lot of people playing and getting opportunities.  Hopefully the law of averages plays out here and they start hitting on their 3's... its 55% of their shot selection.

WW at the bottom of the league for 3pt %?  Someone leaving the doors open in that airplane Hangar they call a gym?!  This isn't like previous Pirate squads.  Neither is only a +3.3 rebounding margin.  Lack of shooting affecting the bigs or lack of bigs affecting the shooters?

LC has 125 more shot attempts per game than the team with the second most....GUNNING! And +9 rebounding advantage while playing small?!  What is happening to this league?!   

Only two teams not in the red when it comes to a/to margin. Pacific and George Fox.  Fox is surprising me so far this season.  Averaging 92 a game, where did this come from? Can they sustain?

Wow, the conference looks very different than when I played.  It is kind of amazing how the styles of play and teams morph and evolve league wide as a whole and not just one or two teams at a time.  I would like to see Whitworth's bigs, Farnsworth especially, get back on track in order for them to have a deeper run in the playoffs if they make it that far.  A lot of talented, hungry teams that are capable of taking the top spot away this year, should be exciting to see it all play out!