MBB: Northwest Conference

[(509)Rat]

Anyone else have thoughts on UPS?

I think UPS will make the NWC tourney. They have taken care of business against the "rest" of the league which is all they need to keep doing to finish 3-4. The team that showed up in Spokane didn't play very good basketball. Tons of turnovers, poor shooting. Didn't look like the UPS teams of old. I still don't know what Lunt does so well that posters (mostly dudes that left long ago) defended him for so long. I know it can be tough to sustain success in d3, but it certainly is possible and not an unrealistic expectation. They'll be fine, just no NCAA tournament any time soon.

I'm glad Whitworth played so well against Whitman. They lost to George Fox because they couldn't buy a bucket and Fox shot like 90% from the 3 pt line. They looked a little slow on D too, which definitely contributed to Fox's success from behind the arc. They had too many open looks. I didn't get to watch the Whitman game but looking at the box score and knowing how talented the Missionaries are, Whitworth had to have played a great game. If they can consistently get back to shooting in the high 30's% from 3, they can win a few NCAA tournament games. If not, they could easily get bounced by a GF in the first round of the NCAA tourney. Whitworth is still the deepest team in the conference and arguably has the most top end talent as well, they just need to play like it...

[Keandre]

I was looking at UPS cost of tuition, its close to 60 grand!!! Wow, being able to bring in recruits to even compete is a tremendous feat for Lunt and his staff. To me, that is why Lunt is defended all these years I am assuming because if you can get recruits good enough to compete in the NWC at 60 grand a pop, that certainly is amazing in my eyes. Are other NWC schools that high in costs?

[A Buc Forever]

Just looked it up and UPS has a full cost of just under $53,000 for full costs (tuition, room and board, fees).  Whitworth is just under $46,000.  I've heard (can't confirm) that Occidental is the most expensive school in the country.  The full cost to go there is $59,592.  These costs are significantly higher than just a few years ago.  I think total cost at Whitworth in 2008 was still under $30,000.  I do think the rising costs are making it harder to recruit to the DIII's, but all the schools are in the same boat.

There are few public DIII's and they do have an advantage--UW-Stevens Point cost just under $15,000 for a resident of Wisconsin and Just under $21,000 for a non-resident.   

[wildcat11]

Just looked it up and UPS has a full cost of just under $53,000 for full costs (tuition, room and board, fees).  Whitworth is just under $46,000.  I've heard (can't confirm) that Occidental is the most expensive school in the country.  The full cost to go there is $59,592.  These costs are significantly higher than just a few years ago.  I think total cost at Whitworth in 2008 was still under $30,000.  I do think the rising costs are making it harder to recruit to the DIII's, but all the schools are in the same boat.

There are few public DIII's and they do have an advantage--UW-Stevens Point cost just under $15,000 for a resident of Wisconsin and Just under $21,000 for a non-resident.   

This brings up a questions in my mind (athletic and non-athletic related) when do prospective students start saying enough is enough when it comes to the cost of a private education?  I know there are aid packages, etc., to help offset some of the cost, but it seems the debt students are coming away with are getting into the extreme.

Maybe I'm blowing this up since I have a 3 year old daughter and I shudder at the thought of what the cost of college will be in 15 years.

[playball]

The Wisconsin schools are also state schools who give a ton of money in aid.  They are pretty much in a league of their own when it comes to recruiting due to their success and because of how "low" their tuition is comparatively to the other schools in the west region.  Kind of ridiculous, but it is what it is

[A Buc Forever]

The tuition issue is a huge issue.  I definitely feel the pain of students these days.  I know of many kids walking on at DII's and DI's instead of going to DIII's because of the costs. Many of the medical residents I work with are in debt beyond what I think is reasonable for getting an education ($350,000 and over is quite common). Wilcat11--start saving.

Back to the games coming up.  Won't be able to watch any this weekend, but the Whitman/LC game should be a barn burner.  I'm hoping LC can't find the range in WW field house and that by the end of the weekend everything will be as it should with WW all alone at the top of the standings.

[(509)Rat]

"Aid" and scholarship/grant money are very different things. I'd be curious to see what kind of academic money any of the state schools give out. Whitworth was cheaper for me than WSU or Eastern WA would have been. Both state schools offered me a whopping $1,000 in academic money and that was with a 3.8 and 1540 (when it was out of 1600) on the SAT. Unless things are very different elsewhere (and you aren't counting national merit scholars who many state schools offer full tuition scholarships to), then the WIAC kids aren't getting much free money...

Aid in the form of loans is useless. Although, it will always help you land those couple kids who DON'T realize borrowing $100k+ on an undergraduate degree is almost always a complete waste of money.

If Whitworth plays like they did in Walla Walla it shouldn't matter how well LC shoots. But I have little faith that they can string together 2 really good performances. Haven't been real consistent all year. Would love for them to prove me wrong and blow the Pios out of the water in Spokane this weekend.

[Keandre]

Great win on the road for UPS, looks like they are showing that they are for real by getting one in a tough place to play as of late.

After speaking with some local kids in the Tacoma area who would be perfect fits at the DIII level, they say they would not go to schools like UPS and play cause it is not worth the debt, I agree. So when you have a recruit you like and they say that, it is hard to sell your program to these local Tacoma area kids cause most of them don't have that kind of money or the grades to help get that merit money. But hey, sorry about bringing up the money stuff, lets get back to hoops!!!!

[blackhawks4]

Well, this weekend solidifies that the NWC crown will be decided between the Whits. There are no quiet giraffes. Yes, I know that Fox, LC, and UPS are 5-3, but they only are because Willamette are Linfield are so bad. I mean honestly,  can we move them into the SCIAC so that they can compete? LC came up empty, unable to keep it competitive in either game on the road. And UPS loses to Fox.

I see both Whits getting better as the year goes on, and if I had to bet, i see both teams running the table from here on out (except for when they square off again obviously). In order to win conference, whitman is going to need help. Even if they are able to beat WW in Spokane, GF will finish above Pacific, giving the Bucs the tie breaker unless someone else knocks them off.

[wildcat11]

Wilcat11--start saving.

I better crank it up or I have a feeling this is what I'll be seeing when I say "Honey, Western Oregon is a...good school."

[Keandre]

I don't see the Whit's winning out, they both still play at UPS and UPS gave them both a tough game at their places. Plus, winning at LC is not going to be easy for Whitman, maybe I am wrong but they lost at LC every year since Bridgeland has been there. So no, I do not think they can win out.

[A Buc Forever]

I don't see the Whit's winning out, they both still play at UPS and UPS gave them both a tough game at their places. Plus, winning at LC is not going to be easy for Whitman, maybe I am wrong but they lost at LC every year since Bridgeland has been there. So no, I do not think they can win out.

I agree.  Unlikely either team will win out except for the WW/Whitman game.  The title is going to be decided by who wins the most games they should win. 

[(509)Rat]

I don't see the Whit's winning out, they both still play at UPS and UPS gave them both a tough game at their places.

Meh, Whitworth held UPS to 49 points in Spokane. Historically UPS has been a tough place to play but that was because they one of the more talented teams. As a Pirate fan I'm much more worried about your counterparts in Parkland...PLU seems to be Whitworth's "LC", not necessarily because the Lutes have beaten the Bucs but they do seem to give them very close games despite inferior talent.

To me Whitworth winning out is more likely, but I'd handicap that prop bet as essentially a pick'em. Meaning I think it's a coin toss. Whitworth seems to be playing better basketball and the Whitman game is the only one that, on paper, looks like it could easily be a loss. I'm only a little biased, though history is on my side.

[Keandre]

Valid point Rat, I think I am referring more to Whitman than Whitworth, but I think UPS shoots better at home against Whitworth than they did in Spokane so maybe they have a better chance at competing with them. I will sure be there to watch I know that much lol.

[(509)Rat]

Valid point Rat, I think I am referring more to Whitman than Whitworth, but I think UPS shoots better at home against Whitworth than they did in Spokane so maybe they have a better chance at competing with them. I will sure be there to watch I know that much lol.

I'd agree with that. UPS should make it a much closer game at home and I wouldn't be shocked if they won the way Whitworth has played "most" of this season. The NWC has had more than its fair share of surprising results this season.