MBB: Northwest Conference

[D O.C.]

#1 was more important than salvaging a tournament.
Too bad.
Props to Missionaries.

[D O.C.]

I'll keep the ball rolling.
Somebody's got a 10-10 record.

[A Buc Forever]

D.O.C.,

I must say I never thought Linfield would have double digit wins this year. On top of that, they have a good chance for a winning record.  Hopefully the new coach will have them staying on an upward trajectory for awhile. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Regional Rankings: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2016/02/10/first-2016-regional-rankings-released-today/

[A Buc Forever]

Regional rankings for the west:

West – NCAA data sheet

1 St. Thomas  19-1 19-1
2 Whitworth 19-1 20-1
3 Whitman 17-3 18-3
4 Concordia-Moorhead 14-6 14-7
5 Bethel  14-6 14-6
6 St. John's  15-5 16-5
7 Dubuque 12-6 15-6


I assume this bodes well for Whitworth and Whitman getting an at large bid if they don't win the tournament.  For the people, that understand the system, can you enlighten us on what this means?

[D O.C.]

Buc Guy.... In every game would be satisfying for awhile.

[89Pirate]

St. Thomas losing last night could certainly help either Whit, at least whichever one doesn't win the conference tourney...which will probably run through the Fieldhouse...again...sorry Walla Walla.

[madzillagd]

Regional rankings for the west:

West – NCAA data sheet

1 St. Thomas  19-1 19-1
2 Whitworth 19-1 20-1
3 Whitman 17-3 18-3
4 Concordia-Moorhead 14-6 14-7
5 Bethel  14-6 14-6
6 St. John's  15-5 16-5
7 Dubuque 12-6 15-6


I assume this bodes well for Whitworth and Whitman getting an at large bid if they don't win the tournament.  For the people, that understand the system, can you enlighten us on what this means?

The first week they don't apply all the criteria so give it another round before putting too much stock in the rankings. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Yeah... these are good as a barometer, but they will go through some big changes next week when more criteria like "Results Versus Regionally Ranked Opponents" (vRRO) is brought to the table.

And it does bode well for Whitworth, however that may mean absolutely nothing after the first weekend anyway.

[89Pirate]

Yeah, the second weekend travel bug may certainly bite us in the ass...again.  But wouldn't the committee HAVE to consider the #1 Regional Ranking team as a probably hosting site for the second weekend?

I am just being selfish of course (homer that I am).  We will be going to Salem if they make it, but back-to-back weekend trips gets a little pricey even for us Pirates!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Yeah, the second weekend travel bug may certainly bite us in the ass...again.  But wouldn't the committee HAVE to consider the #1 Regional Ranking team as a probably hosting site for the second weekend?

I am just being selfish of course (homer that I am).  We will be going to Salem if they make it, but back-to-back weekend trips gets a little pricey even for us Pirates!

Nope... because when it comes down to it ... money runs the ship. It is cheaper to send Whitworth to one place and bus two other teams there then to fly three teams to Whitworth. It is what it is. They are on one of a couple of islands in Division III and that usually means no chance of hosting the second weekend. It has happened in the past, but there have had to be a lot of ducks line up (like women having priority the second weekend and thus another obvious host losing the chance - this year men have priority in the second weekend) for it to happen.

It would be a shock to see Whitworth hosting the second weekend.

[blackhawks4]

It is 53-18 in Walla Walla at halftime. Ever since calling off the trapping defense, and just picking up full court man, Whitman's defense looks absolutely dominating. Willamette is shooting 20% from the floor, and remember WW shot 31% and Pac shot 31%. Whitman is just more athletic and more disciplined.  I realize they are beating up on willamette right now, so I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, but it's starting to look pretty special. Ready for that show down in Spokane.

[(509)Rat]

Could the days of off nights leading to losses against "ok" teams be over for Whitman? Sure is looking like it. When a team with superior talent decides not to give the other team points (because above average college teams will beat your press), they will probably become more consistent. Missionaries look a lot more dangerous than they did just a month ago.

[blackhawks4]

Well, hopefully that's as sloppy as it gets for Whitman (who wins 97-72).  They shot 30% from 3, 57% from the line, and allowed George Fox to shoot an unacceptable 39% from the floor --which is about 8% higher than the past 3 games they've played.     

With the LC loss, playoffs are set (WW, WMN, UPS, PLU).  Coincidentally all teams will face-off in Tacoma next weekend.  If you're WW, who do you want in the first round, UPS or PLU?

[A Buc Forever]

Not sure.

The more interesting question is who do PLU and UPS want to face?