MBB: Northwest Conference

[(509)Rat]

Press release re: Whitworth's incoming class. Of note, Michael Taylor's younger brother (Gebbers' cousin) joins the Pirates, along with 2 Australians, 1 Kiwi and a German. 7 total players 6 have 4 years of eligibility and 1 is a transfer.

Whitworth MBB incoming class

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth was tied with Montana at the half 38-38. Montana just started to pull away a bit with 10 min left in the game, up 62-55.

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth lost to Montana 90-80. Leading Pirate scorers were as you'd expect, Jurlina, Roach and Love at the top of the stat sheet. Didn't see a box score so I'm not sure how much Montana messed with rotations and how deep they went into their bench, but this was the closest game between the two over the past 3 years. Whitworth should have a good team yet again. If some of the young foreigners can contribute quickly they have more potential than last years team IMO.

[A Buc Forever]

Feeling lonely Rat?

Whitworth played well against Montana.  Nice article from their local newspaper:  http://missoulian.com/sports/college/montana/montana-men-s-basketball-rorie-scores-to-spark-griz-past/article_007d04f2-e5de-5fcd-85a5-28a00ee42e5f.html

I see the coaches picked picked WW over WM, but WM ranked 9th nationally and WW 12th. http://nwcsports.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/nwcpoll-mbsk2017  It is going to be a battle for the top spot this year.  On paper WW lost more than WM, but I'm hoping Kyle Roach steps up big time to fill the void left by Valle. 

I hear Linfield looks better.  Any other info on the other teams out there?

[(509)Rat]

Whitman smoked St. Olaf 108-78. St. Olaf looked good through most of the first half, they weren't forcing shots, getting easy looks around the rim and then when they got down by 8-10 pts and fell apart. Fell right into Whitman's trap (pun intended). Here's the write-up:

http://athletics.whitman.edu/news/2016/11/19/mens-basketball-6-reach-double-figures-in-win-over-olaf.aspx

St. Olaf plays Whitworth tonight in what will surely be a closer game. Not because Whitman is that much better than Whitworth IMO, but because of the Missionaries' style of play. I say this every year, and it looks like this year I'm only talking to myself (and maybe A Buc Forever) but Whitworth and Whitman are consistently very evenly matched, with the Pirates actually winning more often than not, but the difference in pace/style between the two seems to always give the Missionaries a bigger margin of victory against common non-conference opponents.

[Drake Palmer]

I'm a MIACER and watched a portion of that Olaf Whitman game, and you're absolutely right. The young guards for St. Olaf basically fell apart from the relentless pressure Whitman was applying.  If they were to meet a little later in the year, I think the score would be closer, but would still be  a 10-12 point win for Whitman.  Good luck this season, and perhaps a NWC and MIAC team will meet again in the post season.

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth has been very good as of late, so this is easier said than done, but any coach who has a game against Whitman should call Logie and ask for some film on Whitworth handling the press and the half court pressure D. They make it look very easy at times and never get run out of the gym like Olaf did. It takes a good gameplan and discipline, but there is a mountain of evidence on how to handle Whitman's "scheme." I mean, this is a team that loses a game to an average NWC team every single year...but they always make some early season non-conference opponents look like absolute schmucks.

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth let Olaf back in it and squeaks out the W, 70-68. Kenny Love was 1-6 and didn't get to the FT line until there was 3 sec left in the game...he finished with 5 points. He is arguably the best player in the league, so despite the final score I think you have to be happy Whitworth won at all with him struggling to score. Kyle Roach led Whitworth with 20 pts and the Bucs shot 50% from 3 as a team.

Texas Lutheran and Schreiner come to Spokane next weekend, along with Whitman. Would expect the Whits to sweep that weekend as well.

[Andy Jamison - Walla Walla Wildcat]

What is Whitman's new mascot?

[(509)Rat]

What is Whitman's new mascot?

The "Blues" I guess. Named after the mountain range next door. I didn't realize it was changed until sometime between calling them the Missionaries in an earlier post and just now.

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/whitman-college-dumps-missionary-mascot/

[(509)Rat]

Whitman wins 91-60. Just ran an overmatched team off the court. Schreiner had 17 turnovers at the half...

Whitworth pulled away from a pesky Texas Litheran team. Roach again led Whitworth with 28 pts, but Love had 21 and a few big baskets down the stretch.

Neither team should struggle tomorrow night, though I would expect TLU to turn the ball over less than both of Whitman's two previous opponents. It may make that game a little closer...

[gordonmann]

Yeah, TLU showed some spunk without its best player Holmes.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Yeah, TLU showed some spunk without its best player Holmes.

Holmes did start and played 13 minutes, so I'm assuming the injury isn't too bad.  He missed the previous games.  Anyone know if we'll see him today?

[(509)Rat]

Whitman beats TLU 98-82. Whitman's pressure forced 19 TLU turnovers but also led to 41 TLU FT attempts. The Bulldogs didn't play any "cleaner" as Whitman also attempted 41 FTs. You have to be a lot more efficient on the offensive end if you want to beat Whitman despite 19 turnovers (which is possible as Whitman isn't immune to turning it over themselves).

Whitworth built up a good size lead on Schreiner and coasted to a 87-63 win. Love led the Pirates tonight with 25 points. Roach had 20 and continues to shoot really well from 3 (now making 64% of his 3pt attempts on the season).

The Whits travel to Willamette next weekend and then play each other the following Tuesday in Walla Walla.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

It stinks for TLU that they had to make this trip without their best player at full strength, but they put up two good fights regardless.