MBB: Northwest Conference

[A Buc Forever]

Just saw the current rankings. Early rankings, but nice to have 2 NWC teams in the top 10.  Interesting that no UW-xxx team ranked higher than 21.  Anyone know what's happening there?

#   School (1st votes)   Rec   Pts   Prev.
1   Amherst (19)   3-0   611   1
2   Babson (5)   6-0   599   3
3   Tufts   4-0   558   5
4   Marietta (1)   5-0   542   17
5   Whitman   3-0   510   9
6   North Central (Ill.)   3-0   485   13
7   Christopher Newport   3-1   447   2
8   Whitworth   3-0   437   12
9   Washington U.   4-0   380   20
10   St. Norbert   1-1   378   4
11   Wooster   3-1   357   7
12   St. Thomas   3-1   297   10
13   Keene State   4-0   292   19
14   Benedictine   2-2   207   6
15   Hope   3-1   201   22
16   Illinois Wesleyan   5-0   184   --
17   Augustana   4-1   175   18
18   Rochester   6-0   168   --
19   Salisbury   4-0   162   --
20   Baldwin Wallace   4-0   116   --
21   UW-Eau Claire   4-0   112   --
22   Mount St. Joseph   5-0   96   --
23   WPI   4-0   84   --
24   Endicott   2-1   81   --
25   Susquehanna   4-1   70   25

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The Wisconsin teams haven't sorted themselves out yet.  Eau Claire may be the best, which will be hard for the voters to understand until later in the year.

[Gregory Sager]

Just saw the current rankings. Early rankings, but nice to have 2 NWC teams in the top 10.  Interesting that no UW-xxx team ranked higher than 21.  Anyone know what's happening there?

The WIAC has been completely dominated by two programs, UWSP and UWW, over the past several years. That's not the case anymore. UWSP is young and has trailed off in terms of overall ability, and UWW had what for the Warhawks was a really down season in 2015-16 (16-10, 7-7). It doesn't mean that the league is worse; in fact, it may be better than it's been recently, because the pack is rising up as much as the big dogs are coming down to earth. Keep in mind that the WIAC's current non-conference record is 26-8 (.765), which is a mark that other leagues certainly envy.

The WIAC people are saying in their room that it could be a six-team race this year for the league title, which, in a league that only consists of eight teams, is really saying something. But it'll mean that the league cannibalizes itself in league play, preventing anybody from building up really gaudy overall records and (presumably) negatively impacting their d3hoops.com Top 25 representation.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Just saw the current rankings. Early rankings, but nice to have 2 NWC teams in the top 10.  Interesting that no UW-xxx team ranked higher than 21.  Anyone know what's happening there?

The WIAC has been completely dominated by two programs, UWSP and UWW, over the past several years. That's not the case anymore. UWSP is young and has trailed off in terms of overall ability, and UWW had what for the Warhawks was a really down season in 2015-16 (16-10, 7-7). It doesn't mean that the league is worse; in fact, it may be better than it's been recently, because the pack is rising up as much as the big dogs are coming down to earth. Keep in mind that the WIAC's current non-conference record is 26-8 (.765), which is a mark that other leagues certainly envy.

The WIAC people are saying in their room that it could be a six-team race this year for the league title, which, in a league that only consists of eight teams, is really saying something. But it'll mean that the league cannibalizes itself in league play, preventing anybody from building up really gaudy overall records and (presumably) negatively impacting their d3hoops.com Top 25 representation.

... and their at-large opportunities (like last year).

[Gregory Sager]

Yup. And, less than an hour after I made that post last night, one of the two WIAC teams that isn't talked about as being one of the six contenders in that league, UW-Platteville, completely straitjacketed #6 North Central to the tune of 57-40 in NCC"s airplane hangar. The Pioneer almost cut the Cardinals' offense in half, as NCC was averaging 79.3 ppg coming into last night.

Don't break out your violins for the WIAC's misfortunes. That league is still made up of a whole bunch of very formidable teams by D3 standards.

[Loggerwatcher]

I have lurked on this list for a long time and it looks like it's dying, so I thought I'd contribute.  I have been watching Puget Sound basketball and the NWC for years.  This year's Puget Sound team looks ok.  They are strong in the backcourt, and I suspect that they will hang with Whitman better than they have in several years.  They have a fine three (really four) guard attack, with skilled handlers and shooters on the floor all the time.  I watched a good portion of the game against St. Thomas, and they held up well until their front line was depleted by foul trouble/fouling out. By the numbers UPS has been ok up front, with an all hands on deck approach to rebounding.  But I think the Loggers lack the strength and size in the front line to compete with the top teams in the league unless those guards are shooting out of their minds. That means Whitworth.  I would be surprised if this UPS team doesn't make the league tournament.  The guards are good players and the front line guys are game. But the lack of size and strength up front will limit what they can achieve.

[gordonmann]

From the land of things you may have known but I didn't...

http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2016/12/whitman-got-the-blues

[D O.C.]

2 NWC teams in the top 10

Oh, well, that would be why the d3 Brass is over on these pages.
Much respect, Brass

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWWhX5BjVRw

[(509)Rat]

Linfield is 16-64 in conference play over the past 5 years...what brings you by? 

[A Buc Forever]

Easy Rat.  We don't need Linfield people throwing their football record around.

[(509)Rat]

oh don't worry, those guys don't care enough about any other sport to actually post something on another board

Whitworth wins 91-79. Willamette played a good 2nd half and got within 6-7 IIRC after being down 18 at the half. Whitworth pulled away late to make it look a little less close than it was down the stretch.

Big game Tuesday...

[A Buc Forever]

Too bad WW and WM play so early. It would have been fun to have them decide  the championship in the last week of the season. Tuesday night should be a good one. 

[A Buc Forever]

How long has it been since Whitworth wasn't either in the lead or tied for the lead in the conference?  I'm guessing 2008.  Whitman looks good.  It's been a long stretch of being top dog.  Let's see how they are as an underdog to at least one team.

[(509)Rat]

There was one ~4-5 min stretch early in the game where Whitman couldn't miss and Whitworth couldn't buy a basket that buried the Pirates. Whitworth was playing good D, beating the press, and then missing good looks. Whitman has a lot of guys that can shoot from outside and are great finishing around the rim, that may be the biggest difference between this years version and previous Whitman teams. After seeing parts of a couple Whitman games now, I would be shocked if they dropped the usual NWC conference game to an opponent they should have easily beat. This is the first year I've felt that way. Anyway, during that stretch Whitworth got into a 15 point hole and that was the game. IIRC when Whitworth finally stopped the bleeding, Whitman was shooting 80% from the field to Whitworth's 25% (like 0-5 from 3pt). Whitworth wasn't turning it over or taking too many dumb shots, but the Blues still managed to pull way ahead. I think the rest of the game showed that these are still two pretty evenly matched teams. The game in Spokane later in the year can't be worse...can it?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I watched the whole game.  I'd agree that period early in the first half was the difference.  Whitworth didn't look ready for the pace Whitman was playing (which is strange, since they play all the time), made a ton of turnovers and never reacted quick enough as Whitman took them right at the basket.

You could still see Whitworth had the talent and experience to come back - they tried really hard, getting that lead down to single digits in the second half, but the deficit was too much.  Whitman was definitely the better team, although it's probably a closer disparity than the game indicated.  The return fixture will be interesting.

Whitman's style is really interesting - I'd love to see how it matches up with more disciplined sides from farther east - either a CCIW type plodding post-game or maybe a team like Babson that takes care of the ball really well.  Hopefully we'll see some of those matchups come March.