MBB: Northwest Conference

[UPSoundLogs]

"A.  I've asked this before, but can someone explain how WW cannot beat UPS, WU cannot beat WW, yet seemingly can beat UPS every year in Salem...I guess it comes down matchup issues, and some teams just match better against others..." - B-Cats

This has left me with many sleepless nights as well   I was thinking about this very topic the other day and I have come up empty.  It doesn't seem to matter how good of a season UPS has, they can't beat WU in Salem.  To confuse me even more(with the exception of this seasons triple OT) UPS slams WU by 30 every year in Tacoma.  I'm not sure what makes up this huge difference, except that WU's gym is a VERY tough place to play...Sorry bcats, no creative answers here.   

Good luck to WU against WW, I hope this mystery doesn't ring true and the Cats are able to come up with a big win over the Bucs!  After biting the dust against Whitman, UPS now needs a maricle in order to get homcourt advantage for the NWC tourney and a WU win would be a huge help! 

[bucs77]

So................... GO UPS!!!
Never really wanted to say that before, but with the current situation I think it calls for it. 
I think the odds are against LC here though.  They will have to win two very tough games and then assuming they win the first two, a third to get into the ncaa tournament against either UPS or WW.   Also if WW wins friday I have to think that they are in good shape for the ncaa tourney even if they don't win the league tournament.  They would be at 22-4 or23-4.   

Logs-
   I saw that Delong was ejected from the game against Whitman.  Does this mean he is not playing on Friday aginst LC?

[(509)Rat]

I'm with Bucs, Go loggers.  No matter how much it pains me to do so I will be rooting for UPS this evening.  And my guess is that only one stat will really matter tonight....3pt %.  Whichever team has the highest 3pt % will win this game tonight.  Both teams have lost games when their 3pt shooting has been off, no matter how they are shooting from the field (except for UPS v. Willamette, but whenever you let someone score 140 pts it doesn't matter how you are shooting from anywhere on the court).  Willamette is too young to beat Whitworth at home tonight...Pirates by 10.  Oh yeah, I'm pretty sure they have yet to win a road game in conference play.  Sorry bearcat fans but I don't think you'll get your first tonight.

[UPSoundLogs]

Hey I like all the Logger support Fellas ...even if it is only for this one game !  I think Rat hit it on the head though, tonight it's gonna come down to who can shoot a good percentage from the field.  If UPS doesn't play decent transition defense and allows Tillery to slice through the lanes for easy layups again... its not gonna be pretty for the logs.  They need to come out pumped up tonight and give a big time effort like they did last Friday against WW.  Correct me if I'm wrong but LC hasn't lost at home all season, it's gonna take a great game from UPS and probably a little luck to pull off the win.  I have faith though, I've got Loggers 91 and LC 87! 

[UPSoundLogs]

Also...Bucs, good question about Delong.  I haven't heard anything one way or the other.  I would assume that he is gonna have to sit this one out though.  I believe the rule is if you are ejected you get a one game suspention.  Anyone have details

[Greek Tragedy]

UPS was getting smoked by 18 with about 15 minutes to go, they've got it down to 11 or so now...about 11 minutes to go?

[Greek Tragedy]

UPS goes down 98-86 to L&C

[diehardfan]

Egad...my reference was not to "American Idol."  Ick...ick...ick......I never, ever watch that horrible show.

Hah... I don't think Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood are that bad. With that said, I don't watch the show either, and only found out they were on American Idol after I first heard their music. People have been trying to get me to audition for American Idol for AGES, however. So, not that I would ever try, but I have to ask the hypothetical... would you watch if I was on it David?? Hmm???

If it makes you feel better, since I know you detest pop music, someone at my old church asked me if I was a professional singer after hearing me sing along to the christmas carols at our Christmas service in December. Given the nature of the service and the music, I assume he meant classically. 

[(509)Rat]

Well, my 3pt % theory has been disproven tonight with UPS shooting 37.5% and LC shooting 30.8%.  But it looks like Lewis and Clark played some tough d, holding UPS to only 43% form the floor on the night.  Anyways, now I guess I'm a George Fox fan.  Go...what is george fox's mascot again?  Oh yeah, GO BRUINS!

Now I will be looking this up, but does anyone here know off the top of their head how this potential tie-breaker between WW and LC will work?  I would assume head to head would go first but they split that, so then maybe that whole common opponents thing?  I don't know, but if I figure anything else out I'll post whatever I can dig up.

[(509)Rat]

Well, THAT was quick.  According to the write-up on Whitworth's website...

"Whitworth must await the outcome of tomorrow's L&C-GFU contest to know the date of its next game. Should L&C win, the Pioneers will have the NWC's top seed and Whitworth will host UPS in a semifinal on Wednesday night. If Fox wins, Whitworth will play in Friday night's NWC tournament final against the winner of a rematch between L&C and UPS."

So now I'm a huge Bruin supporter!

[nwhoops1903]

Nice win Pirates and nice bricklaying by the Loggers in the first half.  Good D or not UPS is the streakiest team in show business.  LC outrebounds by 19 for the game....that's the apparent difference last night and Delong did play.

LC at Fox on Homecoming, ANYTHING can happen and usually does.  Go Foxy! (...mind thinks about the show Drawn Together, too funny)

LC is very good at home and a desperate Logger team in Spokane is dangerous.  Its a tough road to the top, but WW can and will do it.  My favorite stat: B Williams, 2 fouls (in the last 3 games).  If he's in, we (WW) win.

I suspect UPS will fall out of rankings on Monday so 2 teams to tourney is no shoe in...

[D O.C.]

I feel your pain

I get a feeling what it's like to have no chance in football.
It's maddening having no dog in this basketball race.

If LINFIELD should manage to outscore UPS tonight, would that have any bearing on the playoff situation?

[Tuxguy]

Hi D.O.C.,

I think UPS is 2 games back of WW and L&C with 5 Loses. If I'm not mistaken each team just has one game left.
Either way UPS will have to play a game to get to the Championship of the NWC tourney. And I think with a win tonight WW raps up 1st. So L&C would play UPS 2/24 to see who Plays WW.

Kinda Sad the Game tonight doesn't have more impact, but a win for the Cats would be nice. UPS always tries to run up the score on the Cats. Will see tonight. It's Dad's weekend, so maybe we will have a big crowd.

I agree with nwhoops, I think only 1 team gets in the Big dance unless WW doesn't win the NWC tourney.

[pineconefan]

Rat - I noticed this afternoon that Whitworth has updated its website to say that the Pirates have the top seed.

So the Bucs would host the winner of UPS-L&C next Friday.

[bucs77]

I think you are right pinecone.
   I just read the tiebreakers on the coference website and it looks like WW wins #4 tiebreaker
Here they are:

6.1.2 In case of a tie in the regular season Conference standing affecting
post-season advancement, tie shall be broken by:
1. Head to Head competition in conference games only  ---- they split so this is a tie.

2. Results against all teams above those tied in conference games
only  ---- no teams are above LC and WW so it does not apply

3. Results against above teams in rank order in conference games
only---- again no teams above LC and WW so it does not apply.

4. Order of losses beginning with the 9th seed and moving up to
the tied teams ----WW wins this because LC lost to
pacific and WW has only lost to LC and UPS

Let me know what you guys think but it reads to me that WW wins the tiebreaker