MBB: Northwest Conference

[bigfella]

And, Jon Young hit big shots.  The those guys were draped on him.  But, we can't give him credit for showing up big. 

[(509)Rat]

Appearently bigfella didn't watch or listen to any of the UPS v. WW or LC v. WW.  Then he would have known that Whitworth stayed in that zone they play pretty much the entire game against UPS (both times) and although less often, most of the second LC game.  That's Hayford's system though...make them beat you with the three ball, and play very effieciently on offense (only take high percentage shots and open threes).  The problem is, is that those teams beat them with the three.  Hayford adjusted based on what LC did in the past.  The pirates tightened up their defense and defended all the out to a few feet past the three point line.  At times it seemed almost like a matchup zone when there was dribble penetration by a guard and the Whitworth players rotated beautiffuly to defend to kick out pass.  What did LC do differently when their MO wasn't working?  What adjustments did they make to counteract Whitworth's?  I didn't really see any, especially in the last 4-5 minutes when they really needed to.  Jon Young did have a good game...he did exactly what they needed him to, hit a few threes and make all of his free-throws.  Whitworth played well, but just like in football, more often than not its the coach who is calling the plays.  bigfella also forgets that a certain first team player was sitting out for the pirates for two of those three losses, and was fresh off of a broken hand for the last one.  And I have played in games where the conference championship is concerned here at Whitworth and I give credit where credit is due...and most of the time it goes first and foremost to your coach for putting you in a position to outperform the other team and win the game.  But being an LC fan (and judging by your articulate posts a fairly young one), I guess you aren't used to that are you?

[UPSoundLogs]

Rat,

FYI...I might be wrong...but if the bigfella is who I think he is, he's been on the good end of a lot of wins. 

You are correct though, atleast when WW played UPS the time that I watched, they were in that lame matchup zone most of the game.  It's effective but boring as hell!!!  But hey, I'm used to watching madness so what do I know ?

[David Collinge]

I saw this posted in the SCAC room.  I thought you might like to see it, to see that there is respect for the NWC out there:

Well, when this DePauw team plays at their best, there aren't many folks that beat 'em.  If Schott & McDonald can get rolling, Moore, Sakel, and Werentz can hit a few 3's, and they don't turn it over, they're going to have an awfully good shot at Whitworth.  I gather the NWC is a pretty good conference, and to get out of it on top is a darned good day at the office.

Good luck to Whitworth in St. Louis. 

[bigfella]

Only was speaking of when LC played WW.  I can't speak on UPS games against WW.  Those were good games, though, I bet.  but, WW played majority of man in the last two games against LC.  I wasn't in the huddle for either team, so I can't say what either team did (WW and LC) for adjustments.  From watching, though, it looked like both teams worked at making the correct changes to try to win the game.  It was a great game.

"And I have played in games where the conference championship is concerned here at Whitworth and I give credit where credit is due...and most of the time it goes first and foremost to your coach for putting you in a position to outperform the other team and win the game."

I have never played for or spoken to a coach who would take credit for a game like Saturday's, where the players made big plays.  But, it is only opinion.  I am not trying to say you are wrong, it is only contrasting thoughts.  The coach puts you in the position, but the players make plays(again just my opinion).  Hayford didn't coach Williams to put his head down and get the and-ones that he did.  The player made that play.  That is why he was MVP.  You can't script those plays.  Jon Young pulling up from 26 wasn't scripted.  Just a kid making plays in a big game.  Give the kids credit fella.  And, no need to get personal.  If I wrote something that was viewed as personal, I apologize.

[Tuxguy]

Coach Bigfella,

Interesting reading your posts. Thanks for your perspective, and nice job with the Pios this year. Must be nice to have the administration backing the sports at L&C again. They finally realized that  Athletics are a big part of College Life.

[(509)Rat]

If coach's don't play an important role in winning basketball games then Bob Knight wouldn't have as many wins as he does He hasn't had the type of talent throughout is career as Krzyzewski or dean smith had at UNC, yet he's won more games than both.  WSU would not be vying for a conference championship if it weren't for Tony Bennett.  Whitworth's players outperformed LC on saturday, but I still claim that Hayford put his players in a better position to win than LC's coach.  And if you've done that, in my opinion you've outcaoched the guy on the other bench.

And OxyBob, those quotes are from baseball managers...managers, not coaches.  I don't think anyone will argue with you that they do nothing but manage their team.  They don't actually do a whole lot of coaching, if they ever do any at all.  If those quotes were intended for humor like your sound waves, then sorry, that one flew right over my head.

[pineconefan]

Rat -

I think the part of this Coach of the Year discussion that is making me uncomfortable and bringing bigfella back is how you were putting down another coach to make the case for Hayford.  I don't think that was necessary.

Now, you could argue that a coach who brings his team through the gauntlet of being a favorite and still wins, deserves the award.  You could argue that doing that is harder than coaching a team that not much is expected of, because everyone is out to knock you off from the start.

You can't really argue that a coach deserves the award or not based on one game, especially when the game in question occured after the award was announced.

[oldnwcer]

Hey ratboy, let it rest.  You have probably aggravated enough people for now.

By the way, John Wooden always said the best coach is the coach with the best players.   But what does he know?

Who can tell me which teams in the last 15 years in the conference have the most NAIA and NCAA national tourney appearances?   

[bbaddict]

For the most tourney appearances in the last 15 years, I'm going to guess:  Lewis & Clark, Willamette & Whitworth?

Am I close?   I think UPS & Linfield have a few in there, too, but not as many as the big 3.  I could be wrong -- have been before! :

[(509)Rat]

Ok, I'm done with the coach thing.

DePauw runs Dean Smith's "secondary break" (Roy Williams ran it at Kansas and now at UNC) that is becoming more and more popular in college hoops.  Want to know how it works.  Look no further than the current SI article about how UNC is using it to their advantage.  If you have the magazine they actually diagram the thing.  From what I understand all it is, is a set play that they run when they don't have numbers on a fast break.  Or they don't have a true fast break so they use this as a quick hitter.  The only thing is that their big guy has to run in transition to catch up, no jogging down the court to set something else up.  But then again, thats just what I gathered out of it...I'm sure someone can explain it better than myself.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/grant_wahl/02/19/carolina0226/index.html

[bigfella]

Tuxguy -

No coaching in me.  just lots of playing.  LC looks like it is going in the right direction, but time will tell.  The league as a whole looks good.  Fresh new blood in the coaching ranks and solid line-ups.  I was scared, though, because the SCIAC is starting to creep up on the NWC.

[DPU3619]

DePauw runs Dean Smith's "secondary break" (Roy Williams ran it at Kansas and now at UNC) that is becoming more and more popular in college hoops. 

First, I'm no coach (intramurals aside.. 1-3-1 trapping zone ALL the time), but here's what I think this system gives you.

1) Fast break opportunities (duh).  It's likely that your opponent won't get all five guys back defensively 100% of the time.  You mentioned that the bigs have to get out and run.  That's true and DePauw does it really well.  The 3 bigs in the regular rotation are all very well conditioned and run the floor with ease.  These opporunities grow when the opposition has bigs who aren't in that good of shape and can't get up and down the floor with Schott, McDonald, and Oilar. 

2) Mismatches.  Off of missed buckets and free throws by the opposition, the first two or three seconds of a possession are a bit chaotic as the defense tries to get into their set.  I think it's a little bit similar to getting an offensive rebound.  The defense is trying to get reset, and it leads to a few open threes or a situation of a guard trying to defend a post player.

You need great point guards who can push the ball for the system to be effective.  DePauw's got two of 'em.  Unsure of whether or not back up PG Tony James will play or not.  He's been bothered by a hamstring most of the season which he re-injured on Saturday.

DePauw is certainly going to get out and run.  The question is whether or not they can make shots.  DePauw hits on all cylinders when they make 3's.  When they dont, well, they don't.  They hovered around 50% from the floor and 40% from 3 for a good portion of the season.  Those numbers are 47.5 and 38.5 currently.

They shot 26% from the floor and 9% (!) from 3 in a 30 point blowout loss at conference champ Centre.  Attempted 30 3's and shot only 23% from out there in a 7 point loss @ Sewanee.  30% from 3 and 63% from the stripe in an OT loss to Hamilton over Christmas.  Only made 33% from 3 at tourney bound Chicago on opening weekend.  The lone exception is Saturday's game against Trinity.  DePauw shot it very well, but TU attempted 21 more free throws and DePauw uncharacteristically turned it over 19 times.

So there you go.  Something for you kids to look for if you're making the trip to the StL.

[(509)Rat]

It seems to me with a guy like Austin Brown, Whitworth will get back on D, pack it in with one of their semi-matchup zone defenses, and give DePauw the 3 ball.  You can expect Whitworth to shoot over 50% from the floor...they have pretty much all season.  If all of this is true then it sounds like its gonna come down to whether DePauw is hitting their shots from the perimeter.  Thatnks for the insight DPU, that was a great post coach or not...now what about those fat girls that got kicked out of the sorority? 

[diehardfan]

We're collecting previews for each team in the tourney on one of the multiregional boards. If I get them by friday I may even be able to stick them in one document for people. Could someone do one for Whitworth?

http://www.d3sports.com/post/index.php?topic=5147.0