MBB: Northwest Conference

[NWCer]

NWCer, are you predicting a Boxer run in the second half!!??  Can Lowery get them together now that Bartlett is back?  When was the last time Pacific was involved with any kind of postseason play?

I sure hope so!!  I think UPS is in a class by itself right now and is a likely loss, but the other 7 (Whitman, Whitworth, Lewis and Clark, and George Fox at home, and at Linfield and at Willamette) I think are winnable, no I'm not predicting they'll get all 7, but 9-7, or even 8-8 may get you the four seed this year.  If Bartlett can be close to himself down the stretch (had a decent line in 21 minutes last night), my Boxers are very tough at home - who knows what can happen....

2000 was the last time Logshow.... Pacific went to the NCAA tournament that year.

[TryMeTeam]

NWCer

With Bartlett back, they will have a chance in every game.  He is an all-conference palyer, although with the injury this year, he may not make it.  He is that good, though.  The one-two combo of Howe and Ross will be difficult for every team to deal with.  The loss of Carson is huge, though.  The other guards may not be able to sustain and they are the weak link for this team.  They have shown signs of playing well, and Mooney has shot the ball well at times, but they don't match up with other teams guards.  Let's see how the Boxers fare in the second half.

What is with Willamette?  They have looked very good at times, but are sure in a funk right now.  Where is the team that beat LC by shooting 60% from the field in the second half, or the team that was a shot away from beating WW?  With their lineup they should be challenging every team and be in the top of the standings.  Are they going through the same collapse that got LC last year when they had everybody back?

Watched the game on the internet last night against Linfield, and Linfield looked poised, especially down the stretch.  That is a new trait for Linfield.  They may be a big factor in the 2nd half.

Its OR vs WA this weekend with the OR teams all at home.  You know I am pulling for an OR sweep, but I don't think it can happen.  The other 3 teams could win, but I just don't see Fox taking down WW, and I am predicting a 2-2 Friday.

Go OR teams! 

[NWCer]

You're right Trymeteam, my Boxers miss the younger Bartlett, he was having a great season...  What horrible luck for those brothers...  A lot of frosh left on the perimeter, but young guys tend to play better at home, so it's good that Pac has 5 at home down the stretch, the roadies will be at Linfield (a team they loss to by 1 with out Ross Bartlett), and at Willamette (a team they beat without Ross Bartlett and Jury) and at (PLU who they beat last night)...  So here's to hope....

[NWCer]

You seem like you know the league well TryMeTeam.... What guard groups though the league don't Pacific's match up with?  How do you compare them to other teams?  And just how much does not having Carson Bartlett hurt them (I think a lot, but like I said sounds like you really know the league)?  Interested to hear your thoughts....

[logshock101]

huge weekend coming up for the loggers. with 2 wins they will hold a 3 game lead over everybody else in the conference with only 6 games to go. that being said, this is a tough weekend playing at LC and at Linfield who has put together a nice little string of games and is always tough on their home floor

[TryMeTeam]

Well, I haven't seen all of the teams, but going from top to bottom, nobody matches up with UPS guards, there are so many of them.  LC's guards are pretty good even though two starters are frosh.  Kollasch is an-league candidate too, so they would and did give Pac trouble.  Pac's big man should give LC a lot of trouble though now that Bartlett is back.

Whitworth is a single guard team with the other guard really a forward, but WW is so good at the other positions to offset that.  Linfields guards should be a tough matchup for the Pac guards, now that Tesoro's play has picked up.  Olson is a tough matchup for everyone, and they too have a lot of good guards.

Haven't seen PLU or Fox but Dressler being back and Stackhouse playing well will be a tough matchup, and Atwater and Martin are a pretty good tandem too. 

Whitmans guards are very good.  Shaw is probably the quickest guard in the conference and will be very good in the coming years, and Faidley is a POY candidate.   I like Kunke and Erickson, and Babich is okay from Wil.

Mooney is a pretty good shooter as is Gaulton, but I don't see why Carter is a starter.  Jury is a small guard that is also young and needs some seasoning.  It certainly isn't a group that puts fear into the opponents.  Not bad, just not as good as some of the other teams.

Thus, I think most teams have better guards than Pac, but almost all of them (UPS, WW and Linfield are the exceptions) will have a very hard time matching up with Bartlett and Howe.  So if your guards can hold their own, Pac will have a chance to make the playoffs.  With Carson, they would have been a top 3 team, IMO.

Here's the test.  At the start of any game, you get to pick your team out of the 10 starters.  Who would you chose?  I don't think you would select Pac's guards too many times, but I don't know when you wouldn't pick Bartlett and Howe.

Not trying to pick a fight, just the way I see it.

[NWCer]

Good stuff TryMeTeam... Thanks...  Hopefully Lowery finds a way to make it work...  Should be a great second round for the conference...

[LogShow]

Should be a great second round for the conference...

That you can take to the bank   8)

[bbaddict]

Hey NWCer -- it's OK!  I'm just crabby cuz my Bearcats are being unreliable!

"What is with Willamette?  They have looked very good at times, but are sure in a funk right now.  Where is the team that beat LC by shooting 60% from the field in the second half, or the team that was a shot away from beating WW?  With their lineup they should be challenging every team and be in the top of the standings.  Are they going through the same collapse that got LC last year when they had everybody back?"

My theory is that most of these guys were not starters until this year & with some injury issues, they've had to shift some positions around.   They also needed to reinstate Josh Erickson, who's very good, but I think it throws some of them off.  They're used to playing with Kunke or Thompson at point guard.  They'll get it soon--they have good coaches!  Seems like it's mostly issues of communication creating turnovers.  WHEN they start playing as a team again, they'll be a force to contend with.

The reason everyone is losing to UPS is simple.  They're very good & there's 18 of them!  Most teams have 12-15 on their roster and in WU's case, they have some injuries.  Sounds like that's true for Pacific & some others as well.  Just my humble opinion.   

[LogShow]

Baddict,

Is this Erickson's 7th year at WU?  I know he has had lots of injuries (aka: he probably has 60 year old knees)  I am kind of surprised he is still getting after it.  Do you know what his story is?

[loggerfan]

Long time reader, first time poster.
Here is a very NWC/Puget Sound biased look at this weeks Top 25 poll.
There are now two undefeated teams left in DIII play. St Thomas and Puget Sound. UPS' two losses have been to NAIA Warner Pacific (currently # 6 in Massey Ratings of NAIA DII) and NCAA DII St  Martins (currently #23 in Massey NCAA DII ratings). Both were close and on the road.
Two common opponants - Gustavus Adolphus - St Thomas beat them 70-49 earlier this month and Puget Sound beat them 102-79 in December and Macalester, St Thomas won 95-55 and Puget Sound beat them 87-51.
Puget Sound currently #5 in the Massey Ratings for DIII.

[logshock101]

loggerfan welcome to the board.

looks like someone already gave you an unnecessary ding to your karma. i thought things had gotten more friendly over on this board.

[Pio20]

Long time reader, first time poster.
Here is a very NWC/Puget Sound biased look at this weeks Top 25 poll.
There are now two undefeated teams left in DIII play. St Thomas and Puget Sound. UPS' two losses have been to NAIA Warner Pacific (currently # 6 in Massey Ratings of NAIA DII) and NCAA DII St  Martins (currently #23 in Massey NCAA DII ratings). Both were close and on the road.
Two common opponants - Gustavus Adolphus - St Thomas beat them 70-49 earlier this month and Puget Sound beat them 102-79 in December and Macalester, St Thomas won 95-55 and Puget Sound beat them 87-51.
Puget Sound currently #5 in the Massey Ratings for DIII.

Welcome loggerfan! Some thoughts on your post:

I'm not saying at all that UPS doesn't deserve their ranking...but if you use this philosophy, LC should at least be getting some votes in the top 25...their losses have come to UW-Whitewhater (#6 in the Massey ratings), UW-Oshkosh (#19 in the Massey ratings), Puget Sound (#5 in the Massey ratings), Portland State (#105 in the Massey ratings for DI), and then the delayed Willamette game (#54 in the Massey ratings). LC is #15 in the Massey ratings.
If they beat UPS this Friday I would hope they would get a few votes. Of course, we all know how hard it is to get into the top 25 when you don't start out the season there.

[LogShow]

I think UPS started the season out of the Top 25

[loggerfan]

Pio20:
I totally agree with you re: LC and at times other NWC teams. Tough to crack into that poll. Hope LC gets noticed but not due to a friday win this week!