MBB: Northwest Conference

LogShow · February 05, 2009, 02:15:38 AM

Been gone for a day or two...wanted to say congrats to the loggers, 11-0 is great! Keep it up!

LogShow · February 05, 2009, 02:26:34 AM

Quote from: logshock101 on February 05, 2009, 01:31:53 AM
im a little surprised that the loggers are #4 with 0 in region losses. also surprised that st thomas wasn't #1. WIAC still has another round of conference to play, shold bring a little more clarity there. props to WW with the #7 ranking as well

Shock,

I am not all that surprised for a few reasons. First though I do have to say I was hoping for the Loggers to be a bit higher...but if they keep winning, it will definately take care of its self.

I guess I am a bit surprised to see St. Thomas to be ranked lower, since they are undefeated on the season and more importantly in region. But I think that their strength of schedule is what is hurting them. The WIAC has traditionally been viewed as a power conference. That is tough to argue with the success of UWSP (which all of us at UPS know about) and with UW-Platt winning a few national titles back when Bo Ryan was the coach. So thats fine. As far as 3 WIAC teams being ranked higher then UPS, I am a bit skeptical about...especially with UPS not having an in-region loss. However you were right about things in the WAIC shaking out.

Here is a comment from a UWSP poster....

QuoteThere are at least 5 more losses to be handed out among the 3 WIAC teams. The three teams have their second round games, with UWW hosting SP and UWP and SP hosting UWP in a rematch of last years regular season finale, with the venue swapped and likely conference championship implications, and the two teams that dont win the WIAC tourney will pick up another loss in the tourney by default.

WW may be on the cusp if they drop the two games to UWP and SP and then again in the tourney. That gives them 6 losses and puts their record vs. ranked opponents worse, too. This situation would most certainly solidify UWP and UWSP, even if both would also be upset in the conf tournament, even if UWSP beats UWP.

If WW wins one of these two, I think they probably are in, as long as they don't drop a game to another WIAC team and UWP or UWSP wins the tourney. Actually, the assumption is that UWW, UWP and UWSP wont drop a game except to each other... if they do, then they might slip out.

In the end it will probably be St. Thomas, if they keep winning or maybe lose one game, and the WIAC champion, and UPS. I am not sure on the order as a lot depends of how these last few weeks play out...and the conference tournaments. If UPS keeps winning, I can definately see them ending up with the #1 west region ranking...but if they slip...and I am thinking inparticularly in the NWC tourney, then they will probably end up 2nd or more likely 3rd.

This is all just my humble opinion though...

logshock101 · February 05, 2009, 07:50:53 PM

i guess i just figured that having an undefeated regional record would weigh a little more heavily than strength of schedule, but whatever we just gotta take care of business

LogShow · February 05, 2009, 08:58:57 PM

Quote from: logshock101 on February 05, 2009, 07:50:53 PM
i guess i just figured that having an undefeated regional record would weigh a little more heavily than strength of schedule, but whatever we just gotta take care of business

I totally agree. But you are right, all UPS can do is just keep winning...and I think they will

LogShow · February 06, 2009, 12:21:01 PM

Today's schedule of NWC games:

LC @ GFU
Linfield @ Whitman
Pacific @ PLU
Willamette @ WW

UPS gets to just sit back and watch.

Pio20 · February 06, 2009, 01:21:50 PM

I think WW is in a good position. Everyone has kind of forgotten about them with their losses to UPS and LC and all the national attention UPS is getting. Yet they are laying low at 15-4 and 7-3 in conference and ranked in region.

logshock101 · February 06, 2009, 02:31:45 PM

i think WW will handle Willamette tonight, but i think they're gonna be in for a war tomorrow against a much improved linfield team

pineconefan · February 06, 2009, 05:28:33 PM

Predictions for tonight:

L&C 70, George Fox 65
Linfield 88, Whitman 87
Pacific 80, PLU 70 (didn't they just play this game?

)
Whitworth 67, Willamette 61

NWCer · February 06, 2009, 05:38:41 PM

Linfield 85 Whitman 75 - Linfield is playing well...

Whitworth 79 Willamette 65 - Whitworth just too solid at home

Lewis and Clark 76 George Fox 74 - LC squeezes out a close one

Pacific 80 Pacific Lutheran 70 - Yes they just did play this game last Tuesday the 27th, it was a makeup game from the Jan 9th cancellation...

Pio20 · February 07, 2009, 03:28:05 AM

The Pios beat George Fox tonight 63-49. Sounds like a riveting game

Josh Kollasch is still out suffering from an illness which started affecting him in the UPS game. Not sure the seriousness of it but he may be out a while. The Pios shot horribly again in the first half, but as it seems to be in most of their wins they shot very well from three in the second half and went to the free throw line a ton which made up for poor overall shooting. Also marks win number 500 in the NCAA for Coach Gaillard. He has only had 4 losing seasons in 19 at LC. Pretty impressive.

LogShow · February 07, 2009, 11:52:20 AM

Quote from: Pio20 on February 07, 2009, 03:28:05 AM
The Pios beat George Fox tonight 63-49. Sounds like a riveting game Josh Kollasch is still out suffering from an illness which started affecting him in the UPS game. Not sure the seriousness of it but he may be out a while. The Pios shot horribly again in the first half, but as it seems to be in most of their wins they shot very well from three in the second half and went to the free throw line a ton which made up for poor overall shooting. Also marks win number 500 in the NCAA for Coach Gaillard. He has only had 4 losing seasons in 19 at LC. Pretty impressive.

Congrats to Coach Gaillard, he has had great success as a coach

LogShow · February 07, 2009, 11:58:54 AM

Results from last night's action in the NWC:

LC over GFU 63-49....49 points?

Linfiled contiunes with pick up wins with a 76-68 vic over Whitman

WW plays well down the stretch and pulls away from Pacific 77-65

Willamette contiunes it's freefall dropping one to the Lutes 73-64

TryMeTeam · February 07, 2009, 12:01:26 PM

First the good news.

I got to see the LC - Fox game. LC dominated pretty much the whole game, but forced shots and missed layups kept Fox in the game. When they started hitting in the second half, they just pulled away. Their young players played well with Drake Green playing his best game of the season, according to Biddy. Holding even lowly Fox to 49 points, pretty darn good! They will have to rely on defense if the are to continue to keep winning.

Nice job by Gaillard! Half way to the Summit! (Ohh, sorry about that one, I just couldn't resist).

The bad news..

Biddy said he spoke with some of the LC players and heard that Kollasch is out for the season with an illness that is very serious. Shouldn't be life threatening, but you never know. He has been in the hospital all week. What a loss for the Pios! He was out most of last season with various injuries and now this. Send your thoughts and prayers his way!

What got into PLU? Pac isn't one of the better teams in the league (sorry NWCer), but they just handed PLU a pretty ugly loss in the dim gym. Dressler doesn't start and they win. Huh?

Nice win for Linfield putting them a game up on the race for the #4 seed. Now Wil has to keep up by going to Whitman to get a win. It won't be easy, but Whit is down right now, Wil had a tough game last night, and Wil really needs this game to stay in the race, assuming Linfield losses to WW.

If Lin can pull off the upset and win like they did before, they will take the #4 seed assuming they don't get upset by bottom teams. They would only have LC as a "should lose" game and that is now not a given with Kollasch out.

Cinch them up boys! The stretch run is here!

PS No predictions on tonights games. I just suck too much at that. Go OR teams!

LogShow · February 07, 2009, 01:24:44 PM

Tonight's NWC schedule:

GFU @ UPS
UPS always has a great offense, but defense is there this year too. This one will get out of hand early. GFU will probably score more then 49 points though. 84-60

Willamette @ Whitman
Interesting game...Willamette is in a must win to stay in the playoff hunt. They should take care of business. 87-79

LC @ Pacific
Tough game to call. I am going to give the edge to Pacific with their cave gym and Kollash out. LC's young team will keep it close, but won't have enough. 70-65

Linfield @ WW
Probably the biggest game of the night. WW wants/needs to hang on to that second place spot. Linfield is playing very well right. Vegas has the line as pick 'em. Guess I will call the unlikely upset. Linfield over WW in a very close one, 81-80.

Come on TMT, predictions are fun...you know you want to.

nwhoops1903 · February 07, 2009, 01:56:16 PM

Quote from: nwhoops1903 on January 17, 2009, 07:02:04 PM
... UPS is obviously loaded and has plenty of seniors, could be their year. In fact, maybe such a good year that they could get to NWC final, lose and get an at large without a doubt. Could happen very easily.

This is shaping up to actually be possible. UPS #6 and #4 in regional rankings. Can't wait to watch the games NEXT weeekend. I don't expect tonight to be that close. Its payback time. WW by 18.