MBB: Northwest Conference

[UPS4Life]

Regarding the officiating on Saturday - I wasn't there, so I can't speak to any specific calls.  But when both Jurich and Montgomery went out in the second half with their fourth foul, the total foul count at the time was 15-6 against Whitworth.  That's according to the live statistics provided by UPS.  Sure doesn't sound like a conspiracy to get two teams into the tournament to me.

UPS4L ably demonstrates the natural blindness in being a fan.  The same behavior is demonstrated by each coach, but one is disgraceful.  And while his memory of Krauel going down is strong, his memory of Gebbers spending several minutes on the floor is surely fuzzy.

Never said I didn't remember Gebbers going down, in fact I remember that play was immediately stopped and the player was cared for.  When players are flying through the air under a crowded hoop like they were on the play where Robert was hurt, I don't see how the referee standing behind baseline can't see that the player who just shot the ball is down?  That's pathetic.  

As far as the coaches go, what was WW's coach doing while Robert was down?  Lobbying.  

However, my final point is, that I don't claim UPS lost as a result of the officials, the shot poorly and made bad decisions.  Jason had a good game, that was about it.  I'm hoping Claremont beats WW so we don't have to see this game again, no matter how much I'd like to win the one that matters.  Finally, this bracket is a joke, I'll be shocked if whoever makes it out of ours isn't the national champ.

[logshock101]

There are fans from at least eight or nine other schools in the Midwest/West section that are saying the exact same thing.

Loving that UPS got the equivalent of a one seed.

For all of the annual bitching about the tournament's bracket construction that resounds from the Left Coast every March -- and, yes, much of it is justified -- there's at least the consolation that a Left Coast team is more likely than anyone else to draw an undeserved first-round bye. And that's exactly what happened this year.

GS, while I agree that UPS might not be as deserving of a 1st round bye as St. Thomas, I believe that they are still deserving of a bye as they only lost 1 game to a DIII all year and it was in the conference tournament final, just my opinion. Texas Dallas isn't even in the D3hoops top 25. are they more deserving of a bye than UPS, ST Thomas, Wash U? just my thoughts

[logshock101]

Regarding the officiating on Saturday - I wasn't there, so I can't speak to any specific calls.  But when both Jurich and Montgomery went out in the second half with their fourth foul, the total foul count at the time was 15-6 against Whitworth.  That's according to the live statistics provided by UPS.  Sure doesn't sound like a conspiracy to get two teams into the tournament to me.

UPS4L ably demonstrates the natural blindness in being a fan.  The same behavior is demonstrated by each coach, but one is disgraceful.  And while his memory of Krauel going down is strong, his memory of Gebbers spending several minutes on the floor is surely fuzzy.

the thing about the krauel going down was that he was hit by his own teammate, and i dont know if thats really what lunt was upset about, i think he was fouled when he put up the shot before getting hit and there was no call. i had a perfect view of both players going down as i was seated at that end of the court.

[bbaddict]

It was a pretty physical game, with a lot of non-calls, weird calls!  It actually works out for UPS to have Whitworth win, because with two NWC teams in the tournament, UPS gets a 1st round bye, instead of getting thrown to the Midwest lion den right away.    Of course, they might have to get past Whitworth first.   Although, didn't CMS beat Whitworth & Willamette in the pre-season?  Both close games?

[nwhoops1903]

the thing about the krauel going down was that he was hit by his own teammate, and i dont know if thats really what lunt was upset about, i think he was fouled when he put up the shot before getting hit and there was no call. i had a perfect view of both players going down as i was seated at that end of the court.

This is true.  Krauel got hit by his own player as he was Oscaring his way to the floor on his attempt and so Lunt wants a foul.  It happens.  Krauel is excellent at drawing fouls and I totally respect and understand that.  He was trying to draw the foul and was falling down and got monkey stomped by his own player, #12 I think.

WW coach was asking about something during the Krauel break but do we know what?  No.  Lobbying?  I'm pretty sure "lobbying" is what coaches do the whole game to refs.

Fact of the matter is WW played tough at a hostile Gym against a strong opponent.  Took UPS's best punch they might have thrown all this year with a crazy awesome run and gutted out a victory in OT.  I completely expect UPS to actually improve from that game and make Sat's game even more intense should WW and UPS face off again, and they will.

I think there is little chance of this game not being replayed next Sat.  Why?  WW lost only one time at home to UPS and homecourt advantage is big.  Rematch game of what some WW fans might say was WW worst game, in a tournament with no time to prepare for opponent.  They are peaking.  The list goes on....

[Gregory Sager]

There are fans from at least eight or nine other schools in the Midwest/West section that are saying the exact same thing.

Loving that UPS got the equivalent of a one seed.

For all of the annual bitching about the tournament's bracket construction that resounds from the Left Coast every March -- and, yes, much of it is justified -- there's at least the consolation that a Left Coast team is more likely than anyone else to draw an undeserved first-round bye. And that's exactly what happened this year.

GS, while I agree that UPS might not be as deserving of a 1st round bye as St. Thomas, I believe that they are still deserving of a bye as they only lost 1 game to a DIII all year and it was in the conference tournament final, just my opinion. Texas Dallas isn't even in the D3hoops top 25. are they more deserving of a bye than UPS, ST Thomas, Wash U? just my thoughts

If merit is the standard rather than geography, then the first-round byes should go to four of the eight teams that are ranked at the top of their respective regions. Even though we didn't see that final regional ranking -- another argument with the NCAA that we can have another day -- Puget Sound was definitely not the top-ranked team in the West Region. St. Thomas was.

The Tommies merited a bye. So did Wheaton, Richard Stockton, John Carroll, etc. UPS didn't.

However, since UPS was probably ranked fairly high in the final unseen ranking, it's not that great of a travesty for the Loggers to draw the bye. They certainly merited it more than did UTD.

This really isn't an argument worth having, though, because it's understood that the geographical isolates will draw one or two byes per tournament. It's a given, and nobody really complains about it.

Although, didn't CMS beat Whitworth & Willamette in the pre-season?  Both close games?

No, but CMS did beat Whitworth and Willamette in non-conference regular-season games.

[bbaddict]

It's all semantics, Sager, since the "real season" to me is conference play.  Anyway, I was right about the game results?  So, why is Whitworth hosting CMS?  Seems that it should be the other way around -- not that I'm complaining!

And logshock, both coaches were talking to the refs while Krauel was down.  Probably "lobbying" for different reasons.  There was also discussion when Gebbers went down.  One big difference:  Krauel returned to play.

[LogShow]

Nothing gets by you Sager! lol. 

[LogShow]

It would be great if we could get a break down of the upcoming WW/CMS game from WW and CMS posters.  I know the WW posters are down...any CMS takers?

[Gregory Sager]

It's all semantics, Sager, since the "real season" to me is conference play.

It isn't semantics, since the real season to the NCAA begins on November 15 and includes every game tjhat appears on a team's W-L record -- especially regional games, such as CMS vs. Whitworth and CMS vs. Willamette.

[bbaddict]

So, you're right -- what else is there to say?  Story over?  This is me bowing in absolute humility to your greatness!!

[Gregory Sager]

So, you're right -- what else is there to say?  Story over?  This is me bowing in absolute humility to your greatness!!

I'd let you kiss my ring, but I sent it out to be re-sized. 

[bbaddict]

Maybe later then?   

[Gregory Sager]

Take it up with the court chamberlain. Maybe he can fit you in tomorrow's royal audience.

[P4L]

Also congrats to all the other Loggers that made it...5 in all.

Any idea why there were 7 instead of the usual 6 on the NWC 1st team?

No answer for why there was one extra first teamer.

Is anyone else surprised Nate Montgomery of WW didn't even receive honorable mention?
There were a few games this year that Nate had to take a backseat to the up tempo game plan and a few others where he didn't show up but he was:

top 20 scoring
top 10 rebounding
top 10 blocked shots
top 15 FG %
top 15 FT %

Not to mention averaging 24.5 pts and 16 rebs in the conference tournament.

Any other thoughts?

In terms of the CMS-WW game, I do not think WW will underestimate the opponent.  After all they were beaten by CMS earlier this year.  CMS does a few things that give WW trouble.  They remind me a lot of the recent Willamette teams (very physical, play tough defense, and rebound the ball well)

My prediction: low scoring and physical game.

WW 66
CMS 58

Players of the game will be seniors Ross and Calvin controlling the ins and outs for WW.

Thoughts?