MBB: Northwest Conference

[NWCer]

TryMeTeam, yeah I looked at Willamette's incoming players (thanks bearcatpress), and as you said it is large in number but not a lot in size, but if you can play you can play, let's see what the young coach can do.

Can't come on here with out talking about my Boxers, word from their open gym (now granted this is what I heard that SOMEONE ELSE heard....  You know how that goes) that with two healthy Bartletts back, and an  incoming class that has some good guards and a good transfer post out of Yakima Valley that they can rebound from last year and get back in the mix....  Sure hope so.

Does seem like their is going to be some balance this year like TMT said....

[TryMeTeam]

NWCer:

I have a question for you.  What is your take on Lowery?  It seems like he has had some talent (and I will agree to some bad luck injuries), but it seems his teams have underachieved.  He is active on the sidelines with enthusiasm, and he now has most if not all his own recruits (how long has he been there, 3 years?).

Not dissing your team, just wondering what your take was.

[NWCer]

TMT, I like him.  Yes the injuries were a tough deal last year, the two previous years, after his initial one, they finished 4th and in that logjam for 3rd.  So I wouldn't call it underachieving, after taking a peek at the archives of the coaches poll they were slotted to come in 5th and 4th those years.  He pretty much has his guys now I believe, will be an important year.  No dis taken at all TMT, that's what the board is all about, looking forward to the season.

[TryMeTeam]

Good take.  I like Lowery too.  I think the injuries have played a major role in PU's record over the last couple of years, especially to the senior Bartlett.  PU could have contended for the title had he not been hurt.

There are a couple of other team's coaches who I am wondering about this year:  How will Lunt do without the Fab 4 (I would add Pinkney to the 3), and how will WU do with Ioane as the head coach? 

I think UPS might struggle and be more "beatable" this year, at least I hope so being an OR small college fan.  Lunt's coaching abilities will be tested this year.  All of the talk for the last two years about how good he is, almost all by UPS fans, will be tested this year. 

Iaone is in a tough position, and has some returning talent, including one of the best players in the league, maybe the best returning player, in Mitchell.  But they graduated 6 seniors who all played significant minutes last year.  That is a lot to lose for a rookie head coach to overcome.  But I hope he does well.
   

[NWCer]

Great points.  I think Lunt has done a good job, but a lot will be told on how he does without those "luxuries" he had in Williams, Kraul, and Foster.  Bearcatpress probably knows James the best, but dare I say "legend", tough act to follow, especially with the loss of all those seniors.

[UPS Zeddy]

Thanks for the welcome NWCer. Coaching will be quite an interesting theme this season. Hopefully the Boxers will stay healthy so we can finally see what they're like at full strength. Obviously it's not like Division 1 where coaches get dumped left and right, but I do think pressure is starting to mount down in Forest Grove for the Boxers to make a playoff run or at least an appearance.  Ioane definitely has his work cut out for him but he's got solid pieces coming back, mainly Mitchell. What about Bridgeland? Will the Missionaries be able to do more than just play people tough now that he's had a full year in Walla Walla?  As for Lunt, all of us in Loggerville are very confident that he can get the job done this season. I think the Logs have more talent than most people think right now, that perhaps didn't get the chance to shine much last year. However, team chemistry, focus, and preparation almost always trump talent and I know Lunt will have everyone on the same page come November. 

[TryMeTeam]

Yeah, just what we need, another UPS supporter.  Like we don't have enough of those biased, self-serving, irrational fans on here already!

Just kidding!  Welcome, Zed!  Actually, UPS fans are the most knowledgeable posters on this board.  And very passionate!  You are in good company.  You will have to work hard to keep up with them.

Any news out there?  I haven't heard anything, or enough, about Linfield, L&C, or Fox.  What's going on there?

[NWCer]

TMT,

  Those 3 schools haven't released anything yet, except Linfield about the guard they got from Vancouver.  What's your "biddy" at LC saying?, they usually keep the cupboard pretty full....  Is the kid who was sick last year gonna be ok and be back for the year?

[UPS Zeddy]

TMT- Thanks, I guess 
Just curious, where do your NWC allegiances lay?

[TryMeTeam]

I came from a DIII school and am now living in Oregon, so I am a fan of all of the Oregon teams.  That gives me some pretty good rivalries almost every weekend with the Washington schools. 

If I had to select a pecking order, I would say LC (I like their coach and they have been the most successful over the last few years), Wil (next best record, but never have been a Gordie fan), Pac, Fox (they always seem the fiesty underdog) and Linfield.  Those are just my preferences.

Being honest, the WA schools are better teams overall, and have had the most success, so it is fun to root for the underdog OR teams against them.

[UPS Zeddy]

Not a Gordie fan?! That's blasphemy. What's your beef there?

I guess I've never thought of the NWC in an OR vs WA context...maybe because there are some certain teams in WA that I absolutely loathe. 

Here's a better question TMT- Which WA team do you enjoy seeing lose the most?

[formercat]

update on Linfield...
Along with the nice recruits Linfield got they also picked up Brady Martin a 6'6 forward from McMinnville HS that was an all state player. Last year he attended Clackamas CC and now he is at Linfield. He has an unorthodox shot but it goes in and he can fly with the very best of them.  Linfield has the potential to put some very good leapers on the floor this year.

Preseason 1st team All NWC.... not including any newcomers because while they may turn on to be very talented, you never know until u get them on the floor.
In no particular order:
David Riley - Whitworth
Nate Montgomery - Whitworth
Cody Tesoro - Linfield
KC Wiser - Linfield
Brandon Shaw - Whitman

Other possibilities are:
Cameron Mitchell - Willamette - don't know that he will have the supporting cast this year to help him get back into the first team.
Bartlett brothers - Pacific - unfortunately for those poor kids they cannot seem to stay healthy
Josh Kollasch - Lewis & Clark - if he is able to come back and play and how his health holds up also.

[TryMeTeam]

Teddy:

Yeah, I knew that Gordie comment would stir some juices.  I just don't think he has achieved what he should have with the talent he has had.  And I really hate the flex offense.  To me, it just shows no imagination.  Wil has played great defense over the years, but their offense I just don't get.  I was at a LC vs Wil game a few years ago and LC was up about 10 with a few minutes to go when Gordie finally turned them loose and they just buried LC after that.  I wonder how good they would have been had he done that all year.

To me, the flex is an offense you use when you have limited talent, and Wil has had a lot more than that.  Flex is what they use in high school.  I expect more from a college program. 

Which WA team?  It use to be UPS and Whitworth pretty much evenly, but now I have to throw Whitman in that mix.  They are still third, but I don't think they will be after this year.  UPS beats the crap out of the OR teams, and they never get called for it (I guess if it works, you might was well use it!).  Whitworth gets JC talent to reload every year, so they never have a down year like every OR team.  That just makes me mad!  I wonder how they do that with Spokane being such a wonderful place to live during the winter!  They both have been so good for so long, I want them to lose every game, even when they play each other.

Bridgeland is going to turn UPS into their JV team soon.  He will make Walla Walla a dreaded trip to go along with Whitworth.  And it could be as soon as this year.

There goes all of my Karma in just one post.  But that is how I see it.  It doesn't hurt to stir the pot early in the season.  Might spur some interest.

FormerCat:

Sounds like it will be Whitworth and Linfield in the championship game if you are right about all NWC.  I will throw this out now.  Wiser may not be the one of the best two centers in the league.  He has been great so far, but there may be some newbies to take over for Foster at the top spot.

I am going to have to watch out for snipers now.   

[TryMeTeam]

NWCer:

Biddy just got back to school, and I haven't heard from him yet.  Kollasch is coming off some serious stuff, so he may not be ready to go at the start of the season.  The word last spring was that he was due for more surgery late in the summer to complete the repair, but I haven't heard anything else.

[pineconefan]

TMT - Spokane is BEAUTIFUL in the winter. 

If you can find it under the eight feet of snow...