MBB: Northwest Conference

Bearcat Press · October 28, 2009, 01:13:54 PM

Quote from: TryMeTeam on October 28, 2009, 07:58:27 AM
When it rains, it pours, especially in OR. An already depleted Wil team with graduation becomes a ton younger with Mitchell out. Press, right wrist or left? Not that it matters a whole lot, but if it is his shooting wrist, that will delay his return even more. Isn't that a 4-6 weeks injury? He should be ready to go come the start of league, but he will miss the chemistry pre-league games would have developed. Maybe a blessing though in that the young players will be relied on more heavily early on and could step up their development.

Not good news for rookie coach Ione. Tough way to come out of the blocks in the NWC race.

Left wrist, and Cam's right handed. The length of time out depends on the severity of the break. I broke mine a couple of years ago - really bad - and was out five weeks. As long as Cam doesn't rush it, I'd guess he'll be back at full speed by Christmas.

NWCer · October 28, 2009, 04:40:53 PM

Ok, TMT, here's what I found out, info not as easy to get without my guy assisting there this year, had to go by what he heard and what another alum heard.....

So far so good with health, and there's some depth..... The Bartletts are good and ready to go, I guess they really like their incoming class, the frosh from Sherwood and the transfer post guy will be factors, and Jury has improved.....

Hope good health is with my Boxers this year.

Looking forward to the season.

Gregory Sager · October 29, 2009, 11:21:32 PM

Quote from: B Hoops on October 27, 2009, 04:14:40 PMThere won't be a Team in the NWC who is better conditioned or who will play a tougher pre-season schedule in preparation for the demanding NWC conference schedule.

Non-conference schedule, you mean, not preseason.

TryMeTeam · October 30, 2009, 12:44:42 AM

Just when you think Greg is not listening, and you haven't heard from him in a long while.....

Where are all of the Whitworth fans? What is the word from the dome?

NWCer · October 30, 2009, 12:52:38 AM

Don't know where the Whitworth fans are TMT but their team has been picked to dominate......

http://www.nwcsports.com/sports/mbkb/2009-10/news/poll

formercat · October 30, 2009, 04:28:13 AM

Kind of dumbfounded by the UPS in second place preseason. I realize that they have some tradition of being in the top spots in the last several years, I get that.
But they lost so much that I think UPS fighting for a 4th spot would be a successful season. Its obviously a rebuilding year on a large scale, nothing that has been done in recent years for them. No returning big men, grabbing rebounds and playing against teams with effective posts could be a huge problem for them. I would have to see it to believe it for me to buy UPS in second. My fighting for a 4th spot comment was no knock on them, I think it would be a hell of a season for them If they were able to place 4th. Wonder who that one first place vote for UPS was from? Coach Lunt perhaps?

LogShow · October 30, 2009, 10:32:30 AM

Quote from: formercat on October 30, 2009, 04:28:13 AM
Kind of dumbfounded by the UPS in second place preseason. I realize that they have some tradition of being in the top spots in the last several years, I get that.
But they lost so much that I think UPS fighting for a 4th spot would be a successful season. Its obviously a rebuilding year on a large scale, nothing that has been done in recent years for them. No returning big men, grabbing rebounds and playing against teams with effective posts could be a huge problem for them. I would have to see it to believe it for me to buy UPS in second. My fighting for a 4th spot comment was no knock on them, I think it would be a hell of a season for them If they were able to place 4th. Wonder who that one first place vote for UPS was from? Coach Lunt perhaps?

I am going to defend Coach Lunt for that claim. There is no chance that he voted for his own team...he has way more class then that. The way it went down was probably Lunt voted for WW, obviously, they are going to be real good this year. The first place for UPS was most likely from Hayford...If Gordie was still coaching then I would have guessed him. There are only a few coches out there that would actually vote their own team first.

And UPS will definately be finishing higher than 4th...I full expect them to be competeing with WW this year.

logshock101 · October 30, 2009, 08:53:04 PM

Havent talked to lunt in a while, but last time i did he was pretty high on how the loggers were looking. if he legitimately think his loggers can challenge for a title i have no problem with him voting for ups to get 1st place.

NWCer · November 02, 2009, 12:50:12 AM

What's everyone think of the preseason poll? Seems like most everyone's predictions were pretty close, except for TMT pickin' the Missionaries 2nd...

Logshow, what's good?! Are your Loggers ready to defend their title?

89Pirate · November 02, 2009, 02:32:14 PM

Quote from: NWCer on October 30, 2009, 12:52:38 AM
Don't know where the Whitworth fans are TMT but their team has been picked to dominate......

http://www.nwcsports.com/sports/mbkb/2009-10/news/poll

We are out here, silently waiting the games to begin.

I have word from an inside source (not a coach or player) that the Bucs should be a Final Four team ! ! ! I would love a trip to VA ! ! !

pineconefan · November 02, 2009, 10:22:13 PM

Easy there 89 -

I like the Pirates' chances to have a good/great season too. But "should" be a final four team? The season hasn't even starter yet. The only team that anyone can say "should" be a final four team at this point is probably WashU.

But I like your enthusiasm!

89Pirate · November 02, 2009, 11:45:03 PM

Quote from: pineconefan on November 02, 2009, 10:22:13 PM
Easy there 89 -

I like the Pirates' chances to have a good/great season too. But "should" be a final four team? The season hasn't even starter yet. The only team that anyone can say "should" be a final four team at this point is probably WashU.

But I like your enthusiasm!

Just quoting my source, thats all. The Alumni game next week will be my first chance to see them in action, although certainly not a indication of how they will stack up against real teams...

A Buc Forever · November 03, 2009, 04:10:40 AM

To get to the final four you have to get out of the West Region. Last year, 7 of the top 8 teams in the nation were in the west. Getting to the final four from the west goes through Wash U. A team in the west can be a final four quality team and not make it past the Sweet 16.

Gregory Sager · November 03, 2009, 05:01:28 PM

Quote from: A Buc Forever on November 03, 2009, 04:10:40 AM
To get to the final four you have to get out of the West Region. Last year, 7 of the top 8 teams in the nation were in the west. Getting to the final four from the west goes through Wash U. A team in the west can be a final four quality team and not make it past the Sweet 16.

Midwest/West sectional, actually, not West Region. The Midwest Region contributed several of the strong teams to that quadrant of the bracket (Wash U, Wheaton, Elmhurst, and Lawrence). The top teams from the West Region in that quadrant were UWSP, UW-Platteville, St. Thomas, and Puget Sound. Several really, really good teams in that quadrant got knocked out before the sectionals because that part of the bracket was so overloaded.

Almost without exception, the Midwest and West regions are annually paired together in the sectionals for geographical reasons -- as most of us are aware, the NCAA attempts to run D3 tourneys as cheaply as possible -- so your premise that Whitworth (or any other NWC champ) would have to run a similar gauntlet this coming March thru the Midwest/West sectional is correct.

TryMeTeam · November 05, 2009, 01:22:38 PM

Ok, Formercat, now I can give you the kudos you deserve! Just checked out the Linfield website, and Weber is on the just posted roster, as a senior. You had the facts right!

Willamette only losing by 39 to BSU was kind of a surprise to me. I would have guessed closer to 60 with Mitchell out. Maybe, just maybe, we (meaning I) have not given them enough respect. We should see more about them near the middle of this month when the games begin. Certainly looking forward to that!

89, I realize you are just the messenger, but you need to be careful what you write. Don't get me wrong, Whitworth will be good and they deserve the preseason notice they have gotten. But even if the two additions are very good, that still doesn't equal a final 4 team!

And they will have to get through an improved NWC. Instead of a 2-team dogfight between Whitworth and UPS, I see three much improved teams in Linfield, LC and Whitman (am I the only one who thinks Whitman will be very good this year?), and that doesn't even consider UPS, who will be good if not very good, all considerable challenges to Whitworth. I don't see the other 3 teams being factors in the title hunt, but Whitworth will have to keep their level of play up to get by all of those teams. This might be one of the more balanced years in a long time.

Still time to get your preseason predictions in yet. Anyone can do it after the pre-season,...er "non-conference" games start. I am keeping track of the predictions to see how we do.