MBB: Northwest Conference

[nwhoops1903]

Seems like Barlett is the first big man in the league to not be dominated by Montgomery. Did not see the game, but it sounded like Barlett played well and held his own against Montgomery. Hard to tell though, he might have had lot of help and that may be why the rest of the Bucs shot so well.  Hard to say without seeing the game. For those in attendance, what did you think?

Montgomery was double and triple teamed often.  It probably led to some better looks.  On the few occasions that NM and RB went straight up, NM was successful or fouled.  I am pretty convinced Pacific's defensive plan #1 was to crowd the post.  Probably the best way to prepare for WW and then hope for some misses.  WW overcame this with a real team effort that involved all the first 8.

random thoughts:  Congrats to Sundquist on #100, UPS version 2.0 will be strange to watch, LC probably thinks they can win out and hit tournament hot (I agree), LINF is needing some adjustments if they are to stay #2,  LINF, PLU and FOX headed for #3 & #4 wars.  PLU probably misses the 4th spot on a tiebreaker.

Predictions:

WW over FOX
PAC over WHT
WIL over LINF
LC over PLU

[nwhoops1903]

Predictions:

WW over Pac           its probable
GF over Whit            its a lock
Wil over UPS            its a bake, bet the house
LC over LINF            its possible

WW over FOX
PAC over WHT
WIL over LINF
LC over PLU

8-0 for the weekend...

[NWCer]

Willamette over Linfield was gutsy Nwhoops... Nice job...  You have inside information? Haha... (I see Wiser didn't play...)

[TryMeTeam]

Nice calls this weekend, Hoops.  Remind me never to bet with you on NWC games!

I got to see the Linf - LC game on Friday, but couldn't get to any games on Saturday.  LC completely handled Linf, who looks like the team I thought they were earlier in the season.  Wiser got hurt in a tangle with about 8 minutes to go in the game and took himself out.  He came right back in and played the rest of the game, but didn't look 100%.  I think it was his ankle, but not sure.  Without him, Linf is a different and not very good team.  They will struggle to make the playoffs if he is not healthy soon.

What is with Wil?  After going 0-7, they are now 3-2 for the last 5.  They are scoring big and will give a streaking LC all they can handle on Tues.  PLU is fading like several of this board predicted.  Linf is in trouble.  Fox looks like they are up and down too.  Should be WW and 3 OR teams for the playoffs if Linf can get Wiser back.

[NWCer]

TMT,

The Pios have two of the teams way down in the standings coming to their place this week in Willamette and my Boxers, but both are playing well, Willamette 3 of 5 like you said, and my Boxers 3 of 4 with wins over Fox, at PLU, and against the team you picked to come in 2nd (Whitman), didn't you pick them 2nd?  Anyways, Willamette and Pac will come in playing decently with nothing to lose, but the good thing seems to be that the Pios have found their stride....  Interesting matchups...

Whitworth is the class of the league, but a lot of stuff can still happen these last four games regarding the other 8...

[TryMeTeam]

Yeah, NWCer, you are right.  LC seems to be hitting its stride, playing like I thought they would when I thought they would win the league.  Obviously, LC has not played to that potential, and WW surely has, and more so.  But Wil and Pac will be two teams finally playing like they should, too.

LC beat Wil without Kunke and Mounts for only a half by only 5, and they are playing much better now, so Tues should be a pretty good game.  Your boxers are also playing better, but LC seems to have their number and can shut them down better than Wil.  But I see two LC wins.

I did pick Whitm to place 2nd and 3rd in my two guesses.  I though Bridge could and would do more with them than he has.  His system needs quality players who "buy" into it, and it appears they have not.  It seems similar to the situation in Tacoma with UPS.  The system sure works better with quality players.  But if you want to get correct picks, you need to talk to Hoops.  My track record is not good!

Pac and Wil are still mathematically in the race, but are down 4 with 4 to go for a playoff position, so both are pretty much out of it.  They play each other the last game of the season, and have the rest of the contenders.  

Whitm and UPS are down 3 with 4 to go, and are pretty much out of it too.  I just don't see Lin, Fox, LC or PLU falling far enough for either of these teams to grab a spot, and both have to play WW yet.  

So the race for the last 3 spots is really a 4 horse race with Lin, Fox, LC and PLU.  I think the other 4 teams will have to settle for being spoilers.  Fox and LC have already lost to WW, so that puts them a little ahead of the curve if WW doesn't lay an egg.  Linf and PLU are struggling right now, and Linf may be without Wiser for a while.  With PLU down a game in the loss column (and 2 to Linf) and having to face WW yet, I would have to go with the other 3 teams to make the playoffs.

[nwhoops1903]

If Tues was at WIL, I would take the home team, unfortunately it is in Portland and LC will win but not easily.  I think Mitchell's intensity or effort or something has changed.  He is once again the player opposing coaches and teams must prepare for.  Too bad they got off to a horrible start...

[89Pirate]

Not sure where to post this but WTF???

How can Whitwater still be #1 in the West Region rankings when Whitworth has the better In-Region winning percentage, the better Overall winning percentage - oh, and by the way WE BEAT Whitewater???

[nwhoops1903]

Not sure where to post this but WTF???

How can Whitwater still be #1 in the West Region rankings when Whitworth has the better In-Region winning percentage, the better Overall winning percentage - oh, and by the way WE BEAT Whitewater???

It is a strange looking list.  Obviously there is some subjectivity at play in this.  The East Region has an anomally as well.

West Region In-Region Record Overall Record
1. UW-Whitewater 17-4 17-4
2. UW-Stevens Point 17-3 18-3
3. St. Thomas 16-2 19-2
4. Whitworth 17-2 19-2
5. Central 16-2 18-4
6. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 12-3 16-4
7. Chapman 16-1 20-2
8. Hamline 15-7 15-7
9. Augsburg 14-6 15-6

previous week:
1. UW-Whitewater 16-3 16-3
2. UW-Stevens Point 17-2 18-2
3. St. Thomas 14-2 17-2
4. Whitworth 15-2 17-2
5. UW-La Crosse 13-5 14-6
6. Gustavus Adolphus 12-4 12-6
7. Chapman 15-1 18-2
8. Central 14-2 16-4
9. Augsburg 12-5 13-5

[89Pirate]

Not sure where to post this but WTF???

How can Whitwater still be #1 in the West Region rankings when Whitworth has the better In-Region winning percentage, the better Overall winning percentage - oh, and by the way WE BEAT Whitewater???

It is a strange looking list.  Obviously there is some subjectivity at play in this.  The East Region has an anomally as well.

West Region In-Region Record Overall Record
1. UW-Whitewater 17-4 17-4
2. UW-Stevens Point 17-3 18-3
3. St. Thomas 16-2 19-2
4. Whitworth 17-2 19-2
5. Central 16-2 18-4
6. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 12-3 16-4
7. Chapman 16-1 20-2
8. Hamline 15-7 15-7
9. Augsburg 14-6 15-6

previous week:
1. UW-Whitewater 16-3 16-3
2. UW-Stevens Point 17-2 18-2
3. St. Thomas 14-2 17-2
4. Whitworth 15-2 17-2
5. UW-La Crosse 13-5 14-6
6. Gustavus Adolphus 12-4 12-6
7. Chapman 15-1 18-2
8. Central 14-2 16-4
9. Augsburg 12-5 13-5

Subjectivity isnt the word I would use, but ok...lol

Yeah, the East has Medaille down low too?  Weird !

[nwhoops1903]

Prediction show:

WW over UPS              only sure thing
PLU over WHT              shouldnt happen but will
PAC over LINF              probable
GF over WIL                 bearcats come down

[John Gleich]

Not sure where to post this but WTF???

How can Whitwater still be #1 in the West Region rankings when Whitworth has the better In-Region winning percentage, the better Overall winning percentage - oh, and by the way WE BEAT Whitewater???

It has to do with more factors than just one victory...  Let's look deeper.

Stevens Point beat St. Thomas and Whitworth.  Whitewater has beaten Stevens Point twice.  Whitworth did beat Whitewater.

Point and Whitewater both have extremely high SOS (#4 for Whitewater, #13 for Stevens Point vs. #174 for Whitworth).

The SOS is a compilation of a team's opponent's winning percentage and of a team's opponent's opponent's winning percentage.  In other words, it shows the quality of a team's wins.  If one team is 20-0 against teams with an OWP of .250 and an OOWP of .250, that isn't as good as, say, a team that goes 18-2 against a team with and OWP of .750 and an OOWP of .650.

[BruinFan]

Big game tonight between Linfield and George Fox. Winner goes into the final weekend a game up for the chance to host a conference play-off game. I see Wiser is playing again. Is a home game going to get the Wildcats back on track or will they lose their 4th in a row?

[nwhoops1903]

Big game tonight between Linfield and George Fox. Winner goes into the final weekend a game up for the chance to host a conference play-off game. I see Wiser is playing again. Is a home game going to get the Wildcats back on track or will they lose their 4th in a row?

I think Fox will win this game.  LINF is really looking vulnerable and better be careful in their last 3 games.  I am kinda hoping they HAVE to win next Sat against WW.  Selfish reasoning since I am gonna make the trip to see the game and want to see a contest that matters.

so:

FOX over LINF                FOX wants the home game
UPS over WHT                UPS plays with pride
LC over PAC                   if PAC wins this...we might be guaranteed an 8-8 4th place team
WW over PLU                 I wish we could just win this like last year .... JAN 17, 2009

David Riley sparked the 24th-ranked Pirates (12-3 overall, 4-2 NWC) to a dynamic first half lead of 57-14. Whitworth hit 75% of its shots in the half (24 of 32), including 9 of 16 from three point range. Meanwhile the Pirate defense was holding PLU to only 19% (6-32) from the field and Whitworth outrebounded the Lutes 26-11 in the period. A Riley three gave the Pirates a 22-2 lead six and a half minutes into the game and another Riley three made it 36-9 with under ten minutes left in the period. He scored five points in the final minute of the half, including a jumper at the buzzer for a 43-point halftime lead.  Riley (So., G, Palo Alto, Calif.) scored 34 of his career-high 37 points in the first half when he drained 8 of 12 from three point range.

[D O.C.]

Something should tell all you prognosticators to stop doing it. LINFIELD 74-70.  I realize it's fun and harmless but it can make you look,well, .....