MBB: Northwest Conference

nwhoops1903 · February 14, 2010, 12:42:13 PM

Quote from: D O.C. on February 13, 2010, 11:49:50 PM
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, .....

Before last night I am pretty sure that same team had lost 4 of 5? Picking them to win would be, well, ....

Congrats to Linfield for clinching a playoff spot with the win over GF at HOME by 4 points. Hope to meet you at the game next Sat D O.C.

pineconefan · February 16, 2010, 07:25:36 PM

So what are the predictions for the 2-4 spots in the NWC tournament? We know who is in, but not the order. Will Linfield hold on to a spot that seemed secure three weeks ago?

GFU and L&C will play each other, eliminating one from any chance at second place.

nwhoops1903 · February 17, 2010, 09:40:57 AM

Quote from: pineconefan on February 16, 2010, 07:25:36 PM
So what are the predictions for the 2-4 spots in the NWC tournament? We know who is in, but not the order. Will Linfield hold on to a spot that seemed secure three weeks ago?

GFU and L&C will play each other, eliminating one from any chance at second place.

Is PLU eliminated? If they win both and GF loses both, don't they have a tiebreaker over GF because they split Linfield and GF lost both?

TryMeTeam · February 17, 2010, 01:23:31 PM

Hoops:

You are right. PLU is not eliminated. But with the way they have been playing, they are the only ones giving themselves a chance. 5 losses in a row since upsetting Linf is not a good prelude to playing hot Wil and what would then be a desperate Fox team that had just lost to LC (assuming they did for this scenario to work). Not a good outlook for PLU.

PCfan:

So lets say, the most probably 2-4 lineup has been set, here is my prediction. Fox loses to a streaky LC team and wraps up the #4 seed and a trip to beautiful Spokane in the first round. Linf splits and wraps up the #2 seed and a home game They will tie with LC (who sweeps the weekend with a win against UPS on Saturday), but win the tiebreaker having beat Fox twice.

WW is one win away from doing something hasn't been done ever before last year, win all 16 games in a season. Now it will have been done 2 years in a row. UPS was a great team with 3 great players and several very good ones. WW joins the company of such a great team. Congrats to WW on a great season! (Hope I didn't jinx them).

nwhoops1903 · February 19, 2010, 12:09:14 AM

All I care about is that Linfield has something to play for Sat night other than spoiling a perfect season. Hours of driving for 1 game...

But I think Fox loses both. I am paying attention to that WIl vs PLU game Friday. PLU is my darkhorse/underdog. I confess I would love to play them next Thu.

TryMeTeam · February 19, 2010, 12:30:52 PM

Hoops:

Linf avoids the drive for game 1 by winning on Fri. and they should do so, although Whitm played WW as tough as anyone has. It would be just like a nothing-to-lose team to come in and beat a better team, Linf.

It depends on which Linf team shows up, the one that got beat by LC or the one that beat Fox. They could sweep (it could happen!), get swept, or split. I think they will split, but I thought they would lose to Fox and beat LC.

I'm going to try this one more time. Linf gets by Whitm, Pac beats UPS on the road, LC wins at Fox big, and Wil ends PLU's playoff hopes. I will try the Sat games if I can get one win out of these.

Although WW is the class of the league, the other playoff game should be a good one, whoever it is and wherever it is. The battle here is to stay out of the 4th spot to avoid the long trip and sure loss.

With 3 (probable) OR teams in the playoffs and WW graduating 3 of their best players, I would say the balance of power is shifting west and south, but they always seem to reload. Word out of some LC players is that Gaillard is gone, so that drops them out of the mix. Linf graduates 3 starters but has Wiser for one more, so they will be okay. Fox graduates most of their rotation, so back they go. Might be wide open next year.

NWCer · February 19, 2010, 01:59:42 PM

Wow TMT, you here Gaillord is done? First one year it's James, and the next it's him.... Do they hand over the program to Foreman the way Willamette did to Ione?

Thanks for picking my Boxers to get UPS tonight! But didn't you see that LC-Pac score?!, gutsy call coming back with a Pac win prediction. What has happened to UPS? Anybody know why Boyce has been out? Read there was a fight in the Whitman-UPS game last weekend that led to some ejections, and I'm guessing automatic suspensions. Any Logger faithful have any news? Any Logger faithful out there period!? The board needs you!

I'm going with Linfield over Whitman, Willamette over PLU, Pac over UPS, and the one I can't really call is LC and Fox, but I'll go with the home team in the game of the night.

You're right TMT, some balances may be shifting and things may continue to open up in this league. Always evolving and changing I guess.

TryMeTeam · February 19, 2010, 03:13:43 PM

NWCer:

I actually saw the LC-Pac game, and LC couldn't have played better for years. As I said earlier, they always seem to match up well against Pac, but they were on fire that night. But prior to that, Pac had won 4 out of 5. They were playing well prior to LC, so I give them a nod against a lower echelon team.

I am going with LC over Fox for the same reason. They have been playing pretty good lately, except against an improved Wil team, and if they play anywhere near where they did against Pac, they will beat Fox.

The Gaillard situation is just a rumor. Biddy talked to a couple of players who sense this may be it. Since Foreman is the Associate Head Coach, it must be likely he will take over, but the players would not be in favor of that. With most of his team coming back, Gaillard might do one more year.

NWCer · February 19, 2010, 03:26:48 PM

Yeah that sounds about right TMT, as far as the LC-Pac match up and that night in particular, and you may be right about the LC-Fox game.

Isn't Foreman the chief recruiter? He brings most of the guys to Palatine Hill right? Why wouldn't the players be in favor of him taking over? Doesn't make a lot of sense...

Anyways, I promised myself I'm going to see my Boxers tomorrow night at Willamette. I want to be there for their last game and see the Bartlett-Mithell matchup. Any cool pre-game spots to hit up in Salem?

80sshorts · February 19, 2010, 06:52:24 PM

The RAM!!

NWCer · February 19, 2010, 07:00:09 PM

Thanks 80sshorts, I will check it out, I have heard of that place before.... Never been...

nwhoops1903 · February 19, 2010, 07:26:12 PM

So much to read...it must be a Big Friday. First off, talking about next year's team strengths is way to early. If I told you WW will be better (true) than this year, some coaches might actually leave but speculating about coaching changes right now is premature or a below the belt attempt to rattle a team. Lets stick to the here and now, after all we wait 48 weeks to get here!!!!

I don't know who, but I think one of the 3 teams ahead of PLU will implode. Either way WW will get that team or
PLU, but an easy victory or "sure loss" is not automatic. I think the Thu game will be more interesting than the Sat night championship.

What has to happen for LC to get #2? No brown jokes please....

nwhoops1903 · February 20, 2010, 11:24:20 AM

PLU, loss....I won't say more. The 4 teams are set and LIN has the #2 seed locked up.

Great battle in the featured game last night with GF winning in OT. Does GF need to win to guarantee the 3rd spot or can LC still get it?

BruinFan · February 20, 2010, 12:51:22 PM

My understanding is that George Fox has #3 all locked up now since they beat LC twice this season.
So, LC @ Whitworth and GFU @Linfield next Thursday.

89Pirate · February 21, 2010, 01:40:16 AM

WOW! The Bucs go 16-0 in the conference...23-2 overall! Host the Pioneers on Thursday...should be a good game but my Pirates will prevail!!!

With UWSP losing, should also be a great seed for the NCAA Tourney!