MBB: Northwest Conference

[Bearcat Press]

Really impressive comeback win for Willamette tonight on the road at Concordia.  When Marcus Holmes gets in a zone, he just doesn't miss.  And Sean Dart didn't miss at all, going 9-9 from the field.  Not a bad way to rebound from the blowout loss at WWU on Tuesday.

Do I think this team's going to set the NWC on fire?  Probably not.  Somewhere between 5th and 7th sounds about right.  But when they're on, they can shoot the lights out, and it's important to note that two key players from last year's team, Terrell Malley and Cody Pastorino, are still sitting out while they transition from football season.

Also of note, the new floor at Cone Fieldhouse is now Gordie James Court.  The dedication is on Saturday.  Here's a great picture:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs062.snc4/34448_400365613066_64674138066_4683985_6944452_n.jpg

[bbaddict]

Are you serious about Hayford? I think Whitman will be good this year! Unsure about everyone else except Whitworth. They will be good!

Seriously, do you think he's serious about ANY of it?   It's called SARCASM.   Just trying to get a rise out of everyone so that the discussion will be lively.

Me, I'm waiting to see an actual game before I comment much.  Can't wait til Saturday and it's NOT about football.

[BearcatChatter]

BBaddict, I'm right there with ya. Basketball fever has taken ahold of me. I think this team is going to play very up-tempo ball, especially when Malley gets fully in the lineup.

My prediction? Watch Sean Dart take the league by storm this year

[nwhoops1903]

Funny.  I was also looking for some chatter.  Sat. night can't come soon enough.

[TryMeTeam]

Wil fans:

I was at the game last night.  I was trying to figure out which game to go to, Wil or PU, and I guess I chose right.

I think your prediction of 5 through 7 seem like it might be low.  I thought they played very good defense and even though they got down big early, stayed in the game for a great final couple of minutes.  That defense could take them a long way.  They ending was classic, last team with the ball was gonna win.  Concordia is a good team, and Wil took them down.  I was very impressed.

A lot more one-on-than from past teams, but they seem to have the players to do it.  And Holmes going 6 for 7 from the 3!  Good times for the Bearcats.

NWCer:  

How could your Boxers lose to Portland Bible?  Did you get to see that game?  PB shot very well, especially from the 3.  Defense problem?  Interested in your take if you were there.

Nice to see some posts!

[NWCer]

I was not there TMT......

And by the looks of that Box Score, wow.......  Maybe I made the right decision not to go......  Man it could be a long season in the Grove......

[Bearcat Press]

I think your prediction of 5 through 7 seem like it might be low.  I thought they played very good defense and even though they got down big early, stayed in the game for a great final couple of minutes.  That defense could take them a long way.  They ending was classic, last team with the ball was gonna win.  Concordia is a good team, and Wil took them down.  I was very impressed.

I hope you're right.  I just remember the second game of last season, when the Bearcats took out Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (a team that won the SCIAC and made the NCAA tourney) pretty easily, only to follow that with a bunch of losses to teams they should have beaten.  The defense is going to be key.

A lot more one-on-than from past teams, but they seem to have the players to do it.

This is what concerns me, but maybe it's because I'm still used to Gordie-ball.  One-on-one gets you in trouble when you're not hitting (i.e. the first half yesterday).  What really impressed me was the passing down the stretch.  There was one play late in the game where either Kunke or Mounts drew three guys on a fast-break before passing to a wide-open Sean Dart under the basket.  That was pretty.

[TryMeTeam]

Interesting matchups tonight.  PLU and UPS are trading partners for the dances in Tacoma, and we get an early comparison between the two teams.  I couldn't make it out last night, but watched the big lead for UPS almost completely vanish on live stats against UCSB before they held on to win.  What was the game like, UPS fans?  UPS should be in trouble tonight.

PLU holds a 15 point lead over the #12 St. Tommies with 14 minutes to go in the game before giving it all back in just 6 minutes and lose by 3 in the first game.  Still, not a bad result for the Lutes against a ranked team.  Just how good are the Lutes?  Should be good enough for a V tonight.

Fox did the same thing as UPS, but was not able to hold on against Corbin.  Tonight Corbin goes to PU.  The Boxers get into the win column tonight (should be a good game to go to, NWCer), and we get an early glimpse of who has the advantage of the bottom two teams in the league.  I watched the second half of that game on computer video.  Neither team looked very good at all!

NW is at Fox, who drilled UPS by 50 4 days ago.  Could be, er...will be ugly in Newberg tonight!

Whitman is at P Bible, who had a big lead at PU before winning by a dozen in a shootout.  But PB's 6 players will wear down against Whit and will lose big.  Whit played a not-so-good JV team last night and probably set some school records in a lopsided win.  PB's guards will give them a rough time, though.

Its early, but the comparisons are fun watch play out.  4 games in the Portland area tonight.  Which one to go to?

[BearcatChatter]

I'm usually never one too utter the phrase "tough loss, but we saw a lot of good come out of it," but I think Willamette's game against NW Christian qualifies. The Beacons were far bigger than us across the board, coupled with a pair of lightening-quick guards that made me miss Terrell Malley and Cody Pastorino (mandatory transition week from football). They are a scholarship program, and it showed.

As far as the game goes, we got ourselves into a hole early with bad shots and what I thought was a lack of intensity. Went into the first half with a score that paralleled the girl's game at half(NOT something good). Just as I suspected however, the 'Cats came out with a completely different attitude second half. Mounts and Meehan played like leaders; Kunke played well, but I think he has more in him. Marcus Holmes left something to be desired, having an off-game from deep (2-7, and really nothing down the stretch).

But man, I gotta tell you and Sean Dart. I was worried about a lack of Cam Mitchell, but Dart takes care of his presence on the offensive end. Defensive end, he's getting there. He's so mobile, moved deceptively quickly, and seems to always find the basket. He was also ALL OVER the boards, and plays determined basketball, which I love. Heck of a player, so glad he transferred.

What the game came down to was free throws, and our inability to make a stop down the stretch. We'd play such committed, disciplined defense only for them to pass their way around our zone for a shot. We were just one step behind. Like said, we'll get there. Ioane was subbing almost every change of possession toward the end, which leads me to think conditioning isn't quite there yet either.

The most important thing from the game that I took is that we were able to find good shots 2nd half. We were overmatched athletically, but used good basketball IQ to find the open man. Patience is a virtue hard to teach in basketball, especially in game thats inevitably just counting down, but we displayed excellent signs of it.

2 More notes (This is long, I know) Congrats to Gordie James for having the court named in his honor. I scored an interview with him, and man BCP, you were right, he's ALL about the team. Great guy though, very funny. As mentioned before, having Malley and Pastorino back will be HUGE for a back court that looked a little slow tonight.

[BearcatChatter]

BCP, I was also thinking, hasn't the court at Cone Fieldhouse had Gordie's name on it for some time? Why are we just getting around to the dedication now?

[Bearcat Press]

BCP, I was also thinking, hasn't the court at Cone Fieldhouse had Gordie's name on it for some time? Why are we just getting around to the dedication now?

Mostly since Gordie never coached volleyball.

[nwhoops1903]

WW looked pretty solid last night.  74-50 in control the whole way.  PLU looks improved and UPS was overmatched last night.  Games!!  I am glad hoops is back.

[BearcatChatter]

BCP, I was also thinking, hasn't the court at Cone Fieldhouse had Gordie's name on it for some time? Why are we just getting around to the dedication now?

Mostly since Gordie never coached volleyball.

Still, I swear the name was on their even last season.

[Bearcat Press]

BCP, I was also thinking, hasn't the court at Cone Fieldhouse had Gordie's name on it for some time? Why are we just getting around to the dedication now?

Mostly since Gordie never coached volleyball.

Still, I swear the name was on their even last season.

Nope.  The new floor was installed over the summer.  Last year, there weren't any distinctive markings on the court other than "Willamette" on the baselines.

[nwhoops1903]

Whitworth 2-0

Trinity (TX)  21 33 54
Whitworth  30 45 75

Whitworth held off a 8-0 run to start second half by Trinity.  Responded and built the lead to as much as 23 in second half.  VERY balanced scoring and shot 65% in second half.  Off to Hawaii and Carthage game on Wednesday.