MBB: Northwest Conference

TryMeTeam · November 24, 2010, 03:11:56 PM

I was trying to figure out which game to go to last night, and picked the right one (with the help of Mother Nature). LC at WP.

It was a great game, especially for the NWC and LC! I sat behind the Warner Pac bench. Bailey was at times mad and frustrated by PJ Taylor going off for 34 points in 32 minutes, and James Hollins taking the game over down the stretch before he fouled out.

The Knights had a huge size advantage, going 6-10, 6-6 and 6-5 across the starting front line with the Pio matching up with 6-5, 6-3 and 6-3. WP seemed bigger, stronger, faster, more athletic than the Pios, but the Pios had more emotion. Taylor shot from everywhere on the court and just blew up! And everytime the Pios needed a basket, someone stepped up (Pisapia's two 3's in a row, Meeuwsen's 3 late, Edwards only basket of the game late, Perconti's big 3's, Hollins' freethrows down the stretch).

I will say right now that if the Pios can play like that all season, the will finish in 1st place! However......I don't see that happening. They play with a lot of emotion, and it was all on their side last night. It was a great win last night, but I foresee some ugly outings in the future, and probably some loses they shouldn't get. Emotion is a two-headed creature. It came help you and destroy you on any given night.

But what a ride last night! A real fun game to watch!

nwhoops1903 · November 25, 2010, 03:01:16 AM

#5 Carthage vs #16 Whitworth Wed night in Honolulu

Whitworth wins 81-69.

Michael Taylor leads with 26, David Riley 20 (18 second half). Whitworth out muscles and out rebounds Carthage by 16 and shoots 61% FG for game. Cladis leads CU with 15 and SD has 13.

Redman shoot 14-25 from stripe. WW 17-23 from the line.

Go Pirates!!

Bearcat Press · November 25, 2010, 01:48:53 PM

The way Whitworth is simply able to reload year after year after year never ceases to amaze me.

TMT - is L&C as reliant on threes as they have been in the past? It seems like every year the Pios have a couple games where they're lights out and can beat anybody, followed by a couple games where they can't hit anything (i.e. vs. Willamette last year).

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

TryMeTeam · November 25, 2010, 02:47:52 PM

BP:

I have only seen them once this year, but if that game is any indication, it appears more so. Their big center who outscored himself in the first game over the first 10 games last year, was in a cast reported to have occurred in that first game. So their starting lineup was 4 guards and a forward, topping out at 6-5. Not a good lineup to go inside. In the first game and last game, opponent's big men were taken out early and played very little, probably due to the outside shooting.

They probably will live and die by the 3, as in years past, but might be able to live a little more than in past years with more experienced guys and some new ones who can hit from outside. As I said earlier, they play with a lot of emotion, and that will work for them and against them. The maturity level will decide on most nights how that affects their game. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out with a season opening night game against Whitworth in Portland (next week, already!). Then WW goes to Mac to play Linfield. If they get those two, it could be 16-0 again.

I like the improved league this year with LC, Linfield, Will, PLU, Whitman, and even Fox looking better than last year. The OR teams may be able to hold their own this year. Or,......a WA team (WW, even PLU) may take the league championship again.

Great time of year! The games have started, the holidays are here (Happy Thanksgiving everyone!), and league is just around the corner on this fresh season!

Keandre · November 27, 2010, 04:38:00 PM

Looks like UPS went to a very good Oxy team and pulled out a great win, these kids play real hard and once they figure out where the great looks are in the offense, they will be back on top of the conference. That baby bull Shelton is good!

nwhoops1903 · November 27, 2010, 06:27:42 PM

Welcome to the board Keandre. UPS win is good for them and the NWC. Any details of the game? Look forward to more UPS news and posters.

Keandre · November 27, 2010, 07:25:15 PM

A win at oxy and maybe a win against chapman can get this team going and build confidence. I see a great year in the wide open nwc after whitworth. Stay tuned for thoughts on chapman game. Go log show!

nwhoops1903 · November 27, 2010, 11:09:45 PM

WW wins in Hawaii 86-67.

Keandre · November 28, 2010, 06:57:30 AM

UPS loses to chapman by 7. Made it close after being down 20. If they play all 40 minutes like the last 10 of chapman game, they win by 25. The log show will put it together and will make a run at the league title.

TryMeTeam · November 30, 2010, 11:18:07 AM

Since the games start tonight, I thought I would get out my predictions out first.
As those of you who have been around awhile know, I am terrible at this, but here goes.

Whitworth (everyone's first choice)
Lewis & Clark (undefeated so far and how they beat Warner Pacific)
Willamette (good size and very good defense)
Linfield (Wiser is too good)
PLU (Very good starting line-up, but lack depth)
Whitman (Time for Bridgeland's teams to step up, but really haven't so far)
UPS (Shelton is good, but others have to step up for them to be successful)
GF (Tough to get a read on them, but 4 average in double figures)
PacU (Definitely a rebuilding year)

The only thing for sure is this is not the way it will finish up. We probably should wait to do this until the pre-league games are over.

I will take Wil over GF tonight, no....(I am always wrong, so..) GF over Wil, no.....(Wil is too good, so..) Wil over GF, no....(GF is winless, the underdog, so..). Hell, I give up! Coin flip, Wil over GF! There, I just jinxed Wil! Sorry Bearcat Press.

nwhoops1903 · November 30, 2010, 01:26:10 PM

GF wins on the road.

And Whitworth moves to #10 in the National Poll today. Great start for Pirates.

BearcatChatter · December 01, 2010, 06:04:25 AM

Quote from: TryMeTeam on November 30, 2010, 11:18:07 AM
Willamette (good size and very good defense)

Ummmm, what? Now I'm as big of a Bearcat fan as there is around, but I wouldn't agree on either of those claims. Defense has been our weak point so far this year. The inability to get a stop down the stretch has lost us at least 2, maybe 3 games. As for size, Dart plays big at 6-6, but he's the only one. Mounts tends to play small at 6-5, and the rest of our steady contributors either have no size, or just don't use it accordingly.

nwhoops1903 · December 01, 2010, 09:56:47 AM

Quote from: nwhoops1903 on November 30, 2010, 01:26:10 PM
GF wins on the road.

And Whitworth moves to #10 in the National Poll today. Great start for Pirates.

GF 91-88 over Willamette

Keandre · December 01, 2010, 12:35:37 PM

WU has UPS on the road Friday, we will see how they bounce back in a pretty hostile environment after a tough loss to Fox.

TryMeTeam · December 02, 2010, 11:47:50 PM

Games tomorrow night:

PLU over Pacific.
Linfield over Whitman (but a little worried about this one).
LC over Whitworth (a lot worried about this one, a battle of the undefeateds).
Willamette over UPS

I am 0 for 1 on the season, and might (read that probably) am guessing wrong on another 3 this weekend. Go see your bookie and bet on exactly the opposite of what I predict and you can make good money!