MBB: Northwest Conference

[(509)Rat]

What's the spread for tonights game at The Fieldhouse?

[A Buc Forever]

What's the spread for tonights game at The Fieldhouse?

I'm hoping PLU and UPS will give Whitworth  good games this weekend, but I think PLU will breakdown and the game won't be within 20.  UPS will be one of the toughest inside tests Whitworth has had this year.  Could be interesting from that standpoint. However, UPS has always relied on creating a lot of pressure and forcing turnovers. Given that Whitworth has the lowest turnover rate in the nation, I imagine the UPS game will a close, but comfortable win for Whitorth.

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth us up 52-28 at the Half. PLU is shooting 32% from the field, and Whitworth 59%...also just under 59% from 3-pt. Riley is the leading scorer with 19, Loofburrow has 13.  Whitworth only has 2 turnovers

Whitman's live stats is frozen at 7:22 left in the first half. Whitman up 32-25

[nwhoops1903]

What a stomp.  WW 93-58.  At 70-35 Pirates let up the D and coast it in.

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth beats PLU 93-58

The Pirates were 17-30 from the 3pt line. Riley led all scorers with 26, Loofburrow had 21. He and Riley both hit 6, 3's.

PLU was scrappy, just nowhere near the talent that Whitworth had on the court. Of course Whitworth won't shoot 58% every night...but somebody is going to have to get flat out lucky to beat Whitworth in the NWC.

Whitman is beating UPS 71-63, 7 min left.

[A Buc Forever]

Close one tonight.  I wonder if UPS wishes they could have some of those long range 3's back.  Seems like they take a lot of tough shots they don't need to. A little better shot selection and this game might have gone their way.

[Bearcat Press]

After a two day stretch where Willamette lost to Pacific by 20 then beat Linfield by 26, I've officially given up trying to understand this Bearcat team.

[bbaddict]

After a two day stretch where Willamette lost to Pacific by 20 then beat Linfield by 26, I've officially given up trying to understand this Bearcat team.

Me, too!  But I have to say, I like the Saturday team better and I hope they show up next weekend!!  (That was a fun game to watch!)

[nwhoops1903]

Close one tonight.  I wonder if UPS wishes they could have some of those long range 3's back.  Seems like they take a lot of tough shots they don't need to. A little better shot selection and this game might have gone their way.

I don't know about losing this game but WW had a near perfect storm against them with the foul trouble.  UPS attacked WW defense and calls happen.  There were quite a few offensive fouls called as well.  Strange how Clay Gebbers and David Riley got tagged and M. Taylor and J. Loofburrow weere basically unscathed.  Spread those calls around and a 10 point lead would have likely grown to 15+.  Pirates have 5 guys who can score 15+ from their first 6 with C. Gebbers being the other guy and he stops 15+ points a night.  WW has streak shooters in Riley and Loofburrow.  These guys hit 2 of their first 4 and I don't think WW loses a game.  These guys wait for some open shots early instead of forcing or making shots (patience) and they get on track and opponent is in trouble. 

Hat goes off to Wade, Taylor, and Freidt.  These guys played exceptional.  Wade with injury plays minutes and smart.  Feeding ball into Freidt against fronting D resulted in many close FG's.  Taylor took matters into his own hands and personally stopped UPS from their early lead and any control of game. 

UPS impressed me with their intensity and pace.  They played all out and wreckless.  You could see they wanted this game and Lunt had his team prepared and believing.  Even after the loss in Walla Walla they didn't mail it in. 

WW has many options and depth is emerging each game.  I am very excited to see this team continue and if fortune smiles maybe carry a #1 poll by the end of the month.  Wouldn't that be sweet!!

[Keandre]

Even though this young UPS team lost 2 in the Eastern Washington trip this weekend, both games were very competitive. I see a tremendous upside to this UPS team. They keep getting better.

Whitworth is GOOD! Don't make mistakes and never panic.

Lots of great hoops to come in the NWC!

[(509)Rat]

I would be upset about the Whitman loss if I'm a UPS fan. The last few years UPS' shot selection has gotten worse and it shows when you see a steady decline in FG% since '07 (when Lunt took over). It showed this weekend at Whitworth and to an extent at Whitman (when you look at their 3-pt %).

I don't have anything against UPS, but I remember seeing Bridgeland coached teams and being more impressed. And don't bring up 08-09 when Lunt had a good season with all of Bridgeland's recruits.

They did play well against Whitworth at The Fieldhouse in what is probably the worst road trip in the NWC (since you have to drive 3 hours just to get to Spokane from Walla Walla, or vice versa). They shot better than their season averages and out rebounded Whitworth. Whitworth is simply a better team this year and apparently even an "off" night is only enough to get within 7. Maybe the Loggers can start playing like they did this last Saturday, week in-week out?

The trip to UPS will be tough, always is. And I would say that is the one game where Whitworth might trip up...but in the NWC this year I guess Willamette, Pacific, George Fox could all be tough games? Everybody not named Whitworth is way too inconsistent. It only takes one good night though.

[A Buc Forever]

LC should not be underestimated. Winning all their conference games except WW so far. If they get hot they could get WW. I agree with the assessment that UPS plays hard but lacks patience on the shot selection.  Overall they may have better athletes than WW and they play just as hard but not as disciplined and WW players have better basketball skills. I guess you'd just have to say they are better coached. 

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth moves up to #3. Still have only 3 first place votes.

[Keandre]

The good thing about what is being mentioned why UPS is inconsistent and not winning games that they should is that they are correctable. FG% can get better by just what you guys are saying, being more patient. The heart and will to win is there, just handling the details of the game and concentrating and having better basketball skills are all things that can be worked on for this young Logger team. Guys are starting to figure out what to do every possession, they are still not doing it every possession but when they put everything together, they will make some noise. Looks like their 4 game road trip in the NWC is up after saturday, now is the time to get things going and start getting more consistent and put together several wins in a row. A true Logger fan believes!

[(509)Rat]

I sure hope they get it together. It's been 2002 since someone other than Whitworth or UPS has won the conference championship. The last 8 years have had a lot of entertaining and important games between the two. Of course I'm still hoping Whitworth continues to be the better team