MBB: Northwest Conference

[A Buc Forever]

Felix, Loofburrow, and W. Gebbers; Hayford will build a contender around those three.  Whitman will hopefully keep their nucleus and continue to improve.  If the rest of the league improves from where they are right now, NWC basketball will be one of the best entertainment values around.

[nwhoops1903]

Whitman fans will watch watch Whitworth's post season run... we hope all the way to the national *championship...

Welcome to the board Swoosh.  Glad you stepped up.

No doubt Whitman will be a top 3 preseason pick.  Whitworth reloads year after year and until it doesn't happen, I will believe and expect it.  One year does not a program make.  Pirates have a BIG (tall) nucleus returning and some good freshman learning right now what WW basketball is all about.  I am confident that if we had NO transfers, we would be preseason pick AND conference champion next year.  We shall see.  If some impact transfer come in, watch out for another 20+ win season.

[(509)Rat]

playball,

Taylor being replaced and Loofburrow stepping into the starting lineup were two different thoughts. Sorry, it made sense in my head. Much like Riley filled in for Young, Loofburrow will fill in for Riley. And Loofburrow is a better all around player than either of those other two...we'll see if the extra minutes helps with some of his inconsistency (while not bad it's the only knock I could think of).

Hayford has brought in a transfer who's contributed everytime he's lost or a year way from losing a top scorer. Much like nwhoops, until it stops happening, I expect the next Mike Taylor to step into that gym next summer.

If you saw Freidt play basketball his first year at Whitworth, you'd realize how far he's come. He could be scary good next year if can continue to improve at the current rate. But you never know. With as good as Whitworth was this year how do you know they don't have a scoring machine sitting on the bench? Or some great defender just sitting there?

I hope Whitman is good. I hope UPS gets better. I hope LC doesn't fall off the map. And I hope all pf them can schedule good non-conference games and win those so that the NWC can get a second team into the tourney again.

[Keandre]

Swoosh, glad to see you on the board! Lots of fun when we can get some new discussions going on.

As far as Whitman, they did beat Whitworth and give them their only loss thus far, but from what I saw, it wasn't anything that Whitman did to make them not score down the stretch of that game. WW just missed shots that they normally make and had a few missed assignments but it wasn't like WM took them out of what they wanted to do. Hats off to WM for making plays that game but it shows that WW didn't have it that night down the stretch especially when you look at the 2 blowouts they had at WW. Yes, WM is a tough place to play but I just didn't see WM do much to take WW out of their game.

WM does have 90% of their team coming back and that is all fine but the style is what makes them pretty darn good. Shaw and Duckworth got game and they fit the system well. Congrats to WM and their great season, I still see them finishing in the top 4 next season but don't quite think they will get second.

Bringing up Bridgeland and what he did in the 4th year at UPS, coming from a WM fan? I suspect this is a basketball coach from WM giving praise, gotta love it!

It was fun watching the NWC this year, I hope WW takes it all the way. I look forward to watching games next season!

[nwhoops1903]

If you saw Freidt play basketball his first year at Whitworth, you'd realize how far he's come. He could be scary good next year if can continue to improve at the current rate. 

Let me add, Fredit is developing at a very good pace.  Nate Montgomery was a non recruited player and became a beast his senior year.  Whitworth coaches are obviously VERY good at post player development.  I can almost guarantee Freidt and Loofburrow are first team NWC players next year with W. Gebbers a possiblity if he becomes a high average scorer.  I am anticipating big tings from all 3.  Bring in an impact 2-3 player and Pirates should have a top 5 preseason ranking.

[nwhoops1903]

D3hoops.com tournament preview conclusion

At the Final Four

Now, I've picked three "top seeds" to advance, which doesn't happen very often. Whitworth takes on Williams, where Troy Whittington is a tough matchup for any team. Felix Friedt would have his hands full on defense. So would Clay Gebbers, who would undoubtedly draw the defensive assignment on point guard Jay Wang. Whitworth has enough speed. Enough 3-point shooting, in a big building, but that didn't bother them in the D3hoops.com Classic, played in a similarly sized building. (Well, it may have in one game. They shot 4-for-24 in the first game and 7-for-19 in the second.) I'm going with Whitworth.

UW-Stevens Point ends Middlebury's run, I think. Middlebury has height but the Pointers have size and know how to use it. Jerrel Harris is having a great season at point guard, the team shoots well across the board and takes care of the basketball (fewer than 12 turnovers per game). Andrew Locke's minutes were limited this past weekend in the NESCAC tournament but would have to figure if he can play 16 minutes against Williams the the day after playing 22 minutes and blocking seven shots against Amherst, then he should be alright.

And Whitworth over UW-Stevens Point. The game that should have been played in Las Vegas. But it will be better played in Salem.

[playball]

playball,

Taylor being replaced and Loofburrow stepping into the starting lineup were two different thoughts. Sorry, it made sense in my head. Much like Riley filled in for Young, Loofburrow will fill in for Riley. And Loofburrow is a better all around player than either of those other two...we'll see if the extra minutes helps with some of his inconsistency (while not bad it's the only knock I could think of).

Hayford has brought in a transfer who's contributed everytime he's lost or a year way from losing a top scorer. Much like nwhoops, until it stops happening, I expect the next Mike Taylor to step into that gym next summer.

If you saw Freidt play basketball his first year at Whitworth, you'd realize how far he's come. He could be scary good next year if can continue to improve at the current rate. But you never know. With as good as Whitworth was this year how do you know they don't have a scoring machine sitting on the bench? Or some great defender just sitting there?

I hope Whitman is good. I hope UPS gets better. I hope LC doesn't fall off the map. And I hope all pf them can schedule good non-conference games and win those so that the NWC can get a second team into the tourney again.

My bad, I misread it!    Loofburrow is pretty consistant seeing as he doesn't really get a TON of minutes.  Usually comes in and whap whap, couple shots fall.  Good player, just needs to get to the foul line more. 

Nate Montegomery came out of nowhere!  A role player his first couple years and then he burst on the scene.  For this leagues sake of trying to catch WW, I hope there isn't a kid on the bench for them like him. 

With Whitmans mercurial fans, if they start off hot next year, Walla Walla will be unreal. The Eastern Swing will be brutal if both those teams over there continue to play at this level.

[89Pirate]

Bring on the Panthers!!!

[etule]

WW will not be adding another Michael Taylor! That kid had a fantastic year.  No way are they in position they are in without him in the lineup!
They would still be really good and win the league just a lot more difficult!

I hope they are not overlooking Chapman. I want them to go on a run! Coach will have them ready.

[bbaddict]

So, Playball, speaking of the Eastern Washington trip ---- isn't that the equivalent of Whitman playing UPS on one night and Willamette the next?  (Except, of course, it's freeways not state highways involved....we won't even discuss Whitworth since they fly everywhere.)   Why do the teams from Oregon have to make that weird road trip when it could just be two different trips?  Spokane & Walla Walla are NOT close by any measure.   I've even noticed that teams from Oregon don't always play UPS & PLU on the same weekend anymore and that one makes more sense.  And, Whitworth & Whitman sometimes come to Oregon for single games.   Do you understand the logic?

[nwhoops1903]

WW will not be adding another Michael Taylor! That kid had a fantastic year.  No way are they in position they are in without him in the lineup!
They would still be really good and win the league just a lot more difficult!

I hope they are not overlooking Chapman. I want them to go on a run! Coach will have them ready.

Do you think #1 in the nation is helping with the recruiting?  The next immediate impact player for WW might very well be currently a HS senior.  We know JH likes to find a frosh shooter (Riley, Young) and it is the arguably the easiest position to fill/recruit.

No way the y are overlooking Sat.  Chapman deserves respect.  They "took care of business" last night effectively.  2 above average players that can score/create.  Good role players.  Remind me of Ripon or Luther.

[dahlby]

In my experience, the one loss suffered during the year would have brought on a self reality check for the Pirates. They should be more focused than ever for the Chapman game. I think that can be referred to as "making lemonade from lemons", or something like that.

What a bummer though, if the Chapman women win tonight, they will be playing their final pod game at Chapman at the same time the men are taking on Whitworth in Spokane. I hope there is some way one can tape the men's contest, as I need to go to the women's game. Otherwise I will follow it closely, as I know the Pirate supports post continually during te game.

Good luck to both teams.

[playball]

So, Playball, speaking of the Eastern Washington trip ---- isn't that the equivalent of Whitman playing UPS on one night and Willamette the next?  (Except, of course, it's freeways not state highways involved....we won't even discuss Whitworth since they fly everywhere.)   Why do the teams from Oregon have to make that weird road trip when it could just be two different trips?  Spokane & Walla Walla are NOT close by any measure.   I've even noticed that teams from Oregon don't always play UPS & PLU on the same weekend anymore and that one makes more sense.  And, Whitworth & Whitman sometimes come to Oregon for single games.   Do you understand the logic?

Yeah, good point.  It is absolutely dumb with how scheduling is done.  We (Linfield) had to go on the Eastern Swing this year and then that next tuesday we played Lewis and Clark!  Doesn't make much sense.  I totally agree that UPS and PLU should be in the same weekend for all teams.  Financially I think that would make sense also. 

Maybe the schools should be bunched like this:

WW & Whitman
PLU & UPS

The "Valley" schools
All of these schools are close enough in proximity that it doesn't really matter.

Any suggestions or ideas?

[(509)Rat]

What a bummer though, if the Chapman women win tonight, they will be playing their final pod game at Chapman at the same time the men are taking on Whitworth in Spokane. I hope there is some way one can tape the men's contest, as I need to go to the women's game. Otherwise I will follow it closely, as I know the Pirate supports post continually during te game.

I know I've had colleagues run screen capture software during consults that had to be done via skype-like video conferencing. I've got some friends who are dorks so I'll see if there is some free software that will work to record the live stream. Maybe WC11 (our resident videographer) has some suggestions??

If not I'm sure folks will post updates on the boards. Of course, if you have a smartphone and a strong enough network signal (or wi fi) you can stream Bob Castle's broadcast. That way you could be at the women's game with some headphones in, listening to the best in the biz...technology is somethin'

[(509)Rat]

On another note, if you honestly don't believe that Hayford can bring in another Michael Taylor type player then you haven't been following Whitworth basketball over the last 6 years or so.

I'm not saying they will (no inside info here). Just remember how many times people have said the EXACT same thing as etule...we hear it from Logger fans every year