MBB: Northwest Conference

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth moves up to #8 in the new d3hoops rankings

UPS checks in at #22

[LCpio26]

Hollins Knocks Down Game-High 19 Points in Men's Basketball 76-64 Loss To Portland

http://lcpioneers.com/sports/mbkb/2011-12/releases/20111130t8lw0f

[etule]

Very impressive game for L&C! It is going to be a great year in the NWC!

[playball]

Playball... you have to also remember that its been a while since you have seen hollins play. He and the team have grown tremendously. Seeing a couple of LC games this year I can say that Hollins is not what you make him out to be. I dont see the logic behind a great player coming back and the team getting worse. Hollins is a great player that likes to score but also grabs tons of rebounds for the team. LC is an aggressive team that likes to shoot. If he is so detrimental for the team I don't see why he has played so much and has been top in almost every team statistical category.

Almost every statistical category as in Shooting percentage? 32.8% out of a starting guard isn't good.  Granted the team shoots only 36%.  Looking at some of the other stats, he IS towards the top of the lists for his team.  BUT, again, LC team stats are AWFUL!  Shooting less the 30% from 3 AS A TEAM?!  I know it is their style but you would think PJ would've rallied the troops to get in the gym this last summer!  If you expect this team NOT to be overlooked, they need to start playing better. I know you are probably going to say that not all things basketball show up in the stats.  I say to that is that overall team stats show a good picture.  Nice article by the way on their game against UP, Hollins with 19.  He might get his points but this team won't be as successful as you think.  And a "great player" Hollins is not. 

And thanks Rat, I appreciate it.  If I could give +K I would. 

[(509)Rat]

And thanks Rat, I appreciate it.  If I could give +K I would. 

start posting more...problem solved 

[(509)Rat]

GF beat Whitman 58-47
Whitworth beats LC 77-69

I don't think we'll see Logie go as deep into the bench in many of these conference games. Offense struggled when Gebbers, Freidt, Lasisi, weren't on the floor. Although I thought McConnell and McCargar played great defensively in relief (actually they took care of the ball offensively too, didn't make mistakes). The bench preventing big LC runs was the key tonight. Freidt led all scorers with 23 points (10 rebounds). Larkin needs to stop shooting the basketball...1-6 from 3. I'd rather see anyone in that starting spot but that's why I'm not a coach. Logie must see something.

LC took some bad shots, were very streaky on the offensive end. But they've usually got 4 guys on the court that can shoot and their guards are very good at getting to the hoop. They have a lot of talent, and after the GF v Whitman game tonight I'd say LC should be able to finish 3rd (not 4th) in the conference. Wells was their best player tonight IMO. Hollins' stats ended up looking good but he took some bad shots and killed some LC runs all by himself, either with a TO, bad shot, dumb foul, etc. Don't know if LC has enough of an inside presence to knock of Whitworth or UPS (if their big guy can ever stay out of foul trouble).

[(509)Rat]

Side note - Whitworth (I believe) is now 71-3 at home over the last 6 years, and winners of 40 straight in the Fieldhouse

[(509)Rat]

Other scores

UPS 68 - Pacific 61
PLU 82 - Willamette 81 (Malley fouled with 1 second left while the game was tied? PLU hits game-winning FT...)

Standings

Whitworth          1-0
UPS                  1-0
George Fox        1-0
PLU                  1-0
Pacific              1-1
L&C                  0-1
Whitman           0-1
Willamette         0-1
Linfield              0-1

[Pinecone_Curtain]

Rat--

Agree with your thoughts from the LC/WW game. LC guards looked like they could get to the rim at will, Larkin took too many 3s for WW (but he is tall-ish athletic and can play D, which is why he starts over McConnell or another PG IMO) and Hollins played okay, but he made some really dumb mistakes (that tech on the in-bounds come to mind right away). Pirates looked best when they got the ball in to Friedt and let him either take the ball to the hoop or wait for the double-team and kick it out. He should be touching the ball most possessions. I love Gebbers--that guy is so tough and has been shooting lights out the last few games at the Fieldhouse. A few things I am interested in seeing re: Whitworth: 1) See if Logie keeps rotating this many guys throughout the season (esp. against the other favorites in the NWC: WM, UPS and when they go on the road to LC); 2) See if Friedt can take the ball to the rim a little tougher because he shoots a bunch from his shoulder; and 3) See if Lasisi can improve his outside shot, because he is really tough to stop going to the rim--might be the most athletic guy WW has had in recent memory (since maybe Williams or even as far back as Wickers?). He hit a couple threes tonight, but missed a few open threes pretty badly.

Anybody see the Fox/WM game tonight? What happened? I wasn't expecting much from Fox this year, but that's a great road win for them.

[playball]

Random thoughts
Gittens going for 16 and 9 in 20 minutes? Impressive for UPS! 

19 offensive rebounds for Whitman...AND they LOSE?!  And Shaw still not starting.  Is he hurt?  Wonder if his freshmen year was almost flukey?  Low scoring, is Bridge going away from his uptempo helter skelter style of press?

Willamette and PLU looks like they had a very uptempo game and Meehan with 4 blocks, good for him!  Nice to see Sean Dart's name in the box score after that injury from last year.   

So with the GF upset of Whitman, Willamette barely losing to PLU, UPS beating a surprising Pacific, and Whitworth taking down LC at home, what is everyones predictions for tonights (saturdays) games?

UPS at Will  ---> UPS has the bigs to control the paint and with Dart just now getting into the games with only limited minutes, I see UPS taking this one by 10.

Fox at WW  ---> Whitworth at home, 71-3 over the last 6 years. Make that 72-3 since they are just too talented to lose in front of their crowd and refs.  WW by 13

PLU at Linf  ---> Im torn on this one.  If Batuik plays decent minutes and gets 10 shots I think that Linfield may have a pretty good chance at this one.  Its going to come down to guard play however and I think Linfields length will overwhelm the smaller 6' and under league Lutes.  Linfield by 5.

LC at Whitman  ---> If LC tries to run with Whitman, Im going to take Whitman.  LC is going to have to take care of the ball and not take dumb shots (pio26 see above post ) If they are able to do this and keep the score down in the 50's, LC wins.  Ill take Whitman by 8 though since I dont see them going 0-2 at home to start the conference season.

[A Buc Forever]

Fox at WW  ---> Whitworth at home, 71-3 over the last 6 years. Make that 72-3 since they are just too talented to lose in front of their crowd and refs.  WW by 13

Playball,

Now that you are a former player, there are certain boundaries you cannot cross. No one that played for a Willamette Valley team has the right to complain about Spokane refs. Seriously!!!   That's like Bernie Madoff complaining that someone in the prison poker game conned him out of some money.

[(509)Rat]

Larkin took too many 3s for WW (but he is tall-ish athletic and can play D, which is why he starts over McConnell or another PG IMO)...

Yeah, yeah I know. I just wish there was someone else...although against LC last night, I thought the McConnell, Gebbers, Lasisi backcourt was plenty big. Now against UPS maybe you need a bigger body to match up with big g/f like Shelton...

Since playball started it, prediction time!

UPS on the road
WW in a game that's closer than most thought it would be (and by that I mean Pirates by only 19)
PLU...not torn at all on this one
Whitman -> disclaimer: I think LC is better than Whitman, and I think they SHOULD beat LC. But that's the thing about the Pio's, just when you think they're gonna zig, they zag. LC with an 0-2 hole they'll have to dig themselves out of 

[playball]

Playball,

Now that you are a former player, there are certain boundaries you cannot cross. No one that played for a Willamette Valley team has the right to complain about Spokane refs. Seriously!!!   That's like Bernie Madoff complaining that someone in the prison poker game conned him out of some money.

Buc,

Being an actual former player I see how and actually feel the results of home cooking at different gyms and parts of the states.  While Whitworth has been a powerhouse in the conference as of late, the Eastern Washington refs are something else!  Also bad at Whitman.  Refs can easily be influenced by the crowd, and lets be honest, you guys have the best crowd in the NW. 

Ps. How is David doing?  Playing anywhere?

[A Buc Forever]

Playball,

Now that you are a former player, there are certain boundaries you cannot cross. No one that played for a Willamette Valley team has the right to complain about Spokane refs. Seriously!!!   That's like Bernie Madoff complaining that someone in the prison poker game conned him out of some money.

Buc,

Being an actual former player I see how and actually feel the results of home cooking at different gyms and parts of the states.  While Whitworth has been a powerhouse in the conference as of late, the Eastern Washington refs are something else!  Also bad at Whitman.  Refs can easily be influenced by the crowd, and lets be honest, you guys have the best crowd in the NW. 

Ps. How is David doing?  Playing anywhere?

From what I'm reading people are downplaying GF's win as Whitman not being as good as expected. Could it be that GF is better this year?  Seems like a great win for them.  Has anyone seen them play? Seems like they are just on the edge of being competitive for the playoffs most years.  Maybe this is their year?

Larkin can shoot well enough to keep people honest, but he's not not shooting with confidence. He looks like he's thinking too much. I'm sure if gets half a season under his belt as a starter he'll be good enough to give Felix some space.

David is a grad assistant with Hayford at Eastern Washington.  They are doing well.  First winning record since 2004.  He's working his butt off.  Proves my point that I went into medicine rather than coaching so I wouldn't have to work so hard.

[(509)Rat]

Proves my point that I went into medicine rather than coaching so I wouldn't have to work so hard.

Really? I went into medicine to get screwed by the government...