MBB: Northwest Conference

(509)Rat · December 10, 2011, 10:03:53 PM

Anyone who has nothing better to do can watch the Whitworth v Montana Tech game tonight

Gameday media

I know nothing about M Tech...should be an interesting game. Whitworth by 14

Bearcat Press · December 11, 2011, 12:25:45 AM

Nice victory for the Bearcats tonight down in Eugene, coming from behind against Northwest Christian to steal a 64-63 win. Ryan Meehan was fouled with two seconds left and nailed both free throws to win it - maybe a little bit of karma after PLU's overtime win in Salem last week.

nwhoops1903 · December 11, 2011, 12:29:39 AM

Quote from: (509)Rat on December 10, 2011, 10:03:53 PM
Anyone who has nothing better to do can watch the Whitworth v Montana Tech game tonight

Gameday media

I know nothing about M Tech...should be an interesting game. Whitworth by 14

Whitworth loses at HOME (streak snapped at 40) to Montana Tech (NAIA) by 10, 83-73. Had a 2nd half lead and went cold for 5 minutes. A 14-0 run put the Pirates down 9 with 6 minutes to play. Had it within 4 under a minute but MT hit free throws.

Withworth gets 8 free throws at home....WHAT?! Loses the FT battle by 14 points with MT getting 21 makes vs Pirate 7.

etule · December 12, 2011, 05:52:24 PM

The first time in a long time that we see a chink in the armour at Whitworth! Lost to a team that Willamite beat earlier! That is very interesting!

Now they know they can lose at home! Going to be interesting! I'm a little shocked!

Bearcat Press · December 13, 2011, 02:37:49 AM

Quote from: etule on December 12, 2011, 05:52:24 PM
The first time in a long time that we see a chink in the armour at Whitworth! Lost to a team that Willamite beat earlier!

Not quite. Montana Tech beat Willamette 79-74 in Salem back on November 25.

(509)Rat · December 13, 2011, 11:24:16 AM

Montana Tech did a good job of collapsing on Freidt without getting in foul trouble. And then managed to hit all of their open shots and most of the shots they took with a hand in their face(s). Nobody in the NWC has been able to do that for 2 halves against Whitworth over the past 2 years.

Whitworth got a little too reliant on the 3 once they got down. It worked in the first half, they were able to shoot themselves right back into the game, but in the second half (without Freidt due to foul trouble) they seemed to be content just launching from the outside. Without an inside presence, Tech was able to defend the perimeter better IMO forcing some bad shots. Loofburrow needed to do a better job of working inside out, at least forcing Tech to respect someone down in the post. Sometimes it seems like he forgets he's 6'7" playing DIII basketball. He might not be great in the post but he could have definitely taken some higher % shots inside the arc and at the very least opened up the outside for some of his teammates.

Defensively they looked soft/slow. I'd bet Logie gets on em this week in practice. The refs had them handcuffed for most of the game, but you gotta figure out a way to defend regardless. I haven't seen UPS play in awhile but the old teams, with their aggressive man defense, would have seen all 5 starters foul out with as many blocks, handchecks, etc. that were called (which we normally don't see in NWC games). The number of fouls called between the two teams wasn't a huge disparity, but it seemed that every foul called on Whitworth either led to a turnover or Tech FTs. They were all momentum killing/game changing fouls.

I hate the whole "losing is good for a team" line because it implies that you should want to lose a game or two each season. Nobody wants to lose games. But there is some truth to "learning" from your mistakes when you do lose. At the very least Logie learned how his team reacted to being down and having to play without guys due to foul trouble. He and his team will be better equipped to handle it in the future. I wouldn't be any more or less confident if I were an NWC team. Whitworth is still more talented than every other team in the league and if this game shows you anything, it's that shooting 70% isn't enough to pull away from Whitworth. The Pirates still took a 3 point lead into halftime.

Whitewater will be the next big challenge. Time to get onto the WIAC board and learn a little about the Warhawks. Then its on to Calvin who looks to have struggled this year but will undoubtedly be talented and well coached.

etule · December 13, 2011, 01:58:56 PM

Mis-read schedule on Montana Tec - Bearcat game. My bad but it was close!

A Buc Forever · December 13, 2011, 05:05:37 PM

The Whitworth/Montana Tech game was frustrating for a Whitworth fan. Rat is correct that Loofburrow needs to go inside, as does Lasisi. The two of them took 20 3's between them. Both of them physically overmatch anyone they will play against. They need to go inside, draw fouls and kick out. This team has more inside presence than last year's team and is not as skilled at the perimeter and yet they are shooting more 3's. Not the kind of basketball that is going to win for you. That said, the two offensive calls on Felix might have made them shy about going inside. I don't know.

What I always liked about Whitworth the last 8 years is that they had great outside shooters, but they worked the ball inside and got the 3 off within the rhythm of the offense. This year it doesn't look like they are working hard to get to the paint and they are firing the 3 too quickly.

Defensively, the man to man could not contain the penetration well. The zone worked well at the end of the second half, but they never went back to it. However, they have good enough defenders that they shouldn't have to use a zone.

etule · December 13, 2011, 05:45:03 PM

Seems like the Ref's are focusing on charging fouls this year. I've seen more charges calls this year then all of last year or maybe it just seems like it!
The UPS- Whitworth game should be very good! Looking forward to it!
Looks like Claremont in the Sciac is tough this year. That would also be a great match up!

(509)Rat · December 13, 2011, 09:45:20 PM

Quote from: etule on December 13, 2011, 05:45:03 PM
Seems like the Ref's are focusing on charging fouls this year. I've seen more charges calls this year then all of last year or maybe it just seems like it!

That's interesting. You'd think it would be the other way with the new rules in place for this year. I would think you would see less now that you have that restricted arc area under the hoop...but how many DIII schools have it painted on? I know Whitworth doesn't so I guess it'd be tough on officials to determine where the arc is when you make the line imaginary.

etule · December 14, 2011, 02:43:26 PM

UPS doesn't ! Every year they pick something and focus on those type of calls! Check it out in the next game you watch!

TryMeTeam · December 15, 2011, 11:59:30 AM

The ref's start the season making calls to the new focus, but by the middle to end of the season, its back to the same-old same-old. Seems to happen every year.

There may be more balance this year from top to middle than in recent history. Whitworth shows signs of non-dominance although they are still my favorite. Whitman loses to GF, and has a prayer answered to beat LC (could/should be 0-2). LC goes into Spokane and doesn't get blown out. PU battles UPS all of the way but loses by only 6 (down 2 with :13 to go). UPS undefeated and PLU in first at 2-0. That's 7 of the 9 who could win on any given night.

Only Linf and Will appear to be out of the running at this point (both 2-7).

Sounds like the recipe for a great season!

etule · December 15, 2011, 01:28:51 PM

I agree! I think the NWC is the most balanced that I have seen in a long time. I would add Williamette to the mix . I think they will win some games! It is going to be fun to watch! It is also nice to see two teams in the top 25 from NWC!

Bearcat Press · December 16, 2011, 02:03:31 PM

Quote from: (509)Rat on December 13, 2011, 11:24:16 AM
Whitewater will be the next big challenge. Time to get onto the WIAC board and learn a little about the Warhawks. Then its on to Calvin who looks to have struggled this year but will undoubtedly be talented and well coached.

I watched the online stream of Calvin vs. Willamette at Calvin. The Knights are decent but really vulnerable down low. If the Bearcats - who may be the worst three point shooting team I've ever seen - hadn't jacked up 28 threes in that game, they probably would have won.

(509)Rat · December 16, 2011, 04:05:41 PM

Thanks BP. As with most games, Freidt staying out of foul trouble will be big then. Even though it's over on the west side (Mercer Island), I think the travel will obviously be tougher on Calvin than it will be on the Pirates.

WW nearly knocked off UWSP. That game still looks like the toughest left for the Pirates. Then probably @UPS and @LC. I still don't have a lot of faith in LC, but they are undoubtedly talented and have a lot of time between now and when they play Whitworth to improve.