MBB: Northwest Conference

[WoostAr]

Woost:

Sorry, I can't see that optimism.  See Bearcat comments below.  Following a bad season with a marginal recruiting class equals....See Bearcat comments below.  But losing to LaVene by only 6 is a more positive result.

You certainly could be right -- I've only seen these teams play once.  But I will say that while Pacific blew out Caltech the following night (which certainly favors your point of view), Willamette fared just as well against La Verne as Pacific did.  From what I saw in the two Caltech games, Pacific and Willamette playing a tight game seems plausible.

....only time will tell.

[A Buc Forever]

Wow--lots of key injuries in the league.  The losses at Linfield and Pacific are huge. Sorry to see that. I was hoping to see those programs be more competitive this year.

[formercat]

Batiuk needed the year off, had surgery on both feet in the spring.  It was smart to give those dogs ample time to heal because bad feet can become a real problem for big men.  Also, getting the best scorer in the NWC back next year will make for a great addition to hopefully another solid recruiting class.  Saw LC blow out Portland Bible, sorry WWWildcat PB cannot pass or dribble. Linfield hung tough against Old Westbury a team that was way longer and more athletic then them and did surprisingly well on the boards given those disadvantages.

[OxyBob]

I hate to be the pessimist here, but barring the arrival of some outstanding freshmen or transfers, the Bearcats could be shockingly bad next year. 

Caltech 58, Willamette 55.

Before Willamette fans start throwing in the towel on the season, Caltech has an insanely good freshman class and are a much better team than they have ever been.  Give it a few games before calling the season a failure 

Take it from me, if your team loses to Caltech then your team is shockingly bad. You can never wash off that stink.

OxyBob

[TryMeTeam]

Oxy:

Where did you get all the positive Karma?  I can see the minus Karma, though!       Harsh!

Former:

Do you have a take on the new coach?

[WoostAr]

Oxy:

Where did you get all the positive Karma?  I can see the minus Karma, though!       Harsh!

Don't mind him, he's just upset that this happened to his team.  http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=6170690


Time will tell with Willamette...I'm not saying they're going to set the world on fire...I think they are on par (or not all that far behind) Pacific.

[OxyBob]

Harsh!

Wait until I get started on Chapman.

Gets old with WoostAr continually describing Caltech as if the Beavers are some kind of juggernaut.

Fact: Willamette lost to Caltech. Therefore, the Bearcats are really bad. On the other hand, nowhere to go but up.

OxyBob

[Gray Fox]

Oxy:

Where did you get all the positive Karma?  I can see the minus Karma, though!       Harsh!

You should see Bob on a bad day.  If you get a chance to hear him as a color man on Oxy games, he is excellent.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Harsh!

Wait until I get started on Chapman.

Gets old with WoostAr continually describing Caltech as if the Beavers are some kind of juggernaut.

Fact: Willamette lost to Caltech. Therefore, the Bearcats are really bad. On the other hand, nowhere to go but up.

OxyBob

TryMeTeam,

You've got to get used to OB.  He is kind of like a wart you get used to.  He still does not admit that Chapman is a member of the SCIAC (even though all the other schools accepted Chapman).  It's kind of tough, but if you go past his faults, he's kind of a witty guy.  (But if Caltech goes 15-10 [they won't ] he would still rag on them.)  He sometimes has trouble with current reality.

[Gray Fox]

Ypsi,
I actually attended a Caltech game with him, and it wasn't against Oxy.  He knows everyone in the stands and many of the coaches.  I think he wants to meet all posters (except Snoop Dawg).

[A Buc Forever]

Browsing through the scores this season and I am not sure what to make of it yet.  I like Whitworth's start by beating the alumni and Trinity, but Trinity dropped one to PLU and then beat UPS--not sure if that Trinity is quite the same team they were last year.  PLU also beat Schreiner (no clue what they are like). LC has some good wins (Old Westbury looks like a great win).  Whitman and Linfield lost to Old Westbury.   Could this be the year PLU an LC start challenging for the top? My guess so far is that WW is still going to win it all. LC  may be second. PLU and Whitman round out the playoff teams.  Lots of distance between these 4 and the rest of the league. Linfield vs UPS race to the bottom.

I know it's early, but gotta get something going here. 

[playball]

Buc, I'm starting to think you have a vendetta against Linfield.

Here is my prediction that I like to make ridiculously early so when my picks are WAY off I can point to when I picked them, or on the flip side say "WOW, look what I knew way back THEN!"

1)WW
2)Everyone else.

Just kidding.

1) WW
2)L&C (Worst place to play in the history of basketball, almost makes you think that watching a game up there is a form of punishment for their students.)
3)Whitman (Bridgeland scares the officials into giving him calls)
4)Linfield (Tough and Griity=? I hope so.  I have them here because they are my Alma Mater)
5)PLU
6)George Fox (People figure out what they are doing and they fall off in the 2nd half)
7)UPS
8)Pacific (Injuries)
9)Willamette (Cal-tech...REALL?!?!?!     


On a side note, Im looking forward to listening to the UPS game Vs. Linfield just to possibly hear "Shark to Bates, the crowd goes wild"  I don't know, makes me laugh playing it out in my head

[TryMeTeam]

Playball:

I like your first prediction best!

I wonder, for a guy that has quite often said, LC has no inside game, they just shoot the 3, I am surprised you didn't lower their ranking for this factor.

I saw them against Old Westbury, and they didn't go inside almost at all.  Is the lack of a big man in the league your reason?

I hope they continue to do well, but the old saying, Live by the 3..... comes to mind again.

[(509)Rat]

Home opener in Spokane tonight, you guys!

Don't know much about Old Westbury. They seem like a strong program that returned some talent, but they also lost to L&C. Whitworth has been led by two newcomers in the box score which could be problematic...if they didn't have such a solid core of veterans.

The fieldhouse is going to be rockin tonight. Hope any of the Old Westbury fans (parents) who make the trip have a great experience. Just not great enough that they come away with a W 

[playball]

Playball:

I like your first prediction best!

I wonder, for a guy that has quite often said, LC has no inside game, they just shoot the 3, I am surprised you didn't lower their ranking for this factor.

I saw them against Old Westbury, and they didn't go inside almost at all.  Is the lack of a big man in the league your reason?

I hope they continue to do well, but the old saying, Live by the 3..... comes to mind again.

Very true, but that was also when bigs were a little easier to find in the conference.  The way the conference seems to be now is very very guard oriented making it easier for lc to get away with such a small lineup.  Yeah, some teams have players over 6'8" but show me a team that has one consistently able to score or block shots.  Or even yet if he is skilled, show me a team that will utilize him efficiently and effectively.  Good passing guards coupled with a big man and you have a nice little team.  In my recent memory, I can think of only WW who had that kind of mix.  LC will be the best of the littles.  Still garbage in my book, but it is what it is.  Plus lc has that home court advantage since pamplin just sucks the life right out of you.  Dark campus, no fans, cold dimly lit gym and voila! Asleep.