MBB: Northwest Conference

[playball]

Walla Walla, keep drinking the kool-aid.  Obviously you haven't been around campus or know how things work there anymore.

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth takes on Carleton College today. Carleton will be another good non-conference matchup. They opened the season with a loss to Wartburg but made it to the conference championship game in a MIAC conference that's been tough with a former national champion in St. Thomas. Looks like Carleton isn't expected to repeat last year's run, but it's always good to get some in-region competition when you're way out west.

Hopefully Whitworth learned that they can't be content forcing up 3 pointers. Farnsworth needs to play like a center (maybe he isn't capable of that?) and Valle needs to get to the post when he has a smaller guard on him. If they can get back to finding higher % shot opportunities, I think they'll be fine. But the fact that Farnsworth is still getting the minutes he is, with as bad as he's played is kinda scary. Either Logie is convinced he's just had some off games, or the guys behind him are even worse 

The rematch with Colorado College should be a good one. Don't know if the Tigers will make many adjustments right out of the gate since everything they did in Spokane was effective, but Whitworth should look different. This one will come down to Logie's ability to win the X's and O's, coaching battle IMO.

[playball]

Rat,
Early in the season still and trying to get his confidence up by playing him?  Or do you think Logie is giving him enough rope to hang himself?  Either way, I've read a lot of posts about Farnsworth on here that suggest he is a good enough player to be effective.  With Valle being a big body guard, I hope he watches Marcus Smart from Oklahoma State.  Uses his body really well and big body guards seem to be fairly successful in the NWC

[(509)Rat]

Rat,
Early in the season still and trying to get his confidence up by playing him?  Or do you think Logie is giving him enough rope to hang himself?  Either way, I've read a lot of posts about Farnsworth on here that suggest he is a good enough player to be effective.  With Valle being a big body guard, I hope he watches Marcus Smart from Oklahoma State.  Uses his body really well and big body guards seem to be fairly successful in the NWC

Good question, not sure if I know the answer. Farnsworth "should" be good. He is large and incredibly athletic. Apparently he just isn't very skilled. Part of his problem is that he's gotten in to foul trouble in every game this year. 12 personal fouls through 3 games. Logie would probably like to play Farnsworth more. Wilks has actually averaged more min/gm but Wilks just isn't that big (although he's very efficient when he does get looks at the basket).

Until Whitworth has a better big guy, though, expect the offense to continue to go through the guards. They are a very talented group so it's really not a bad thing. You just get into trouble when you're shooting less than 30% from 3 and can't get easy buckets in the paint (ie Colorado College)

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth beat Carleton 70-61

Pirates continue to struggle from outside, shooting around 23% from 3

But it's a win against an in-region (I believe) opponent on a neutral court so we'll take it

[John Gleich]

Whitworth beat Carleton 70-61

Pirates continue to struggle from outside, shooting around 23% from 3

But it's a win against an in-region (I believe) opponent on a neutral court so we'll take it

Yep, the MIAC is in the West.

But, new this year, as long as 70% (I think) of your games are in-region, then all D-III games "count."

[formercat]

If Coach Rutschman has/had an issue with a person it was most likely highly deserved.  I do not know of many alumni of Linfield, both students and football players, who after having dealings with Coach have nothing but respect and admiration for him. 

I took Rutschman's class they still let him teach at Linfield, wanted to kill myself out of shear boredom.  Nobody has used that teaching style since 1943 and there is a reason for that.  There is one man that has led the charge to keep Doty out of the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments on the field as a football player, many records he holds or did hold, and that is Ad Rutschman.  Classy?

[Andy Jamison - Walla Walla Wildcat]

I'm not sure what Kool-Aid I'm supposed to keep drinking but the fact is after 26 seasons the prior coaches record was 330-347 with a NWC record of 190-194.  There were more last place finishes then first (3 to 2).  14 overall winning seasons.  During those 14 winning seasons the overall win/loss ratio was 60/40.  During his 12 losing seasons the ratio was 35/65. A NWC record 46-82 record since 2005-6.

Only twice did he win more than 65% of his games in a season.  The numbers simply don't lie about his effectiveness as a coach. 

In the 3 major men's sports, Football, Basketball, and Baseball, we measure our on court success by first Conference championships (more or less expected) and second by National Titles.  He was fortunate to have such a long run with such poor results.

[Andy Jamison - Walla Walla Wildcat]

Again, if Coach Rutschman is the one guy keeping Doty out of the Linfield Hall of Fame then it must be for one heckuva reason.  Keep in mind that Doty was a guy who kept notes from every conversation he had with administration.  For him not to be able to use that leverage (dirty laundry) from over 26 years in the Athletic Facility to get elected into the HOF has to mean that whatever is keeping him out is substantial.  If he has to wait until Coach Rutschman passes away to be elected into the HOF then so be it. 

It is too bad that your experiences with Coach have come at a time when he is perhaps not the man he once was. Given that he is at least 80 he gets a hall pass from me.  I've had experiences with both men in their primes and their is simply no comparison between the two in terms of class, attitude, character, and impact on men.  The Oregon Small College athlete of the year is named after him for a reason.

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth got swept by Colorado College on the season. I think the Tigers will prove to be a good team but something is up with the Pirates. I didn't get to watch this one so I don't really know what went wrong other than another poor shooting night from everywhere. Don't know how much was poor shooting and how much was CC defense altering shots? I'm sure plenty of both.

Whitworth may be able to go inside a little easier on maybe half the league, but the better teams are going to give the Pirates a few losses if they keep shooting 32% from the field like they did Sunday.

Maybe a CC poster (if there are any) can provide some commentary on the game

[A Buc Forever]

I agree with Rat.   Unless Colorado College is a lot better than I expect, I'm  a little concerned about WW.   Seems like their talent level is good, but something isn't right--no Gebbers on the team might be the problem.  Hopefully, they'll get it together before league.

[formercat]

Again, if Coach Rutschman is the one guy keeping Doty out of the Linfield Hall of Fame then it must be for one heckuva reason.

I can answer that one for you.  Doty voted for a female swimming coach and instructor for tenure.  This swimming coach had brought a Title IX lawsuit against the school, which she ended up winning, and Rutschman tried to have her fired.  Rutschman got pissed enough to try and leverage Doty to be fired with the administration.  He submitted a letter of resignation from his AD position on the grounds that he would resign if the administration did not fire Doty.  The administration did not fire Doty and so the accepted Rutschman's resignation.  Rutshcman later tried to take back the resignation, but the school would not allow it and thats where it started.  Those that love Rutschman blame Doty for his ouster from the AD position.   Do not forget, Doty played for Rutschman for 4 years and Rutschman hired Doty to be the basketball coach, so I guess he did not always think he was a bad guy.  And for leverage that Doty has, I hear there could be a tell all book....

The Oregon Small College athlete of the year is named after him for a reason.

Yes, and the Kentucky basketball arena is named after a racist.  Now clearly Rutschamn is not a racist, but the point is just because your name is on something doesn't mean you are the most benevolent person.

[formercat]

I agree with Rat.   Unless Colorado College is a lot better than I expect, I'm  a little concerned about WW.   Seems like their talent level is good, but something isn't right--no Gebbers on the team might be the problem.  Hopefully, they'll get it together before league.

Look like perhaps WW doesn't have the inside game they have had in the past.  The 6'6 kid for Colorado College had two good games against WW and Farnsworth only managed a total of 7 points.

[Andy Jamison - Walla Walla Wildcat]

Thanks for the background as all of that happened after I left Linfield. I have always thought that the entire She Who will not be named debacle was a sad end to a great career for Coach...

I do take offense to your associating Coach with a racist... that is a cheap shot..

[Gregory Sager]

Speaking as a neutral third party, I will defend formercat here. He did not "associate" Ad Rutschman with Adolph Rupp. He simply made an analogy, and a pretty apt one, to illustrate his point that naming something prestigious after someone does not automatically mean that the person in question had no character flaws. Another good example would've been former college football coach John Heisman. The most highly-prized player award in college football is named after John Heisman, yet he set the benchmark for poor sportsmanship in college sports by once coaching his Georgia Tech team to a 222-0 victory over Cumberland College.