MBB: Northwest Conference

[A Buc Forever]

Keandre,

Also, don't forget that Lunt just out-coached the best coach in D3 basketball.

I agree that UPS is playing well enough to knock WW off if the Bucs don't bring their A game. However, the Bucs have brought their A game to the conference championship game every year since 2007 so I wouldn't bet against them.  On the other hand:

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU LACE'EM UP@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Keandre]

Buc, you are right! I almost forgot to add that and yes, "Anything can happen when you lace'em up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth holds on after UPS players go brain dead for about 30 seconds.

71-68

Now we just have to wait and see where they get shipped off to for the first two rounds

[A Buc Forever]

Logie's NWC resume:

3 Years
3 Conference Championships
3 NWC Tournament Conferences
43-5 League Record

Yes, the table was set when he came on board, but remarkable record so far.  With few exceptions, his best players have been Hayford's guys.  Next year is on him completely.  I think he'll be up to the task.

[wildcat11]

Congrats Rats on another NWC title.

[Keandre]

Rat, I did not get a chance to see the game, what happened in that 30 seconds UPS players went brain dead?

[(509)Rat]

They didn't foul. Let Whitworth run their only hope right off the clock before fouling. What's worse is that it was out of a timeout so Lunt either assumed they'd know what to do after a missed shot and didn't tell them or he did coach me up and they all decided not to. Wasn't like it would have won them the game necessarily but they had no chance at the end because of it. And I'm not even dinging them for the off-balance, del 3 pt shot they took when down by 1 on their last real possession.

Whitworth heads down to Texas to play a familiar opponent. They play Trinity (TX) in the first round, winner of that gets winner of Chapman v UT-Dallas.

[A Buc Forever]

Good road to the Sweet Sixteen for the Pirates--Top team they face is a #20.  After that it gets a little ridiculous.  UWSP and UWWW (#1 and #2 in the nation) stand between them and the final four.  The "West" and "Midwest" brackets are tough!!!  Teams 1,2,3,4,5 and 8 are on the left side of the bracket.  Which ever team makes it to the final game has run the gauntlet.

[Keandre]

Wait, best coach in D3, best player in league, most talented team in NWC did not get an at large berth? Why is that? Didn't they do enough to get in?

[Pinecone_Curtain]

I don't care what anyone else thinks, but to me two things will never get old on this board:
1) The infighting at Linfield, and 2) The "Bridgeland is the greatest coach ever!!!1!" meme.

On a separate note, Whitworth handled Trinity earlier this season, but the Tigers were without their second leading scorer (Lambert). I expect it to be a different game--though the Pirates have been a little more consistent offensively as of late.

[A Buc Forever]

I guess this blog won't have much action on it for awhile--except for any speculation about coaching jobs opening up? 

Will Bridgeland or Logie get hired somewhere else?
How patient is the administration at Willamette?
Any other changes expected?

[89Pirate]

Awesome to see Dustin McConnell nominated for the Jostens Trophy.  He is a GREAT kid, player and all around human being.  Hope it happens for him.

[Keandre]

Can we send Pincone some Karma points? Those two things will never get old with me either.
Does anyone have any idea how the leaguw will end up next year? If anyone right now, can pick the top 4 teams in league and be right this time next season, I will meet up with you and buy rounds of whatever you want (alcoholic or not) all night long!!!!!!!!!!

[(509)Rat]

If anyone right now, can pick the top 4 teams in league and be right this time next season, I will meet up with you and buy rounds of whatever you want (alcoholic or not) all night long!!!!!!!!!!

since you didn't specify it had to be in order....

Whitworth
Whitman
...I'll get back to you with the rest a little later

[playball]

I guess this blog won't have much action on it for awhile--except for any speculation about coaching jobs opening up? 

Will Bridgeland or Logie get hired somewhere else?
How patient is the administration at Willamette?
Any other changes expected?

Bridgeland isn't going anywhere.  After his stunt with Linfield this last offseason his budget at Whitman went bonkers.  If he does interview anywhere it is because he is greedy!  The other big winner in that linfield-bridgeland affair was the Whitman Women's basketball squad.  400k increase, good lord!!!!

Logie might go elsewhere but the winning has to addictive up in Spokane.  I personally don't see him going anywhere, anytime soon.  Yeah he has own, but arguably with Hayford's guys.  I think a bigger school may come knocking only after he can show he can recruit and win with his own guys.  I'm not trying to take anything away from Hayford's but I've heard a few places that his assistants ran most of the practices while he would recruit or fundraise.  That guy was an unreal fundraiser for WW.  Anyways, off topic.  Logie stays for a few more. 

Kip may be in trouble.  Unlike Logie, these were his own guys and they still struggled.  Great guy, but that alone won't keep you employed (See: Mark Sundquist, 2012-13 COY). However, his ties to the great Gordy may buy him some more time. 

Speaking of George Fox, is this the first time ever that 3 players from one team make it on first or second team all conference when their team fails to make playoffs?  Also, anyone know more about Sundquist's ouster?  I heard some things today that were kind of shocking but don't want to put anything out there until I see if anyone else has info. 

Good luck to WW in the tourney!

Will D3 ever get a tournament style like D1?  Financial decisions can't be his behind while the NCAA is raking in BUCKS!