MBB: Northwest Conference

playball · December 09, 2014, 05:26:15 AM

Not to hate on Batuik, but his lateral speed was never his greatest attribute.

We don't have three point shooters? Are we watching the same game? Cali and Potter are hitting over 40% with a solid sample size. I do agree though that we are having a tough time finding the net, so that's why I'm so perplexed on why one of the best scorers in the conference is getting splinters. 8 minutes a game on average? Unreal!

TryMeTeam · December 12, 2014, 12:56:53 PM

Playball:

The Portland Bible loss can't look so bad now that they have also taken down UPS and GF at GF!

playball · December 13, 2014, 04:43:16 PM

It's still Portland Bible!!!

D O.C. · December 16, 2014, 10:47:40 PM

Mssrs.Sager and Ypsi, thank-you for giving me something to read other than Whitworth stuff now that football is over and I wander over here.

(509)Rat · December 23, 2014, 02:21:24 PM

Whitworth has been playing much better basketball as of late, even if the teams they've played aren't great. Trinity was most surprising to me. That's a program that has absolutely fallen off a cliff this year. They gave Wash U and Wheaton close games (2 and 5 pt losses), but they clearly aren't 2011-2014 Trinity.

Whitworth won't go 19-31 from the 3pt line again, like they did against Wells, but it was reassuring to see that this team has more than a couple guys who can shoot. Jurlina and Staudacher are both shooting better than 50% from 3 with 48 and 26 attempts respectively. Isaak has also come off the bench and taken 28, making 39% of em. Farnsworth doesn't score in the post as consistently as some of the previous centers, meaning Whitworth will have to make shots from the outside to beat their bigger/better opponents.

Excited for conference play. I have no idea what will happen in that first Whit game. I wouldn't be shocked if either team won. Would only surprise me if it was lopsided. I don't think UPS will finish ahead of either Whit in conference play this year. Their non-conference results haven't been impressive at all. Then again, nobody in the NWC played fantastic basketball up till this point.

blackhawks4 · December 29, 2014, 02:14:24 PM

So apparently the pollsters deserve a little more credit than I was giving them...as does Chapman. Sounds like they've got a pretty strong squad this year.

Conference play right around the corner, and WMN starts @ LC, WU, & WW, all on the road, 3 games in 5 days. If WMN gets all three of these, they've sent a huge message to the rest of the NWC. 2 out of 3 is strong, and I can't see them only getting 1 out of 3, but i just don't know what to expect from LC.

No at large bids going to the NWC this year, so the conference play is just about positioning for home court advantage during the playoffs.

blackhawks4 · January 03, 2015, 01:32:08 AM

Well, when two teams square off, one team has to win, right? Geesh. LC/WMN was UGLY.

Lewis & Clark turned the ball over 30...yes, thirty times. They also shot a blistering 63% from the free throw line. Not to be outdone, WMN shot 35% from the floor and had 5 assists...yes, five assists...all game--namely because they played one-on-five on offense every possession. At the end of the day, the W (on the road @ LC) is all that matters, but WMN has to be better on Tuesday in Spokane.

I'm curios to see WW @ LC tomorrow, and any feedback as to why WW/WU was only a 10 pt game??

Pinecone_Curtain · January 03, 2015, 03:01:09 AM

Quote from: blackhawks4 on January 03, 2015, 01:32:08 AM
I'm curios to see WW @ LC tomorrow, and any feedback as to why WW/WU was only a 10 pt game??

It was less than 10, but a combination of two things: poor shooting (33% as a team) and 24 turnovers

. Willamette hit a bunch of 3's to stay in the game. Blackhawk--you said Whitman needs to play better in Spokane to beat Whitworth, well Whitworth has to play better in Spokane to beat Whitman. Sounds like neither team played well tonight, but both gutted out a W. Hopefully the E. Wash. teams play better tomorrow.

(509)Rat · January 03, 2015, 10:13:04 AM

Yup, turnovers and poor shooting. "Cold" isn't a strong enough word to describe Whitworth's shooting efforts last night. As long as one of those two things changes for the better tonight Whitworth should win. Whitman's system/style will make their game with Willamette an ugly one for the Bearcats. The pace and the pressure tends to expose teams with inferior talent. Whitman should step on the gas early and not let off for 40 min. Could very easily be a 20-30 point game tonight in Salem.

The first whit game in Spokane should be fun. Hopefully both teams play better basketball in that one for the fans' sake.

blackhawks4 · January 03, 2015, 10:18:01 PM

I know these are private schools in the pnw, and we're probably too busy teaching these kids about recycling, peaceful protest, and nature, but can we please take 5 minutes to get it together with the video broadcasts?

Lewis & Clark: You nail the rap music during the breaks (thank god), but forget to plug the mic in for the sportscaster until there's 5 minutes left in the game--so the whole game there's no sound.

Willamette: Your entire video broadcast is flashing to black...all...the...time.

Listen I'm no media expert, but allow me to offer a few tips:
1. Broadcasters: Before the game, practice saying each players name. Make sure you can properly pronounce it. This seems like Sportscasting 101, no?
2. Camera Crew: Let's make sure that we follow the action...(this part is important)...WITH the camera.
3. Media Crew: Maybe we double check that everything is plugged in and working properly?

Sweet jesus.

Whitman does NOT look good again, shooting 35% from the floor--doesn't seem like they're getting quality possessions. Willamette is terrible...just terrible. I have no better word to describe. It's embarrassing that the score is only 40-27 at half. Looks like everyone else is in the conference is taking care of business.

Editing this post: It's a 6 point lead and this is unbearable to watch. I've now turned the game off and will just have to check the score later.

(509)Rat · January 03, 2015, 11:22:30 PM

Whitworth handled L&C, 62-47. Up by 20 at the half and survived the Pios comeback attempt. Like I said, if either the shooting or the TO improved from last night they should win. They really don't have to play a great game to beat most of the NWC. 8 turnovers tonight. Still only shot 33% from 3 and low 40's% from the field. They got outrebounded but when your opponent misses so many shots that is usually inevitable. The Pios shot 6% from 3....

Tuesday should be fun. Whitworth certainly would be the favorite if Vegas put odds on division 3 basketball games. The question for both Whits is really, which team shows up? They've both had Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde moments so far this season.

Keandre · January 05, 2015, 03:22:20 PM

UPS looked very good on both ends of the floor. Their PG play is a little suspect but he is a tough kid. Holden had great numbers and Shattuck is scortching the nets as of late. They can go inside and out, they can play D and they rebound very well. Also, they can play fast or slow as they have some talent on the perimeter. I see them battling for the top spot. They will get both Whits at home this year and possibly on the road at WM. Lets go Loggers!

Pinecone_Curtain · January 07, 2015, 02:35:39 AM

Quote from: blackhawks4 on November 23, 2014, 01:02:59 PM
I'm worried WW isn't even a playoff team.

Great game tonight

But seriously, it really was a fun game to watch. Back and forth battle, and Whitworth was able to hit some big shots down the stretch. Whitman went cold--from the field and the line--and Whitworth was able to hold 'em off. Blackhawk, your thoughts on the game? I still think Whitman poses a threat to Whitworth--especially if they hold serve down in W2. Not counting out UPS either. Looking forward to Linfield Friday.

Predictions this Friday: Whitworth, LC, PLU and UPS.

(509)Rat · January 07, 2015, 04:50:40 AM

Whitworth beat Whitman 66-57. Missionaries avg around 90 pts/game... Close game throughout with something like 500 lead changes. And the road to the playoffs will most likely go through Spokane...again

blackhawks4 · January 08, 2015, 01:36:40 AM

You're teeing me up here, Pinecone, thank you. I was impressed by WW in three areas:

1. Their entire broadcast. WOW. Talk about the class of the conference.
2. I always forget, but it's such a great small college hoops atmosphere. One of the best on the west coast.
3. Farnsworth--particularly on the defensive end. I though his shot blocking presence affected Whitman's offense

Other than that I was very unimpressed by WW. This is the weakest WW team in recent memory. I've never seen so many airballs, is that normal?? But, on this night they won, and that's all that counts.

It was one of the most bizarre games I've watched. WMN shot 13-26 from the ft line (should have won the game here). This will never happen again. WMN shot 2-21 from the arc--and for the most part, they weren't bad looks. Again, this will never happen again. They didn't struggle to get good looks. WMN scored 60 points, but outside of a little Farnsworth, it wasn't WW's D.

WMN did not look good their first two conference games, but last night, they played all right for 30ish minutes. If I went back and watched the game analyzing possessions, and not watching if the ball went in the hoop, I would have put WMN up by 15-20. I feel like a broken record from last year, but these guys have to stay healthy! Last night was their first game with their whole team, Oti just back from injury, Clough coming off 1 game suspension, Dunham's been hurt, blah, blah, blah. They need to play together and settle into roles.

Honestly, I don't think WW has a prayer in Walla Walla.

Last point: It's a crazy year in the NWC this year. Puget is the wild card here (ps. Holden is my MVP), but if Puget cant steal one from WW or WMN, the rest of the teams are so bad that you could see Eastern Washington go 30-2 in conference. My gut says Puget gets at least one from WW, but has a shot in all 4 games.