MBB: Northwest Conference

[catjumper]

I went to the Linfield vs. Willamette game Friday night and found the 'Cats fun to watch. Given Willamette's record, I didn't expect much from the Bearcats but they were nowhere near as bad as I feared they'd be; they do some nice things with the ball and are really active on defense. They didn't have an answer inside, though, and Clark for the  'Cats was terrific - worked his tail off at both ends of the floor. You could see this Linfield group perhaps making things interesting by season's end.

[(509)Rat]

Fox is a bit of a fraud, but Whitworth played some of their best basketball all season. It will take that kind of defensive effort to beat Whitman in Spokane. A win won't change the fact that the conference tourney will go through Walla Walla this year, but it would be good for the psyche and possibly the resume for the selection committee.

After tonight, Fox, L&C and Linfield will all be sitting at 4-4, tied for 3rd. The second half of the season should have some great games. Everyone except for Willamette is alive for a NWC tourney berth. There are 6 teams who all have a legitimate shot at the #3 seed. Could be real entertaining around here if we had some representation from a school other than Whitworth (and now Linfield)...

[wildcat11]

'Cats looked like they had a case of heavy legs vs PLU on Saturday night and Lester killed us whenever PLU need another hoop to push the lead back out.  Tough loss but excited for the 2nd half other half of the season.

[D O.C.]

Just cannot lose those games.

[A Buc Forever]

To state the obvious, the Pirates are a couple levels below Whitman. Whitworth has to learn to handle pressure better.  We had good looks, etc., but I think the pace and pressure brought our shooting percentage down.  Also, way too many turnovers. The Bucs have some serious off-season work to do to get back up to the top of the conference.

[(509)Rat]

I think the difference in athleticism is glaring. I meant to the post this yesterday...I didn't watch much of the game thanks to work...but my prediction was that Whitworth wouldn't be able to survive even one 10-15 pt run by Whitman (let alone several). In the first meeting that was all it took, and Whitworth was able to basically go shot for shot with Whitman for the rest of the game, but they were never going to make up that kind of deficit with this team. Whitworth was going to have to keep it within 5-6 points all game. I didn't think the opening 8=0 run by Whitman last night was the end of the game by any means, but I figured that any other stretch of turnovers and missed baskets would turn into another 8-10 point run and that would do it. It happened early in the 2nd half, and that was the ballgame.

There is something wrong with this Whitworth team but I don't know what it is. And I'm not saying that because they are losing to Whitman, Whitman is a much better team than they have ever been and are a more talented team than the Pirates and a personnel nightmare. It can't just be that Valle is gone can it? Love just doesn't seem to be the difference maker that he should be, maybe him and Roach aren't great on the court together? Isaak has to have one of the worst assist to turnover ratio's of a starting guard at Whitworth in a long time...which would make you want to know why College doesn't play more (he's a MUCH better scorer) but his is worse, and he doesn't play much defense (though neither does Isaak). When you are as big as Sears, there is usually a reason you are playing DIII, it's like being a 6'5" 300lb offensive lineman, if you show even a glimpse of potential someone is gonna give you a scholarship. He's a step down from the Friedts and Montgomery's. Even Jurich would have eaten his lunch...standing at 6'5". The potential for this team seems to be there, they have fantastic stretches in most every game, then Mr. Hyde shows up. I can't tell if the poor defensive play is a lack of ability or desire, probably a combination of both. Sorry, that was a lot of random thoughts. Logie has some work to do...especially in the offseason.

[wildcat11]

Man...great job by this Linfield team so far this year.  Been fun to watch their growth and excited to see them compete this next weekend.

[PirateDaddy]

Hey (509)Rat,  as we all know, every team is different with different chemistry and leadership.   I recognized a difference in this year's team from any of Logie's teams in the past right out of the gate. 

IMO, this team has been a little drunk on past success and plays too much like they expect to win just by showing up. The effort is there in fits and starts and the lack of it shows up in key areas of the game that continues to cost them mightily.  I can't begin to count the number of times they have been content to watch the ball and wait for it to come to them instead of going to get a rebound or fail to make the effort to get the 50/50 balls or exhibit a lack of discipline to stay on the ground on defense and pick up unnecessary fouls.  You can maybe get away with this when you're head and shoulders above your competition but that's no longer the case.

I know too that the coaches have been harping on this all year and just when the team seems to have turned the corner and then it seems to slip right back into bad habits.

No doubt, they are still a very talented offensive team but that will only carry them so far and typically in the tournament (if they make it) it doesn't take you far at all.  They are certainly capable of correcting these deficiencies but time is running out. It just might be a year when failure will be the only way next year's team remembers what it takes to advance and re-instills the effort and desire necessary. 

I hope I'm wrong about that...

[wildcat11]

Excited for Linfield's weekend but bummed this is happening during Jan Term break.  Odds aren't great but I would love to see Linfield upend at least the Rats.

[(509)Rat]

Excited for Linfield's weekend but bummed this is happening during Jan Term break.  Odds aren't great but I would love to see Linfield upend at least the Rats.

Linfield will likely fall behind PLU and/or Fox this weekend, but they are in the driver's seat for a playoff spot with every other team still having to play the Whits. As long as the Cats don't fall apart down the stretch they will be playing in the NWC tourney again after a 6-ish year hiatus. Happy that WC11 has another sport to watch besides women's softball! Bridgeland won't stick around for too much longer, meaning Linfield even has a good chance of moving up into a perennial top 2 type program in the NWC 

[wildcat11]

Rats looked great tonight and opened up a can on my 'Cats.  Whitworth's defense made everything tough on Linfield and the Rats shared the ball so well and knocked down open shot after open shot.  They looked every bit a top 10 team tonight.

Rat......I thought to myself tonight "So this is what other NWC teams feel like when they play Linfield in football."

[(509)Rat]

Rats looked great tonight and opened up a can on my 'Cats.  Whitworth's defense made everything tough on Linfield and the Rats shared the ball so well and knocked down open shot after open shot.  They looked every bit a top 10 team tonight.

Rat......I thought to myself tonight "So this is what other NWC teams feel like when they play Linfield in football."

Exactly

[(509)Rat]

If you have any interest in d3hoops you should tune in to the Linfield v Whitman game...

[(509)Rat]

What a choke job...

[Smitty Oom]

What a choke job...

Tried to catch the end of the Whitman game but got on just a little too late... tough day for the Blues? Are they in coast mode until the NWC playoffs?