MBB: Northwest Conference

[(509)Rat]

Whitman better hope those guys add something when they come back. The UPS game highlighted Whitman's flaw (so far). Whitman is not out shooting its opponents despite 30-50 point wins. They aren't playing good half court defense and it almost burned them against the first team with capable guard play they faced. They are relying entirely on getting a lot more possessions than their opponents and you saw what happens when someone matches them in FGA

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Whitman better hope those guys add something when they come back. The UPS game highlighted Whitman's flaw (so far). Whitman is not out shooting its opponents despite 30-50 point wins. They aren't playing good half court defense and it almost burned them against the first team with capable guard play they faced. They are relying entirely on getting a lot more possessions than their opponents and you saw what happens when someone matches them in FGA

I mean, we know what they're capable of - when healthy, it's the same team as last year, which was pretty darn good - but it does look like the conference will push them to be better and more well-rounded.

[blackhawks4]

It's been 635 days...but FINALLY. (Long pause) BLACKHAWKS........HAS  commmmmmme BAAAAAAAAAACK....to Posting Up.

Sorry, that was my best "Rock" impersonation.

Look I didn't want to come back. I didn't. I always prided myself as someone who talked first and let the results speak for themselves. I was content to ride into the sunset. But I saw the NWC board dying, my friends, and I thought to myself, "not now." Not when WMN is poised to win a national title.

To all of you newbies, my name is Blackhawks4, and it is my pleasure to host you.

You can check out my posting profile, but for the cliff notes version , I am the man who proclaimed on February 7, 2014 that "Bridgeland was the best coach in the country."

Only to be mocked...repeatedly..for....years...and years.

Still funny??

No seriously, is it funny?

Yes, I'm the man who saw it, before it was "it."

Go back and read the commentary from that date, you will see.

And if you don't want to read the commentary, let's let the stats talk for themselves. Go ahead and google Whitman's record prior to the Bridgeland.

In 2014 I said that WW had platueud. Not only platueud...was regressing. And that "I was tired of the same ole' beat the SCIAC, lose in the sweet 16."

I was the guy who said that Whitman would one day rule the NWC, just as UPS did when bridgeland took over.

Gentlemen...it's good to be back!

Ryan Scott, we appreciate some love to the NWC, but let's set the record straight. "They aren't playing any defense?" When someone is pressing you, you have two options, slow it down or play with them.

And have you watched WMN play before? Ever???!  Austin Butler has been the best defensive player on the team for 3 years. Not even close. How could you omit this???!

BTW, for anyone who actually watches D3 hoops, Butler is the best player in the country.  Last time I checked, this was 2017, and basketball isn't still ppg.  Anybody seen "Moneyball?"

Rat, honestly man, read back 3 years,  or 2 years....or 1...what credility do you have? (You saw mine up above). You said "Whitman better add something when they come back?"

Seriously?!

WMN is a cake walk to 16-0 in the NWC.

We will just let the stats beat your credibility up...again.

Whitman had everything and the kitchen sink thrown at them by a talented, well coached UPS team.

Whitman 16-0, WW 13-3, UPS 11-5, Lin 10-6.

Gentlemen, great talk! Look forward to an eventful season ahead

[D O.C.]

I just can't believe LINFIELD lost a game.

[wildcat11]

I just can't believe LINFIELD lost a game.

Boxers have started off the year strong. NWC has 7 teams with a winning record at this point.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The NWC is working hard to play lots of actual d3 teams this year and it's paying off for them.

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth has been scheduling good non conference d3 games for 10-15 years now. Bridgeland led Whitman has been following suit. The rest of the conference seems content most years on playing all of the non d3 WA and OR teams. The increase in SCIAC opponents this year has been nice, and with that conference being a total mess its made the NWC look better. I do think with a great Whitman team, a better than expected Whitworth team, and improved UPS/Linfield/Pacific programs from recent years that the NWC is probably stronger than it's been in awhile. That includes Lewis and Clark having the worst team they've had in a loooong time.

I'm just glad blackhawks is back. By far the most entertaining part of this forum 

[(509)Rat]

Whits both beat Colorado College this weekend

Good thing Linfield scheduled Northwest Christian (and won), to break up what would otherwise be 5 straight losses...before getting back into NWC conference play next year

[wildcat11]

Whits both beat Colorado College this weekend

Good thing Linfield scheduled Northwest Christian (and won), to break up what would otherwise be 5 straight losses...before getting back into NWC conference play next year

Didn't feel great to be Evergreen State's first victory of the season.

[gordonmann]

Look at Evergreen State's mascot. I guarantee you'll smile.

[AppletonRocks]

Very nice broadcast by Willamette and Mike Allegre.  #HailTitans #GoPackGo

[blackhawks4]

Other than Late Feb/March, next week is the most exciting week of the b-ball year. Whitman returns to the scene of the crime (3 years ago) in Vegas to take on Stevens Point in game 1, and Ohio Wesleyan in game 2. Will be the biggest challenges of the year for them. I'm curious to see how they stack up. Last year was an incredible run for WMN and put the NWC on the map as a legitimate contender to win a national title. But I still want some validation that it wasn't just a run, and that WMN has arrived. A win over Ohio Wesleyan would seem to solidify that. I wonder what odds vegas would put on the WMN-Ohio Wesleyan game...

Occidental is pretty good this year and gave Whitman a run for their money. I'd expect them to come out of the SCIAC. Any SCIACers or anybody at all have any idea what happened to Claremont?! They were actually really good last year, and their starting point guard  was toughhh.

WW fielding its worst team in 10 years and is clearly in recession. Saw they dropped to Calvin. Be interesting to see what they do on their next one.

WW will get up for WMN (as everyone will). I know I said WMN was a "cake walk" to 16-0, but there is a reason they play the games, and as far as NWC games go, both WW games, @ Pacific, @Linfield strike me as potential traps

[D O.C.]

Geesh, long way to climb back.
LINFIELD used to be able to hang with Portland State.
Pacific was but a road bump.

Merry Christmas Team.
Come back strong

[smedindy]

Linfield played pretty well in an exhibition (for them) at CWU. They held the hosts scoreless for over 10 minutes in the second half.

http://wildcatsports.com/boxscore.aspx?path=mbball&id=5319

[blackhawks4]

WMN tops Ohio Wesleyan by 2. Thoughts:

1. A win against nationally ranked Ohio Wesleyan is always a good thing. But WMN will have to be a whole lot better come March if they want to be back where they were last year. Could have gone either way, but WMN snuck this one out

2.Not overly impressed by OW. Not sure they end the year in the top 25. Rely way too much on the 3, and played a bad zone defense much off the game. Didn't seem to me to have the players top teams at this level do (their pg is small—but a good player). If I'm comparing OW to the teams WMN played last year (Marietta, Claremont, Babson, others in tourney), this OW team was not as good.

3. Can pretty much set my alarm clock for March and sleep through conference play.

4. WMN should have at least 3 first teamers in NWC—Howell, Hewitt, Butler. The coaches won't vote 4 WMN players in top 6, so Jack Stewart probably a 2nd teamer.