MBB: Northwest Conference

[pineconefan]

Yeah Spooh - that post was probably a shame and an embarrassement.  But BH really likes to throw shots around at other players, coaches, the league - pretty much everyone not in a UPS uniform.

[Himjay23]

Congrats to UPS, they came up big when it mattered most. Kind of a shame Whitworth didn't get a bid.  I think they deserved one. Just goes to show that there isn't too much respect for the NWC at this point in time. Aside from UPS, Whitworth, and WU (I guess GFU is a decent team) the conference was very poor. It's just too bad they couldn't sqeeze at least 2 in there.

[Loggerville]

BYE for the Loggers, with a California team coming to Tacoma for the third year in a row.....at least we can try and beat on someone besides PP this time!   

[bbaddict]

You're right Himjay, the NWC doesn't get much respect.  For that reason, I say GO LOGGERS -- take it all the way!  Our conference needs a big win in basketball like Linfield does for Football.  Then maybe we'll get some respect.  The NWC women's teams got two in the tourney, so the men should be there too!! 

So Blackhawks -- you got your wish -- I'm rooting for the Loggers -- at least for now.  But don't discount WU & Whitworth for next year -- you're losing Curtiss & McVey!!  And Pineconefan is right -- the other coaches are heavily recruiting and they don't just look for freshmen!

[bearcatsfan3]

1. If you're team wins the NWC for 3 years in a row, goes 44-4 over that time span, and you  happen to have been a part of that success, and friends with the current team continuing that success, you have every right to come on this board on let loose about your boys...regardless of the fact BHawks has his own irritating style, the school he was a player at, and is a fan of now, is running away with NWC titles and NCAA berths, while the rest of us are at home every March...you don't have many bullets in your gun when his team keeps winning, and yours keeps losing, yet you still try and attack the guy.

2. Curtiss has dominated WU and Whitworth in two straight championship games on back to back weekends in late February.  He was/should have been the POY. Period.

3. The fact that BHawks true identity is a known fact on this board should not have been exploited the way Pinecone used it in his post.  I don't know about the rest of you, but since I was never a POY of anything other than the occasional Madden season, I don't have the right to call out someone who was, just because their posts got under my skin (which, make no mistake, BHawks can do).

4. Whitworth lost their chance to get that Pool C bid when they dropped the game to OXY in early January. If PC is right, and Oxy was the last team in, that loss by the Pirates in essence kept them out of the dance.

5. BHawks, the Loggers certainly delivered in the NWC postseason, but you cannot argue that you guys need to carry that on in the NCAA's...especially considering you get another home game, the likely #1 West seed, etc...continually pounding the SCIAC, just to get dumped on by the WIAC will not due for a 3rd straight year.

6. Willamette fans keep the faith...while Whitworth owned us this year (3 losses to them is disgusting), Coach James and Co. welcome back a dyamic backcourt (minus Olinger, but Fife is very capable, Erickson is a talented PG, and Stuvland was 1st team NWC) and hopefully, a talented supporting cast that is HUNGRY to do something in late February...

[bbaddict]

I agree with Bearcatsfan even though I really didn't know who Blackhawks was -- until now!  It's a pretty mean & low thing to attack someone personally on the board.  And, anyone who's made it to the NCAA playoffs doesn't have a thing to be ashamed of.  Especially in the NWC where the top three teams are always neck in neck.

It does explain your annoying ways Blackhawks-- thought you were older.  Now I'll be more forgiving about the outrageous remarks and the razzing -- you're allowed to be obnoxious when you're young.  And you're allowed a certain amount of arrogance when you're really good.  Since you're both -- I'll cut you some slack.

Yes, WU's coaches are already looking to next year -- I saw Coach James the day after the Whitworth loss & he was already talking about his new recruits for next year.   And I've seen some of the freshmen play -- not often - because they were behind some pretty good players, but they know what to do.  And how come no one ever mentions Ian Mansfield?  He's a really great shot blocker/rebounder.  He shared playing time with Garrelts, Luchterhand & Barran who are all seniors, but we'll be seeing more of him, I'm sure.

All of you need to give it up on the POY thing.  Lance Pecht is a fine player who deserves the award.  There are others who are deserving as well, but he won it!!  Leave him alone.  He did have a less than perfect game on Saturday night, but everyone does & we know that basketball is a TEAM sport -- it shouldn't matter if one guy has a bad shooting night.  I don't agree with Bearcatsfan that "Curtiss dominated WU & Whitworth in two straight games . . ." because the WU game was a regular season game & he didn't dominate Whitworth -- they just won.  By 8!  8 points is NOT dominating.

And UPS was pretty hot on their shooting that night -- especially 3's.  I think they had things go in that even they didn't expect.  And Whitworth wasn't good on defense -- they gave  UPS second & third and sometimes fourth chances by not taking care of the boards.  And they gave them even more by passing the ball to them and other turnovers.  Whitworth was their own worst enemy that night.

I'm really glad that UPS gets homecourt advantage in the playoffs.  Whitworth got screwed on that in 2003!  I just wish that the NCAA would give the West some respect.  I guess the decision makers are all from midWest or East coast schools?  Don't know why it happens that way.

[pineconefan]

Maybe the post was over the line.  Was the tone really different than BH uses all the time?  Questioning other players' courage, the integrity of NWC officials...

Actually I came across that information unintentially.  Was looking to see how Curtiss did in post season games the last two years to see if his numbers were close to what he did Saturday, and saw that box score.  (Answer - not really).

That post was meant as an object lesson.  BH was a heck of a player and a clutch player.  Just be careful about making  judgements on an entire season based on one game.  POY was well deserved that year, but by using his own arguement about big games, it works against him.

[bearcatsfan3]

Pinecone:  I think its safe to say we can all move on...you're argument was valid, just the execution of it a bit extreme...

question for you...with the loss of Tucker/Pecht, where does whitworth go next year? Any of the guys on the bench supposed to be good, or do you think hayford will go over the top of them with a trans/juco guy?  Young and Williams and the Fus back next year, they should be in the top 3...but that's a tough duo to replace...

Also, I don't think we can use the standard "West Coast Bias" we all love to throw out here...afterall, the SCIAC got two teams in...you'd a made a lot of money placing that bet at the beginning of the season...

[pineconefan]

Bearcats, you are right - I don't get the sense that Whitworth feels robbed by being left out.  There is no press release on their website this year like there was last year with the women.  The Pirates blew too many early opportunities, including the game at Oxy.  Of the losses at GFU, Oxy, Pomona, UPS and PLU, they needed at least two of those.  As they say, nobody to blame but yourself. . .

Yes, it will be interesting to see how they replace Pecht/Tucker.  All three of the top three teams have key contributors to replace.  I could see Jurich, who showed real spark this year, moving into one of those spots.  Another one is James Jones, but with him we lose that size advantage that worked for us this year.  I don't know anything about who might be coming in.

[blackhawks4]

Pinecone...don't get all sentimental on me...If i couldn't handle or didn't expect any shots back I wouldn't be here.

The biggest players shine in the biggest games....Definitely.  And in '04...the biggest players shined in the biggest game.   My argument didn't work against me.  UWSP not only won 2 straight national titles, but put 6'5" beasts on the court and started not one but two 1st team all americans.  The biggest players shined.... Done....

Loggers at home against a SCIAC team in the second round?  Doesn't get any sweeter.  My prediction:  Loggers will walk into the sweet 16 again, then it's on.  When you start travelin' and get into those Wisconsin schools you find out what you got.  I gotta say this is the best draw UPS has had in 3 years.  Glad to see they weren't on the top half of the bracket--but geography saved 'em i guess)

UPS is peaking at the right time too.  Looks like we'll get to see about the SCIAC now!!!!!!!!  Didn;t we already have dave colling say occidentel was better than ups?  Let's do it!

[pineconefan]

BH - I agree, its a good draw for the Loggers.  Most here do hope UPS does well in the tournament.

[blackhawks4]

So how many more years does Bridgleand and the Loggers have to win the NWC title before somebody recognizes that they aren't just the...oh, how did you put it..."latest flash in the pan?"  If they win it again next year, in a "rebuilding year," can we agree to that?  Because let me tell you a little secret...There's something special going on up here in Tacoma, and I will be shocked if UPS doesn't win the title every year Bridgeland and crew are at UPS.  Yes...please...put the bullseye on their chest....should I give it a "mark my words?"

Thanks for the slack Addict, I have a really tough time not getting pushed around by you guys. 

If you're a loggerfan, how great was the first minute of the whitworth game.   Curtiss takes the tip from somebody, hoists a three, loggers get 3 "o" boards, arms are gettin' smacked, people are gettin' pushed, Hasenfos loses the ball and grabs his face...Oh god, LOL...UPS dictated that game right away

Anybody who's interested...I found a great rate out to Wisconsin...You gotta think Lawrence will be hosting for the west in the field of 16.  Sure...it's a non-refundable ticket, but come'on we're playin the SCIAC here!  (that outta do it)

[bbaddict]

Blackhawks:  I guess we're not convinced that UPS is the basketball dynasty that you crow about since nobody heard about UPS before 2003-04 -- you were at the bottom of the conference -- with your football team who also never won.   When people thought of UPS they thought of swimming & soccer I think, but certainly not men's basketball.  The point is that UPS doesn't have the only good coach in the conference -- there are several. 

And about cutting you slack, maybe you're not just young, you're bratty!!

[Loggerville]

"I guess we're not convinced that UPS is the basketball dynasty that you crow about since nobody heard about UPS before 2003-04 -- you were at the bottom of the conference" - bbaddict

bbaddict:  while historically this may be accurate statement with regards to the NWC, it is important to remember that the NWC has been a DIII conference for only seven seasons now - three of which have resulted in conference champtionships for the Loggers.  It seems appropriate to me to compare apples to apples, and in the era of the non-scholarship Div. III athletes in the NWC, Puget Sound basketball seems to be doing more than holding its own.  Not sure how many titles you have to win, consecutive or not, to get the mythical "dynasty" lable, but three out of seven and three straight seems like a pretty positive first step.

Institutions have had to adapt to the new alignement of the conference and some have done it better than others.  PLU has struggled with a few exceptions for the most part to maintain a position of athletic excellence in the NWC, while Whitworth and Linfield have not.

All I know is the Loggers are still chasing those four straight titles by Whitman to end the 1920's.

[bbaddict]

Gee Loggerville == thanks for the history lesson.  Doesn't change the comment about Bhawks.