MBB: Northwest Conference

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth won again tonight against Wheaton (Ill) 70-67.  Wheaton has an all-american so they can't be that bad.  The Pirates are now 2-0 and headed to Hawaii for a 7 day vacation...I mean to play a few basketball games.

http://www.wheaton.edu/Athletics/mbasketball/index.html

[Loggerville]

130 points...school record in 3's....and funny, that Medved guy seemed to have a decent night again!  22 pts on 6-7 three's in 20 minutes; not a bad night, you'd think someone would guard that guy.  Quality win over a average team to be sure. Forcing 73 T.O. in two games shows me that the pressure package didn't leave town with EB.  Loggers head south for a pair of non-NCAA games in Oregon before the Turkey Day break.  Good luck fellas.

[pineconefan]

Big win for the Pirates at one of DIII's toughest venue's last night.  Bryan Williams named tournament MVP after getting 20 assists in 2 games.  Gonna be a fun year!

[Gregory Sager]

I posted at length about the Whitworth @ Wheaton game on CCIW Chat. Bryan Williams was simply amazing. He put on perhaps the best performance by a point guard that I've seen in this decade -- and I usually see anywhere from 25 to 50 D3 games a year.

[pineconefan]

Thanks GS - I appreciate the feedback, and the answer at length on the CCIW board.  I think the senior back court could take the Pirates a long way this season.  BTW - it's Jim, not Jack, H. 

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth remains undefeated at the US Bank - Whitworth Maui Invitational.  They beat Bethany Lutheran of Minnesota 68-56 in the first game.  And beat Cal Lutheran 68-55 the following day.

http://www.whitworth.edu/Athletics/Teams/Basketball_Men/Releases/06_07/HawaiiSched.htm

[UPSoundLogs]

Finally NWC regular season starts up this weekend!  There should be a good show in Tacoma on Friday night.  I don't know if a Stuvlandless Willamette stands any kind of a chance against the Loggers AT HOME, but I'll pay to watch anyways.  I look forward to seeing how UPS bounces back after a tough loss to Warner Pacific, my guess is a 20+ point win. 

Do we have any other predictions about games around the league...Bcatsfan....are you still there buddy?

Pinecones- After Mr. Sager expressing his new found man crush on Brian Williams over several lengthy posts I know that BW is playing well so far this season.  Do you have anymore insight on the other players from Whitworth.  It looks like they are playing great and have gotten some big wins to start the season.  From the numbers it looks like JJones and Hesunsnufulupogus are putting up decent numbers, how do the new guys look thus far?

[bearcatsfan3]

I've been slow to post as I try to get a feel for WU...without actually seeing them play.

Obviously, the fact that they are missing 3 starters has dampered their start, but in the end it could be a blessing, as assuming Erickson, Fife and Stuvland return, the guys playing now should be seasoned and improved, giving the team a ton of depth...

I also believe the loss of a strong group of seniors (Olinger, Luchterhand, Miller, Baran, Garrelts) has been a bigger hurdle to overcome than people thought, as their experience in the heat of the battle obviously was helpful....

1-3 is obviously not where they Bearcats probably envisioned themselves, but its certainly not time to panic...WU is still talented, well-coached, and in all honesty, the fact they are probably out of AT-LARGE consideration after the Cali losses is not a big deal...the team should be focused on getting in the top 3 of the NWC and winning the league playoffs (as at-large's in the NWC have been few and far between anyway)

Conference play begins Friday in their own personal hell house (UPS) as the Bearcats have been soundly beaten the past 3 times in Tacoma...time to turn things around...

[Gilbert McFinnegan]

Good to see the board has picked up....

It seems that Whitworth is off to a pretty good start.  I am not sure just how good Wheaton is, but a road win against the upper half of the CCIW is always a good thing for the resume....and for the league.  Looks like a two horse race is beginning to develop.

Its too bad that Willamette could not have come out with a couple of victories in Cali, but it seems like they have bigger fish to fry: starting off the season in the wrong side of Tacoma, especially after UPS just came off of a loss.  Speaking of that, looks like UPS was taken down by Warner Pacific this weekend.  Possible chink in the armor?  Care to comment UPSoundLogs?

Does anyone know what is up with Whitman's schedule? Corban College and then straight into NWC action...does not seem too sensible.

[pennstlbu]

Its too bad that Willamette could not have come out with a couple of victories in Cali, but it seems like they have bigger fish to fry: starting off the season in the wrong side of Tacoma, especially after UPS just came off of a loss.  Speaking of that, looks like UPS was taken down by Warner Pacific this weekend.  Possible chink in the armor?  Care to comment UPSoundLogs?

I wouldn't put too much stock into UPS' loss to Warner Pacific. WP was a very good NAIA team last year (top 10 maybe?) and defeated UPS at UPS last season.

[(509)Rat]

Newest top 25 rankings were put up...

#18 Whitworth
#22 UPS

Should be an interesting season.  Maybe this year the NWC will get two teams into the tourney.  I think last year's Whitworth team was just as good as UPS' and could have made a little run in the tourney.  We'll see how UPS and Willamette really are in a few days, while Whitworth opens up conference play against Pacific on friday.

[cawcdad]

This past weekend I went and watched Occidental play at CSU Stanislaus. As I was looking through the program, I noticed a Stephen Chang on the Notre Dame de Namur (D2) team. It says his previous school was UPS. Just thought some of the UPS folks might be interested.

[UPSoundLogs]

Chang only played one year for UPS and then transfered.  He was pretty good though his freshman year.  How did he play for Notre Dame de Namur? Thanks for the info.

It's nice to see two NWC schools in the top 25 this week, I can't even remember the last time that happened...maybe 02-03 with WW and LC? I'm not sure?  Anyways it's good to see Whitworth back on the National stage with UPS.  Hopefully both teams can stick around in the rankings for a while, atleast long enough to see a top 25 matchup in the NWC!!!

Gil- I agree with Penn, I wouldn't read too much into the UPS loss to Warner Pacific.  Although I was dissapointed to see UPS lose to them two years in a row...ouch! WP is a tough NAIA team with some really good players, one of their guards averages 25 and put up 39 agianst the logs....ouch again!!!  I think its good for the young UPS team to lose early on and hopefully learn from it so they don't make the same mistakes during confrence play.  From the numbers it looked like most of the loggers played well, they just have to play some D. 

Can't wait for Friday, I'll be in Tacoma!!!!  Judging by the crowds I've seen at the UPS games so far this year it shold be a loud one.  I hope WU is ready so I can watch a competitive game. 

Go Logs!!!

[cawcdad]

UPSoundLogs, I didn't get to see Chang play. I arrived at the arena between games and only saw Oxy - Stan State.

[pennstlbu]

That's interesting to hear about Chang. I thought that I heard that he was going to Menlo when he left UPS, since he was from near the area. Nice to know he's still playing though.