MBB: Northwest Conference

[LogShow]

4-1 is pretty impressive...especially for where Linfield was at last year.  They have a good team there and their coach has them playing hard.  It must be nice seeing Linfield doing well so you don't have to spend all your time over on the football board

[Pio20]

Big difference from 3-2 and 4-1! They already beat WW and played UPS close until the final minute. Are they legit? Thoughts?

[LogShow]

Big difference from 3-2 and 4-1! They already beat WW and played UPS close until the final minute. Are they legit? Thoughts?

Its seeming like it more and more.  When does LC have them?

[Pio20]

Big difference from 3-2 and 4-1! They already beat WW and played UPS close until the final minute. Are they legit? Thoughts?

Its seeming like it more and more.  When does LC have them?

We have them at home on January 26th, one day after UPS comes to Pamplin.

[nwhoops1903]

Pio nice prediction and another good win for Linfield.  I think WW will avoid the sweep Pinecone.  I am always nervous about looking past PLU and then slipping up which I think might have happened in 06.  PLU being improved makes the trip to Tacoma tough for all conf teams, but might help WW be truly focused for Friday.  

UPS looks good but I agree, the tempo (defensively) appears to be less frantic.  Logshow, is UPS as deep this year as their (that) system requires?

[cawcdad]

4-1 is pretty impressive...especially for where Linfield was at last year.  They have a good team there and their coach has them playing hard.  It must be nice seeing Linfield doing well so you don't have to spend all your time over on the football board

I lurked around the hoops board a bit last year, but was unable to see any games. Being able to see and photograph four of the teams (shameless plug - have you guys taken a look at them?) during the OOC games got me to spend more time here. I'm glad I am. I have learned a great deal from you guys. There was a Pio fan I met briefly at the LC - Menlo football game that said he spend his time on this board rather than the football board, who are you?

Big difference from 3-2 and 4-1! They already beat WW and played UPS close until the final minute. Are they legit? Thoughts?

Thay are good but I do not think they will beat WW in Spokane. The game with UPS in Mac will be tight again, but I think the Loggers will prevail. After I saw LC play, I would have thought that they would beat the Cats twice, now I'm not so sure. My father, a former H.S. basketball coach and St. Mary's season ticket holder, saw Linfield against East Bay and was impressed.

[Do-Work25]

PugetSoundFan - I agree with your earlier statement. I think that the NWC coaches have finally been able to recruit players that are able to break down and beat the UPS style of play, making games more difficult for UPS.

I've been able to watch a couple UPS games this year and they have struggled when their press has easily been broken, fortunately they have talented players and have pulled out their close games. Question remains: is it time for a change up?

[pineconefan]

"Question remains: is it time for a change up?"

Do-Work, welcome to the board.  Your question reminds me that fans are really funny.  Not very long ago, UPS was really bad in basketball.

Your team has had five great/good years in a row, thanks to the system installed by Bridgeland/Lunt, and the Loggers are currently the only unbeaten NWC team and ranked 7th in the country.  Yet you ask the question, is it time for a change?

I don't mean this as an attack on your analysis, because you make some solid points.  Like I said, its a reminder that "fan" is short for "fanatic."

[NWCer]

Thanks for the love Pineconefan, true fans have to be there for the thick and thin, especially for the thin, everyone comes around when it's "thick".  I think my Boxers though will get both the Hot Wildcats and Fox at home this weekend, and then be sitting at 3-3 and it won't be quite as "thin", lots of NWC play left, looking forward to it.  Need to get out and see some more venues, all the talk about other home courts has me excited.

[LogShow]

Pio nice prediction and another good win for Linfield.  I think WW will avoid the sweep Pinecone.  I am always nervous about looking past PLU and then slipping up which I think might have happened in 06.  PLU being improved makes the trip to Tacoma tough for all conf teams, but might help WW be truly focused for Friday.  

UPS looks good but I agree, the tempo (defensively) appears to be less frantic.  Logshow, is UPS as deep this year as their (that) system requires?

I would actually say that UPS has more depth this year.  It seems like almost anyone on the team is interchangable.  We have a lot of height on the wings and can brig more in from the bench.  We do lack the true size down low though...I am taking weight and strength not height.

[LogShow]

4-1 is pretty impressive...especially for where Linfield was at last year.  They have a good team there and their coach has them playing hard.  It must be nice seeing Linfield doing well so you don't have to spend all your time over on the football board

I lurked around the hoops board a bit last year, but was unable to see any games. Being able to see and photograph four of the teams (shameless plug - have you guys taken a look at them?) during the OOC games got me to spend more time here. I'm glad I am. I have learned a great deal from you guys. There was a Pio fan I met briefly at the LC - Menlo football game that said he spend his time on this board rather than the football board, who are you?

Big difference from 3-2 and 4-1! They already beat WW and played UPS close until the final minute. Are they legit? Thoughts?

Thay are good but I do not think they will beat WW in Spokane. The game with UPS in Mac will be tight again, but I think the Loggers will prevail. After I saw LC play, I would have thought that they would beat the Cats twice, now I'm not so sure. My father, a former H.S. basketball coach and St. Mary's season ticket holder, saw Linfield against East Bay and was impressed.

Well either way we are happy to have you on the basketball board...I enjoy the conversations and like how this board has picked up.  Its much better to have many different perspectives...instead of me just talking to SoundLogs.

You are definately right about Linfield giving UPS a real test in McMinville. I don't want to look too far down the schedule but that game scares me. Linfiled have give UPS a run for their money every year there. It is quite interesting, becase when Linfield had some down years UPS would hang a 35-40 point win on Linfield at home, then travel down there and struggle to nose out a victory in OT.  Now linfield is MUCH improved so I don't know if we will catch breaks this year.  Its something about Ted Wilson Gym, it is definately not Logger friendly

[LogShow]

PugetSoundFan - I agree with your earlier statement. I think that the NWC coaches have finally been able to recruit players that are able to break down and beat the UPS style of play, making games more difficult for UPS.

I've been able to watch a couple UPS games this year and they have struggled when their press has easily been broken, fortunately they have talented players and have pulled out their close games. Question remains: is it time for a change up?

Do-Work, welcome to the board!  I always like another Logger fan!  Are you suggesting UPS has work-to-do?

[LogShow]

"Question remains: is it time for a change up?"

Do-Work, welcome to the board.  Your question reminds me that fans are really funny.  Not very long ago, UPS was really bad in basketball.

Your team has had five great/good years in a row, thanks to the system installed by Bridgeland/Lunt, and the Loggers are currently the only unbeaten NWC team and ranked 7th in the country.  Yet you ask the question, is it time for a change?

I don't mean this as an attack on your analysis, because you make some solid points.  Like I said, its a reminder that "fan" is short for "fanatic."

I may be wrong I think what Do-Work is saying is that the feeling is that the press is not nearly as effective as it has been in years past.  Teams seem to be getting better and better at dealing with the full court pressure.  Its tough to win games when UPS is allowing 60-65% FG each game, the other team is laying up the ball all game.  If you coud have watched the UPS/PLU you would have known what Do-Work was refering to.  For 30mins of the game PLU got whatever they wanted offensively and found themselves up double digits with 10 to go. Only then when UPS buckled down on their half court defense could they make a run and win the game. Granted PLU just died from the pace of the game.  Betting that the other team is going to die and that your team has enough gas left in the tank seems pretty risky to me.  I guess that I would just rather not play from behind.

As with most schemes, it needs to be altered every now and then to keep the opponents honest, and now after 5 years it may be time for some adjustments.  Do-Work might be concerned about another late season melt down like last year.  It would be good to see UPS mix it up some more with some different kind of defenses.  Even though UPS doesn't show it much...their half court d is pretty underrated.

Or maybe its just being fanatical 

[Do-Work25]

LogShow- thank you for helping explain my thoughts. Guess that is why a JVer has to look to a starter for help sometimes huh? 

LogShow was on point with my posing question of switching things up. I've had the opportunity to watch the NWC games for the last several years. UPS and their system is hard to stop - no question. But now that the NWC is stronger and has adjusted...as observers witnessed in the UPS/PLU... UPS needs to have more than one approach to the game, that's what makes a team unstoppable is their ability to be versatile.

UPS is a very talented team this year, and agree that they have a VERY deep bench. Kraul/Foster do a great job inside for the loggers - but call me old fashioned - I miss the presence and play of a true post the logger team has had the last few years. No big post = a bit of a struggle for the Loggers...aka PLU game and stopping McDaniels.

[UPSoundLogs]

Welcome dowork25!

I think you are right on point with your comments.  This was actually a topic of discussion before the season started.  I think that a more versatile approach and the ability to switch from full court to trapping to half court pressure will be a big key to UPS success this year.  They certainly have the talent to be a great team, but the NWC has really figured out some of the short comings in the press and have exploited it accordingly.  Luckily the Logs have been able to fight through some second half deficits with their talent, hustle, and confidence. 

As for a major post presence.  I go back and forth with this one.  You're right in that the Loggers dont have a 6'8 or 6'9 power player down low, but at the same time they haven't had a guy like that in a long time...even in their sweet 16 and elite 8 runs.  Their team is meant to run and gun, as well as put as much pressure on the ball as possible on defense, it seems to me a big guy would bog down their style of play.  At the same time its nice to have a guy or two that weigh over 200 lbs on the roster, especially to bang with the big boys of the midwest(mcdaniels is nothing compared to some of those guys) when it gets to be tourney time.  I think there are definite pros and cons to both sides.  Anybody else have thoughts on this....Logshow?  ....dowork?