MBB: Northwest Conference

[Pugetsoundfan]

Did anybody out there see this game?  I listened up to halftime and it sounded like an easy game for UPS; I shut it down and was a little surprised to find that the Loggers lost it by 10.  What explains the big turnaround? 

Thanks

[NWCer]

Well hopefully the Loggers can do the same thing.

NWCer, why do you think Pac was so successful against WW?  Did Pac play zone and WW didn't know what to do?  Were the Pac bigs too much?

Pac didn't play too much zone, they did seem to take the Whitworth PG and their freshman shooter out of the game.  I really think, like I mentioned earlier, they (Whitworth) just aren't very deep (right now anyway with the big guy's injury), so if a couple people play poorly, as was the case with their guards, they can struggle.  VanDomlen and Howe were tough inside, Howe particularly was very efficient (8-10 from the field, 8-10 from the line, 3-4 from 3)HarrisonDavis had it going as well.  But it could just be as simple as making shots, Pac was on fire, 58% from the field and 50% from 3.

Your right, its going to be a crazy finish, so much can happen........

[LogShow]

Did anybody out there see this game?  I listened up to halftime and it sounded like an easy game for UPS; I shut it down and was a little surprised to find that the Loggers lost it by 10.  What explains the big turnaround? 

Thanks

I am not really sure what happened either, but if you look at the stats it seems pretty evident.   Its like UPS just didn't show up for the second half, the stats are staggering...led by the 73% shooting of linfield (33%), the 5 total rebounds of UPS and the 12 TOs compared to 3 assists.  No team will (or deserves) to win a game with that kind of effort.

[LogShow]

The Logs do have a great opportunity to bounce back and really take a strong hold of the conference this next weekend!

NWCer, you were probably the best source since you saw them first hand on Saturday .  those are pretty good stats to put up against the highly touted WW defense.

[nwhoops1903]

I don't know what to say other than WW is obviously struggling.  The D is suffering and so is our shooting.  Could be fatigue from a lack of depth, could be other teams are playing better or simply getting "up" for the WW/UPS games.  I think WW will be glad to be back home.  That being said we have to face two contenders whom we beat at their place(s).  I think LC and PAC wanted to get even for the way we dismantled them in Spokane, I got to believe PLU and UPS will have some revenge motivation as well.

The third place team will definitely have 6 losses.  That means 7 teams are still playing or the postseason.  Everyone of those 7 coaches are saying, get to the playoffs cause nothing is certain this season.  The 3 seed could very well win out and take the NCAA bid.

[nwhoops1903]

This is the first time WW has lost 3 straight NWC games since the 2004-2005 season when they lost 4 straight.

I think we will end this against PLU, but thanks for the memories.

[LogShow]

This is the first time WW has lost 3 straight NWC games since the 2004-2005 season when they lost 4 straight.

I think we will end this against PLU, but thanks for the memories.

Just reminiscing of the good ol times

[UPSoundLogs]

"Could be fatigue from a lack of depth, could be other teams are playing better or simply getting "up" for the WW/UPS games."

-nwhoops

I agree with this statement from nwhoops.  I think teams definitely get up to play the top teams in the league, especially with UPS being ranked in the top 10 again this year.  It just gives the oppostion that much more motivation to come out and play a great game.

Also, I can't remember seeing so much parity in the NWC as we have this year.  All the teams are really good, I think it all depends on who comes out and plays harder and who can catch some lucky breaks over the course of a game.  I know UPS is the only "ranked" team right now, but if they are indeed a top 15 team in the nation, then we have a VERY tough conference(cause the Logs have already dropped 3 games).  Of the teams I've watched play so far, they are all really good.  Even PLU who is playing .500 ball in league right now looked great.  I dont think there are any "easy outs" this year (except maybe the Whitman "whipping boys" Missionaries). 

On the bright side it makes for a much more interesting race, rather than having 2-3 teams dominate everyone else we have competetive games each night.  On the negative side, it makes those of us at the top pretty squeamish night in and night out.  There's certainly no guarantees.  I look forward to seeing how everthing plays out as we come down to the end of league play. 

Good luck to UPS on their Eastern WA road swing this weekend.  The WW game is a MUST WIN!

[UPSoundLogs]

And as a side note, I just noticed I've been getting a serious boost in my "Karma"!!! Many thanks to whoever is helping me out...I can feel my life getting more positive each day! 

[LogShow]

I know UPS is the only "ranked" team right now, but if they are indeed a top 15 team in the nation...

That is going to change very quickly  

After dropping the game to Linfield, UPS is going to get cut down a few notches...my guess would be around 21st.

[LogShow]

And as a side note, I just noticed I've been getting a serious boost in my "Karma"!!! Many thanks to whoever is helping me out...I can feel my life getting more positive each day! 

Here one more...make it a great day!

[Lutes07]

How do tie breakers work if the season series is split?

[Pio20]

Just read this over in the Pool C boards:

If Oxy holds on to one of the top 2 spots in the West, they should host. Traditionally, the SoCal team has to stand in line behind teams with better records (normally due to the fact that SoCal teams beat up on each other). But the committee has been pretty consistent about giving hosting seeds to the top 2 teams in the region.

The NCAA has two options on making this happen: find three other teams that would have to fly anyway and ship them to LA, which is what I think that you're getting at, or find two teams that are a short drive away and pair them up opening round and then fly the winner to LA for a single game. If there were 2 NWC teams this would be an obvious situation. If WashU drops behind Lawrence and Augustana in the Midwest, you could match them with cross-town rival Webster from the SLIAC and then fly from St. Louis to Los Angeles for round two.

Wouldn't that be sweet to have two NWC teams get in. Chances are slim of course...but it would be sweet if it happened.

[Pio20]

How do tie breakers work if the season series is split?

LC had to deal with this last year. It is really weird. First it is the records against all teams above those teams in the tie. This is what tripped up LC last year because their were no teams above LC and Whitworth. But if it is a tie for third place, then it would be whoever has the better record against the top two teams. If that doesn't work, then it is whoever has the better record against those top two teams in rank order. If that still doesn't work then it is the record against teams from the bottom of the standings up. LC lost to last place Pacific last season and so Whitworth got the tiebreaker. That one usually gets the job done but if it doesn't then it goes to best conference road record and on and on and on...

[LogShow]

Just read this over in the Pool C boards:

If Oxy holds on to one of the top 2 spots in the West, they should host. Traditionally, the SoCal team has to stand in line behind teams with better records (normally due to the fact that SoCal teams beat up on each other). But the committee has been pretty consistent about giving hosting seeds to the top 2 teams in the region.

The NCAA has two options on making this happen: find three other teams that would have to fly anyway and ship them to LA, which is what I think that you're getting at, or find two teams that are a short drive away and pair them up opening round and then fly the winner to LA for a single game. If there were 2 NWC teams this would be an obvious situation. If WashU drops behind Lawrence and Augustana in the Midwest, you could match them with cross-town rival Webster from the SLIAC and then fly from St. Louis to Los Angeles for round two.

Wouldn't that be sweet to have two NWC teams get in. Chances are slim of course...but it would be sweet if it happened.

Yes, but unfortunately...there is no chnace of that this year