UPS Edges Whitworth in 2006-07 NWC Coaches Poll
| 2006-07 Men's Basketball Coaches Pre-Season Poll: |
| School |
(1st) |
Pts. |
2005-06 All |
2005-06 NWC |
| Puget Sound (Wash.) |
(6) |
82 |
23-5 |
14-2 |
| Whitworth (Wash.) |
(3) |
78 |
20-7 |
13-3 |
| Willamette (Ore.) |
|
55 |
17-8 |
13-3 |
| Lewis & Clark (Ore.) |
|
51 |
11-13 |
7-9 |
| Pacific (Ore.) |
|
41 |
10-15 |
4-12 |
| Whitman (Wash.) |
|
36 |
9-15 |
5-11 |
| George Fox (Ore.) |
|
35 |
16-9 |
9-7 |
| Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) |
|
19 |
5-20 |
4-12 |
| Linfield (Ore.) |
|
17 |
6-19 |
3-13 |
(First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on 10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis).
Spokane, Wash. - The University of Puget Sound is a narrow choice to win its fourth consecutive Northwest Conference basketball title, edging Whitworth in the 2006-07 NWC coaches' preseason poll.
The Loggers received six first place votes and 82 points in the poll. But UPS must overcome the loss of NWC Coach of the Year Eric Bridgeland, who took an opportunity to coach at Pepperdine, and First Team All-NWC selections Chase Curtiss (guard) and Zack McVey (post).That trio led the Loggers (23-5) to within a game of the NCAA Division III final four last season. Antwan Williams, who was an HM All-NWC selection as a freshman point guard, returns to run the team.
Whitworth gained three first place votes and 78 points in the poll. The Pirates will be led by senior guards Bryan Williams and Jon Young, but must overcome the graduation of NWC Player of the Year Lance Pecht and Second Team All-NWC forward George Tucker. That pair led Whitworth to the NWC tournament championship game last winter.
Willamette was third in the poll with 55 points. The Bearcats made the conference tournament a year ago after tying Whitworth for second place. Willamette graduated All-NWC guard John Olinger, and fellow all-conference guard CJ Stuvland will not be back until after the new year.
Lewis & Clark followed Willamette in the poll with 51 points. The Pioneers return HM All-NWC guard Thomas Tillery. Pacific was next with 41 points. The Boxers, under second year head coach Jason Lowery, return three starters.
Whitman (36 points) and George Fox (35) were sixth and seventh in the poll, respectively. The Missionaries will be led by Second Team All-NWC post Kyle Born, while the Bruins will look to HM All-NWC guard Phil Heu-Weller after graduating All-NWC selections Aaron Schmick and Scott Szalay.
Pacific Lutheran (19) and Linfield (17 points) rounded out the poll in eighth and ninth places, respectively. The Lutes will rely on senior wing Josh Vanlandingham, while the Wildcats graduated HM All-NWC guard Ryan Monagle after last season's last place finish.
This season the Northwest Conference returns to a conference tournament to decide the automatic (Pool A) bid to the NCAA tournament. At the conclusion of the regular season the second place team in the final standings will host the third place team in a playoff. The winner will play at the regular season champion for the NCAA bid.
Games get underway on Friday, November 17th.