https://www.d3hoops.com en-us https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2017-18/whitworth-what-if What if the refs had made a different call at the end of Whitworth's last-second loss to Whitman? What if the Pirates hadn't lost one of their best players to a season-ending injury? Don't bother asking Whitworth these questions because the Pirates are charting their course toward another NCAA Tournament. Thu, 15 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2017-18/whitworth-what-if https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2017-18/uw-superior-50-not-enough Ask the UW-Superior women's basketball team how many conference games they've won in a row, and the answer might surprise you. They don't know. That's because the Yellowjackets are more focused on the winning at least one game in the NCAA Tournament. Nathan Ford has more in Around the West. Thu, 08 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2017-18/uw-superior-50-not-enough https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2017-18/augsburg-collin-olmscheid Good news, MIAC fans. Your Olmscheid induced terror is almost at an end. After four years of Darrin at Concordia-Moorhead, younger brother Collin is nearing the end of his time at Augsburg. But he's making one last push for a MIAC tournament title. Thu, 01 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2017-18/augsburg-collin-olmscheid https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2017-18/atr-occidental-baines Entering his sophomore season at Middlebury, something besides warmer weather was pulling Zach Baines to the west coast. He transferred to Occidental where he's led the surprising Tigers to first place in the SCIAC. Nathan Ford has more in Around the West. Thu, 25 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2017-18/atr-occidental-baines https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2017-18/who-is-claire-marburger If you follow the IIAC, you might know her as Luther's All-American who transferred from Central. There is a lot more to her story that you probably don't know, including her battle with clinical depression. Claire has decided to tell that story to help others going through the same struggle. Thu, 18 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2017-18/who-is-claire-marburger https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2017-18/george-fox-balanced-for-battle If you’re a believer in recent history, the winner of Friday’s Whitman-George Fox game will win rest of its regular-season games. And if you're a George Fox fan, you're hoping the Bruins' balance carries the day. Nathan Ford has more in Around the West. Wed, 10 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2017-18/george-fox-balanced-for-battle https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2017-18/second-semester-storylines Many of us focus on what we can do differently when the calendar changes from one year to another. Some teams, like Central, Hamline and Augsburg, hope that 2018 picks up where 2017 left off. Nathan Ford explains in Around the West. Wed, 03 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2017-18/second-semester-storylines https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2017-18/sju-john-oliver Watch St. John's senior John Oliver closely and you may notice something about his play-- his tenacious defense, his energy, his vertical leaping ability. Then you may notice that he's doing it all with one hand and wonder how. Oliver explains to Nathan Ford in this week's Around the West column. Thu, 14 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2017-18/sju-john-oliver https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2017-18/west-region-preview The West Region currently has four of the top 12 teams in Division III women's basketball and the top-ranked team in Division III men's basketball. How far will those teams go this season and who else will make waves in their conference races? Nathan Ford has the answers in Around the West. Thu, 30 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2017-18/west-region-preview https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/umac-men-tournament Can anyone stop Northwestern from earning its seventh straight automatic NCAA tournament berth? What are the most important factors to winning a two-round conference tournament? Nathan Ford breaks it down with UMAC coaches in Around the West. Tue, 21 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/umac-men-tournament https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/puget-sound-women-history Puget Sound knocked off all of the top contenders in the NWC. By doing so, the Loggers clinched the program's first outright NWC title. Nathan Ford explains how they did it, plus guides us through all of the other conference races out West. Tue, 14 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/puget-sound-women-history https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/st-thomas-bounces-back St. Thomas stumbled early this season, but the defending men's champs are gaining momentum when it matters most. Meanwhile, the women's team is dominating, eager to avenge last season's disappointing finish. More in Around the West. Wed, 08 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/st-thomas-bounces-back https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/cms-scarlett-weathers-storm Missing the 2016 tournament? Losing one of his top running mates to injury? Michael Scarlett can handle that pressure. He's become a complete player for a deep Stags team intent on running the SCIAC table. More in Around the West. Tue, 31 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/cms-scarlett-weathers-storm https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/gustavus-adolphus-mikayla-miller Laurie Kelly was the kind of player capable of succeeding at a higher level. Now, as a Division III head coach, she is tasked with recruiting her own game-changing players to Gustavus Adolphus. She found her first in Mikayla Miller. More in Around the West. Tue, 24 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/gustavus-adolphus-mikayla-miller https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/loras-ruggles-heart Josh Ruggles is a heart surgery survivor and a world record holder. Now, finally, the Loras sharpshooter once again holds a title he cherishes most: college basketball player. Nathan Ford has more in Around the West. Tue, 17 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/loras-ruggles-heart https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/whitman-basketball-unbeaten Whitman's men's and women's teams are a perfect 26-0 to start the season. You better learn their new nickname soon, as the newly-christened Blues are prepared to make their name known deep into March. Wed, 11 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/whitman-basketball-unbeaten https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/resetting-the-west The holiday season is over and conference play is in full swing. Nathan Ford resets the West Region conferences to prepare you for an exciting finish to the 2016-17 season. Wed, 04 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/resetting-the-west https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/willamette-shooters-win When Peg Swadener took over a 1-24 Willamette program, she knew what kind of players she wanted to recruit. Now, her team's style and culture is translating to wins. More in Around the West. Wed, 07 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/willamette-shooters-win https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/cal-lutheran-changes The Kingsmen lost head coach Rich Rider when he retired abruptly just before the season started. They added transfer Wolfgang Wood, and elevated longtime assistant Geoff Dains to interim head coach. It's all added up to a 4-0 start. More in Around the West. Tue, 29 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/cal-lutheran-changes https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/nebraska-wesleyan-ready-to-run Nebraska Wesleyan is officially a member of Division III and the IIAC. Their style might look familiar, but it aims to be one-of-a-kind. Nathan Ford has more in the first Around the West column of the season. Tue, 22 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/nebraska-wesleyan-ready-to-run https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/george-fox-fights-to-24-0 A little early-season adversity was just a minor hiccup for the George Fox women, as the Bruins learned what kind of fight they had and rolled from there. Wed, 24 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/george-fox-fights-to-24-0 https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/dubuque-making-room-for-more-banners The University of Dubuque has a problem, one the athletic department is ecstatic about. Behind one basket are massive banners representing the school's recent Iowa Conference championships that have the wall nearly covered. Wed, 17 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/dubuque-making-room-for-more-banners https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/puget-sound-making-connections Emily Sheldon spent part of last summer on an all-star tour of Brazil and now has former teammates from New York to Iowa to keep tabs on. Meanwhile, she's intent on leading Puget Sound back to the NCAA Tournament. Thu, 11 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/puget-sound-making-connections https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/st-johns-pat-mckenzie St. John's first new basketball coach in a half-century, Pat McKenzie, might not spend 51 years on the Johnnies sidelines the way his predecessor did. But he has to be pleased with how his first year as head coach has gone so far. Wed, 03 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/st-johns-pat-mckenzie https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/fab-freshman-cam-haslam-lights-it-up-for-chapman Cam Haslam has come in as a freshman and has done things nobody in Chapman athletics history has ever done, things his coach never saw coming. Plus, his game off the court is strong as well. Wed, 27 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/fab-freshman-cam-haslam-lights-it-up-for-chapman https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/all-in-the-family Four members of the High family now compete in the same gym almost every weekend, whether wearing a uniform or patrolling the sidelines. But it didn't start out that way. Thu, 21 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/all-in-the-family https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/who-is-whitworth Whitworth is a name you should be familiar with. But if you're not staying up until midnight Eastern to watch their games, here's a Pirates primer for you, in this week's Around the West. Wed, 13 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/who-is-whitworth https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/wartburg-leads-cast-of-young-iowa-conference-teams The Knights have made the most noise, by far, in starting the season 10-1. But there are other Iowa Conference women's basketball teams who have the potential to grow quickly. More in Around the West. Wed, 06 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/wartburg-leads-cast-of-young-iowa-conference-teams https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/carleton-all-comes-together After a disappointing trip to California, Carleton comes back to Minnesota and knocks off MIAC powerhouse St. Thomas. Plus Bethel, Whitworth, Dubuque and St. Olaf items in the latest Around the West. Wed, 09 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/carleton-all-comes-together https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/new-league-same-result-uw-superior UW-Superior left the WIAC with a conference championship. But even with the move to the UMAC, it might not be as easy to dominate after graduating one of the greatest players in program history. Wed, 25 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT https://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2015-16/new-league-same-result-uw-superior