The Northwest Conference (NWC) tournament is just around the corner, and the Whitworth men’s basketball team is focused and has one goal: to bring the trophy home. The Whitworth Pirates are currently ranked first heading into the tournament after winning the regular season NWC title. The team will also have a home-court advantage as the tournament will be hosted at the Fieldhouse on the Whitworth campus.
According to the senior Ben Nyquist, the team performance has been meeting the standards that were set at the start of the season. “The team has performed right at our expectations,” Nyquist said, “At the beginning of the year, we took some losses but learned from these mistakes, and that has gotten us better.”
One of the most notable learning moments of the season came from a close loss against Pacific University, making that their only conference game loss this season. Nyquist admitted that the team “lost focus in the last few minutes,” which allowed Pacific to come back in the game; that loss was a turning point for the team. Nyquist believed that team character and hard work were shown in the very next game against Willamette, where they won 93-86. “We were challenged the whole game, but we pulled away at the end,” he said, “It showed the heart and hustle of this team.”
Since the close loss against Pacific, the team has adjusted its practice sessions so that they don’t repeat those mistakes in upcoming matches. “Our level of focus at the end of games has improved a lot, and we are better at breaking the press,” Nyquist added.
This year’s team is unique. The roster is made up of 12 veterans, allowing for deep connections and bonds, but they also welcomed two new players. Nyquist highlighted how the new transfers, graduate student Brian Caldera and junior Kobe Parlin, have “instantly become a part of the culture.”
“The team chemistry this year is amazing,” Nyquist said, “There are so many different personalities on this team, and they blend so well.” This is the final ride for Nyquist and seven other seniors on the team. The mindset of players heading to the last few games is simple: respect every opponent and give your all on the field. “As a senior, I want to go out on a high note, and we have the perfect opportunity to do that by winning the conference,” he said.
The team is confident about the upcoming tournament and acknowledges every opponent as a threat. Nyquist was clear about the team’s expectations for the NWC tournament. “We expect to win the tournament,” Nyquist stated, “There really is no other option.” The NWC tournament was taking place over the weekend of Feb. 27.
