THE RECORDS
Linfield enters the week at 9-3 overall and is the only remaining unbeaten team in Northwest Conference play at 4-0. Whitworth enters at 11-2 overall and 4-1 in NWC play while Pacific Lutheran (9-5 overall) also posts a 4-1 NWC mark. Whitman stands at 5-8 overall and 3-2 in NWC play while Willamette is 5-9 overall with a 2-4 conference mark.
 
LINFIELD AT A GLANCE
The Wildcats rank second in the NWC with a 7.9 scoring margin, averaging 80.8 points per game while allowing 72.8 points per game. Fifth-year senior guard Dempsey Roggenbuck is the NWC's leading scorer with 21.1 points per game. He is shooting 49.2 percent from the field, 36.6 percent from three-point range and a conference-leading 84.2 percent from the free throw line. Fellow fifth-year senior guard Max Lommen and senior forward Aaron Baune are both averaging 14.2 points per game while freshman guard Trey Bryant is scoring 10.3 points per game. Baune leads the team with 6.1 rebounds per game.
 
Bryant was named the NWC Men's Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week after scoring a combined 27 points on 58.8 percent shooting in two wins for the 'Cats last week. His week was highlighted by a triple-double of 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a double overtime win over Pacific Tuesday night in McMinnville.
 
WHITWORTH AT A GLANCE
The Pirates are second in the NWC in scoring with 85.8 points per game while leading the conference with a 50.5 field goal percentage. The Pirates have five players averaging double figures, led by senior JT McDermott's 12.8 points per game. Senior Liam Fitzgerald is averaging 11.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while fellow senior Garrett Paxton is right behind with 11.7 points per game. Graduate students Miguel Lopez (11.3 PPG) and Jordan Lester (10.1 PPG) are also scoring in double digits. Lester leads the NWC with 6.5 assists per game and is second with 7.4 rebounds per game.
 
WHITMAN AT A GLANCE
The Blues are averaging 73.1 points per game. Much of their success on offense has come from beyond the arc as they lead the NWC with 11.2 three-pointers per game and rank second with a 38.4 three-point percentage. Junior Nikola Trifunovic leads the way with 16.5 points per game, which ranks fifth in the NWC. He also ranks fourth with a 52.9 field goal percentage and leads the NWC with a 47.1 three-point percentage. Sophomore Xzavier Lino is averaging 14 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, which is tied for third in the NWC. Juniors Walter Lum (13.1 PPG) and Weston Crump (10.2 PPG) are also averaging double figures.
 
WILLAMETTE AT A GLANCE
The Bearcats put up the third-most points in the NWC with 84.4 points per game, but they also allow the most points at 90.7 points per game. Freshman Cedric Coward is the team's leading scorer with 17.9 points per game, which ranks fourth in the NWC. He leads the NWC with 11.6 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game and a 59.1 field goal percentage while also ranking third with 4.1 assists per game. Senior Jonathan Watts is averaging 14.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while junior Jack Boydell isn't far behind with 14 points per game.
 
PACIFIC LUTHERAN AT A GLANCE
The Lutes have been solid on defense, leading the NWC with 67.8 points allowed per game while limiting opponents to 39 percent shooting. Senior Seth Hall sits right behind Roggenbuck in scoring, ranking second in the NWC with 21 points per game. He is also fifth in the NWC with a 50 field goal percentage. Junior Sean McCurdy is averaging 11.9 points and a team-leading 7.2 rebounds per game, which is tied for third in the NWC. Senior Tyler Ashmore is just shy of double figures with 9.3 points per game.
 
HISTORY
Northwest Conference co-champions in 2019-20, Linfield and Whitworth have met 95 times. The Pirates lead the series with a 62-33 record over the 'Cats. The 'Cats are 12-38 against the Pirates on the road. The 'Cats dominated the last meeting, a 91-80 win in McMinnville.
 
Linfield and Whitman have met 103 times with the 'Cats leading the series with a 55-48 record. The 'Cats are looking to pick up their first win in Walla Walla since the 2009-10 season. The two teams split their regular season series in 2019-20 with the Blues winning 99-82 in Walla Walla and the 'Cats winning 73-70 in McMinnville, picking up their first win over the Blues in over nine years. The Blues got the last laugh, beating the 'Cats 85-70 in the semifinals of the NWC Tournament.
 
Willamette owns a slight advantage in its 109-game series with Linfield with a 57-52 record. The 'Cats are 24-31 in Salem but have won 11 straight matchups. The 'Cats took both meetings in the abbreviated spring 2021 season, winning 107-79 in Salem and 97-73 in McMinnville.
 
Linfield and Pacific Lutheran have met 105 times. The 'Cats hold a slight lead in the series with a 53-52 record. The 'Cats are 36-15 against the Lutes at home and have won seven straight matchups. The 'Cats took both meetings in 2019-20, winning 68-54 in Tacoma and 88-75 in McMinnville.
 
UPDATED LINFIELD SPECTATOR POLICY
To ensure that the Linfield Community, i.e. Students, Staff, and Faculty, remain as healthy as possible during the latest surge of COVID cases due primarily to the Omicron Variant in Oregon, Linfield Athletics is adjusting its current athletic contest spectator policy to the following:

• For home-based basketball games, home and visiting student-athletes will be allotted 4 family member spectator tickets; those 4 people will be on a list and must provide proof of vaccination at the door. They will also be expected to sit together at the event. No additional spectators will be allowed entry at this time.
• There will be no admission charge for approved spectators.
   
• All participants, coaches, spectators and operations personnel must comply with mask use while inside our facilities (except players or officials during active competition and practice). This means wearing the mask over your mouth & nose at all times.  No exceptions!
   
• Spectators are asked to space themselves throughout the bleachers, as per physical distancing guidelines.
   
• Concessions will not be sold until further notice. Food is not allowed in our venues, but non-alcoholic drinks may be consumed during events as long as proper masking is taking place between actively taking a drink.