MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[WooHoopsntrack01]

Sickening.
I guess I should be happy that they played toe to toe with a top 10 team on their own court.
But I'm not.

It's one of those "well, gettem next time".  And this could be a team we see very soon if we make the NCAA Tournament.  You just never know.  We really need Hallowell to get going; 3-7 is not going to cut it, period.  And with no real size advantage, the SCOTS really could use one of the young big kids to develop FAST.  Defensively we look good, offensively its like we are not quite there.

Question....can Mabeny play or no? 

[ScotsFan]

We really need Hallowell to get going; 3-7 is not going to cut it, period.  And with no real size advantage, the SCOTS really could use one of the young big kids to develop FAST.  Defensively we look good, offensively its like we are not quite there.

You can't expect Hallowell to knock down 6 or 7 treys every night.  He only averaged a little more than 3 made triples per game last season anyways.  And you can't expect him to shoot 50% every night from beyond the arc.  Heck, take away one miss and he would have shot 50% last night and even 3-7 is still 43% which is above what he's been averaging.  And 43% is a good percentage from deep.  He just spoiled us last year when he seemed to be unconsious shooting the ball.

And, you mention no size advantage.  So, how do you expain Wooster outrebounding Macon 37-30?  This is a R-MC team that was outrebounding their opponents to the tune of almost 15 rebounds per game!  Wooster also had a 14-12 advantage on points in the paint as well as a 9-0 advantage on 2nd chance points.  Those numbers aren't very indicative of Wooster having no size advantage.

Those reasons you mentioned are not what cost Wooster the game last night.  It was the 19 turnovers including the 2 on back to back possessions when the Scots had chances to tie or take the lead in the final minute of the game.  And it was Franks playing a whopping 5-6 minutes at best of the 2nd half due to foul trouble.

Question....can Mabeny play or no? 

I'm assuming you are wondering if Mabeny would help to give Wooster an advantage inside?  I would have to say my honest answer would be no.  Not at this point in time.  That's not to say he couldn't develop his game some.  But right now, for the most part, he looks lost when he's on the floor.

[David Collinge]

While the turnovers were once again Wooster's ultimate undoing, I think the foul trouble of Ian Franks in the 2nd half can't be ignored either. 

Franks' 4th and 5th fouls were both offensive fouls ==> turnovers.

[WooHoopsntrack01]

[/quote]
And 43% is a good percentage from deep.  He just spoiled us last year when he seemed to be unconsious shooting the ball.

And, you mention no size advantage.  So, how do you expain Wooster outrebounding Macon 37-30?  This is a R-MC team that was outrebounding their opponents to the tune of almost 15 rebounds per game!  Wooster also had a 14-12 advantage on points in the paint as well as a 9-0 advantage on 2nd chance points.  Those numbers aren't very indicative of Wooster having no size advantage.


I think you are right on JH spoiling us last year.  Maybe because of that I'm putting a little too much pressure on him.  Yes, 3/7 is a good shooting percentage, I think we just need him to score more given we don't really have that "nasty" big man we're used to having in order to make the outside shot even more effective.  At the end of the day do you feel that's what we're lacking?  If so, can one of those younger fellas develop in time enough to help alleviate some of the pressure off our our guards? 

Thanks for the info on Mabeny.  It sure would be nice to have him out there, so hopefully he'll at least be able to do the things big Joe Baron (yes blast from the past from Gheny) could do...run up and down the court, change a few shots, and make the easy ones.

GO SCOTS!

[ScotsFan]

While the turnovers were once again Wooster's ultimate undoing, I think the foul trouble of Ian Franks in the 2nd half can't be ignored either. 

Franks' 4th and 5th fouls were both offensive fouls ==> turnovers.

Ahhh.  Too true!   

[ScotsFan]

I think you are right on JH spoiling us last year.  Maybe because of that I'm putting a little too much pressure on him.  Yes, 3/7 is a good shooting percentage, I think we just need him to score more given we don't really have that "nasty" big man we're used to having in order to make the outside shot even more effective.  At the end of the day do you feel that's what we're lacking?  If so, can one of those younger fellas develop in time enough to help alleviate some of the pressure off our our guards? 

First of all, I agree with you that it would be nice to see Hallowell score more.  But, I think part of his problem is he relies on his outside shot too much in terms of scoring.  I was under the impression that he had worked more on his inside game during the offseason and I haven't seen very much evidence of that so far.  He could very much use his outside shot to set up defenders faking them with the shot and beating them with the dribble to get inside but I haven't seen much of that.  He could really keep defenders off balance if he could develop any sort of dribble penetration.

As far as lacking an inside presence, I'm not sold on that being the problem of this team to answer your question.  Wickliffe has proven he can dominate on the inside when the emphasis is there to get him the ball and when he can stay out of foul trouble.  What bugs me about Wick is that he never seems to build off of solid performances.  Like when he dropped 22 on JCU in a losing effort, he followed that up with a 4 point effort vs. Kenyon.  And like last night, he scored just 2 points in the 1st half and scored 8 fairly easily in the 2nd half.  Part of that problem is, as I said, Wooster's effort or emphasis to get him involved or lackthereof.

I also think the potential is there for our 2 young freshmen bigs to develop into a nice inside presence, but the experience just isn't all there yet.  They show flashes, but not consistency.

And as far as where I see this team truly lacking, as I've touched on many many many times as have David and wsf and others, it's taking care of the basketball!  Wooster is just turning the ball over  far too often, whether it be from sloppy ball handling to lazy passes to reckless drives into the lane.  I'm sure that the defenses of some of these teams Wooster has been playing could be attributed to some of the turnovers, but from listening to the game last night as well as others where the Scots have had a high number of turnovers, it seemed that a high percentage of Wooster's turnovers were of the unforced variety.  And until they shore up those unforced turnovers, this team will continue to struggle I'm afraid...

[David Collinge]

Looks like Earlham may have jumped the gun...

[ScotsFan]

Looks like Earlham may have jumped the gun...

They could always re-admit the University of Chicago... 

[smedindy]

Looks like Earlham may have jumped the gun...

Pitt may make sense, geographically. I can't see Syracuse or Rutgers. Iowa State and Missouri also make sense. I heard they may consider a MAC school too, which I can't see.

Earlham should hold out for the Summit League!

[David Collinge]

Denison and Bethany going to OT; neither team has had a double-digit lead tonight.  Audio link is at the top of this page.
UPDATE: Bethany's Jay Lyonett hits a fallaway three at the buzzer to force a second OT.  78-78.
UPDATE: Glad to have the audio, as the "live" stats has died, time of death 3:29 of the second OT.
UPDATE: Ah, now we have the "Lazarus Stats" app up and running.  90-88 Bison, 0:44.9 left, Bison ball.
FINAL: Bethany hits clutch free throws and issues more heartbreak to the Big Red, 94-90, 2OT.
If nothing else, playing for the Big Red surely builds character.    Frosh Dimonde Hale leads DU with a career-high 23; Larry Farmer had a 14-point/14-rebound/9-assist game, his third straight double-double.

Grove City 79, Kenyon 68...Lords had a 40-point first half, then scored two-count-em-two points in the first 8:57 of the second, by which time they were down by 19.  Scoring: Knight 27, Knapke 26, Keverybodyelse 15.

[GoRed]

An absolutely sickening game.  New to the board and I am definitely feeling G-o-r-e-d after this one.  The second game this year where the Red have had a 3 pt. lead with less than 10 seconds left and it got away from them - not to mention the heartbreaker last year where they came within a few seconds of upsetting the Scots on their home floor before losing in double OT.

This team seems to have talent and athleticism, and keeps games close, but can't seem to close out.  I wish I knew the answer because they seem better than their record shows (though early in the season beating a strong Wabash team). 

[wally_wabash]

Looks like Earlham may have jumped the gun...

That's hilarious.   

Who's the 12th team?  My guess...nobody.  I don't think there's an institution where the interest would be mutual.  I don't think the Big Ten is particularly interested into expanding into Nebraska or Missouri.  I think they are interested in expanding into the Northeast media markets, but Pitt and Syracuse aren't leaving the Big East because Pitt will have better BCS access there and I'm pretty sure that there are laws that forbid Syracuse from being anything other than a Big East basketball school (can you imagine a Big East tournament sans Syracuse? I can't.).  That leaves Rutgers, and does Rutgers have enough media pull to make them a worthwhile addition?  Aside from the Cinderella season they had a few years ago (which I think landed them in the Texas Bowl...yee haw), Rutgers football isn't exactly must see TV.  When the dust settles...the Big Ten stays the Big Eleven, they add in another bye week, and move the end of their football season back a couple of weeks. 

[smedindy]

This is all about that 12th team for a divisional football set-up. So I don't think media markets matter. So why not get the Richmond, IN market locked down!

[sac]

Looks like Earlham may have jumped the gun...

That's hilarious.   

Who's the 12th team?  My guess...nobody.  I don't think there's an institution where the interest would be mutual.  I don't think the Big Ten is particularly interested into expanding into Nebraska or Missouri.  I think they are interested in expanding into the Northeast media markets, but Pitt and Syracuse aren't leaving the Big East because Pitt will have better BCS access there and I'm pretty sure that there are laws that forbid Syracuse from being anything other than a Big East basketball school (can you imagine a Big East tournament sans Syracuse? I can't.).  That leaves Rutgers, and does Rutgers have enough media pull to make them a worthwhile addition?  Aside from the Cinderella season they had a few years ago (which I think landed them in the Texas Bowl...yee haw), Rutgers football isn't exactly must see TV.  When the dust settles...the Big Ten stays the Big Eleven, they add in another bye week, and move the end of their football season back a couple of weeks. 

Next year the final week of the Big Ten season will take place after Thanksgiving.

[wally_wabash]

Of course it's about media markets.  The Big Ten isn't adding any team that doesn't add to the bottom line.  Simply adding a championship game between division winners doesn't necessarily help.  The ACC's championship game is a monetary grease fire.  Adding a championship game actually hinders BCS access (read: more $$$) for the loser of that hypothetical game and for the league in general.  If the Big Ten can't turn an extra team into a far more lucrative tv deal with Disney and expand viewership of their own network into a new market, they aren't going for it.  The only team that readily achieves both of those goals is ND, and we all know that ND isn't about to share their money with anybody else. 

Ok, big game on Sunday.  I don't know exactly what matchup we'll get...who wants to break down the potential matchups:
Good Wabash vs. Good Wooster
Good Wabash vs. Bad Wooster
Bad Wabash vs. Bad Wooster
Bad Wabash vs. Good Wooster

One of these four games will happen on Sunday.  I haven't decided which one yet.