What a great time of year!  To all of you Scots fans going to Salem, I had the same worries as you going into the Final Four last year.  I simply ordered my tickets through TicketMaster, picked them up at will call, and then sat wherever I wanted.  It wasn't a problem at all.  I ended up with some pretty decent seats.  Just my two cents. 

I can't believe I'm saying this, but Go Scots!    Wooster has been quite the archrival through my career, and as a player, I could not stand them.  Now, as I mellow out, I really respect and admire the program.  Best of luck to COW and I'll (honestly) be cheering for you guys.

A quick story from the Elite 8 game, I was in Houston, Tx for work and my laptop had crashed.  I wanted to see what was happening in the game so I went to the hotel's computer.  There were no speakers, so the audio was out of the question, so what did I do?  The live stats.  I was sitting in front of a computer, sweating out an overtime game, through a stat feed.  The people around me had to have thought I was on drugs.  Nope, just a d3 basketball fan.  Which is worse? 

Quote from: ScotsFan on February 18, 2007, 03:16:49 PM

Quote from: David Collinge on February 18, 2007, 02:16:24 PM
Dorksen says he agrees "that other factors [besides work ethic and recruiting edges] contribute," but he's not backing down from his contention that Woo and Witt have the best (and presumably hardest-working) staffs and get the best recruits.

They also have the largest staffs by far in the conference which could also contribute to why they have the so called 'best' staffs.  Also, with more bodies on each of the staffs at Witt and Woo, it could be argued that there is actually less work to go around than say for the coaching staff at the 'Little 8'...

As far as Witt having a large staff, only Coach Artie Taylor is being paid.  There are two volunteer assistants and a student assistant.  What are the average sizes of the staffs around the NCAC?  I know Wooster has a few assistants, but I can only remember one or two at the other schools. 

DC:  In the past it has been a double header price.  And I doubt that it will be $8 to get in because Wooster isn't playing.  I'll bet its $5 to see the two games.  Don't quote me on that, though.

The POtW award is not handed out properly in my opinion.  Its like giving a trophy to every one in a little league.  It should be handed out to whatever player on whatever team had the best week.  My senior year I had 19 against Denison and then 18 at Wooster to all but clinch the regular season title and they gave the award to someone from Oberlin (Brandon Crawford, I believe).  Not that Crawford is a bad player or wasn't deserving, but I guarantee you, the games we won meant more than the ones he played in.  I even think they went 1-1 the week he got it.That wasn't the only case either.  I can remember numerous times when Schwab, Bryan Nelson or someone else would have a monster week and th award would go to a guard from Hiram who had 15 and 12 in two games.  NOt bad stats, but not truly deserving.    Oh well, I'm not still bitter or anything.   

Kentucky still has one class.  The sixteen regional winners go to Rupp Arena in Lexington to play for the state title.  Its a really great environment.

DC- I wondered the same thing.  They commented a couple times how surprised they were hoe low scoring the game was.  They also said how Witt loves to score points.  Have they seen Witt at all this year?

Woops, did I say '92?  I meant '94.  It was Coach Brown's first year. 

Scotsbrod- Matt Croci hit that bank three.  Coach Brown has the tape and showed it to us a couple times.  It was in '92 I believe. 

VanillaCOW-  In '02, Matt Smith left his feet.  We had called a 1-4 flat play, so Greg could go one on one with Smith.  As Greg was going to the hole he head faked at the three point line and Smith jumped to contest.  Greg leaned in and drew the foul.  Thats a foul 100% of the time.  I was on the floor when that happened, and Rustad's fling at the basket almost went it.  I stood at the free throw line and couldn't watch.  After he made the free throws, Wooster came down and Brian Carlisle, who I was guarding, set a ball screen on Antwaan Reynolds and I switched.  Being sure I was going to get scored on, I said some prayers.  By the grace of God, or my spectacular on ball defense, Reynolds dribbled off his foot.  The ball rolled to almost half court and he threw one up in desperation.  I swear it took 10 minutes for that ball to get to the rim.  That shot hit the front of the rim and it was pandemonium. 

As for the best game I played in, it would have to be Witt at Wooster in 2002 for the conference title.  We had lost at Wabash and Wooster had lost to us.  It was back and forth through out the game and in the second half with about 14 min to go, Wooster took an 12 point lead, Kevin Longley then dunked all over Blake Mealer, we got it to nine with about 4 min to go, and Rod Emmons hit a three and Rustad had a four point play in the corner right in front of Woo's student section.  We should not have won that game.  We ended up beating Woo three times that year.  That was an amazing season.

The bast game I have been to is a tie.  Jan 1, 1995 Louisville vs. Kentucky, Freshman Samaki Walker drops Louisville first ever triple double with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and a school record 11 blocks.  I was about 5th row behind the basket.  I was in 7th grade and remember it like it was yesterday.

The second is this years OSU/Michigan game.  I don't need to explain to anyone about that game, but before the game in the rotunda, I asked my then girlfriend to marry me (she said yes).  Best game ever.  We also got a chunk of the field after the game.

Well, well, well, the truth comes out.  Mr. Wooster Booster hates Wittenberg.  ANd I thought we were all about respect for the last couple days. 

You really think Witt plays dirty?  Was this a big rivalry game?  Sure it is.  Were kids diving all over the floor?  I could see it on the internet.  I didn't see what happened do Vandervaart, but no one was trying to hurt him.  There is never, ever a word spoken of dirty play in Witt's program.  Physical play? Absolutely.  Does Wooster play physical?  Yes.  When to teams are playing hard and physical basketball, is someone going to get popped in the nose?  Most likely. 

Are you really inferring that Witt has something to do with the refs?  Honestly.  Is someone playing puppet master with D3 officials?  Do you know something I don't?  NCAC refs are notoriously bad, and don't call the game consistently.  Sometimes Witt will have and advantage, and sometimes Wooster will. 

Everything you have whined about is out of the fans control.  The ticket prices, the refs, and the "dirty" play.  Oh, and you disparaged my alma mater.  Thanks.  I love having people tell me where I came from is worthless. 

Oh and good one about Wooster throwing Witt out in 1845.  Thats an issue that EVERYONE is still talking about. 

Anyway, Witt showed me somethings last night.  1) The defense is tough.  2) they can step up in big games.  3)  Late mistakes are still a problem. 

They did a better job not playing hard the whole game.  They had been so up and down in their effort, turning it on and off, but if you can't play hard for 40 min against Wooster, then clean out your locker.  I hope Gregg Hill can keep his offensive momentum, as it relives pressure and double teams from Dane. 

JSC and Tigerup,

You guys are definitely new to the NCAC if you're even commenting on the refs.  The rest of these guys stopped talking about them a long time ago, because its usually a given that they are bad.  Just don't even worry about them. 

Witt played some excellent defense.  Holding Port, Vandervaart, and Cooper to 13, 11, and 6 respectively is a great job.  They got beat on the boards.  Giving up 12 offensive rebound was key.  Also, those two late turnovers KILLED Witt.  Hill and Denbow both should have pulled the ball out in those situations.  I don't care if Borchers dropped it or not, run the clock out.  But, you can't fault them for being aggressive. 

Hell of a play by Port, burying the three from the corner.  Big shot.  Give Wooster credit for beating Witt in a low(er) scoring affair.  Wooster does such a great job of getting the ball up the floor. 

Can't wait to see what happens in February.  It'll be another classic Witt/Woo game for sure.  I'll be sick to my stomach, as usual.

I can remember Witt's JV team playing OSU-Marion during one of my four seasons.  Thats why I just laughed off Lincoln's video game victory.

I can't make the game tonight, I'm in Houston, TX for work and its killing me.  I'll be watching on the internet for sure, but I would have loved to put faces with names.  I was picturing an Animal House-esque food fight as soon as I walked into Mike and Rosy's.  Makes me laugh just thinking about it.

Good luck tonight boys, I'll be getting noise complaints for you.

GO TIGERS!

DC:  You nailed it.  Borchers and Hemenway did a fantastic job around the rim.  Altering shots, stopping drives and so forth.  Denison would try and take it to the basket and Dane and Jack would be waiting, causing some pretty wild layup attempts. 

15 feet and out was a different story.  I can remember on multiple occasions Denison post players hitting contested threes.  Izzo too hit some pretty tough jumpers.  And give Denison credit, they play hard.  If only they played like that against teams that aren't Witt and Wooster. 

And as far the dirty play thing, I'm hypersensitive, as I took an extra cheap shot from a Denison player and had Coach Ghiloni deny anything happened. 

I was at the Witt/ Denison game tonight.  It was pretty disappointing to me that Witt 1) was down to Denison the entire game and 2) played flat for long stretches and would just flip a switch and play hard.  The offensive struggles concern me as well, but it seems when they really want, the guys can score at will.  Its as if Witt does just enough to hang on and win. 

Witt's defense looked ok today, as it did against Capital, but it didn't help that Denison was hitting everything they threw up.  They play so tough at home, but lay eggs on the road.  I also can't stand some of the borderline dirty things the Denison players do.  Borchers caught a blatant shove in the back while shooting a layup late in the game that could have taken him out.  This seems to be a trend, as my junior year, I was punched in the groin by a Denison player.  Coach Ghiloni said it was accidental. 

Two tough ones for the Tigers this week.  Cedarville and Wooster.  Get your perimeter defense ready boys. 

Oh wow.  PennStghs, what are you talking about?  Where have you been?  Are you lost, sick, nuts?  I don't know how you can even THINK to say that Witt has no challenges ahead.  Night in and night out, we take people's best shots.  Now, being the #1 team in the d3hoops poll, as little as that means, people want to us even more.  The bullseye just got bigger my friend.  I can remember numerous times, teams playing their hearts out and taking us to the wire or just flat out beating us.  I can remember an over time game at Hiram and a loss at OWU when I was a frosh, a loss at Wabash as a sophomore, two losses to Allegheny my junior year.  Thats just off the top of my head.  So for you to say that there are no challenges is maybe the most outrageous thing I can think of.  Each game is a challenge and I can GUARANTEE you no one in the program is thinking of ANYTHING other than Earlham on Wednesday.  Man, think before you speak, please. 

And as for the lack of Witt posters, I read this forum on a daily basis, but beacuse I don't write anything, you think I'm not there.  I know of many people like me, who choose to lurk rather than post.  Is that a big deal? I don't think so at all.  When people stop supporting the program, then thats a problem.  Witt fans not posting on a message board is really of no consequence. 

GO TIGERS!   

For the last time, it wasn't Subway.  Taco Bell turned me down.  If you're going to make fun of me at least get it right.