Does anyone have the video of Witt-Wabash buzzer beater last night? 

Marietta is now 25-3 I believe in arguably the best D-III conference in the country top to bottom.  They will be in the NCAA regardless of what result is on Saturday.

The last time an outright OAC regular season champion did not get an invitation to the NCAA tourney was 1994 (JCU 14-4). 

When was the last time the OAC regular season champion did NOT get an invite to the NCAA Tournament?  Especially after going 23-2 in the regualr season?   I got a hunch I know the answer....

Marietta is a LOCK to get to NCAA Tournament with winning the OAC regular season championship and now reaching the tourney finals.

Ziggy:

Look at #2 in both your lists to begin.  There is no argiung those 2 points in my opinion.

Ziggy:

What criteria are you referring?  Enlighten me. 

When does overal record, strength of schedule, not matter?

Syevie:

You need to get off Reynolds.  He will leave Westerville on his terms nobody elses.  He has earned that and I don't think he is ready to give up reigns yet.  I bet teh next Cardinal coach will not be nearly as successful in Westerville as Dick Reynolds has. 

You think there are not a few OAC, NCAC schools who would love to see Dick Reynolds running their programs.  What do you have against Reynolds anyway?

Why would you think Hope would or should be ranked higher than Marietta?  Reputation? 

The OAC is top to bottom the better league year in and year out.  They went 16-2 in that league.  If I were the Pioneers I would be upset they are not ahead of Wooster too.  The NCAC is the weakest league of the three in the GL region every year.

Hope better win their first two league tourney games or they may be on the outside loking in come next week.

The last three years only 1 MIAA team has made the NCAA tourney?  Wow I guess the league has fallen in the level of play.  I did not realize only the tourney champ has been invited for three years.  

Guess I have been following the NCAC and OAC much more in recent years.  Any MIAA fans going to travel to Ohio for the NCAA tourney?

Anyone else find it a bit strange that Wittenberg dropped out of this week's regional rankings without losing a game?  And they seem to be getting stronger with the addition of McKee from a personnel standpoint.  It really will not matter in the long run but I found it a bit odd.  If they beat Wooster at home on Saturday (which I believe they will) they will almost assuredly jump back into the top four in Great Lakes.

Can anyone really argue that this is a down year for the MIAA? 

Parity is one thing that the league has never been known for and I don't think it is this year as much as mediocrity.  I cannot remember Calvin ever being this medicore and for 5 or 6 teams sharing 6-5 league records shows it has not been a banner year for the conference.  When is the last time only 1 MIAA team made the NCAA tournament?

Has Adrian and Kalamazoo really shown that much improvement or are they simply benefitting from a down year?   I cannot comment on either of these teams since I have not seen them play this season.

 

Maybe Reynolds is learning how to coach after all.... it has only been 38 years, numerous OAC Titles, multiple Final Fours, and a NCAA Title.  Not much of a resume there, eh. 

My guess is Stevie need not worry about the coaching in Westerville.  Just a thought.......

How can you argue it is down year in the MIAA?  Calvin is far below par and this league in all fairness is much like the NCAC.  Two powers and occasionally another strong team.  Usually it is Albion.  But this year the Britons are not what they have been in years past.

How can you argue that?   In the NCAC it is Wooster/Witt and the others with Wabash and OWU usually tough to beat in their own gyms.  How many other NCAC teams have been to the NCAA tournament in the past decade?  How often?

In the MIAA what team besides Hopw/Calvin (and occasionally Albion) has been to the dance?

I am not trying to knock Hope, Calvin, or Albion.  But Olivet, Kzoo, Adrian, Trine, and Alma have all been down for several years.  Adrian is on a slight improvement now but is that partly because the rest of the league is down?  

Other interesting numbers via OAC Media Guide:

Reynolds - has won 61% of his games in 38 years
Moran - JCU - has won 63% of his games in 19 years
Goodwin -  Cap - has won 62% in 15 years


Burson - Muskingum - won 57% of his games in 38 years - maybe not such a tough job after all?

Albert:

I did some research in regards to Jim Burson's career after reading your post.  I don't think you realize how many times he had the Muskie program in contention in the OAC.  An in most of the years he was leading Muskingum, Wittenberg was also in the OAC and dominating it like it has the NCAC until Wooster recent overtaking of that dominant position in NCAC.

Do you realize he coached at Muskie for 38 years.  True he was old school and yes he only led them to 2 OAC regular season titles.  But they won the OAC Tournament three other times.  And also finished second in the regular season 4 times and finished third in the standings 5 times.  That is 11/38 years being in the top three.  In addition he led Muskingum into the D-III National Tournament 5 times.   He also was voted OAC Coach of the Year (6) times. 

Since he has left the Muskie sideline they have finished no higher than 4th and look like they may be headed to their second consecutive last place finish.  Maybe they should see if he wants to make a comeback in New Concord.

It is ironic the only times they won the OAC regular season title was when Gene Ford was his star player.