The technical acuity of Wooster's audio partner, WQKT, also sucks.  The audio transmission cut out every 15 seconds or so in the second half and then go worse toward game's end.  What a pile.  WQKT is the podunkiest of podunk stations and doesn't have the juice, genius, or common sense to know that they have a problem.  No communication or apology to the listening audience (however few of us there were -- refugees from the Scots video desert otherwise known as the infamous "Big Wooster No Signal Zone").   What a way to close out the home season...

  No freakin' s%#t.  I've complained directly to both the Athletic Department and the Alumni Dept.  To no avail.  They Wooster hierarchy simply doesn't get it that the video system is the best vehicle for enabling prospective student players to see the style, coaching, talent, team-play, etc. of Wooster basketball?  It's almost as if they don't care.  It's the cheapest advertising the Scots could do and they piss it away, year after year.  I don't get why Coach Moore & CO. don't demand a decent, reliable system.  Want a good example -- look no further than Wabash.  This is not rocket science.  This is another critical component of building a fan base and smart recruitment. 

OWU 92, Wooster 85.....


I'll have a blue Christmas without Woo.
I'll be so blue just thinking about Woo.
Palpitations bled, Woo's loss has gone my head.
Won't be the same, dear, as OWU makes another 3, oh me.

And as those blue baskets started falling
That's when those blue memories started calling
OWU'll be doin' all right with Woo's Christmas of white
But I'll have a blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas
OWU'll be doin' all right with Woo's Christmas of white
But I'll have a blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas   

   So I watched a video replay of Saturday's Denison-OWU game and IF the Big Red can consistently stitch together 2 halves like their first half against OWU, look out opponents!  Denison did everything right in dismantling OWU (granted, OWU's defense is not generally the best but it's not shabby either).  Regardless the Big Red shot 62% in the first half and whether it was inside or outside shots, they got open and flushed them down. OWU had no answer as the lead built inexorably to 47-27 at the half.  Yeah, even poor teams occasionally pull together terrific halves but frankly, I think Wooster or some of the other better D3 teams would have been flummoxed last night against them. 

Couple of other interesting notes:  Denison got 25 pts. from its bench -- OWU got... 0 (not a typo, that's zero!). On the other hand, Freshman Nate Alexrod (22 pts. and 7 rebs.) was the one bright flash for OWU on an otherwise dim evening.  He's an energizer bunny with the skills to penetrate and pump them in from downtown.  I imagine (read: hope) Coach Moore & Co. have taken note in preparation for Wednesday's NCAC headliner against the Bishops...

Yes, Pannell's Tres was huge -- as were the three preceding 3 ptrs -- the only points for the Scots in the last 6:50 of the game.  I'm thanking the stars for Wooster's age old tradition of being an high percentage FT shooting team.  If Woo won it on its outside shooting at the end, DePauw lost the game on FTs, cashing in on a comparatively ice cold 43.8% (7-16) on a day when the Scots went efficiently about their task at the foul line, nailing 80% (16-20) in a workman-like manner.

Wooster was horrendous in the paint: only 6 pts. in the valley of the jolly green giant, 6'9" Tommy Fernitz.  On the other hand, Depauw virtually waltzed through that zone for 24 of their 62 pts.  Depauw also snared twice as many offensive rebs (11-5) and capitalized on those, ringing up 14 second-chance pts. vs. only 3 for the Scots.

One bright spot: Wooster treated DePauw to a "block party"-- slapping down 9 shots while the Tigers only stuffed two.

Crossing my fingers crossed, knocking on wood, and saying my prayers to the Great Gods & Goddesses of The Game In The Sky that Coach Moore & Co. can help right the ship before Wednesday's "all-in" showdown at OWU! 

  Wooster hiccuped at the onset of the it's game with Allegheny tonight.  Down 22 to 21 or so, the Scotts shifted gears, hit the groove, and the gas, and it was bye-bye.  Halftime was 54 to 31 and the final topped the century mark for the second time in two games, 104 to 73.  The Black and Gold shot 58% or 34 of 59 field goals for the game (61% in the first half).  55% on tres and 89% from the foul line (25 of 28).  The Scots jumping jacks out bounded the Gators, 45 to 30. 

Worst thing about the game:  Yes, you guessed it: The AV system.  This time, I assume it was Allegheny's Rube Goldberg clunker-of-a-system.  It died out completely before the start of the second half.  Only audio from WQKT-AM in Wooster.      Allegheny's video commentary in the first half was straight out of Wayne's World -- inane, always stating the obvious, a waste of time and space.  Where do they get these guys?  The play-by-play announcer was tolerable; the "color commentator" was colorless and clueless.  If EPA had been on the job, he would have been fined for polluting the air(waves). 

I watched the video several times of Pannell's lovely smash dunk against the Witt defender.  I too thought the defender may have planted his feet.  Anybody know the precise NCAA rule on this?  A friend is a ref at the high school level here in Maine; I may look on-line, too.  I wonder if the same rule applies at the collegiate and high school level?  Obviously, it's going to be viewed and interpreted by the ref and she/he is the final judge, but now I'm curious.  Anybody have insight on this?

Wooster 104 Wittenberg 97  Whew!  Witt was anything but it's record (4-10) in its matchup with the Scots.

Holy COW!  I'm still breathless.  That tired, boring cliche "throw out the record books" when these to teams collide was certainly apropos tonight at Timken Gym.  Oh, did I forget to say -- throw out defense while you are at it.  Witt's 57.6% edged Woo's 55.2% for field goals.  Both teams bombarded the other with dizzying displays of successive and relentless 3-pointers: Woo shot 58.3% (14 of 24) while Witt nailed 56.3% from downtown (13 of 23). 

The Tigers repeatedly confounded the Scots in the first half with seemingly endless penetrations for easy layups, although the Scots filled the breaches a little better in the second half.  Indeed, super aggressive defense during the last 6 or 7 minutes sealed the win for the Black & Gold.  On the other hand, Witt nudged out Woo on the boards (30 to 28) and nearly doubled the Scots' points in the paint (40 to 22) while matching Wooster's second half points output (47 to 47). 

If this is game is an indication of what the second half of the season looks like for Witt, look out NCAC!  Wooster now holds the barest of victory margins in their 102 year-old rivalry, 55 to 54.  Grab a hold of something secure, folks, the second half of the season could be a real Nantucket sleigh ride!  And then... there's the next three years considering how strong Witt's youth brigade is coming on!

Hmmmmm... an observation on how the D3 round ball bounces in interesting ways...

OWU def. Calvin by 16 (85-71)

Calvin def. Hope by 24 (88 to 64)*

Hope def. OWU by 26 (87 to 61)

* Granted, this list is out of chronological sequence and OWU's victory over Calvin was the third game of the season, but none the less, it's intriguing.

Wooster has a million dollar team and dime store video/audio system.    No audio today and at one point the video looked like it was literally melting down!  They've consistently had problems over the past four or five years and while it's somewhat improved (crisper picture), the technical snafus happen way too often.  Wabash, for example, has a much better system, camera angles, etc. 

Anyway, the Scots played tough today against a very scrappy, aggressive Oberlin team.  Very physical game with seemingly lots of fouls (have to review the box score as there was no audio to follow the foul situation).  Both teams never let up, and Woo pulled away at the end to finish 91 to 71.  Glad to see the Scots getting their offensive output into the nineties. 

From what I've seen, at this point in the season, the NCAC teams are bringing their best/most intense game against the Scots.  I was worried about a let up or lag period between the Moses Hole Tournament and the second OWU game, but the mid-season conference play so far is more intense and competitive than I would have predicted. 

Hey that's what you get for growing up in Woo: an acute sensitivity to hometown pronunciation.  But who cares about that this evening as this Hope is demolishing OWU 83 - 61 with 2:40 left in the game. 

  Finally got through the video problems and saw the Scots play some well-oiled basketball in the 2nd half.  Crisp passing, aggressive offensive and defense, nice pressure and moves throughout the contest.  Fine tuning: concentrate on shutting down those easy inside baskets the Big Red got away with and foul shooting (5 of 10 for 50%?! Yipes!).  Pleasurable game to watch.  Scots were efficient, workmen-like, and relentless in dismantling the Big Red today.  Keep it up, big guys! 

Action around the NCAC today:

Randolph 74  Kenyon 60 (Final)
Wabash 36  Hiram 23 (Half time)
Allegheny vs. DePauw (just starting)
OWU vs. Hope (7:00 PM Eastern time start)

The WQKT-AM announcer at least knows how to pronounce Wooster.  Denison announcer rhymes it with "rooster".  Ugh!  But common mispronunciation.  Anyway, nice shooting by the Scots in the first half (50+%).  Only downside (besides not being able to get a steady video feed!) were the 3 or 4 penetrations by the Big Red for easy baskets.  Hope they come out after the break and tighten down on the inside.

I like the synchronicity of OWU & Hope locking horns tomorrow just days after the Scots close victory over Hope in the Moles Hole Tournament.  Seldom does one get such an opportunity for comparison in close proximity date-wise.  Major difference of course is OWU is on the road & Woo was at home.  Add to that, the Scots travel to Denison and play tomorrow afternoon.  OWU recently beat the Big Red by only 2 points.  As we all know, anything can happen on any given game, but these games will give us some statistical tea leaves to mull over until the Main Event in late January when Wooster ventures down to OWU for the teams' second showdown of the season.