MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wooscotsfan]

Here is Wittenberg's Average Attendance Per Home Game by Season:

2000-2001:  1,184
2001-2002:  1,099
2002-2003:    896
2003-2004:  1,159
2004-2005:  1,118
2005-2006:  1,179  30-4 NCAA Runnerup
2006-2007:    946
2007-2008:    776   16-10 record
2008-2009:    645   13-13 record
2009-2010:    684   21-7 record
2010-2011:    687   8 home games to date   

[wooscotsfan]

Here is Wooster's Average Attendance Per Home Game by Season:

2000-2001:  1,734
2001-2002:  1,232
2002-2003:  1,621  30-3 NCAA Final 4
2003-2004:  1,183
2004-2005:  1,564
2005-2006:  1,716
2006-2007:  2,036  29-5 NCAA Final 4
2007-2008:  1,638
2008-2009:  1,689
2009-2010:  1,448
2010-2011:  1,558  9 home games to date

[wooscotsfan]

In the last 10 years, Wabash Average Attendance Per Home Game was always less than 700 per game until the Little Giants became more competitive.....

2008-2009:  687
2009-2010:  821
2010-2011:  962  Clearly, the national ranking of Wabash has raised attendance this season!

[smedindy]

First semester Wabash crowds were always spotty, it seemed, and picked up during the second semester after comps.

[bufordscot]

Here is Wooster's Average Attendance Per Home Game by Season:

2000-2001:  1,734
2001-2002:  1,232
2002-2003:  1,621  30-3 NCAA Final 4
2003-2004:  1,183
2004-2005:  1,564
2005-2006:  1,716
2006-2007:  2,036  29-5 NCAA Final 4
2007-2008:  1,638
2008-2009:  1,689
2009-2010:  1,448
2010-2011:  1,558  9 home games to date

Much of Wooster's consistently good attendance can be attributed to community support.  The Downtown Rebounders, established in the early 70s by Coach Van Wie and insurance executive Gene Schorman (sp), have worked to establish a strong-positive relationship between the college basketball program and the business community.  It's not unusual to see 100 local business leaders and their families at Scot games.  Many local newspaper articles on the Scots include the Rebounders activities as evidenced in the last two paragraphs here:  http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/4755608 

[woosterbooster]

I didnt' see or listen to the game Saturday but from what I can gather from it Wittenberg (by their own doing it appears) took Black and Sullivan out of the game and Witt did what they could to take Franks out of the game, so the game was decided by which team had a a more productive bench, which turned out to be Wooster. Witt should have won it appears, but we'll be ready for the rematch.

Clayton Black, of course, spent much of the game on the bench with foul trouble.  During his time on the floor, though, he really wasn't that effective.  It didn't seem to me that Witt lost that much when he was out, especially when Wickliffe was out also.  They were still able to score pretty well down low, as almost always seems to be the case against Wooster.

As for Sullivan, that was really Nathan Balch's doing.  Balch has become a terrific hustle defender and was in Sullivan's face all night, even out to 22-23 feet.  He never got a good look all night and forced up some threes that he shouldn't have.

I thought Witt did a terrific job on Franks, or any of Wooster's players that tried to utilize a high pick.  They jumped out very quickly, instituting a double-team.  Then someone from down low was always there to pick up the picker if he rolled to the hoop.  This has become the standard way to defense this play (Wooster does it, too) but the Tigers did it as well or better than I've ever seen.

Wooster's bench had its ups and downs.  Justin Warnes had a very nice defensive game and shook himself loose for two layups, one on a fast break (nice long pass by Fegan, I believe) and one when Wickliffe found him with a nice dish inside.  Mike Evans managed five rebounds in eight minutes but also went 0-3 from the floor. (Tough luck, his shots were very close.) Josh Claytor was fair in 16 minutes (due to Wickliffe's first-half foul trouble) of action.  

Ryan Snyder and Jake Mays, on the other hand, only played six and two minutes respectively and weren't effective.    

[woosterbooster]

I've been trying to find the game times for this season's DIII Final Four but have had no luck.  The dates are March 18th and 19th, a Friday and Saturday.  Does anyone know what time they play?  I've been to the NCAA site and can find no times.

[imderekpoe]

The Friday games are at 6 & 8.  Saturday at 1 & 3:30.  Per the Salem Civic Center site.

[woosterbooster]

The Friday games are at 6 & 8.  Saturday at 1 & 3:30.  Per the Salem Civic Center site.

Thanks!  And according to the site, there's an all-star game prior to the championship game.  I'd have to think that if Wooster doesn't make it to the Final Four that Ian Franks would have a very good chance of playing in that game.

Plus, night games on Friday means golf, weather permitting.

[David Collinge]

I gather it's not golf weather back east, but basketball goes on!

Denison at Wittenberg, 7:30pm -- video, audio, and live stats
Hiram at Oberlin, 7:30pm -- video and live stats
Wooster at Kenyon, 7:30pm -- video, audio, and live stats; audio (W)
Wabash at OWU, 7:30pm -- audio/video and live stats
Allegheny is idle

It is, however, golf weather out here, and has been for most of the last two weeks...

[David Collinge]

The first two games mentioned in the poll are approaching, so I've locked the voting.  I'll immortalize the results, and we'll see if any of them came true.

OWU over Wabash, 1/26 -- 8 votes -- TONIGHT
Allegheny over Wabash, 1/15 -- 7 votes -- Wabash 80, Allegheny 58
Hiram over Wooster, 2/2 -- 6 votes
Denison over Wooster, 1/15 -- 3 votes -- Wooster 72, Denison 64

Thanks for participating!

[David Collinge]

[bump]

Standings through the games of 1/22:

1. Wooster 9-0, 18-0
2. Wittenberg 7-1, 12-5
3. Wabash 7-2, 15-2
4. Ohio Wesleyan 6-3, 10-8
5. Kenyon 4-5, 8-10
6. Denison 3-7, 6-12
7. Hiram 2-6, 8-9
8. Allegheny 2-8, 5-13
9. Oberlin 0-9, 1-17

[/bump]

[wooscotsfan]

At the Half:  Wooster 47  Kenyon 30

Wooster is being led by Nathan Balch with 16 points (4 three pointers), Ian Franks with 11 and Bryan Wickliffe 8.

Lords are being led by Brian Lebowitz 6, Kodey Haddox 6 and Uros Vasiljevick 6.

Scots shot over 50% in the half, made 6 three pointers and outrebounded Kenyon 19 to 13.

[ScotsFan]

It appears to be no letdown tonight for the Scots as they are taking it to a shorthanded Kenyon down in Gambier!

To say Balch is on fire may be a bit of an understatement tonight.  As wsf noted he's already chipped in 16 points and he's 6-7 from the floor and a perfect 4-4 from deep!  

In other action, Wabash and OWU are locked up in a defensive struggle down in Delaware as Wabash leads that one at the half 45-40.     Wabash is shooting 51% fro the half and 53% from deep while OWU is shooting 47% for the half.

And Witt is pummeling Denison as it is 52-20 with the 2nd half just underway.

[wooscotsfan]

Final:  Wooster 103  Kenyon 67

Wooster's Top Scorers:  Nathan Balch 22, Ian Franks 20, Bryan Wickliffe 12, Jake Mays 12, Ryan Snyder 10

Kenyon's Top Scorers:  Brian Lebowitz 17, Kodey Haddox 11, Marcus Healey 10

Scots wrapped up this game early and cleared the bench with everyone getting playing time.

Wooster is now 19-0, 10-0 NCAC     Scots play Idle on Saturday   Next game is 2/2 at Hiram