MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[WAlum]

If DePauw beats Witt and OWU this week, they should soar up the rankings.

[Pat Coleman]

I didn't see Rhodes marked on the schedule as a regional game, but of course that may be more of my hurried look-see than anything.

DPU I think has a good chance to be regionally ranked if they keep their play at this level.

It wasn't but has since been fixed.

[bashbrother]

If DePauw beats Witt and OWU this week, they should soar up the rankings.

We are already seeing the upgrade in conference strength in a number of sports, with the addition of Depauw.   I think it is great.   

[Wabash2011]

New poll....Wooster leapfrogs again....http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/men/2011-12/week8

[smedindy]

As a voter in the Poster's Poll, I put a blanket around Wabash / Witt / Wooster in the middle of my rankings. I can't complain if some voters put Wooster ahead, since Wabash looked bad against Witt and then Witt lost to Hiram. It's a tough, tough year.

[Wabash2011]

As a voter in the Poster's Poll, I put a blanket around Wabash / Witt / Wooster in the middle of my rankings. I can't complain if some voters put Wooster ahead, since Wabash looked bad against Witt and then Witt lost to Hiram. It's a tough, tough year.

I agree the parity is really tight but for a team to be behind in conference but ahead in poll, means those that don't follow NCAC polling on the history of program.  In the end doesn't matter, winner will be decided between the lines.

[Mr. Ypsi]

As a voter in the Poster's Poll, I put a blanket around Wabash / Witt / Wooster in the middle of my rankings. I can't complain if some voters put Wooster ahead, since Wabash looked bad against Witt and then Witt lost to Hiram. It's a tough, tough year.

I agree the parity is really tight but for a team to be behind in conference but ahead in poll, means those that don't follow NCAC polling on the history of program.  In the end doesn't matter, winner will be decided between the lines.

Pollsters don't vote on the basis of only conference games, so conference standings are borderline irrelevant.

[Wabash2011]

Pollsters don't vote on the basis of only conference games, so conference standings are borderline irrelevant.
[/quote]

Can you please explain this statement?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Pollsters don't vote on the basis of only conference games, so conference standings are borderline irrelevant.

Can you please explain this statement?
[/quote]

Non-con games go into the 'full body of work' considered by voters.  Not having studied the teams, I don't know how that factors in.  Just saying that conference standings, per se, don't really matter.  (In the CCIW, Augie is currently two full games behind IWU, Wheaton, and NCC, but is just ahead of IWU and Wheaton, and NCC received ZERO votes.)

[Wabash2011]

Pollsters don't vote on the basis of only conference games, so conference standings are borderline irrelevant.

Can you please explain this statement?

Non-con games go into the 'full body of work' considered by voters.  Not having studied the teams, I don't know how that factors in.  Just saying that conference standings, per se, don't really matter.  (In the CCIW, Augie is currently two full games behind IWU, Wheaton, and NCC, but is just ahead of IWU and Wheaton, and NCC received ZERO votes.)
[/quote]

Thanks, seems that when conference play starts in full across the country, how they are playing against each other in conference would be all the data available for half the season.  I assume by year end, it does.  With most conferences approaching half way, I'd think it would factor in naturally.

[smedindy]

It's also a factor of who is playing well at this instant in time.

[wooscotsfan]

Congratulations to Wooster's Josh Claytor who was named NCAC Player of the Week! 

In two wins over Allegheny and Ohio Wesleyan, Claytor had 36 points and 15 boards.  Josh also made 16 of 20 shots combined in those two games for 80% shooting from the floor!

Let's hope that the Wooster guards try to get him at least 10 shots every game for the rest of the season. 

Here is a link to the story: http://www.woosterathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2011-12/releases/20120123cwvdd0

[smedindy]

The second half of the conference schedule begins tomorrow. Let's take a look!

Hiram (4-4, 11-6) @ Allegheny (1-7, 3-14) - Is this a trap for the Terriers? After the big win against Witt, Hiram moseys on to face the Gators who broke an 11-game losing streak by beating Denison on the road. For me, I think Hiram's style will give Allegheny fits but with a big game against Wooster on the horizon Saturday, they could overlook the Gators.

Denison (3-5, 6-11) @ Oberlin (1-7, 6-11) - A rematch. The Big Red won 72-63 at Denison earlier this month. At home (or at least not in Indiana) the Yeomen have the ability to keep it close. They definitely could sneak away with a victory here, and leave Denison's fans up in arms again over another mystifying loss against a team that they should beat on paper.

Kenyon (2-6, 8-9) @ Wooster (5-3, 14-3) - Another rematch. The Scots won the first matchup 84-68 in late November. I can't see the result changing much. The Lords have played better, but just don't have the horses to keep up with the now-revitalized Scots at home.

Wabash (6-2, 14-3) @ Ohio Wesleyan (5-3, 13-4) - Lots at stake for this game - tourney seeding, regional rankings and Pool "C" possibilities all will be impacted. Wabash's offense got on track against Kenyon Saturday, but now they face an OWU team that's hungry to get an impact NCAC win. The health of Derek Bailey will be key for Wabash, and OWU must have Tim Brady involved.

DePauw (6-2, 12-5) @ Wittenberg (7-1, 13-4) - Even more at stake here in the first Tiger v. Tiger contest of the season. First place in the NCAC is the prize. A road win by the New Tigers would be critical for them and welcomed by Wabash, OWU and Wooster as it tightens up the race gain. Witt could regain a two-game lead in the conference with a win and a Little Giants loss. The Old Tigers defense may be the key - DPU has played much better on offense lately and have a nice inside-outside game to contend with.

[smedindy]

OWU's Nick Felhaber's only basket of the game was a three with 13 seconds left, and that hoop propelled the Bishops past Wabash 66-64. Andy Walsh had a good look at a three with one tick left on the clock but missed. The Little Giants trailed most of the game, but edged ahead with 2:49 left on a Houston Hodges three. Brian Shelbourne had two big buckets for Wabash down the strech, but it wasn't enough.

The Bishops had an 11 point lead in the first half, and had Wabash down seven with 4:43 to go, but the LG's kept clawing back and almost got a big road win.

Tim Brady (who else) led everyone with 31 points, including 11-13 shooting from the line. Marshall Morris had 20 points for OWU.

Hodges led Wabash with 19, and Aaron Zinnerman had 17. Derek Bailey struggled, shooting 1-11 from the floor.

Both squads are now 6-3 in NCAC play and 14-4 overall. A great game in a tough league.

[wooscotsfan]

Final:  Wooster 78  Kenyon 68 

Wooster was led tonight by Josh Claytor with 18 points, Justin Hallowell with 14, Xavier Brown with 12 and Matt Fegan with 11.

Top scorers for Kenyon were Ikenna Nwadibia with 17 points, Brian Lebovitz with 14 and Anthony Chun with 14.

Scots won this game by limiting their turnovers to 9 while the Lords had 15.  Wooster also wins the boards 38 to 36.

Wooster is now 15-3, 6-3 NCAC.  Next game is at Hiram on Saturday.

GO SCOTS!