MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[billy_pilgrim]

Thanks for the recap Pennstghs.

I was just getting back to the board and was wondering how the game went down. I glanced at the box score and it was evident that Witt's front line dominated.

Earlham just hasn't matched up with those guys at all in the last few years. It was good to see that Earlham put some points on the board tonight...they've been stuck around 45 or less the last few games against the Tigers.

It's actually good to hear complaints about officiating from the conference front runners...it reminds me that I'm not just a crazy whiner from a middle-of-the-pack team. I can never get over how physical games are in the NCAC. I just got back from a D-1 game that was really fluidly played and officiated well. But sometimes, there are scrums that just go uncalled in the paint in NCAC action with certain officials.

[woosterbooster]

I can never get over how physical games are in the NCAC. I just got back from a D-1 game that was really fluidly played and officiated well. But sometimes, there are scrums that just go uncalled in the paint in NCAC action with certain officials.

Billy -

I totally agree, although I have a sneaking suspicion that OAC games are even more physical, based on how some of those teams tend to play when visiting Wooster.

I kind of equate NCAA DI men's officiating to that of boys's high school.  Usually, the rough stuff is kept under control.  DIII men's reffing, though, reminds me of the DI women's game without the hair pulling, where almost anything goes underneath.  Girls's high school games are usually even worse, and the problem there is that most girls don't have the offensive skills to overcome the level of defensive physicality that is allowed.

Jack

[smedindy]

Actually, in Indiana they call the girls game pretty tight.

Tough one for Wabash tonight, but Wooster shouldn't be complacent about coming into Chadwick. The students are back, the joint will be rockin' and the team will want to put a tough road loss behind them.

[David Collinge]

Wooster won't be complacent.  Not after trailing most of the first half in Meadville.  Despite running away with the game in the 2nd half, in the postgame radio interview Coach Moore was still hoarse.  They won't be complacent.  That doesn't mean they'll come out of the chute with keen focus, though, which seems to be a problem.  It should be a great game.

[wally_wabash]

Chadwick is never an easy place to get a win...much to Wooster's credit, they've managed to leave C'ville victorious in every trip they've made to Wabash since Wabash came to the NCAC.  It won't be easy for Wooster Saturday, but they surely know that.  If Wabash turns the ball over 20+ times Saturday, Wooster will turn the trick again. 

Turnovers were critical in tonight's game at OWU.  Wabash turned it over 21 times, OWU just 15 and only 4 times in the decisive second half.  Wabash thrives on D and if they're not turning the other team over, they'll struggle.  Gotta tip your cap to OWU for taking care of the rock in the second stanza. 

[earlhamalum]

Billy-   I'm not hundred Percent sure if Penn State @ Northwestern really consitutes as a D1 Game?  Someone on here might agree with me.  Did Penn State finally get a ROAD win tonight, for the first time since 2001.  WoW how about those LIONS, they must hold down the Fort.

[bishopsfan]

Sounds like it was a great game and a great win by the Bishops!  I was extremely happy to see Rybarzyck come up clutch down the stretch.  That is senior leadership at its best.  Making plays when it counts the most.  Hopefullly the Bishops will carry this momentum through the rest of the NCAC.  Go Bishops!

[smedindy]

In other scores around the NCAC:

Denison bests Oberlin 82-74. Hern goes for 22 and 10 in 37 minutes.  Krantz scores 18 off the bench. The Oberlin gang of seven tied the game at 72 with 3:23 left but Denison then took control.

Tonight is the epic Kenyon / Hiram matchup. Hiram gave a good effort against Wabash. The Terriers could get this one!

[pennstghs]

penn state does suck at basketball, but yes they did pick up a win tonight. they should not be competitive at all this year in the Big Ten in basketball. but if you're using that card i could say that are earlham and half of the NCAC teams even qualified as basketball teams? it goes both ways

[ScotsFan]

No way Wooster is complacent about this Saturday's contest against Wabash.  That would be, what you call "wishful thinking."

That doesn't mean they'll come out of the chute with keen focus, though, which seems to be a problem. It should be a great game.

DC, you brought up a good point.  This seems to be a trend with the Scots this year.  It seems that they come out in every game without much purpose, no matter who the opponent is.  They fell behind early to Witt and BW, two of the better teams they have faced.  They also fell behind early to Denison and Allegheny last night.  It would be nice to see the Scots come out with a purpose like they did to start the 2nd half last night.  Maybe part of it has to do with Wooster  getting a team's best efforts so those other teams are riding on pure adrenaline and emotion to keep games close for a half. But adrenaline and emotion can only carry you so far, which could explain why the Scots are able to pull away from teams in the 2nd half.  I'm not citing this as the sole reason as to why Wooster struggles to start games, but this could definately be a partial explaination. 

One thing for sure is I'm sure it's driving Moore and his staff crazy.  It might not bite you to fall behind to some of the lower teams in the league early, but against teams like Wabash and OWU, it just might.  And especially, on the road.  If Wooster comes out flat, like has been their pattern all year, and let the crowd feed Wabash, the Scots could be in for a long day!

[DenisonFan]

Go Big Red!!

I am afraid I was not at the game.  Maybe I should stay away more often.

I talked to a fan who said it was obvious that Oberlin was going to stop Hodgkinson at all cost and double and triple teamed him all night.  It seemed to work.  Hodgkinson only had 6 points.

The other guys stepped up and took care of business.  Hern was terrific and the team was 14-23 from 3 point land.  61% from down town will win you a lot of games.

With Denison up by one with 2 minutes to go Spencer missed two free throws.  Could have been a game changer.

A win is a win is a win.

[jimmychitwood15]

ScotsFan- It's not how you start but how you finish!!! If your biggest complaint right now is coming out of the gates a little slow, take that in stride with the game winning shots from Witucky (Earlham) and Cooper (Witt). Sometimes you have to take the bad with the good and here the good vastly outweighs the bad. AND you still have majority of the season to fix the problem!

[MWCSID2005]

The Midwest Conference will webcast four contests with live audio and video free of charge on Friday, January 13.

The matchups feature Grinnell College at Lawrence University and Lake Forest College at Ripon College. The women's contests tip-off at 5:30 p.m. with the men's contests to follow at 7:30 p.m. Links to the webcast are available at www.midwestconference.org and on the athletic websites of each participating institution.

The release linked below gives more information on the webcast, as well as previews for each contest.

http://www.midwestconference.org/wbasketball/WebStreamJan12.pdf

[ScotsFan]

ScotsFan- It's not how you start but how you finish!!!

jimmy, this is very true.  Wooster has been fortunate to be able to finish in all but one of their games this year.  The main point I was getting at points directly to last night's 1st half performance (or lack thereof) by the Scots and this weekend's matchup with Wabash.  In last night's contest with Allegheny, the Gators were actually still up 22-14 eight minutes into the game and were only down 2 at the half.  Wooster was able to utilize their depth and talent in the 2nd half to run away with it.  But, let's take a look at one of those last second wins you mentioned.  Wooster allowed EC to hang around in the 1st half just like they did with the Gators.  Difference is, EC is more talented overall than Allegheny and the more the Quakers hung with Wooster, the more they started to gain confidence. The result was Wooster wasn't  able to put the Quakers away in the 2nd half and needed a last 2nd shot in OT to win. 

I could see this same thing happening on Saturday at Wabash if Wooster doesn't show up from the opening tip.  Only, Wabash is even more talented than EC.  If they dig themselves a hole at Chadwick, they may find it pretty difficult to climb out of. 

Funny thing, after my first post on this subject earlier today, I read the writeup on the game in the Daily Record and here is what Coach Moore thinks about Wooster's failure to always show up at the beginning of each game:

The Scots' next game is on Saturday at Wabash, where the Little Giants will look to expose Wooster's weakness from the opening tip.

"Tonight was a lesson for our players," Moore said. "We have to be ready at the beginning of the game. If we aren't, it will come back to get us."

[CentralOH]

DF,
I agree that 60% plus from behind the arc will win a lot of games.  Oberlin's strategy was sound - they weren't going to let Hodgkinson carry the load offensively.  I'm happy to see 23 attempts from 3 - previous highs were 19 attempts (Witt, Alfred, Alma), but Denison only hit 3, 6, and 7 respectively.  If the Big Red can get some offensive contributions from the perimeter, they'll gain some confidence and not have to rely so heavily on Hodgkinson.

Go Big Red!