MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wooscotsfan]

Final:  Wooster 74  DePauw 67

Back from Wooster where I watched a very gritty performance by the DePauw Tigers today as they shot 52% from the floor and still lost this close game.  It was a 2 point game with less than 2 minutes left when Wooster senior Matt Fegan hit a clutch 3 pointer to give the Scots a 5 point lead that DePauw could not overcome.

Wooster was led by senior Justin Hallowell with 22 points, Josh Claytor with 12, Xavier Brown with 11 and Evan Pannell with 10.

Barry Flynn had a great game for DePauw with 23 points, 8 boards.  Sean Haseley added 12 points and Kevin Sullivan had 10.

Wooster won this game because they had only 8 turnovers compared to 11 for DePauw.  Scots also made 8 three pointers while the Tigers only nailed 5.

Wooster is now 21-4.  Next game is DePauw again on Tuesday night.  Always tough to beat a team again in less than a week though the Scots will have the home court advantage.

GO SCOTS!

[GoRed]

Denison at OWU was a great game.  All around very evenly played, with the one big difference being the Big Red's inability to stop Brady.  He was just outstanding and not to be denied one more opportunity to play in front of the home crowd

Congrats to the Big Red on the late season run to get the #5.  The rubber match with the LG's should be a great one.

[smedindy]

Here's a look at the first round of the NCAC Tournament:

Kenyon (5-11, 11-14) @ Wittenberg (14-2, 20-5) - The Lords gave the Old Tigers a bit of a scare in their only meeting, falling 71-63 on January 11th. Kenyon had a lead with 10 minutes to go but Wittenberg eased past the Lords. That was an eternity ago, when the Lords were playing pretty well and the Old Tigers were just starting their finishing surge. Now, of course, Witt's the champs and Kenyon almost missed the tourney. It's not a good sign when you need a furious comeback to beat a 5-20 team to qualify for the post season. Witt should breeze past Kenyon, but I wouldn't be shocked if the Lords kept it somewhat close.

DePauw (7-9, 13-12) @ Wooster (12-4, 21-4) - Something about this match-up seems familiar. Oh, yeah, they just played Saturday and the Scots salvaged a season split with a win. The New Tigers have fallen on hard times, losing seven of eight after reaching the halfway point of the conference season 6-2. Four of those losses were by four points or less, including two squeakers to Witt. Still, you think that DPU's confidence is at low tide, and that Wooster should repeat it's Saturday performance. Of course, there's much more at stake here and the New Tigers can erase the memories of their swoon with a huge upset.

Hiram (7-9, 14-11) @ Ohio Wesleyan (11-5, 19-6) - The Bishops swept the Terriers during the regular season, with Tim Brady being the focal point (as always). Hiram's style of play can lead it to glory, but they are susceptible to runs and funks during the game and a team with some success in controlling the tempo will have success. OWU should move on to the weekend, yet the Bishops have also had moments where they disappear and need to avoid a long stretch of offensive invisibility.

Denison (9-7, 12-13) @ Wabash (10-6, 18-7) - The Little Giants were able to coast through their last game of the season, get some subs some PT and rest their starters for big chunks of the game. The Big Red were not afforded such luxury. Each team got a road win during the regular season, though in the game in Crawfordsville Derek Bailey was hampered by an injury which put him in a shooting slump. He's recovered now, but still the LG's need to focus and play their "A" game to get past the scrappy, feisty Big Red. This will probably be the game of the day, so get those web streams up and running!

[David Collinge]

For the first time in years, probably ever, I think all four road teams have a legitimate chance to win tomorrow night. Okay, so maybe Kenyon is not better than a 1-in-10 bet in Springfield, but Wooster, OWU, and Wabash all had better bring their 'A' games or they may be staying home for the weekend. Denison and DePauw each split with their Tuesday hosts, Denison winning on Wabash's floor, and all four games were close. Hiram was swept by OWU, but only by 6 and 13 points.

Even Kenyon was within 8 of Wittenberg in the only game they played, although that was a while ago when Kenyon was riding a four-game winning streak and playing better ball. (That was the beginning of the end for the Lords, by the way; since that game they have only won 4 of 11 games, beating Oberlin and Allegheny twice each, with three of those wins by 3 or fewer points.)

Normally, only the 4/5 game looks competitive on paper. This is not your father's NCACsmobile.

Note: Cross-posted with smeds; +1 for another in a very helpful series of previews my friend.

[smedindy]

Thanks, DC!

I didn't talk about Pool "C" chances, but the 'wags' have Wooster and Witt as having an excellent shot of getting in as a "C" and Ohio Wesleyan sneaking in as well, with Wabash 'on the table' as it stands now.

Of course, that logic can change as the tournament unfolds. If there's some significant carnage those equations could all change...

[Titan Q]

Just a miscellaneous tidbit, NCAC friends...

I heard today that 6-9 center Randy Ollie from Evanston H.S. (north suburb of Chicago) has decided to attend Oberlin.  Illinois Wesleyan was on Ollie and I think IWU head coach Ron Rose liked him quite a bit.  Maybe a bit of a "project"...but a good project to have kind of kid.  Lots of upside as a very good D3 post player.

I was speaking to the father of an IWU player today and he said, "Oh, and (his son) said that the 6-9 kid from Evanston that visited is going to Oberlin."  I had never heard of IWU losing to basketball recruit to Oberlin!

So just thought I'd pass that along.  Better get on the Oberlin bandwagon before it leaves the station, folks.

[smedindy]

Thanks Titan, I bet he's got an interest in music as well as hoops. 

This Oberlin team would have probably made the conference tourney a few years ago, but the NCAC has really stepped up.

[David Collinge]

I think Oberlin is well on their way to a top 10 conference finish next season.

[David Collinge]

Halftime scores:

Kenyon 29, Wittenberg 27
Wooster 26, DePauw 20
Wabash 31, Denison 22
Hiram 44, OWU 44

[smedindy]

Could be some intriguing halftime speeches heard 'round the league.

[fantastic50]

Four minutes into the second half, Kenyon leads Witt, 38-31.

[woosterbooster]

If Kenyon hangs on and Wooster wins, who hosts the final four?

[wooscotsfan]

9:05 Left   Wooster 45  DePauw 34

[woosterbooster]

Okay, Mike Breckenridge just answered my question.  It would be at Wooster.

[kiltedbryan]

Okay, Mike Breckenridge just answered my question.  It would be at Wooster.

Yup, highest remaining seed hosts.

Everything's close all over the conference right now.