MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[woosterbooster]

You would really have to think that the Scots should be shooting a higher percentage at the line.  Maybe much higher.  Port and Cooper cannot be blamed, shooting .822 and .808 respectively.  But you'd like to see Witucky (.625), Van Horn (.654), and even Johnson (.697) dropping more shots, considering that they're perimeter players.  Especially surprising is Witucky, who I would expect to be around 80% from the stripe.

Vandervaart's .603 is no surprise.  He has more backspin on his free throws than Tiger Woods has on his pitching wedge.  Great for holding a slick green but not for shooting a basketball with consistency. 

[David Collinge]

The free throw problems certainly caught my eye as well.  If one of these teams makes it to Salem (and it's not Witt), they'd better practice those charity tosses, as they could be critical.  I think this gives Witt a BIG advantage.

A couple of other things stood out for me as well.  Although ranking 16th in the nation in rebound margin is nothing to complain about, I expected better from Witt's big front line.  On the opposite side of that coin, how about 39th nationally for Wooster and their shrimpy lineup?  Just goes to show that technique is at least as important as size.  Wittenberg's FG% defense (35%) is downright scary, as usual.  Overall, I think Albion's numbers are underwhelming, compared to the other three.

[Vanilla24COW]

Although Witucky is only shooting around 62% there is no other player I would want at the line if the game is on the line. Throughout his career he has consistently hit the big free throws. Interesting that in past years Wooster has always shown up in FG% defense and this year they are not even in the top 100 I realize a quicker pace would lead to giving up more points in a game but I am a little surprised that they do not appear in the top 100

[ScotsFan]

To Wooster's defense, they seem to be improving as the season goes along from the charity stripe.  In their last 4 games they are averaging around 72% from the line.  To me, signs of improvement are more important than the overall percentage for the season.   They started out the season dreadful from the line, so if things continue to progress like the last four games, I think the Scots will be fine.

[wally_wabash]

A couple of reasons why Wooster has a better-than-expected rebounding average:

- Wooster shoots a very high percentage...doesn't leave a lot of opportunity for defensive rebounds.  

- Wooster has the E&H game in which the Scots missed about 4 shots all game and E&H missed about 120.  The rebound margin in that game alone was huge.  Wipe out Wooster's games against system teams (E&H, Westminster....games which, by the design of the coaches, are statistical outliers) and Wooster's rebound margin becomes a bit more pedestrian.  Still good, but not top 50 good.  

- Teams like to overplay Wooster's guards.  Maybe they don't like to, but they kind of have to otherwise they'll pick you apart with three pointers.  Because teams have to pay so much attention to Wooster's perimeter players, the inside opens up quite a bit for offensive rebounds for Wooster.  

[albionbritfan]

Overall, I think Albion's numbers are underwhelming, compared to the other three.

DC-
I think Albion's numbers are reflective of their possession-oriented style of play, as indicated by FG defense and rebounding margins.  Albion typically does not run teams out of the gym.  Case in point:  Albion's winning margin against Tri-State was nearly halved when Coach Turner took his starters out of the end of the game and Tri-State jacked a couple of 3s.  The free throw shooting, I agree, is pathetic and has to improve in order to contend.  Alma had a chance to take it to OT against Albion on Saturday for that very reason.

My guess is that, if you looked at last year's numbers, Albion would be ranked similarly, and I think we can agree that Albion had a pretty good team last year.

So does a true correlation exist between and across these statistics and the top programs?  No regression analysis necessary, but I do wonder in each category, who is in the top 10, and what is the teams' records or where do the rank with say Massey (since that gets you a full field of rankings)?  If I get chance I will try to check out.

[bishopsfan]

What a tough week the Bishops have this week.  Going to the number one team in the country on wednesday and going to the number two team in the country on saturday, respectively.  Has any team that anyone can remember at any level ever had to do that?  The interesting point of this is that both teams play styles that are polar opposites this year.  Witt being a team that will pound it down low all day while Wooster wants to get out and run and shoot three's.  It will be interesting to see how the Bishops matchup with both teams.  Personally I think that the Bishops match up better with Wooster because of both teams want and ability to shoot the three.  Good luck to the Bishops I will be there to root you on at both games.

[smedindy]

Wooster also does a good job of blocking out, and their guards have a nose for the long rebounds. Those long rebounds killed Wabash last Saturday.

[woosterbooster]

Wooster also does a good job of blocking out, and their guards have a nose for the long rebounds. Those long rebounds killed Wabash last Saturday.

I think that Wooster has improved in this area as the season has progressed.  Especially Johnson and Cooper.  I used to love to watch Rodney Mitchell back down into the paint to help on the boards.  5'9" or so and skinny, he still came away with more than his share of rebounds.

By the way, Smedindy, thanks for showing me the easy way on the Massey site.  It had been a while since I'd been there, and I'd completely missed that they had a separate DIII section.

Jack

[Kramer]

Bishopsfan - hang in there, it wll be tough but your boys will make it thru the week.  Think about what Denison went thru earlier this year: Wooster, at Wittenberg and at Akron.  Whew!

[wally_wabash]

They don't have a choice about Witt and Wooster, but I can't feel at all sorry for Denison for scheduling Akron.  That embarrassment is completely their own fault. 

[Kramer]

I agree Wally, wasn't wort the money they received.

[Kramer]

Wasn't worth the money - sorry.

[Vanilla24COW]

The thing that made Rodney Mitchell so good at offensive rebounding was his athleticism. Not only was he quick to the ball but he was quick off the floor and he could jump. Rumor has it he could snatch a quarter off the back iron...pretty impressive for a sub 6 footer. Bishopfan, a few years back if you would have asked me how OWU matched up against Woo and Witt I would have said they matched up better with Witt as they consistently played Witt to the final few possessions but always struggled (as compared to the Witt games) with Woo and Nelson but present day with their ability to fill it from the outside I would agree that they match up well with Woo and it should be a very exciting game from a spectator's point of view as well as a player's.

[blindwatchmaker]

Scots up by 14:  43-29  Cooper is starting to light it up.  just over 6 left in the half.