MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[sac]

One thing about turnover stats this year is the rule changes have decreased turnovers across all divisions.  Woosters 15.8% is still very good, probably top quarter of D3, but part of the improvement over last year can be attributed to the rule changes.  Just something to consider.

Thanks sac, a good point. One thing I did notice is that Wooster's 15.3% turnover rate is second in the NCAC to OWU, whose rate was 15.0% - which, small sample size, etc - would be the top 20% of the NCAC, suggesting your "top quarter" estimate is plausible.

In some ways, actually, Wooster was more anomalous for forcing turnovers on 22% of possessions - no one else in the NCAC is above 19%.

Trine is right around 14% and they are the national leader with the fewest turnovers per game.  Wooster is #10.  14% is also pretty close to leading D1.

[woosterbooster]

One thing about turnover stats this year is the rule changes have decreased turnovers across all divisions.  Woosters 15.8% is still very good, probably top quarter of D3, but part of the improvement over last year can be attributed to the rule changes.  Just something to consider.

Sac, it's really late and probably my mind has already gone to bed.  Wooster's turnovers/game of 10.1 is 10th best in all of DIII.  Wikipedia says there are 449 DIII schools.  Given that, it's hard for me to imagine that they'd be down as far as the 20-25th percentile in either turnover stat.  Certainly they're within the top 5%, right?

[ScotsFan]

kb, not to dampen your optimism but I heard Mike Breckenridge run off a stat during one of their recent games that was quite alarming regarding this Wooster team.  And that is, their current FG % on the season of 44% is the lowest of any team Steve Moore has coached in his tenure at Wooster!!!   

Big part of this is because Wooster is lacking a true scoring presence inside and are too perimeter oriented.  This is why I'm having a tough time believing this team can make a run for Salem come March.  All it takes is one off shooting night and they are done. 

Another concern I have regarding this team is how they seem to have trouble finishing games.  They built a 12 point 2nd half lead on Saturday and then failed to score a single point for over 4 minutes allowing Witt to come all the way back to nearly tie the game.  Against OWU, they led by 10 with 10 to go at home and lost.  At OWU, they led by almost 20 and let OWU come back to within 6 at one point. At Witt, the Scots led by 21 early in the 2nd before letting Witt come all the way back to within 4 on several occasions.  Hosting Wabash, Wooster led by 15 at the start of the 2nd half and then allowed the Lil Giants to come all the way back to take the lead before rallying to win by 7. 

I could go on, but I think the point has been made.  At least they seem to know this is a problem as Xavier Brown was quoted after the Witt game saying they need to do a better job finishing games as they seem to be playing not to lose as opposed to playing to win.  We shall see if they can do something to rectify this problem but it has been a season long thing so I'm not hopeful this is something that is fixable at this point of the season...

[Pat Coleman]

One thing about turnover stats this year is the rule changes have decreased turnovers across all divisions.  Woosters 15.8% is still very good, probably top quarter of D3, but part of the improvement over last year can be attributed to the rule changes.  Just something to consider.

Sac, it's really late and probably my mind has already gone to bed.  Wooster's turnovers/game of 10.1 is 10th best in all of DIII.  Wikipedia says there are 449 DIII schools.  Given that, it's hard for me to imagine that they'd be down as far as the 20-25th percentile in either turnover stat.  Certainly they're within the top 5%, right?

The number that play men's basketball is a little over 400, but still.

[sac]

Well top 5 would be top quarter, wouldn't it.

[woosterbooster]

Well top 5 would be top quarter, wouldn't it.

I'm still laughing.  You've been applauded.  If I remember (fat chance), I'll do it again in 24 hours.

[kiltedbryan]

kb, not to dampen your optimism but I heard Mike Breckenridge run off a stat during one of their recent games that was quite alarming regarding this Wooster team.  And that is, their current FG % on the season of 44% is the lowest of any team Steve Moore has coached in his tenure at Wooster!!!   

Oh, I totally agree about Wooster's a crummy shooting team this season, at least by their own typically lofty standards. Which is part of why I went looking for other areas where the Scots have excelled - and FTs and turnovers stand out.

So this year's Scots team compensates for mediocre shooting in part by making FTs, not turning the ball over much, and forcing lots of turnovers. Hopefully those skills translate to tournament play.

[woosterbooster]

kb, not to dampen your optimism but I heard Mike Breckenridge run off a stat during one of their recent games that was quite alarming regarding this Wooster team.  And that is, their current FG % on the season of 44% is the lowest of any team Steve Moore has coached in his tenure at Wooster!!!   

Oh, I totally agree about Wooster's a crummy shooting team this season, at least by their own typically lofty standards. Which is part of why I went looking for other areas where the Scots have excelled - and FTs and turnovers stand out.

So this year's Scots team compensates for mediocre shooting in part by making FTs, not turning the ball over much, and forcing lots of turnovers. Hopefully those skills translate to tournament play.

Something else needs to be pointed out here, while we're talking about pertinent stats.  While your Applaud/Smite ratio of 53-11 may appear lofty on the surface, it's been achieved with relatively few possessions.  Try upping your tempo and improving your S.O.S.  Schedule the Wittenberg and Wabash posters more often, and we'll see how you stand then.

[wooscotsfan]

At the Half:  Wooster 45  Allegheny 29

Wooster made 7 three pointers in the first half

[David Collinge]

Both Witt and DePauw lead their games by 12 at the half, while OWU scored the first 12 points of their game. Hoyle would be pleased.

[David Collinge]

Kenyon is making it interesting in Springfield, down just 50-49 with 11:10 left.

Oberlin isn't, down 51-22 to OWU at the half.

[wooscotsfan]

Final:  Wooster 89  Allegheny 57

Wooster gets the decisive road win and clinches the outright regular season title for the NCAC.  Wooster was led tonight by Doug Thorpe with 20 points, Xavier Brown with 17 and Dan Fanelly with 16.

Wooster is now 21-3, 15-2 NCAC    Last game of the regular season is at home this Saturday vs. Oberlin

[David Collinge]

Wittenberg 80, Kenyon 71
DePauw 75, Wabash 74
OWU 93, Oberlin 60
Hiram 68, Denison 53

[David Collinge]

1. Wooster 15-2 (vs. Oberlin)
2. OWU 13-4 (vs. DePauw)
3. DePauw 12-5 (at OWU)
3. Wittenberg 12-5 (at Hiram)
5. Denison 8-9 (at Allegheny)
5. Kenyon 8-9 (vs. Wabash)
7. Wabash 7-10 (at Kenyon)
8. Oberlin 4-13 (at Wooster)
8. Hiram 4-13 (vs. Wittenberg)
10. Allegheny 2-15 (vs. Denison)

Wooster is the top seed. The winner of the OWU/DePauw game will be the #2 seed. A three-way tie at 13-5 would fall DePauw, Witt, then OWU, based on head-to-head. DePauw swept Witt, so Witt is the #4 seed if they both lose Saturday. Kenyon holds the tiebreaker over Denison unless DePauw loses and Witt wins, then it goes to Denison. A Wabash win at Kenyon would give them the season sweep and thus the tiebreaker. A three-way tie at 8-10 would favor Denison, then Wabash, then Kenyon, based on head-to-head results. Oberlin's win over DePauw (or over Wooster, if both Oberlin and Hiram win Saturday) gives them the tiebreaker over Hiram. Allegheny has been eliminated.

Okay, I'm done editing. I think that's right.

[smedindy]

Still not as complicated as last year.