MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[David Collinge]

It is hard to believe that St. Vincent was picked to win the PAC and they won't unless that conference is incredibly weak this season.

St, Vincent turned around and defeated Mt. Union today, 71-65. Hmmmmm.

[smedindy]

When was the last time, if ever, that Wittenberg started the season 0-4?

Sac had them last at 0-4 in 1955.

[Ohigy]

NCAC Early Season REport:
Great early season victories for Wooster and OWU over highly ranked teams Cabrini and Calvin. North Coast Ath. Conf. is 20-7 in non-conference games with three of the 7 losses being, gulp, Wittenbergs.   OWU, DePauw, Wooster, Denison, Hiram, and Wabash are a combined 16-0.  Allegheny and Oberlin are both over .500.  Kenyon is 1-3 and Witt is the lone winless team in the league at 0-4.  Tigers play Otterbein so win #1 SHOULD come Tuesday.

[woosterbooster]

Go Otters!  Or are they the Beins?

[Eco-manblue]

  This is my first post and my first use (possibly last!) of emoticoms. As a Class of '78 Wooster graduate, I'm totally unbiased ( ).  Ha ha!  I confess that my stomach still gets in a knot when the Scots hit the court against tough opponents  .  I live in Maine, so I'm unable to get to Timken Gymnasium for most of the games (or Coccia Pizza House for a post-game pie!).     However, I'm a rabid fan and spend as much time on Massey Ratings as I do watching the games live on the video broadcasts ( Not sure why they won't provide archived video for all the games?  )  BTW, are there any other good ratings systems that folks go to regularly other than Massey?

In any event, I've travelled to Salem to see the Scots come close    , and have great hopes for this promising new season!   


Now that the season is underway, one of my big questions has been answer in the most delightful manner: Spencer Williams and Ari Sterns are the latest the Scots' (read: Moore, Cline & Co.) ability to annually reload vs. rebuild.  Williams is a gem with moves and strength that I'd only hope for in a veteran Junior.  If Ari can continue to pump in the tres "on-demand" like he did against Mount Union -- look out NCAC opponents!  Whew! Two solid Frosh! 

Returning, Kipfer cut his hair and has also shed any shyness to shine!  So great to see his power and intensity so soon this year.  Lalonde (from my high school WHS Alma Mater!) seems to have largely healed and able now to contribute and realize his potential.  Last year's hope, Dan Fannelly, has filled that promise nicely and he's asserting himself with more consistency and finesse.  I love watching him dunk and generally assert himself!  I hope Evan continues to grow into his role/position and was thrilled by his output in the first two games.  Still hoping Milt and Galen grow more comfortable in their roles and their own inherent abilities. 

Looking ahead to the next three games, I think these will be the second real test of the Scots potential.  OWU at home (fortunately) could be a barnburner (look out for OWU next year, too, as three of their top players are only Juniors! Yipes!) and DePauw will be an opportunity to exorcise the curse of the annual trek to Indiana.  Even Oberlin is looking good this year.  At the same time, I'm baffled by Witt's early sag?!  Their coach is much better than that and they always get up for us (as we do for them).  We need to watch for a let down given the Tigers' early travails, but having watched them against Stevenson for some of the game, they have a fair amount of growing to do... 

Unabashedly, I'm hoping for some serious blow-outs this year where seven or eight reach double figures in all the categories.  I'd love to see a game like that (or several!) just 'cause I'm a Scot -- what can I say?!

One final thing for now, when viewing the Scots games from afar, I'm encouraged by seeing all the fans in Timken.  Dheer numbers are imp[ortant in that cavernous place.  Still, at the same time, there's a lot of grey and white hair in the audience and I hope they will: Pump. It. Up. more than they seem to.  Despite some hot moments, the fans seem generally too passive and quiet.  Having attended games there since around when it opened decades ago, the players will respond when the fans start a-rockin'!  So, Rock On, Scots' Fans!  These are unique and special times that Moore, Cline, & CO. and the players are giving us as fans.  Let's return some of the love with constant screaming, tub-thumping, flag-waving, and otherwise making ourselves nicely and politely obnoxious!

Gooooooooooo Scots!

Eco-manblue

[Eco-manblue]

Yikes, I just realized that I forgot to mention Xavier Brown!  THat's what's amazing about this edition of the Scot's Men's basketball team:  we are blessed with abundance, talent, and true grit.  I'm relieved that Brown "rebounded" with 21 points against St. Vincent.  Does anyone know what the story is about his foot injury.  Is it chronic?  Does he need more time to heal?  What's up with that?  I wish the Daily Record sports writers (and the COW pr staff would provide more info!).  Needless to say, I'm holding my breath for Xavier's good health and complete recovery.  What a treat to have him on the court and watch his fluid, quick skill manifested time after time!

[Pat Coleman]

Welcome to the board! Glad to see you're a real person and not a spammer. I had some trepidation about approving your registration.

[David Collinge]

Eco-manblue, weren't you here before, perhaps several years ago? I swear I remember you, maybe without the hyphen? Anyway, welcome (back).

Wooster moves up to #5 this week with a #1 vote, while both OWU (#21) and DePauw (#22) enter the poll. No votes for Wittenberg, or for Oberlin for that matter.

[Eco-manblue]

Hi David (Pat & others!),

Yes, I may have been on this chat room before.  There was also a Wooster chat room that existed for awhile but died out. 

Delighted about Wooster's upward mobility in the poll.  It was bound to shake out and good to see how Wooster and the rest of the NCAC teams were assessed.  OWU and Depauw are evidently the obvious challengers to Wooster within the conference this year.  We'll know soon how they'll shape up against the Scots.  Hope the Scots keep the intensity up.  My guess is that the Spain trip did a world of good for both the tangibles (i.e- getting prepared to play) and the intangibles (i.e.- team bonding, trust development, communication, leadership, etc.).  Hey, do you know of any other credible, solid ratings sites besides Massey?

When did you graduate, BTW!

Happy Thanksgiving,

Scott Denman (aka Eco-manblue)

[Ohigy]

Another good night in non-conference play for the NCAC as the teams go 6-1 on the evening with Allegheny suffering the only loss.  Denison, Wabash, Ohio Wesleyan, DePauw, Hiram, and Oberlin all win.

[David Collinge]

There was also a Wooster chat room that existed for awhile but died out.

Oh yeah, I had forgotten about that. That's where I remember you from.

When did you graduate, BTW!

From Wooster, 1982.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Back atcha.

[wooscotsfan]

As a Wooster fan, I am very Thankful for Coaches Steve Moore, Doug Cline and their staff! 

Coach Steve Moore has a 33-year career record of 732-209, including an extraordinary mark of 645-144 the past 27 seasons at The College of Wooster, which puts him No. 3 in wins among Div. III coaches all-time.  With 3 more wins this year, I think those win totals are now 735 and 648 respectively.

Coach Moore has led Wooster to 22 NCAA Tournament berths and a league-high 16 North Coast Athletic Conference championships, while compiling a winning percentage of .817.

Happy Thanksgiving to all NCAC posters!

[Ohigy]

NCAC off to an impressive 27-8 non-league start.  Denison, Wabash, OWU, Hiram, Allegheny, and Wooster in action this weekend.

[wooscotsfan]

At the Half:  Hanover 32  Wooster 27

Wooster shot only 39% in the first half.  Refs awarded Hanover 15 foul shots in the half while Wooster shot only 2 free throws. 

Wooster had 9 turnovers in the half and they need to take better care of the ball.

Scots are being led by freshman Spencer Williams with 6 points.

[wooscotsfan]

Final:  Hanover 70  Wooster 57

Wooster lost this game for several reasons:
-Shot only 39% from the floor
-Had 17 turnovers in the game
-Wooster shot only 4 free throws in the entire game while Hanover shot 32
-Scots did not drive the lane enough and fouled late but the officiating was still very lopsided

Wooster is now 3-1.  Next game is at home vs. Ohio Wesleyan