MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[countyroad]

Quite a season in the NCAC. Congratulations indeed to OWU.

Hopefully Wooster can make a run. I would really like to see Wooster get another shot vs OWU.

[wally_wabash]

Quick prediction here- I don't think OWU wins the league tournament.  They have 4 guys that play 30+ minutes.  Barring a walkthrough in the semis (which I think is unlikely), do they have the legs to shoot and make enough 3s to beat Wooster or Wabash on the second day of a tough back-to-back?  I say no.  I think the winner of the tournament comes out of the first semi on Friday.

[Ohigy]

I maintain my position from earlier in the season.  Wooster wins the league tournament and the automatic bid.  OWU gets an at-large big to the NCAA Tournament.

[woosterbooster]

I've not been to a Wooster game all year, so consider that any opinions I put forth on the team come from further away than the Collinge-Nosebleed-Section of Timken Gymnasium.  Still, I find it amazing that Coach Moore is still, with the regular season nearly toast, fiddling with the minutes of his players.  I've never seen this so deep into a Wooster season, and it obviously indicates that there is serious concern in the Scots' camp.

[smedindy]

If things break weird and odd over the rest of the country, and especially if the favored (RRd) teams bomb out in the tourney and / or lose Saturday, the NCAC may be a one-bid league. OWU and Wooster's SOS, while not bad, isn't lights out. I do think a few "A" upsets will have to happen, but the way the year has gone, welp...

I do think there will be a "C" out of the NCAC but there's not a lock yet. What we need to do is hope Marietta wins the OAC first and foremost.

[countyroad]

I'm hoping Wooster can advance as I would really like to have the opportunity to drive the 15-20 minutes up 23 and see them play for once.

[David Collinge]

I think Kyle Brumett has done an amazing job in his first season in C'ville, leading no-expectations Wabash from nowhere to a strong third-place finish. In any other year, he's the Coach of the Year in the NCAC. But there is no way that award goes to any trophy case beside Mike DeWitt's this season.

[woosterbooster]

I think Kyle Brumett has done an amazing job in his first season in C'ville, leading no-expectations Wabash from nowhere to a strong third-place finish. In any other year, he's the Coach of the Year in the NCAC. But there is no way that award goes to any trophy case beside Mike DeWitt's this season.

What if Wabash wins the tournament?  Or are votes for this award taken before the tourney starts?

[David Collinge]

I think all of the of-the-Year awards, as well as the all-conference teams, are voted on before the tournament.

[wally_wabash]

I think all of the of-the-Year awards, as well as the all-conference teams, are voted on before the tournament.

Are we looking at an OWU sweep on the otY awards?  I think Axelrod the only choice for Newb otY.  I think you're spot on about CotY- most years, Brumett is an obvious choice, but most years somebody other than Wooster or Witt doesn't win the league.  I could be pleasantly surprised by the coaches choosing Coach Brumett here, but I'm with you- I don't think it is happening. 

That leaves PotY.  I would say Claude Gray is the favorite, but he's not the slam dunk choice.  Pannell has been excellent for Wooster, Purvlicis has had a tremendous season, as has Fernitz at DePauw.  I think those are your top four candidates. 

[ohiofan1954]

I can't comment on who should win the ncac awards but I will say the following. Axelrod is better then any guard that is playing in Athens right now.

[Li'l Giant]

I think Kyle Brumett has done an amazing job in his first season in C'ville, leading no-expectations Wabash from nowhere to a strong third-place finish. In any other year, he's the Coach of the Year in the NCAC. But there is no way that award goes to any trophy case beside Mike DeWitt's this season.

I agree.

I think all of the of-the-Year awards, as well as the all-conference teams, are voted on before the tournament.

Are we looking at an OWU sweep on the otY awards?

I think we are and I think that's appropriate.

My uneducated guess is that Wally is right about OWU not winning the tourney. I think Wooster wins the tourney and I think OWU will get an at large.

[wally_wabash]

Alright Wabash gets by Kenyon 68-67 in OT.  WEIRD game.  Also had nothing to do with the standings or tournament so we'll move on.  In other action of little consequence, Wooster beat Oberlin 58-45. 

OWU beats DePauw 86-77 and Allegheny comes back from a big second half deficit to beat Denison 60-59. 

Witt and Hiram like suspense, so they'll play tomorrow instead. 

Up to the moment, things look like this:
Standings - bolded teams are locked into their seeds:
1. OWU 16-2
2. Wooster 14-4
3. Wabash 12-6
4. DePauw 9-9
5. Wittenberg 8-9
6. Allegheny 8-10
7. Denison 7-11
8. Oberlin 6-12
9. Kenyon 5-13
10. Hiram 4-13

The only if/then scenario left determines the site of the 4/5 game and quite simply, Witt hosts if they beat Hiram tomorrow.  If not, they travel to DePauw on Tuesday. 

Your matchups for Tuesday are:
Oberlin (8) @ OWU (1)
Witt (4/5) vs. DePauw(4/5)
Denison (7) @ Wooster (2)
Allegheny (6) @ Wabash (3)

[NCACfan22]

Watched Wooster play Oberlin today, and was quite honestly not very impressed with the Scots. Obviously, Wooster has a ton of talent (most in the conference IMO) but something looked out of sync between Brown, Fanelly (who I think is the most skilled big in the conference), Panelly (who hit a huge three when Oberlin threatened to within 6 with 1:30 to go) and LaLonde. I don't know if it's just too much talent that collides when put together or what, but Wooster sure seems to be playing beneath their potential level.

Also, worth mentioning, part of the reason Steve Moore has been so successful is because he has had the refs in his back pocket for years. Wooster got absolutely ALL the calls today against Oberlin, and easily could have lost that game if things had gone differently. I don't see them winning the NCAC.

[woosterbooster]

Also, worth mentioning, part of the reason Steve Moore has been so successful is because he has had the refs in his back pocket for years. Wooster got absolutely ALL the calls today against Oberlin, and easily could have lost that game if things had gone differently. I don't see them winning the NCAC.

Kind of cool that you threw that last paragraph in there.  Made it easy to clarify your credibility, or actually lack of same.