MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[kiltedbryan]

 - Wooster had made 9-straight NCAC tournament finals, and yesterday's loss was only its 4th ever in the NCAC semis (25-4).

- Per the NCAC conference website, despite 26 combined NCAC finals appearances between the two teams (Witt 16, OWU 10), tonight will be just the second time they've played each other for the crown, with the other one coming a generation ago in 1990. Wittenberg won that game 86-62 on a neutral court at Denison.

- OWU has now played in 3 of the past 6 NCAC title games. OWU's first back-to-back appearances since the 2007-08 finals.

- Witt has lost the last three NCAC finals they've played (2014, 2011, 2010; all to Wooster). Amazingly, the Tiger's last tournament title was in 2006.

- NCAC will crown a different tournament champion for the 4th year in a row: DePauw (2015), Denison (2016), Wooster (2017), and Witt/OWU (2018). I believe this is the longest such streak of different winners in conference history.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I tweeted this and mentioned it in the recap, but I think it's worth repeating.  Nate Axlerod went over 2,000 points and 650 assists in the game yesterday.  We don't have a searchable database, but I don't believe anyone who's had 650 assists has ever had 2,000 points before.  It's a truly remarkable accomplishment.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Yup, Nate is a reason I am disappointed, that OWU's season is probably over. I was hoping him and the other seniors, would get one more trip to the post season. They had some really good wins this season.

[ScotsFan]

I tweeted this and mentioned it in the recap, but I think it's worth repeating.  Nate Axlerod went over 2,000 points and 650 assists in the game yesterday.  We don't have a searchable database, but I don't believe anyone who's had 650 assists has ever had 2,000 points before.  It's a truly remarkable accomplishment.

Well, it's easy to amass those stats when you've been playing for 10 years...  I kiiiiid, I kiiiiid!!! 

Seriously, it only seems like Axlreod has been there 10 years because he's been so good for them over his 4 years at OWU.  Sad he doesn't get to continue his career at least a week or two more by OWU not making the tournament...

[woolax]

Wooster in John Carroll Pod with Wooster playing Illinois Wesleyan and Thomas More playing John Carroll in first round match ups. Who is coming out of this pod?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Wooster in John Carroll Pod with Wooster playing Illinois Wesleyan and Thomas More playing John Carroll in first round match ups. Who is coming out of this pod?

Well, I'm certainly hoping it is my Titans , but I suspect it is either Wooster or JCU, with a very slight edge to JCU due to home court.

[Wooster Booster]

I haven't seen JCU play in many years.  Do they still make hockey line changes while committing 200 fouls/game and getting called for only 25?

[Onward on, John Carroll]

Wooster in John Carroll Pod with Wooster playing Illinois Wesleyan and Thomas More playing John Carroll in first round match ups. Who is coming out of this pod?

Well, I'm certainly hoping it is my Titans , but I suspect it is either Wooster or JCU, with a very slight edge to JCU due to home court.

JCU is talented, no doubt, having gone 6-1 against the top of the league.  However, they are very susceptible to an upset.  Of their 5 losses, one was to a non-conference NCAA tournament (but no overly impressive) team Hope but the 3 of the other 4 losses were to the bottom half of the OAC (losses to Muskingum, Capital and Mount Union).   I agree with your assessment.  Wooster is probably just as likely to come out of the pod but JCU is unbeaten at home.

[Onward on, John Carroll]

I haven't seen JCU play in many years.  Do they still make hockey line changes while committing 200 fouls/game and getting called for only 25?

In short, yes. JCU still plays 10-12 players per game and does sub five for five many times throughout the game after x number of possessions.  That said, this season  Pete Moran was hired as JCU head coach, taking the place of his father, Mike Moran.  Mike developed the system in the early to mid 2000s.  While Pete is utilizing it, he does sub out one-for-one WAY more often than his dad did and seems to mix up the "units" a lot more than his dad did.  He also calls occasional time outs which was really rare for Mike (unless you count "rolling timeouts" which are called simply to get subs into the game . . .he used those frequently).

JCU "out-fouled" its opponents 569-501 this past season or an average of about 20 fouls to 18 fouls per game.  They are aggressive but the OAC is aggressive.  It will be interesting to see how the game is called with neutral officials and a high level non-league opponent on the court.

[kiltedbryan]

The combined tournament resumes for Wooster and Illinois Wesleyan must be among the most substantial for any possible tournament pairing in terms of appearances, games, overall wins/record, etc.

Across all those games, though, the Scots and Titans have only mixed it up in March twice before, both times in the Sectional Semifinals (Sweet 16) at Wooster.

In 2012, a Titans team that entered the tournament at <checks notes, gulps> 19-7, got the best of the Scots in a 69-67 victory, denying a possible Wooster-Wittenberg Sectional Final.* IWU proceeded to blow out Wittenberg 70-49 the next night to claim a spot in the 2012 Final Four.

In 2004, host Wooster beat IWU 58-53 in the Sectional Semifinals in a pod that also included JCU - a very similar make-up to this year's pod. In the Sectional Final, JCU beat a Wooster team trying to make its second-consecutive Final Four run by a tally of 70-64.

*Notably, Wooster and Wittenberg have never played one another in the NCAA tournament, despite several bracket opportunities over the years.

[Onward on, John Carroll]

In 2004, host Wooster beat IWU 58-53 in the Sectional Semifinals in a pod that also included JCU - a very similar make-up to this year's pod. In the Sectional Final, JCU beat a Wooster team trying to make its second-consecutive Final Four run by a tally of 70-64.

Fun game . . . first, last and only Final Four for the Blue Streaks.

[ScotsFan]

The combined tournament resumes for Wooster and Illinois Wesleyan must be among the most substantial for any possible tournament pairing in terms of appearances, games, overall wins/record, etc.

Across all those games, though, the Scots and Titans have only mixed it up in March twice before, both times in the Sectional Semifinals (Sweet 16) at Wooster.

In 2012, a Titans team that entered the tournament at <checks notes, gulps> 19-7, got the best of the Scots in a 69-67 victory, denying a possible Wooster-Wittenberg Sectional Final.* IWU proceeded to blow out Wittenberg 70-49 the next night to claim a spot in the 2012 Final Four.

In 2004, host Wooster beat IWU 58-53 in the Sectional Semifinals in a pod that also included JCU - a very similar make-up to this year's pod. In the Sectional Final, JCU beat a Wooster team trying to make its second-consecutive Final Four run by a tally of 70-64.

*Notably, Wooster and Wittenberg have never played one another in the NCAA tournament, despite several bracket opportunities over the years.

Great stats KB!

I, for one, will be pulling for a Wooster-JCU rematch.  Wooster is only 2-3 vs. JCU in the tournament, but both of their wins were en route to Wooster reaching the Final 4!!!  Maybe history can repeat itself this year!!! 

Couple of things to add, Wooster is making their NCAA Division III record 16th straight NCAA Tournament appearance!  That is the 6th longest streak all time behind Kansas, Duke, MSU, Gonzaga and Wisconsin (whose streak will end at 18 straight this year btw).  Wooster is also 3rd in overall D3 Tournament appearances with 27 only trailing Wittenberg and Scranton with 28 each!

[Onward on, John Carroll]

Wooster-Illinois Wesleyan at 5:30 p.m
John Carroll-Thomas More at 7:30 p.m. (or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game).

Interestingly enough, John Carroll will not have advanced ticket sales but the other three schools will have advanced ticket sales.  From the JCUsports.com website: "John Carroll will sell tickets the day of the game beginning at 4:00 p.m." So, Wooster will fill the gym for the first game and JCU fans will struggle to find seats for the second game - great home court advantage!!

Championship is Saturday at 7:00 p.m.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Wooster-Illinois Wesleyan at 5:30 p.m
John Carroll-Thomas More at 7:30 p.m. (or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game).

Interestingly enough, John Carroll will not have advanced ticket sales but the other three schools will have advanced ticket sales.  From the JCUsports.com website: "John Carroll will sell tickets the day of the game beginning at 4:00 p.m." So, Wooster will fill the gym for the first game and JCU fans will struggle to find seats for the second game - great home court advantage!!

Championship is Saturday at 7:00 p.m.

Not quite... each school is allotted a certain amount of tickets. Wooster will get X amount, JCU will actually probably get close to twice that amount since they are the home team. Wooster won't be able to take tickets JCU has allotted and thus keep JCU fans from getting into the game.

The only restriction is that JCU won't be able to sell all of the tickets for just their fans.. but Wooster or any other team won't be able to sell out the building.

Also - each school's fans will have a specific section to sit in as well. They can't just sit anywhere usually.

[Onward on, John Carroll]

Wooster-Illinois Wesleyan at 5:30 p.m
John Carroll-Thomas More at 7:30 p.m. (or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game).

Interestingly enough, John Carroll will not have advanced ticket sales but the other three schools will have advanced ticket sales.  From the JCUsports.com website: "John Carroll will sell tickets the day of the game beginning at 4:00 p.m." So, Wooster will fill the gym for the first game and JCU fans will struggle to find seats for the second game - great home court advantage!!

Championship is Saturday at 7:00 p.m.

Not quite... each school is allotted a certain amount of tickets. Wooster will get X amount, JCU will actually probably get close to twice that amount since they are the home team. Wooster won't be able to take tickets JCU has allotted and thus keep JCU fans from getting into the game.

The only restriction is that JCU won't be able to sell all of the tickets for just their fans.. but Wooster or any other team won't be able to sell out the building.

Also - each school's fans will have a specific section to sit in as well. They can't just sit anywhere usually.

So, let me make sure I am clear . . . each of the other three schools gets about 17% of the tickets and JCU gets 50% of the tickets.  Then they take that 17% of the tickets and have an assigned area for each school.  So, if JCU chooses, they can keep the first game attendance to just 1/3 of the gym's capacity and not sell any more tickets?  How will they know where someone is from?  I would think the logistics of keeping Wooster people from buying tickets would be nearly impossible.