MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[goscots]

A couple point to consider from the scrimmage:

1. It was Wooster versus Wooster and both teams were pushing it up the floor (no walking it across mid court).

2. 12 of the 20 players were freshman and it showed at times.

3. Outside shooting was pretty good (Fulk, Cooper, Johnson, Port & Molz all hit well from beyond the arc)

but to your point DC, it will be interesting to see if the scrimmages against Otterbein and Ashland show more defensive results...

[woosterbooster]

What is the normal format for an intercollegiate scrimmage, such as when Wooster will play Otterbein and host Ashland?  Same as a game, two 20 minutes halves with stoppage of the clock, fouling out, etc.?  Do the coaches sometimes stop play to teach?

[ScotsFan]

What is the normal format for an intercollegiate scrimmage, such as when Wooster will play Otterbein and host Ashland?  Same as a game, two 20 minutes halves with stoppage of the clock, fouling out, etc.?  Do the coaches sometimes stop play to teach?

I haven't been to many Wooster scrimmages, but I went to one a few years back when the scrimmaged Akron at the Jar.  They played it like a regular game from what I can remember.  But that was one of their final scrimmages so I'm not sure if all their scrimmages are held the same way or not.

[goscots]

I haven't seen very many scrimmages either (actually just one other) but on Saturday it was run like a real game with one exception - Coach Moore stood on the court and would speak to various players at a break in play but he never interupted the game. Coach Cline ran the Black team and Erich Riebe ran the Gold team. In the end the scrimmage did have some intensity to it as all the letterman were on the floor and wanted to win.

[Gregory Sager]

What is the normal format for an intercollegiate scrimmage, such as when Wooster will play Otterbein and host Ashland?  Same as a game, two 20 minutes halves with stoppage of the clock, fouling out, etc.?  Do the coaches sometimes stop play to teach?

It's completely up to the coaches of the respective teams. Sometimes it'll be a full-clock 40-minute game. Sometimes it'll be two 20-minute halves, with the score reset to 0-0 at the intermission. Sometimes the clock is run continuously; sometimes the clock is run normally. It's common for teams with JV squads, or who have deep varsity rosters, to play a JV half as well, or a JV quarter. Sometimes the two coaches will agree to run specific scenarios (e.g., Team A up by two points with 30 seconds left, Team B has the ball; followed by Team B is up by three with a minute left, Team A is shooting a 1-and-1; etc.) as a supplement to the scrimmage. I've seen the full gamut of scrimmaging possibilities over the years.

However, I've never seen an intercollegiate scrimmage stopped so that a coach can walk onto the floor and make a specific teaching point, although this may be something that's seen in intrasquad scrimmages (NPU has never played intrasquad scrimmages, so I don't know this for sure). When a coach has wanted to make a teaching point in any intercollegiate scrimmage that I've ever watched, he's done it in the traditional way by calling a timeout.

[pennstghs]

hey guys remember me-yes i am annoying but at times i have some substance in my responses that is worthwhile. I think Wittenberg has a shot at another good season, though it will be extremely hard to top what we acheived last season in which should have been the ultimate achievement, a national championship.

We have some good talent coming back, but i have yet to measure the success that our run last year has had on our freshman, as i have yet to see the team in person. Wittenberg and Wooster willc ompete undoubtedly.

[Blue Russian]

Pat,

In regards to the story on the front page about the Collegiate Basketball Invitational, I was wondering if you knew if this would be open to the public?

I wonder how Wadswoth, OH ended up as the destination of such an event?  Seems like quite the odd choice if you ask me.  Not that I'm complaining, because if it is open to the public it will be a good opportunity to see some quality hoops on display.

HAS ANYONE SEEN ANY MORE INFO ON THIS NEW PROGRAM?  THANKS.

[Witt4ever]

We have some good talent coming back, but i have yet to measure the success that our run last year has had on our freshman, as i have yet to see the team in person. Wittenberg and Wooster willc ompete undoubtedly.

Yeh, with the addition of Michael Jordan to the team, Witt will dominate.

[David Collinge]

The preseason poll is out, and Wooster not unexpectedly starts out as the #2 choice behind Va. Wesleyan.  I was mildly surprised that the Marlins were such an overwhelming #1 (23 first-place and 2 second-place votes), but it is richly deserved.  Wooster grabbed one of those stray #1 votes (Amherst the other), but was nearly 4 full places behind on the average ballot (538 points, or about 21 1/2 points per ballot, the equivalent of midway between #4 and #5 on the average ballot).  The Scots do have about a one-position (26 pts.) advantage on #3 Amherst.

Wittenberg starts out at a solid #10, amassing 298 points (about #14 on the average ballot).  And kudos to Ohio Wesleyan, snatching 11 votes to finish in the middle of the Others Receiving Votes field. 

Wooster's Mose Hole Classic opponents are all highly regarded:  first round opponent Ohio Northern is #5, while Calvin is #8 and UW-La Crosse is the equivalent of #26.

Besides ONU, the OAC is represented by Baldwin-Wallace at #6; aside from #8 Calvin, the MIAA is represented by #14 Hope.  Notable by their absence is Albion.

[David Collinge]

From the front page story about the preseason top 25:

National runner-up Wittenberg lost its two top post players and comes in at No. 10[...]

emphasis added

Has Dane Borchers decided not to return after all?  Or is this a charitable reference to Kenny Brady?

[Blue Russian]

From the front page story about the preseason top 25:

National runner-up Wittenberg lost its two top post players and comes in at No. 10[...]

emphasis added

Has Dane Borchers decided not to return after all?  Or is this a charitable reference to Kenny Brady?

I can't comment on the article, but I can assure you Dane Borchers is playing for Witt this coming season.

[ScotsFan]

From the front page story about the preseason top 25:

National runner-up Wittenberg lost its two top post players and comes in at No. 10[...]

emphasis added

Has Dane Borchers decided not to return after all?  Or is this a charitable reference to Kenny Brady?

I can't comment on the article, but I can assure you Dane Borchers is playing for Witt this coming season.

Yeah, I highly doubt Witt lands in the #10 spot losing Borchers along with Russ and Brady. 

As far as the rankings go, at least the top 2 look as I expected.  I just can't figure out the love affair with Amherst though.  According to the article on the front page, they lost 3 key contributors from last year's team, yet they are still #3.  Also, regarding Amherst and  that lone 1st place vote.  If I'm not mistaken, weren't they receiving one 1st place vote throughout the year last year?  Looks like that voter is at it again this year.  Also, I was a bit surprised to see ONU ahead of B-W.   I knew the Polar Bears were going to be good this year, but I just didn't expect them coming into the season ranked ahead of B-W.

I can't wait for the season to get started if you couldn't tell, and this preseason poll means it's all the more closer.  I'm going to try to make it to the scrimmage next Wednesday vs. Ashland to catch a glimpse of the new faces and see how the team looks. 

Just a question, but how sparse to you figure the crowd to be at the finals of the Al Van Wie, being that it will be tipping off roughly around when The Game is finishing up?  I think you can count me out as I will have probably partook in one too many Great Lakes X-mas Ales while watching The Game.   I'll resign to listening to it on the radio.  I will be there for the season opener on Friday night though.

[David Collinge]

I just can't figure out the love affair with Amherst though.  According to the article on the front page, they lost 3 key contributors from last year's team, yet they are still #3.  Also, regarding Amherst and  that lone 1st place vote.  If I'm not mistaken, weren't they receiving one 1st place vote throughout the year last year? 

Well, Wittenberg lost 3 key contributors (Russ, Brady, Steffes) and they're #10.  There are very few programs with the sustained excellence that Wittenberg and Amherst can boast.  Amherst was an outstanding team last season, and was very nearly the national champion.  I think it is perfectly plausible that they are reloading rather than rebuilding this season.

[Witt4ever]

http://www4.wittenberg.edu/news/athletics/mbasketball/roster06-07.html

[ScotsFan]

The NCAC Preseason Basketball Polls were released today.

Wooster is a near unanimous choice in both the coaches and media polls.  Wooster garnered all but one 1st place vote in the coaches' poll and all but three 1st place votes in the media poll.  Wittenberg is picked 2nd in both polls followed by OWU, Earlham, Wabash, Allegheny, Denison and Kenyon.  Hiram and Oberlin swap cellar dwellar positions in each poll.