MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[David Collinge]

Yes, I have seen The Natural, and I like it.  It's sort of a guilty pleasure; none of my cineaste friends can tolerate it.  The book is better, but I enjoy the movie.

The baseball movie that I'm somewhat surprised has escaped mention is Bang the Drum Slowly, which IIRC is sort of Brian's Song meets Of Mice and Men.  Good film.

Pitchers and catchers report to Winter Haven in about 12 hours, ready to begin the first championship season for Cleveland since the 1964 Browns. 

[David Collinge]

http://www.d3hoops.com/dailydose/2007/02/14/ncaa-regional-rankings-week-2/

Wooster slips to #3 in the regional rankings, and Wittenberg dips to #4, all to make room for our old friends from University Heights.

[smedindy]

Hunter has a boatload of students as well, if I recall. Over 20,000 grads and undergrads.

Mmmm...Quisp and Quake. Can I have some King Vitamin, too?

[ScotsFan]

Not really a surprise to see the Blue Streaks jump to the #2 spot in the GL Region given JCU's QoWI is higher than anyone else in the region except LE even despite all of the losses.  As it looks right now, whomever wins out among JCU, Wooster, Wittenberg or Hope should have the inside track at hosting the sectional.  John Carroll probably has the most difficult shot at accomplishing the feat as they have to travel to arch-rival Baldwin-Wallace for their season finale this Saturday.  And then they have the joy of playing in what looks to be a very unpredictable OAC Tournament where any # of teams could realistically come out on top once all the dust settles. 

Wooster, Witt and Hope really arguably only have one tough game remaining.  That would be in the championship games of their respective conferences.  Of course I'm referring to the rubber matches of Hope v. Calvin and Wooster v. Wittenberg should they all happen to advance that far to set up the anticipated rematches. 

Even if LE runs the table from here on out, they would be ineligible to host a Sectoinal due to the smallness of their gym which is why I didn't include them in the discussion. 

One last thought concerning the GL Regional rankings and that is when is Capital going to get any respect??  They are currently tied for 1st with JCU in the OAC and yet ONU is still ranked in the region and Cap is nowhere to be found?!  And this is coming off the heels of Cap just beating ONU last weekend!   

[Li'l Giant]

LG, I'm surprised you're old enough to remember Quisp and Quake.  I figured I'd have to wait for Sager to get to work tonight to get a response.

You can order it online!

www.quisp.com

[Mr. Ypsi]

Well I, for one, AM surprised to see JCU above Woo and Witt in the region.  I think they are putting way too much weight on a fairly modest QOWI difference - not nearly a large enough gap to overcome 2 or 3 more in-region losses, IMO.

[WoosterFAN]

Ypsi - I have to agree with you.  From the perspective of balmy Memphis, TN (current temp 27 degrees with zero precip), it is difficult to move JCU in front of both WOOSTER and WITTENBERG.

Granted both in region of SCOTS loses were at home but both team are in top 6 in the regional rankings and non-NCAA schedule was as tough as you'll find in DIII.  I know that it is unfair comparison but JCU does not crack the most respected D3Hoops Top 25.  Loses include @ Wilmington, @H'berg and @ Capital.  Those are not teams that are threatening to crack the regional or top 25 rankings.  even the out of region loss to Greensboro is not impressive. 

JCU does have some tough good wins in topsy turvy OAC but the losses are not good and statistically they have the worst defense in the OAC (most points allowed and 74.7 ppg).

I am not sure how much of this will play into seeding and hosting.  We have more basketball to play with conference tourney's as SF has already mentioned so I guess we'll have to just see how this plays out.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Well I, for one, AM surprised to see JCU above Woo and Witt in the region.  I think they are putting way too much weight on a fairly modest QOWI difference - not nearly a large enough gap to overcome 2 or 3 more in-region losses, IMO.

I was shocked by JCU's jump up the regional rankings. As a Hope fan I am frustrated by being jumped despite 2 few losses but at least Hope lost last week so there is some logic behind it. If I were at Witt or Wooster fan I'd be completely frustrated by being jumped in the rankings this weekend.

[earlhamalum]

Finals:


Wooster 82  Kenyon 52
Oberlin  56  OWU   71
Wabash 57 Wittenberg 76
Allegheny 73 Hiram 58
Denison 51 Earlham 63


Okay that is my mock picks... I feel all alone on Valentine's Day with no up-dated scores on this lonely NCAC Wednesday night!

P.S Welcome GO Quake... glad to see another EC fan on this board... I was going to make the trip to Richmond to see Senior night "tonight" but due to the game being played tomorrow I will not be able to attend.  2-time senior M. Jewett Richmond Native will be one of three Seniors honored tomorrow.  (Fingers are crossed M.J. can put up the numbers on senior night that I once did... oh the good old days!)

[Li'l Giant]

Wabash 57 Wittenberg 76

Well, I hope you got no Valentines today. 

[earlhamalum]

Almost... but once again my mom came through in the clutch, with a lovely Long-T with Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl Champs on the front, and the 53 man roster on that back!!   

[kiltedbryan]

Granted both in region of SCOTS loses were at home but both team are in top 6 in the regional rankings and non-NCAA schedule was as tough as you'll find in DIII.  I know that it is unfair comparison but JCU does not crack the most respected D3Hoops Top 25.  Loses include @ Wilmington, @H'berg and @ Capital.  Those are not teams that are threatening to crack the regional or top 25 rankings.  even the out of region loss to Greensboro is not impressive. 

WoosterFAN, I generally agree with you that John Carroll's move up the regional rankings is remarkable.  However, it is worth noting that Wooster's non-D3 schedule, regardless of how strong or weak it was, has absolutely not one iota of bearing upon NCAA regional rankings, or upon tournament selection.  In fact, it won't ever be under consideration- to the NCAA's eyes, such games never occurred.  So, while you can argue that the Scots should be getting better respect than JCU in the national poll (which they are), and you can argue that a better regional winning percentage should put the Scots above the Blue Streaks, you can't argue that the Scots' non-D-III and non-regional games should place them higher in the regional rankings.

In JCU and Capital's defense, they have each beaten Ohio Northern twice this year.  Neither Wooster nor Wittenberg has done that once.  I saw Capital last weekend; on a neutral floor, I'd take Wooster (quicker guards, more scoring threats), but I wouldn't be surprised if Capital won.  Capital is 0-2 against the top of the NCAC, losing to Ohio Wesleyan by 10 and to Wittenberg by 5 in double OT.

[Pat Coleman]

Well I, for one, AM surprised to see JCU above Woo and Witt in the region.  I think they are putting way too much weight on a fairly modest QOWI difference - not nearly a large enough gap to overcome 2 or 3 more in-region losses, IMO.

.4 is NOT fairly modest. .4 multiplied by a 25-game season means five games against a team at the next stratum up in record.

[pennstghs]

scotsbrod you CAN'T use that fact against Wittenberg that they lost to Ohio Northern and Capital beat them because Wittenberg  BEAT Capital earlier in the year right before Christmas in 2OT.......Of course before that didnt i say that game might be hard to gauge because we didnt know if capital was any good but now that we look at that game we can say that Wittenberg should gain from that win....

[WoosterFAN]

Another point of interest in the regional rankings;

Penn State - Behrend defeats Lake Erie @ LEC 66-60 in OT

hummm??