MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[sac]

Trinity (Texas) 64, Ohio Wesleyan 53

[woosterbooster]

If there's one thing I've learned in the last few years of watching Wooster and DIII basketball more closely than before it's the difference in how players improve.  Some barely do.  Some might peak or top out during their sophomore or junior years.  Some show a steady, continual improvement, their whole game, or most of it, rising and making them a better all-around player.  Wooster's Brandon Johnson would fit this last mold.

And then there's the case of the Scot's Marty Bidwell.

As a freshmen, Bidwell's minutes were mostly limited to clean-up time, and as a fan it really wasn't clear what he would eventually be able to do.  He showed some athletic ability, some speed, and that he was hard-nosed.  But he also appeared to be a bit nuts, playing defense in a frenzy, arms swinging wildly about, often-times swinging into the bodies of opposing players.

Last year, Bidwell still came off the bench, but moved into the regular rotation.  He showed that he could shoot the ball some, although surrounded by scorers he certainly wasn't a go-to guy.  You began to see how fast he really was, and he revealed the ability to penetrate and dish although he probably should have been looking to finish more himself.  He toned down his defensive wildman act, somewhat anyway, and down the stretch he was often the team's stopper, given the challenge of either guarding a quick small man or a bigger power forward.  He could handle either, with quickness and a fierce determination.

Now it's the fall of 2007.  With Wooster losing three key players and needing offensive help, Bidwell is now a starter at small forward.  And holy cow, where do I start?  He appears to have spent the whole summer shooting baskets as he now looks deadly from three-point range.  He's improved his penetration, making good decisions as to whether to finish or dump off, and he can finish by either going all the way to the hoop or making little pull-up jumpers.  When Farmingdale pressed full court at the end of Friday's game, he showed the ability to break it, with speed and strength, being the needed big-man ballhandler that Tom Port previously was.

I don't expect Bidwell to average his current nineteen points per game.  But I'll bet he'll be around 14-16, and very possibly, even probably, the team leader in assists (12 in two games so far).  Bidwell has dramatically added skills and improved his game each season.  He's almost certainly going to be All-NCAC something this year.  Next season, with the graduation of Cooper and Fulk, with the skills that he's already shown, he could even play the shooting guard spot on a bigger if slower Scots team.  It's not hard to imagine this former crazy man being able to continue his basketball career in Europe, as a guard, after he's done helping the COW win ball games.

[David Collinge]

Ohio Wesleyan puts one in the win column, defeating Lake Forest 56-42 in the consolation game of the Midway Classic.  Box score.  Bishops had three in double figures, led by Brian Cafarella's 14.  They shot a miserable 31.6% and were outrebounded 37-30, but forced 22 turnovers and held Lake Forest to 36.4% shooting, including a horrendous 3/18 from the arc.

There's no consolation for the 0-2 Kenyon Lords, however, as they drop their second game at the Brandeis Tip-Off Classic, this time to Tufts by a count of 69-63.  Recap and box score.  Bryan Yelvington scored 13 and grabbed 7 rebounds to lead Kenyon, which also got 12 points, 6 boards, and two blocks from the enigmatic Allen Bediako.  Kenyon got as close as two with just under 5:00 left, but the Jumbos, who never trailed in the game, pulled away to post the six-point victory.

Kenyon, which returned 10 lettermen including all five starters from last season, had a first-year in the starting five this afternoon.  Rookie J.T. Knight contributed 23 points and 6 boards in 48 minutes this weekend, shooting 9/18 (.500) overall and 5/11 (.455) from the arc.  This may be a plebe we have to keep an eye on.  He replaced David Jolson in the starting lineup; Jolson started Saturday's game, but played just 10 minutes, and did not play at all today.  That sounds like an injury to me; I hope it is not serious. 

[Hoops MacPherson]

Its about time someone on here talked about someone other than Wooster. The ironic thing, until this league gets more balanced from top to bottom, the eventual winner will continue to come up short in March.

Early reviews on the rest of the NCAC:
Wittenberg-- Seem to have slipped somewhat, but their tradition keeps them hanging in there.
Ohio Wesleyan-- Disappointing last year, should have been closer to top two.
Wabash-- Is there a girls' school near Wabash, and if not, does this hurt them in recruiting?
Earlham-- Not very deep, but started off well this season.
Kenyon-- Experienced, have to learn how to win. If the big fella wasn't an enigma, he wouldn't be in D-III.
Allegheny-- Potential sleeper team; start out 2-0, got some balance in their scoring this weekend.
Denison-- Seemed like an unhappy group last year; hopefully, this season finds them a little more cohesive.
Oberlin-- Read review of colleges once that said the liberal attitude at Oberlin went against everything that team sports stands for. Whoops.
Hiram-- We'll see if Year 2 of rebuilding program yields progress.

[Gregory Sager]

Ohio Wesleyan puts one in the win column, defeating Lake Forest 56-42 in the consolation game of the Midway Classic.  Box score.  Bishops had three in double figures, led by Brian Cafarella's 14.  They shot a miserable 31.6% and were outrebounded 37-30, but forced 22 turnovers and held Lake Forest to 36.4% shooting, including a horrendous 3/18 from the arc.

I saw Wittenberg play on Saturday night and Ohio Wesleyan play on Sunday afternoon, so I got a unique window into the upper reaches of the NCAC this weekend.

OWU couldn't have thrown a ball into Lake Michigan this weekend, even if the Bishops had been perched on the edge of Navy Pier. They went .33-107 (308) from the field and 18-60 (.300) from downtown. Ouch. But they absolutely put the clampdown on Lake Forest at the defensive end, and I suspect that LFC is a better team than the Foresters demonstrated this weekend. The Foresters only scored ten points in the entire second half, and even though OWU's shooting woes kept it from blowing the game wide open it never really seemed that LFC would ever mount a response once the Bishops caught up (it was 32-25, LFC, at the half).

Wittenberg didn't wow me. Kalamazoo plays hard, but it's a team that has a serious talent shortage. I doubt that the Hornets would pose much of a threat to most good D3 teams; after all, Wheaton tossed aside the Hornets like a discarded wad of gum the night before (98-59). The Tigers roared out to a 27-9 lead two-thirds of the way through the first half, and I figured that that would be the end of it. Yet the Hornets hung around, getting as close as four down with five minutes to go in the game -- partly because they didn't appear to have an ounce of quit in them, but mostly because Wittenberg proved unable to put together any sort of a run that would've caused the Hornets to mentally pack it in. That might be a youth thing, of course, as I understand that the Tigers are a little on the inexperienced side. Veteran teams seem to understand that when you open up a bit of a lead it's the time to put the pedal to the metal, rather than let up a little. But it's that lack of a killer instinct that makes me wonder if they'll finish ahead of OWU this season, even though I think that Wittenberg does have more overall talent in its rotation than do the Bishops. Good defense never takes a night off, and if the Bishops can sustain what they did in the second half of that game against LFC throughout the season they'll be tough for the Tigers (and most likely everyone but Wooster) to hold at bay in the NCAC.

[wally_wabash]

Its about time someone on here talked about someone other than Wooster. The ironic thing, until this league gets more balanced from top to bottom, the eventual winner will continue to come up short in March.

I don't know about all of that, Hoops.  In the last five years, the NCAC has been represented in the Final Four three times and in the final eight one more time.  That's pretty good.  You can't blame the rest of the league if the NCAC champion isn't hanging banners.  Blame Ton Ton Balenga. 

[David Collinge]

Its about time someone on here talked about someone other than Wooster. The ironic thing, until this league gets more balanced from top to bottom, the eventual winner will continue to come up short in March.

If "coming up short" means reaching Salem but not winning the title, like the league champion has done the past two seasons, I'll take it.

Early reviews on the rest of the NCAC:
Ohio Wesleyan-- Disappointing last year, should have been closer to top two.

Ohio Wesleyan did reach the tournament final last season, beating Wittenberg 57-52.

[sac]

Wabash-- Is there a girls' school near Wabash, ..........

Don't they call it DePauw?

[wally_wabash]

Wabash-- Is there a girls' school near Wabash, ..........

Don't they call it DePauw?

This is the fastest way to earn karma.  Ever.   

[smedindy]

Funny, I thought the board has been a bit less Wooster-centric in the past few pages, as we cussed and discussed the season.

[ScotsFan]

Sac,

I like the new avatar and sig!

I'm sure you've also heard the one about Michigan needing a new Carr with Les Miles...

Its about time someone on here talked about someone other than Wooster. The ironic thing, until this league gets more balanced from top to bottom, the eventual winner will continue to come up short in March.

I'll echo the sentiments of those already expressed by Wally and David.  If coming up short means at least reaching Salem, I'll take it! 

And if you're referring to coming up short when Wooster and Witt get to Salem?  Wooster was a mis-timed buzzer away from beating the eventual National Champions when they lost to Williams in the semi's 5 years ago.  And Wooster also had overcame a 14 point haltime deficit and actually led with under a minute to go before Amherst finished them off at the ft line last year!

And as far as Witt goes, as Wally touched on, they were a Ton Ton Balenga miss away from hanging a banner!

So, if that's your definition of falling short, again, I think I can live with it!

[kiltedbryan]

GS-

Thanks for the early read/impressions of Witt and OWU.

I'm really interested to see what happens when Capital goes to Witt tomorrow night.  Should give us some idea of how the top of the OAC stacks up against the top of the NCAC this season.

[wally_wabash]

Getting ready to tip from Hanover...I'll keep you all updated right here.   

Sloooooow start to this one...just about 3 minutes in and Wabash has a 3-0 lead following a Wes Smith triple on Wabash's first possession. 

10:43 to go in the first half, 13-11 Wabash.  The teams traded mini-runs and a whole bunch of turnovers.  Make it 13-13 now....and Wabash turns it over again.  LGs up to 7 turnovers already in this game.  Yikes. 

4 minutes to go in the first half...27-21 in favor of Wabash.  Simkus just converted a three point play to give Wabash their biggest lead of the game.  Wabash has only trailed for a brief moment in this game when the score was 8-7. 

And Hanover has gone on a quick run to tie the game at 27-27..I'm guessing that we're close to one minute to go here. 

Hanover closes the half pretty strong.  Hanover got the last shot of that half, but it rimmed out and Wabash goes to half with a 30-29 lead over Hanover. 


Brent just told me that Wabash hasn't beaten Hanover since the HCAC tournament game (a first round game I think) in 1999.  Yikes. 

Wabash started the second half ice cold and gave up the lead to the Panthers.  Hanover opened up a 34-30 lead on Wabash, but Wabash flipped the switch here and has come back with 8 straight points.  38-34 Wabash....and I have no idea how much time is left here.  15:24 to go. 

Oh my...Wabash is exploding.  Zimmer nails a three pointer and Wabash extends the lead to 43-34.  Timeout Hanover.

Midway through the half and Hanover is making a run.  Clint Parker hits a three for Hanover to cut the lead to one point at 46-45.  Wabash responds quickly with Gary Simkus scoring a basket and getting fouled.  The free throw is no good.  48-45 Wabash.

Sounds like the game is getting pretty physical and the officials are letting it go.  5 minutes to go, Wabash clinging to a 54-52 lead. 

Hanover nails a triple and the score is tied at 57-57 with 3 minutes to go.  Wabash has 22 turnovers tonight.  Not good. 

Make it two 3s in a row for Hanover.  Panthers retake the lead 60-57.  2:38 to play.   

Hanover gets a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 62-57 for Hanover.  Andy Root draws a foul for Wabash on the other end.  Andy gets one of his two shots.  62-58, Hanover with the ball....Chase Haltom gets a steal and a layup off the full court pressure.  62-60 now, just over one minute to go.

Wabash forces another turnover!  Haltom gets an open three pointer but misses...Hanover has the ball with about 40 seconds to play.  Hanover draws a foul underneath on Zimmer and Zimmer will be done for the evening with 5 fouls.

Hanover's free throws are...no good and....good.  63-60 in favor of Hanover.  23 seconds to play, Wabash will have the ball.   

After a couple of timeouts, Wabash goes one pass to Andy Root who misses the three pointer.  Rebound to Hanover and an immediate foul.  Wabash takes a timeout which seems like their 17th timeout in the last two minutes. 

Hanover's first free throw is good.  The second one is missed, rebounded by the shooter and put back in.  Ugh.   Hanover is going to win this game. 

Final score from Hanover: Hanover 68, Wabash 63.  The LGs let this one get away...far too sloppy tonight with the basketball.  Fouls are an issue as well...Wabash has been outshot at the line by a pretty significant margin in each of their first three games.  The LGs are either going to have it tone it down on D (not likely) or start forcing the issue a little more on the offensive end and getting some more free throw opportunities. 

[David Collinge]

Outstanding post, WW!  +1!

[Darryl Nester]

Wally -- I agree with DC; thanks for the report, though the ending must have been painful for you.

And DC, thanks for pointing out the report to those of us who hang around the HCAC room.  (Any additional chatter in that usually-empty room is always welcome.)