MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[BigRedGrad]

I have heard all the reasons why you don't foul a guy with time running out.  But when you are up by 3 and have only six fouls.  I sure as heck would foul the kid and put him on the line for the 1&1. 

Now that they have moved the players off the lower block,  the chances of the shooter hitting the first and banging the second and getting the ball back has been reduced that much more.

I understand all the reasons why you don't foul the kid but in this case I think Wooster should have.

It was a terrific game and congrats to Witt on a big win.

I am just a little nervous about how upset Wooster is going to be and maybe take it out on the Big Red machine Wednesday night....at Wooster.  Big OUCH!!

[woosterbooster]

If Wooster beats Wittenberg in the rematch, and both teams win the rest of their ballgames, putting the conference race into a tie, how is it then determined where the tournament is held?

[David Collinge]

If Wooster beats Wittenberg in the rematch, and both teams win the rest of their ballgames, putting the conference race into a tie, how is it then determined where the tournament is held?

IIRC, there is a coin toss, and the winner gets to select between the #1 seed and the right to host the tournament (presuming, of course, that they win their first-round game.)  I don't think it's ever actually happened.

But...my menory has been deteriorating since...since...since I can't remember when, so I'd appreciate either a confirmation or correction on this. 

[imderekpoe]

If Wooster beats Wittenberg in the rematch, and both teams win the rest of their ballgames, putting the conference race into a tie, how is it then determined where the tournament is held?

IIRC, there is a coin toss, and the winner gets to select between the #1 seed and the right to host the tournament (presuming, of course, that they win their first-round game.)  I don't think it's ever actually happened.

But...my menory has been deteriorating since...since...since I can't remember when, so I'd appreciate either a confirmation or correction on this. 

I'm pretty sure that the tiebreaking procedure is
1) Head-to-Head
2) Worst Lost (or best win - I'm never sure which)
3) Coin flip with the winner getting pick of #1 seed or hosting.

So with the scenario presented by Wooster Booster, it would come down to the coinflip.  With 3 & 4 being pretty equal this year, I would think the winner would choose to host.  The past few years #3 has been much stronger than #4 so it would have been a more interesting choice.  Play at home or make the other team have to beat a stronger opponent to get to the finals.

[wally_wabash]

If Wooster beats Wittenberg in the rematch, and both teams win the rest of their ballgames, putting the conference race into a tie, how is it then determined where the tournament is held?

Does anybody think this will happen?  Witt plays 10 more games.  2 with Wabash, 2 with OWU, 2 with Kenyon (on the right night, I think Kenyon could get them)...Witt isn't running the table, fellas. 

Let's save the tiebreak stuff for when we're actually on the brink...

[David Collinge]

Jan. 19:

Whew. Wabash always loses to a bottom feeder at some point during the season, and many times it has been at Oberlin.

I think the 1-point loss to Kenyon in December qualifies here.  Wabash has already paid their tax this season.   

Jan. 22:

Witt plays 10 more games.  2 with Wabash, 2 with OWU, 2 with Kenyon (on the right night, I think Kenyon could get them)...Witt isn't running the table, fellas. 

From bottom feeder to rough equivalent of Wittenberg in three days...it's already been a good week for Kenyon! 

[ScotsFan]

If Wooster beats Wittenberg in the rematch, and both teams win the rest of their ballgames, putting the conference race into a tie, how is it then determined where the tournament is held?

Does anybody think this will happen?  Witt plays 10 more games.  2 with Wabash, 2 with OWU, 2 with Kenyon (on the right night, I think Kenyon could get them)...Witt isn't running the table, fellas. 

Let's save the tiebreak stuff for when we're actually on the brink...

I agree with Wally here.  Let's see what Witt does on the road vs. OWU and Wabash over the next 2 Wednesdays and then maybe we can start talking about tiebreakers.  I wouldn't be surprised in the least to see Witt drop both and at the very least one of those two road contests.

[wally_wabash]

Jan. 19:

Whew. Wabash always loses to a bottom feeder at some point during the season, and many times it has been at Oberlin.

I think the 1-point loss to Kenyon in December qualifies here.  Wabash has already paid their tax this season.   

Jan. 22:

Witt plays 10 more games.  2 with Wabash, 2 with OWU, 2 with Kenyon (on the right night, I think Kenyon could get them)...Witt isn't running the table, fellas. 

From bottom feeder to rough equivalent of Wittenberg in three days...it's already been a good week for Kenyon! 

I was chastised for dumping on the Lords... 

...that and I'm still not sold that Wittenberg is a really good team.  Heaps and heaps of praise for the Tigers for winning Wednesday's game notwithstanding, I lean toward the Tigers having been given a gift thanks to some very uncharacteristic play from Wooster in the waning moments of that game (Johnson's foul on a desperation three-point shooter is the main culprit here).  The bulk of Wittenberg's schedule is in front of them.  I'll be surprised if they make it to the end with 2 or fewer NCAC losses.  I would not be surprised if Wooster did. 

[woosterbooster]

I completely agree that it's unlikely Wittenberg will run the table; was just asking what would happen if they did.  Actually, I'd expect them to pick up three, maybe four, more losses before tournament time is here.

[kiltedbryan]

Looked into this conference race a little:

Presuming that Wittenberg, Wooster, Ohio Wesleyan and Wabash are the best four teams in the NCAC, I looked at the remaining schedule to see what challenges each team has left.  Then, presuming that Earlham, Oberlin, Denison and Hiram are the four worst teams in the NCAC, I also looked at how many "easy" games the top teams had left.

Currently each team has 10 games left to play.

Team                        Games against top 4 teams                   Games against bottom 4 teams
                         Home, Away (Current rec. vs. top 4)        Home, Away (Current rec. vs. bottom 4)

Wittenberg                  Home 2, Away 3 (1-0)                            Home 1, Away 1 (4-0)

Wooster                      Home 3, Away 0 (2-1)                            Home 3, Away 2 (2-0)

Ohio Wesleyan            Home 2, Away 2 (0-2)                            Home 2, Away 2 (3-0)

Wabash                      Home 1, Away 3 (1-1)                            Home 3, Away 2 (2-0)


Wittenberg, with 5, has the greatest number of games remaining against the better teams, while also having only 2 games left that should be "easy wins." On the plus side, they are the only team that could still go 6-0 against the top, even if that seems unlikely.

Wooster is in the best position, having the least number of "tough" matchups, and all of those will occur at home. They also have 5 "easy wins," tied for most with Wabash.

Ohio Wesleyan is the most balanced in terms of remaining schedule, but they are digging a hole by being 0-2 currently against the top of the NCAC.  They'll have to prove they can beat Wittenberg/Wooster/Wabash if they want to be in the hunt.

Incidentally, 4-2 Kenyon is 1-2 against the "top four," and may not like me talking about the top of the NCAC without mentioning them (especially after a trouncing of Allegheny this weekend.) They have the added scheduling benefit of not seeing Wooster or OWU again this year, and have to go to Wabash and have the home-home with Witt.

Wabash probably has the second toughest run, facing all three teams on the road, but on the flip side, they get five games against teams they should beat. The Bash's other potential problem is that they are currently the only team of these four to lose to someone who isn't in these four (as noted above, that's Kenyon).

Not sure if this is actually helpful to anyone else.   

[pennstghs]

Ok. Witt did benefit from some uncanny free throw shooting by Wooster, BUT Wooster did benefit from Barabino uncharacteristically missing 2 free throws that would have given Witt the lead so it may never have even came down to overtime. Anyways, that game is in the past and Witt is moving forward to tonight at  Ohio Wesleyan. In typical fashion everyone is picking Witt to get stomped just because there is a slight possibility of a letdown, however i don't see that happening. This team is striving on everyone discounting them so keep it flowing guys.......

[David Collinge]

In typical fashion everyone is picking Witt to get stomped just because there is a slight possibility of a letdown,

In the pick'ems, so far Witt is the 6-4 choice.  So I'm not sure who "everyone" is.

[woosterbooster]

Wittenberg 6 to 4?  Good, good.  Me and everyone else will begin to make our moves in the "Pick'em" when OWU victoriously holds court.

[David Collinge]

The Witt/OWU game will be videocast live over the web tonight at 7:30.  Click here for more information.

[David Collinge]

In typical fashion everyone is picking Witt to get stomped just because there is a slight possibility of a letdown,

In the pick'ems, so far Witt is the 6-4 choice.  So I'm not sure who "everyone" is.

Oops, 6-5, I miscounted.