MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[woosterbooster]

Now, if I were an enterprising young man with a name like that, I might just get myself a medical degree, move to southern California, buy a bunch of bulk silicon, hang a simple "Teeters" shingle, and see what walked through the door.

[Li'l Giant]

I think the confusion arises from the fact that the terms "flagrant foul" and "intentional foul" get used interchangeably.  The referee's hand signals are the same for each, the penalty is the same for each (two free throws and possession of the basketball)...on the bottom line, they're the same thing. 
I have no dog in this hunt, but I think a fourth option is available to Mr. Teeters: concede that you just gave up a layup because you didn't take care of the the ball.  If you're late enough to the party that you can't actually guard the shooter and your only options are to whack the airborne shooter hard (and possibly cause injury to the shooter or yourself as well as possibly being whistled for flagrancy) or man-hug the guy thus surely giving up two shots and the ball, it might be best to concede the layup here. 

I thought a flagrant foul also meant ejection from the game.  Am I mistaken (or perhaps that is NBA)?

The Association has a regular Flagrant, and an ejection level Flagrant 2, which also gets you suspended. Right, Robert Horry?

[pennstghs]

post of the year so far that was such a terrible screwing of the suns

[Li'l Giant]

Well, as a lifelong San Antonian you can probably guess I wasn't shedding any tears for the guys who left the bench. But it was a jackhole play by Horry.

[wooscotsfan]

The Scots are clear favorites, but I wouldn't be surprised if they took another loss (at home) before this season is done. 

Actually, someone will very likely need to get a win at Wooster if they want to win the NCAC title this season.  Wooster's remaining schedule is far easier than the other three contenders.  Here are the remaining road games for the 4 teams that Wally mentioned in his post.

Wooster - Only 3 Road Games left (@Gheny, @Denison, @Earlham)

Witt - 4 Road Games (@Wabash, @Hiram, @Wooster, @Kenyon)

Ohio Wesleyan - 5 Road Games (@Oberlin, @Wooster, @Witt, @Earlham, @Gheny)

Wabash - 4 Road Games (@Ohio Wesleyan, @Wooster, @Witt, @Denison)

The key point here is that Wooster has already played all their tough road games.

One other point to note.  Wooster is currently 2-1 in games already played among the top 4 teams while Witt is 1-1, Wabash is 1-1 and Ohio Wesleyan is 1-2.

As we all know, the conference title will be decided on the hardwood so it will be fun to see how the rest of the NCAC season turns out.  

[wally_wabash]

I think the point I was making is that in recent years, I'd be content to just assume Wooster wins at home against everybody but Witt.  I'm not willing to concede that this year.  Wooster has played the toughest road games on their schedule, but that doesn't put them in the clear.  To reiterate an earlier point, Wabash and OWU are experienced enough and have the chops to win at Wooster.  Witt usually can't wait to play to at Wooster.  So while the schedule appears to be downhill from here on out for Wooster on first glance, Wooster's talent edge over the other top teams in the league isn't as great as it has been and they'll be tested a few times on their own floor before this season is over. 

[ScotsFan]

One other point to note.  Wooster is currently 2-1 in games already played among the top 4 teams while Witt is 1-1, Wabash is 1-1 and Ohio Wesleyan is 1-2.

Another point to note.  Wabash is also the only team among the top 4 with a loss to a team out of the top 4 (@ Kenyon).  And seeing as the LG's  have 3 of their 4 remaining road games against the top 4, it looks as though they have a real up-hill road to climb.

[wally_wabash]

One other point to note.  Wooster is currently 2-1 in games already played among the top 4 teams while Witt is 1-1, Wabash is 1-1 and Ohio Wesleyan is 1-2.

Another point to note.  Wabash is also the only team among the top 4 with a loss to a team out of the top 4 (@ Kenyon).  And seeing as the LG's  have 3 of their 4 remaining road games against the top 4, it looks as though they have a real up-hill road to climb.

As it stands currently, Kenyon is tied with OWU and Wabash for third, so it might be unfair to leave them out of the top 4 discussion.   

[woosterbooster]

As it stands currently, Kenyon is tied with OWU and Wabash for third, so it might be unfair to leave them out of the top 4 discussion.   

Well, someone among Wooster, Wittenberg, Wabash, OWU, and Kenyon needs to be left out of the top four discussion since, with my Bradley U. education, I'm able to ciper that we have five teams there.  I'm up for making it a top five discussion.

I think the point I was making is that in recent years, I'd be content to just assume Wooster wins at home against everybody but Witt.  I'm not willing to concede that this year.  Wooster has played the toughest road games on their schedule, but that doesn't put them in the clear.  To reiterate an earlier point, Wabash and OWU are experienced enough and have the chops to win at Wooster.  Witt usually can't wait to play to at Wooster.  So while the schedule appears to be downhill from here on out for Wooster on first glance, Wooster's talent edge over the other top teams in the league isn't as great as it has been and they'll be tested a few times on their own floor before this season is over. 

I completely agree with this.  Although I'd make Wooster a solid favorite in the three games, I'd give both OWU and Wabash about a one in four shot of pulling off the win.  Wittenberg maybe a little better, even though I don't think they're quite as good, my reasoning being that the Scots always seem to play a little tight against the Springfielders at home.

PS - A karma point to the first person that can correctly identify my new avatar.

[smedindy]

The NCAC is turning out how I thought it would, with Wooster the favorite but not totally head and shoulders above the rest, and four teams scratching and clawing.

I think Wooster will lose again, but won't lose the title. Second place will be a bloody affair, though, and the race for 4/5 will be nasty, too. That 4/5 game in the NCAC tourney (along with the 3/6 if Gheny can right the ship) will be classics.

[ScotsFan]

As it stands currently, Kenyon is tied with OWU and Wabash for third, so it might be unfair to leave them out of the top 4 discussion.   

I knew that was going to get brought up.

I should have noted that I wasn't including Kenyon in the 'top 4' discussion because I was going by overall record of which Kenyon is 6-9 overall compared to 10-5 for Wabash and 9-5 for OWU.

Although, now that I've thought about it more, technically, wouldn't Kenyon be alone in 3rd place?  After all, the tie-breaker would be head-to-head which Kenyon holds over Wabash at the moment correct?  That would put Wabash in 4th and OWU in 5th since Wabash beat OWU.  However, OWU has also beaten Kenyon so how does that factor in?  Confusing enough???

I think it would be easier to just take WB's advice and make it a 'top 5' discussion.

[kiltedbryan]

Kenyon, currently at 5-2 in the league, seems to have a real chance to end at least 11-5.

They still get Hiram twice, and Denison, Earlham and Oberlin one more time.  Those should all be wins. Plus the Lords already beat Allegheny on the road, so it stands to reason they have a good chance to beat them at home, too. That would be 11-5, assuming losses to Wittenberg twice and away at Wabash.

Even with a loss to Bash, they'll have split the season series there, and a win against Witt would split that season series.

Kenyon doesn't have to face either Wooster or Ohio Wesleyan again in the regular season- a huge scheduling advantage over Wabash and Wittenberg.

Wouldn't it be fun if the most crucial final-weekend game were Kenyon hosting Wittenberg?

[wally_wabash]

So you're saying we can't have five teams in a "top four" discussion?  We're all liberally educated...let's think outside the box gentlemen.   

[David Collinge]

Although, now that I've thought about it more, technically, wouldn't Kenyon be alone in 3rd place?  After all, the tie-breaker would be head-to-head which Kenyon holds over Wabash at the moment correct?  That would put Wabash in 4th and OWU in 5th since Wabash beat OWU.  However, OWU has also beaten Kenyon so how does that factor in?  Confusing enough???

Kenyon, OWU, and Wabash have each lost twice: once to Wooster, and once to one of the others.  Kenyon beat Wabash, Wabash beat OWU, OWU beat Kenyon.  Unless there's a 'home record' line in the tie-breaker, these three are presently in a flat-footed tie for third.  Furthermore, each has lost one home game and one road game.  The only difference is that Kenyon's home loss was to OWU while the other two lost at home to Wooster, but I can't see how that would make any difference if the season were to end today (which, thankfully, it does not.) 

Kenyon being done with OWU and Wooster is an advantage going forward, but a disadvantage in that they now lose tiebreakers to both teams and have no way to reverse that.

So you're saying we can't have five teams in a "top four" discussion?  We're all liberally educated...let's think outside the box gentlemen.   

After all, we all live amidst an eleven-team Big Ten!

[kiltedbryan]

So you're saying we can't have five teams in a "top four" discussion?  We're all liberally educated...let's think outside the box gentlemen.   

After all, we all live amidst an eleven-team Big Ten!

It's possible that the Big Ten is unable to count that high.