MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[David Collinge]

Team leaders:

Scoring offense: 
It should come as no surprise to find Wooster at the top of these lists, looking as much like a public radio station as a basketball team (88.1 overall, 89.5 conference).

Scoring defense:
We're all used to finding Wittenberg atop this list, but they're just tied for second in both lists.  Overall, the scoring defense leader is Ohio Wesleyan at 63.9, a half-point better than both Witt and Wabash.  In conference play, the stingiest team is Kenyon at 62.4, again a half-point better than Tigers and Giants.

Scoring margin:
Wooster's well out ahead of the pack here, +16.0 overall and +19.1 conference.

FG% offense:
Again, it's the Scots, the only team above .500.  They're hitting at a .509 clip overall and .527 in conference play.

FG% defense:
Wittenberg, usually among the national leaders in this category, leads in all games at .411, just ahead of Wabash's .413.  In conference games the order is reversed, with the LGs at .403 to Witt's .414.

FT%:
Wooster has been the best at this for the season as a whole, at .751 slightly better than Hiram's .743.  In conference play, Oberlin's .780 is well out in the lead.

3pt FG%:
Wooster is far ahead in this category, hitting at .468 for the season and .478 in conference action.  I'd be surprised if this wasn't near the top of the national list.

Rebounding:
The Scots average 38.9 boards per game, a half-rebound better that Witt.  In conference play, the leader is Wabash at 38.9, more than a full board better than Witt.

Rebounding margin:
Wooster is far and away the overall leader in this category as well, at +7.6, but in conference play the leader is Wittenberg at +7.7, followed by Wabash (+7.1), Wooster (+6.9), and OWU (+6.1).  Everyone else is negative in this category.

Turnover margin:
The league's best at this has been Ohio Wesleyan at +2.38.  Wooster, however, leads in conference-only play by nearly one full turnover at +3.62.

[kiltedbryan]

Team leaders:
3pt FG%:
Wooster is far ahead in this category, hitting at .468 for the season and .478 in conference action.  I'd be surprised if this wasn't near the top of the national list.

It is #1 nationally, a full percentage point above Emerson.  Wooster actually raised the average slighting during this past week, from .465 to .468, so I suspect they'll stay on top for this week.

Also, Wooster is currently well clear of its team record for a season of 43.7%.  The Scots have flirted with setting a new record a few times over the past few years and usually have ended up content with only setting a new mark for number of 3pt baskets made.

[woosterbooster]

The NCAC rebounding numbers through today, January 28th:

http://arkski.com/~jwood/ncacrebounding.htm

Wooster still leads overall by virtue of their .743 defensive rebounding percentage.  However, the Scots are only the fifth best offensive rebounding team in the league, trailing Wabash, Kenyon, OWU, and Wittenberg in that order.  OWU has moved up a couple of notches in the overall category since I last did this.  OWU's games contain the fewest available rebounds, Hiram's the most.  

[MoneyBallSTL]

Word on the streetz at the local Mini Mart is Woo will be abuzz with many notable alumni this weekend as they take on the JV team.  Look for this squad to be filled with multiple inside/outside threats, high-risers, and ball-aholics. There has been no preliminary word on pre-sale for tickets to the contest, nor when the various player's charter planes arrive in Cleveland or Akron.  More updates to come...

[woosterbooster]

Moneyball -

By any chance would this contest be taking place on Saturday before the varsity's 7:30 game against OWU?  Any idea what time?

[ScotsFan]

...nor when the various player's charter planes arrive in Cleveland or Akron.  More updates to come...

You mean the Wayne Co. Airport isn't equipped to handle private charters??? 8)

[pufin]

Wooster's James Cooper started this season with 1,491 career points in 94 games (15.9 ppg.)  So far this season he has recorded 334 points (19.6), bringing his career total to 1,825 (16.4).  With eight games remaining, he'd have to average 21.9 ppg. the rest of the way to reach 2,000 in the regular season.  He's 133 points (16.6+) from passing Bryan Nelson and moving into second all-time on Wooster's scoring list; 1st place Tom Dinger is well out of reach at 2,370.

Just for those who don't know, Dinger did that without the 3-pointer, having played 1967-1971. I would have loved to see him play.

[BigRedGrad]

Talking Stats...........
If Denison wasn't feeling bad enough.  They should see how they rank of the 389 teams in D3.  Let's just say they don't have much room between them and the bottom. :-(

[bigkrapper]

The Alumni classic is slated for 3:30 because a high school game will break up the excitement from the JV vs. Alumni and the Wooster vs OWU game.  With the amount of notable alumni reported to come back you gotta wonder what Coach Gaubatz might try to do to slow down this threat.  This has got to be his toughest challenge in his young Collegiate Coaching career!

[pennstghs]

good luck witt at wabash tomorrow night-i have a feeling this is going to be another tester. i am very interested in the wooster/owu rematch results saturday as well

[wally_wabash]

We're on the scene at Chadwick....tipoff coming very shortly. 

LG....Wes is in the white headband to start.   

Alright, before we get started here, I want to point out that this game is huge.  Obviously.  This game will have major implications in the standings.  Statistically, these teams are about identical.  I'm expecting a great, great game here tonight.  The students are filing in and are vocal....this is the biggest game of the conference student for the student body here.  They don't much care for Witt around these parts.  Lineups have been introduced and we're about to tip.  Go Wabash!

19:00 - Kevin Murray opens the scoring with a triple.  3-0 Witt. 

17:29 - This Barabino kid is pretty good.  He just picked up his first foul.  I'll not be sad to see him get into foul trouble. We're at 3-2 Witt.  Li'l Earl with a 3.  5-3 Bash. 

15:30 - A couple of quick buckets for Witt and the Tigers are back in front 7-5.  Barabino had the last layup off of a steal. 

14:07 - Our first subs of the game are checking in.  We'll see how the second units matchup.  Simkus stayed on the floor and got a dunk off of a steal.  The Scary Gary chant is out.  9-7 Bash. 

13:03 - Gary came to play tonight.  Simkus chased down his own missed three pointer and earned himself a basket and a foul off of the rebound.  Gary converts the free throw and Wabash leads 12-7.  And now we have another Witt turnover.  Wabash is playing well to start here. 

10:11 - Kyle Bigler knotted the score at 12-12 with a three pointer for Witt.  Chase Haltom had the quick answer and got his own three pointer.  15-12 Wabash.  And another Witt turnover. 

8:52 - Li'l Earl with another three pointer!  Nice start for Earl.  18-14 Wabash. 

7:13 - Bigler hits another three.  Witt is having great success with the penetrate and kick game.  That's been their best offense tonight.  20-17 Wabash.  And we're getting a Witt timeout.  Wabash's starters have been waiting to check in for about 3 minutes now. 

4:12 - Brandon White gets loose for a three pointer and Witt has the lead 22-20.  Anytime Witt can ge the ball into the paint and successfully get it back out without turning it over, they are gettine wide open looks on the perimeter. 

1:16 - Sam Gregory gets one of two from the foul line.  Witt leads 26-21.  For 17 minutes, physical play in the paint was cool.  The refs have since decided otherwise.  It's too bad.  And here Gregg Hill beats the shot clock with a three pointer.  29-21 Witt. 

0:00 - And that's how we go to the half.  29-21 Witt.  The livestats seem to be missing a Wabash basket...which is strange because there weren't many of them.  The LGs will need to shoot much, much better in the second half.  Witt is 6-8 on 3's so far.  That has to stop. 

[pennstghs]

sounds like wabash's offensive rebounding is keeping them close-refs are trying to take hold of the reigns-witt is shooting very well from the field with taking about half as many shots it seems.

29-21 Witt at half

[kiltedbryan]

At the half:

Wooster 43
Allegheny 28

Fulk leads Woo with 11 (on uncharacteristic 1-4 3pt shooting).

[wally_wabash]

Wittenberg is going to get a win here.  The lesson...you really can't go without a field goal for the first 8 minutes of the second half and expect to win at Witt. 

I don't know why I do things like this to myself.  Wabash covered the last 7:46 of the first half without a field goal (unofficially 0-49 durin that stretch).  Let's see if Wabash can do what Kenyon couldn't and overcome the drought.  Second half tip coming in about 5 minutes. 

Halftime leaders....Kevin Murray is pacing Witt with 10 points.  Bigler has 6.  For Wabash, Simkus is the leading scorer with 9 points.  Earl Rooks has 6.  Zimmer has no points (not scoring in the first half is becoming a bad habit for Zim) but he does have six rebounds for the LGs.  Neither team has foul issues at this point. 

19:13 - Witt opens the second half with a three.  32-21.  Wabash can't find the bucket tonight. 

17:11 - Zimmer has broken the drought with a couple of baskets.  Wabash trails 34-25.  Gregg Hill misses the first of two free throws and Bill Brown gets a timeout. 

16:41 - It's all Zimmer so far here for Wabash.  He's got all six second half points for the LGs.  34-27 now. 

14:20 - Consecutive threes by Hill and Barabino have pushed the lead to 42-27.  Timeout for Mac Petty.  Somebody needs to flip the switch or this will get out of hand. 

12:40 - Chase Haltom drills a triple and Wabash has rattled off seven quick points.  Bill Brown gets a timeout immediately.  42-34 is the score.  The crowd has their second wind. 

10:53 - Shaky foul called here on Simkus.  That'll be his third but Mac will keep in the game.  The Wabash run is 9-0.  42-36 is the score.  Witt has possession.

9:51 - Great feed from Simkus to Maloney for a layup.  42-38 Witt.  And here's a runout for Simkus.  42-40 now.  13-0 run!  What a response.  Timeout Bill Brown. 

7:50 - There's the inside out for Witt.  Hill gets a three pointer and ends the Wabash run.  45-40 Witt.

6:30 - Aaron Brock for three.  45-43.  We've got a slugfest. 

4:56 - We've traded baskets here.  Zimmer will now go to the line here for two shots.  The first is good.  The second is also good.  We're tied up.  47-47. 

3:04 - Witt scored five quick points.   Barabino got the last bucket for Witt.  52-47 Witt. 

2:00 - Wes Smith misses a long three and the rebound goes to Witt.  Wabash needs something good to happen here.  And it did.  Wes Smith gets a foul, a layup and will go to the line for the bonus shot.  Timeout Wabash before the foul shot.  52-49 is the score.
3:04 - Witt answers back with 5 quick points.  Barabino got the last basket for Witt.  52-47 Witt.

The foul shot is good.  52-50 Witt. 

Long three for Barabino is no good.  Wabash back up the floor.  And Simkus draws a shooting foul in the paint.  Chance to pull even again here.  49.7 seconds to go. 

The shots are good and we're tied up again.  52-52.  It looks like Wabash is giving fouls here.  Wabash had just three team fouls. 

0:29 - Zimmer gets whistled for a foul.  Gregory calmly hits the first.  And the second.  54-52 in favor of Witt.  Wabash calls a timeout and will have no shot clock. 

0:13 - In a horrid flashback to the Wooster game, Wabash turned the ball over on what looked like their last possession.  Witt turned the ball over on the subsequent inbound pass.  Haltom gets a decent look for Wabash but it hits the back iron and Witt rebounds with 1 second left.  Bollocks. 

This is interesting.....Witt had free throws with 1 second left.  The shooter (didn't catch the player, sorry) missed the front of the 1+1.  Wabash rebounds and a timeout is whistled immediately.  The clock shows 0.1 seconds left.  It does not look as if any time will be added.  Wabash has 90 feet and the blink of an eye to get one in here. 

Outstanding.  They put a half second back on the clock.  Wabash now has 0.6 seconds.  Great officiating here.   

No miracles here.  Witt wins 54-52.  The answer is no.  You can't not go without a field goal for 8 minutes and beat good teams. 

[Li'l Giant]

Good grief. It seems like anything shot from in the ZIP Code is gonna fall for Witt.