MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[ScotsFan]

Do you think that it Wooster and Capital win out it would be a toss up or is it clear that Capital would host if it wins out?  Any OWU fans goin to make the trip to Earlham this weekend for the game? 

I think it's pretty clear that if Cap wins out, they will be the top seed coming out of the GL Region.

I kind of think thats unclear give the uncertainty of what Hope's in-region record is supposed to be.  If Hope wins out they'd be 18-2 in-region.  Thats certainly comparable to 22-3, which is what I think Capital would finish.

I said what I said because I felt that Cap would gain the edge in OWP over both Hope and Wooster.  That's probably why Cap is currently holding the initial #1 ranking.

Anyways, there's still a lot of basketball to be played. A lot can happen between now and the end of the season.

[kiltedbryan]

the thing is, the number one seed in the region isn't exactly "guaranteed" to host the sectionals because that's based on lowest cost of travel

This is true...though there shouldn't be any travel problems with finding 3 teams to send to Wooster, Holland or Bexley.  Teams just have to be within 500 miles of the venue to avoid a flight.

[kiltedbryan]

With the tournament time coming up who do you guys think might be a sleeper in the NCAC tourney, and who could be a sleeper in the national tourney?

Who knows about sleepers in the NCAAs...way way too far away still.

Sleepers in the NCAC tourney?  Like who? Kenyon? The Lords are better and the LGs are decent, too, but it's going to be Wooster, Wittenberg or Ohio Wesleyan cutting down the nets in a few weeks, IMHO.

[smedindy]

I think Kenyon or Wabash can make the finals, perhaps.

[Pat Coleman]

NCAC on the front page.

[smedindy]

Thanks, Pat!

[woosterbooster]

I suspect that there's a JV game at Wooster prior to the main event.  Does anyone know for sure, and if so, what time it is scheduled to begin?

Thanks.

[Vanilla24COW]

THere is indeed a jv game I believe with a 5 tip but I am not 100% positive on the time

[wooscotsfan]

NCAC on the front page.

Thanks Pat for highlighting the Wittenberg - Wooster rivalry!  The D3 Hoops article features two freshmen - Bryan Wickliffe (Woo) and Derrick Hannon (Witt) who are getting introduced to the intense rivalry.  At the other end of their college careers, 6 Seniors will play in tonight's big Woo-Witt game knowing that this is their last chance to win another NCAC regular season title.

Wittenberg's three seniors are Brandan Barabino, Sam Gregory and Brandon White.

Wooster's three seniors are James Cooper, Devin Fulk and Evan Will.

Should be a great game tonight!

[pennstghs]

JV game tips off at 5:30 i do believe-I'm on my way up to the COW shortly-hope to see you all there-i will be the person not wearing white

[Witt4ever]

...and don't forget the 2pm women's game. Witt vs. Woo @ Timken

[pennstghs]

great preview article in the springfield-newssun today:

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/hp/content/oh/story/sports/college/wittenberg/2008/02/16/sns021608spwitthoops.html

[wally_wabash]

I'm courtside at Chadwick for the Wabash/Oberlin game.  How's that for a little appetizer in the NCAC?  Hopefully I'll get one more chance to keep a running post of a Wabash game...Wabash will need to hold serve over these last three games to make sure that happens.  More on the possible tiebreak later....Senior Day activiites are underway.  Back with the tip in a bit. 

More on the race for fourth place...if I'm reading the game program correctly, Wabash holds the tiebreak over Kenyon by virtue of their wins over Earlham.  So Kenyon needs to gain a game on Wabash over this last week to avoid a trip west.  I think this means that Kenyon should plan on having to go 3-0 to close the season. 

Alright, starting lineups are being announced.  Tipoff comes in just a minute.

19:20 - Hot start for Wabash.  Simkus scores in the post on the opening possession.  Wes Smith followed with a quick steal and layup.  Oberlin has answered with a three from Pat Bernhard.  Then Zimmer scores putting back his own miss.  And Bernhard drills a three for the Yeoman.  This is tough to keep up with.  It's 6-6 with 18:06 to play. 

My mistake on that last Berhard basket.  It was just a two point field goal.  The score sits at 8-5.  With this pace, it's easy to see how these teams put up nearly 190 points the last time they played. 

15:57 - Mike Loll gets trapped in the corner by Wes Smith and calls a timeout.  This is a good time to note that Wesley once again has drawn the assignment of checking the other team's leading scorer.  We're racing up and down the court here.  Zimmer and Omari Hall have traded baskets.  The score is 13-9 in favor of Wabash. 

14:03 - Oberlin is substituting liberally...Wabash has yet to go to the bench.  Interesting given the pace of the game.  Oberlin is hanging tough.  Loll just scored for the Yeomen and the Wabash lead is just 15-13. 

12:04 - Here's the rare double foul call.  I think they got Simkus and Colin Sallee.  I'll be honest, I didn't really see the play.  Oberlin turns the ball over.  Wabash guard Dominique Thomas responds by throwing a pass into the scoring table.  Wabash leads 19-13. 

11:32 - The officials don't like the pace of the game and have slowed things down considerably.  Ah, the power of the whistle. 

9:30 - Chase Haltom gets loose and knocks down a trey.  Wabash opens up a 23-15 lead...biggest of the game I believe. 

8:06 - Three more for Haltom.  26-15 is the score. 

7:31 - Haltom scores again on a runner in the paint and Oberlin gets a timeout.  The score is up to 28-15 and Oberlin is in trouble here.  The Yeoman are in the double bonus.  This lead could get huge before we hit halftime. 

5:45 - Omari Hall must have heard me because he's gone on a personal 8-0 run.  The score is 30-23.  And now Ryan Magiera drills a three pointer and the lead is down to four.  30-26 is the score.  Mac Petty gets a timeout with 5:01 to go.

4:09 - Wabash responds out of the time out with a pair of Zimmer free throws, a steal, and a three point play by Wes Smith.  The lead is back up to 35-26 and Wabash has the ball after another Yeoman turnover. 

0:56 - Oberlin gets a layup on a fast break...largely because Zimmer was back arguing a non-call.  I've actually seen a bit more of this today from both sides than I normally do.  Oberlin has done well to stay in this game.  The score is 42-37 after an Omari Hall basket.  Hall also has a foul shot coming.  It's good.  42-38 is the score. 

0:00 - Zimmer hits a three at the end of the half and Wabash will carry a 45-38 lead into the break.  Again, Oberlin made some big shots in the last seven minutes to keep this game from getting out of hand.

Alright, you need look no farther than the FG% stat to see what's going on here.  Wabash is shooting respectably at 41.5% (17-41) but the Yeoman are shooting extremely well at 53% (16-31).  Wabash has the edge in most other statistical categories as you might imagine. 

The LGs are being led by Zimmer's 13 and 7.  A double-double seems very likely here.  Oberlin is led by Omari Hall's 13 points, most of which came during a critical stretch where the Yeoman needed a big run.  Mike Loll is on his way to double-doublesville with 9 and 7 in the first half.

4 minutes until we're back to action. 

[wally_wabash]

And before we get started, I want to mention that we're on steal watch here.  Wes Smith is 8 steals away from breaking the Wabash single season record of 63 currently held by Mike Lustina '95. 

19:00 - We've traded three point plays to start the opening half here.  48-41 is the score. 

17:22 - Wide open three for Zimmer goes down.  51-42 Wabash.   

16:57 - Steal and breakaway dunk for Wesley.  Timeout Oberlin with the score 55-42. 

16:19 - Oberlin fires up an airball out of the timeout.  On the other end, Zimmer scores in the post adn gets fouled.  His shot is good.  58-42. 

14:44 - Another steal and runout layup for Smith.  He's picking off these perimeter swing passes like if he keeps doing it he's going to win something.  The score is 62-45.

10:56 - Bit of a dry spell here.  Wabash leads 65-49.  Matthew Godwin gets a three for Oberlin.  65-52. 

8:00 - Three more for Zimmer.  Wabash leads 73-54.  Oberlin looks gassed here...they may have run themselves out of the game.  Wesley has just picked up his 4th foul.  A couple of these fouls on Wesley have been iffy...he's upset about this last one.  He'll go the bench. 

7:17 -  There's some ticky tack called on Omari Hall.  That's his fourth and everything about that call smells like a make up.  The score is 74-56. 

5:14 - Zimmer is having a whale of a game.  This last three pointer gives him 31 for the game which matches his career high...set earlier this year against Oberlin.  83-62 is the score as we come out of a timeout.

4:27 - Wes fouls out with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 steals.  I'm pretty sure the 21 is a career best for Smith.  86-64 as the parade to the foul line continues. 

3:35 - Three more for Zim.  34 points!  Wow.  90-66 is the score. 

2:00 - Big ovations for Zimmer and Rooks as they come out of the game.  Well deserved.  Simkus drains a three right before his exit.  The score is 96-71 with 1:10 to go here.

And the regular season has come to a close at Chadwick Court.  Wabash defeats Oberlin by a score of 97-73.  Huge, huge days for Zimmer and Smith.  Congratulations to Wabash seniors Andrew Zimmer, Gary Simkus, and Earl Rooks for great careers. 

[wally_wabash]

More scores...

Kenyon 88, Allegheny 77
Hiram 89, Denison 81

and get ready...

Earlham 79, OWU 73

Wowza.