MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[ScotsFan]

Congrats to Wooster on the victory tonight.  Hats off also to my Alma Mater for making it somewhat of a game.  I have to say I didn't expect Westminster to get back in the game after being down 19 at the half.  But, to their credit, they battled back and tried to make a game of it.  And to Wooster's credit, they didn't panic as they saw their lead evaporate.  They kept their composure, and before you knew it the Scots were back up by 20. 

Nice showing by Port and Cooper tonight.  Cooper lit it up in the first half and Port did the same in the second half.  BTW, Tom Port became the 28th player in COW history to join the 1,000 point club.  That didn't take long.  Congratulations on the milestone.  Just think if Port decides to return for his 4th year of eligibility.  He could end up pretty high on the all-time scoring list.  Of course, I doubt anyone will be catching Tom Dinger anytime soon.

Also, I will echo the sentiments on the officiating.  It was pretty bad out there in the 2nd half.  BTW, waterboy, I thought the "T" was called on Witucky.  Witucky committed the foul and then DeMonaco proceeded to push himself into Witucky and Witucky simply moved aside and DeMonaco fell over and Witucky got called for a technical?!  I also liked when one of the refs stopped the game and gave Westminster a timeout when no one had called for one.  Coach Ondako for the Titans was just standing there with this puzzled look on his face like what the hell are you doing, or do you have a clue of what you are doing? 

All in all, it was a nice win for the Scots.  Notice I didn't call it convincing...   I'm not happy with the fact that Wooster gave up 110 points, but when Westminster's shooters are launching 25-28 footers and making them, what can you do?  
 

[smedindy]

As for Denison - who were those other juniors? Did they play this year? Because except for Julian, no one else that has played less than 9 games has done squat.

Did Julian make grades? To quit at the semester break seems like an academic issue more than anything, but that's just speculation, as always?

And if it was Julian, shooting just 35% from the floor and 42% from the line ain't much to lose.

[Kramer]

Julian made grades that wasn't the issue.  Most of the players on the team are not happy with the coaching staff, pure and simple.  Point to note, in their only two wins he made both game winners (Muskingham comming as game clock expires).  Believe me they'll miss his ball handling skills and ability to penetrate.

[Kramer]

The other juniors at Denison left just before the season started.

[Kramer]

I'd like to make a couple more points regarding Denison, and I promise I'll shut-up after this.  I started watching this team a couple of years ago.  I live in the Newark area and watched mostly high school games prior to that.  I was thriiled to see this group of kids slowly start to turn this program around, it gave me another option in addition to the local high school games.  It seems to me their biggest problem is that the players aren't having any fun.  I just believe at any level of basketball (or any other sport) to be successful you must enjoy playing the game.  This team seems very down, just going through the motions.  They did show som signs of life in the fist half against Wabash, but it didn't seem to carry over in to the second half.  It appears to me that they just don't take advantage of the players skills.    I'm a little confused that the only comments out of the head coach in the past tend to always be on the negative side.  Additionally, I find it surprising that if you review this teams on-line media guide, there is nothing about the players (just a picture and past stats).  However, there is a detailed history about all five coaches?? 
Despite it's problems this team can still turn it around if they (coaches and players) can remember why they are there - ENJOY THE GAME.

[earlhamalum]

Hopefully Earlham Keeps up the trend of "PLAYING to the LEVEL of Competiton."  I believe Franklin College is a solid 6-1.  These games over break are sometimes hard to get up for since the student body isn't there to attend.  This is an IN-State game, which should be reason enough to be ready to play tonight.  I know these guys are excited for Wednesdays game at Conseco... but that is no reason not to come out and play tonight.  Hopefully they can come out with a (W) tonight..

HEY billy_pilgram.. any thoughts about tonights game?

[wally_wabash]

Was just perusing the Massey Ratings....unfortunately, the ratings aren't broken up by division, so you kind of have to sift through all three divisions, plus NAIA to figure out where teams stand.  Wooster and Witt are the top two D-III teams on the list.  In fact, Wooster and Witt would be 4th and 5th in D-II according to Massey.  The NCAC's top two are keeping nice company in the Massey ratings...Wooster is wedged in right between Pacific and Missouri, while Witt is a little futher down with Virginia Tech (yes, the same Virginia Tech that was a 40-foot answered prayer away from beating Duke at Cameron not long ago) and Miami.  Any thoughts by Wooster or Witt in jumping to the ACC?   

[woosterbooster]

Rumor has it that both Wake Forest and Virginia applied for membership in the NCAC but were turned down.  They'll be playing in the OAC beginning in 2008-09. 

[WooMix]

Is it too early to start handing out mid-season awards?  Is it far-fetched to see three Woo players in the conference first team (Tim, James, and Tom)?  Is it far-fetched to see the whole of Woo roster, well maybe the starters, getting recognition at the end of the year?

I have Brandon Johnson as the Freshman/Newcomer of the Year.

I might be biased but, boy, these kids are playing beautiful ball.   No disrespect meant to Witt and the rest of the followers.

[smedindy]

Those early season Massey ratings have some irregularities in them! They start to sort out in mid-January.

[woosterbooster]

I have Brandon Johnson as the Freshman/Newcomer of the Year.

I know this is an early call, but I see Brandon Johnson as very possibly an NCAC player of the year two or three years down the road.  I really like how this kid plays the game.  He seems to be a really quick study, seeming to understand Steve Moore's system very well already.  Plays within himself on offense, very unselfish, and really sees the floor.  All that besides excellent physical skills, although he may not be the strongest kid around.

In yesterday's game he missed a dunk, due to not having much of a run at the rim.  Not only that, but he got caught hanging on it, mostly it seemed due to his embarrassment at missing the shot. 

But players have been missing dunks for years (I remember, way back in 1966, seeing Drake's Bob Netolicky throw one so hard off the back rim that it flew all the way back to midcourt) and lived to play another day.  And, I liked the way he handled himself after doing it.  He realized he'd screwed up (not so much the missing of the shot, but the rim-hanging), appeared properly chastened by himself, so much so that if Steve Moore is as smart as I think he is, the play won't even be mentioned.

Jack

[earlhamalum]

Earlham in O.T. Vs Franklin College

EC 85
Franklin 81   

3:10 remaining in the 1st O.T.

[earlhamalum]

WoW another chance down the drain.   Franklin was up 87 to 85 when Brandon Miller Missed a front in of a one-in-one.  Then Franklin went down and hit a shot with 35 seconds left and  Jewett Missed 2 3-pointers in a row... giving Franklin the win. 

[David Collinge]

Rats. 

[David Collinge]

Capital 91, Denison 57



As Bette Davis famously warned us in All About Eve (1950), "Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night."