MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

Well, why not have an 8-team Quaker Classic for D-3?



Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana

George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon

Guilford College, Greensboro, North Carolina

Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania

Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Whittier College, Whittier, California

William Penn University, Oskaloosa, Iowa

Wilmington College, Wilmington, Ohio

[sac]

Well, why not have an 8-team Quaker Classic for D-3?



Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana

George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon

Guilford College, Greensboro, North Carolina

Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania

Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Whittier College, Whittier, California

William Penn University, Oskaloosa, Iowa

Wilmington College, Wilmington, Ohio

Only if its played in Oskaloosa, Iowa because thats just a damn cool name.

[David Collinge]

I happened to be on Wooster's campus on Wednesday, where I happened to cross paths with someone who couldn't have been anyone other than Gideon Mabeny, the "Dunking Dinka."  And...he was on crutches.  I've since heard through the grapevine that he has suffered an ACL injury and may be out for the season.  

I can now confirm this story.  It was mentioned in the Daily Record earlier in the week; sorry but I can't find the article for a hyperlink.  Best wishes to Gideon on his recovery.

[David Collinge]

From Eurobasket.com:

James Cooper leaves Dortmund
SVD 49 Dortmund (Regionalliga West) have parted with James Cooper (183-G-86, college: Wooster) after only game played in this season. While the former NCAA Division 3-All American is more of a shooter, 49ers' Coach Peter Radegast needed a playmaker who can score as well. Dortmund fell 66:101 to Grevenbroich on the opening day of the 2008-09 season this past weekend. Cooper scored 11 points in this game.

This dates back about a month.  Without a paid membership to Eurobasket.com, searching is difficult, but I don't turn up any evidence that he's caught on with another team who just admires good shooting.

[Shooting Star]

What's the recruit situation at Denison and how does Denison look to compete this year?

[imderekpoe]

One more piece of assistant coaching news: Wooster has a new (part-time) assistant coach in the person of Evan Will.  Will replaces Nate Gaubatz, who has moved to northwest Ohio and is coaching at Anthony Wayne High School.  Congratulations, Evan!

The latest news on this is that due to a job-related conflict Evan wasn't able to take the assistant coaching job.  Instead the new man on the bench will be Tom Port.

[jpope2]

Anyone know what the status of Brandon Johnson is and why Marty Bidwell was not on the rooster of the OU game?

[wooscotsfan]

Aaron Dorksen reports in today's Daily Record that Brandon Johnson will be sidelined when the season begins:

Johnson, who averaged 11.3 ppg and a team-best 3.8 assists, suffered an ACL tear in his knee and had surgery in early July. The Scots hope they can have him back for the second half of the season.

I need not point out what a huge loss this is; Johnson is a two-time all NCAC performer and would have been a legitimate All-American candidate this season.  Best wishes for Brandon's full and speedy recovery.

As David Collinge posted back in August, Brandon Johnson had ACL surgery in July and the Scots hope that he might play in the second half of the season.  I don't know why Marty Bidwell is not on the roster for the Ohio U. game.

At the Half:   Ohio University 44  Wooster 33

Scots are hanging around despite having 16 turnovers in the first half.

Wooster's starting five was Robert Melick, Bryan Wickliffe, Justin Hallowell, Ian Franks and Dustin Geitgey.

14 guys played for the Scots in the first half and the leading scorers were all freshmen including Drew Sawyer with 6 points (4 boards), Matt Fegan with 5 points and Scott Voiers also with 5 points.

[wooscotsfan]

Exhibition Final:  Ohio University 79  Wooster 65

Wooster actually cut the lead to just 6 points (51-45) in the 2nd half before the Bobcats went on a 10-0 run to take control of the game.  Scots were led by Ian Franks with 10 points, Matt Fegan with 8 points and Scott Voiers with 7 points.  A total of 16 guys played for Wooster.  Not a bad showing against a Division I team.

[WAS A PLAYER]

Not surprised The Scots put 65 on the board against a DI team. Ian Franks is much improved and the newcomers can flat out shoot. Best wishes to Brandon and would like to know some info on Marty. Even with the new faces, I'm sure coach Moore and his staff will have the Scots ready to go.

[David Collinge]

Just back from Athens.  First game out without Cooper, Will, and Fulk, with Johnson and Bidwell watching from the bench, several other Scots nursing a variety of injuries, and a roster with 11 players who were not at Wooster last season, and playing a D1 team on their home court, and they stay in the game the whole time...I am impressed.  I don't think Ohio ever got to a 20-point lead, and as wsf points out, they were within 6 with the ball midway through the second half.  It was a very satisfactory way to start the season from my point of view.  Both teams were ragged, not surprising when you consider that they're just 8 days or so into practice.  Wooster's offense was pretty rusty; they had very little success trying to go inside against the much bigger and more athletic Bobcats, and their three point attempts (from everyone, from all over the arc), shall we say, could use some work.  They did manage to get a number of open looks from the arc, which is good, but not having stats available, I'd be surprised if they hit one in five of them.  The defense, however, was generally very good, especially from a team still learning each other's names and trying all sorts of rotations.  When they gave up an open jumper or were beaten to the hoop, more often than not it was as a result of the superior strength and quickness of their opponents rather than a breakdown of the defense. 

Fourteen players saw action in the first 38 minutes, and among these were eight frosh and one sophomore transfer.  The only veterans were Melick and Geitgey, both of whom sat for long periods (might have been foul trouble--I wasn't keeping track); Reed, who didn't play much and may be deep in the rotation;  Franks, who took the point in Johnson's absence and handled it pretty well; and Wickliffe, who started slowly but was a force in the second half, the only Scot player who could have switched into an Ohio uniform and not looked out of place.  Of the newcomers, several were solid but all looked like, well, first-week frosh playing a D1 team.  Nathan Balch, a transfer from D1 UM-Kansas City (where he was a walk-on playing in 30 games as a frosh, starting 11 of them), looked pretty good but was perhaps a little too eager to force the action and/or take the shot.  I was impressed by baby-faced Terrence Williams and Matt Fegan, generally playing the off guard spots, and by Mike Evans playing as a small 4.  Greg Ross had some good moments, mostly on defense, and Scott Voiers found himself with a number of open looks from the arc.  The other frosh who contributed were Justin Hallowell (who started at the 4) and Drew Sawyer.  It's not easy to evaluate a group of frosh playing their first game so early in the season against a D1 team, but I think everyone played pretty well, and there's a lot to build on.

I spoke with Doug Cline before the game, and he rattled off an injury report so lengthy and depressing that I can't remember who has what.  But here's what I do recall:
* Gideon Mabeny, as we know, is out for the season.  He didn't make the trip.
* Brandon Johnson is also still out.  I didn't ask about his condition today, but when I last spoke with the coaches, they were hoping he'd be ready for the Mose Hole Classic.
* Marty Bidwell should be available by the end of next week.  Both Brandon and Marty were on the bench in their warmups.
* Several of the frosh were also dinged up; the only one I recall Doug mentioning was Nathan Balch, and he played substantial minutes today so he must be doing reasonably well.
* No new injuries were sustained today...hooray!

[woosterbooster]

Here is Wooster's upcoming scrimmage schedule:

Intra-squad scrimmage on Friday, Nov. 7th, at 7:00 p.m.
Ashland at home on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 7:00 p.m.
Varsity - Alumni game on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 7:00 p.m.

[David Collinge]

A few more scrimmages:
Kenyon plays at Defiance on Friday 11/7 (I think; it might be 11/14--whichever is "next Friday")
OWU plays at Ohio Northern on Sunday 11/9
OWU hosts Otterbein on Friday 11/14

Kenyon scrimmaged at Baldwin-Wallace last Thursday; I don't have a result or any details, but it has been described to me as "close throughout."  I have heard through the grapevine that neither senior Korey Haddox nor his younger brother Kodey will don the threads for Kenyon this season.  It's strictly a rumor (i.e., I have no first-hand knowledge), but I've now heard this from two independent and reliable sources, so I thought I'd pass it on.  If true, it's a big loss on a number of fronts: scoring (Kodey, the NCAC and GL Region Newcomer of the Year, was the Lords' second-leading scorer at 13.8 ppg last season), leadership (Korey played in every game the past three years, starting 68 of them), and depth.  I wish the Haddox brothers nothing but success in whatever they decide.

Good news, bad news, and no news coming out of Springfield.  The good news is that frosh posts Alex Brandt and Clayton Black, each 6'7", are looking good in camp, and comparisons have been made to an earlier pair of impact frosh posts you might recall, Dane Borchers and Dan Russ.  In all, as many as four freshmen may be significant contributors for Witt, which sounds a little like the situation at Wooster.  With Woo and Witt so young, and OWU having graduated six seniors, the rest of the league must be champing at the bit.  The bad news is that guard Kyle Bigler has a torn ACL and will miss his senior season.  That's a shame, and I wish him well.  The "no news" is just that: a rumor I haven't been able to confirm about a possible second injured player.  So I'll just let you ruminate.

[wooscotsfan]

Wooster has posted their 2008-2009 Season Outlook on their website.

Returning players (6) that are discussed include Brandon Johnson, Marty Bidwell, Bryan Wickliffe, Ian Franks, Dustin Geitgey and Robert Melick.

In the backcourt, the 4 newcomers discussed are Nathan Balch, Matt Fegan, Scott Voiers and Terrence Williams.

In the frontcourt, the 5 freshmen mentioned are Justin Hallowell, Drew Sawyer, Mike Evans, Brian Frank and Greg Ross.

Here is the link to the article: http://athletics.wooster.edu/mb/outlook.php

[ScotsFan]

FYI.  Al Van Wie participant and possible 2nd round opponent Randolph-Macon just upset DI George Mason last night in an exhibition game at GMU.  That is the same George Mason that made that improbable run to the Final 4 in the NCAA Tournament 3 seasons ago and they are also the defending Colonial Atheltic Association champions.  Pretty impressive win for R-MC!