MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[David Collinge]

It may be small consolation after his team's early end to the 2008-09 season, but many congratulations to Ohio Wesleyan's Kyle Holliday for being named to the ESPNtM/CoSIDA Academic All-America second team.  This award recognizes Kyle's outstanding abilities both on the court and in the classroom, and although today he'd probably trade it for an extra shot at the NCAC tournament crown, his pursuit of both academic and athletic excellence will serve him better in his life than any championship banner.  So be proud, Kyle, and congratulations! 

[seinfeld]

This may be the result of my overly worrisome nature, but I think Wooster fans would be remiss to underestimate the Lords, and maybe just as importantly, the potential loss of Nate Balch would be. I don't know what his status is going to be, but he is not going to be 100%, and may not play. Here is what Balch has done over the last 11 games:

15 ppg (all in double figures); 52.4 fg % (55-of-105); 57.9 3pt fg% (33-of-57) and two assists per game.

These are first-team all-conference type numbers he has been putting up down the stretch. Add in his solid ball handling skills, defense and ability to create his own offense when needed, and you could argue he is Wooster's second-best player right now.

Throw in that Kenyon has the leagues best player (Yelvington) and two very good seniors (Yelvington & Knapke) that will not want to see their careers end, and Friday's game is very much in doubt in my opinion.

Injuries have been a factor in two earlier Wooster losses. Hallowell did not play in the loss to Carnegie Mellon, and Wickliffe didn't play in the loss to OWU, and Franks was hobbled somewhat by an ankle injury.

Now it is off to bed feeling much better ...

[lebron23]

I agree seinfeld...if balch does not play it could create quite a problem for the scots because as you said he has been quite a key component of not only running the offensive show but also with tough defense on opposing guards....he is a very intense competitor and i'm sure he'll do his best to suit it up although it doesn't look good right now from the looks of it...but it could be more precautionary and simply to keep the weight off of the injured ankle....i guess he'll just be a gametime decision 

[M.Knapke]

Last night in the first half was the first time in watching the Lords this year where I sensed a confidence level that said "we know we're better than <insert opponent here>" and they played like it. 

Brian: I liked it, it's applicable, so I used it.

Throw in that Kenyon has the leagues best player (Yelvington) and two very good seniors (Yelvington & Knapke) that will not want to see their careers end, and Friday's game is very much in doubt in my opinion.

Minor correction: Four Seniors: Yelvington, Jolson, Arce, Bediako; Knapke and Clair are Juniors

Brian's time away from the court did offer valuable playing time and the opportunity for the other Post players to hone thier game. They now can play a Four Man rotation in the Paint. Further, 3 additional guards sharpened thier skills thru the final games. Every man of Kenyon's Thirteen is waiting for Coach Croce to say "GO"

Can't wait for the weekend!


edited by DC to add quote formatting for clarity's sake

[M.Knapke]

Also of Note, Word on the Grapevine is,  Kenyon plans to send multiple buses for Students to attend the Game.

if they do, I think it is a brillant idea on someone's part; probably thier AD. No reason all teams, and all students shouldn't

be there to witness and support thier squad.

[M.Knapke]

My apologies gentleman.

Y not I  Bryan   I not E Coach

[acgator98]

Allegheny alum here and new to the board.  Great job by the boys at OWU and good luck this weekend.  They're playing well at the right time of year, epecially this season where the league is probably its most balanced.  Does anyone know who was the lowest seed to win the NCAC AQ and when?

I'd also like to echo the sentiments of so many others prior, as my heart goes out to the Cline family during this tragic time.

[fantastic50]

Three times, the #3 seed has won the NCAC tournament (including Allegheny, eleven years ago).  No team seeded lower than #3 has ever gone on to claim the AQ berth.  As a Scot fan, I'm hoping that trend continues for another year!

[ScotsFan]

Three times, the #3 seed has won the NCAC tournament (including Allegheny, eleven years ago).  No team seeded lower than #3 has ever gone on to claim the AQ berth.  As a Scot fan, I'm hoping that trend continues for another year!

I hear ya!  But if ever there was a year for a team lower than a 3 seed to win the automatic bid, this would be the year seeing as how 3 of the 4 teams remaining are all lower than a 3 seed!

[Pat Coleman]

Wooster coach Steve Moore is on Hoopsville tonight. Show runs from 6-8 ET and he's in the first hour, so tune in soon!

http://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/tunein.php

[seinfeld]

No Balch tonight:

http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/4535496

[fantastic50]

For anyone listening to the podcast, Steve Moore's interview is from roughly 47:30 to 58:00 at http://d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2009/02/26/hoopsville-podcast-february-26th/.

Coach Moore did say that the Scots will likely be without Nathan Balch this weekend, because of the ankle injury he suffered on Tuesday night.

Tickets go on sale at 4:30 this afternoon at Timken for tonight's games ($8 adults, $5 faculty/staff, $3 students/kids).

[MoneyBallSTL]

Greetings all from the Gateway City! I've been a stranger on here lately but I had a question...I see that the Scots were not ranked in the last D-3 hoops Top 25 poll. Is there a chance that should they slip up tonight or tomorrow that they not make it in the tourney as an at-large? I sure hope not but I'm not as familiar with the selection process as I used to be. Based on record and being regular season conference champs I would think they'd get in regardless. Good luck Scots tonight! Keep playing for Corey! My thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Cline family. I wish I could've made the trip in to be there all this week.

--Moneyball

[fantastic50]

The national top 25 and the NCAA regional rankings don't necessarily mesh very well.  However, the Scots will be squarely on the bubble if they fail to win the NCAC tournament, especially if they lose tonight to Kenyon.

See the Pool C forum for more details.
http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=4232.2205

[woosterbooster]

I feel horrible about the accidental death of Corey Cline.  By sheer chance, I was a patient in the emergency room when he was brought in.  At the time, though, I knew nothing.  I was only informed that there had been a traffic accident and not to be alarmed by the number of police in the hallways as I was being wheeled into another room to get a catscan.  My questions to the staff went for nought as they weren't allowed to reveal anything else, although they did say that it was terrible.  While being rolled past the crowd, though, I recognized two or three persons, including Mike Breckenridge, with affiliations to the college.  I had a sense of doom, but never suspected the severity of what had actually happened. 

On Sunday night, after being transported to the VA hospital in Cleveland to have an apendectomy, I was visited by a couple of friends.  They then made a couple of calls and soon found out the terribly sad story.

I don't know Doug Cline or his family but have watched his boys cavort on the floor after games for a couple of years.  Just recently I remember laughing as one of the cheerleaders chased and poked at Corey with her pompom.  What a sad, sad thing to happen.  Not even four years old.  I can hardly imagine how his family members feel, but they have all of my sympathy.