MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[ScotsFan]

Just wonering, since school is back in session now, if anyone has heard anything about Wooster's incoming freshman basketball class?  I don't really remember hearing much about this year's class at all over the offseason.  I'm just curious to know.  Also, has anyone heard any news on how the big 7 footer is doing?  Is he back to 100% yet?  And last question.  Anyone heard how Brandon Johnon's recovery is progressing.  I thought I had heard he was again hoping to be back by the start of full conference action after the holiday break.  Is that still his target or could he come back sooner? 

Thanks.

[dcscots14]

Hey Scotsfan....this is the first d3hoops post of my career but I figured I needed to fill you in on the freshman. After playing with them last spring as prospects and talking to Brandon Johnson over the course of the summer, the freshman seem to be playing very well. I don't remember their names but one is the big boy (6'8) from Tallmadge and the other a 6'7 or 6'8 big man from Oxford Talawanda. Both seem to be able to compete at this level right away and have the opportunity to get playing time this year. I believe Gideon is back and playing and Brandon is making great progress with his rehab and should definately be ready to go by the time conference play starts up. That's all I've got for now..but I'm sure I'll hear updates as the preseason continues.

[David Collinge]

Welcome aboard, dcscots14!  We hope to hear from you often this season.  And I'm flattered that you chose my initials for a screen name, what an honor...

[ScotsFan]

Thanks for the update dcscots.  And welcome to the board!

Good to hear that Brandon's recovery is coming along nicely!  Also, I'm anxious to see what sort of role Gideon provides for this team.

[billy_pilgrim]

I don't post often anymore, but if all goes as planned...I might not post here ever again past this year:

http://www.pal-item.com/article/20090907/NEWS02/909070314

Earlham to the Heartland? It's been rumored for a couple years, but now it definitely has legs...long legs.

[David Collinge]

I'm willing to offer the Heartland Conference a Buy One, Get One Free deal...

[David Collinge]

Sad news from Granville relayed via Denison's Twitter feed.  Former Big Red player Joe Hines ('04) has died.  I don't have any details on his passing or services; you might want to keep in touch with Denison via Twitter or their web page for more information.  What I do know is that Joe was a role player who contributed for four years and played in all 26 games as a senior, starting four.  He was by all accounts a great teammate and outstanding individual.  Joe was embarking on a dental career when this tragedy struck.  Please keep Joe and his loved ones in your thoughts.

[David Collinge]

OWU continues to be a stepping-stone for assistant coaches, as they seem to have a new one every season.  This season, it will be Marcus Gill learning from Mike DeWitt.  Gill comes to Delaware from Albion College, his alma mater (2004), where he assisted Mike Turner and Jody May in three of the last five seasons.  (The other two were spent at Siena Heights U., where he was an assistant while earning his master's degree.)  This will be his first full-time coaching opportunity.  Good luck, Coach Gill, and welcome to the NCAC!  OWU link.

[David Collinge]

Heartfelt congratulations to Wooster assistant coach Doug Cline, who will be inducted into the "W" Hall of Fame tomorrow.  Doug was a standout post player as an undergrad, a key part of the program's continuing success as a coach, and just a terrific guy, one of the nicest people you'll meet.   Here's the announcement from wooster.edu, the best part of which is perhaps this final sentence:

Personally, Cline and his wife, Lauren, are the proud parents of Joshua, 8, and the late Corey (3), and they are expecting twins in December.

Many reasons to congratulate Doug this weekend!

[wooscotsfan]

Wooster's tourney matchups are now evident for the Al Van Wie Rotary Tourney and Randolph-Macon Briggs Elliott Classic.

Per Carnegie Mellon's website, Wooster will play CMU in the first round of the Al Van Wie Tourney.  Heidelberg and St. Thomas (MN) is the other first round game.  Carnegie Mellon graduated several seniors, including 3 starters and their leading scorer Ryan Einwag, from their squad that beat Wooster by 6 points in Pittsburgh early last season.

On paper, this tourney championship game should feature a Wooster vs. St. Thomas matchup (Tommies were 30-1 last year losing only to national champ Washington University in the NCAA tournament).


Per NC Wesleyan's website, Wooster will play North Carolina Wesleyan in the first round of the Randolph-Macon Classic on December 13th in Virginia.  NC Wesleyan returns nearly their entire squad but they were only 14-12 last season and their conference record was only 4-8.  Their nonconference schedule was weak, including several bible schools, which accounted for 10 of their wins.  Tourney host Randolph Macon plays Alvernia (PA) in the other first round game.

On paper, this tourney championship game should feature a Wooster vs. Randolph-Macon matchup.  RMC was 20-6 last season and 12-0 at home.  Yellow Jackets return 3 starters and historically have been a strong team in the ODAC.

Just over 5 weeks until the exhibition game vs. Kent State!

[fantastic50]

Speaking of the Wooster - Kent State exhibition, I heard this week that the site is up in the air.  NCAA rules do not ordinarily allow D-I teams to play such games on the road.  KSU has requested an exception from the NCAA, but if it is not granted, this game will be played at Kent State.

[ScotsFan]

Speaking of the Wooster - Kent State exhibition, I heard this week that the site is up in the air.  NCAA rules do not ordinarily allow D-I teams to play such games on the road.  KSU has requested an exception from the NCAA, but if it is not granted, this game will be played at Kent State.

This would be a bit of BS if the NCAA didn't grant KSU's request to play at Wooster.  This game is being played as a caritable event for crying out loud!  Do the right thing NCAA!!!

[David Collinge]

The reported attendance at last year's Wooster/Ohio U. exhibition was 2249.  Although I'd love for the KSU game to be at Wooster, I'm not sure that the attendance, and thus the charitable intake, would be a lot different if it's in Kent.  The spirit, of course, would be very different, however.

As a compromise, I think it should be played at Humboldt State! 

[sac]

ESPN has done a story on Elliot Mealer and family for their show E: 60...... a short preview......

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=null&categoryid=3060647

Unfortunately I don't see that they are running the show again, but the video should be available on the E60 page sometime this week.

Its worth a watch.

Edit.....the full video is now available.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4537842

[wooscotsfan]

With a disclaimer that this ranking is not of the same quality (IMHO) as the D3Hoops Top 25, here is the Sporting News College Basketball preseason Top 10 for D3:

1. Washington University (St. Louis)
2. Guilford (NC)
3. Richard Stockton (NJ)
4. Franklin & Marshall (PA)
5. Wooster (OH)
6. UMass-Dartmouth
7. John Carroll (OH)
8. DeSales (PA)
9. Wisconsin-Stevens Point
10. Brooklyn (NY)

Commentary on Wooster - "Injuries and youth dashed any hopes of a championship season last year, yet the Fighting Scots still finished at 23-7 and preserved their honor with the highest winning percentage (.850) in college basketball this decade.  The four returning starters (all underclassmen) are 6-3 Ian Franks (15.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg), 6-7 Justin Hallowell (14.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg), 6-1 Nathan Balch (12.6 ppg) and 6-6 Bryan Wickliffe (7.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg).  The most exciting boost to coach Steve Moore's lineup could be 6-2 senior Brandon Johnson, who averaged 11.3 ppg and 3.8 rpg two years ago but sat out last season with a torn ACL."

Possible Breakthrough Teams - included in this list were Amherst, Calvin, Hope, Elmhurst, Illinois Wesleyan, Ohio Northern, St. Thomas (MN) and 19 other teams (no others in Ohio or NCAC).

All-America First Team:  Darnell Braswell - DeSales, Santini Lancioni - Richard Stockton, Tyler Sanborn - Guilford, Aaron Thompson - Washington Univ., Sean Wallis - Washington Univ.

All- America Second Team:  Steve Djurickovic - Carthage, Richard Jean-Baptiste - Brooklyn, D.J. Marsh - Wisc. Oshkosh, Andrew Powers - Gettysburg, Joe Scott - St. Thomas (MN)

Honorable Mention Team:  Ian Franks - Wooster, Gregg Hill - Wittenberg, Rudy Kirbus - John Carroll, Kyle Meyer - Ohio Northern, and 25 other players (no others in NCAC or OAC)

This Division III preview was written by Chuck Mistovich, Basketball Times

Congratulations to both Ian Franks and Gregg Hill on being selected to the Honorable Mention Team.