MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[ScotsFan]

The D3hoops.com Top 25 has been unveiled and Wooster opens up at #9. 

To say that Wooster's non-conference schedule is difficult is an understatement!

Wooster could possibly wind up facing the #1, the #2 and the #4 teams (WashU, JCU, and St. Thomas respectively) in the pre-season rankings if the tournaments they play in go according to Hoyle.  Also, in another tournament, there is the possiblitiy of facing #19 R-MC.

Wooster also will face off with 2 other non-conference foes that are in the ORV portion of the poll.  CMU whom the Scots face in their season opener and ONU are both receiving votes in the poll.

So, the possiblity is there for 6 of Wooster's 8 non-conference opponents to be ranked or receiving votes! 

BTW, OWU is the only other NCAC team showing up on the poll.  They managed to collect 2 votes.

One surprising note wrt the poll is that there are no U-W schools in the top 5!  When was the last time that has happened  (I'm sure that David can fill us in on that...  )? UW-SP is the highest ranked WIAC team at #10 just behind Wooster.

[smedindy]

For the first time since, oh, I don't know when, Wabash isn't hosting any tourneys this year. They are going to Maryville and to DePauw for tourneys in November.

Other than that, the non-conference slate is Marian, Franklin, Rose-Hulman and DPU.

[Pat Coleman]

For the first time since, oh, I don't know when, Wabash isn't hosting any tourneys this year. They are going to Maryville and to DePauw for tourneys in November.

Other than that, the non-conference slate is Marian, Franklin, Rose-Hulman and DPU.

That's good. Wabash might find some D-III opponents at those tournaments.

[fantastic50]

Today's Wooster Daily Record has an article that appears to say Kent State is coming to Wooster next week for the exhibition (which would mean the NCAA has granted permission to KSU to do this).  Unfortunately, I can only see the headline, as you have to be a subscriber to read it.

Can anyone access the article and confirm this?
http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/4699030

[seinfeld]

Yes, that's what the article says, but it also says that the waiver hasn't been officially granted. It's amazing that we are only slightly over a week away, and neither school can officially promote this event on their Web sites.

[fantastic50]

My source in the athletic department told me today that there's still no news, but are expecting to hear something any day.  This is crazy ... thanks, NCAA!

[smedindy]

For the first time since, oh, I don't know when, Wabash isn't hosting any tourneys this year. They are going to Maryville and to DePauw for tourneys in November.

Other than that, the non-conference slate is Marian, Franklin, Rose-Hulman and DPU.

That's good. Wabash might find some D-III opponents at those tournaments.

Rimshot! 

[Mr. Ypsi]

For the first time since, oh, I don't know when, Wabash isn't hosting any tourneys this year. They are going to Maryville and to DePauw for tourneys in November.

Other than that, the non-conference slate is Marian, Franklin, Rose-Hulman and DPU.

That's good. Wabash might find some D-III opponents at those tournaments.

Rimshot! 

Just struck me - ya know, compared with the comedy drum reference, in bball that might have a whole different meaning!

I still have nightmares over losses from 'rimshots'!

[wooscotsfan]

I got a second hand report from my father who attended the Wooster Varsity vs. Alumni scrimmage yesterday.

The Wooster Alums controlled the game from the start and never looked back winning by a score of 78 to 68.  The Alums team included All-American James Cooper, All-American Tom Port, Tim Vandervaart, Devin Fulk, Andy Van Horn, Evan Will, PJ McCloud, Antwyan Reynolds, Joe Agler and Dustin Geitgey.  Geitgey played for the Alums because he has either used up all of his eligibility or is just a few courses short of finishing his degree...or both?  The Alums were all in great shape physically with Port and Cooper nailing three pointers like they did as seniors.

For the Varsity, my father thought some of the best looking players were Justin Hallowell and the two freshmen "bigs" Josh Claytor and Jake Mays.  Apparently, the rest of the team didn't play particularly well and missed a number of shots.

It may be a blessing that the Varsity lost this scrimmage because the intensity at practices will probably go up this coming week.

Can anyone else offer a first hand report from this Varsity/Alum scrimmage?

[kiltedbryan]

All I can do is agree with most of what you put in your report, WSF.  I also heard secondhand about the scrimmage yesterday at Timken.  My source was particularly impressed by Claytor, who started, and said that Mays also offered good minutes.  Hallowell apparently didn't make many shots and the alums were on from the start.  Mabeny (sp?), the 7'0'', didn't offer too much from what I heard.

Starting five was Balch, Franks, Hallowell, Claytor and Wickliffe.  That's two juniors, two sophomores and a freshman.  With Johnson as the only senior on the roster, think the Scots might be good for the next few years?   

No word or announcement about the Kent State scrimmage was made at the game, so I assume that the schools are still waiting for the NCAA's ruling on where that game will be.

[ScotsFan]

Thanks for the updates on the alumni scrimmage guys!  Sounds like Moore found a couple of nice freshmen!

Starting five was Balch, Franks, Hallowell, Claytor and Wickliffe.  That's two juniors, two sophomores and a freshman.  With Johnson as the only senior on the roster, think the Scots might be good for the next few years?   

No kidding!  But doesn't this seem to almost always be the case for Moore and the Scots?  8)

BTW, Balch is listed as a Jr. on the roster.  I know that he still has 2 years of eligibility remaining if he so chooses to use them.  The question is, will he use them? 

And not having Johnson in the lineup to start the season might hurt because the schedule is so brutal in the non-conference portion of the schedule.  But the experience these youngsters will get without Johnson will only help this team down the stretch as they move into conference play and on into a possible run in the post-season.

[seinfeld]

Exhibition is official.

http://www.wooster.edu/Athletics/Winter-Sports/Mens-Basketball

[ScotsFan]

Glad to see the NCAA did something right for a change...   

[wooscotsfan]

Glad to see the NCAA did something right for a change...   

Yes, the NCAA did the right thing for a great cause - the Corey Cline Memorial Fund.  Kudos also to Kent State Coach Geno Ford for offering to bring his team to Wooster and then pushing the NCAA for the necessary waiver!

Kent State beat Ohio Northern in a home exhibition game tonight by a 75-66 score.  KSU played a lot of guys because Coach Ford is still sorting out his team.  Wooster scouted the game tonight obviously because they will play both of these squads during the next two months. 

Here is a link to the Wooster exhibition game announcement on Kent State's website: http://www.kentstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=47654&SPID=4464&ATCLID=204825887&DB_OEM_ID=11400

[fantastic50]

Certainly, I'm glad to see that the NCAA (finally) approved the contest, and also grateful that Kent State was willing to come to Wooster in the first place.

However, the KSU story looks like it was written by someone whose first language is not English.