MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[David Collinge]

but to me there's no there there.

From where I sit, there's not a whole lot of there anywhere in this argument.

[smedindy]

2010 season:

Committed more fouls than opponents: Allegheny, Earlham, Oberlin, Wooster, Wittenberg

Committed less fouls than opponents: Denison, Hiram, Kenyon, OWU, Wabash

But you know what, the margins are awfully small for the most part, at most a foul a game. Oberlin committed a whole 12 fouls more than their opponents. The moribund Quakers committed 23 more fouls this season.

If the correlation between more fouls and losses held, you'd expect Earlham to really rack up the fouls. They had a lot of losses that they didn't shoot a lot of free throws. But I think that's offensive offense for the most part.

For the most part, teams that press or play hard man-to-man get called for fouls. Teams that drive to the lane and are aggressive on offense draw more fouls. The style of play usually dictates how many fouls are called, not the score of the game.

Fouls are like penalties in football. They can be an irritant, and can lose a game, but all in all are not a season-long indicator of success when compared in a vacuum.

[wally_wabash]

Apparently tonight's game officials in Greensboro were not briefed on Wooster's winning tradition.  The Scots have been called for 6 fouls while Guilford has only been called for 4 fouls.  There's still 11 minutes left to see if they can get that evened out.  If you need me, I'll be on the edge of my seat.  

In related news, Guilford is hip deep in a what could be an absolutely epic gak job.  Can the Quakers blow a 20-point second half lead on their own floor?  It's looking very possible.  

2:29 left...Guilford leads 8-7.  In personal fouls.  I still have no idea why this is important. 

[smedindy]

but to me there's no there there.

From where I sit, there's not a whole lot of there anywhere in this argument.

I haven't thrown some stats around in a while. And I haven't pounced on offhand throwaway comments. I'm getting ready for baseball season, I think!  

(There's a knuckleheaded columnist or two up here who thinks that RBIs and Wins are the be all and end all and OPS and advanced pitching metrics are worthless. I can't wait to roast that argument.)

[Gregory Sager]

but to me there's no there there.

From where I sit, there's not a whole lot of there anywhere in this argument.

I haven't thrown some stats around in a while. And I haven't pounced on offhand throwaway comments. I'm getting ready for baseball season, I think!  

(There's a knuckleheaded columnist or two up here who thinks that RBIs and Wins are the be all and end all and OPS and advanced pitching metrics are worthless. I can't wait to roast that argument.)

VORP 'em, smed!

[wooscotsfan]

Final:  #3 Guilford  75  #17 Wooster 68  

Wooster didn't have enough offense tonight.  It is hard to recover when you are down 12-0 to start the game against a quality team.  It is amazing to me that Ian Franks was scoreless in the first half and the Scots only managed 22 points total in the half.  Wooster never had the lead in this game and only got the margin as close as 5 points in the 2nd half.

Scots were led tonight by Ian Franks with 27 points and Nathan Balch with 15 points.

Rebounding also killed Wooster tonight as Guilford had 11 more boards than the Scots.  Guilford's 6'9" Center Tyler Sanborn with a 21 pts, 23 rebounds performance was too much inside for the Scots to handle.

CONGRATULATIONS to Wooster on a great season as the Scots finish 25-6!  

CONGRATULATIONS also to senior Brandon Johnson on finishing a great career at Wooster!  Brandon played a tremendous season after coming back from two knee surgeries!

[wally_wabash]

Guilford has defeated the Scots 75-68...despite Wooster's winning tradition. 

Very fine season for Wooster...making the final 16 is a great accomplishment. 

[ScotsFan]

All I can say is freaking Ian Franks!  Wooster gave a valiant effort coming back from 20 down at half-time and Ian Franks nearly brings the Fighting Scots back singlehandedly scoring ALL of his 27 points in the 2nd half but it just wasn't enough as Wooster comes up short.

As wsf mentioned, congrats to the Scots on yet another great season finishing 25-6 and just missing out on an appearance in the Elite 8.  I think it's safe to say with everyone coming back except Brandon Johnson, this team has the potential go even further next year!  Thanks for a great season Wooster!

[David Collinge]

All good things must come to an end.  Congratulations to the Fighting Scots on (dare I say it?  dare! dare!) another outstanding season. 

[ScotsFan]

NT

[smedindy]

Great job representing the NCAC at the top team in the ODAC.

[smedindy]

21 points, 23 boards is a Russell, Chamberlain, Bellamy type number. Old school. Hard to win when someone is putting that on you in the modern game.

[wally_wabash]

Name calling?  Really?  Compelling stuff. 

[ScotsFan]

Name calling?  Really?  Compelling stuff. 

As cooler heads prevail, I've chosen to remove my post.  Still doesn't change my opinion of you from the post I removed!   Take that FWIW wally world...   

[goscots]

Congratulations to Guilford on advancing to the Elite Eight. I hope they make it to the Final Four as they are a deserving team. Sanborn was as good as advertised, putting up monster numbers (is it proper to say a double score?).

Congratulations to the Wooster Scots on another fine season and a good NCAA run. I would say all Scot fans were proud of how they fought to get back in the game. The Winston Churchill quote ""Never, never, never, never give up." came to mind to me as the last minutes (and seconds) played out. To be sure it is an important lesson for the returning players.

Congratulations to Brandon Johnson.  In the early part of the season when the Scots were struggling he showed the heart of a leader. In the final stretch he showed his trademark defense. His Wooster career is complete and his legacy as one of the Scots best is secure.