MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Witt4ever]

Witt4Ever,

Thanks for one of the most candid posts I've seen on this board. I've always had the sense that Wittenberg has had more physical talent than Wooster, but seeming underperformance (with the exception fo 2006) and the attrition rate does seem high there. Brown has what I think is a pretty strong recruiting advantage over Wooster due to the school's location. Springfield, and Clark County as a whole, is much bigger and has a lot more talent to choose from. In other words, the 30-40 mile radius around Wittenberg is much more fruitful (including Dayton) than it is around Wooster. So Wooster is forced to go farther away to get its recruits. That is not a small thing in Div. III. Being able to pluck a good local player every few years makes for easier recruiting. And while Wooster has had some nice players from nearby, the last all-conference level players were Nate Gaubatz and Steve Thompson in 2001.

Do not get me started on the recruiting topic. Brown hates to recruit locally because he does not want to deal with the players parents.

[smedindy]

It's a down cycle for Witt - it just happens. I can imagine that some parents would be an issue. Ask any Dean of Students about "helicopter parents". But some parents are like that even if they have to drive 200 miles to get to their precious snowflake's game.

Many coaches play 10, 11, 12 guys. Some play 6 or 7 only. Whatever the system is for the coach and what works for the coach and team. Up here, Tubby Smith plays 11 guys, whatever the situation calls for. Everyone is ready to go at any moment. I've always believed in getting at least 9 to 10 some minutes because if someone gets hurt the subs need to be able to handle long stretches.

[pennstghs]

I feel necessary to follow up on Witt4Ever's post as I agree with points and disagree a little bit.

It is pretty obvious to astute Witt followers that ever since that 2005 Runner Up finish Witt hasn't had the same type of attitude or mentality. Much of the players leaving the system from what I have heard, Witt4ever having much more information than myself, have been because of unhappiness with playing time, style, and lack of purpose. I tend to like playing many guys on a team, especially this season where he is forced to see what he has and how guys respond to pressure and playing time. The thing about playing 10 guys a night is how your players respond/buy into the system. University of Dayton regularly plays 10 guys to keep everyone fresh and their defensive tenacity is hard to handle with the Coach constantly bringing in fresh bodies. Wittenberg players/fans seems to think what is he doing?

I think the thing about local players being recruited because of him not wanting to deal with parents is a little bogus, as you're going to have to deal with parents anyway whereever they are from. In some cases being further away will make it worse because parents won't want to come multiple hours just to see their son get minimal playing time.

Also, some Witt recruits have vastly been overrated (ex. Lewis Buzzard-very uncoordinated)

I think the critical point in the Witt program will be displayed both the next two games to see how the young players respond to adversity and pressure and next season especially with getting Gregg Hill back. If Witt can't muster up a good season, good being winning the NCAC or having a 2 seed at worst.

Thoughts/opinions?

Witt4Ever i have you mad karma for posting that as most people just like to look outside in and not inside out.

[ScotsFan]

And for the record, I went back at looked at Daniel Russ's statistics during his freshman season He never started one game. Period. Maybe this speaks volumes about Alex Brandt or lack of talent that Witt has. I hope the former and not the latter.

I don't want to come across as bashing Witt,  but I would tend to say it has more to do with the latter.  Looking back at Witt's lineup when Russ was a frosh and I don't know too many players that would have been able to crack that starting line-up as a freshman!  I mean they had seniors BJ Harris and Kevin Longley and Peter Walker was a junior.  There was a lot of experienced talent that was ahead of Russ when he arrived in Springfield as a freshman!  There isn't near that level of talent in Springfield on this season's team from an experience and talent standpoint...

But, hey.  Wooster is basically in the same boat.  I can't remember when a Wooster team has had to rely so heavily on freshmen or first year players!  I mean, Cooper didn't even get significant PT as a freshmen and he certainly was not a starter.  But that doesn't mean that Wooster's frosh are that much better talent wise to be starting as freshmen.  It just means that there isn't anyone else to choose from in the sr. and jr. classes that are better...

[wooscotsfan]

At the Half:  Wooster 55  Earlham 24

This game is essentially over at halftime.

Wooster is being led by Ian Franks with 16 points, senior Marty Bidwell with 12 points, Bryan Wickliffe with 6 points (8 rebounds) and Matt Fegan with 6 points.

Earlham's top scorers are AJ Sutherlin with 6 points and Ryan Taylor with 6 points.

Wooster shot 74% in the first half compared to only 32% for the Quakers.  Scots made 7 of 11 three point shots.

[wooscotsfan]

Congrats to Justin Hallowell who just hit his 78th three pointer of the season!   Hallowell has now tied James Cooper and Tom Port for the Wooster record of most three pointers made in a season!

[wooscotsfan]

Final:  Wooster 95  Earlham 54

Congrats to the Scots who clinch their 5th straight NCAC regular season title!

Wooster was led today by Ian Franks with 23 points, Marty Bidwell with 16 points, Nathan Balch with 12 points and Bryan Wickliffe with 9 points, 11 boards.  Congrats to Marty Bidwell on Senior Day as he finishes his regular season career.

Tristian Gregory, also a Senior, led Earlham with 16 points in his final game.  Congrats to Gregory on a fine NCAC career.

Wooster is now 19-6, 14-2 NCAC   Next is a NCAC tourney quarterfinal game at home on Tuesday.

[wooscotsfan]

All the NCAC 2/21 Final Scores:

Wittenberg 68  Kenyon 44
Wabash 75  Denison 63
Wooster 95  Earlham 54
Allegheny 59 Ohio Wesleyan 57
Hiram 70  Oberlin 52

[Witt4ever]

Alleg 59
OWU 57 final

congrats to Wooster

[wooscotsfan]

Witt4ever - thanks for the update!  Wooster gets the undisputed NCAC regular season title!

[Witt4ever]

5 years in a row. 

http://www.northcoast.org/mb/mballtime.pdf

[wooscotsfan]

NCAC Tournament Games on Tuesday

#1 Wooster hosts #8 Denison
#2 Ohio Wesleyan hosts #7 Allegheny (again)
#3 Hiram hosts #6 Wabash
#4 Wittenberg hosts #5 Kenyon (again)

[pennstghs]

Great win by Witt today, Witt went on a little run to go up by 7 at half and then put the game out of reach within minutes of the second half starting.

1- Kenyon better tighten up their turnovers before Tuesday, as I haven't looked yet but I'd say almost 1/3 of Witt's points were off of turnovers. Kenyon committed 19 turnovers. Even though Wittenberg committed 15 TO's, they were able to play solid D to counteract those.

2-Also, as I alluded to earlier, the depth thing can play into Witt's favor by throwing fresh bodies out there. 12 guys scored for Wittenberg today!!!!!

3-Kenyon can't compete over the course of an entire game with the athleticism on the boards for Wittenberg. They were outrebounded by 17.

Great crowd on hand as well. Should be a great NCAC tournament again this year. When's the last time potentially Wittenberg and Wooster would face each other on a Friday night instead of Saturday.

[wooscotsfan]

NCAC Final Regular Season Standings (All Games)

1.  Wooster 14-2, 19-6
2.  Ohio Wesleyan 13-3, 17-7
3.  Hiram 11-5, 16-9
4.  Wittenberg 9-7, 13-12 (#4 seed in tourney)
4.  Kenyon 9-7, 15-10 (#5 seed)
6.  Wabash 7-9, 12-12 (#6 seed)
6.  Allegheny 7-9, 11-14 (#7 seed)
8.  Denison 5-11, 8-17
9.  Earlham 3-13, 3-22
10. Oberlin 2-14, 5-20

[wally_wabash]

Could we see some wackiness in this year's tournament?  Check it out:

#1 Wooster hosts #8 Denison - The Big Red were a 28 foot buzzer beater from beating Wooster at Timken not that long ago.  
#2 Ohio Wesleyan hosts #7 Allegheny (again) - Allegheny just beat OWU at the Branch today.
#3 Hiram hosts #6 Wabash - Wabash is on a four gamer and have seemingly figured some thigns out.  Hiram has scuffled down the stretch big time.  
#4 Wittenberg hosts #5 Kenyon (again) - Total toss up.  Sometimes these teams look really good, sometimes they look really bad.  Anything goes in this one.  

It is plausible that any or all of the lower seeds could win on Tuesday.  Should be interesting to follow the action on Tuesday night.  Let's go Little Giants!