MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[David Collinge]

Here's an updated story on the tragedy, which provides a few more details.  Such a sad, sad day.

[Gregory Sager]

If Wooster loses in the NCAC tourney final, the Scots will be 20-5 (.800) in regional play. And that would be more than good enough for a Pool C berth.

The problem with Pool C bids is that there are no guarantees.

Pool C slots can fill up very quickly if there are a large number of upsets in conference tourneys of highly ranked teams.  In the scenario where Wooster loses in the NCAC tourney final and they are 20-5 in regional play, they still could miss a Pool C slot if there are 18 teams nationally that have better Pool C records based on the selection criteria.

My advice for Wooster remains the same - they need to win the NCAC tourney and the automatic bid.

I'm going by Patrick Abegg's numbers and by past history regarding the regional winning percentages of Pool C teams. I don't ever remember a team from an AQ conference that had an .800 regional winning percentage being denied a Pool C bid since the Pool C field was expanded (i.e., post Capital '03).

[ScotsFan]

Here's an updated story on the tragedy, which provides a few more details.  Such a sad, sad day.

My goodness.  A sad, sad day indeed!  As a father of 3 young ones myself, I cannot even begin to fathom what the Clines are going through right now.  After hearing about this tragedy last night, I just wanted to hug my girls and not let them go!

My deepest sympathies, thoughts and, most of all, prayers go out to the Cline family in this moment of grief.  Also keep Dustin and his family in your thoughts and prayers as well as the driver of the vehicle that hit Corey.  I can imagine this whole tragic and freakish accident is going to be difficult on all the parties involved...

[David Collinge]

Cribbing from wooscotsfan's post to add tip times:
NCAC Tournament Games on Tuesday

#1 Wooster hosts #8 Denison 7:30pm
#2 Ohio Wesleyan hosts #7 Allegheny 8:00pm (following women's quarterfinal, Witt vs. OWU, at 6:00pm)
#3 Hiram hosts #6 Wabash 7:00pm
#4 Wittenberg hosts #5 Kenyon 7:30pm 

Please note the adjusted tip time for the Wabash/Hiram game.  Still the LGs won't be back on their own campus until sometime after 3am at the earliest.

[David Collinge]

Congratulations to Wooster's lone senior Marty Bidwell, the final NCAC Player of the Week for the 2008-09 season.  Marty led his team to their fifth consecutive outright NCAC championship by scoring 26 points on 61% shooting in wins over Allegheny and Earlham.  He also chipped in eight rebounds, seven assists, and five steals in those two games.  Congratulations, Marty!

[kiltedbryan]

Very, very sad story.  Thoughts and prayers to the Cline family as they deal with this loss.

[wally_wabash]

Cribbing from wooscotsfan's post to add tip times:
NCAC Tournament Games on Tuesday

#1 Wooster hosts #8 Denison 7:30pm
#2 Ohio Wesleyan hosts #7 Allegheny 8:00pm (following women's quarterfinal, Witt vs. OWU, at 6:00pm)
#3 Hiram hosts #6 Wabash 7:00pm
#4 Wittenberg hosts #5 Kenyon 7:30pm 

Please note the adjusted tip time for the Wabash/Hiram game.  Still the LGs won't be back on their own campus until sometime after 3am at the earliest.

Two weeks ago today, Wabash was 3-9 in the league and in very real danger of missing the tournament all together.  A long bus ride is definitely preferable to not having a chance to play at all!   

[fantastic50]

There is no word yet on whether the Wooster-Denison game will go on as scheduled.  Given that both a coach and a player on the Scots team are grieving in this tragic situation, I won't be shocked if the game is pushed back to Wednesday or Thursday evening.

[fantastic50]

For those that may know the Cline family personally or otherwise wish to express their sympathies, the funeral will be at 11:00 on Thursday morning, in the McGaw Chapel, on the College of Wooster campus.  The visitation, also in McGaw, will be on Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 9:00.

[pennstghs]

EC-technically speaking any team is tough to beat at home when they're making their shots.

[fantastic50]

The Wooster-Denison game will be played tomorrow night, as scheduled, despite the Scots' heavy hearts.  Corey Cline was a regular at practices and games, from what I understand, so this week will be very tough on the entire Wooster team.  My thoughts and prayers are with Coach Cline, Dustin Geitgey, and all of the families grieving.

http://athletics.wooster.edu/

[lebron23]

Picks so far
Wooster (5) over Denison (1)
Witt (4) over Kenyon (2)
Wabash (4) over Hiram (2)
OWU (5) over Allegheny (1)
...that would set up some interesting semi-final matchups!

[Hugenerd]

The Wooster-Denison game will be played tomorrow night, as scheduled, despite the Scots' heavy hearts.  Corey Cline was a regular at practices and games, from what I understand, so this week will be very tough on the entire Wooster team.  My thoughts and prayers are with Coach Cline, Dustin Geitgey, and all of the families grieving.

http://athletics.wooster.edu/

I read some of the news articles on that story, and it sounds like a tragic and very unfortunate death.  My thoughts and prayers go out to the Cline family.

[David Collinge]

Thank you, hugenerd.  Coming from outside the Wooster "family," your comments are greatly appreciated.

[Hugenerd]

I am originally an Ohioan as well (one of my high school temmates even played a season for Wooster), and although I may not be part of the Wooster family, you really cant help but feel for what the Cline family must be going through.  I have a young child and I cant imagine the emotions they must be feeling right now.  I hope that it brings the Cline family, and the Wooster family, closer so that they can get through this very difficult time in their lives.