MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[David Collinge]

At the half, it's Muskingum 39, Kenyon 29.  Kenyon does not look good offensively, defensively, sartorially, or (especially) tonsorially.  A thoroughly mediocre-looking Muskingum team is having their way so far.  Frosh Marcus Healey (9), Knight and Knapke (8 apiece) have provided almost all of the scoring for the Lords.

S(n)ide note: I'll sure be glad when the stupid football season ends, for server reasons among many others.

[ScotsFan]

Feels like Wooster is playing 5 on 8 in this game.  Albion is in the double bonus and has been in the bonus since the 11 minute mark of the 2nd half.  Wooster still not in the bonus yet.

And Wooster still leads by 3 with seven to go.

Wooster is now down 3 with just 3 seconds to go.

Albion does the smart thing and fouls Franks in the backcourt.  And yet more homerism as apparently it takes 2 1/2 seconds to foul someone immediately...  

This gym continues to be a house of horrors for Wooster. 

And the game ends as Albion wins 57-55.

In the end, it was just a sloppy sloppy game for the Scots.  Wooster now needs to regroup in a big way for their next game vs CMU in their home opener on Friday!

[wooscotsfan]

Final:   Albion 57  Wooster 55 

Not a good opening game for the Scots.  Wooster lost this game due to 33% shooting and 18 turnovers.  Scots were led by Bryan Wicklliffe with 18 points and Justin Hallowell with 11 points. 

Albion was led by Chris Hutton with 16 points and Andre Bridges with 13 points.

Wooster is 0-1 with the Al Van Wie tourney next weekend.

[David Collinge]

Kenyon uses defense and hustle to stay in the game, but their comeback falls short as Muskingum prevails 77-73.  The final margin was a close as the Lords got in the wire-to-wire win by the Muskies.  JT Knight led all scorers (off the bench) with 26, while Dave Knapke contributed 19 points and 17 boards. 

Classic postgame interview with Matt Croci; he's a real breath of fresh air who doesn't seem to know coachspeak, even when the interviewer is begging for some positives:
(paraphrased)
Interviewer: You guys finished strong.
Croci: We started terribly.
Interviewer: Muskingum started strong, but you clawed back into it.
Croci: We can't do that. 
Interviewer: Knapke had a great game.
Croci: Nobody except Knight stepped up to help him.  We can't win as a two-man team.

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At halftime, Denison and Marietta are tied at 25.  Neither team is shooting well (MC 33%, DU 30%) and they''ve combined for 19 turnovers so far.  DU's Larry Farmer and MC's Kevin Knab lead the scoring (9 apiece) and rebounding (5 and 6, respectively) columns.

-----------------------------

Oberlin drops visiting Mt. Aloysius 85-77 to open the season 1-0.  Frosh Andrew Fox led the Yeo wit 20 points and 8 boards; fellow frosh Jonathan Nelson chipped in 17 and 6, while soph. Marcus Johnson added 18.  Oberlin shot 53% and forced 24 Mt. Aloysius turnovers.

[kiltedbryan]

A couple positives from an otherwise frustrating day in what has to be the Scots' least favorite gym ever:

Brian Wickliffe put up a solid double-double, 18-10 I believe.  Breckenridge (Woo broadcast) noted that he seemed very active and was getting himself involved in the game.  It's too bad he missed the layup at the end, but otherwise a good first outing for the Wooster junior.

Brandon Johnson had an shooting day to forget, but he seemed to make an immediate impact on the defensive side with several steals.  He also was pushing the fastbreak at several points, and even though today a lot of those seemed to end up in turnovers, I expect more fastbreaks will connect in the future.  Plus, it's just great to see him back out on the basketball court for Wooster.  Welcome back, Brandon!

[David Collinge]

Marietta edges Denison, 57-50.  It seems (from Live Stats) that the Big Red kind of fell apart down the stretch in a game that was close throughout.  In the last 5:16, they could only manage five free throws as the game edged out of reach.  Larry Farmer and Chris Luther led the home team with 16 points each; Farmer also added 9 boards to share the team high with frosh Dimonde Hale.

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Youngstown State is laying the wood to Hiram, presently 79-38 with a bit more than a minute left.  The YSU play-by-play guy is hilarious, calling each Penguin basket as if it were an Argentinian goal.  I wonder what he's like in a close game.  Hiram is shooting the ball miserably, even taking into account the mismatch.  Now gone final, 81-41 for YSU.  I see that Andrew Wiegand is not on Hiram's roster for this season, but everyone else seems to be back (except the graduated Ian Pfouts, of course.)

------------------------------------

Earlham is also in a mismatch, trailing at Manchester 50-29 at the half.  Sophomore Shane Heidt has 13 points, but the Spartans are cooly canning two-thirds of their field goals and have a ridiculous 28-7 rebounding advantage.
UPDATE: Manchester eases out to a 79-63 final. 

-------------------------------------

So the NCAC starts out 1-5 (1-7 if you include the women), with the only victory being recorded by....Oberlin?!?

[fantastic50]

Final:   Albion 57  Wooster 55 

Ouch ... I didn't see that coming.  I'm sure it's a VERY long bus ride back to Wooster after that outcome.

[BogeyMan]

ScotsFan:

I find it interesting that the foul shots were:
Wooster 12 for 17
Albion 8 for 16
Looks to me like Wooster should of fouled more with Albion shooting 50% from the line.

The 2.5 seconds off the clock was after the player caught the ball and took two short dribbles up the sideline and started to go around the defender.  The defender grab him from behing.  Nothing shady about the 2.5 seconds at all.

From what I heard about last year's game when Wooster won in OT at Wooster the same 5 on 8 comment should of been made by the Albion fans.  Count the foul shots last year then complain about homerism!!!!

[David Collinge]

Feels like Wooster is playing 5 on 8 in this game...

From what I heard about last year's game...

I wonder if it is possible for us to have a rule that bars complaining about refereeing in games we didn't actually see.  Or would that be just too idyllic?

[BogeyMan]

I think official bashing should be barred altogether especially when the team you are rooting for loses.  I did go to both games and I do know the answer to the question on how many foul shots were taken last year.  I am from Ohio and could care less about who won either game.  I just don't like reading posts from people who whine about the officiating if their team loses.

[ScotsFan]

I wonder if it is possible for us to have a rule that bars complaining about refereeing in games we didn't actually see.  Or would that be just too idyllic?

Sorry I didn't measure up to your 'idyllic' expectations...

[pennstghs]

Hey guys! Long time no post, sorry for my absence but I'll apparently be the voice of Wittenberg on the boards again this year.

I"ll be in attendance at Wittenberg's opener vs UC Clermont tomorrow night and will give my thoughts.

Just a note, Wittenberg will be without two returning contributors from last year, Josh Mckee and Micheal Cooper as they're still in football season

[wally_wabash]

And on the same note, Wabash gets their season underway tonight with a roadie at NAIA Marian College University (whoops) in Indianapolis.  I won't be there, but I will be listening and following live stats.  

[wally_wabash]

Not sure if anybody has previewed Wabash in here yet, so I'll give a quick IMO style preview before the LGs get tipped off tonight...

Wabash is bringing back 4 of their 5 starters, with only Brian Maloney (5.5ppg/4.6rpg) having been lost to graduation.  The only other senior Wabash lost was Mark Turpin who played just 38 minutes last season. 

Returning is the bulk of Wabash's production.  Leading the way, obviously, is Wes Smith who made 1st team all NCAC one year ago as a sophomore.  Wes is clearly the key player for Wabash as the teams best offensive and defensive player. 

Also returning is Aaron Brock who struggled through injury last year before finally having to shut it down prior to the end of the regular season.  Brock can be very good when healthy (recall the nasty run he went on just before and through the NCAC tournament two seasons ago).  Brock will be Wabash's primary offensive threat in the painted area. 

Chase Haltom, Wabash's long distance specialist, is also back.  Haltom has big range and commands a close guard well outside of the 3 point line.  Haltom is reportedly in fantastic condition and hopefully has added a tad more consistency to his jumpshot (he's been a very streaky shooter in the past). 

In place of Maloney it looks like Wabash will turn to Ben Burkett and Nick Curosh.  Burkett has shown some flashes of promise and I'm really excited to see Curosh in his sophomore season.  Curosh missed some time last year with illness, and I'm not sure he ever quite got back to being right.  Healthy and with a year of college level conditioning, I think he could be a big factor in the paint for Wabash (I'm looking for him to be a big rebound guy for the LGs). 

Point guard was split last year between Andrew Gilman and Brian Shelbourne...Wabash's season really turned around when Shelbourne was inserted into the starting lineup.  I'll be interested to see this evening if Shelbourne will be the guy starting at point guard for Wabash. 

I see these guys being the main players for Wabash this season.  Also expect significant bench contributions from Derek Bailey and senior Rich Kavalauskas...every year every team needs to win a game where the 7th or 8th guy in the rotation steps up big and these two are the surprise guys that I expect to see pop up in a headline or two this year. 

I'll confess to not knowing too much about Wabash's freshmen, so I can't comment too much there. 

Season outlook....I really think that Wabash can be quite good this year.  The last two years we've seen Wabash tread water until mid January, then go in the tank for about three weeks, then flip a switch and make a run to the tournament final.  With so much of the group returning (many of them for their 3rd full year of varsity level play), the expectation has to be that the midseason swoon isn't happening...or at least shouldn't happen.  This group is too veteran to drop six straight conference games again.  I expect that Wabash will be near the top of the standings (I don't know if Wabash can outduel Wooster for the regular season championship) and be ready to challenge the Scots again in the tournament...at which point anything can happen. 

Less than an hour until the season gets going...here's hoping Wabash can turn around this early season tail kicking that the NCAC seems to be taking! 

[wally_wabash]

And it is Shelbourne that starts for Wabash tonight.  

Wabash trails 14-8 about halfway through the first half.  So far for Wabash, Wes Smith is 3-5 with 7 points.  The rest of the team is 0-5.  That will need to change.  Marian's announcers sound like they expect Marian to have a much improved team over the last couple of years.  This game should be a strong test for Wabash.  

Wabash is pretty sloppy with the ball.  9 turnovers so far.

Wabash played about 3 minutes there with a full second 5 on the floor.  That was not a good stretch for Wabash.  The starters are back on the floor.  Marian can't miss on 3 point shots.  26-14, Marian with 6 minutes to go in the first half.  

Halftime at Marian: Marian 38, Wabash 25.  Wes Smith leads all scorers with 11 points.  Aaron Brock leads the game with 6 rebounds.  But Wabash is having trouble scoring the basketball and turning it over.  Haltom and Brock are combined 1-6 which won't cut it.  Wes can't do all the scoring.  Let's go Wabash!  

Good start for Wabash in the second half...LGs get the first 4 points to get the lead under 10 for the first time in a while.  

Wes Smith gets a triple and has 20 points.  LGs are chipping away...down 42-36 now.  

13 minutes to go and Wabash won't let Marian get away.  Gilman hits a three for Wabash and the score is 47-42 for the Knights.  Marian answers with a three...50-42.  Dang.  

Wabash turnover turns into a layup and Marian goes up 52-42 with 11 minutes to go.  Timeout Wabash.  Wabash keeps making mini-runs but then gives it right back with turnovers.  Haltom is still without a field goal.  If he can find the range in the last 10 minutes, Wabash will have a chance here.  

And here come the LGs again...Wabash turns Marian over and Wes Smith gets a layup.  6 minutes to go, Marian leads 57-49.  Haltom is 0-5, all 3 point attempts.  Wabash really needs him to get one of those to go down the stretch here.  

Make it 0-7 for Haltom...most of them have been described as "too strong".  Sounds like Chase is a little too amped up for game 1 tonight.  61-50 with under 4 minutes to play.

Wabash always fights!  2 minutes to go and Wabash has chipped it down to 63-59.  

Marian's Alex Sylvester gets a shooters roll and puts the Knights up 65-59 with 59 seconds to play.  Timeout...let's see what Coach Petty can draw up here.  

Brock scores a layup for Wabash with 40 seconds to play.  65-61.  

Curious move as Wabash does not press and allows the clock to hit 30 seconds before fouling.  Marian's free throws are split.  66-61.  And Wes Smith is whistled for an offensive foul on the other end.  That one hurts.  Wabash gives the foul with 20 seconds to go.

Marian splits the foul shots again, Wes gets an easy layup.  67-63...12 seconds to go.  Wabash needs a turnover in the worst way.  

And it's all over in Indy.  Marian defeats Wabash 68-65.  Wabash made a strong run in the second half, but when you spend the second half working your FG% up to 35.5%, you're going to have a hard time.  Wes Smith had 28 and 9, Brock had 15 and 12...the third prong of the attack, Chase Haltom, struggled to 1-8 (0-7 3PT FGs) for just 4 points.  Wabash travels to Maryville, TN this weekend for a little 4 team powow.  I believe Wabash is scheduled to play the host Maryville who made the tournament last season.