MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[David Collinge]

Allegheny edges Kenyon, 89-57.  When one team makes more than twice as many field goals and almost three times as many treys, they're likely going to win, and that's what happened in Gambier tonight. 

[ScotsFan]

Allegheny edges Kenyon, 89-57.  When one team makes more than twice as many field goals and almost three times as many treys, they're likely going to win, and that's what happened in Gambier tonight. 

Looks like Kenyon still hasn't recovered from their New Year's Eve hangovers!  The Lords have dropped their first 2 games of the new year by a combined total of 63 points.  And these games were AT HOME no less!!! 

And things won't get any easier for Kenyon as their next game is on the road at Wooster.  Although, with their last 2 results being 31 and 32 point drubbings in the friendly confines of Tomsich, I'm wondering if a road trip might do the Lords some good... 

[pennstghs]

DC and all others:

I will have the post-game wrap-up following the Ohio Wesleyan-Wittenberg game tonight in Springfield, Ohio. Full in-depth coverage!

[David Collinge]

Wittenberg 74, OWU 67...Is Wittenberg the new Wooster?  The Scots learned early in the 2000s that having two or three dead-eye three-point shooters really makes good things happen for your offense.  It seems like Witt has gotten on this bandwagon this year.  Tonight it wasn't that the threes opened up the inside; OWU kept that packed down (at least in the first half, when the video was still working).  Instead it was the three-ball that carried them, scoring 36 longball points on 66.7% shooting--and it was only that low because they cooled off down the stretch.  But if you come out and try to shut down Hill, Sullivan, Nowicki, and/or McKee, then that gives the bigs room to operate.  It's a good system that has worked well for Wooster and is now working well for the Tigers.  Looking forward to hearing pennstghs' take on the game tonight and the Tiger offense in general.

Denison 76, Oberlin 69...A back-and-forth game with Oberlin having the advantage much of the night.  The Yeo pushed the lead out to 10 early in the second half, but a 12-2 DU run put them right back into the game.  The Red took the lead for good just inside the 5:00 mark, stretched it to as much as 7 points, then made six-of-six free throws in the final 0:28 to retain their share of first place in the conference.  DU now has a three-game lead on Ohio Wesleyan in the conference standings.     It was a good night to be a three-point shooter named Chris in the NCAC; here it was Chris Luther who was 6/9 from international waters for 25 points.  DU's Mike Garabedian (17&10) and OC's Andrew Fox (16&11) each had double-doubles.

[pennstghs]

Wittenberg won an actually typical Witt/OWU battle as it was tight throughout the first half before Wittenberg went on a 9-0 run to open up a 9 point halftime lead. As David alluded to, this lead was created on 3-pointers. Chris Sullivan, Witt's backup point guard I think shot 7-8 from 3 point range but as a team made 12 3 pointers. This of course was because OWU's strength is their inside play and OWU seemed stubborn in ensuring that Wittenberg was going to win by their outside shooting only.

A big difference in Wittenberg this year is that they are a more ball-movement offense. What I mean by this is that they move the ball side to side a lot more and have a lot more weak side movement that opens up a lot of outside shots, also thus creating more inside room for the bigs to score. Wittenberg can go 4 deep in the post, however, no one player is a "dominant" inside scorer (i.e. Borchers, Russ). If that piece were in place with this team, they'd be considered national contenders I believe. One striking stat is that again Wittenberg was outrebounded. How many Wittenberg teams would be outnumbered this many teams so far in the season and still be 10-2?

One thing that is hurting OWU so far is that they are too reliant on their post play. Wittenberg typically doesn't play 2-3 zone too well, but against OWU they were mostly in this defense because OWU has absolutely no consistent outside threats. When playing teams with quick guards, such as Witt or even Wooster, they really struggle on offense and have to rely on defense to pull out wins. Of course if they get down like they did tonight, its difficult to come back by solely shooting inside shots. However, they are a well-coached team and despite being 0-3 in conference play, they will give some teams fits this season.

Wittenberg should gain another easy win Saturday vs. Oberlin and I don't think they have a chance at being ranked with only two losses unless a win vs Wooster on the 23rd occurs. At that point if this team still only has two losses will they be considered a force to be reckoned with nationally. Thoughts, questions?

[wally_wabash]

Pretty decent winter storm is passing through the heartland today...not sure if it will affect travel for the eastern teams coming to Indiana this weekend, but it certainly could.  Something to keep an eye on tonight and tomorrow. 

[ScotsFan]

Pretty decent winter storm is passing through the heartland today...not sure if it will affect travel for the eastern teams coming to Indiana this weekend, but it certainly could.  Something to keep an eye on tonight and tomorrow. 

They've been calling for 2-6", but looking at the radar, it sure looks like we could see more along the lines of 8-10" easily. 

[wally_wabash]

Pretty decent winter storm is passing through the heartland today...not sure if it will affect travel for the eastern teams coming to Indiana this weekend, but it certainly could.  Something to keep an eye on tonight and tomorrow. 

They've been calling for 2-6", but looking at the radar, it sure looks like we could see more along the lines of 8-10" easily. 

4.2" are down here in Lafayette (another inch or so is supposed to be coming tomorrow)...schools are letting out early, and I think the interstate near town is closed for the time being.  There have definitely been worse storms blow through here, but it seems to be just bad enough to be affecting travel.  Again, I've got no word on whether or not the Indiana games will be affected, but they certainly could.  I'd not be surprised to see these games get bumped back to Saturday/Sunday. 

[David Collinge]

So, weather permitting, here's your abbreviated Friday schedule--it's just the Big Trip_TM games:

Hiram (2-0) at Wabash (0-2), 7:30pm -- Live stats and audio
Allegheny (2-0) at Earlham (1-1), ~8pm -- Live stats and audio -- Game 2 of a women/men doubleheader

Everybody is scheduled for Saturday, but let's see what Friday brings first.

[David Collinge]

Crash in Snowy [Springfield] Ohio [on I-70] Kills 4

I don't know if Hiram and Allegheny typically travel the day of the game or the night before when they make the trek to Wabash, Earlham, and Wittenberg, but tonight, I hope they're all safe and snug in their beds.  Basketball can wait.

[ScotsFan]

I'm guessing that the games should be going on as planned in Indiana tonight.  Hiram and Gheny may need to get a bit of an earlier start to their travels, but I'm guessing the interstates should be fine by now.

[David Collinge]

I'm guessing that the games should be going on as planned in Indiana tonight.  Hiram and Gheny may need to get a bit of an earlier start to their travels, but I'm guessing the interstates should be fine by now.

I'm sure you're right, as we certainly would have heard by now if these games had been put off. 

What do I know from winter weather?  It's about 55 here today, and snow is about as rare as a Caltech victory!

[David Collinge]

Wabash seems to have beaten Hiram, 71-60.  It'd be nice if someone at Wabash would indicate to Live Stats that the last 0:13 have gone by, though...

Allegheny seems to have beaten Earlham, 79-58.  It'd be nice if someone at Earlham would indicate to Sidearm Stats that the last 0:08 have gone by, though...

What is it with Indiana and clocks, anyway?

[wally_wabash]

Wabash seems to have beaten Hiram, 71-60.  It'd be nice if someone at Wabash would indicate to Live Stats that the last 0:13 have gone by, though...

What livestats won't tell you, the wally wabash tweetstream will.   

Wabash did get their first NCAC win of the season tonight at Chadwick Court.  Hiram jumped out to the early lead and maintained a 4-7 point lead for much of the first half.  At 21-14, Hiram held their largest lead of the game and Aaron Brock was the only Little Giant to have scored a point (nearly 12 minutes into the game, mind you).  It was at this point when Wes Smith started going to the basket and the tide turned for Wabash.  Wabash closed the half on a 21-8 run and never looked back.  Hiram did close to within 3 points with about 8 minutes to play, but a 9 point run for Wabash put the game out of reach for the Terriers. 

Wabash was led by Aaron Brock's 22 points.  Wes Smith added 21 for Wabash.  Smith also had two steals tonight which makes him Wabash's career steals leader.  Congrats Wes!  I would also be remiss if I didn't mention the outstanding job done by Derek Bailey and Nick Curosh in the second half.  Starting post men Brock and Ben Burkett both picked up their fourth personal fouls at about the 14 minute mark of the second half.  Bailey and Curosh came in off the bench and played 8-9 tremendous minutes with Wabash's top two big men on the bench. 

Allegheny comes to Chadwick tomorrow afternoon for a 2:00 p.m. tipoff.  Go Wabash!

[David Collinge]

Oh nuts, I guess I have forgotten to post the Saturday schedule.  I don't suppose life on earth will end if I don't do it, but my own exaggerated sense of self-importance compels.

Allegheny at Wabash, 2pm -- Live stats and audio
Kenyon at Wooster, 3pm -- Live stats and audio -- First defense of the D3 Championship Belt^TM -- Game 1 of a day/night doubleheader (women's game is at 7:30)
Oberlin at Wittenberg, ~4pm -- Live Everything -- Game 2 of a women/men doubleheader (women's game is vs. Allegheny)
Hiram at Earlham, ~4pm -- Live stats and audio -- Game 2 of a women/men doubleheader
Denison at OWU, 5:30 -- Live Everything, courtesy of my buddies at @StreamOWUSports (Twitter) -- Game 1 of a men/women doubleheader