MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[pennstghs]

My video feed went blank all of a sudden, so I have been sparse with my comments. Wittenberg cut down the lead and actually took the lead but Wabash took a big run to take a 8 point lead.

As I stated earlier the main component in the Wabash victory tonight was rebounding, specifically offensive rebounds. This could be due to more energy by Wabash but I think a lot of it had to do with Wittenberg playing mainly a 2-3 Zone defense, which for basketball gurus out there is tougher to rebound in because of the difficulty of matching up in order to block out properly.

Wittenberg not shooting their normal 50% from the field certainly didn't help things as well.

This makes the game Saturday vs Wooster even more crucial to Wittenberg as a 3 game deficit to Wooster would be probably insurmountable to come back from. Hopefully a return to Springfield after a 3 game road trip will be just what the doctor ordered. Also, I will not speak of Top 25 for Wittenberg for a long time!

[wooscotsfan]

At the Half:  Wooster 32  Oberlin 29

Wooster is being led in scoring by Ian Franks with 12 points, Matt Fegan with 9 points and Justin Hallowell with 7 points.

For the Yeomen, Andrew Fox with 13 points and Josh Merritt with 10 points are the top scorers.

Scots did not shoot well in the half, only 42%, and gave up too many inside shots to the Yeomen.

Wooster also had 10 turnovers in the half which is way too high.

UPDATE:  Wooster starts 2nd half with a 12-1 run.  ~14 mins left:  Wooster 44  Oberlin 32
9:07 left  Wooster 50  Oberlin 41
6:20 left  Wooster 55  Oberlin 44,  Scots not playing well but likely to get the win

[NCAC4Life]

Perhaps we can say that Wittenberg has issues with a post oriented offense?

[David Collinge]

Halftime in Hiram: Gheny leads 38-29.

Final in Granville:  OWU 80, Denison 63.

Final in the Doggie Dome:  Allegheny 75, Hiram 61.  Gheny had seven players score between 8 and 13 points.

Wooster is about to go 7-0 in the conference and establish a full 2-game lead, and I would describe them as "reeling." 

[wooscotsfan]

Final:  Wooster 66  Oberlin 58

Wooster gets the "W" despite a horrible performance.  Scots shot only 37% from the floor and had 18 turnovers.   Despite lots of open looks against Oberlin's zone, Wooster only made 9 of 32 three pointers (28%).

Wooster was led by Ian Franks with 21 points, Matt Fegan with 9 points and Justin Hallowell with 9 points.

Oberlin's top scorers were Andrew Fox with 19 points and Josh Merritt with 16 points.

Wooster is now 12-4, 7-0 NCAC   Next game at Wittenberg on Saturday.  If Wooster doesn't shoot better and reduce their turnovers, they may get drilled in Springfield.

GO SCOTS!

[wooscotsfan]

Updated NCAC Standings with 1/20 results:

1.  Wooster 7-0
2.  Wabash 5-2
2.  Wittenberg 5-2
4.  Allegheny 4-3
4.  Hiram 4-3
4.  Ohio Wesleyan 4-3
7.  Denison 3-4
8.  Kenyon 2-5
9.  Earlham 1-6
10. Oberlin 0-7

[ScotsFan]

Wooster is about to go 7-0 in the conference and establish a full 2-game lead, and I would describe them as "reeling." 

I never would have guessed I would feel this uneasy over a Wooster basketball team that is 7-0 with a 2 game lead in the conference standings as I do about this Wooster team.

Maybe they'll surprise me down in Springfield on Saturday....     

[ScotsFan]

When watching or listening to a Scots game this season I get the feeling I'm in an episode of "Groundhog Day".  This is what I mean:

We had a nice lead in the first half, but we lost some concentration, had some turnovers, didn't contest some shots and they were right back in it...

Haven't I heard this before?

It's getting quite old to see Wooster continue to build up leads only to lose their focus or let up on the gas and then the next thing you know, their opponent is right back in the game.  Where is the killer instinct to put your opponent away?

And as wsf touched on, another game, another poor shooting performance from the Scots.  Not to pile on Justin Hallowell, but to say he is in a shooting slump would be an understatement.  He has only made one 3-pointer in his last 3 games.  After a solid start to the new year vs. Kenyon where he was 5-10 from deep, he has proceeded to go 0-5 vs. Allegheny, 0-6 vs. the EC and 1-9 last night vs. Oberlin.  That would be 1-20 over his last three games if you're keeping score at home...  Yikes!    Moore mentioned that they still have confidence in their guys as good shooters and eventually they're going to start making their shots.  I hope he's right, because Ian Franks back is going to start to get tired without some serious help from the rest of the starters.  Especially when Wooster's bench doesn't offer all that much help in the scoring department...

[wally_wabash]

Any day that includes beating Wittenberg at something is a good day.  Such was the case for the Little Giants last night.  It looks like strong bench play carried the day for Wabash last night.  I've been impressed with Wabash's second unit for much of this season and I'm glad to see that they stepped up big in a crucial game like this.  It's an affirmation that not only does Wabash have depth, but they have quality depth...key to long term success over the course of a season.  I can't wait to see this one once it gets posted to youtube. 

Wabash was led last night by Wes Smith's 15 points and Aaron Brock's 13 points.  The usual suspects, but not their usual outbursts (again, credit to the bench for stepping up).  Wittenberg's Chris Sullivan led all scorers with 16 points (on 15 shot attempts) and was the only Tiger in double figures. 

Wabash's win streak is up to 6.  Next up is a Saturday tilt at Oberlin.  Keep on rolling LGs. 

[bashbrother]

Wally -

I wanted to thank you for your comments and insight on the Little Giants games this season.  I haven't had nearly the time to follow their season this year other then the occasional glance.

Question:   It seems as though they have found their groove a little bit.   Taking everything into consideration, are there a couple of things that stand out to you in their current win streak.

[pennstghs]

Wooster/Wittenberg Updates:

Not sure who said it, I think it was ScotsFan, that Wooster was reeling..........but nonetheless our message board got mentioned in the Springfield News Sun article about Wooster today!

www.springfieldnewssun.com

Also, at last check yesterday, all tickets are $8 and reserved once again for the game. It is not going to be sold out, bet my life on it. Also, reserved is loosely used as you just have to have a ticket to get in but you have an assigned "section" to sit in. I doubt there will be ushers checking tickets......its mainly to keep the students separate from everyone else.


What's everyone's thoughts on the game? Personally Wittenberg and Wooster shot the ball terribly Wednesday night, so hopefully its a little more entertaining to watch. LIke I've stated all season, I think Wittenberg will continue to extend their defense to keep away the three point shooters.

[smedindy]

Oh, please, oh please, let this not be a year that Oberlin has the LG's number.

(Don't laugh, it's happened too often in the past...)

[ScotsFan]

Wooster/Wittenberg Updates:

Not sure who said it, I think it was ScotsFan, that Wooster was reeling..........but nonetheless our message board got mentioned in the Springfield News Sun article about Wooster today!

www.springfieldnewssun.com

David gets the credit for the quote in the SNS.    I wonder how often d3hoops.com posters get quoted in newspapers?  Too funny!  

Also, wrt the SNS article, they listed Wooster's margins of victory vs. conference opponents.  I can't believe that Wabash is Wooster's largest margin of victory in conference so far this season?!  And furthermore, I can't believe that is only one of two conference games that Wooster has won by double digits (The Scots beat Kenyon by 12 in a game that was much closer than the final score indicated)?!     That is especially surprising considering some of Wooster's opponents include conference bottom dwellers Oberlin, the EC and Kenyon...  

As for the game itself, I'm not really sure what to expect?  As you noted penn, both teams struggled from the field on Wednesday and for the Scots, those shooting struggles go back 3 games now.  I keep thinking that sooner or later the Scots are going to break out of this funk because they are good shooters!  But, as to when that is going to happen???    That's a question I don't have the answer to.

So, some of my keys to this game include, as always for Wooster, limiting their turnovers.  They had been doing a pretty decent job until Wednesday when the turnover monster reared it's ugly head once again at Oberlin.  I think shooting percentage will be a big key for both teams as will rebounding.  And I think a key for Witt will be trying to slow down Ian Franks.  He's averaging 22 ppg in his last 3 games and he's basically carried Wooster through this shooting funk that the rest of the team is in.  Personally, I don't know if Franks will be enough to carry Wooster to a win at Witt.  If he can't get some help, it could be a long ride home from Springfield on Saturday night...

[wally_wabash]

Question:   It seems as though they have found their groove a little bit.   Taking everything into consideration, are there a couple of things that stand out to you in their current win streak.

There are a few things...from the boxscore what stands out to me is rebounding, free throws, and assists.  During the win streak, Wabash is doing these things better than their opponents are.  Free throws are hardly glamorous, but they are a valuable weapon if you've got players that can force their way to the line and convert those opportunities.  Wabash didn't shoot very well on Wednesday, but they were +6 from the line in a 7-point game, so it was a big deal. 

The thing that isn't going to stand out in the boxscore is how well the bench play is for Wabash this year.  Wabash has developed some high quality depth and it is paying dividends now.  There have been plenty of seasons over the last decade where Wabash going to the second unit meant going into survival mode for 4-5 minutes and hoping the other team doesn't run away and hide, but this year that second unit is a strength.  Zinnerman, Curosh, Bailey, Thomas, and Gilman have all been significant contributors throughout the season and during this streak in particular.  That's ten players deep...I don't know if there's another team that has that kind of quality that deep on the bench in the league. 

The key for Wabash going forward is to just maintain the edge...the shooting has been down in the last two games, but the effort that has manifested itself into rebounds and free throw attempts has kept Wabash in the win column.  The shooting will come and go...if Wabash keeps out-efforting their opponent, they'll continue to be tough to beat. 

[wally_wabash]

Wooster/Wittenberg Updates:

Not sure who said it, I think it was ScotsFan, that Wooster was reeling..........but nonetheless our message board got mentioned in the Springfield News Sun article about Wooster today!

www.springfieldnewssun.com

David gets the credit for the quote in the SNS.    I wonder how often d3hoops.com posters get quoted in newspapers?  Too funny!  

Over the years I've seen a handful of references to (directly and nondirectly) conversations that happen in Posting Up or Post Patterns.  Much of the conversation that happens in our forums certainly helps to provide info for local writers/broadcasters with info on other teams around the league and provide some tips for storylines, etc.  I think it's a compliment to the quality of conversation that typically takes place here. 

In other news...I just got done watching the Wabash/Witt game from Wednesday (the game is posted, in entirety, on Youtube if you are interested).  It was definitely not the prettiest game Wabash has played (Wittenberg either for that matter), but Wabash was able to scrap and hustle just enough to outlast Witt.  Sign #16 of a good team...being able to beat another good team when you're not playing your best ball.  Wabash did that Wednesday and hopefully gained a few more believers as a result.