MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[David Collinge]

Currently 79-52, 8:20.

In other news, Heidelberg upset JCU tonight at University Hgts.  That bodes well for Wooster's hosting chances should they win tomorrow.

Final score: Wooster 87, OWU 70.  Wooster and Wittenberg will meet in the finals for the first time in four years.

[smedindy]

Congratulations to Witt.  

Wabash fans now can go back to Indiana and chant "Ohio sucks" until next November!!!!

Refute the allegation.

[pennstghs]

So, I think my summarization of OWU the other day stating they had very little shot to beat Wooster held up to form tonight, completely outmatched.

[seinfeld]

Saw most of the Witt-Wabash, and after falling way behind, Wabash came out hungry in the second half, while Wittenberg seemingly didn't. I swear, Witt never comes out of the half like that against Wooster, but anyway. Wabash should of won the game, in my opinion. It started with just over a minute left when Shelbourne missed an absolute bunny layup with Wabash down one point. Then leading by one point, Wes Smith steals the ball with about 30 seconds left and has a half step on the defense going the other way. Then I don't know what happened. He either wanted to dunk the ball and took off too early, forcing himself to throw up a wild shot. Or he just got too anxious. Either way, his underhand layup went way over the rim.

But despite these two mistakes, Wabash seemed to be in good shape when a Cooper shot somehow didn't go in, and Haltom ended up with the rebound with about 13 seconds left. Problem was, Haltom thought he was going to be fouled immediately, but he wasn't. Instead, he kind of dribbled around underneath his own basket while the Wittenberg defense collapsed on him. Then he went up into the air along the baseline to make a pass, but there wasn't anyone to throw it to, so he basically just threw the ball down out of bounds.

With a foul to give, Wabash commits a quick foul. But then off of the out of bounds play, before the clock even starts, Smith is called for a holding foul. I wasn't looking in that direction, so I don't know if it was a good call or not. Hieber hits both free throws to give Witt a one-point lead. Then after getting the ball past half court and taking a time out, Wabash has Smith inbounds the ball along the sideline. While they were looking to get the ball to Haltom first, I think they knew he wasn't going to be open. So they dumped it inside to Brock, who got double teamed as he moved to the center of the lane for a four-foot shot. There definitely was some contact, and I don't think Witt would of had a beef if they called a foul, but they didn't, and Brock's shot didn't reach the rim.

If I was Wabash, I'd feel a little bitter about the last few seconds. While I don't think it was a hose job, I think you could reasonably feel that either two fouls should have been called, or none at all.

[seinfeld]

As for the Wooster game, they just ran them off the floor. It was kind of a mirror of the first game, although this time Wooster did a better job of defense, especially on Brady. If Wooster would play like this against Witt, they would win, but they never seem to be able to control the tempo against Witt (I'm basically ignoring last season, since Witt was not itself a year ago).

While I have great respect for the Wooster coaching staff, they messed up tonight in my opinion. It started with two of their varsity big men -- Jake Mays & Kaleb Reed -- being out. Then Brandon Johnson hurt his thumb in the first half, and Hallowell was still not 100%. But knowing that two of his players were out and another was going to be somewhat limited, you'd think Wooster would have had enough players on the bench to bring in if the game got out of hand (like the previous meeting a week ago and last year's semifinal game). Instead, they only dressed 11 players, meaning they had four empty spots on the roster that they didn't fill, even though they were at home. I know that the JV players probably aren't even practicing right now, but they are still part of the team (I'm guessing) and should probably be given those spots.

Anyway, late in the second half, Wooster sends one of their student assistant coaches (Tenenini) into the locker room to take off his street clothes and put on a uniform. The reason being that with Johnson out, Fegan had played most of the second half, and he wanted to get him out. But since Tenenini wasn't in the book, Wooster was called for a technical. So instead of just either bringing back Franks or Balch for 2 1/2 minutes, or just keeping Fegan out there, the Scots bring in a student assistant knowing they would get a technical. The intent wasn't to show up OWU, but I can see where they would be upset that they would do something like this in an NCAC Semifinal game. And Mike DeWitt showed his displeasure by calling three full timeouts in the final 1:12 of the game, so as to extend the game as long as possible. They were even checking the table to see how many they had left after calling a timeout with 17 seconds left.

As for tomorrow, on paper Wooster is the better team, but the Scots have not fared well in these types of games against Wittenberg at home. The last two NCAC title games between the two at Timken Wittenberg won them both (2005 and 2006). The Scots have a tendency to play tight and commit too many turnovers. Wooster is quicker and more athletic than Witt. They don't need to force anything. Just run their offense and they'll get open looks. Of course, the status of Johnson is huge. If he can't go, this is going to be a problem. They are already short along the frontline without Mays & Reed and Hallowell less than 100%. If Johnson is out, they literally will be playing no more than 8 guys.

[wally_wabash]

Congratulations to Witt. 

Wabash fans now can go back to Indiana and chant "Ohio sucks" until next November!!!!

For the record, I really really don't care for that particular chant. 

As for tonight's game...that's a tough, tough game to drop.  The first half was brutal to listen to.  The second half was amazing to listen to and just when it seemed Wabash had seized control, three critical errors (the Shelbourne miss, the Smith miss, and the Haltom turnover) left the door open for Witt and Witt was able to capitalize. 

Wabash then got the ball after a timeout with 5 seconds to go and missed a contested jumper, I"m sure we'll hear some Wabash complaining about a foul not being called but there were plenty of other calls that went in their favor as well.

I'd hope not.  Wabash had chances to put this thing away without having to rely on referees to make or not make a call.  The radio broadcast called the Smith foul that led to Witt's go ahead free throws a good call.  Wooster's radio station posted a video on twitter of the final play and I can't tell if Brock gets whacked or if he's off balance trying to get his shot off before time expires.  Probably a little of both, but it's weaksauce to put it on the officials.  Wabash scored 17 points and shot about 5.6% in the first half.  Wabash missed two layups in the last minute and turned the ball over under Witt's basket with a one point lead and 12 seconds to kill.  Those things aren't on the ref.   

[LGHistorian]

seinfeld-

 Just read your assessment of the Wabash-Wittenberg game and just wanted to let you know from my point of view that you are pretty much right on the money as how I heard it on Wabash radio.  I would give you karma if I could.  I was very disappointed at how many times Wabash could have nearly sealed the victory but didn't.  Our announcer (after a commercial...with time to assess what he saw) said pretty much the same thing about the final shot.  He said it appeared to be some contact but wasn't sure if it was enough to blow the whistle.

[LGHistorian]

And by the way, I wish the Wabash students would also drop the Ohio chant as well.  They can surely come up with something a little more creative and less offensive.

[ScotsFan]

So instead of just either bringing back Franks or Balch for 2 1/2 minutes, or just keeping Fegan out there, the Scots bring in a student assistant knowing they would get a technical. The intent wasn't to show up OWU, but I can see where they would be upset that they would do something like this in an NCAC Semifinal game. And Mike DeWitt showed his displeasure by calling three full timeouts in the final 1:12 of the game, so as to extend the game as long as possible. They were even checking the table to see how many they had left after calling a timeout with 17 seconds left.

Personally, DeWitt had more to be displeased about wrt his own team than thinking Coach Moore was trying to show up the Bishops.

[wooscotsfan]

In other news, Heidelberg upset JCU tonight at University Hgts.  That bodes well for Wooster's hosting chances should they win tomorrow.

Final score: Wooster 87, OWU 70.  Wooster and Wittenberg will meet in the finals for the first time in four years.

Lost my internet access for several hours last night ...but I did hear the Wooster game on the radio broadcast.  Great to see the Scots get the victory and karma to Seinfeld for his first hand report.

David is correct that the JCU loss helps Wooster IF they win tonight.  On the other hand IF the Scots lose tonight, they may have JCU in front of them at the Pool C table which could hurt their chances of an at large bid.  Best advice for Wooster - just win and take care of business.

I will be at Timken tonight to see Round #3 of the Wooster-Wittenberg rivalry.   Should be a great game!

GO SCOTS!

[HopeConvert]

Well, since I have a kid at Wooster, and since it is in Hope's interest for Wooster to win tonight, I'll be pulling vigorously for the Scots. My daughter said something about some kind of big dance on campus tonight. Am I right in assuming that is going to conflict with the game?

[imderekpoe]

Well, since I have a kid at Wooster, and since it is in Hope's interest for Wooster to win tonight, I'll be pulling vigorously for the Scots. My daughter said something about some kind of big dance on campus tonight. Am I right in assuming that is going to conflict with the game?

I believe that there's a Roaring 20's dance tonight, but I think its not until after the game.

[seinfeld]

Does anyone know if a team that won 22 region games and finished with an OWP and an OOWP above .500 (which I think they'll clear when they play Wittenberg tonight) ever not received a bid to the tournament? I know they've only used this format for a few years, but that would be a tough mathematical resume to overlook. But of course you don't want to take any chances.

[old scot]

Dressing a student coach during the game is a bush league move. Poor planning by Wooster's coaching staff for not preparing their roster properly.

OWU's coach definately has a right to be jacked.

[David Collinge]

OWU's coach [definitely] has a right to be jacked.

Personally, DeWitt had more to be displeased about wrt his own team than thinking Coach Moore was trying to show up the Bishops.

Not being there (or having paid the extortionist video fee), all I can add is that both of these statements can be, and probably were, true at the same time.  I've no doubt that Coach DeWitt's displeasure at the performance of his team only made him more easily upset by factors external to his team.  To the best of my knowledge, Mike DeWitt and Steve Moore are on very friendly terms, and that each accords the other the highest respect.