MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[bashbrother]

I am lurking as always on the B-Ball board....  Excited about this Little Giants team, have been following W. Smith's develop and career at Wabash, he is something else.

Next couple of games should be interesting.  

Go Wabash!

[bashbrother]

This may have been posted elsewhere. (apologies if it has)

DIII Game ends in 7 overtimes. Wow!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/basketball/ncaa/11/24/skidmore.vermont.college.seven.overtimes.ap/

[David Collinge]

It's on the front page, bashbrother.  D3hoops.com tends to cover D3hoops better than Sports Illustrated.

Hiram falls to hot-shooting Bluffton, 71-60.  Hiram got 16 more looks at the basket than the Beavers, but made one fewer field goal.  The Terriers also came up lame at the free throw line, hitting just 9 of 18. 

NCAC non-conference: 17-13.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

[bashbrother]

My bad, thanks David.  I haven't made it over here much in the past.   Still finding my way around.   

[ScotsFan]

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

[Li'l Giant]

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Wabash and NCAC friends. We have much to be thankful for.

[bashbrother]

Wabash 71
Otterbein 54

Final

Wabash went wire to wire in this one.   Wes Smith led the Little Giants with 34 points.

Wabash led 39 to 23 at half.

Wabash will now get ready for their toughest test (by far) of the season against highly ranked Randolph-Macon tomorrow at 3 pm. in the Championship game.

[David Collinge]

NCAC moves to 18-14 on the season.

Saturday games:
Wooster vs. Ohio Northern (at Carnegie Mellon), 1pm -- Audio and maybe live stats
Randolph-Macon at Wabash, 1pm -- Audio
Oberlin at Earlham, 3pm -- Audio and live stats
Wittenberg vs. Washington & Jefferson (at Rochester), 6pm -- Audio and maybe live stats
Indiana U. East vs. Ohio Wesleyan (at DePauw), 8pm -- Live stats

[billy the kid]

You can bet Randolph Macon will play defense on Smith unlike Otterbein letting him run loose most of the game. Coach Reynolds believes in offense, but when you only score 54 points, you might outta think about teaching defense.

[wally_wabash]

Coach Reynolds believes in offense, but when you only score 54 points, you might outta think about teaching defense.

What?

[DadofBashWarrior..]

This is the first time I have been on this board...have been on the football board for 6 years but never really followed basketball much...

I see that Wabash is 5-0 and is playing a top 5 ranked team Randolph Macon...

1. Do they have a chance to beat them?
2. Does Wabash have a better team this year as I have never seen them even ranked in the top 25 over the years (I have not really checked very often over that time so I may be wrong on that)
3. Is Wabash expected to win conference?

I see the numbers for Wes...not too shabby
I did follow the Hope College women team last year some as I have a daughter there...

Any responses are appreciated...

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS

[wooscotsfan]

DadofBashWarrior - welcome to the basketball board!

Responding to your questions:
1. Randolph Macon is #2 nationally and returned all their starters from a 26-7 team that went to the Final Four last year and lost to the National Champ.  Yes, Wabash has a chance but it would be a big upset today if the Little Giants knock off the Yellow Jackets.

2. Yes, I think Wabash has a better team because Wes Smith has raised his game this year and AJ Sutherlin is a nice transfer addition from Earlham.  Wabash has not played a good team yet despite the 5-0 record so today's game should be a good benchmark to check their improvement.

3. Wabash was picked 4th in the NCAC preseason poll by the Coaches...after Wooster, Witt and OWU.  I actually think that Wabash should have been picked 2nd and I see them as a serious contender in the NCAC this season.

Good luck to the Little Giants vs RandyMac!

[wooscotsfan]

Wooster faces a big man challenge today with the Ohio Northern Polar Bears.   ONU's lineup:

Ohio Northern 1-0  ONU beat Defiance 93-90 in 2 OT's in their opener
C - 6'9" Scott Schneele (26 ppg, 12 rpg, 4 apg)
F -  6'3" Joe Staley (12 ppg, 9 rpg)
G - 5'11" Tony Meyer (11 ppg, 3 apg)
G - 6'1" Taylor Kuhlman (10 ppg, 5 rpg)
G - 6'2" Branden Rushton (8 ppg, 2 rpg)

Top player off the bench in their opener was 6'3" Jared Horstman with 17 points (5 three pointers)

So, Wooster will need to slow down their 6'9" big guy Scheele and defend the three pointers by Jared Horstman and Tony Meyer.

GO SCOTS!

[wally_wabash]

To add on to what wsf has said...

I'm not sure Smith has raised his game as much as he has just brought it consistently so far this season.  Wes has had the ability to go off for 20+ points every night since the day he stepped on the floor for Wabash.  He's just doing it night after night so far this season.  But it's more than just Wes.  Sutherlin is a nice addition and really fills a lot of the things that Aaron Brock has done over the last couple of years (and will get better as his knee continues to regain strength).  But there's more.  Wabash has added a pair of freshman (Wes Zimmerman and Pete Nicksic) who are both contributing quality minutes already this season.  All told, Wabash runs 9-10 deep without a lot of drop off. 

Can Wabash beat R-MC today?  Sure they can.  Anytime you have the best player on the floor, and I believe Wabash does today, you've got a chance to win.  If Wabash can keep rebounding and playing defense the way they have so far this season, they'll be right there. 

As far as league play goes, we'll have to wait and see.  If you're going to win this league you have to 1) find a way to beat Wooster at least once and 2) not lose any games you shouldn't lose.  Wabash has done a little too much of the latter to be a factor at the top of the standings lately.  This year feels a little different though.  The LGs look like they will make a run at it...maybe the best chance they've had since Wabash's first year in the league in '99-'00. 

[wooscotsfan]

At the Half:  Wooster 28  Ohio Northern 25

Wooster is being led by Ian Franks with 6 points and Bryan Wickliffe with 6 points.  ONU's top scorers are Branden Rushton with 7 points and Scott Schnelle with 6 points.

UPDATE: Wooster starts 2nd half on a 9-2 run.  Now Wooster 37 ONU 27