MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[kiltedbryan]

The last time Wooster was No. 1 was the last week of the 2005-06 regular season. Wooster lost at Ohio Wesleyan in a Saturday afternoon game (http://www.woosterathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2005-06/files/woom0218.htm). Wooster plays at Ohio Wesleyan this Saturday afternoon. Coach Moore would never let them overlook anyone or let rankings get to their head, but they would be wise to pretend they aren't ranked No. 1.

I think I was at that game.  Was it the game where Vandervaart sprained/fractured his wrist with just a few minutes left?

[ScotsFan]

The last time Wooster was No. 1 was the last week of the 2005-06 regular season. Wooster lost at Ohio Wesleyan in a Saturday afternoon game (http://www.woosterathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2005-06/files/woom0218.htm). Wooster plays at Ohio Wesleyan this Saturday afternoon. Coach Moore would never let them overlook anyone or let rankings get to their head, but they would be wise to pretend they aren't ranked No. 1.

For any of the Top 25 historians out there, does anyone know what's the longest stretch that Wooster has held the #1 ranking?  It seems to me that Wooster has a pension of losing soon after being ranked #1 and I really can't recall the Scots ever holding the #1 spot for more than a week at a time.

And seinfeld, lets hope the Scots don't sleep on Allegheny tomorrow night up in Meadville either.  

[woosterbooster]

The last time Wooster was No. 1 was the last week of the 2005-06 regular season. Wooster lost at Ohio Wesleyan in a Saturday afternoon game (http://www.woosterathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2005-06/files/woom0218.htm). Wooster plays at Ohio Wesleyan this Saturday afternoon. Coach Moore would never let them overlook anyone or let rankings get to their head, but they would be wise to pretend they aren't ranked No. 1.

I think I was at that game.  Was it the game where Vandervaart sprained/fractured his wrist with just a few minutes left?

I was there, too, and I think it was.  OWU shot lights out from three-point land all night.  Tom Port took a contested three from the near right-hand corner at the buzzer that would have either tied or won the game (can't remember).  It was nearly on the money but rattled in and out in front of a packed house.

[HopeConvert]

The last time Wooster was No. 1 was the last week of the 2005-06 regular season. Wooster lost at Ohio Wesleyan in a Saturday afternoon game (http://www.woosterathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2005-06/files/woom0218.htm). Wooster plays at Ohio Wesleyan this Saturday afternoon. Coach Moore would never let them overlook anyone or let rankings get to their head, but they would be wise to pretend they aren't ranked No. 1.

For any of the Top 25 historians out there, does anyone know what's the longest stretch that Wooster has held the #1 ranking?  It seems to me that Wooster has a pension of losing soon after being ranked #1 and I really can't recall the Scots ever holding the #1 spot for more than a week at a time.

And seinfeld, lets hope the Scots don't sleep on Allegheny tomorrow night up in Meadville either.  

All of our pensions have been losing.

[David Collinge]

The first three times Wooster was ranked #1, they were one and done.  (2000-01 Week 12, 2004-05 Weeks 7 & 13.)  Then in 2005-06, they reached #1 in Week 10 and held it for two weeks, followed by the aforementioned 2006-07 ranking, reaching #1 in Week 2 and holding it for three weeks.

Steve Moore overlooks nobody, of course, that's part of the reason he's had the success he's had.  But only a fool would overlook the Bishops, the way they've been playing of late.

[David Collinge]

Tonight's game:

OWU at Wabash, 7:30pm -- video, audio, and live stats

[kiltedbryan]

The last time Wooster was No. 1 was the last week of the 2005-06 regular season. Wooster lost at Ohio Wesleyan in a Saturday afternoon game (http://www.woosterathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2005-06/files/woom0218.htm). Wooster plays at Ohio Wesleyan this Saturday afternoon. Coach Moore would never let them overlook anyone or let rankings get to their head, but they would be wise to pretend they aren't ranked No. 1.

I think I was at that game.  Was it the game where Vandervaart sprained/fractured his wrist with just a few minutes left?

I was there, too, and I think it was.  OWU shot lights out from three-point land all night.  Tom Port took a contested three from the near right-hand corner at the buzzer that would have either tied or won the game (can't remember).  It was nearly on the money but rattled in and out in front of a packed house.

Box score says the final was 86-83, so Port's three would've tied it.  Brandon Johnson also fouled out late, so the Scots were down two starters at the end.

Actually, OWU only shot 6-16 from three-point land (37%); I suspect that they hit all the right ones at the right moments, though, which is why you (and I) both remember them as shooting well that night.  OWU was 32-60 (53%) from the floor overall.

OWU still has the game story on their website.  I'd forgotten just how dramatic a comeback it almost was for Wooster.

[ScotsFan]

But only a fool would overlook the Bishops, the way they've been playing of late.

Not to diminish OWU in any way or the challenge that Wooster will face down at the Branch on Saturday, but I'm not ready to proclaim that OWU is all the way back just yet after a modest two game winning streak.  Yes, their win at Cap was a nice win, but other than that win, what has OWU done to make me think they are playing up to the expectations we had for them coming into the season?  A beatdown of Oberlin?  Oberlin is a BAD basketball team.  The Yeomen just gave Kzoo their first win of the season and did so losing by 21 freaking points?!  

Let me see how the Bishops come out and play tonight in Crawfordsville before I start to buy into the notion that OWU's rough start was just a bump in the road...

[David Collinge]

I don't mean to suggest that OWU is firing on all cylinders yet, just that they're playing better now then they were a few weeks ago.  A team that well-coached will always be a threat.

[ScotsFan]

They are well coached, I'll give you that...     

[kiltedbryan]

But only a fool would overlook the Bishops, the way they've been playing of late.

Not to diminish OWU in any way or the challenge that Wooster will face down at the Branch on Saturday, but I'm not ready to proclaim that OWU is all the way back just yet after a modest two game winning streak.  Yes, their win at Cap was a nice win, but other than that win, what has OWU done to make me think they are playing up to the expectations we had for them coming into the season?  A beatdown of Oberlin?  Oberlin is a BAD basketball team.  The Yeomen just gave Kzoo their first win of the season and did so losing by 21 freaking points?!  

Let me see how the Bishops come out and play tonight in Crawfordsville before I start to buy into the notion that OWU's rough start was just a bump in the road...

SF- I agree with your point that OWU-Wabash is a game to watch.  But there's also a big part of me that wants to wait until I see Wooster beat someone like OWU (and obviously, Allegheny) before I start to feel that their heady ranking on paper is justified by their performance on the hardwood.

I'll qualify that by saying that most of the reason I'm not sure I'm ready to buy the idea that the Scots are indisputably a Top 10 (much less #1) team right now is because I don't think the Scots have had a chance in their first six games to prove themselves against any really good competition. 

I think Wooster has artificially reached #1 because of losses in front of them rather than results-to-date.  Even a "good" (as opposed to a "national championship contending caliber") Wooster team should be 6-0 at this point, based on who it has played.  Heck, Wabash has a better claim on #1 than Wooster does based on season activity-to-date, having thoroughly beaten a very good team at home, then also beating its quality arch-rival on the road in the young season.  (And I suspect the voter that gave them the #1 vote used some similar logic.)

OWU could even be the best team that the Scots have faced so far this year.  And like I said, it's a tough economy and the Scots could use some resume-building.  In that sense, I think I'll know far more about how this Wooster squad compares after its next 5 games (Allegheny, OWU, Anderson, John Carroll & Wilmington).  Go 5-0 or maybe even 4-1 and I think the Scots will have established a credible Top 10/#1 resume.  Even better, go 8-0 or 7-1 over the next 8, which would include games against two more good opponents in Baruch and Wabash (I don't know anything about William Carey).

[woosterbooster]

Bryan, I'm in agreement with you.  It's hard for me to see this Wooster team as being comparable to the Vandervaart, Port, Cooper, Johnson teams.  They've only had one road game, against a CMU team that will probably end up being very mediocre, and the Scots struggled to pull off a tight win.  The sample size is still too small; the next few weeks will clarify things quite a bit.  Even the next three games, all on the road, will reveal much, especially Saturday at OWU.  Those games are almost always tooth and nail contests.

William Carey (6-3) is ranked 33rd in the NAIA D1 poll.  They'll be a tough opponent.

[bashbrother]

Due to D3Hoops not having last year's results posted (or at least I cannot find it), can someone tell me what the Wabash vs. OWU results were last year?

Much appreciated.

[imderekpoe]

Due to D3Hoops not having last year's results posted (or at least I cannot find it), can someone tell me what the Wabash vs. OWU results were last year?

Much appreciated.

OWU 73 - Wabash 67    at Wabash
Wabash 68 - OWU 67   At OWU

http://www.northcoast.org/mb/09-10stats/WAB.HTM#tgbg.res

[ScotsFan]

SF- I agree with your point that OWU-Wabash is a game to watch.  But there's also a big part of me that wants to wait until I see Wooster beat someone like OWU (and obviously, Allegheny) before I start to feel that their heady ranking on paper is justified by their performance on the hardwood.

I'll qualify that by saying that most of the reason I'm not sure I'm ready to buy the idea that the Scots are indisputably a Top 10 (much less #1) team right now is because I don't think the Scots have had a chance in their first six games to prove themselves against any really good competition. 

I think Wooster has artificially reached #1 because of losses in front of them rather than results-to-date.  Even a "good" (as opposed to a "national championship contending caliber") Wooster team should be 6-0 at this point, based on who it has played.  Heck, Wabash has a better claim on #1 than Wooster does based on season activity-to-date, having thoroughly beaten a very good team at home, then also beating its quality arch-rival on the road in the young season.  (And I suspect the voter that gave them the #1 vote used some similar logic.)

OWU could even be the best team that the Scots have faced so far this year.  And like I said, it's a tough economy and the Scots could use some resume-building.  In that sense, I think I'll know far more about how this Wooster squad compares after its next 5 games (Allegheny, OWU, Anderson, John Carroll & Wilmington).  Go 5-0 or maybe even 4-1 and I think the Scots will have established a credible Top 10/#1 resume.  Even better, go 8-0 or 7-1 over the next 8, which would include games against two more good opponents in Baruch and Wabash (I don't know anything about William Carey).

Bryan, I wholeheartedly agree with you in that I don't truly believe that just because Wooster is ranked #1 in this week's poll, that they are the best team in the country.  Now, do I think they are one of the best teams in the country?  I do.  Sure, Wooster hasn't really played anyone yet this season, but at the same time, at least they've beaten every opponent they've faced so far as well.  This is something the Scots haven't been doing for the last few years (lost @ Albion last year, lost @ W&J and CMU two years ago, lost @ LEC three years ago).  At least this team has made it through November unscathed which is something that hasn't happened for a few years at Wooster.

I do feel they have reached their ranking more by default than anything else and as you said, we will find out a LOT about just how good this team is over the next 6-8 games.  But with that said, this is a team that returned 4 of 5 starters including pre-season 1st team AA Ian Franks from a team that went 25-6 and won 2 tournament games before bowing out to a very good Guilford team on their home floor in the round of 16.  So, I'm also not going to say their #1 ranking is completely unwarranted either.