MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[woosterbooster]

Wally, did you ever watch the HBO series "The Wire"?  Great show.  In the opening of the very first episode, a white cop is sitting on a stoop, talking to a black guy who lives in the neighborhood.  Across the street are several other police and a large crowd of spectators.  A dead black man is on the ground.

Turns out he was in a craps game in a nearby alley.  At some point he just up and grabbed the pot and tried to run.  It didn't work, and he was shot down.

The conversation between the two men on the steps goes on, the black guy explaining to the cop that the craps game was a weekly affair, and that the dead man had been a regular.  Every week he played, every week he grabbed the money and ran.  Every week he was caught and beat up.  This time, though, it was more than that.

The cop asks, incredulously: "So, you're telling me that every week this guy stole the money.  And that every week when he came back again you guys let him play?  How can that be?"

The black guy looks at him in amazement.  How could he possibly be asking such a question?  His posture is one of pride as he answers. "This America, man.  Everybody get to play."

If you don't like my posts, don't read 'em.  Personally, I find them much more interesting than yours.

[wally_wabash]

Love The Wire.  I'm actually watching it right now...last episode of season 3.  Good, good stuff. 

But see, unlike your endless ramblings about game officials, The Wire has a point.  And you failed to even attempt to answer the question.  Why, if you know that this is how the games are called, do you feel moved to come here and tell us about it?  What does any of that add to the conversation about NCAC basketball?  Why can't you stay focused on the games and the players...that's what this is about.   The referees couldn't be further from the point.  Here we are, about to get right into the teeth of what I think is going to be a great NCAC season...maybe one of the better league seasons we've had in a while, and we're on status interruptus because you've postulated that referees don't call fouls because they feel pressure to move the game along or keep the fans entertained or whatever other unsubstantiated horseplop you put out there.  Why can't we keep it focused on the league? 

[wooscotsfan]

Two other Final Scores:

Buena Vista 73 Denison 69   Big Red play York tomorrow in a neutral site game
Centre 70  Allegheny 53    Centre is now 7-1, Gators play Ohio Northern tomorrow in consolation game.

[ScotsFan]

As for the actual game that took place at Timken tonight...

Knowing JCU's propensity at erasing big leads this season, it never felt as if the lead was 100% safe.  Wooster came out of the locker room and after giving up a bucket on JCU's opening possession, Wooster proceeded to go on an 11-0 run to bust the game open.  However, it just seems no lead is ever safe when you are playing JCU and sure enough, the Streaks were able to chip away and eventually climb to within 6.  But, as he's done so often, when Wooster needed a bucket, the All American came through again putting Wooster back up 8 and essentially put the dagger in JCU's comeback bid.

Franks ended the night with a game high 28 points.  And Justin Hallowell added 19 despite going just 1-7 from deep.  That's because he was 6-7 inside the arc to actually shoot 50% for the game.  Balch and Claytor rounded out the Scots in double figures with 16 and 13 respectively.

And Wooster's defense played well again tonight.  For the second game in a row, Wooster faced a team with 6 players averaging double figures in scoring.  And for JCU, only 2 players finished in double figures.  Hartnett who came into tonight's game shooting almost 60% from deep was held in check primarily by Franks and only made 2-8 from beyond the arc and finished with 8 points.

Wooster will look to improve to 11-0 on the season tomorrow vs. Wilmington who is going in the opposite direction as Wooster.  The Quakers lost their 7th in a row tonight to a not-so-good Spalding team that had just 2 wins prior to tonight's game... 

[wally_wabash]

See, that's a good post from the ScotsFan.  We know what happened, we got a sense for the ebb and flow of the game, we know who stood out...it adds to the conversation.  Why is that so hard?

[ScotsFan]

Wally, I'm wondering what makes you say this season is shaping up to be "one of the better league seasons we've had in a while"?   Witt doesn't appear to be as strong as they have been in years past.  OWU is certainly not as strong as they have been over the past few years or so.  

For me personally, this is shaping up to be just as entertaining as the last 6 league seasons have been!  

[smedindy]

The NCAC has a winning record vs. non-conference this year. And when DPU joins hoops next year that will improve as well.

That's why it's better right now.

BTW - If they don't call it, it's not a foul...and so you'd better adjust to that.

[wally_wabash]

Wally, I'm wondering what makes you say this season is shaping up to be "one of the better league seasons we've had in a while"?   Witt doesn't appear to be as strong as they have been in years past.  OWU is certainly not as strong as they have been over the past few years or so.  

For me personally, this is shaping up to be just as entertaining as the last 6 league seasons have been!  

So the league race is only exciting if Wittenberg is playing well?  It's a nine team league....and so far, those nine teams collectively have performed better than what we've seen for quite some time.  I don't think we know enough about Wittenberg to say whether or not they'll be a player.  They had two key players missing the front part of the season (and the practice that comes along with it)...Witt won't be an easy game for anybody I think.  OWU is missing something for sure, but if they figure out why they can't start games well they'll affect the race.  Hiram will win their share and they have the players to press the top teams here.  Allegheny and Kenyon have already taken the two undefeated teams to the brink.  The quality of play in the league is up overall, even if OWU and maybe Witt are a little off.

The Scots are the favorites for sure.  That's the way it should be until somebody else wins this league.  But I don't think any team can sleep on any other team, especially on the road.  The next 6-7 weeks should be pretty good.  

[David Collinge]

The NCAC has a winning record vs. non-conference this year.

Presently 34-29.

Here's the Wednesday games, featuring everyone but Kenyon playing and three OAC/NCAC matchups:
OWU vs. St. Vincent, 3pm (at Otterbein) -- video and live stats
Allegheny vs. Ohio Northern, 5pm (at Centre) -- video($) and live stats
Oberlin at Bryant, 7pm -- video and live stats
Kean at Wittenberg, 7pm -- audio and live stats
Muskingum at Hiram, 7:30pm -- live stats
Wilmington at Wooster, 7:30pm -- video, audio, and live stats
Wabash at Franklin, 7:30pm -- audio and live stats
Denison vs. Lebanon Valley, 8pm (at Daytona Beach) -- video($) and live stats

[GoRed]

Presently 34-29

We apologize.  Looks like we had a late six-point lead and couldn't hold it.  This is getting discouraging again (for the ninth time).  Doesn't look like I'll be going back to my Big Red logo any time soon unless a new President and AD are appointed and they decide to SHAKE THINGS UP ON THE MEN'S SIDE!!!!

DU women are AWESOME!

[WAlum]

Go Red - I agree Denison is underachieving but so are Wittenberg, O Wesleyan, and some other teams.  Farmer being out is not helping the Big Red.  When he returns the team will improve.  Is your issue with the coach a personal one or are others agreeing with you?  The Big Red will battle Kenyon, Allegheny and O Wesleyan for places 5-8 in the conference race.  Not what Red fans were hoping for this year.

Wittenberg starts their holiday tournament today, taking on an 8-3 Kean teams that has won 6 of their last 7.   Witt is 4-4 and has struggled against a below average schedule.  The Tigers 4 wins are against teams with a combined record of 15-30.  Witts 3-0 NCAC record is deceiving having beat Dension, Allegheny, and OWU.

JCU played well but Wooster proved why they are undefeated and a top team nationwide.  Wilmington gets their chance tonight to take down the Scots.  Wilmington gets a huge dose of Ian Franks and Friends.  Sorry W but the Scots win in a blow out.

It appeared like the OAC/NCAC would be also be meeting at Otterbein in the Cardinals tournament Championship game.  O Wesleyan was up 10 with 8 minutes to go but blew it and lost 84-77 to Maryville.  Bishops could end up 7th or below in the NCAC if things dont change in Delaware.   

[pennstghs]

I don't think we can judge Witt yet until we see a few games with an ENTIRE team healthy. Witt has 2 games this week, one non-conference game next Monday and then 2 home games with Oberlin and Hiram next week before we get into the big stretch of conference play with a home game against Ohio NOrthern in-between there.

I still think its probably Wooster, Wabash, Wittenberg in the pecking order THIS year, however, if I do remember right Witt did beat Wabash 2 out of 3 times last year so until Wabash can break the trend, Wittenberg and Wooster are the two promanent teams in the conference. Before you have a cow wally, I didn't say "best," but prominent.

[ScotsFan]

So the league race is only exciting if Wittenberg is playing well?  

Yep.  That's exactly what I said isn't it??? 

Good grief, you and your complex about feeling slighted if Wabash is somehow excluded from the conversation?!  Sorry to break it to you, but this league has been flat out dominated by Witt and Wooster basically from the inception of the NCAC so of course when Witt struggles it's going to garner some attention.

And yes, it's great that the overall record of the league is above .500.  And sure, the bottom feeders of the league are certainly more competitive.  My point was strictly speaking about teams challenging Wooster in the top spot and I just don't see it outside of Wabash this year.  Witt, of course will be a challenge because in this rivalry you can throw the records out, but Wooster has already dispatched of OWU quite handily down in Delaware and they have also won on the road at Allegheny and they handled Hiram pretty easily at home as well.  Seems to me, when Witt is at the top of their game, OWU is playing at the level that saw them reach the NCAA Tournament a few years ago and Wabash is also competitive, that makes for a more entertaining league than the simple fact that the non-conference record of the conference is above .500.

The NCAC has a winning record vs. non-conference this year. And when DPU joins hoops next year that will improve as well.

That's why it's better right now.

Wow.  I must admit, it is quite impressive how you Wabash folk always seem to find a way to get a DPU reference into a conversation. 

And the fact that Wabash has gotten off to their hot start and are currently in the top 10 in the rankings has no bearing whatsoever on why you two feel the conference season is more entertaining this year???  I highly doubt there would be praises about the how entertaining the conference schedule is going to be if Wabash was not exceeding expectations right now...

[smedindy]

Well, as for me, it doesn't. I'm not a kool-aid drinker. I'm very pleased that the NCAC has improved itself. Actually, I think it's 'addition by subtraction', ya know what I mean?

Of course Wooster is the top dog, and Witt is naturally the wanna-be - but the conference isn't just the top two teams. It's the whole enchilada, and at least now the bottom part of that enchilada is getting tastier.

And now, I'm hungry...

[ScotsFan]

I get what you're saying smeds.  I guess my premise is, I don't see that drastic of an improvement from the bottom of the conference to compensate for the moderate decline of the likes of OWU and Witt that I perceive to not be as strong as in recent years.  It could even be argued that Hiram and Allegheny aren't even as strong this year as in the last couple of years.

With that said, there are some young teams out there (like Allegheny) who should only get better.  And as you noted, the addition of DPU to the conference next season will certainly make things more interesting overall.  And hopefully, the resurgence of the bottom teams in the conference continues it's trend as well!