MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[D-III Insider]

Hey Witt Fans:

What is the story with Josh McKee?  Is he out for the season?  Have not seen his name in awhile.

[oldtiger]

Article re: McKee's absence:

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/springfield-oh-sports/wittenberg-university-tigers/wittenbergs-mckee-over-illness-1058118.html

[WAlum]

Current NCAC Standings with 1/19 Results:

1. Wooster 8-0, 17-0
2. Wittenberg 7-0, 12-4
3. Wabash 6-2, 14-2
4. Ohio Wesleyan 5-3, 9-8
5. Kenyon 4-4, 8-9
6. Hiram 2-6, 8-9
6. Denison 2-6, 5-12
8. Allegheny 2-7, 5-12
9. Oberlin 0-8, 1-16

The NCAC seems to be three distinct groups:
the Elite W's competing for the top 3 spots,
OWU and Kenyon in the 4-5 spots, and
Hiram, Denison, and Allegheny in the 6-8 spots. 
Oberlin will be on the outside looking in at NCAC Tournament time.

[smedindy]

Sorry Yeomen, but next year you should have company on the outside looking in.

If I were a "W" I'd want to be sure to stay away from Hiram. They're the kind of team that could sneak up on you. Of course, there's plenty of hoop to be played.

If there was time and a central location (Dayton, perhaps?) why not have all nine teams invited? You can either do a straight seeding with an 8/9 (or next year 7/10 and 8/9) or stagger it so that #1 (or #1 and #2) get byes to the semi-finals.

Can you imagine the thrill of a Denison / Oberlin game played in Hare Arena?

[wally_wabash]

Thanks for the notes, penns.  Excellent report. 

I didn't get to see the game last night, and the boxscore doesn't always provide proper context, but from last night I see that Wabash shot 26 3FGs and 5 FTs.  This tells me that Wabash was settling and not attacking and that's a hard way to win if you're not making shots (which they weren't).  If you give up just 55 points, that's a game you should win.  Wabash seems to be in a bit of a scoring funk right now...need that to be remedied for the big games in February. 

[D-III Insider]

Thanks, Ole Tiger. 

If McKee can get some strength back in time for the second round of conference play (when the Tigers go to Wabash and host Wooster especially) and for the NCAC tournament the Tigers could peak just at the right time of year to ruin Wooster's perfect season. 

Coming back from that kind of illness will take some time though.  Any inside knowledge pennst?

[pennstghs]

not really inside knowledge, but Coach Brown said on the postgame radio show that he is at least two weeks away from "game shape" whatever that entails. Also, there is a possibility of him qualifying for a medical redshirt since he has only appeared in two games and hasn't played in the second half of the season. It will come down to whether he will be a big factor in playing or would rather have a full year of game action. Its a tough decision to make for sure.

The question i'm wondering is what's with David Hieber's health. His size and shooting prowess will be needed the rest of the year.

Thanks wally, good to see after four years of posting i finally got my karma to the even count

[pennstghs]

Is the reason the Wooster fans are quiet this week is that secretly deep down they know what the recent history has been when they've been number 1 and played against a Wittenberg team with hungry mouths?

Wooster may be a little terrified, but definitely after the win against Wabash that Wittenberg had will not take them lightly any more.

I think to have the conference tournament in a central location for a year to see how it plays out might be interesting. Columbus? Campus locations definitely has a bigger atmosphere though.

[imderekpoe]

I think to have the conference tournament in a central location for a year to see how it plays out might be interesting. Columbus? Campus locations definitely has a bigger atmosphere though.

The conference tournament used to rotate between Wooser, OWU and Wittenberg.  I prefer the way it is now and giving the regular season champ the home court advantage.  It makes the regular season more meaningful by giving the champ a clear advantage, but still gives everyone (or almost everyone) that hope of making it to the big dance.

[ScotsFan]

I think to have the conference tournament in a central location for a year to see how it plays out might be interesting. Columbus? Campus locations definitely has a bigger atmosphere though.

The conference tournament used to rotate between Wooser, OWU and Wittenberg.  I prefer the way it is now and giving the regular season champ the home court advantage.  It makes the regular season more meaningful by giving the champ a clear advantage, but still gives everyone (or almost everyone) that hope of making it to the big dance.

I agree with derek.  I'm already of the opinion that the regular season champ is more deserving of the automatic bid than the tournament champ is, so at the very least, the regular season champ should get the reward of hosting the tournament.

Wooster may be a little terrified, but definitely after the win against Wabash that Wittenberg had will not take them lightly any more.

I'm guessing whether Witt beat Wabash or not, the Tigers would be getting Wooster's full attention.  A) this is a rivalry game.  B) If Witt wins, they would then be tied with Wooster for the lead in the conference standings with a rematch at Witt awaiting so Wooster will want to do their best to defend their home court.  C) This game has HUGE regional ranking ramifications as well.  Besides, all Wooster has to do is look back at last year's regular season game in Wooster between these 2 rivals to remember Witt is more than capable of pulling off the upset.

[David Collinge]

I'm guessing whether Witt beat Wabash or not, the Tigers would be getting Wooster's full attention.  A) this is a rivalry game.  B) If Witt wins, they would then be tied with Wooster for the lead in the conference standings with a rematch at Witt awaiting so Wooster will want to do their best to defend their home court.  C) This game has HUGE regional ranking ramifications as well.  Besides, all Wooster has to do is look back at last year's regular season game in Wooster between these 2 rivals to remember Witt is more than capable of pulling off the upset.

I believe ScotsFan is presupposing a Witt loss to Wabash here, which of course did not occur.  A "what-if" scenario.  Just wanted to make sure that was clear. 

As things stand, the winner Saturday is in first place all alone, with a significant leg up in the race.  If it's Wooster, they'd be up 1.5 games over Witt and (probably) 2 over Wab, with wins over each in the bank, including a key road win at Wab.  If it's Witt, they'd be up 0.5 games on Woo and (probably) 1.5 on Wab, with wins over each in the bank, including a key road win at Woo.

[BashDad]

Thanks for the notes, penns.  Excellent report. 

I didn't get to see the game last night, and the boxscore doesn't always provide proper context, but from last night I see that Wabash shot 26 3FGs and 5 FTs.  This tells me that Wabash was settling and not attacking and that's a hard way to win if you're not making shots (which they weren't).  If you give up just 55 points, that's a game you should win.  Wabash seems to be in a bit of a scoring funk right now...need that to be remedied for the big games in February. 

This is soooooooo correct. It was frustrating to watch. I'm interested in other folks' assessment of Smith. I go into every game wanting to LOVE him, but I gotta say-- he pisses me off in these bigger games; taking poor shots, not getting to the basket, just being.... absent. His apparent confidence never translates into a bulldog "I'm winning this game, just get out of my way" mode of attack. He just, like, walks the ball up the court really cooly as if there's some inherent threat in his calmness.

I dunno. Am I an idiot?

[ScotsFan]

I'm guessing whether Witt beat Wabash or not, the Tigers would be getting Wooster's full attention.  A) this is a rivalry game.  B) If Witt wins, they would then be tied with Wooster for the lead in the conference standings with a rematch at Witt awaiting so Wooster will want to do their best to defend their home court.  C) This game has HUGE regional ranking ramifications as well.  Besides, all Wooster has to do is look back at last year's regular season game in Wooster between these 2 rivals to remember Witt is more than capable of pulling off the upset.

I believe ScotsFan is presupposing a Witt loss to Wabash here, which of course did not occur.  A "what-if" scenario.  Just wanted to make sure that was clear. 

As things stand, the winner Saturday is in first place all alone, with a significant leg up in the race.  If it's Wooster, they'd be up 1.5 games over Witt and (probably) 2 over Wab, with wins over each in the bank, including a key road win at Wab.  If it's Witt, they'd be up 0.5 games on Woo and (probably) 1.5 on Wab, with wins over each in the bank, including a key road win at Woo.

My bad.  I don't know why I had Witt having one loss in conference on the brain.  So, my second point would even be bigger because Witt would then have a game on Wooster and have the advantage of having the return game down in Springfield.

[GoRed]

Is the reason the Wooster fans are quiet this week is that secretly deep down they know what the recent history has been when they've been number 1 and played against a Wittenberg team with hungry mouths?

Or Maybe it's because the Big Red scared the heck out of them last weekend at Livingston?  After seeing how the Scots handled that game, I don't think they have the heads for sweeping conference play and going deep in the tournament any more.  The big guys seemed to get intimidated by the smaller, but tougher, Denison inside guys.  Coach Moore went as ballistic as I've ever seen him, and Hallowell spent a good part of the game jawing with and whining to the officials.  Not the composure I expected from the Number 1 team, and I have to say I enjoyed watching it. 

[wally_wabash]

Thanks for the notes, penns.  Excellent report. 

I didn't get to see the game last night, and the boxscore doesn't always provide proper context, but from last night I see that Wabash shot 26 3FGs and 5 FTs.  This tells me that Wabash was settling and not attacking and that's a hard way to win if you're not making shots (which they weren't).  If you give up just 55 points, that's a game you should win.  Wabash seems to be in a bit of a scoring funk right now...need that to be remedied for the big games in February. 

This is soooooooo correct. It was frustrating to watch. I'm interested in other folks' assessment of Smith. I go into every game wanting to LOVE him, but I gotta say-- he pisses me off in these bigger games; taking poor shots, not getting to the basket, just being.... absent. His apparent confidence never translates into a bulldog "I'm winning this game, just get out of my way" mode of attack. He just, like, walks the ball up the court really cooly as if there's some inherent threat in his calmness.

I dunno. Am I an idiot?

I think it's easy to overthink body language.  You don't have to be a screaming, yelling, arm-flailing, chest pounding, jersey popper to be a good player.  In fact, most of the really good players that I've seen in this league over the years (Cooper, Russ, Port, Estelle...to name a few) were not this way...they just go out and play good basketball.  

As I peruse the boxscores of the games vs. Wooster and Wittenberg, a couple of things stand out to me: the 3FGAs are well above average in these games (Wabash is not taking advantage of their size in the post), and the FG%'s in these two games are pretty atrocious (33% vs. Wooster and 38.6% against Witt).  Wabash lost these games by two and one points, respectively...turn a couple of those 3FGAs into a higher percentage shot in the painted area and the results may have turned out differently.  

As it stands, Wabash has lost two games by a grand total of three points...to the #1 team in the poll and then on the road to a good team in a gym that Wabash has won in exactly once in a dozen years in the league.  This group is fine.  Keep defending they way have all season and sooner or later the shots will start falling again.