MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[ScotsFan]

I think some of the rebounding woes come from the fact that Wittenberg and Wabash are two strong rebounding teams. As seinfeld alluded to, Wittenberg has a history of dominating down low in matchups against Wooster and this is certainly not an unheard of stat.

I agree.  The part that concerns me is the probablility of Wooster running into a team with a strong inside presence come tournament time.  Seinfeld mentioned Wooster's overall rebounding numbers have been good as they lead the conference in rebounding margin.  I just think those numbers might be a bit deceiving as Wooster hasn't had to face teams with big and physical inside presences like they see from Witt and Wabash on a regular basis.  I'd say Hiram is the only other team in the conference and Wooster didn't really face big teams in their non-conference portion of their schedule either.

I will take solace in the fact that Wick getting into foul trouble didn't help Wooster's cause in that game on Saturday.  He is Wooster's leading rebounder after all. 



BTW, does anyone know why Wooster and Kenyon are playing tomorrow night instead of Wednesday?

[ScotsFan]

Keep in mind I was speaking to their composure in that game (Wooster at Denison), which I don't think any of the writers here witnessed other than me, and what I believed it meant for their ability to run the table and go deep into the tournament.  After seeing what happened in the first game at Wooster, I thought they might be good enough to go through the conference without a loss.  I then saw a few distinct flaws in their armor that night at Livingston.  The fact you feel they demonstrated their composure by pulling that particular game out doesn't prove my point wrong.    

I understand that you and the other Wooster fans won't ever agree with me on this.  I still stand by my comment and it has so far proven out in who is now on top of the conference.  If they do happen to pull out the conference now and go deep into the tournament, good for them.  They have a lot of talent.  Lastly, I have been to and watched many games - the miracle of video on the internet.  Saw Wabash/Hiram and Woo/Witt.

The current standings have done nothing to prove your comment correct.  The fact is, Witt and Wabash are two very good basketball games and there is no shame in losing to either of those two nationally ranked opponents.  The fact that Witt is now alone atop the standings proves nothing of your point that Wooster doesn't have the heads to sweep the conference schedule and make a deep run come tournament time.  You also made mention of how you see a lot more cool from the other W's???  Was that coolness in evidence when Wabash lost to Denison?  Or how about in their home loss to Hiram?  How about Witt's coolness when they blew a double digit lead a couple of weeks ago in their game with Wooster?

As seinfeld made note of, I don't recall reading any Wooster fans in here predicting Wooster would run the table in the NCAC.  And in talking to other Wooster fans, I can assure you we have plenty to be concerned about when it comes to hoping for this team to make a deep run in the tournament.  At the same time, you try and not be too critical of a team that was undefeated and ranked #1 in the country until just last week. 

Bottom line is, I just don't see how 2 losses to ranked opponents by a total of 5 points suddenly proves your opinion that this team doesn't have the heads to make a deep run in the tournament.  Oh, and the regular season conference race isn't over just yet BTW.  Witt has two very loseable road games to finsih off the season and Woo's game with OWU will be no gimme either.  How about letting the season finish out before you go around thumping your chest about your opinions...

[David Collinge]

BTW, does anyone know why Wooster and Kenyon are playing tomorrow night instead of Wednesday?

No idea, but thanks for pointing this out; otherwise, I'd have missed it altogether.  Maybe someone on Kenyon's team has to take the LSAT, and Wooster uncomplainingly moved the game to accommodate? 

Kenyon at Wooster, 7:30pm -- video, audio, and live stats

[wooscotsfan]

New Top 25 poll is released:

Wooster is at #5, Wittenberg moved up to #17 and Wabash checks in at #18.

[smedindy]

Three in the Top 25, but only one in the NCAA?

Could happen.

[wally_wabash]

Three in the Top 25, but only one in the NCAA?

Could happen.

Highly unlikely, I think.  I doubt that Wittenberg could win the regular season league title and be left out.  Even though I know league championships are not a selection criteria, it's hard to imagine Wittenberg being left out if that happens.  Witt probably needs to lose both of their games this week (which would cough up the league championship), then lose in the semis to play their way out. 

Pool C scholars seem to think Wabash has a pretty good résumé regardless of the head-scratcher from Saturday.  The record over regionally ranked teams is quite good and if Wabash could add one more win over a RR'd team (be it tomorrow night or in the league semis), they would likely be in a good position for selection. 

Right now, I think the league looks excellent for two teams, with a better than you might think chance at placing a third team in the field as well...and of course a lot of that at-large speculation hinges on what happens in league tournaments around the nation and how many teams that are outside of the bubble play well for a weekend and steal bids. 

[KnightSlappy]

Three in the Top 25, but only one in the NCAA?

Could happen.

Highly unlikely, I think.  I doubt that Wittenberg could win the regular season league title and be left out.  Even though I know league championships are not a selection criteria, it's hard to imagine Wittenberg being left out if that happens.  Witt probably needs to lose both of their games this week (which would cough up the league championship), then lose in the semis to play their way out. 

Pool C scholars seem to think Wabash has a pretty good résumé regardless of the head-scratcher from Saturday.  The record over regionally ranked teams is quite good and if Wabash could add one more win over a RR'd team (be it tomorrow night or in the league semis), they would likely be in a good position for selection. 

Right now, I think the league looks excellent for two teams, with a better than you might think chance at placing a third team in the field as well...and of course a lot of that at-large speculation hinges on what happens in league tournaments around the nation and how many teams that are outside of the bubble play well for a weekend and steal bids. 

Wittenberg looks pretty good to me to get in, even if they lose to Wabash here tomorrow.

Wabash probably wants to win this matchup if they want to maintain a strong case for Pool C. If they don't win, they'll probably need to reach the NCAC championship game to get a Pool C. Either way, it mean's they'll probably need to beat Wooster or Wittenberg at least one more time.

[wooscotsfan]

Final: Wooster 73  Kenyon 58

Wooster's Top Scorers:  Ian Franks 24, Justin Hallowell 19, Nathan Balch 10

Kenyon's Top Scorers:  Evan McCulley 11, Kodey Haddox 11, Brian Lebowitz 9,

Sloppy game tonight with neither team shooting very well.  Wooster won the battle of the boards 47 to 36 and played solid defense to notch the win.

Kenyon drops to 9-14 overall, 5-10 NCAC.

Wooster is now 22-2, 13-2 NCAC

[David Collinge]

Tonight's games:
OWU at Denison, 6pm -- video and live stats -- Game 1 of a doubleheader, women vs. Witt to follow
Oberlin at Hiram, 7:30 -- live stats
Wittenberg at Wabash, 7:30 -- video, audio, and live stats; audio (Witt)
Penn St.-Behrend at Allegheny, 7:30pm -- live stats -- NCAC's final non-conference game, record is 43-37

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Week 3 Regional Rankings are out: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2011/02/16/ncaa-2011-regional-rankings-week-3/

[pennstghs]

I'm pretty worried about the Wabash/Witt game tonight. Biggest game of the season easily for both teams really. Witt can clinch a share of the conference title with a win tonight and probably lock up an NCAA birth and Wabash arguably needs a win tonight to keep any at large chances alive. Wabash and Witt of course will both have a great chance to win the conference tournament.

Game will come down to 2 things tonight: 1 - who wins the rebounding battle and 2- who is shooting the 3 pointers with a higher percentage.

I won't be watching the game online as I'm going to the Cleveland State/Wright State game but I'll try to catch the tail end of it.

[smedindy]

Pool C scholars...

Is that anything like the Rosanjin Scholar that was one of the judges of the Iron Chef?

"I found your team's resume a bit bland. It needed more of the hot bean paste..."

[David Collinge]

OWU 75, Denison 67

[David Collinge]

I wonder if Roger Smith thinks it is cute or funny to consistently mispronounce 'Wooster?'  None of Wittenberg's other on-air folks have that difficulty.

[David Collinge]

Wabash 70, Wittenberg 59
We have a flat-footed tie atop the league standings, to be decided--or not--on Saturday, when Witt travels to Hiram and OWU plays at Wooster.