MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[WAlum]

Great start in the polls for the "W" teams.  Congrats to the Scots, Tigers, and Little Giants on the pre-season rankings.  Any NCAC teams scrimmaging this week?

[ScotsFan]

Wabash roster not posted yet, there will be freshman and possibly one freshman starter. I really hope everyone continues to overlook Wabash.  To have Witt and Wooster in the top 25 without Wabash....very interesting.  They will start 4 seniors and if no one pays attention, prepare to be surprised.

Let's see.  You lost by far your best player and your head coach of how many years?  Is it really questionalble to not find Wabash in the preseason top 25?  Furthermore, we as fans are allowed to overlook teams.  But, I guarantee you Steve Moore and his staff are overlooking no one.  Wooster's record against the lesser teams in the conference under Moore should be a pretty good indicator that Moore won't allow his team to look past anyone, especially a program like Wabash...

[smedindy]

Of course, it could be stated that Wooster could have beaten most of the conference bottom-feeders on talent alone with a broom-handle as a coach. Still, I don't think Wabash will ever be overlooked.

[imderekpoe]

...  Wooster's record against the lesser teams in the conference under Moore should be a pretty good indicator that Moore won't allow his team to look past anyone ...

I've always thought this has been a lot of the difference between Wooster, Witt and Wabash lately, as the Scots never seem to lose those games to the lower half of the conference.  I did what I thought was going to be a quick check to see when the Scots last lost a regular-season conference game to anyone except Witt, Wabash or OWU.  Turns out I had to go back to the 96-97 season when they lost 4 conference games including games to Denison and Allegheny (and 2 to Witt).  In the 14 seasons since then they've lost a total of 18 conference games - 3 to Wabash, 2 to OWU and 13 to Witt.

[WAlum]

...  Wooster's record against the lesser teams in the conference under Moore should be a pretty good indicator that Moore won't allow his team to look past anyone ...

I've always thought this has been a lot of the difference between Wooster, Witt and Wabash lately, as the Scots never seem to lose those games to the lower half of the conference.  I did what I thought was going to be a quick check to see when the Scots last lost a regular-season conference game to anyone except Witt, Wabash or OWU.  Turns out I had to go back to the 96-97 season when they lost 4 conference games including games to Denison and Allegheny (and 2 to Witt).  In the 14 seasons since then they've lost a total of 18 conference games - 3 to Wabash, 2 to OWU and 13 to Witt.

Great research and information!

[ScotsFan]

Of course, it could be stated that Wooster could have beaten most of the conference bottom-feeders on talent alone with a broom-handle as a coach. Still, I don't think Wabash will ever be overlooked.

Talent has a lot to do with it, but I've seen plenty of talented Witt teams drop games to teams they have no business losing to and ending up costing them a conference championship.  And I've also seen Wabash teams with superior talent lose to the likes of the Oberlins and Kenyons of the world as well and even last year when they actually were fighting for a conference title, and lost to Kenyon and then to Hiram at home. 

I totally agree with derek in that Wooster's complete dominance over the teams Wooster should beat is a big reason as to why they are the 7 time defending NCAC regular season champs!

[rebounder club 03]

  I agree Scotfan.  Wooster is the dominantteam in the NCAC.  Has been and will be with coach Moore roaming the bench. The recruiting classes also help keep Wooster as the dominant team in the NCAC.  Again this year I have heard good things about Brown, Bretz, Pannell and DeBoer.  Four more freshmen that will allow Wooster to be strong for the future.  I have heard that DeBoer is really about 6'3 maybe 4,  but is strong physically already.  Heard Bretz has a real nice touch from the outside, but will also score down low, and is a legit 6'5".  I hear Pannell is quick and can create his own shot and that Brown is a oustanding guard and could play the 1 or the 2 depending on need. 

Can't wait for the season to start.  Maybe with an upset of Bradley?   

[ScotsFan]

  I agree Scotfan.  Wooster is the dominantteam in the NCAC.  Has been and will be with coach Moore roaming the bench. The recruiting classes also help keep Wooster as the dominant team in the NCAC.  Again this year I have heard good things about Brown, Bretz, Pannell and DeBoer.  Four more freshmen that will allow Wooster to be strong for the future.  I have heard that DeBoer is really about 6'3 maybe 4,  but is strong physically already.  Heard Bretz has a real nice touch from the outside, but will also score down low, and is a legit 6'5".  I hear Pannell is quick and can create his own shot and that Brown is a oustanding guard and could play the 1 or the 2 depending on need.  Can't wait for the season to start.  Maybe with an upset of Bradley?   

Well, considering the glaring need Wooster has at the point, I'd say it's a safe bet to see Brown starting out there... 

[woosterbooster]

Well, considering the glaring need Wooster has at the point, I'd say it's a safe bet to see Brown starting out there... 

First off, Brown may well start, but I think that at least some part of that will be due to the injury to Doug Thorpe.  Secondly, I don't believe that Brown will immediately be given the point guard spot.  It might be their goal, something that the Scots will transition to by mid-season, but my guess is that in the beginning, when both Matt Fegan and Brown are on the floor at the same time, Fegan will do much of the running of the offense.  Ideally, Fegan would eventually be a two-guard, which is what he should have been all along, but that never happened because of the uniqueness of Ian Franks and the need to have the ball in his hands.  We'll see how it plays out, and I'm hoping that Thorpe's leg comes around so that he's available sooner than later.

[woosterbooster]

  I agree Scotfan.  Wooster is the dominantteam in the NCAC.  Has been and will be with coach Moore roaming the bench. The recruiting classes also help keep Wooster as the dominant team in the NCAC.  Again this year I have heard good things about Brown, Bretz, Pannell and DeBoer.  Four more freshmen that will allow Wooster to be strong for the future.  I have heard that DeBoer is really about 6'3 maybe 4,  but is strong physically already.  Heard Bretz has a real nice touch from the outside, but will also score down low, and is a legit 6'5".  I hear Pannell is quick and can create his own shot and that Brown is a oustanding guard and could play the 1 or the 2 depending on need. 

Can't wait for the season to start.  Maybe with an upset of Bradley?   

Those freshmen didn't look tall to me at all.  Now, bear in mind that we had to watch from upstairs, as no one was of a mind to pull the bleachers out, and from such a Collinge-like location, everyone does tend to munchkin-up.

I'm setting the over-and-under for Wooster at Bradley at 44.  Any takers? 

[rebounder club 03]

  Bretz is the only one I would consider "tall" at 6'5".  Pannell and Brown are both gaurds,  so their going to munchkin up for sure.  DeBoer is a 3 in my opinion so I am sure he is around the 6'3' range.  You are right though,  being way up there everyone does tend to look smaller.  Closer to the floor would have made it eaisier to good a good idea on the size of the freshmen.  Like I said though, Bretz is the only one I would consider tall.  When i was able to get closer, he did look a legit 6'5".  DeBoer looked strong physically too.

[rebounder club 03]

  I am not sure why they did not pull out the bleachers?  That is a good question?  I will take under on the 44. 

[rebounder club 03]

  I too hope Thorpe is back soon.  We need him healthy and in there.  Wonder if Schneider doesn't play before Brown?

[David Collinge]

From my vantage point, if a guy is taller than your thumbnail, he's tall.

[ScotsFan]

  I too hope Thorpe is back soon.  We need him healthy and in there.  Wonder if Schneider doesn't play before Brown?

After reading WB's opinion of Fegan probably getting the nod at point to start the season, I would have to say I would agree and it's doubtful we'll see Brown starting as a true freshman at first.  I'm guessing Fegan will start out at the point and Snyder will start as the 2 guard.  However, depending on how good Brown is, I wouldn't be surprised to see him crack the starting rotation by  season's end if he lives up to the praises he's been getting thus far.