MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[sac]

Wooster (4-0) @ Adrian (4-2) - The consensus NCAC favorite travels to Michigan to face a Bulldogs squad that looks to be a mid-pack MIAA squad. FYI - Adrian lost to St. Francis (IL), a team Wabash beat 84-59.

Adrian is currently playing without 2 starters, Dennis Mason and Wesley Reed.  The Bulldogs are a young bunch and well coached.  They seem to have added a little scoring to their defensive minded tact.  They'll try to control the tempo and will defend and force you to defend for the duration of the shot clock.

It's early but I actually think Adrian is going to make a strong push for #2 in the MIAA, if things go well maybe even better.  I don't expect an Adrian win but its a compelling match-up.

[ScotsFan]

I don't expect an Adrian win but its a compelling match-up.

Well, seeing as the game is at Adrian, that in and of itself should make things interesting.  The state of Michigan has not been too kind when the Scots make the trek up north to play MIAA foes. 

After a quick look over Wooster's past seasons, I count that Wooster is 0-4 in their last 4 trips up north dating back to the 96-97 season.  Three of those four losses were in the NCAA tournament starting at Hope in that 96-97 season and including losses at Calvin and at Albion.  Wooster lost 2 seasons ago at Albion in their only regular season loss in the streak.

[sac]

I don't expect an Adrian win but its a compelling match-up.

Well, seeing as the game is at Adrian, that in and of itself should make things interesting.  The state of Michigan has not been too kind when the Scots make the trek up north to play MIAA foes. 

After a quick look over Wooster's past seasons, I count that Wooster is 0-4 in their last 4 trips up north dating back to the 96-97 season.  Three of those four losses were in the NCAA tournament starting at Hope in that 96-97 season and including losses at Calvin and at Albion.  Wooster lost 2 seasons ago at Albion in their only regular season loss in the streak.

While I'm probably higher than most on Adrian, 3 of those 4 games you mention were vs MIAA teams that went deep into the NCAA's.  I don't think Adrian is there yet, but they are making good progress the last 2 seasons.  Comparing them to Albion 2 years ago might not be such a bad comparison.  I think they'll finish better than Albion's 14-12 that year though.

Adrian is also a little kinder gentler place to play on most afternoons, I was at the NCAA games at Hope and Albion and those were tough atmosphere's.  Calvin is also a tough place to play in the tournament.

It's actually a game I'm considering attending.

[ScotsFan]

I don't expect an Adrian win but its a compelling match-up.

Well, seeing as the game is at Adrian, that in and of itself should make things interesting.  The state of Michigan has not been too kind when the Scots make the trek up north to play MIAA foes. 

After a quick look over Wooster's past seasons, I count that Wooster is 0-4 in their last 4 trips up north dating back to the 96-97 season.  Three of those four losses were in the NCAA tournament starting at Hope in that 96-97 season and including losses at Calvin and at Albion.  Wooster lost 2 seasons ago at Albion in their only regular season loss in the streak.

While I'm probably higher than most on Adrian, 3 of those 4 games you mention were vs MIAA teams that went deep into the NCAA's.  I don't think Adrian is there yet, but they are making good progress the last 2 seasons.  Comparing them to Albion 2 years ago might not be such a bad comparison.  I think they'll finish better than Albion's 14-12 that year though.

Adrian is also a little kinder gentler place to play on most afternoons, I was at the NCAA games at Hope and Albion and those were tough atmosphere's.  Calvin is also a tough place to play in the tournament.

It's actually a game I'm considering attending.

Yeah, I was thinking Albion 2 years ago would be a fair comparrison.  But still, that was a game that Wooster should not have lost either.  Just like I would argue tomorrow is a game that Wooster should win...   

And as for the tough environments, I remember watching that Woo/Calvin tournament game and thinking how Wooster's players must have been wondering what the hell they walked in to?  I just remember how overwhelmed they looked and Calvin just blitzed them and Wooster had no chance whatsoever.

[smedindy]

I did say "looks to be" without having most of the inside dope. I spent most of my time trying to figure out PSU - Kensington's record! 

[David Collinge]

Adrian is also a little kinder gentler place to play on most afternoons, I was at the NCAA games at Hope and Albion and those were tough atmosphere's.

"Albion is a tough atmosphere for an NCAA Tournament game" = understatement of the year. That game was crazy.

And as for the tough environments, I remember watching that Woo/Calvin tournament game and thinking how Wooster's players must have been wondering what the hell they walked in to?  I just remember how overwhelmed they looked and Calvin just blitzed them and Wooster had no chance whatsoever.

I was at that game (no doubt sac was too, that was before I knew him.) Wooster had a deer-in-the-headlights look about them right from the get-go. Wooster, despite being #3 in the poll at that time, was brand new to the national spotlight in those days; IIRC their trip to Hampden-Sydney the previous season was the program's first-ever Sweet Sixteen appearance. It didn't help that they were hopelessly out-classed by Calvin, the eventual national champs and one of the best D3 teams I've ever seen. (The Scots fared better at Sydney, losing by 8 to the Tigers, who reached the final game before losing in double OT.) They started flat and were out of the game lickety-split. Wooster has become much more comfortable in those situations since then.

[David Collinge]

OWU has reached the men's soccer national championship match by blitzing Montclair St. 4-0 in the semis. Tomorrow the Bishops will play for the title against the winner of tonight's Oneonta St./Calvin semi.  http://backtheredandblack.owu.edu/

Here's a video of highlights from the sectionals last weekend at OWU. Take notice of Travis Wall's brilliant GWG against Ohio Northern. Worth watching the video just for that.

[ScotsFan]

I was at that game (no doubt sac was too, that was before I knew him.) Wooster had a deer-in-the-headlights look about them right from the get-go. Wooster, despite being #3 in the poll at that time, was brand new to the national spotlight in those days; IIRC their trip to Hampden-Sydney the previous season was the program's first-ever Sweet Sixteen appearance. It didn't help that they were hopelessly out-classed by Calvin, the eventual national champs and one of the best D3 teams I've ever seen. (The Scots fared better at Sydney, losing by 8 to the Tigers, who reached the final game before losing in double OT.) They started flat and were out of the game lickety-split. Wooster has become much more comfortable in those situations since then.

This was the first season I really started following the Scots.  I had just moved back into the area the year before and it was actually Wabash and Josh Estelle that got me to my first Scots game that year.  I remember their clash in the NCAC championship and how Wooster took it to Wabash despite Estelle's fireworks and then, that ONU tournament game got me hooked on Fighting Scot basketball.

[smedindy]

Um. The LG offensive issues have fled Alliance and are now in Granville.

Wabash down 19-5 with 7:15 left in the first. The LGs are just 2-17 from the field thus far.

[smedindy]

Wabash now down just 38-35 with 14:51 left. Freshman Austin Hawn has lit a spark with 11 points off the bench, bombing in three treys.

[wooscotsfan]

At the Half:  Wooster 40  Adrian 24

Wooster is being led by Justin Hallowell with 10 points.  Josh Claytor has 6 points.  Missed one Wooster three pointer when an ad appeared on the live video.

Brad Whitby is leading the Bulldogs with 10 points.

Wooster has a size advantage and has controlled the boards so far 20 to 16.  Scots shot 54% in the half and held the Bulldogs to only 26%.

GO SCOTS!

[smedindy]

Wabash has pulled out to a 55-48 lead with 7:55 to go! Zinnerman with 17 and Hawn, the plucky frosh, has 16.

[smedindy]

Denison now back up 58-57. To the video stream!

[David Collinge]

1:29 left in this game, and Denison has nobody in double figures. They do, however, have seven guys with 7, 8, or 9 points. Nice balance.

[smedindy]

Wabash outlasts the egalitarian Big Red 71-65, storming back from a 17-point first-half deficit. Zinnerman led the way with 19, Hawn 17 (he hit four threes, but only 3-5 from the line), Bailey had 12 and Shelbourne 11. After clanking their way through most of the first half, the LGs wound up shooting 23-47 from the floor.

Denison was led by Alex Longi with 10. Four other Denison players tallied nine. The Big Red have a nice thing going, but they need to put away teams like Wabash.