MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Gregory Sager]

Claytor missed more bunnies in that half than Elmer Fudd. 

Shhh! Be vewy quiet! We'w hunting Wabash!

[David Collinge]

Updated conference standings:

OWU 3-0
Wittenberg 3-0
Wabash 2-0
Denison 1-1
DePauw 1-1
Hiram 1-1
Wooster 1-2
Allegheny 0-2
Oberlin 0-2
Kenyon 0-3

Non-conference record stands at 31-22, with one game today (Denison at Albion).

[smedindy]

It's early, but there are some trends to comment on:

The fight for the conference title, and even the home court for the conference tournament, will be intense. Adding DPU makes it even more compelling.

Denison, Hiram and Kenyon make a pretty decent 6-8 for the league. Even though Kenyon's 0-3, they've had a tough league schedule. The NCAC tourney probably won't have any 'automatics' - each team will have to earn its first round win.

Oberlin is trending upward too, but they may not have enough horses for a tourney bid.

And the Gators need help, and need it fast.

Of course, this is all subject to change due to injuries, academic indifference, or other factors that affect 18-22 year-old college students...

[sac]

Albion 69 Denison 63

Larry Farmer with 26 for the Big Red.

[David Collinge]

Non-con 31-23.

[GoRed]

Albion 69 Denison 63

Article on the game below.  Headline could just as easily refer to the Denison trend.  Lost a lead of 10 points last night and the 9 point lead today. 

Brilliant moves again by the bench braintrust yesterday against Kzoo, like bringing in two untested freshmen, turned around that one.  To give two kids their first court time ever in a tight game is unthinkable and inexcusable.  Just stoopid!     

Sorry NCAC, but we still have two more non-conference games. 

http://www.d3hoops.com/seasons/men/2011-12/contrib/20111211g6s82t

[Wabash2011]

I think Denison needs to play through Farmer and not Hale to be successful.  Farmer made things happen when Wabash played them, yet Hale took the most shots.  Hale shooting left handed was wild, I thought he used to shot right handed.  Anyway, Farmer is a key to Big Red wins in my opinion.

[smedindy]

Of course there may be other reasons to bring in those freshman, like practice habits, or some other shenanigans. Besides, these were non-conference road games. League games are key for Denison, so they can experiment in non-conference. Still, without knowing all of the story, while the sub pattern may be odd, there may be other reasons.

[David Collinge]

Of course there may be other reasons to bring in those freshman, like practice habits, or some other shenanigans. Besides, these were non-conference road games. League games are key for Denison, so they can experiment in non-conference. Still, without knowing all of the story, while the sub pattern may be odd, there may be other reasons.

I feel like we have been defending Bob Ghiloni with comments like these for many years now, perhaps too many. He's been given more benefit-of-the-doubt free passes than most coaches with five consecutive seasons of eight or fewer wins. In nine-plus seasons in Granville, his record is a dismal 73-166 (math done in my head; corrections appreciated.) He's reached the not-so-vaunted ten-win plateau just twice (both thanks to Dan Hodgkinson), and his only winning season was back in 2004-05...and that was just 13-12. He's got a new AD this year, one that has a bit more of a taste for winning, so maybe the time has come for Ghiloni to replace the whys with some Ws.

[GoRed]

Your math is correct, David. 

[hotdawg]

I think Denison needs to play through Farmer and not Hale to be successful.  Farmer made things happen when Wabash played them, yet Hale took the most shots.  Hale shooting left handed was wild, I thought he used to shot right handed.  Anyway, Farmer is a key to Big Red wins in my opinion.

Maybe they need to sneak Sullivan in off the bench to pick up a few non-conference wins here and there. Doubt if they could fool anyone in conference.

[smedindy]

Of course there may be other reasons to bring in those freshman, like practice habits, or some other shenanigans. Besides, these were non-conference road games. League games are key for Denison, so they can experiment in non-conference. Still, without knowing all of the story, while the sub pattern may be odd, there may be other reasons.

I feel like we have been defending Bob Ghiloni with comments like these for many years now, perhaps too many. He's been given more benefit-of-the-doubt free passes than most coaches with five consecutive seasons of eight or fewer wins. In nine-plus seasons in Granville, his record is a dismal 73-166 (math done in my head; corrections appreciated.) He's reached the not-so-vaunted ten-win plateau just twice (both thanks to Dan Hodgkinson), and his only winning season was back in 2004-05...and that was just 13-12. He's got a new AD this year, one that has a bit more of a taste for winning, so maybe the time has come for Ghiloni to replace the whys with some Ws.

I wasn't exactly defending him. I was asking for some context. I looked at the box scores. Those freshmen played briefly, and from the numbers weren't horrid. So instead of focusing on those insignificant minutes, focus on the fact that Denison can't close out games this year. That's the compelling question, not the nit-picky stuff.

[smedindy]

Just three non-conference games before the weekend.

Tuesday, December 13:

Allegheny (2-8) @ Thiel (6-2) - Well, on paper this is a mis-match. A team that could be the worst in the NCAC against the leader of the PAC. (Cue motorcycle sound effects...) The Gators hung with Wittenberg, and maybe they could hang with the Tomcats. My crystal ball thinks its another loss for the gang from Meadville, though.

Wednesday, December 14:

Grove City (4-4) @ Hiram (3-3) - The Terriers broke their losing streak by defeating Oberlin. This mid-week clash against a mid-pack PAC team will be important for Hiram to regain some momentum. The Wolverines aren't exactly world beaters, and this is the type of game the NCAC must win to improve its reputation.

Mt. St. Joseph (4-3) @ Denison (3-6) - Here were are again, Big Red. The issue is closing out games, and not blowing leads. Is that coaching? Do the players have the confidence that when a team makes a 6-0 run that it won't be the 'SSDD' effect (same stuff, different day)? Denison is much better than 3-6, on paper. But this could be a lost season if they don't start closing teams out.

[David Collinge]

New poll:

Wabash moves up 8 places to #17.
Wooster plummets to #19 from #5.
Wittenberg lurks right off the back end, effectively tied for #26 and just 3 points below #25 Stevens Point.
OWU moves closer to the poll with 27 points, effectively tied for #32.
Still no love for Denison. 

[smedindy]

The story remains the same for Allegheny.

They fell behind 14 at the half, and trailed by 17 with 12:07 to go. The Gators cut the lead down to 10 before Thiel surged out ahead, and the Tomcats held on to beat Allegheny 88-78.

James "Untouchable" Ness led Allegheny with 16. Gabe Seidman added 15 for the 2-9 Gators.

NCAC is now 31-24 in non-conference.