MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

Denison committed 17 turnovers and shot less than 50% from the line. They lost on a last-second three pointer. Sounds like the problems are still there.

[GoRed]

Denison committed 17 turnovers and shot less than 50% from the line. They lost on a last-second three pointer. Sounds like the problems are still there.

There is no question that this should have been a win for the Big Red.  Free throws were a problem and 17 turnovers is particularly uncharacteristic of these players, who generally protect the ball pretty well. 

They are just more symptoms of a disease that has been spreading from class to class at Denison, though.  This year's patient, who appeared healthy when he entered the hospital, is deteriorating at an inopportune time.  Conference play is beginning and his defenses are low due to months of being prescribed the wrong treatment by an inept doctor.  There is a cure for the Big Red, but treatment requires a new team of specialists willing to look at modern treatments and the with the ability to instill in the patient some confidence and a willingness to fight.  A team that won't use the same stagnant offense game after game, year after year.  One that will use wing men as wing men, not play them with their backs to the basket trying to go over bigger players in the low post.  One that may switch defenses from time to time - and maybe even put on a press when they are behind or leads start to dwindle. 

There is still a chance to save this patient, but the problems won't go away until we find a new doctor.  I could go with Dr. Sullivan or Dr. Carney-Debord for the rest of the season.

[smedindy]

There are some games afoot for conference members.

Monday, January 2:

Kenyon (4-6) @ Roanoke (3-6) - The Lords go to Roanoke to participate in the Morris Cregger New Year's Classic. Kenyon has played well after a rocky NCAC patch, while the Maroons have struggled with a tough schedule. Home cooking may decide the outcome. The other teams in this tourney are Shenandoah (1-9) and Swarthmore (1-7).

Capital (5-5) @ Ohio Wesleyan (10-1) - Capital has a few good wins but a lot of tough losses (that loss to Denison looks more and more questionable as the season rolls on). The Bishops are playing well and will certainly want to be sure they are ready for conference play by dispatching an OAC foe.

Tuesday, January 3:

Kenyon (4-6) vs. Shenandoah (1-9) or Swarthmore (1-7) @ Roanoke - I like Kenyon's chances of at least garnering a split no matter what happens against Roanoke.

Wittenberg (7-3) vs. Huntingdon (1-7) @ Maryville - The football game between these two schools was quite anticipated. This game? Not so much. The Tigers will want to be sharp and crisp in their final tuneups before the heart of the NCAC season.

[David Collinge]

There is still a chance to save this patient, but the problems won't go away until we find a new doctor.  I could go with Dr. Sullivan or Dr. Carney-Debord for the rest of the season.

Ooooohhh, now that's an idea I could get behind. I wonder if there's ever been a female head coach in D3 men's hoops?

[smedindy]

Good results for the NCAC!

Kenyon 80, Roanoke 67 - The Lords move to 5-6 on the season behind some strong play by Marcus Healey (20 pts) and a monster game by Ikenna Nwadibia (17 points, 18 rebounds!). The Lords outscored Roanoke 47-29 in the second half.

Ohio Wesleyan 76, Capital 55 - The Bishops roared out to a 15 point halftime lead and coasted to the win. Tim Brady led OWU with 14. Twelve Bishops got into the scoring column.

NCAC now 54-28 in non-conference play! (Forgot to add in Denison's 12/31 defeat)

[David Collinge]

Good results for the NCAC!
[...]
NCAC now 54-28 in non-conference play! (Forgot to add in Denison's 12/31 defeat)

I think we have just five non-conference games remaining, spread over the next four days including tonight. Here's our record against select conferences (corrections appreciated):
OAC: 11-5, and done...this gives great satisfaction
MIAA: 3-2, and done
PrAC: 6-5 with one to go...barring a HUGE upset (of Geneva over Wooster), we win this one after starting out 0-4
HCAC: 12-6, and done
UAA: 2-7, and done (thankfully)...our Achilles' heel, particularly Case, against whom we were 1-5 (thanks, DePauw!)
non-D3: 8-3 with one to go...I like Oberlin's chances against OU-Zanesville to close out the non-con season on Friday

[smedindy]

New Top 25:

http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/index

Wooster up to 15th.
Wabash falls to 17th.
Witt and OWU ORV.

[sac]

New Top 25:

http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/index

Wooster up to 15th.
Wabash falls to 17th.
Witt and OWU ORV.

I think OWU should be in the top 25, and Wabash should be higher.  The NCAC is hands down the strongest conference in the GL region, its not even close really.

[smedindy]

New Top 25:

http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/index

Wooster up to 15th.
Wabash falls to 17th.
Witt and OWU ORV.

I think OWU should be in the top 25, and Wabash should be higher.  The NCAC is hands down the strongest conference in the GL region, its not even close really.

I never thought I would see those words in print...

[Wabash2011]

New Top 25:

http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/index

Wooster up to 15th.
Wabash falls to 17th.
Witt and OWU ORV.

I think OWU should be in the top 25, and Wabash should be higher.  The NCAC is hands down the strongest conference in the GL region, its not even close really.

100 percent agree and granted I am a true Wabash fan, but OWU seems to be the team to beat, with Wabash a very close second.   If Wabash is healthy by the OWU game, that is the one to determine the number 1 seed. 

[Bein_86]

Time to recap the day! It was an NCAC SWEEEEEEEEP!

DPU 72, SUNY-IT 56 - Shawn Haseley led the New Tigers with 13 points and 12 rebounds. DPU galloped in front and cruised to the win, playing 15 players.

Hiram 88, Heidelberg 77 - Jamaal Watkins with 21 points and 12 boards led Hiram past the Student Princes. The Terriers put up 52 points in the second half.

Wabash 75, Franklin 68 - Great performance by Houston Hodges, as noted above. Zinnerman led the LG's with 15, with Pete Nicksic adding 14 while filling in for the injured Curosh.

Kenyon 79, Washington & Jefferson 64 - Ikenna Nwadibia led the Lords with 19, while Brian Lebowitz added 18 points and 11 rebounds and Marcus Healey tallied 17 points. Kenyon amassed a 12-point lead at halftime and didn't look back.

Wooster 78, Thiel 68 - As noted above.

OWU 75, Otterbein 65 - A tourney title for the Bishops! Tim Brady was stellar again, scoring 26 to lead Ohio Wesleyan.

Wittenberg 80, Monmouth 54 - The Old Tigers had no problem with the Scots. Josh McKee led Witt with 18 while Clayton Black added 15 points and 11 boards.

NCAC is 48-26 in non-conference competition! Not shabby, guys!

Tim Brady is probably the best player in NCAC, should be a AA candidate. Loved watching him at Otterbein.

[David Collinge]

Wittenberg 75, Huntingdon 62...seems to be a news blackout from east Tennessee, but Clayton Black (NCAC POtW) is rumored to have had 16 points.

Kenyon 66, Shenandoah 63...Brian Lebowitz' straightaway three with 0:12 left was the difference. Lebo finished with 20 & 12, while last night's hero and tournament MVP Ikenna "Notgonnaworkhereanymore" Nwadibia tallied 17 and 9.

How about 56-28...that's .667, good enough to lead the Phillies by 3 1/2 games!

[smedindy]

Let's do some previews of tonight's action:

Non-Conference:

Wittenberg (8-3) @ Maryville (8-5) - The Scots have been enigmatic, losing some head-scratchers to FDU - Florham and Methodist (at home, no less). Wittenberg seems to be priming the pump for the NCAC conference season and I think this will be a good one for the league.

Geneva (3-8) @ Wooster (9-2) - Now no game is truly a 'gimme' in hoops. Weird stuff happens. But I think it would take a tremendous confluence of weird stuff for the Scots to falter in this game. Looks like a game where the reserves can get plenty of PT and stay sharp in case they are needed in conference play.

Conference:

Oberlin (0-2, 4-6) @ Denison (1-1, 4-7) - One the one hand, you have the Yeomen, which are playing better than most people expected. On the other hand, you have the Big Red, which always seemed to be on the precipice of good things but have not found a way to close out games. Oberlin lost a lead in the last minute against Anderson, and how they respond to that tough loss may tell the tale in this game.

[wooscotsfan]

Final:  Wooster 100  Geneva 48 

Wooster led this game by 39 points at halftime (57 - 18).     Scots were led in scoring tonight by Justin Hallowell with 14 points, Kenny Deboer with 14, Josh Claytor with 13, Jake Mays with 13 and Xavier Brown chipped in 11 points.

Wooster shot 62% from the floor vs. only 31% for Geneva.  Scots took better care of the ball tonight with 12 turnovers compared to 23 turnovers for the Golden Tornadoes.  Geneva drops to 3-9 on the season.

Wooster is now 10-2.   Next game is Saturday at home vs. Oberlin

[smedindy]

Wittenberg beat Maryville 77-70. Clayton Black led the Old Tigers with 22. Zack Leahy came off the bench and added 18 and won the MVP honors.

Wooster put the ever livin' hurt on Geneva, 100-48. Five Scots scored in double figures. I'm sure the Scot brigade will provide more details. NOTE: See above post!

NCAC is 58-28 in non-conference. One game left - Oberlin against Ohio - Zanesville.

Denison has opened up a 61-50 lead against Oberlin. Can they hold on?