MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

There are games afoot in the NCAC. The last non-conference game of the year (and with that we can do a final analysis early next week), plus four other conference games. Wabash has the day off.

Non-Conference:

Oberlin (4-9) @ Yale (5-11) - Hiram ventured into D-1 land and was seriously rebuked by Youngstown State. Yale is a few pegs down from Youngstown Sate, but the Elis were within 10 of Nevada and Iowa State (who just took Kansas to OT) and wasn't totally blitzed by Florida. This game will be a good chance for Yale to say hello to a former player (Cavaco played four years of varsity ball for Yale) and perhaps get PT for some of the players that haven't seen much time. Hello, Khaliq Bedart-Ghani!

Conference:

Wittenberg (3-2, 10-4) @ Denison (2-3, 4-10) - Wow, the Big Red's season has taken the express train to stink-town. Losers of eight of nine, Denison is in grave danger of missing out on the tourney a year after almost shocking the world (well, the NCAC world at least). Wittenberg rebounded with two wins after their loss to OWU, and can solidify a claim on third place with a win. The Old Tigers look prime to sweep through the rest of January in preparation with their OWU rematch on the 30th.

Allegheny (2-3, 8-6) @ Ohio Wesleyan (5-0, 12-1) - One thing the Gators have done all year has been keeping their games close. Except for a couple of blowouts they administered to weaker foes, they've been hanging around in every game this year. That includes their 14-point loss to the Bishops in December. (Yes, we've already got a rematch in NCAC-land). OWU has been delivering flying suplex monkey stomps of late, though, and I don't think they'd let up on Allegheny if given the chance.

DePauw (2-3, 9-5) @ Wooster (5-0, 11-2) - Just when the New Tigers think they've righted the ship and can begin a run to get a #3 or #4 seed in the tourney, along comes the dreaded trip to Wooster. Ulp. DPU has potential, and could make it a game, but the Scots have been letting some teams hang around for way too long for their fan base. Is it time that Wooster sweeps the leg? That may not happen tomorrow, DPU's got some skills.

Kenyon (1-4, 7-7) @ Hiram (1-4, 7-7) - Two teams, two identical records, and it's kind of a sort of must win for both, already. With the middle muddle and an Oberlin team that isn't going to curl up and die, it's imperative for both teams to avoid a 1-5 start if they want to make the NCAC post-season. But only one will. The Lords played darn good basketball against the Old Tigers Wednesday, and their body of work is just a bit better IMHO. We shall see, of course.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Re: Oberlin @ Yale.  Nationally-ranked Albertus Magnus played Yale a couple of weeks ago (AM is also in New Haven); it did not go well!  AM received their only loss of the season - by 49 points!

It's a nice opportunity for Oberlin, and if they stay within 50, they can 'claim' Top 25 qualifications!

[smedindy]

Well:

Yale 104, Oberlin 39

[smedindy]

Checked in to a couple of games before I have to run out, and we have things brewing:

Denison leads Witt 31-28 with 5:31 left in the first half.

Allegheny leads OWU 31-27 at the half. Gators shooting 52%, OWU shooting 26%

[David Collinge]

Courtesy of northcoast.org, here's the scores:
Wooster 68, DePauw 58
Wittenberg 79, Denison 78
OWU 79, Allegheny 73
Hiram 74, Kenyon 63

[woosterbooster]

Wooster began their game playing well, opening up a small double-digit lead.  They moved the ball inside-out and were getting really good looks.  Then it all just stopped.  Mediocre semi-contested jump shots, only 10-15 seconds into the shot clock.  They weren't going in.  Yeah, Mays and Claytor were stuck on the bench with two fouls each, but still, you don't need to take those "fair" shots until late in the clock.  Work the ball a little more, be patient, and they never would have let DePauw back into this game. 

[smedindy]

A couple of great escapes...

[ohiofan1954]

great game at denison yesterday. Big Red gave them a run for their money. Nice crowd also, too bad it has too take either wooster or wittenberg to bring a good crowd(most from the visitor's).

[woosterbooster]

Wow!  Who knew this was going on?  Not me.  Check out this site, and this clip.

http://woosterbasketballfilm.com/

[kiltedbryan]

Wow!  Who knew this was going on?  Not me.  Check out this site, and this clip.

http://woosterbasketballfilm.com/

Hadn't heard about this either - seems very cool. Looks like the filmmakers are taking a very "Why D3" attitude - in keeping with the "#whyD3" hashtag on twitter used by Pat and others - where they emphasize the uniqueness/charm/advantages of the DIII game (and, often, the DIII educations that go with it). Will have to keep an eye on this project as it progresses.

[ScotsFan]

NCAC is well represented in the top 10 of the new top 25 poll this week with Wooster making the jump from 15 to 8 and OWU right behind them at 9 setting up a top 10 showdown this Saturday in Delaware! 

Is this OWU's highest ascension in the D3hoops Top 25 Poll?  I believe this would also be the first non-Witt/Woo top 10 showdown in the NCAC?

[smedindy]

By my count, the league was 51-37 in the non-conference!

By Team:

OWU 7-1
Witt 7-2
DPU 7-2
Wooster 6-2
Gheny 6-3
Hiram 6-3
Kenyon 6-3
Denison 2-7
Wabash 2-7
Oberlin 2-7

By Conference (in number of wins against):

OAC 13-4
PrAC 9-1
HCAC 9-9
UAA 4-5
MIAA 3-4
SAA 1-0
NEAC 1-0
AMCC 1-0
CC 1-0
NESCAC 1-0
CUNYAC 1-0
USAC 1-0
ODAC 1-1
LAND 0-1
MACF 0-1
E8 0-1
NJAC 0-2
CCIW 0-2
Non D-3 4-6

[kiltedbryan]

NCAC is well represented in the top 10 of the new top 25 poll this week with Wooster making the jump from 15 to 8 and OWU right behind them at 9 setting up a top 10 showdown this Saturday in Delaware! 

Is this OWU's highest ascension in the D3hoops Top 25 Poll?  I believe this would also be the first non-Witt/Woo top 10 showdown in the NCAC?

In a quick scan, it didnt look like OWU threatened the Top 10 in 2007-08, the year they went 22-8 and lost in the Sweet 16 at Hope. I think that's the only other year OWU was consistently ranked that I remember.

However, how quickly you forget ScotsFan, that #1 Wooster handed #7 Wabash its first loss just two seasons ago, 67-65 in Crawfordsville. Wabash didn't actually drop in the poll with the loss. Wooster met Wabash on Jan. 8, 2011 - here's the poll from immediately after that game was played: http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/men/2010-11/week6

As far as I know, this is the only non-Woo/Witt Top 10 NCAC matchup in the D3hoops poll era.

[smedindy]

Before we get to Saturday's affair, we have some games to play tonight:

Wittenberg (4-2, 11-4) @ Wabash (2-3, 4-10) - The Old Tigers are rival #2 in the NCAC for the LG's, no matter what the sport. I think there's something to the nickname. Wabash will be ready for this game and Witt should be ready for a fight. Sure, on paper the Old Tigers have the goods to coast past the LG's, but this isn't paper and the vets on the Wabash squad should definitely remind the young in's that this is Witt and that means they should give no quarter. Hopefully.

Allegheny (2-4, 8-7) @ Wooster (6-0, 12-2) - Before the big matchup Saturday, the Scots need to dispatch the Gators. Again, on paper, this shouldn't be an issue. But Allegheny keeps hanging around and hanging around in almost every game they play. They hung around again Saturday and almost knocked off the Bishops. I can see them lingering around again, for sure, just in case Wooster is peeking ahead to the OWU game. (That's not likely, of course, as Wooster is very focused on the game ahead, but still it's a bit of human nature to look forward to the big events and not notice the small events in our way.)

Oberlin (2-3, 4-10) @ Kenyon (1-5, 7-8) - The Lords loss to Hiram elevates this game into a definite must win for them. A loss to the Yeomen would just be devastating as they try to scramble for a place in the tourney, much less a seed that would allow them to bypass Wooster or OWU. Oberlin's just happy to be playing a D-3 team, no doubt, and a win over Kenyon would help their psyche. It's not out of the question, either.

Ohio Wesleyan (6-0, 13-1) @ Hiram (2-4, 8-7) - This looks like a trap and smells like a trap. The Bishops can't really show up and coast by the Terriers - they're too talented. Hiram plays well at home and looked pretty decent against Kenyon. I think OWU will be ready for this game but they'll need to focus and not get sucked into the trap-game pitfall.

Denison (2-4, 4-11) @ DePauw (2-4, 9-6) - Oh, Denison. What are we gonna do with you? Just when this scribe basically counted them out for the season they almost pull of a huge upset. Does this mean they're refreshed and ready to start winning again? Well, um...probably not. The New Tigers, while still enigmatic at times, definitely has the horses to curtail the Big Red, but they can't just coast and expect to win.

[bufordscot]

Before we get to Saturday's affair, we have some games to play tonight:

Wittenberg (4-2, 11-4) @ Wabash (2-3, 4-10) - The Old Tigers are rival #2 in the NCAC for the LG's, no matter what the sport. I think there's something to the nickname. Wabash will be ready for this game and Witt should be ready for a fight. Sure, on paper the Old Tigers have the goods to coast past the LG's, but this isn't paper and the vets on the Wabash squad should definitely remind the young in's that this is Witt and that means they should give no quarter. Hopefully.

Allegheny (2-4, 8-7) @ Wooster (6-0, 12-2) - Before the big matchup Saturday, the Scots need to dispatch the Gators. Again, on paper, this shouldn't be an issue. But Allegheny keeps hanging around and hanging around in almost every game they play. They hung around again Saturday and almost knocked off the Bishops. I can see them lingering around again, for sure, just in case Wooster is peeking ahead to the OWU game. (That's not likely, of course, as Wooster is very focused on the game ahead, but still it's a bit of human nature to look forward to the big events and not notice the small events in our way.)

Oberlin (2-3, 4-10) @ Kenyon (1-5, 7-8) - The Lords loss to Hiram elevates this game into a definite must win for them. A loss to the Yeomen would just be devastating as they try to scramble for a place in the tourney, much less a seed that would allow them to bypass Wooster or OWU. Oberlin's just happy to be playing a D-3 team, no doubt, and a win over Kenyon would help their psyche. It's not out of the question, either.

Ohio Wesleyan (6-0, 13-1) @ Hiram (2-4, 8-7) - This looks like a trap and smells like a trap. The Bishops can't really show up and coast by the Terriers - they're too talented. Hiram plays well at home and looked pretty decent against Kenyon. I think OWU will be ready for this game but they'll need to focus and not get sucked into the trap-game pitfall.

Denison (2-4, 4-11) @ DePauw (2-4, 9-6) - Oh, Denison. What are we gonna do with you? Just when this scribe basically counted them out for the season they almost pull of a huge upset. Does this mean they're refreshed and ready to start winning again? Well, um...probably not. The New Tigers, will still enigmatic at times, definitely has the horses to curtail the Big Red, but they can't just coast and expect to win.

Smeds (if I may call you that), Although I'm generally a lurker here and can't follow the NCAC as closely as I'd like to, I always enjoy your perspectives.  Thanks