MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

A note about Kenyon: I was pretty impressed with them in fits and starts and think they have the makings of being a good team. They have NO seniors, so they're going to be a sleeper next year.

[woosterbooster]

Wooster Booster --- just part of the Wabash plan to rule the world! 

Well, if next week I find myself bidding on items on eWabash and checking my newsfeed on Wabashbook (or would it be Facebash?), I'm moving to Argentina.

[kiltedbryan]

I believe this was the first time the Scots had been held under 50 points since the 47-45 win over Manchester in the second round of the 2011 NCAA tournament. The game recap from that one indicates that those 47 points were the lowest output for the Scots since a 46-43 loss to Wittenberg back in 1996.

So you don't hold Wooster under 50 all that often. Anyone know if Wabash had ever done it before?

[wabashsid]

No. Lowest total for Wooster versus Wabash prior to today was the 58 points in last year's 72-58 win by the Little Giants. Wabash also won 75-58 at home in 2009.

[woosterbooster]

Wooster led 8-0 at the 17:19 mark in the first half, less than three minutes into the ballgame.  This was the high water mark for their offense, not the 15-2 score.  That didn't happen until almost five minutes later, when there was 12:41 on the clock, and was mostly helped by back-to-back threes from Jalen Goodwin.  So, Wooster only scored 40 points in the final 37:19 of the ballgame.  Yes, it was a low-possession game, but Wooster was seriously ineffective.

[ohiofan1954]

darn, I really was looking forward to going to watch the kenyon game today but had to drive a state  salt truck all day. Seems like every time I miss a game because of snow it winds up being a great one.

[pennstghs]

Just though I'd throw my two cents in on a few things:

I do have to agree, kudos to Wabash as their game coverage is next to none in the conference, although Wittenberg isn't too bad itself 

Also, not ALL refs stink, I happen to be quite a good one 

[woosterbooster]

Also, not ALL refs stink, I happen to be quite a good one 

Even all second-story-men claim to be good at what they do.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Also, not ALL refs stink, I happen to be quite a good one 

Even all second-story-men claim to be good at what they do.

Can you imagine games with NO refs?  Multiple murders come to mind?  General rioting?

[woosterbooster]

Also, not ALL refs stink, I happen to be quite a good one 

Even all second-story-men claim to be good at what they do.

Can you imagine games with NO refs?  Multiple murders come to mind?  General rioting?

I getcha.  You're saying it would be like John Carroll's games are now. 

[ohiofan1954]

I know what you mean about John Carroll's games, the coach does know how use his entire bench. It usually isn't pretty but normally effective.

[smedindy]

We have a big one tonight, and the rest of the contest will either clear the gridlock or mire the middle muddle worse.

DePauw (6-6, 13-8) @ Denison (6-6, 8-13) - Think back to the first of January. Did you even think that these two teams would be tied in the conference standings? Didn't think so. The Big Red have rebounded nicely after seemingly having the vapors, whilst the New Tigers have confounded most observers. How can a team that beat Wittenberg and OWU lose to Wabash (a rival, for sure, but still...) and Kenyon? Well, the answer is SPORTS! of course (h/t to Charlie Pierce), but still, DPU should be better than this.

Kenyon (6-6, 12-9) @ Oberlin (3-9, 5-16) - The Yeomen were absolutely trounced in their last effort against OWU, but they do seem to play better at home. This sets up as a 'trap' for the Lords, who have a big contest at home against Wabash on Saturday (for seeding in the NCAC tourney) and a loss would send them reeling back into the pack. Kenyon has won three straight, and seem to finally be playing up to par.

Hiram (4-8, 10-11) @ Allegheny (3-9, 9-12) - Oh, you Terriers. What the heck is going on? After their big win over Witt, they've dropped four straight including home losses to Allegheny and Denison, and now they travel to Gator land. Hiram better not lose this one if they want to make the tournament. Allegheny's lost three straight as well, though, after beating Hiram. This is a must-win game for both squads with the loser perhaps being excused from further play after Feb. 16th.

Wabash (5-7, 7-14) @ Wittenberg (7-5, 14-7) - The Little Giants' best week of the season was last week as they dispatched DPU and Wooster. Many Wabash fans are still grinning after whomping on the evil Dannies and one of the most storied D3 hoops programs. What's the encore? A trip to their #2 rival, the Old Tigers. Can they pull off the trifecta? Welp...um...it's gonna be tough. Sure, Witt's not WITT but they're still good and it's at home, where they may get an extra call or 10. But this team only beat Oberlin by four, and certainly Wabash can give them as good of a fight as that, right? If gambling were legal in FL and this was on the board, I'd take the points and put a sawbuck on Wabash's money line (depending on the odds, of course).

Ohio Wesleyan (9-3, 16-4) @ Wooster (11-1, 18-3) - Well, now, the coronation of the Scots seems to have hit a rut in the road. Yes, I think it's inevitable that Wooster will wear yet another regular season crown (despite the Lou Holtzing of some Wooster fans), but this could tip the scale from 'inevitable' to 'well, now...'. The Bishops regained their poise after some recent burbles of mediocrity and seem to be ready for a Wooster onslaught. And I bet there will be an onslaught. If there's one thing the Scots don't like to do, it's lose, and I'm sure practice this week wasn't kind and gentle.

[smedindy]

The Old Tigers are angry. They're up on Denison 39-13 with 2:16 to go in the half.

[wooscotsfan]

At the Half:  Ohio Wesleyan 40  Wooster 31

OWU being led by Andy Winters with 10 points and Taylor Rieger also with 10 points.

Wooster's top scorers are Josh Claytor with 7 points, Xavier Brown with 5 and Doug Thorpe with 5.

The Bishops shot 49% in the half while the Scots only hit 41% of their shots.

[smedindy]

Hiram leads Allegheny 31-24 at the half.

Oberlin and Kenyon tied at 27 at the half.

DPU is still up on Denison by a ton, 57-36 with 9:33 to go.

Wabash is making the game a slog again - Witt leads just 24-17 with 3:53 to go in the first.