MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

Wooster beat Witt 75-71. I'm sure there will be more later.

But I wanted to get the standings up here:

Wooster 13-1
OWU 10-4
Witt 8-6
Kenyon 7-7
DePauw 7-7
Denison 7-7
Wabash 6-8
Hiram 5-9
Oberlin 4-10
Allegheny 3-11

I haven't thought about how to sort out the 3 way tie for 4th. We should game some scenarios up this week to see where everyone could fall.

[kiltedbryan]

An old post from the board, but so far as I know the tiebreaker scenarios haven't changed in the NCAC. Haven't sorted through the possible implications here, but thought I'd bring this forward...

I finally found the official tiebreakers:

1. Head-to-Head competition (NCAC contests only – no restrictions regarding number of games and sites).
2. Combined win-loss record with all teams above tied teams (restricted to "like" games – any team played twice; and single games played at the same location, either home or away).
3. Record versus individual opponents examined in descending order of standings (restricted to "like" games – any team played twice; and single games played at the same location, either home or away).
4. Coin toss.

IF THREE OR MORE TEAMS ARE TIED, the combined records of the teams
involved versus each other are totaled and rankings are listed according to
the winning percentage. The best percentage will be given the highest
seed. If two or more teams tie for the highest percentage, the lowest team
will be seeded. Once the lowest team is clearly seeded the remaining
teams repeat the process until the tie is broken. If three or more
percentages are arrived in initial process, and no ties remain, then teams
shall be seeded according to their percentages.

LIKE GAMES: Defined as: games that are played under the same
traveling condition (either home or away). E.G.: OWU and ALL are tied.
ALL plays DEN once—at DEN. OWU plays DEN twice—once home and
once at DEN. In comparing the two schedules, only compare the games
at DEN, throw out the DEN at OWU game. All teams played home &
home are also "like" games (teams that play each other twice).

[pennstghs]

Listened to the last 10 minutes on the radio on my way home from a bball game-good job as always to Witt's play by play guy Scott Leo!

Anyway, good effort from Witt to fight back from a deficit. As discussed this week, Witt tried to go zone and the percentages were in their favor, but just like in blackjack sometimes it just doesn't go your way and Witt never recovered after the three 3's in a row from Wooster. They fought back but never could get over that hump.

BIG game for seeding purposes on Wednesday vs Depauw for Witt. I know Depauw won the first time, but since I've been MIA all year, Coach Brown referenced a call at the end of the first meeting at Depauw by stating that it would be disappointing if that one call decides the fate of several teams for tiebreaker purposes. Can anyone fill me in?

[seinfeld]

What a difference a week makes. Last week, Wabash's upset of Wooster may have been the biggest upset under Coach Moore, at least in terms of the difference in records at the time of the meeting and the result of the first game. Seven days later, and the Scots gut out wins over their two nearest NCAC competitors, and give themselves some breathing room atop the Great Lakes regional rankings.

As compared to the Wabash game, where the Scots seemingly lost their way down the stretch, Wooster has elevated their game in the final minutes of games when it mattered. Against Witt, the obvious turning point was after giving away a 13-point second-half lead (by getting outscored 14-0 over a seven minute stretch), Wooster hit three straight three-pointers, with two coming from Doug Thorpe. But just as important were the two three-pointers by Jalen Goodwin in the last three minutes, as each came when the Tigers had cut the lead back down to three points. Then, after a rather ridiculous foul call on a three-point attempt by Leahy with 21 seconds left (he proceeded to make all three free throws), Goodwin, who missed two free throws in a similar spot against Hiram, made them both, more or less sealing the game.

Thorpe, who after was riding a 6-for-33 streak after missing his first two shots against Wittenberg, finally had the law of percentages turn in his favor, as he proceeded to make six of his last eight shots and scored 15 points in the second half.

[woosterbooster]

I don't know if I've ever seen a Scot improve his outside shooting as dramatically as Jalen Goodwin has between last season and this one.  He was a bricklayer last year.  A rebounder's dream.  But, somehow, from then to now, he's become not just a decent shooter but a good one.  Fewer nerves, lots of practice, good coaching: probably parts of all of these.  But as his accuracy has risen sharply, so has his value to the team.

[wooscotsfan]

Back from Wooster where over 3,000 fans watched Wooster complete the sweep of Wittenberg and secure the outright NCAC season title.

I agree with Seinfeld and Wooster Booster that Jalen Goodwin was clutch tonight down the stretch with the big three point shots and 2 late free throws that secured the win.

It should also be noted that Kenny DeBoer had another terrific game with 20 points (7 of 10 shooting) and 6 boards as he tied Doug Thorpe for scoring honors.  It was impressive how DeBoer, Thorpe and Goodwin carried the scoring load tonight and Wooster won despite Xavier Brown having an off night.  Josh Claytor was also productive in the post with 8 points and 11 boards.  Nice to see Josh Claytor and Jake Mays getting the big rivalry win over Witt on their Senior Night.

Wooster is now 20-3, 13-1 NCAC    Next game is at Allegheny on 2/13.

GO SCOTS!

[wooscotsfan]

Congratulations to Wooster on another 20 win season - now 17 consecutive seasons with 20 or more wins!

Special Thanks to Wooster Coaches Steve Moore and Doug Cline for their leadership of this top program!

[LGHistorian]

Wabash should have won by one more, but the ref decided to grant Kenyon an extra free throw after a rhynie waved a towel behind the basket.  The ref said (and I quote) "I already told you no!". Needless to say, the ref was booed by all Wabash fans for the rest of the game.

I was at the game...actually what happened was there was about 10-12 rhynies on the endline off to the left side of the basket all down on their knees slapping the floor with their hands.  After the Kenyon player missed the free throw the ref gave the player another shot.  So, the rhynies went up into the stands DIRECTLY BEHIND the basket and basically did the same thing by slapping their hands on the bleachers, MAKING EVEN MORE NOISE, but the Kenyon player made the shot.  My guess is that the ref would have given the Kenyon player another shot if he had missed that one...and probably kicked the rhynies out of the gym.

I have followed Wabash basketball for 43 years and high school basketball for even longer than that. I have never seen as many people (fans) admonished or thrown out of the gym for causing distractions (which, like it or not, has become commonplace throughout all levels of the sport) since Wabash joined the North Coast conference.  Can anyone tell me if this has happened elsewhere in the NCAC?  Or is it because the conference administrators believe that those mean Indiana fans say and do hurtful things to our Ohio boys?    Maybe it's just time that the referees get back to paying attention solely to what goes on in the field of play and not the sidelines and bleachers.

[woosterbooster]

Wabash should have won by one more, but the ref decided to grant Kenyon an extra free throw after a rhynie waved a towel behind the basket.  The ref said (and I quote) "I already told you no!". Needless to say, the ref was booed by all Wabash fans for the rest of the game.

I was at the game...actually what happened was there was about 10-12 rhynies on the endline off to the left side of the basket all down on their knees slapping the floor with their hands.  After the Kenyon player missed the free throw the ref gave the player another shot.  So, the rhynies went up into the stands DIRECTLY BEHIND the basket and basically did the same thing by slapping their hands on the bleachers, MAKING EVEN MORE NOISE, but the Kenyon player made the shot.  My guess is that the ref would have given the Kenyon player another shot if he had missed that one...and probably kicked the rhynies out of the gym.

I have followed Wabash basketball for 43 years and high school basketball for even longer than that. I have never seen as many people (fans) admonished or thrown out of the gym for causing distractions (which, like it or not, has become commonplace throughout all levels of the sport) since Wabash joined the North Coast conference.  Can anyone tell me if this has happened elsewhere in the NCAC?  Or is it because the conference administrators believe that those mean Indiana fans say and do hurtful things to our Ohio boys?    Maybe it's just time that the referees get back to paying attention solely to what goes on in the field of play and not the sidelines and bleachers.

From the office of the commissioner, North Coast Athletic League:

Section 23, Part 4: Furthermore, it shall be deemed against the rules for spectators wearing striped pants to conglomerate beneath or behind the baskets in groups larger than four.  Penalty: Said spectators will be dispatched from the facility and guided towards the nearest Gap in order to upgrade their fashion sense.

Just out of curiosity, why are these guys called Rhynies when they're dressed like Wallies?

And, seriously, I'm just having fun here.  I come from the days when gyms went silent during free throws, but I have no problem with kids getting behind the basket, in the stands, and harassing the opponent's shooters.  Except in Indiana, of course.

[smedindy]

Rhynies are the pledges for the Sphinx Club. But back in the day, Rhynies were the derogatory term used for all freshmen at Wabash back when many colleges had freshmen rituals.

[ohiofan1954]

I went to the cap-otterbein game last night and at halftime I was ready to come on here and tell you how good the crusaders looked and that if they play wooster in the tournament it might be a close one. Well after Cap almost gave away a 23 point halftime lead(26 at one point in the first half) I kind of changed my mind. It would still be a tough game but even if it was at cap I think wooster would win by 7 or 8. Cap was hot in the first half though and if they get their 3 point shooting going watch out.

[smedindy]

As for the knot in the muddled middle:

Right NOW. Kenyon gets fourth as they are 2-1 against the others. DPU would get fifith since they swept Denison. But Kenyon plays Denison on Wednesday.

DPU plays Witt and Wooster.
Kenyon faces Denison and Gheny
Denison plays Kenyon and OWU.

Lurking in the shadows? Wabash, who faces OWU and Oberlin.

Kenyon's got the easiest schedule. DPU's got to be kicking themselves. They've lost to Allegheny and Oberlin, at HOME and were swept by Kenyon. If the New Tigers would have taken care of business at home, they'd be in the mix for 2/3, not 4/5/6...

And Hiram, on the verge of 8th, had the talent to be 4th.

[ScotsFan]

I went to the cap-otterbein game last night and at halftime I was ready to come on here and tell you how good the crusaders looked and that if they play wooster in the tournament it might be a close one. Well after Cap almost gave away a 23 point halftime lead(26 at one point in the first half) I kind of changed my mind. It would still be a tough game but even if it was at cap I think wooster would win by 7 or 8. Cap was hot in the first half though and if they get their 3 point shooting going watch out.

I don't see Cap being in a position to host any NCAA Tournament games fwiw... 

As for last night's game, does anyone else think Wooster will be seeing a healthy dose of zone from here on out?  I read an article from the Wooster fish wrap on Friday where Brown noted Wabash's success against Wooster in the zone, but insisted they would stick with man to man.  Yeah right...

It didn't take Brown long to make the switch in the first half and they stuck with it in the 2nd half and held Wooster scoreless for 7 minutes while erasing a 13 point deficit.  Lucky for Wooster, they were able to hit some big 3's and escape with a win, but they need to do some work in figuring out how to beat the zone offensively if they have any aspirations of making a deep tournament run.

[wooscotsfan]

I kind of changed my mind. It would still be a tough game but even if it was at cap I think wooster would win by 7 or 8. Cap was hot in the first half though and if they get their 3 point shooting going watch out.

4 of Capital's 6 losses this season were to Wittenberg (at Cap), Ohio Wesleyan (at Cap), Marietta and Baldwin-Wallace.  Wooster has beaten all 4 of those teams (Witt twice, OWU twice) ... so I think that your change of mind was probably correct. 

However, games are not played based on transitive results and on paper, Wooster should not have lost recently at Wabash but they did.   So, it will be interesting to see which teams get into the NCAA tourney (Wooster, Capital, others) and what upsets occur during the tournament.  Capital probably needs to win the OAC tourney and get the automatic NCAA bid because a Pool C bid looks unlikely with 7 losses and Cap not in the top 6 of this week's NCAA regional rankings.  If Wooster does play Capital in the NCAA tourney, it would be AT Wooster given the team records as they stand today.

[wooscotsfan]

Lucky for Wooster, they were able to hit some big 3's and escape with a win, but they need to do some work in figuring out how to beat the zone offensively if they have any aspirations of making a deep tournament run.

ScotsFan - great point about Wooster needing to work on their offensive scheme against the zone. k+   Bill Brown's teams have played very little zone over the years but they did last night for a definite reason (I bet that he watched the Wooster-Wabash video ).  If Wooster goes scoreless for 7 minutes in a NCAA tourney game, there is a high probability of a loss.

Wooster needs to get a guy in the middle of the lane against the zone and then penetrate to the basket or kick back out for the open three pointer if the defense collapses.  Kenny DeBoer did a nice job of penetrating last night and Doug Thorpe did as well so they need to increase that and make accurate quick passes as well.