MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[ohiofan1954]

That must have been the Denison game. The Big Red had them on the ropes at half and the Tigers took it too them after that.

[woosterbooster]

Wooster had an early opportunity to open a 10-15 point lead and failed to do so.  OWU had open threes, very good looks, but nothing was going down.  Meanwhile, Wooster decided to continually turn the ball over.  So, when Claude Gray finally went off, it was problematic for the Scots.

Wooster's second half free throw shooting was abysmal, and it wasn't just one guy.  About four players in a row missed very short off the front rim.  That was the killer, as it was because of this that the game got out of hand.

The Scots still struggle against good zones.  Their ball movement is still mostly around the perimeter and predictable; very little inside-outside.  In the end, it's usually a few guys taking turns trying to beat two or three defenders off the bounce.  Never a good idea.

Wooster is in some trouble now.  Tied with OWU for the lead, but the tiebreaker belongs with the BeeBees.  Tough games left for Wooster would be at Wabash and Wittenberg.  OWU also has Witt on the road, along with DePauw in Indiana and Wabash in Branch Rickey Arena.

[bufordscot]

Props where they're due.  OWU's video feed was outstanding.  Additionally their software didn't block my ability to Chromecast the game to my big screen which made the game that much more enjoyable.  Wooster could / should learn something here.

[David Collinge]

Clearly, barring some unprecedented collapse, OWU and Wooster will finish 1-2 in this league, and OWU is in the driver's seat. However, with seven games remaining, there's still lots of wiggle room. It boils down to one simple formula: OWU needs to win at least as many of those seven as Wooster does. Over the years, and continuing into this year, Wooster's strength has been to win the games they are "supposed" to win. They are tied with OWU because OWU has lost two of those games while the Scots have not. As WB notes, Wooster's toughest games remaining are this Saturday at Wabash and two weeks later at Wittenberg. I would say it is highly likely that Wooster wins at least 5 and probably 6 more games. OWU will thus have to step up and also win 5 or 6 (or maybe even seven) games, which means they probably need to win two of the the three games WB points out (Witt, DPU, Wabash) AND not slip up against the Alleghenys and Hirams. This race could come down to the final Saturday, when Wooster plays at Oberlin, a team they haven't lost to in something like 25 years, while OWU goes to DePauw, one of the toughest venues in the NCAC.

[ohiofan1954]

Clearly, barring some unprecedented collapse, OWU and Wooster will finish 1-2 in this league, and OWU is in the driver's seat. However, with seven games remaining, there's still lots of wiggle room. It boils down to one simple formula: OWU needs to win at least as many of those seven as Wooster does. Over the years, and continuing into this year, Wooster's strength has been to win the games they are "supposed" to win. They are tied with OWU because OWU has lost two of those games while the Scots have not. As WB notes, Wooster's toughest games remaining are this Saturday at Wabash and two weeks later at Wittenberg. I would say it is highly likely that Wooster wins at least 5 and probably 6 more games. OWU will thus have to step up and also win 5 or 6 (or maybe even seven) games, which means they probably need to win two of the the three games WB points out (Witt, DPU, Wabash) AND not slip up against the Alleghenys and Hirams. This race could come down to the final Saturday, when Wooster plays at Oberlin, a team they haven't lost to in something like 25 years, while OWU goes to DePauw, one of the toughest venues in the NCAC.

great info David , points certainly worth considering. Anything can happen down the stretch. Would be interesting to see the NCAC championships at OWU this year. Make it easier for me to get there also.

[Ohigy]

OWU is in the drivers seat but I would still put my money on Wooster winning the league and hosting the NCAC tournament.   And I don't think anybody wants to play a hard-charging Witt. 

[wally_wabash]

For whatever reason, OWU seems to have Wooster's number at the moment.  That said, I don't think Wooster is losing again in the regular season.  I do think OWU is going to have a night where they shoot 6-30 on 3s and lose to Hiram or something ridiculous like that.  That'll put OWU in a spot where they need to win the NCAC tournament on Wooster's floor to get into the dance.  THAT is a fun game. 

In any case, despite OWU's 2-0 h2h against Wooster, I still prefer Wooster's consistency to OWU's live by/die by 3FG game. 

[ohiofan1954]

For whatever reason, OWU seems to have Wooster's number at the moment.  That said, I don't think Wooster is losing again in the regular season.  I do think OWU is going to have a night where they shoot 6-30 on 3s and lose to Hiram or something ridiculous like that.  That'll put OWU in a spot where they need to win the NCAC tournament on Wooster's floor to get into the dance.  THAT is a fun game. 

In any case, despite OWU's 2-0 h2h against Wooster, I still prefer Wooster's consistency to OWU's live by/die by 3FG game.

While I agree OWU depends too much on the three Wooster had no answer for that guard the other night driving and beating guy a foot taller.

[Ohigy]

For whatever reason, OWU seems to have Wooster's number at the moment.  That said, I don't think Wooster is losing again in the regular season.  I do think OWU is going to have a night where they shoot 6-30 on 3s and lose to Hiram or something ridiculous like that.  That'll put OWU in a spot where they need to win the NCAC tournament on Wooster's floor to get into the dance.  THAT is a fun game. 

In any case, despite OWU's 2-0 h2h against Wooster, I still prefer Wooster's consistency to OWU's live by/die by 3FG game.

OWU does seem to have the Scots number this year.  I think OWU still gets in even if they lose one more regular season game and get to the NCAC title game, even if they lose there as well.   I don't see Wooster losing another regular season game.

[smedindy]

I still disagree with the notion that OWU is rather all-or-nothing. They're 69th in 3PT FG percentage and 72nd in overall FG percentage in the nation. They don't shoot threes in an abnormal manner to how they shoot twos.

What is the key to OWU, I would say, is their ability to hang on to the ball. They're 5th in the nation in turnovers and 4th in assist / turnover ratio.

[ohiofan1954]

Good interview with coach Moore on the marathon today.

[David Collinge]

Things got a lot easier for OWU today. And somebody please explain Wittenberg to me.

DePauw 51, Oberlin 50
Denison 75, Wittenberg 72
Allegheny 59, Kenyon 56
Wabash 68, Wooster 65
OWU 70, Hiram 64

1. OWU 10-2/15-4
2. Wooster 9-3/15-4
3. Wabash 7-5/12-7
3. Allegheny 7-5/10-9
5. DePauw 6-6/13-6
6. Denison 5-7/11-8
6. Wittenberg 5-7/7-12
8. Oberlin 4-8/8-11
8. Kenyon 4-8/6-13
10. Hiram 3-9/9-10

Next up (Wednesday unless otherwise indicated):
OWU at Wittenberg
Oberlin at Denison
Wooster at Kenyon
Wabash at Hiram (Friday)
DePauw at Allegheny (Friday)

[Mr. Ypsi]

David, not even Martin Luther would be able to explain Wittenberg!   And they will now probably blow out OWU.

[ohiofan1954]

Things got a lot easier for OWU today. And somebody please explain Wittenberg to me.

DePauw 51, Oberlin 50
Denison 75, Wittenberg 72
Allegheny 59, Kenyon 56
Wabash 68, Wooster 65
OWU 70, Hiram 64

1. OWU 10-2/15-4
2. Wooster 9-3/15-4
3. Wabash 7-5/12-7
3. Allegheny 7-5/10-9
5. DePauw 6-6/13-6
6. Denison 5-7/11-8
6. Wittenberg 5-7/7-12
8. Oberlin 4-8/8-11
8. Kenyon 4-8/6-13
10. Hiram 3-9/9-10

Next up (Wednesday unless otherwise indicated):
OWU at Wittenberg
Oberlin at Denison
Wooster at Kenyon
Wabash at Hiram (Friday)
DePauw at Allegheny (Friday)

Wittenberg run started with Denison. It ends with Denison.

[smedindy]

Good win, LGs! Way to compete and hopefully host a game!