MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

ohiofan1954 · March 01, 2015, 04:48:42 PM

Thank you very much for that information. I believe at least one of those years the OAC had two schools in. That is a good sign.

wally_wabash · March 02, 2015, 09:52:02 AM

Pat and Dave mocked up a pretty favorable draw for the NCAC schools, I thought. It'll be interesting to see what the NCAA has done and if the NCAC schools can avoid pods of doom on the opening weekend.

After listening to the mock selection show last night, it doesn't seem like there's much doubt that both OWU and Wooster will receive invitations.

David Collinge · March 02, 2015, 11:27:47 AM

I will be flabbergasted if either Wooster or DePauw are still alive a week from today, regardless of the draw. And I am not much more optimistic about OWU.

David Collinge · March 02, 2015, 01:00:31 PM

...and with the draw released, I am even less optimistic about OWU. I guess I don't understand why they get sent halfway across the country for a game they probably won't win (and if they should, then a game that they can't win), while Wooster, certainly and deservedly ranked below the Bishops, gets a nearby game they probably should win, followed by a game they could win.

Oh, and never mind about DePauw. Good on them for winning the NCAC tournament, and see you next year.

Ohigy · March 02, 2015, 01:06:38 PM

Wow! Wooster gets a great draw and OWU gets a horrible draw. I agree with David. I really question why the Bishops were given the situation they received compared to a lower ranked (and 0-2 in head to head vs OWU) Scots team. DePauw is going to be done quickly as well. Tough day for the NCAC other than Wooster. I think Coach Moore has the committee in his back pocket!

fantastic50 · March 02, 2015, 01:10:29 PM

Quote from: David Collinge on March 02, 2015, 01:00:31 PM
...and with the draw released, I am even less optimistic about OWU. I guess I don't understand why they get sent halfway across the country for a game they probably won't win (and if they should, then a game that they can't win), while Wooster, certainly and deservedly ranked below the Bishops, gets a nearby game they probably should win, followed by a game they could win.

OWU is within 500 miles of Wash. U., while Wooster is not, so Wooster couldn't get sent there without an extra flight.

David Collinge · March 02, 2015, 01:14:56 PM

It's not really an either/or situation. But yes, Wooster has benefited from its relatively eastern geography in the past, and maybe has done so again today. Still doesn't mean OWU deserves the brutal draw it received.

Anyway, the Scots, should they advance, will be decided underdogs at Marietta.

wally_wabash · March 02, 2015, 01:40:04 PM

How devastating was that semifinal loss for OWU? Win that game and they probably get host, even if they had lost to Wooster in the final. Lose and now you're a road team at the mercy of the bracketing. As kind as the mock bracket was, the real deal was just the opposite. The instinct is to say tough break for OWU, but the reality is that you kind of make your own breaks here- and losing your semifinal game on your own floor to a .500 conference team is an easy way to lose control of the situation.

Brutal draw for DePauw, but that was probably always going to be the case.

Wooster seems to have a decent draw, but I'm not sure how much that matters. Something is off with the Scots. Not sure what it is, but you can't be off in the tournament. So even though Wooster seems to have a clearer path to the second week than our other two conference teams, I'm just not seeing this team playing the way they have winning more than one game (and that's maybe one game).

smedindy · March 02, 2015, 02:27:50 PM

OWU wasn't going to host, and in looking at geography that may have been the only option without having something else tip over all together.

Mt Union makes out like a bandit thanks to OWU!

If only we could have a geography-free tournament. Alas...

But, to be the champ you gotta beat 'em all anyway, no matter what round.

wally_wabash · March 02, 2015, 02:58:35 PM

Maybe not with a loss in the final, but had OWU won the league tournament, I think they'd have hosted instead of Marietta. Maybe not. What's for sure is that as soon as they lost to DePauw, they lost their home court next weekend and are stuck going wherever the bracket tells them to go. Don't lose on your home floor in the league tournament...that's the take home message.

And you're right, you have to win six games to win this thing no matter what and almost none of the games are going to be easy for anybody. OWU just probably could have avoided a quartet of doom for one weekend had not blown it in the league tournament.

David Collinge · March 02, 2015, 03:30:37 PM

Yes, you need 6 wins (absent a bye) to win the Doorstop, but that's not really the goal for OWU (despite what Mike DeWitt would certainly tell you, and his team.) Heck, they hang banners in gyms for Final Four appearances, and Sweet Sixteen beats going out in the first round.

I think a better performance by OWU in the NCAC tournament might have displaced Mt. Union before Marietta. I think the Pios were set for a home date regardless of the NCAC.

Despite my ongoing Negative Nancy routine, I do want to wish all three NCAC teams the best of success, and to congratulate the Scots on their 13th consecutive NCAA tournament bid. This will be their 24th appearance, pulling them into a third-place tie for all-time bids with Illinois Wesleyan (who also received a Pool C bid) and Hope (who did not), trailing only Scranton (26) and, of course, Wittenberg (27).

wally_wabash · March 04, 2015, 04:22:29 PM

2014-2015 All NCAC Men's Basketball announcement. The board had the otY awards nailed. Congrats to all of the honorees!

NCACZip · March 04, 2015, 04:40:51 PM

Quote from: fantastic50 on March 02, 2015, 01:10:29 PM
Quote from: David Collinge on March 02, 2015, 01:00:31 PM
...and with the draw released, I am even less optimistic about OWU. I guess I don't understand why they get sent halfway across the country for a game they probably won't win (and if they should, then a game that they can't win), while Wooster, certainly and deservedly ranked below the Bishops, gets a nearby game they probably should win, followed by a game they could win.

OWU is within 500 miles of Wash. U., while Wooster is not, so Wooster couldn't get sent there without an extra flight.

Why does this matter?..OWU plays in Wisconsin, Depauw is the one playing at Wash. St Louis...Wooster could of been sent to Wisconsin, its under 500 miles.

NCACZip · March 04, 2015, 04:45:44 PM

Quote from: David Collinge on March 02, 2015, 01:14:56 PM
It's not really an either/or situation. But yes, Wooster has benefited from its relatively eastern geography in the past, and maybe has done so again today. Still doesn't mean OWU deserves the brutal draw it received.

Anyway, the Scots, should they advance, will be decided underdogs at Marietta.

I could see Marietta getting beat first round, I also see Woo getting past Miser..Marietta hasn't beat anyone great-great, only "good" teams, and they lost twice to a Mount Union team that got beat by Woo...With Marietta being 2 hours away from Wooster, First round will be a home game for the Scots. I see them rolling through the first two round, something changes for them come tournament time.

wally_wabash · March 04, 2015, 05:00:46 PM

Quote from: NCACZip on March 04, 2015, 04:45:44 PM
I could see Marietta getting beat first round, I also see Woo getting past Miser..Marietta hasn't beat anyone great-great, only "good" teams, and they lost twice to a Mount Union team that got beat by Woo...With Marietta being 2 hours away from Wooster, First round will be a home game for the Scots. I see them rolling through the first two round, something changes for them come tournament time.

Maybe. I'm not saying that Wooster won't flip a switch or something now that it is the NCAA tournament, but we've kind of been waiting for Wooster to really put it together all year and they haven't. Getting pantsed by DePauw on Saturday isn't a strong indicator of what's to come.