MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[ScotsFan]

FWIW, IWU is also one of the top programs in terms of fan followings.  I'd put them right up there with Hope and Wooster.  They were well represented each time they came to Wooster.  I wouldn't be surprised to see 200+ making the trek from Illinois...

[Onward on, John Carroll]

Unfortunately, JCU only seats about 1750.

Ok, perhaps the listed capacity includes putting chairs on the floor (for speakers, graduation, etc.)
https://www.jcusports.com/sports/2007/11/28/Facilities%20at%20John%20Carroll.aspx

That could be capacity with floor seating but that is likely just a carry over number from the old set-up of the gym.  It used to seat 2500+ with bleacher seating upstairs and downstairs.  In fact, I think the floor bleachers went all the way to the balcony level and you actually entered them from the top.  They renovated in 2004 or so, reducing capacity, replacing bleachers (new ones included aisles and railings and more leg room), putting chair backs in the lower level and adding the student section behind the basket. Regardless of where the 2500 comes from, I can tell you that JCU's gym feels full at about the 1300 number and is packed at 1700. They can stand another 50-100 (on the steps going from the upstairs to the lower level) if they want but that is about it.

[Onward on, John Carroll]

FWIW, IWU is also one of the top programs in terms of fan followings.  I'd put them right up there with Hope and Wooster.  They were well represented each time they came to Wooster.  I wouldn't be surprised to see 200+ making the trek from Illinois...

Correct.  They ranked 9th nationally in Division III attendance in 2017 (Wooster ranked 5th and JCU was 19th).  I thought the geographic distance would put them at a more reasonable number but if you are right that will further complicate things.

[Gregory Sager]

FWIW, IWU is also one of the top programs in terms of fan followings.  I'd put them right up there with Hope and Wooster.  They were well represented each time they came to Wooster.  I wouldn't be surprised to see 200+ making the trek from Illinois...

Illinois Wesleyan's attendance figures have been in decline in recent years, probably for the same reasons that Wooster's has. IWU still travels better than any other program in the CCIW, but a huge chunk of that traveling contingent consists of elderly fans. The negative is that they're not being replaced as they die off, a la Wooster. The positive is that they have no commitments that constitute an impediment to their traveling a long distance this weekend for basketball.

[iwumichigander]

FWIW, IWU is also one of the top programs in terms of fan followings.  I'd put them right up there with Hope and Wooster.  They were well represented each time they came to Wooster.  I wouldn't be surprised to see 200+ making the trek from Illinois...

Illinois Wesleyan's attendance figures have been in decline in recent years, probably for the same reasons that Wooster's has. IWU still travels better than any other program in the CCIW, but a huge chunk of that traveling contingent consists of elderly fans. The negative is that they're not being replaced as they die off, a la Wooster. The positive is that they have no commitments that constitute an impediment to their traveling a long distance this weekend for basketball.

Right and add the aforementioned "double headers" - with IWU for example,  hosting the women's tournament pod I can assure you many IWU fans will stay in Bloomington.  With a win Friday, some are considering driving over for a Saturday contest.

[Onward on, John Carroll]

Unfortunately, JCU only seats about 1750.

Ok, perhaps the listed capacity includes putting chairs on the floor (for speakers, graduation, etc.)
https://www.jcusports.com/sports/2007/11/28/Facilities%20at%20John%20Carroll.aspx

That could be capacity with floor seating but that is likely just a carry over number from the old set-up of the gym.  It used to seat 2500+ with bleacher seating upstairs and downstairs.  In fact, I think the floor bleachers went all the way to the balcony level and you actually entered them from the top.  They renovated in 2004 or so, reducing capacity, replacing bleachers (new ones included aisles and railings and more leg room), putting chair backs in the lower level and adding the student section behind the basket. Regardless of where the 2500 comes from, I can tell you that JCU's gym feels full at about the 1300 number and is packed at 1700. They can stand another 50-100 (on the steps going from the upstairs to the lower level) if they want but that is about it.

Found the updated capacity number - 1354 - in the JCU Athletics Visitors Guide:
http://jcusports.com/documents/2017/8/11//JCU_Visitor_Guide_updated_AUGUST_10_2017.pdf?id=1674

[Flying Dutch Fan]

There is something to be said for the home fans being there before the 5:30 game as well - getting their tickets and seats.  It always bothers me that people will show up 20 minutes before their game and expect to 1) get in easily, and 2) sit in their seats.  The school and team have done what they can do to secure a home game, time for the fans to step up and ensure that full advantage is taken of the opportunity. 

[sac]

There is something to be said for the home fans being there before the 5:30 game as well - getting their tickets and seats.  It always bothers me that people will show up 20 minutes before their game and expect to 1) get in easily, and 2) sit in their seats. The school and team have done what they can do to secure a home game, time for the fans to step up and ensure that full advantage is taken of the opportunity.

You're still saving me a seat though right? 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

BTW - something else I've seen a lot is when buying tickets they ask who they are fans for to make sure they go into particular sections.

I honestly think you guys are putting more into this than it needs. I bet there will be tickets available and I really don't see Wooster selling the place out.

[kiltedbryan]

The combined tournament resumes for Wooster and Illinois Wesleyan must be among the most substantial for any possible tournament pairing in terms of appearances, games, overall wins/record, etc.

Across all those games, though, the Scots and Titans have only mixed it up in March twice before, both times in the Sectional Semifinals (Sweet 16) at Wooster.

In 2012, a Titans team that entered the tournament at <checks notes, gulps> 19-7, got the best of the Scots in a 69-67 victory, denying a possible Wooster-Wittenberg Sectional Final.* IWU proceeded to blow out Wittenberg 70-49 the next night to claim a spot in the 2012 Final Four.

In 2004, host Wooster beat IWU 58-53 in the Sectional Semifinals in a pod that also included JCU - a very similar make-up to this year's pod. In the Sectional Final, JCU beat a Wooster team trying to make its second-consecutive Final Four run by a tally of 70-64.

*Notably, Wooster and Wittenberg have never played one another in the NCAA tournament, despite several bracket opportunities over the years.

Great stats KB!

I, for one, will be pulling for a Wooster-JCU rematch.  Wooster is only 2-3 vs. JCU in the tournament, but both of their wins were en route to Wooster reaching the Final 4!!!  Maybe history can repeat itself this year!!! 

Couple of things to add, Wooster is making their NCAA Division III record 16th straight NCAA Tournament appearance!  That is the 6th longest streak all time behind Kansas, Duke, MSU, Gonzaga and Wisconsin (whose streak will end at 18 straight this year btw).  Wooster is also 3rd in overall D3 Tournament appearances with 27 only trailing Wittenberg and Scranton with 28 each!

For what it's worth, I re-looked at Wooster's tourney history. With those five meetings, John Carroll is Wooster's most frequent tournament opponent. With the game tomorrow, IWU will join Ohio Northern as the only other teams Wooster has faced more than twice in NCAA play.

You see lots of different teams in March: Wooster has played 45 different teams across 61 NCAA tournament games.

[Onward on, John Carroll]

BTW - something else I've seen a lot is when buying tickets they ask who they are fans for to make sure they go into particular sections.

I honestly think you guys are putting more into this than it needs. I bet there will be tickets available and I really don't see Wooster selling the place out.

I don't think Wooster will sell the place out, either.  But I do think that a strong Wooster crowd could leave some JCU fans out and think that it will be a real cluster%&*$ during the period of time toward the end of the Woo game/start of the JCU game. I would have cleared the gym the minute they assigned Wooster to JCU to protect the home court advantage, take care of as many fans of mine as possible and make for a more pleasant experience for everyone - my opinion.

All that said, I sure hope you are right, Dave.

[Onward on, John Carroll]

Cleveland Plain Dealer:  Great article on JCU coach Pete Moran and his first season at the helm at JCU after taking over for his father, the legendary Mike Moran, who had been head coach for 25 years:
http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2018/03/john_carroll_basketball_is_the.html

Wooster's Daily Record:

http://www.the-daily-record.com/sports/20180301/div-iii-national-tournament-capsules

http://www.the-daily-record.com/sports/20180226/wooster-scots-men-earn-bid-extend-streak

From Bloomington's (Illinois) The Pantagraph:

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/reborn-wesleyan-draws-wooster-in-ncaa-first-round/article_348852bf-efa3-5540-a998-b643b5fd5835.html

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/bonnett-pushes-health-issues-aside-to-excel-for-iwu/article_b7f2122b-2e56-51e9-bbc2-97ad32a670d6.html

[kiltedbryan]

Wooster 72
Illinois Wesleyan 68

Brady Rose is really, really good. But despite his best efforts (game leading 31 pts), the Scots played a poised and complete game tonight to hold off Rose's Titans and earn a solid NCAA tournament victory.

I thought Wooster's depth and balance (5 players with 9+ points) helped them to keep having options throughout the game as compared to IWU that got 53 of 68 points from Rose (31), Bonnett (11), and O'Neill (11).

[woolax]

John Carrol doing a good job throwing Williams off his game, as Wooster down 33-40 at the half too John Carroll.

[kiltedbryan]

Wooster 85
John Carroll 91

UW-Oshkosh 68
Wittenberg 60

And just like that, the NCAC's run in the 2018 NCAA Tournament is over. I suspect the Scots are disappointed, and have to wonder what might have happened if they had a better NCAC tournament showing that would've allowed them to host JCU in their own gym. For Wittenberg, a stellar season comes to an abrupt, shocking and surely exceptionally disappointing end.