MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

Hiram isn't that bad, really, because they had a good defensive effort against Wooster and when they were at Wabash they played hard. I think OWU was just 'en fuego', as it were. One of those days.

About five pages ago I posted a blurb about the game.  Hiram was outrebounded 55-39 and OWU shot 52.7% from the floor while Hiram shot just 30.8%.

[imderekpoe]

Tom Port Update:

The cast is off!  Tom practiced yesterday with a splint which apparently did not affect his catching or shooting.  He will not play against Allegheny and is listed as 'Questionable' for the game on Saturday.

The article from the Daily Record: http://www.the-daily-record.com/article.php?pathToFile=/articles//sports/&file=_sports3.txt&article=1&tD=

[ScotsFan]

I wouldn't characterize Hiram's defensive effort against Wooster as "good" per se.  After all, they did give up 102 points.  To their credit, they did step up their defensive effort in the 2nd half after allowing 66 in the 1st half.  But still, any time you give up triple digits to the opposing team, you can't call it a good defensive effort.

Here is a quote that I found amusing.  It is from the Wittenberg Basketball page regarding ticket sales for this Saturday's game:

While the Tigers are averaging less than 1,000 fans per home game so far in the 2005-06 season, the game against Wooster is expected to be a sellout, meaning that all 3,000 seats in the arena will be filled.

So that is what a sellout is?  I guess it needs to be explained when you are averaging less than 1,000 a game.

[smedindy]

In the context of Wooster's point totals - for Hiram it was a good defensive effort. It's all about the context.

[wally_wabash]

Wooster has given up point totals of: 101, 110, 113, 91, and 94 this season.  Are they a rotten defensive team?

People in glass houses....

[woosterbooster]

Why is it that you two feel compelled to jump on, usually in tandem, any comment that's made by a Wooster poster?  It really gets old.

Hiram's defensive effort was abyssmal.  They gave up 65 first half points, allowing Wooster to shoot it at 63.4%.  They would very likely have given up a like number of points in the second half had Tom Port not been knocked out of the game, this having the dual effect of removing one of the best players on the court but also taking much of the starch out of the Wooster team.

If you really want to talk about wondrous defensive efforts, how about that of Wabash when they hosted the Scots?  An obvious good job in the first half, but then it sure seems like they folded up their tent in the second stanza, as Wooster went for 66 on 25-37 shooting.

Normally, I wouldn't comment to this extent on a game that I only heard on the radio, but as it's already been established on this forum that sitting in the stands with a bird's eye view is not a prerequisite to being an expert, I'll just follow suit.

[smedindy]

Now just hold on a cotton pickin' minute here.

I was the one who originally stated that Hiram had a 'good' defensive 'effort' against Wooster.

Not great - not fab - but good.

Did I denigrate the Scots' defense or their offense?

No.

Did I say anything bad about the Scots?

No.

Did I make any claim about Wabash's defense, at all?

No. In fact, if you would have cared to go back, I think the general consensus was that Wabash's second half performance against Wooster was one of stink, stank, stunk. (But that would involve reading old posts).

I just said Hiram had a good defensive effort. Someone claimed otherwise, and I countered with a mere plea for context. In looking at a defensive performance, you need to gather a baseline of how the other teams offense normally performs.

Let us consider that game vs. the game against Ohio Wesleyan.

Wooster averages almost 97 points a game. Hiram gave them 101, which is close to their average, well within an expect result.

OWU averages 79 points a game, even with that Hiram score.

Thus, the conclusion is that based on the contexts of the two games, the fact that Hiram only allowed Wooster a scant few points over its average, while allowing OWU to score nearly at will, led me to believe that the effort was good against Wooster, and poor against OWU.

There was no intended slight of Wooster, at all, and if you read that into it then that's sad.You sir, are twisting things way out of context, and reading way too much into things. It was my comment originally that started this discussion, and I replied in kind with my thoughts. Kindly read the entire discussion, and think about your replies.

You know, I had liked your insight and posts earlier, but now I fear you are becoming as nettlesome and irrational as some of the Wabash football posters many Scots complain about.

[smedindy]

Oh, and obviously I can't attend every game here on D3hoops.com, nor see every team. But I know how to read and parse out box scores, study the power rankings and know my way around how good (or not) each team and conference is, in a general sense.

I also have learned that partisans eyes can decieve (having had to remain neutral when covering games, you tend to see things differently when you're rabidly rooting) and that radio descriptions, especially from hometown announcers, aren't always 100% bias free. So I try to suss out the real stories, instead of parroting the 'party' line.

(Again, read what I post on the FB site about Wabash - I'm not a kool aid drinker there...)

Besides, you should focus your bile and derision on Wittenberg. Who's the real enemy?

[WoosterBNel]

It is hard for me to believe that chojnacki, vanderfart, and hodgy will make first team ahead of one of the best players in the conference (The Great Dane).  However you are entitled to your opinion even if it is biased (3 Wooster players on first team). While we are on the topic of Witt v. Woo, Bill Brown will have a scheme to slow down Cooper, and have a good post defense plan. This is up for dispute but im setting the opening line for Witt v Woo.

Witt  -4.5
O/U  175.5

Why is it that you two feel compelled to jump on, usually in tandem, any comment that's made by a Wooster poster? It really gets old.

wah  

[earlhamalum]

Children (adults) Children (adults) Children (adults) can't we just all get along!

Bottom line Wooster scores and they score a lot!  I bet that Wooster/Wittenberg game is going to be a battle. *They usually are.  Witt. Always known for their D, and Wooster this year scoring at will.  When is that game?  I want to take the day off from all prior commitments and go to Springfield!  (Did I really just say that)  

I am not all the knowledgeable about other conferences, but this has to be one of the top 3 showdowns in all of D3 basketball... dare I say all of college basketball.

[witt4ever]

Defensive Ranking in the NCAC (rank in  all of D3):

1. Wittenberg (1)
2. Wabash (77)
3. Earlham (122)
4. OWU (228)
5. Denison (239)
6. Allegheny (264)
7. Kenyon (278)
8. Wooster (297)
9. Hiram (353)
10. Oberlin (369)

Out of 396 schools.

[blindwatchmaker]

Don't look now but guess who the guest coach will be on Hoopsville tonight! 

No curse please!

Witt4ever- wonder what the NCAC list would look like if you did one for Offense?

[witt4ever]

Don't look now but guess who the guest coach will be on Hoopsville tonight! 

No curse please!

Witt4ever- wonder what the NCAC list would look like if you did one for Offense?

  1. Wooster (7)
  2. OWU (50)
  3. Earlham (168)
  4. Wittenberg (178)
  5. Denison (182)
  6. Allegheny (184)
  7. Wabash (199)
  8. Hiram (209)
  9. Kenyon (290)
10. Oberlin (371)

[DenisonFan]

These next 5 games for Wabash could be VERY interesting.  They have one tough road ahead.  They drop 5 straight they are toast.

First Team All-Conference:
You must have two from Witt and two from Wooster.
If Port comes back, which it looks like he will, don't you have to put him on 1st team?

I think both Borchers and Brady are equally deserving.   

I think everyone else mentioned should be there as well.  So it could be interesting.  A lot will depend on the final standings in the conference.

[smedindy]

DFan -

Fortunately, four of the five are at home, where only IWU and Wooster bested the LGs. Now, while I'd be a dang fool to predict a win over Witt, at home I feel confident against OWU, Earlham and Denison.

However, a poor effort could definitely lead to some losses and a road trip in the NCAC tourney.