MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[TheRed]

DF,

You are an idiot.  You have no idea what you are talking about and I think I speak for most when saying that we are sick of hearing your ridiculious comments about the games.

"If the team isn't doing what the coach wants them to do.  Sit em down."

In that case, Hern and Hodge would never play because their defense has been very questionable all year.  You have even said that yourself.  You contradict yourself all the time and I'm tired of hearing it.  Next you are gonna say "well somebody has to score some points and that is why those two should play."  If thats the case, then you shouldn't have said the comment above. 

This is a team game and no the two best shooters don't have to shoot the ball the most every game and I feel that the explanation for most people on here would be pretty obvious, but for you I'll go ahead and explain.  Since they are the best two shooters most teams will plan their defensive scheme around them and take them away as it sounds Wabash tried to do.  Therefore, at some point other guys are going to have to step up and make some shots if the team is going to be succesful.  If not, the two are going to end up forcing some bad shots and turning the ball over more than normal.  I'm not saying  Krantz should have shot 18 times, but I do like that he wasn't afraid to step up and take the shots he was given.  You must take what the defense gives you and some nights that may mean Krantz and Izzo take 15 shots while Hern and Hodge take 8.  It all depends on the situtation and that seems to be something you don't understand.  Things aren't the same every single game like you want them to be.  If Denison got beat by Witt by 35 and played 12 guys you would blame Ghiloni for playing too many people when it really had nothing to do with it.  Just please get a clue.

[WooMix]

Boy-o-boy!  The voters were purely brutal on Witt this week.  We all knew they weren't gonna be on top but to slide all the way to 6th I thought was kinda harsh.

[earlhamalum]

I created Earlham on a video-game  NCAA 2003 one year and didn't lose a game?  WoosterBooster Does that count for anything???   I believe I beat Duke in the Championship... I was the MVP.  (sadly i'm being serious) but just trying to throw some humor out here.

On the other hand this week is HUGE for Earlham.  They play Wabash on Wed. and OWU on Saturday.  I'd love to see them win both, but I'd take 1 out of 2.  On the other hand... how about OBERLIN with the first WIN of the season... nice to see them Drop the Goose Egg at the hands of HIRAM in a TRIPLE-O.T. game.  That was most likely the best/worst game of all time.    

[wooscotsfan]

I am also sorry to see Witt slide down to 6th but I can understand the logic of the Top 25 voters.

There are very few games between Top 25 teams during the course of the year.  Witt won't play #2 Lawrence, #3 Augustana, #4 Hope or #5 Baldwin-Wallace unless the Tigers meet those teams in the NCAA tourney.

Since the voters have very few head to head game results, they place a significant weight on the number of losses by each Top 25 team.  The additional factors that voters seem to consider are the strength of the conferences (WIAC, CCIW, MIAA, OAC teams, etc. rank higher with multiple losses than teams from other conferences), the strength of each team's schedule and the quality of their losses.

It is important to note that Witt is now the 2nd highest ranked team in the nation with 2 losses.  The only higher ranked team than Witt with 2 losses is #5 Baldwin-Wallace.....and the Yellow Jackets beat Wooster (which Witt hasn't done) and BW also plays in a deeper (stronger) OAC conference (than the NCAC).

So upon reflection, I think that Witt's ranking at #6 is understandable...even if NCAC fans, like me, would prefer to see them at #3, #4 or #5.  

[earlhamalum]

I don't think Witt would of fell down so far if it was on the ROAD.  (don't forget guys/gals they were the HOME-team) It did sound like Wooster was in control the entire game.   

[wooscotsfan]

Congrats to James Cooper on being named NCAC Player of the Week (again).  

Cooper had 25 points vs Allegheny and 24 vs. Witt.  James shot 17 of 24 from the field in 2 games (70.8%!!) including 7 of 9 three pointers made!  He was also 8 of 10 combined on free throws.

One other note -- a very nice photo on the D3 home page today that shows Andy Van Horn giving up some skin as he dives in an attempt to knock the ball away from a Wittenberg player.  

[David Collinge]

There are very few games between Top 25 teams during the course of the year.  Witt won't play #2 Lawrence, #3 Augustana, #4 Hope or #5 Baldwin-Wallace unless the Tigers meet those teams in the NCAA tourney.

...and the way the NCAA does things, those could be Witt's first four opponents in the tournament! 

[pennstghs]

now i know you guys have awaited my responses to the game saturday. very frustrating game to watch for witt fans as it felt like we were never in control (we weren't). several times we would be in position to cut the deficit to one possession and a tacky foul call or stupid freshmen shot from 3 5 seconds into the shot clock would arise. one time jack hemingway, who was having a good game, was taken out of the game with two poor foul calls within 30 seconds-looked like he was brandon miller with those calls. witt had no answer for the 3 barrage from wooster all night.

one observation. nothing was going witt's way at all in the game except the low post game and yet we still moderately were in the game until the very end. it's unlikely wooste can have another game where everything goes their way and plus for some odd reason witt plays better up at wooster so that holds a glimmer of hope.

witt dropping to 6th is disappointing, but in the grand scheme of things doesnt carry much weight as the selection committee doesnt seem to care about rankings anyways as proven in years past.

finally, i was embarassed of the cheer of our students during the game. i sat on the railing behind our bench because i was forced to move because i was in a restricted area, even though it wasnt marked like everywhere else that was restricted (another case of bull****). i cringed when i heard that cheer and was disappointed in the fans overall. the creativity of cheers lacked i thought. the townie sign from our fans was stupid and the person who created it isnt from springfield and is part of a not so intelligent group of people so dont buy in to that too much.

p.s.-no more denison talk about how many people they play, once and for all no one really cares

[scottiedawg]

I don't want to sound like I'm whining, but could someone explain Augustana moving from 5th to 3rd?  They beat unranked Carthage and North Park by small margins, while Hope beat 6th ranked Albion (at Home) and stayed at 4th.  I did think think Wittenberg would stay ahead of Hope, but I had no idea Hope would get passed.  Any explanations. 

[David Collinge]

Scottiedawg, there is a room devoted to discussion of the top 25 in the "multi-regional topics" room.  Since your question doesn't directly involve any NCAC teams, most of the denizens of this room won't be willing or able to answer it.  I suggest you take up your question in the top 25 room, where lots of folks may be eager to discuss it.  Here's a link to that room==> Top 25 Talk

[imderekpoe]

One other note -- a very nice photo on the D3 home page today that shows Andy Van Horn giving up some skin as he dives in an attempt to knock the ball away from a Wittenberg player. 

Not to mention fouling the Witt player!!   

[smedindy]

p.s.-no more denison talk about how many people they play, once and for all no one really cares

Once and for ALL, this is an NCAC board, and yes people do care about Denison. That provincial attitude has to go. I would LOVE to have discussions about all 10 teams in the board, not just the front runners. So stuff that attitude in a sack, and let's talk about them ALL.

[wally_wabash]

You're both right....we need talk about all 10 teams in here.  It makes for a better board.  We need to get off the topic of Denison's rotation, specifically as it pertains to the use of Hodgkinson and Hern.  There's not a speck of dirt left in that rug. 

The reality is that in 21 games, there isn't one real surprising result on Denison's schedule.  The only two that approach surprising are the loss to Marietta and the win at Earlham...and those esentially cancel each other out.  Why does Denison win the games they win and lose the games they lose?  It has nary a thing to do with how Ghiloni uses the H's.  It has everything to do with quality of Denison's opponent.  Put simply, Denison has to get better by quite a bit before it makes much sense to nitpick at the coach's strategy as a reason why Denison loses to OWU and Wabash and Witt and Wooster. 

[Lboogz15]

WHAT IF.... Hiram came into Wooster and upset the number 1 team in the land?  We have nothing to lose and whatever statements are placed on here will be in the locker room! Just a question the games have been close as of late.  WHAT IF....

[smedindy]

That would be incredible. Far-fetched, but incredible.