MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

But I don't think OWU will have what Wabash had against Witt - a well-oiled fanbase with visceral hate and loathing of their opponent.

[bishopsfan]

There is no possible way, no matter how much I would like to see ut, that if OWU wins the NCAC tourny the NCAC will get three teams in the tournament!  That would be the equivolent of the Big East getting 10 teams in.  I understand that the DIII tourney has expanded this year but it is still not at the necessary 64 teams so there will not be three NCAC teams.  The NCAC will get there usual two teams whether it is  Wooster/Witt, OWU/Witt, or OWU/Wooster.

If OWU wins the tourney I am sorry to say that I believe that Wittenberg, no matter how nice of a season they have had will be left out.  They have lost to Wooster twice.  That fact alone will leave them out if OWU wins the tourney.  If you really do not believe this reference the year (I believe it to be the 2001-2002 season) when Capital only had five losses, and three of them were to the eventual national champion Otterbein, on the year and did not get in.  I have a feeling that if OWU wins the tourney Wittenberg will find itself in the same boat. 

Big game today for the Bishops.  I really do feel that the Bishops matchup very well with the Scots.  Both teams love the three ball.  Being that it is in Delaware, it is senior day, and there have been a rash of upset this week, I feel good about this game. 

[imderekpoe]

As for the regular season which wraps up, lets see now,  later today, does anyone see this OWU game as a possible hickup for Wooster like the Wabash game was for Witt?  OWU kept the game within reach the last time they played, although, I never really felt like the Bishops were ever much of a threat the entire game.  And, it was Wooster's first game without the services of Tom Port.  I would look for this one to be somewhat close again, unless Wooster comes out blazing like they have been doing since Port's return.  OWU needs to stay with Wooster early to have any chance.  If the Bishops can keep it close through the 1st half, they could make a ballgame out of it.  I just feel, with Port in the lineup this time around, it'll be too much for the Battling Bishops to handle.

I think there's a big chance of an upset today in Delaware.  The Scots have traditionally had close games there (last year they won in OT after Chojnacki missed a FT to win in regulation), the Scots are #1 in the country and have a huge target on their backs, they've clinched the NCAC regular season title, and they're basically assured a spot in the NCAA tourney.

That being said, the Scots have been playing very well since Port has returned.  I'll think they'll handle the Bishops, but it may be close.

[Gregory Sager]

There is no possible way, no matter how much I would like to see ut, that if OWU wins the NCAC tourny the NCAC will get three teams in the tournament!  That would be the equivolent of the Big East getting 10 teams in.  I understand that the DIII tourney has expanded this year but it is still not at the necessary 64 teams so there will not be three NCAC teams.  The NCAC will get there usual two teams whether it is  Wooster/Witt, OWU/Witt, or OWU/Wooster.

If OWU wins the tourney I am sorry to say that I believe that Wittenberg, no matter how nice of a season they have had will be left out.  They have lost to Wooster twice.  That fact alone will leave them out if OWU wins the tourney.  If you really do not believe this reference the year (I believe it to be the 2001-2002 season) when Capital only had five losses, and three of them were to the eventual national champion Otterbein, on the year and did not get in.  I have a feeling that if OWU wins the tourney Wittenberg will find itself in the same boat.

Apples and oranges, Bishopsfan. The year that Capital got left out in the cold, there were only six Pool C bids available nationally. This year there are 18. Wittenberg's currently ranked third in the region, which means that they have something of a cushion should they falter before the NCAC title game. Their in-region record (16-3) and their QOWI (10.368, good for 17th nationally) are both sterling qualifications. Witt is not going to get left out ... and if OWU (or Wabash or Earlham) does achieve the seemingly impossible and wins the NCAC tourney, there will indeed be three NCAC teams in the big dance this March.

[smedindy]

I agree with Gregory. With the expansion, both Wooster and Witt are 'locks'. Of all the elite GL teams, only Albion is on the bubble, i feel.

[sac]

Smeds I think Dave's thorough analysis suggests Albion MUST win the MIAA tournament to get in...........geez it even looks like a 22-2 team might have to MUST win their conference tournament to get it?

[goscots]

In the next week I am sure a number of posters will begin listing who they think should receive all league honors. I have a proposal that mirrors how high school leagues select those honors: Coaches have to nominate players that other coaches can vote on (they usually do this team by team - anyone who doesn't make the first team after the coaches vote is dropped to second team nomination and more are added).

I would ask that the posters who loyally follow their team nominate players from that team, add the league team they think the player should be on and provide a short one sentence reason why. For players destined for the first team this may seem like a trivial exercise, but I am having difficulty with the back end of the selections. Even though I have seen most teams twice it may not be a representative enough. Nominations whould help.

If others think this is a good idea, I'll post mine later

[smedindy]

Sac - I think that Albion is hurt by the fact that the back half of the MIAA stinks, and they didn't do enough work in their non-conference schedule, unlike Wooster and Witt.

I do think it's silly to not have games from adjacent states count as regional games though. I'll run that up a flagpole somewhere and see if people salute.

[David Collinge]

I would ask that the posters who loyally follow their team nominate players from that team, add the league team they think the player should be on and provide a short one sentence reason why. For players destined for the first team this may seem like a trivial exercise, but I am having difficulty with the back end of the selections. Even though I have seen most teams twice it may not be a representative enough. Nominations whould help.

I don't think there's enough of us to go around to do this.  We'd not have anyone to nominate Matt Formato, or Matt Majzlik, or Quinton Spencer, for example.

[kiltedbryan]

Early at OWU:

12:00 to play, 20-17 OWU

Both teams shooting well, and doesn't sound like there's been too much defense.  Up tempo style

[wooscotsfan]

At the Half:  Ohio Wesleyan 50  Wooster 50

Both teams shooting very well.  Andy Warnock has been unstoppable and has 20 points to lead the Bishops.  Kyle Holliday has added 8 points for OWU.

Kyle Witucky has 13 points and Tom Port has chipped in 9 points to lead Wooster in the first half.

Scots will need to play better defense in the 2nd half if they want to get the road win this afternoon.

[kiltedbryan]

I agree wooscotsfan, Wooster's going to have to up the defensive effort to cut into the shooting barrage of OWU.  But that goes both ways- it sounds like Wooster gaurds have gotten a lot of easy layups driving down the middle of the OWU defense (most of why Witucky has 13).

If OWU stays close on their home floor, it could be dangerous at the end.

[Hoops MacPherson]

Matt Majzlik doesn't deserve to be all-league; his lack of conditioning has hurt the Gators as much as he has helped them. Gators are getting better (led Witt by 9 at half and were tied with Wooster at half at home), because Hollihan and Torsney give them two athletic big guys, and Babe started hitting some perimeter shots.

[Kramer]

Anyone have a score from Denison at Hiram?

[ScotsFan]

TO Wooster.  OWU is up 9, 67-58  with 12 minutes to go.  Wooster is ice cold in the 2nd half.  Only one made fg so far and they are only 2-12 from outside the arc.