MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[imderekpoe]

A. The NCAC refs wouldn't call a travel even if a kid walked 15 steps from halfcourt to the basket.

The refs made several travelling calls tonight.  Most legit, but one mystery call on Brandon Johnson could have been a big one.  Earlham made a quick 3 after that and I thought that they might make a run, but Cooper took over for a couple minutes for the Scots and gave them a little cushion.

B. Ahem, Wooster should not complain about players being protected. I've seen players like Port, Vandervart, Nelson, et. al. protected big time at Wabash. Same with Russ and Borchers, and BJ Harris.

The point is that it happens everywhere - not just to Wooster's and Witt's advantage.  Scots fans (and I'm sure Tigers fans) get tired of hearing that we always get the benefit of the calls.  Definitely NOT the case tonight, in my opinion.  Yes, there were bad calls and non-calls both ways, but Earlham got all kinds (maybe not dozens though!) of close calls tonight.

Kudos to Brandon Miller for a great career and a really gutsy performance tonight.  He looked to be in a lot of pain after turning his ankle, but did his best to keep Earlham in the game.  I thought that Justus could have taken him out in the last minute to be acknowledged by the crowd...

[woosterbooster]

Derek -

Thanks, you reminded me of something I had meant to mention in my earlier post.

Although both teams played hard and physical, good sportsmanship ran rampant throughout the game.  Miller and Port were joking a few times, as were some others.  Many times, if a player hit the deck, an opponent helped him to his feet.  And at the end of the game, while the clock was still running down, there were a lot of hugs passed across former enemy lines on the court.  Especially between the seniors and upperclassmen, from guys who had squared off against each other for quite a few contests over the last three or four years. Miller, Port, Henry, Witucky, etc.  It was great to see.

[zosobob]

On to tomorrow night Ladies and Gentlemen, it should be interesting.

Looking forward to Sunday night also. (selections)
And Monday. (pairings)

Good Evening

[David Collinge]

I'm also looking forward to those three things, but with no small amount of trepidation.  Wooster is not playing their best basketball right now.  I'm beginning to wonder if they peaked too soon.  I hope they play well tomorrow, and I further hope that they get a favorable draw in the tourney, which may only be possible if they get switched to a largely Mid-Atlantic bracket.  Probably the best we could hope for is to not get a first round bye, and host a four-team regional with the likes of Bethany, Lake Erie, and maybe Carnegie Mellon.

[ScotsFan]

B. Ahem, Wooster should not complain about players being protected. I've seen players like Port, Vandervart, Nelson, et. al. protected big time at Wabash. Same with Russ and Borchers, and BJ Harris.

Ahem, I guess that's why Port picked up his 3rd and 4th fouls within a minute of each other in the 1st five minutes of Wooster's visit to Chadwick earlier this year, in case you forgot?    Good thing Port was being "protected" in that particular game...

I will say, I echo WB's sentiments regarding opponents getting "homered" by the refs when they visit Wooster or Witt.  I can't speak on behalf of what goes on at Wittenberg, but I can say that it seems to be the exact opposite that goes on at Wooster.  Tonight, Miller picks up 2 quick fouls, and then he seems to become immune to the whistle for some reason.  It was as if the refs were afraid to blow the whistle on him again until the contest was basically decided.  He had two questionable charging calls that were never made in the 1st half alone?  Not to mention the times that he was reaching in or over the back.  Now, I can see why he fouled out so early in that Wittenberg game.  Those officials weren't afraid to call him on it! 

At least good sportsmanship still won out though in the end.  It was refreshing to see mutual respect being shown by both teams at the end of the game on a hardfaught win by the Scots.  Miller and company showed nothing but class even though the Wooster student section rode him practically the entire game chanting "Miller, Miller, Miller" everytime he did something foolish.  He, nor any of the Earlham players gave any sort of recognition towards the crowd at any time during the game.  Maybe they learned their lesson from the Wabash game.  I just wanted to say that they handled themselves with class tonight.

[smedindy]

Port should have gotten 7 or 8 fouls on him at Chadwick. Geez. He was out of control and whining.

I'm also taking HISTORICAL, if you would read.

Lest we forget last year where Wabash had *zero* foul shots in the entire game - thanks to Ohio refs.

Anyway, I want DETAILS on Artie. Not just simple colors. What hue of blue? What about the shirt! My gosh, people! Details!

[David Collinge]

Nobody thinks that the refs have enough brain power to accurately interpret the rules and call a decent game, but everyone thinks they're all part of some vast conspiracy to help or hurt various teams that nobody outside our little circle has ever heard of.  And they're so fiendishly clever that they can execute their demonic plans and make the fans of both teams feel certain that they're the ones who were targeted. 

Or maybe, just maybe, they're regular guys like you and me, except we sit here and say terrible things aout them, while they make our game possible.

[sac]

Nobody thinks that the refs have enough brain power to accurately interpret the rules and call a decent game, but everyone thinks they're all part of some vast conspiracy to help or hurt various teams that nobody outside our little circle has ever heard of.  And they're so fiendishly clever that they can execute their demonic plans and make the fans of both teams feel certain that they're the ones who were targeted. 

Or maybe, just maybe, they're regular guys like you and me, except we sit here and say terrible things aout them, while they make our game possible.

Your a real buzz kill   DC..........karma anyway

[c-busballer]

"Officials"

I have been able to see a number of Division III games this year without any real rooting interest.  It has been a lot of fun to go to games just to watch the game and enjoy the competition.  It is also amazing to sit and listen to some of the words and phrases that come out of fans mouths about officials and players.  Sometimes the fans are also very critical of their own teams players, not aware if that player's relatives or coach's relatives are sitting near the critisism or even insults.  I know everyone has a right to voice their opinion.  I just think more positive cheering for their team would benefit everyone.  For the most part, it is only a few people for each team.

Comment's about the officials are the worst.   This game is so fast and quick.  They are making split second decisions every time down the court.  I have seen only a few officials that seem to carry an attitude.  When you are playing or coaching, it may seem like the officials have done a poor job in a particular game.  After watching the film, you realize that they did a fair job, missed a few calls, but at the same time, you actually see that your team got the benefit of the same number if not more than your opponent.

The charge that Wooster and Wittenberg get the benefit of the calls is brought up often in here.  I just think it is a matter of Wooster and Witt being very good every year, usually on a slightly higher playing level than not only the NCAC but the majority of DIII schools.  They are very well coached and they get top quality recruits who know how to play.  They do not have complicated offensive and defensive strategies which let's their players concentrate on making plays instead of trying to run plays. 

I was able to watch John Carroll win 3 of 4 NCAA Tournament games (2 at Witt and 2 at Wooster) the last couple of years.  For those of you that think there is home court cooking, that was not the case.  And some may think that JCU got the benefit of the calls.  The team that won those four games was the team that made the most plays, not the refs.  The game that Wooster won on their way to the final 4, they made the plays.  JCU came all the way from 15 to 17 point deficits at Wooster.  The first year, Wooster made a few more play down the stretch to win the game (particularly Mitchell).  The second year, JCU made a few more plays.  At Witt, JCU just outplayed Witt the first time.  The second time, JCU made a few more plays.

Sorry for rambling.  It just amazes me how people can put so much emphasis on the officiating of the game, when they have very little influence on the game.  They will miss some calls for your team.  They are human and people just like you and me.  The most regular people, with real jobs, real families, and real problems.  Buy them a beer if you see them at a restaurant or bar and sit down with them.  To understand how quick the game is, try to officiate an elementary game.  Even at that level, you will realize that every time down the court, you probably miss a call.  I still feel that way when I have to referee games as a camp counselor. 

Good luck to Wooster and Witt. Would love to be there, but I have a 2 year old boy that can already snap his wrist on his follow-through that I have to watch.  Congrats to Earlham and OWU on their seasons. 



 

[DarkSide-D]

Wow,

Will the conspiracy BS against Wabash EVER end??  I mean, you guys must really have a low self esteem to think that the entire NCAC is out to make sure Wabash never wins a game.  Come on...lets get real here.

[smedindy]

Darkside -

A. The game last year with zero foul shots was pretty blatant.

B. The line "and now I must change the tinfoil" was meant to put it in it's proper place. Some people chose not to read and to ignored that part - and I can't help that some people get defensive and turn off their sense of humor.

[pennstghs]

come on guys who cares bout refs its CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY this is what we've been waiting for all season. im heading up to wooster in a few hours, so scots fans beware-i'll be the one with the sign behind the tiger bench.

[WooMix]

Can someone please take (a) picture(s) of Artie?  It will be nice to see what he is gonna wear for the game tonight. 

[ScotsFan]

Can someone please take (a) picture(s) of Artie? It will be nice to see what he is gonna wear for the game tonight.

I'm guessing he'll be there in his red suit tonight.  That seems to be the suit du jour for the Witt/Woo game.  At least the games at Wooster that is...

[Li'l Giant]

Wow,

Will the conspiracy BS against Wabash EVER end??  I mean, you guys must really have a low self esteem to think that the entire NCAC is out to make sure Wabash never wins a game.  Come on...lets get real here.

You don't have to believe in an anti-Wabash conspiracy to see something wrong with a team getting zero foul shots in an NCAC tourney game.

There are Wooster posters on here complaining about the officiating in a game they (a) won by 10 points, and (b) had 3 more FTs than Earlham.

Do you really expect me to believe that NO ONE would complain if Wooster loses to Witt tonight and gets ZERO foul shots in the process? Please.

There are conspiracy theories and they're retarded. But zero foul shots is equally retarded.