MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

Wittenberg had a better regional record AND a much better QOWI. So it's only logical Witt hosts. Sorry, B-W, don't lose those games you should have won.

[woosterbooster]

I don't see much of a difference between Wooster's play on the road and at home; they've played very well no matter where the locale.  Don't forget, they beat Witt at home and also had a good win over a stout Stout team in Timken.  The only game where I thought they played subpar was the most recent game against Earlham.  I can't fault their effort against Witt, if a couple of shots fall here or there, they win it.

I do think that BW got the worst of all of this, that they should have been hosting ahead of both Witt or Wooster (there is no doubt in my mind that the OAC is a tougher league, top to bottom, than the NCAC). Their path, and Wittenberg's, are very tough.  But Wooster gets no slouchs down in Lexington in Randolph-Macon and Transy.

Much of my disappointment was in the fact that it's a pretty long hike to Lexington and that the venue isn't overly large.  I'm hoping that Wooster can come up with enough tickets to support those fans who want to make the trip.

Early prediction, if this matchup happens: Witt knocks off BW. Torii Davis is very good, but I think it's he who will have matchup problems with Russ/Borchers, at both ends.  He's giving away just too much size, and to two very good players.  I might give BW a slight edge at the other spots, but not enough to counteract the advantage I see for Witt underneath.

[ScotsFan]

Wittenberg had a better regional record AND a much better QOWI. So it's only logical Witt hosts. Sorry, B-W, don't lose those games you should have won.

That's basically what it boils down to.  B-W lost their last 2 regular season games.  They had already sewn up the OAC regular season title, but those losses cost them a shot a hosting, plain and simple.  Even winning one of those last two might have given you an outside shot, but losing those final two really hurt.

As for the debate as to who the stronger conference is between the OAC and the NCAC, top to bottom I say the OAC.  At the top, definately the NCAC which is why the NCAC has 2 teams in compared to the OAC.  The middle of the pack is better in the OAC than the NCAC.  They beat up on each other which is why only one rep is in out of the OAC.

[wally_wabash]

OAC tougher than NCAC??? That is debatable (I guess that is what this board is for)...How many OAC teams in the tourney?

The OAC is a tougher league than the NCAC is.  That isn't up for debate.  

[earlhamalum]

Long time no talk... i know this is old news.  Earlham/Wooster  EC played hard and didn't give up Wooster was just to much.  I thought Wooster was going to win on Saturday, but Congrats to Wittenberg.  

Also It looks like if both NCAC teams can take care of business they can meet up again in the sectionals March 11th.  (not going to be an easy road)  Witt. playing at home is nice, but seeing B-W in the second round should be a good one.  Transy made the transition from scholarship players (D-2) I believe, to D3 nicely about 3-4 years ago.  (also helps that they built a new basketball facility 3 years ago too)  I like wooster chances of getting to Sectionals, and believe it or not I think B-W will give Witt. a run for their money!

But as I do for the NCAC as I do for the BIG TEN, when my team is out (Earlham,Indiana) I am a fan of the teams left in the conference come Tourney time.. Good luck to Wooster and Wittenberg.

Thanks to all NCAC PLAYERS and COACHES for another great year of Basketball... good luck to all graduating Seniors!  Nothing like the Real World  

[smedindy]

As a whole, the OAC is better. OWU, Wabash and Earlham vs. Wilmington, Musky, Otterbein, John Carroll, et. al. It's a meatgrinder of a league, much like the CCIW and the WIAC.

If those aforementioned three can occasionally beat Wooster and Witt more than once every three seasons, and Denison, Gheny and Kenyon can step up - then the NCAC may be in line for the same title. But that may be 3-5-7 seasons down the road.

Wooster will need to do better in scheduling non-coference regional games. Kalamazoo, Westminster, W & J, and Thiel were QOWI killers.

[WoosterFAN]

Possible second opponets common foes:
BETHANY and WOOSTER had many in common (WESTMINSTER, THIEL, WASH&JEFF and HIRAM)
BETHANY went 8-0 vs. those teams.
WOOSTER went 5-0 vs those teams.

BETHANY went undefeated in the PrAC and won the conference tourney.  Their last loss was 10DEC @ home vs. Lake Erie and they lost to CMU and CWRU...CWRU??? You figure it out.

TRANS and WOOSTER both played WITT..We know the SCOTS record vs WITT and WITT beat TRANS @ TRANS 62-51 in NOV. 

Interesting that TRANS played two teams (Both Maryville's) in the bracket above. They went 2-1, one loss @ Maryville(TN) and win vs same team on nuetral court.  The beat MO team in MO.

[WoosterFAN]

And of course the OAC is better from top to bottom than the NCAC.  I think I mentioned it on the OAC board that they beat each other up during the regular season becuase they are so good top to bottom especially when almost any of those teams are playing at home.

But the NCAA selections have ranked to the NCAA eligible teams from the NCAC as better than those of the OAC (in conference record, regional record, SOSI?? whatever).  It was a "poke in the eye" to an OAC poster than vehemently alleged that BW and OAC got screwed.  I agree with SMEDINDY, if BW had won out at the end of season they they would be hosting instead. 
   At the same time, I would not have been surprised if BW had hosted as well.  Each conference winner in the region could claim that they should have been the host.

[jscwittfan]

We can sit here and debate placement all day long, but if you're Wittenberg, wouldn't you be a little happy with playing tough teams early?

Think about it - Witt will be tested early.  If they do end up playing B-W, it will be one of their toughest opponents of the year.  What better way to prep yourself for a deep run in the tournament than beating a quality opponent?  Does it hurt, in a way, to play solid teams early?  Of course it does (look at Witt the past two seasons against JCU), because you have a much higher shot of losing those early games.  But, if you're a true national championship contender, you should be able to beat the other contenders no matter when you play them - especially at home.

All in all, I'm looking forward to listening to some great basketball this weekend (darn Spring Break starting the day of the tournament and me already having set travel plans to go home  . . .)

[Kramerica]

I was not aware Wittenberg was #1 in the region. I guess that makes sense that are hosting, but BW should have been somewhere else in the bracket, hosting. I agree with the person that stated that Davis' may have trouble with Witt's bigs. That was my fear that BW's bigs are 6-4 and 6-3 and Witt's bigs are 6-9 and 6-10 may pose a problem.

Davis did turn his ankle in the last 3 min against ONU in the OAC Championship and was limping the rest of the way out. Should be ok by Thursday or Friday.

[dren]

CWRU...CWRU??? You figure it out.

Case Western Reserve

UAA school in a very competive was 8-3 in non league play.

[woosterbooster]

I know this isn't NCAC, but did anyone notice that York College (PA) is hosting York College (NY) in a first-round game?  Apparently even the stuffed shirts at the NCAA couldn't resist this one.  And they have both Maryvilles, (MO and TN) in a first/second round regional, although they'll both have to win to be able to pull each other's hair.

[WoosterFAN]

what I meant was:  go figure out how CWRU beat a NCAA team!

[ScotsFan]

One question I still can't figure out is how are the byes determined?  Our section of the bracket got NO byes, while the Midwest/West got 2 byes along with the Northeast.  Why do they get 2 teams in each of those brackets who get byes, while no one in our section of the bracket gets ONE?

Also, I was going to mention this earlier, and some have already touched on it, but it's not as though Wooster is getting a cakewalk in their section of the bracket.  It isn't as tough as Witt's road, but Wooster is facing a ranked opponent in their opening round game on a neutral floor in #25 R-MC.  And if Wooster gets by the Yellow Jackets, they will, in all likelihood face another top 25 team on their own home floor in #21 Transy.  I'm not saying I would want to trade with Witt, but, Wooster's draw is by no means a cakewalk in comparison either.

[c-busballer]

Early predictions for Great Lakes Bracket.

Mississippi College over Maryville, MO.
Trinity, Texas over Maryville, TN
Trinity over Mississippi.

Transylvania over Bethany
Wooster over Randolph-Macon
Wooster over Transylvania

Hope over Wisconsin Lutheran
Calvin over La Cross
Hope over Calvin

Witt over Lake Erie
BW over Carnegie Mellon
Witt over BW

Sectional
Wooster over Trinity
Witt over Hope
Wooster over Witt

Happy Final Four to Wooster