MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[jscwittfan]

With everybody so excited about the tournament and the All-NCAC teams, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the new poll.

Witt moved up to 3, and Wooster moved down to 5.

[fighting_scots]

I'm curious if Wooster folks think Coach Moore went for the high octane offense after watching his team get bogged down by a superior defense at Albion last year.

As I recall that was a pretty high scoring Wooster team as well. Just a theory.

Sac--good point.  Contrary to wooscotsfan's belief (with all due respect!) Halftime at Albion was when and where the theory was developed--at least it was the first time I've seen Wooster impliment this scheme.   I watched the first half in horror-- the post play of Wooster was ineffective--no doubling down on Schlingman, no open looks on the perimeter.  16 points I recall--Then, in the 2nd half, Wooster went with their lineup that they play now, and instead of pounding in the post, they had a dribble--penetrate-kick out for the open 3 offense working like a charm.   I have to say one of the absolute best coaching jobs I've ever seen.

So yes, it had to do with the Albion game, and the rest, as they say . . .

[wally_wabash]

I can buy that Wooster gives up more points because their opponents get more possessions.  But to rank 289 in the country?  That's a bit much for a team with as much talent as Wooster.  Possessions don't play a part in FG%, a stat which Wooster also ranks pretty low.  That number has more to do with the quality of shots teams are getting against Wooster, which means Wooster isn't doing a good job playing defense.  Wooster is defensively deficient and I maintain that defense is a secondary concern for the Scots.  They should be better than this in spite of their style of offense.  

Looking ahead to next season, Wooster is bringing back everybody.  Should this group add a decent defense to support the potent offense, I don't think anybody can beat them.  

[fighting_scots]

With everybody so excited about the tournament and the All-NCAC teams, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the new poll.

Witt moved up to 3, and Wooster moved down to 5.

Who cares about the poll right now--5 or 6 games left for 2 teams--it's TOURNEY TIME!

[woosterbooster]

The characterising feature of trolling is the perception of intent to disrupt a community in some way. Inflammatory, sarcastic, or disruptive content is posted, meant to draw other users into engaging the troll in a fruitless confrontation. The greater the reaction from the community the more likely the user is to troll again, as the person develops beliefs that certain actions achieve his/her goal to cause chaos. This gives rise to the often repeated protocol in Internet culture: "Do not feed the trolls".

[Li'l Giant]

The characterising feature of trolling is the perception of intent to disrupt a community in some way. Inflammatory, sarcastic, or disruptive content is posted, meant to draw other users into engaging the troll in a fruitless confrontation. The greater the reaction from the community the more likely the user is to troll again, as the person develops beliefs that certain actions achieve his/her goal to cause chaos. This gives rise to the often repeated protocol in Internet culture: "Do not feed the trolls".

[pennstghs]

the philosophy message board can be found at harvard.edu----

[wooscotsfan]

I'm curious if Wooster folks think Coach Moore went for the high octane offense after watching his team get bogged down by a superior defense at Albion last year.

As I recall that was a pretty high scoring Wooster team as well. Just a theory.

Sac--good point.  Contrary to wooscotsfan's belief (with all due respect!) Halftime at Albion was when and where the theory was developed--at least it was the first time I've seen Wooster impliment this scheme.

Fighting Scots -- we are both right in the sense that Coach Moore did adjust for one half of the Albion game as you noted.  That adjustment was made during that game because Wooster wasn't having any success inside against Brandon Crawford and the rest of Albion's front line.

My point is that Coach Moore changed Wooster's complete offensive style this season.  This fact is best evidenced by a few stats:

Last year's team (with Schlingman and Mealer starting most games):
237 three pointers made out of 565 (42% shooting)
Wooster averaged 7.9 three pointers made/game
Wooster averaged 81.7 points per game

This year's team (with 4 three point shooters in the starting lineup):
300 three pointers made out of 681 (44% shooting) - school records
Wooster is averaging 10.7 three pointers made/game
Wooster is averaging 99.0 points per game

Said another way -- if Schlingman and Mealer were on this year's team, Wooster would still be winning but they wouldn't be averaging 99.0 points per game and averaging nearly 11 three pointers per game.  Let's thank Coach Moore for correctly adjusting Wooster's style of play to capitalize best on his team's strengths (shooters, ball handlers).

GO SCOTS!!

[wally_wabash]

Last season Wooster was ranked #9 in FG percentage defense.  That's ninth.  As in top ten.  This year, Wooster is ranked 191st.  That's a 182-position drop in just one season.  That's an awfully big tumble for a team committed to playing solid defense. 

[David Collinge]

Looking ahead to next season, Wooster is bringing back everybody.  Should this group add a decent defense to support the potent offense, I don't think anybody can beat them. 

Not everybody, of course.  Kyle Witucky is graduating.  Furthermore, you never know who is and is not coming back.  One of the reasons Coach Moore went to the perimeter-oriented offense was because Justin Bradley, who is an academic junior, decided not to play this year.  Thus, from the four post players from last season's team, two graduated and a third did not return, leaving Tim Vandervaart alone beneath the basket.  Who is and isn't coming back next year will remain an open question until sometime in the fall semester.

[bufordscot]

It will probably be called blasphemous for a first time poster to say this however; I hope Coach Moore had a big piece of Witucky's and Port's rear ends this week.  You have to expect more from your "senior leadership" that six (collective) assists and fourteen points in your conference championship game.  If the two of them don't produce it will be a short NCAA stay.  It's time for the two of them to step up.  GO SCOTS!!! 

[jimmychitwood15]

With all due respect to Coach Moore, who is a great coach and a class act, the adjustment in the style of play he made from last season to this year was a no brainer. It wasn't rocket science to figure out with no post players and an overflow of shooters to change to the uptempo game. I think WAY too much credit is being given for a VERY obvious decision.

In fact (as some have mentioned) for the way their defense has fallen off some discredit should be noted as well.

Still a very dangerous team that can make a deep run in the tourney and is looking to reload next year.

Side note, Dane Borchers is returning to Witt next season for a 5th year. I think someone noted Witt graduates all three NCAC players...not so fast!

[WoosterFAN]

OK, all this talk about Wooster defense is a little misguided.  The change in the offense did not change Wooster defensive principles that much.  I know Coach Moore and I know what he coaches.  "NO EASY SHOTS.PERIOD".  Wooster contests EVERY shot.
    You can interpert the stats anyway you want.  Here is a new one.  COW leads the country in the scoring margin.  Therefore SCOTS play the great defense holding opponents more than 20 points below what they score. Who care if you hold a team to 55 ppg but you only score 50?  Wis.Platteville was 12-14 with a defensive scoring average in the top 25.
    Another defensive stat is rebounding, Wooster is in the top 50 and although they do not post it, I would love to see national stats on 3pt FG%.  I bet Wooster is right again is in the top 50.
   Defensive pressure on the perimeter and contesting every shot is defense.  If your team plays a up-tempo game, then the opponent will get more opportunities and without a couple of shot bockers in the lane, FG% can go up.  But trading quality 3's for contested 2's has worked pretty good thus far.
    Ask the players and coaches in the NCAC, and I doubt any of them we say that Wooster has let up on defense.  Can we matchup with all the post players and stop/slow 'em...NOPE. We did not have the horses this year.  But outscoring your foes by more then 20, outrebounding them, 270 steals  (about 10 spg), forcing 450+ turnovers (about 16 TOs per game) is DEFENSE!!

[wally_wabash]

OK, all this talk about Wooster defense is a little misguided.  The change in the offense did not change Wooster defensive principles that much.  I know Coach Moore and I know what he coaches.  "NO EASY SHOTS.PERIOD".  Wooster contests EVERY shot.

Teams that contest every shot don't let their opponents shoot over 44% from the field every game.

Another defensive stat is rebounding, Wooster is in the top 50 and although they do not post it, I would love to see national stats on 3pt FG%. I bet Wooster is right again is in the top 50.

They do post this stat and Wooster is #1. 

Defensive pressure on the perimeter and contesting every shot is defense. If your team plays a up-tempo game, then the opponent will get more opportunities and without a couple of shot bockers in the lane, FG% can go up. But trading quality 3's for contested 2's has worked pretty good thus far.

We can debate till the cows come home about whether or not Wooster contests "every" shot (you'll never convince me that a team that gives up no easy shots gives up 44% shooting), but you've nailed my point right here.  Wooster has adopted the strategy of trading 3s for 2s because they have better shooters than everybody else...it's the path of least resistance.  The Scots are content to let you beat them senseless down low because they'll make enough three pointers to beat you (obviously Wooster will never admit to this, but in practice, that's what is happening).  Of course, when they don't make three pointers (vs. OWU and last weekend vs. Witt), they still get clobbered down low and they lose. 

Wooster won't get knocked out of this tournament because of their offense.  Even on a bad night, Wooster scores enough points to win a game.  They'll lose because on a bad offensive night, their defense won't be able to pick them up.

[ScotsFan]

With all due respect to Coach Moore, who is a great coach and a class act, the adjustment in the style of play he made from last season to this year was a no brainer. It wasn't rocket science to figure out with no post players and an overflow of shooters to change to the uptempo game. I think WAY too much credit is being given for a VERY obvious decision.

Yes, it was a no brainer, but making the change, and actually being hugely successful at it are two different things.  Wooster has run their offense through the post since Moore has been at Wooster.  To make this change wasn't as easy as just snapping your fingers.  To do what Coach Moore did this season could almost be like Woody Hayes changing his offesive philosophy from 3 yards and a cloud of dust, to an empty backfield and 5 wide receiver sets.  OK, maybe not that drastic, but you get my point.  The decision to change may have been a no brainer, but to actually implement it and be successful at it was a very well done coaching job by Moore and his staff.

Side note, Dane Borchers is returning to Witt next season for a 5th year. I think someone noted Witt graduates all three NCAC players...not so fast!

Yes, you have Borchers returning, but the losses of Russ and Brady are still much more significant than what Wooster is losing.  In Russ and Brady, Witt is losing over 1/3 of their offensive scoring production for a team that didn't score that much to begin with.  Not to mention the loss that will be felt on the defensive end of the floor.  Witt can be thankful Borchers is coming back, but there are still some huge holes to fill for the Tigers going into next year...