MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Mr. Ypsi]

I bet that Witt is better than half or 2/3 of the "C" teams, but thanks to this infernal system won't get a sniff. I could be wrong...but...I doubt it.

I'd bet you're right - and better than 3/4 of the "A" teams!

But, like it or not (NOT!), that is our system.

[kiltedbryan]

I bet that Witt is better than half or 2/3 of the "C" teams, but thanks to this infernal system won't get a sniff. I could be wrong...but...I doubt it.

I made a post to similar effect on the OAC board, where I noted that I think (at least) 3 OAC teams- B-W, John Carroll, and Capital- could give Witt/Woo very competitive basketball games.  However, in this instance, the strength of that league at the top has hurt these quality teams.  JCU and Cap are playing for the title tomorrow and probably only JCU could get a C if they lose.  If Capital loses I think they are out of luck, even though they were co-champions in the toughest league in one of the toughest regions nationally in d3 basketball.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I bet that Witt is better than half or 2/3 of the "C" teams, but thanks to this infernal system won't get a sniff. I could be wrong...but...I doubt it.

I made a post to similar effect on the OAC board, where I noted that I think (at least) 3 OAC teams- B-W, John Carroll, and Capital- could give Witt/Woo very competitive basketball games.  However, in this instance, the strength of that league at the top has hurt these quality teams.  JCU and Cap are playing for the title tomorrow and probably only JCU could get a C if they lose.  If Capital loses I think they are out of luck, even though they were co-champions in the toughest league in one of the toughest regions nationally in d3 basketball.

I feel your pain. (What? Bill, get out of here!)  By general consensus, the CCIW is the #1 league this year, yet may get only the AQ in.  (If Elmhurst beats Augie, Augie is a lock for a C, but Elmhurst would be very iffy.)  IMO NCC, Wheaton, and Carthage would all beat many Cs, but have zero chance of getting to prove it.

[woosterbooster]

Notes from Timken:

I missed the events prior to what happened with Melick and Stephens in front of the Wooster bench, but most people sitting around me thought that Melick probably got him with an elbow right there.  Melick will stick them out there.  I don't think he does it on purpose, but rather because he's a big kind of gawky guy growing into his body.  Stephens, I don't think, could have cared less if it was on purpose, once his nose was broken, and understandably shoved Melick in the back (not all that hard, but obvious) prompting the T.

OWU drove me crazy in their nearly successful attempt to blow a 16-point lead.  They first led by that margin with 7:21 remaining.  Rather than run some clock on their possessions they persisted in taking quick bad shots and missing them.  Despite this, neither team scored and OWU still led by 16 until Borchers hit a jumper with 4:35 to go.

It was only at this point that OWU began to try to milk the clock forcing Wittenberg to foul.  They did, and the choking Bishops missed 5 free throws while Wittenberg made a miraculous 6 3-pointers in a row, cutting the lead to 3 with 29 seconds remaining! 

OWU held on, but even on Witt's last three-point attempt, which came with only 2 seconds on the clock and Witt down 5, Rudegeair went for the block.  He got it, but could easily have committed a foul which would have given Witt one final attempt at a miracle win, especially if the ball had fallen through the hoop.  OWU played the last 7:21 about as unintelligently as possible, nearly negating a terrific, and smart, effort prior to that.

Wally - That smiley face makes all the difference when you call him Super Marty.  Funny.

Another Bidwell story, gleaned from his dad:

Marty Bidwell senior set the single-game record for points in a game at Ohio's Bishop Fenwick high school 32 years ago.  44 points.  That record stood for a clean 30 years until his son (Super Marty) scored 45 on exactly the same date that his father had set the record so long ago.

It's my guess that Wooster's freshmen will be doing a serious amount of running whenever the team next practices.  Their performance last night was somewhat less than amazing as they failed to get back on defense and looked completely confused on offense while getting outscored 20-4.

I'm getting a haircut today but will not be going anywhere near the vicinity of Devin Fulk's barber.

[zu1414]

I have never been a big Witt fan, after watching them beat my Terriers consistently like a drum over the years, however, Witt is really getting shafted in my mind if they don't make the tourney.

The way this tourney is set up, is just, well, perplexing. If these conferences do not qualify for automatic bids, please tell me why there needs to be a separate Pool for them?

Eliminate this POOL business, select the best remaining teams from the non-conference winners and have the regular season count for the league champs.

Do the D-I big time football people run this in their off season?

[BigRedAlum]

First off-----CONGRATS TO THE DENISON WOMEN!!  A chance for the three-peat tonight.  Good luck.
Plus....exactly how can they be 23-4 and not even a sniff in the top 25??

Exactly how good are these teams??

#12  Wash U    19-5
#13  Hardin-Simmons   20-4
#15   Brandeis   19-4
#17   UW-Stout  20-5
#21   Rochester  19-5
#22   Medaille   21-4

Are you telling me Denison is nowhere close to any of these teams??? Come on!!


Anyway!!

Let's hear it for the "Little Eight".  How in the world did OWU EVER beat a "big two" team???  That can not happen.  Congrats to OWU and Coach DeWitt on their victory.

It certainly didn't help that Witt couldn't hit the side of a barn.  Not a good game to go in the tank!!  But credit OWU with a great game plan and pulling out the win.

Good luck to both Wooster and OWU tonight.    And to the Denison gals!!!  GO BIG RED!!!

[wooscotsfan]

As others have posted, I would also like to congratulate all the graduating seniors on the NCAC teams.

Here is a list of seniors by team:

Wooster - Tom Port, Tim Vandervaart, Andy Van Horn

Wittenberg - Dane Borchers, Jack Hemenway, Billy Bowen, Pat Denbow, Mark Huelsman

Ohio Wesleyan - Ben Chojnacki, Ted Uritus, Matt Shirer

Allegheny - Casey McCloskey, Jimmy Savage, Mike Sefscik

Wabash - Ryan Stephens

Kenyon - Mike Cohen

Hiram - Brandon Pool

Earlham - Markous Jewett, LaRon Henry, Joe Rihm

Denison - Dan Hodgkinson, Dan Izzo

Oberlin - Quinton Spencer

Congrats again to all these fine seniors!

[BigRedAlum]

I totally second the motion on the SENIORS!!!

For these guys to play 4 years, some 5 at the D-3 level for basically the "love of the game" is very special.  They have terrific tallent and are terrific kids.  Hats off to all of them.  They will certainly be missed.

I know I will miss watching them.

[woosterbooster]

The NCAC will be very interesting next year.  I can't help but believe that both Wooster and Wittenberg will come at least somewhat back to the pack.  The Tigers, especially, will have to hope for some serious stepping-up by their returnees or they will have their worst team in quite a while.  Wabash, Kenyon, and Hiram should clearly improve.  Earlham and Denison might have some real problems, again.

[David Collinge]

I had a nice visit in the cheap seats yesterday with Denison alumni and former Wooster assistant coaches Kyle Pottkotter and Patrick Ruefner.  Kyle just finished his fifth season as the top assistant at his alma mater, where he is also the head men's golf coach.  Patrick is completing his first year as the athletic director and women's basketball coach (and adjunct professor of psychology) at Wayne College in Orrville.  Wayne is a branch campus of the University of Akron.  The Lady Warriors finished their season with a 14-10 mark.  Both Kyle and Patrick were maintaining a careful neutrality during the Witt/OWU game, which is when I talked to them.  It was good to catch up with both of them.

[jscwittfan]

As others have posted, I would also like to congratulate all the graduating seniors on the NCAC teams.

Are any of these guys eligible for 5th years?

[David Collinge]

As others have posted, I would also like to congratulate all the graduating seniors on the NCAC teams.

Are any of these guys eligible for 5th years?

Port and Borchers are, of course, already 5th-year seniors.  Hodgkinson was a four-year starter at Denison, and both Van Horn and Vandervaart have played four varsity years.  Dan Izzo only got into seven games as a frosh, but I think that's enough to use up his year of eligibility; in any case, I haven't heard anything about his coming back, even if he is eligible.  Cohen is a reserve who would have no incentive to come back (and about $50K worth of disincentive.)

[goscots]

As others have posted, I would also like to congratulate all the graduating seniors on the NCAC teams.

Here is a list of seniors by team:

Wooster - Tom Port, Tim Vandervaart, Andy Van Horn

Wittenberg - Dane Borchers, Jack Hemenway, Billy Bowen, Pat Denbow, Mark Huelsman

Ohio Wesleyan - Ben Chojnacki, Ted Uritus, Matt Shirer

Allegheny - Casey McCloskey, Jimmy Savage, Mike Sefscik

Wabash - Ryan Stephens

Kenyon - Mike Cohen

Hiram - Brandon Pool

Earlham - Markous Jewett, LaRon Henry, Joe Rihm

Denison - Dan Hodgkinson, Dan Izzo

Oberlin - Quinton Spencer

Congrats again to all these fine seniors!

Thanks wooscotsfan for that list!  Looking at it the regular posters can all start mentally adjusting the standings for next year.

[David Collinge]

Talk about your bad karma...

This is from the NCAC men's championship page:

Top-seeded Wooster (24-3) advanced to the championship game of the North Coast Tournament for the 11th straight year. The Fighting Scots, who went 6-5 over that span, defeated fifth-seeded Wabash (11-16), 92-80.

[emphasis added]

Wooster has gone 6-4 over that span, if you don't count tonight's result.  I hope the NCAC folks don't know something they're not telling us...

And I don't want to shock Aaron Dorksen, but only 6 of those 11 opponents were from Wittenberg.  Also making championship game appearances in the past 11 seasons are Allegheny (3x), Wabash, and Ohio Wesleyan, who tonight returns to the title game for the first time since 1990.

[HopeConvert]

As others have posted, I would also like to congratulate all the graduating seniors on the NCAC teams.

Here is a list of seniors by team:

Wooster - Tom Port, Tim Vandervaart, Andy Van Horn

[

Congrats again to all these fine seniors!

Vandervaart? Van Horn? How did Hope and Calvin miss them?!?