MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[division3hoops]

I looked up their Media Guide and Mimes is listed as F/C.  That makes more sense.  I can't believe that they have left him listed as a guard the whole year on their roster...

[WoosterFAN]

Sectional team breakdown:

First After road trips from Ohio, Wooster will face JCU.

John Carroll, 21-9 (13-5 OAC), is the runner-up based on tiebreak in the OAC after tying Capital for the title.  In the NCAA tourney they defeated Westminster at home and then went on the road to defeat #1 seed Lake Erie, 79-77 after coming back from 16 points down.  They are 25th in the last D3Hoops poll and were 5th in the GLakes regional rankings.

The Blue Streaks are led by 6'5" Senior Guard Brandon Mimes, All-OAC First Teamer, who goes for 20.6 ppg and 10.5 rpg while shooting almost .500 @ .499 FG%.  Second leading scorer and rebounder is another 6'3" senior Forward Terry Walsh, All-OAC Second Team member 16.4 ppg and 6.2 rpg and leads the team 66 makes from 3 point land.  The point guard is the only other double figure scorer, 6'0" Senior Pete Moran who was also recognized as All-OAC Honorable Mention. He averages 10.2 ppg and almost 5.0 apg. From recent box scores and stats it looks like they go mainly two deep on the bench with the starters are getting more than 35 minutes per game.

Common opponents with Wooster: These teams have history in the tourney that the SCOTS websites covers.  JCU went 2-0 vs. ONU.  ONU beat Wooster 91-84.  And of note JCU went 0-2 for BW and 1-2 vs CAPITAL and some bad losses to Wilmington and Heidelberg??

St. John Fisher, 23-5 (11-3) is the conference and tourney champs of the Empire 8 conference).  They defeated Wentworth Tech and Plattsburg State at home to advance to the sweet 16. Received 3 votes in the D3Hoops poll.  They were #2 in the NCAA East regional rankings, FYI their opponent, Brockport St is #1 in the East.

St. John's has four players that average double figures.  They are led by All-E8 Second Teamer, 5'11 Senior Guard Dan Mueller, 14.2 ppg, 3.3 apg, 89 makes from long distance, hitting 3's @ .473 (all lead the team) and 6'6" Senior Center Dan McSweeney, ALL-E8 First Teamer, 12.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg and 1.5 bpg (leading the team in rbs and blocks). 6'4" Junior Forward Justin Beigel (from my hometown, Cincinnati, OH) is the third leading scorer and 2nd leading rebounder, 11.9/6.5 and was also All-E8 Second Team. 6'3" Freshman Wing Chris Baltz chips in as the fourth leading scorer 10.1 ppg.
St John's has 10 players in the rotation that average more than 10 mpg!!

There are no common opponents this year. And if they should meet Wooster and St. John Fisher would be competing for the first time.

Brockport State (25-5, 14-20 is the regular season champs and tourney runners-up in the State University Of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC).   They advanced past Williams and St. Lawrence to reach the sweet 16.  They are not ranked in the D3Hoops poll but are #1 NCAA in the East Region.

A three headed monster leads Brockport:  5'9" Junior Guard Sherod Harris (16.3 ppg, 4.3 apg and 58 3's connecting @ .487 clip). And 6'2" Junior Forward Brandon Williams (13.6 ppg and 8.8 rpg) are both first team all conference and 6'7" Center Contrel Parish ( 12.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg is the conference rookie of the year. Another seven players see more than 10 minutes per game in a deep rotation.

Wooster and Brockport both played Oberlin this season.  Brockport won by 12 in their first game of season and of course SCOTS swept season series. And they have played only once in the histories, the 71-72 season, a win by Brockport St.  Interestingly, Brockport went 1-1 vs. St. John Fisher already this year.  This is round 3.

[sac]

........but oddly enough nobody from the NCAA thought to ask my opinion.

Hall of Fame status doesn't have the power it once had. 

[woolax]

While I know that this weekends games: St Johns Fisher vs Brockport and Wooster vs John Carroll are occuring at St John's Fisher for some ungodly reason
My question is:  what if any broadcasts of these games will be available?
In particular anything similar to the streaming live video that Wooster regullarily provides for thier home games so us fans that must suffer following our teams over the web at least are able to feel somewhat involved?

[Pat Coleman]

D3hoopsNet will be producing audiocasts of all three games for NCAASports.com.

[woolax]

Pat: Wow you are a man that works a light speed Thank you so much not only for your prompt response but also for all your efforts to put these broadcasts on.

[David Collinge]

Wooster's WQKT will also provide radio coverage, which in turn will be streamed from the Wooster website as usual.  I don't think there will be video.  I also don't know if they intend to cover the Fisher/Brockport game, but I'm told they did broadcast the Witt/OWU NCAC semifinal, so I guess it's a possibility.  But with D3HoopsNet's coverage, we're set regardless.

[FisherDynasty]

I like the analysis WoosterScots Fan.  Predictions for this weekend.

Fisher Vs Bport = +5

Wooster Vs. JCU = +9

Fisher Vs. Wooster = +7

[Toph]

Mimes is a F/C, that is a typo.  If he doesn't get going, JCU struggles offensively.  Pete Moran needs to be an offensive force if JCU hopes to win as well.  He had 5 assists Friday, but only 2 points.  I think that the area that the Streaks need to improve the most is their help defense.  At times it seems they lose their focus defensively, especially in the post, leading to blown assignments and open lay ups. 

I don't know if the Streaks have the horses to take down Wooster, but I felt the same way a couple years back when they went to the final four...so you never know.

[FisherDynasty]

Same with Fisher Toph,  this is a rebuilding year for them as they lost 3 key starters and there next 2 reserves off the bench.  However they have really come aroudn this last weekend and the freshman a playing out of their minds, we'll see if they can keep it up.  This hosting thing after having much better regular seasons the past 2 years still has not set in yet, but I cant complain.  If you would have asked me half way through the season I would have said they probably wont even make the tourny, but after the last 4 games they are a legit contender to the final 4, should be a great wkend of basketball.

[ScotsFan]

Just read your post MoneyBall and I have to agree with you on just about every point:

The only explanation that the committee can give is that they are trying to amend for Fisher not hosting in past years where they actually WERE deserving. In which case, you should NEVER try to make up for past mistakes by MAKING another HUGE one!!!

This is typical of the NCAA.  They just never seem to learn from their mistakes!  Fisher was totally deserving of hosting the last 2 years and especially last year.  Instead Amherst gets both of them and then gets a 3rd year in a row this year.  So, instead of learning from the mistake of last season, the NCAA decides to 'make it up to Fisher' and award them the host site over a much more deserving Wooster?!  The NCAA just keeps digging itself deeper and deeper.

Not to mention the money they'll lose in attendance, they are basically saying that rankings don't mean a thing. Gym size doesn't mean a thing. Hotel prices don't mean a thing. And above all, THE FANS, don't mean a THING!! And, whoever thinks hotels are MORE expensive in Wooster, Ohio than Rochester, New York is smoking the same stuff that the Gonzaga players were this season. Come on.

Once again, I totally agree!  It all goes back to the bogus QoWI system that is in place.  Yes, Fisher has a better one than Wooster, but, it can also be argued that Wooster comes out of a much much tougher region.  I guess since Fisher was #1 in the East Region and Wooster was #2 in the GL Region, that's the difference.  Besides, I thought that seeding was only 3rd on the list of criterea.  Quality and availability of facilities is supposed to be #1.  This should be Wooster in a landslide because of the 3400+ seating capacity.  Geography is the 2nd factor and it should be a wash since you're talking about choosing to bus 2 teams from Ohio to NY or vice-versa.  The nod should have still favored the Ohio schools slightly due to lodging expenses being less in Wooster, OH than in Rochester, NY or even in Cleveland.  Then the 'seeding' factor comes into play where you would have to give a slight edge to Fisher due to the fact that they were #1 in a weaker region than Wooster.  And the 4th factor is attendance which is where Wooster is clearly the better choice over  the other 3 schools, ESPECIALLY FISHER who can't even sellout a 1500 seat gym for tournament games.  Heck, they can't even get 50% capacity!!!  Yet, Wooster, who has already drawn 3,000+ five times this season isn't given any credit for this at all.  As you said MoneyBall, it's a slap in the face to the fans.  Fisher's fans who don't even bother to show up for tournament games are rewarded, while Wooster fans, who nearly sold out a 3,400 seat gym back to back nights are slapped in the face by the NCAA!  There is one group you left out as to what doesn't mean a thing to the NCAA and that is the players who worked their tails off this season and put themselves in a solid poistion to be awarded a sectional only to see the NCAA drop the ball again?! 

I mean, I'd rather see the games at an equidistant neutral site rather than this. Why not any of the large arenas in Pittsburgh??? Between a 3 and 4 hour drive for all the schools involved.) The Igloo is always looking for events and I think 15,000 seats are PLENTY for everyone to be able to attend. One of the many D3 schools in Pittsburgh could "host" just like Division 1 does and they could get some of the money.

This is where I don't agree.  As David said, holding the games at a neutral site would not draw well.  Local fan support at the neutral site would probably be virtually non-exhitent and having the games in 15,000 seat areanas would make the places look empty with a couple of thousand at most turning out.  Besides, the atmosphere that goes along with allowing host sites at the home of one of the schools can't be beat, at least from the experience I've had in attending both years Wooster has been awarded the host site. 

At least Fisher can count on one thing when it comes to attendance this weekend.  Wooster and JCU will probably be bringing some pretty good contingents which might help them crack the 1000 attendance threshold?!   Oh how I would kill to see Fisher not even sell out it's tiny 1500 seat gym when the NCAA could have most definately been assured of at least 3000+, if not sell-outs for each session if the games were to have been played at Timken. 

[ScotsFan]

Now that I got my rant out of the way, I will turn my focus onto Wooster's next opponent which has been a thorn in the side of the NCAC lately and that is John Carroll.  The Streaks have made a habit of winning at Wooster and Wittenberg lately, so maybe getting them on a neutral floor will be a change of fortune.  Along with Wooster knocking of JCU, I'm also hopeful that Brockport can knock of Fisher in the nightcap because it would mean that Wooster wouldn't be competing in a 'true' road game over the weekend.  It's well documented that the Scots have fared much better in the NCAA's when they are on the road at neutral sites than they do in 'true' road games.  Of course, Brockport would essentially be playing a home game since they are less than 1/2 hour from Fisher. 

Hopefully, Wooster can continue to play at this high level that they have brought since the post-season started and take it with them on the road this weekend.  They're only 4 wins away from accomplishing their ultimate goal and if they continue to play that the level I witnessed last weekend, I think they could be well on their way!

[smedindy]

Obviously, the prudent thing would be to hold it at JCU, where there are plenty of hotels and amenities in Cleveland. But, I do think the tiny difference between Brockport and St. John Fisher made ALL of the difference.

But you know, you play to win the game, no matter where it is. I do think the home court may be neutralized a bit with St. John Fisher on break. But hey, saddle up and play ball!

[David Collinge]

Obviously, the prudent thing would be to hold it at JCU, where there are plenty of hotels and amenities in Cleveland. But, I do think the tiny difference between Brockport and St. John Fisher made ALL of the difference.

Me, too, although elsewhere Pat has said elsewhere with a certain amount of definiteness that the decision was based on seeding (ostensibly a less important criterion than geography.)  Whether he has actual inside information, or is just reaching a logical conclusion, I don't know. 

Steve Moore seems to agree:

"I don't think John Carroll was a real strong option because geography wasn't a factor," Scots coach Steve Moore said. "They don't announce seeds, but I think that might have had a bit to do with it. My personal feeling all along was that it would be at St. John Fisher."

http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/1682182

But you know, you play to win the game, no matter where it is. I do think the home court may be neutralized a bit with St. John Fisher on break. But hey, saddle up and play ball!

With the way Wooster is playing of late, I don't think the team will be fazed by playing hither or thither.  What rankles about the site selection is the effect on the fans, not the team.

[Li'l Giant]

But you know, you play to win the game

--Unavailable for comment...