MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Li'l Giant]

To blazes with Benson and the Saints; I wish they were LG's problem now.

There's not much love for Tom Benson in San Antone. He used this city as leverage too many times in the past for him to be well received here. Plus, his brother was responsible for the San Antonio Canadian League team debacle.

No NFL team in SA will EVER have as good a following as the Cowboys, anyway. Plus, the Alamodome is a pit. There's no way an NFL team could survive in that building.

[wooscotsfan]

Here is the link to the Daily Record preview for Friday's big game:
Scots, JCU familiar foes

The Daily Record writer makes the point that Wooster will need to contain JCU Seniors Brandon Mimes, Terry Walsh and Pete Moran.

The article also describes the full court press often employed by JCU and how Wooster will need to avoid key turnovers.

Less than 24 hours to tipoff!

GO SCOTS!

[FisherDynasty]

From reading the article it looks like Wooster may struggle more against bports press then playing against Fisher in the elite 8 game.  Bport applies an immense amount of pressure, one of the quickest teams in d3.

[woosterbooster]

Above the Rim predicts SUNY Brockport over St. John Fisher, 84-71.  Poor shooting combined with plentiful turnovers by both teams produced a low-scoring first half after which SJF led by the score of 30-28.  Both clubs began to find the range after intermission, but especially Brockport, as they put up a remarkable 56 points. 

With 15:39 to go in the ballgame a three-pointer by Dave Maldonado broke a 39-39 tie and Brockport never again trailed, leading by as many as 17.  Fisher cut it to 8 around the six-minute mark, but could never get closer.

Fisher had a very difficult time with the quickness of Brockport which forced them into committing 25 fouls.  Both McSweeney and Biegel fouled out.  Brockport missed 10 free throws, but made 23, and that was enough for the margin of victory.  The SUNY school also came up with 14 steals, led by Sherod Harris' five.

The boxscore:

http://arkski.com/~jwood/suny%20brockport_(84)_at_st.%20john%20fisher_(71).html

[wooscotsfan]

At the Half:  Wooster 35  John Carroll 32

Sounded like a sloppy first half with neither team shooting a very high percentage.  Wooster missed a number of open three point shots in the half.  Scots actually trailed by 10 points but went on a big 21 to 8 run to close the half.  

Wooster is being led by Tom Port with 13 points and Devin Fulk with 8 points.  John Carroll is being led by Brandon Mimes with 10 points and Terry Walsh with 7 points.

GO SCOTS!

[WooMix]

At the Half:  Wooster 35  John Carroll 32

Sounded like a sloppy first half with neither team shooting a very high percentage.  Wooster missed a number of open three point shots in the half.  Scots actually trailed by 10 points but went on a big run (21 to 8) to close the half. 

Wooster is being led by Tom Port with 13 points and Devin Fulk with 8 points.  John Carroll is being led by Brandon Mimes with 10 points and Terry Walsh with 7 points.

GO SCOTS!

We need James Cooper to discover his shot in order for us to be more comfortable in this game.

[ScotsFan]

I think Wooster has to be happy about where they are to end the half.  As wooscotsfan mentioned, they were down 10 with just over 6 minutes left in the half and rallied to go up by as much as 5 in the closing minutes.  Wooster has heated up a bit as well shooting wise as they were in the 30's for most of the half but ended up at 43% for the half!  Wooster is still getting it done defensively holding the Blue Streaks to 32%.  It's now down to who makes the better 2nd half adjustments.  If JCU's recent trends of coming from way down in the 2nd half are any indication, the Scots may be in trouble.  However, Wooster is not Westminster or LEC either!!!

We need James Cooper to discover his shot in order for us to be more comfortable in this game.

Very true!!!  Yet another reason Wooster can feel pretty good about still being up 3 at the half!!!

[wooscotsfan]

~12:00 remaining   Wooster 57  John Carroll 43

Wooster on a 8-0 run seems to be taking control of the game.

[ScotsFan]

Wooster started the half with a 10-0 run, but JCU made a run of their own to cut the lead back to 6 only to see Wooster take back control and gain their biggest lead of the game at 14! 

Of note, Walsh for JCU and Port for Wooster each have 3 fouls.

[ScotsFan]

The fouls are beginning to mount for the Scots as Bidwell just picked up this 3rd and 4th within seconds of each other.  Will also has 3?!

Johnson just missed 2 ft's only to see Vandervaart get the offensive stickback!

[ScotsFan]

Terry Walsh just picked up his 4th foul and isn't leaving the game!

Wooster is struggling from the line at only 2-7 for the 2nd half.

[wooscotsfan]

Very questionable 4th foul called on Tom Port and John Carroll has cut the lead to 8 points.

Woo 66  JCU 58  with 7:30 remaining

[wooscotsfan]

4:41 remaining  Wooster 72  JCU 63  Scots get the turnover and have the ball

3:10 remaining Wooster 74  JCU 63  Vandervaart rebound & bucket

[wooscotsfan]

Final:  Wooster 83  John Carroll 73

Great win for Wooster as they go to the ELITE EIGHT!  

Scots came up big in the 2nd half and their offensive production was too much for John Carroll.

Wooster was led by Tim Vandervaart with 16 points, Tom Port with 16 points, Brandon Johnson with 14 points, James Cooper with 13 points and Devin Fulk with 10 points.

John Carroll was led by Rudy Kirbus with 23 points, Brandon Mimes with 21 points (11 boards), Terry Walsh with 11 points and Pete Moran with 11 points.

Wooster is now 28-3    Next up is the St. John Fisher/Brockport winner.

GO SCOTS!

[WoosterFAN]

Wooster's defense since the end of the season has been excellent.

33% FG% for OWU in the NCAC final
32% FG% vs TRANS UNIV  NCAA First Round
32% FG% vs Centre NCAA Second Round
37% FG% for JCU tonite in the 'Sweet Sixteen'

Defense does indeed win championships.  Rest for Elite Eight tomorrow night and hopefully defensive effort will continue!!

Go SCOTS!!