MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

It's been a pretty familiar script for the last couple of seasons, Darryl.  Wabash will play well for stretches and then play just wretched for stretches.  You won't win many games when you turn the ball over 23 times which is what Wabash did last night.  It was understandable last year with so many first year players on the floor, but 20+ turnover games have to be a thing of the past if Wabash is going to think about competing in the NCAC this year. 

[David Collinge]

The inaugural winner of the NCAC Player of the Week award is Earlham's Tristan Gregory, who poured in 62 points en route to being named the MVP of the Tip-Off Tournament at Case Western Reserve.  Congratulations, Tristan!

[smedindy]

The free throw line continues to be a struggle as well. They need to get to the line and then shoot 70% or more.

[smedindy]

Congrats to former Wabash assistant Jason Mulligan for winning his first two games at the University of New England.

They beat Unity 102-35 and Fisher 87-41.

Denizens of the annual 'winless teams of D-3' feature here on the boards recognize Unity as the designated punching bag for all of the weaklings in the Maine / NH area. It's pretty much a hippy dippy place, dude. But they'd kill if the USCAA had hacky sack as a varsity sport.

Still, 2-0 is 2-0!

Mulligan's squad faces Bowdoin tonight as part of the "NESCAC plays only a single round robin so we gotta fill our schedule with someone" tour. Actually, it makes sense since Bowdoin is also in Maine, and well, they lost to Elms, so they're beatable.

[wooscotsfan]

11/20 Final Scores:

Allegheny 58  PSU-New Kensington 57   Gators are 3-0

Capital 79  Wittenberg 75    Kevin Murray scores 22 points for the Tigers

Lake Erie 74  Denison 56    Big Red are 0-3

[roadtrip]

Ref Wabash....IMO too many guys are willing to fire it up from anywhere...nobody wants to board and everybody is a step slow on D...Coach has to get on the boys to step up on the D...Zim is getting doubled/tripled.....cant have the guards leading the team in rebounds..still the talent is there and the league hasn't started yet.

[ScotsFan]

Well, after the 1st weekend of the season, the NCAC's overall record is just 10-13.  I really don't know how that compares to season's past, but I would imagine it would be par for the course. 

I do see improvements as this record is with Witt only sitting on a 1-2 record where most years they would more than likely still be without a loss at this point of the season.  Kenyon is 0-2, but they had to start with a very difficult road trip with games at Brandeis and vs. Tufts and they were more than respectable in their 2 losses.  Earlham is also a pleasant surprise at 2-0 with road wins at Lake Erie and vs. Case.  Allegheny is 3-0, but that is more of a result of a very weak schedule to date than anything else.  I still don't know what to make of the Gators and it may be a while before we find out as they host 3 relatively weak teams in their National City Tournament.  The Gators open with yet another Penn State (insert name here) in the first round.  That name would be Dubois fwiw.  And then they will more than likely take on the winner of Marietta and Medaille.  If they aren't 5-0 after this weekend, add them to the disappointing list.

On the disappointing side, I already mentioned Witt's start.  I say that in regards to their loss to Benedictine, but in all likelihood they would've lost to Wheaton had they beaten Benedictine and would more than likely still be looking at a 1-2 record.  Wabash was also disappointing in their loss at home to Hanover.  I thought this was the year they would get over on Hanover but 22 turnovers helped Hanover keep their run over Wabash going.

And then there's the usual suspects of Hiram, Oberlin and Denison who have yet to win a game.  Hiram and Oberlin have a shot at putting one in the win column tonight.  Dension on the other hand...   Let's just say it might take a while.

Overall, I think we are seeing some glimpses of improvement.  Maybe after this weekend's action, we can be looking at a record over .500 for the conference after this weekend...?  Then again, probably not...

[wally_wabash]

Be fair, ScotsFan...Wabash's game vs. Hanover was at Hanover.   

[smedindy]

All in all, I'm pleased with the way the LGs season has started. A close loss to a really good NAIA team and a loss at Hanover isn't bad. And they definitely have a rotation. I am surprised by Brock's lack of production off the bench, though. Hopefully that will be rectified soon.

[ScotsFan]

Be fair, ScotsFan...Wabash's game vs. Hanover was at Hanover.   

My bad wally.  For some reason I had Chadwick on the brain for that game. 

Besides, I'm only basing my assessments on the 1st few games of the season.  It's not too late for Wabash to get out of my disappointment column.

[pennstghs]

Hey guys. Welcome back to yet another season. I'm sure everyone has been awaiting my return to provide some Wittenberg perspective. I was at the Capital game on Tuesday night and came away with a few opinions.

1- This is a very very very young and unpolished Wittenberg team. Especially in the low post i think Witt will have some troubles early on until they can mesh well with each other. This attributes to the foul trouble that they get in as well as that at times was their only resort to stopping easy baskets. Are we sure Borchers doesnt have another year of eligibility?

2-Brandon Barabino is going to have a breakout year for Witt. He can take a game over at any time with his explosiveness. Gregg Hill is going to produce obviously as well and i think Kevin Murray as shown the other night is going to provide solid minutes on both ends of the floor, as he was a nice defensive presence as well.

3-This game in particular Wittenberg had a great chance to win, which if you looked at the stats (rebounds) in particular, you would have thought no way. Murray actually missed the tying 3 with 1:16 to go. Capital is a tenacious team that returned their top 9 players from last year, and i didnt realize that they are ranked 10th in the nation. I think this loss can be used as a positive for Witt. Although disappointing to lose a game, showing that they can come back in the second half and remain competitive against a top team will help them down the road. Although it is kind of funny thinking what Witt can learn from losses however........

Good luck to everyone this year. I will remain active and hopefully not cause any fights this year. Happy Thanksgiving all!!!!!

[smedindy]

If Borchers has another year, then I think Wabash should allow Josh Estelle to suit up again!

[David Collinge]

A couple of Wednesday scores that understandably escaped mention in here, until now that is:

CWRU 98, Hiram 81 (at Hiram)
Thomas More 83, Oberlin 45 (at Oberlin)

Egad.  Perhaps ignorance was bliss, after all.

[smedindy]

Um...so much for the 'improvement' card...

[Gregory Sager]

If Borchers has another year, then I think Wabash should allow Josh Estelle to suit up again!

Why stop there? Why not bring back Pete Metzelaars as well? I don't think that the big Dutchman's duties with the Colts are so pressing that he couldn't lace 'em up for his old alma mater a few more times.