MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

More scores...

Witt 82, Oberlin 66
Allegheny 73, Earlham 57
Wooster 81, Kenyon 63

[ScotsFan]

Wooster's win over Kenyon was in rather ho-hum fashion.  Kenyon hung around for much of the 1st half before Wooster put together a run to end the half up 15.  Wooster then extended the lead to 26 mid-way through the 2nd half and looked as if they were going to run away with the contest.  But, give the Lords credit.  They never quit and kept chipping away at the lead, but they could never get closer than 15.

Kenyon made a concerted effort to deny Wooster from the perimeter and it showed statistically as Wooster had one of their poorest 3 point shooting efforts of the season at just under 37%.   So the Scots made Kenyon pay by pounding it inside.  Wooster tallied 42 points from inside the paint compared to just 22 for the Lords.  As a result, Wooster's big men garnered the team lead in scoring with Bryan Wickliffe scoring 16 and Evan Will adding 13. 

Wooster now has a week off before making the trek to Indiana to take on Wabash next Saturday.

[wally_wabash]

How are Wooster fans feeling about Saturday's trip to C'ville? 

[David Collinge]

How are Wooster fans feeling about Saturday's trip to C'ville? 

Not for me; too far away when I have an Earlham/Kenyon doubledip right in my backyard.

[wally_wabash]

Brent has posted a good preview article for this weekend's game at Chadwick. 

http://www.wabash.edu/news/displaystory.cfm?news_ID=5376

This is a huge game for the LGs.  Allegheny and Hiram didn't get front page preview articles...I'm just saying.

[David Collinge]

Congratulations to Wabash's Andrew Zimmer, the NCAC Player of the Week for the holiday period.  Zimmer scored a total of 62 points in 'Bash victories over Southwestern, Allegheny, and Hiram.  Congrats, Andrew!

[smedindy]

Going into tonight's home game vs. Bates, Jason Mulligan's College of New England Nor'easters are currently 6-5. A good showing, considering the team was 39-89 in the past five seasons.

After tonight, they finish the year with 13 (count 'em) conference games - there are 14 teams in the CCC and in the fine NESCAC tradition, everyone just plays each conference team once.

Gordon is probably the favorite going into conference play, but Mulligan's crew is one of the few with winning records, so they're a contender.

[ScotsFan]

How are Wooster fans feeling about Saturday's trip to C'ville? 

Wally, are you talking in terms of actually making the trip?

I won't be making the trek, but I thought I would share some thoughts regarding this game.  I'm expecting this game to be a tough physical game as it usually is when the Scots make the trip to the 'ville.  Last year, Wabash held Woo's high scoring team to just 68 points.  Only one of 4 times last season Wooster was held below 70 points (the other 3 were also road games Earlham, at OWU and at Witt).  I'm expecting that type of defensive effort out of Wabash on Saturday as well.

Wabash is also playing some pretty good basketball of late as well as they've won 6 of 7 with their only loss to Trinity (TX) in Texas who was ranked at the time they beat Wabash. 

I think this game will be decided on who controls the tempo the best.  It seems that Wabash has always fared much better and the games have been much closer when they dictate the pace.  Another key for Wabash is to prevent one of Wooster's patented runs.  Last weekend, Kenyon was still hanging around in the 1st half when the Scots ended the half outscoring the Lords 16-6 to turn a 5 point lead into a 15 point halftime cushion.  Wabash can't afford to let the Scots get on one of those extended runs.

All in all, I'm expecting a game similar to what we saw last season.  The uglier this game is, the better the chances for Wabash to come out with a win.

[wally_wabash]

Was just looking to stir some discussion about the first "big" NCAC game of 2008.   

[woosterbooster]

This will be a tough game for Wooster.  The Scots have been playing better of late and will have to continue to do so against a difficult opponent on the road.  Although Brian Wickliffe has settled in nicely, adding another solid basketball player to the Scots rotation, it's still their depth, or lack of it actually, that scares me.  One recent positive has been the return to the floor of Craig Elam.  If he can continue to play himself back into shape and contribute 15 minutes or so a game that will help Wooster immensely.

[smedindy]

I feel good about Wabash's front court - I am concerned about who on the LG's will handle Cooper.

[wally_wabash]

I feel good about Wabash's front court - I am concerned about who on the LG's will handle Cooper.

I don't think you really handle Cooper.  He's too good.  As Wes Smith has become the "defensive specialist" for Wabash, I'm sure we'll see Wes chasing Cooper around for most of the game.  Cooper will still get his points, but Smith should be able to force some turnovers or at least force the ball away from Cooper at times. 

[woosterbooster]

I don't really care who Wabash puts on Cooper, as long as it's not that henchman of Al Swearingen's, the guy that pushed the rube off the cliff in order to steal his gold claim.  That's my opinion, unsolicited.

[wally_wabash]

I don't really care who Wabash puts on Cooper, as long as it's not that henchman of Al Swearingen's, the guy that pushed the rube off the cliff in order to steal his gold claim.  That's my opinion, unsolicited.

That would be Dan, and I think you're safe.  He's out of eligibility.   

Deadwood references are a good way to boost karma.   

[imderekpoe]

Scores from tonight's early games:

Oberlin 75  Denison 70
Hiram 113  Geneva 95
Penn-St Behrend 64   Allegheny 48

I haven't found scores for the OWU at Kenyon game.