MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

Don't the Gators have some injury issues?

[woosterbooster]

Serious issues.  So much so, that D.C., who has all of his eligibility left, had to step in and go a few minutes for them at shooting guard.  He hoisted a few, from nearly as far out as he normally sits from the court while in the stands, and the results were predictable.  Hence the final score.

[Li'l Giant]

Serious issues.  So much so, that D.C., who has all of his eligibility left, had to step in and go a few minutes for them at shooting guard.  He hoisted a few, from nearly as far out as he normally sits from the court while in the stands, and the results were predictable.  Hence the final score.

As Don Francisco says on Sabado Gigante "Un applauso!"

[David Collinge]

You can stick a fork in the Gators as far as I am concerned.  OWU had no trouble whatsoever disposing of them this afternoon.  Yes, they have had injury troubles, chiefly with senior Bill Babe and junior Ryan Hollihan.  Babe has some sort of partial tear in his knee, but has been playing lately (today, 29 minutes, 11 points).  Hollihan is done for the season.  I don't know him on sight, but I think I accounted for everyone else, so I don't believe he even made the trip today.  That's a tough loss for 'Gheny, but I can't believe it would have made that much difference. 

Everything OWU wanted to do today, they were able to do.  'Gheny had no answer on either end.  Quick stats:  shooting: OWU 55.6%, AC 38.5%.  Rebounds: OWU 34, AC 28.  Assists: OWU 17, AC 11.  I think you get the general idea.  Mid-season discovery Mitch Noggle led a very balanced OWU attack with 15.  Ten Bishops scored, including soph. post Brett Pleiman, making his first appearance since aggravating an old back injury before the holidays. 

OWU is looking awfully good lately, and Pleiman's return is a big plus for them.  I think the rest of the league, Wooster included, needs to watch out for these guys.

[wally_wabash]

I'm on the scene here at Chadwick and with 17 minutes before tipoff, I've already got something noteworty (savor it...noteworthy updates may be few and far between tonight).  Wabash head coach Mac Petty will be a guest on tomorrow night's edition of Hoopsville.  Go ahead and check that out.   Back with more when we tip off. 

Well one more note before tipoff...Denison's leading scorer, Pat Sullivan, continues to be sidelined and will not play tonight. 

As we get ready to tip off some important notes.  Wes is going with the white headband tonight.  We've also got a group of students going with an 80's motif....I can pick out a "Thriller" era Michael Jackson, a Det. Sonny Crockett, and Andy Clark from the Breakfast Club.  Well done students. 

And with that, we're about two minutes in here and Wabash has a 4-0 lead. 

17:59 - Simkus gets an easy basket in the paint.  6-0 Wabash.  Ghiloni is off the bench and calls a timeout.  This timeout might be about two months too late. 

15:51 - Earl Rooks made a steal here and the referee played some of the best fast break defense I've seen preventing the runout layup.  On the possession Simkus got to the foul line and made one of two.  7-3 Wabash.  Denison gets their first field goal with about 15:15 to go.  7-5 now. 

14:44 - Simkus picks up his second foul and goes to the bench.  Since that Denison timeout that I poked fun at, Wabash has gone completely flat.  Serves me right. 

12:58 - Wes Smith makes a couple of free throws.  I couldn't help but  notice there that there are a few vocal Denison fans in the house.  Great to see the fans not giving up on these guys.  We're at 11-9 Wabash here. 

10:45 - Chase Haltom drills a long range triple which prompts another Denison timeout.  This timeout is well placed.     Wabash on a 7-0 run and the score is 16-9 as the huddles break.

7:45 - Wabash brought the starters back on the floor at the last dead ball.  Wes drew a foul on a jumper.  He gets one of his two shots.  19-13 Wabash.  The full court press is really bothering Denison here as Larry Farmer is forced into a turnover.  Wabash methodically works the half court offense and gets an easy bucket for Wesley.  21-13. 

5:15 - Steal and a dunk for Wes.  Denison isn't that bad when they can set up their half court offense.  Getting that far seems to be the biggest problem for the Big Red tonight.  23-15 for Wabash...matches the biggest lead of the night.

4:23 - Aaron Brock just got a great seal on his defender and went went with the two-footed slam dunk.  Nice to see the rims getting loosened up here tonight.  25-17 Wabash leads.

1:13 - Denison completes a three point play and are within three poitns now at 27-24.  More 80's students....I've got a kid sporting a Larry Bird (#7) jersey from the original Dream Team.  That was '92, but I'll give him "close enough" credit here.  Good stuff. 

Halftime....Wabash 30, Denison 26.  I whiffed on that extra point I gave Denison earlier...not sure where that came from. 

This wasn't the most inspired half of hoops I've seen from Wabash this year.  The LGs are actually getting outrebounded here 19-18.  Honestly, I'm impressed with how Denison is competing.  I expected a team that was going through the motions and red x-ing the calendar for spring break.  Not the case.  Ghiloni has these kids playing hard and they are right in the game.  I really can't understand how this team hasn't won a game yet.  I'm not saying that they are a good basketball team...they're young and inexperienced and pretty raw offensively, but a team that competes like this should have accidentally won a game along the line somewhere. 

I guess I didn't give Denison an extra point.  I lost my mind momentarily.  It must be the killer 80s garb that the students are sporting tonight that is throwing me off.   

[Li'l Giant]

Don't forget to give the status of Wes Smith's headband. 

[wally_wabash]

New half, new post....

No change in Wesley's headband status as we get started here. 

19:38 - Wes Smith opens the scoring with a nice jumpshot.  Denison's Caleb McFerren answers with a driving layup and a foul.  He missed the free throw.  32-28 early in the 2nd half.

18:13 - Denison hits their first three pointer of the game and has trimmed the lead to a single point.  32-31.  Wabash is going to have to tighten down here because the Big Red aren't going away.  Before I can post, Simkus nails a three pointer.  And before I can post that Eberst for Denison hits another one.  It's raining threes here.  35-34. 

14:30 - Eberst just hit a three pointer and Denison has their first lead of the game 39-37.  The Denison fans are excited like this is their first lead of the season.  That isn't a knock...I'm really impressed with their enthusiasm here.  Mac Petty gets a timeout and Wabash really needs to get some things straight here. 

12;37 -Ghiloni is calling a timeout here to settle things down.  Wabash leads 40-39 but it's pretty clear to this observer that Denison is outplaying the Little Giants by a significant margin right now.  The energy level for Wabash is going to have to take a step up here or Denison may very well be celebrating on this floor tonight.  Out of the timeout Wabash gets a steal which turns into a a Brian Maloney layup.  42-39 Wabash now. 

8:41 - Aaron Brock gets himself a nice little layup off a pretty Chase Haltom pass.  Denison answers with Brian Elder in the paint.  The score is 46-42 and Ghiloni calls for a timeout.  There must be something he saw on the defensive end that he wants to discuss.  8:33 to play as the ball comes back in for Wabash. 

7:04 - Zimmer scores off the glass and Wabash has matched their largest lead of the game at 50-42.  This second half has been full of whistles.  Neither team can establish any flow here. 

5:03 - Zimmer gets away with a travel, then gets fouled on a drive to the rim.  He'll have foul shots.  Wabash got away with one there.  The shots are good.  54-44 Wabash. 

3:27 - Aaron Brock will be shooting free throws for Wabash.  He's struggling tonight.  Missed the first one.  Makes the second.  57-45.  Without any real three point shooters, this one may be getting away from Denison. 

2:35 - Fast break...sweet dish from Rooks to Zimmer who slams it home.  61-45 now.  It's starting to look like the score of this game is going to be pretty deceiving.  In no way has this been an easy game for Wabash.

0:52 - Zimmer is going to the line for some more foul shots.  Wabash is wearing out a path to the stripe in the second half.  64-45 Wabash.  This one is on ice. 

Final from Chadwick: Wabash 66, Denison 47.  My hat is off to the Big Red tonight.  They'll win a game before this season is over. 

[David Collinge]

Honestly, I'm impressed with how Denison is competing.  I expected a team that was going through the motions and red x-ing the calendar for spring break.

Actually, I'd argue the opposite.  If there's any team in the NCAC that should be expected to give their all every night, it's Denison.  If not now, when?  Every game is their "Super Bowl."  If they're going to just go through the motions, they might just as well quit the team (as of course several have.)  The DU roster is full of kids who are short on talent and athletic ability, but long on heart and tenacity.  I've yet to see them quit, not even late in the game when they're already out of it.  I am filled with admiration for the players and coaches there.

[Pat Coleman]

Wally has already mentioned it, but yes, Mac Petty will be our guest on Hoopsville tomorrow night.

http://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/

[wooscotsfan]

My hat is off to the Big Red tonight.  They'll win a game before this season is over. 

Might even happen this coming Wednesday...
0-8 Denison plays at 0-8 Earlham.  Best chance could be on 2/20 when they host Earlham?

Biggest game on Wednesday 1/30 is Wittenberg at Wabash.  Go Little Giants!  

[BigRedGrad]

Sounds like the Big Red gave them all they wanted.  But it certainly didn't help scoring 8 points in the final 14:30.  That isn't going to get it done.  If they can put it together for 40 minutes and not 25 they will get the W.

With Earlham and Oberlin at home gives them the best shot.

[David Collinge]

Congratulations to Hiram sophomore Mike Staley for being named the NCAC Player of the Week for the week ending Sunday.  Staley helped the Terriers to two wins, including one over Allegheny that pushed the Pups past the Gators an into 6th place in the conference standings.  Congratulations, Mike!

[BigRedGrad]

I have a general question. 

I was looking at the NCAC stats.
Denison is the worst shooting team in the conference at .401.
They have also shot it the least.  875 shots  (Outside of Oberlin who has shot it 3 less at 872 times)

Am I off base for asking if they shoot so poorly you may want to try and speed up the game and get more shots to make up for the fact that you miss so many?

If you shoot it the least and are the worst shooting team........how the heck are you going to win?   I guess 0-17 tells the story.

I think Denison should pick up the pace and start shooting the darn the ball. 

It might be worth it to give it a try because what they are doing now doesn't seem to work.

[smedindy]

There may be other factors besides the number of shots. Actually, I had a coach in HS who contended that if they shot less FGs than the other team, they'd win. And he was right, because of the pace they played and the fact that when they won, they shot a lot more FTs than the other team and they'd maximize points per possession.

Denison is near the bottom or the bottom in rebounding and turnovers, so that means fewer shots as well.

I don't think offense is the crux of the issue for the Big Red. Making a few stops would be key as well.

[David Collinge]

Am I off base for asking if they shoot so poorly you may want to try and speed up the game and get more shots to make up for the fact that you miss so many?

That's a bit like the retailer that sells each item at a loss "but we'll make it up in volume."

The faster the pace of the game, the further Denison gets behind.    Say that the combination of factors mentioned above works out that they are 10% less effective at scoring than their opposition.  If the opposition has 40, DU has 36; two buckets with a stop in between and it's tied.  If the opposition has 80, they're 8 points down and they probably can't score quickly enough to catch up.

Add to this that Denison is not very athletic, and not very deep.  They can't maintain a fast pace, so a running team can actually exacerbate the problems the Big Red have.  They especially have difficulty getting back on defense; that's precisely why they got smoked by Hiram. 

Look at it this way.  If these were the good old days before the shot clock, what gameplan would you draw up for DU vs. Wooster?  My plan would be to go into a 20-minute four corners right from the start, so that you're never more than one possession down (depending on who controlled the tip.)