MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Li'l Giant]

Oh my. BashBro and #3 appear on the hoops board. This is a banner night, indeed. 

[cave2bens]

Fun game to finally get the feed for, and a great, season ending run for the LGs and Coach Mac.  Time to Bash the Bishops and even the score from last time...

"Who'd a thunk it" last week at this time?

[wally_wabash]

They're coming out of the woodwork tonight!  This is great.  I'm going to reserve comments like "amazing" and "tremendous" to describe tonight's win.  From what I've seen of Wabash this season, I've felt that this kind of game was entirely possible.  I wouldn't have guessed this kind of margin, but beating Wooster in Wooster wasn't out of the question. 

I didn't see the game, but I'm guessing based on what I saw in the Wabash/Wooster game in C'ville, Wes Smith was checking 2,000 point scorer James Cooper.  14 points and 0-6 on 3 pt field goals...he must have done a great job.  Wesley won't win the NoY award in front of Wickliffe, but I really think that he's had more impact on a team this year than any freshman in the league.  What Smith has done for Wabash on defense this year doesn't show up directly in the stat box...but he's been a big key for the LGs. 

OWU has been playing well....but really, who wants to play the team that just beat Wooster on their own floor by 24?  This is cool...one game to make the dance for the first time in 10 years.  Go Wabash....these kids deserve it.   

[Pat Coleman]

Reporting from the SCAC tournament in Conway AR where the quarterfinal round games were played today. Most games followed the projected script - Centre and Millsaps won along with Trinity (TX) in a thrilling 2 overtime game over DePauw. In a mild upset the host school Hendrix defeated Oglethorpe in the late game. Attendance was generally 200-300 per early games this afternoon. The Hendrix-Oglethorpe men's game drew close to 600 tonight. Can't begin to compare with atmosphere at Timken in Wooster, but a better turnout than I expected. Hendrix should get another good draw tomorrow against Millsaps.

Thanks.  I was interested in your report because the SCAC is playing at a quasi-neutral site (at Hendrix, pre-selected and not based on seeding.)  200-300, eh?  There were more than that at Kenyon tonight for the women's NCAC tournament.  I think this is evidence that a neutral site tournament would not work for us.  Thanks again for the report, pbrooks3!

I think your conference is a tad more geographically compact than the SCAC. Probably safe to say that Wabash, almost always your furthest team, would bring more fans to a neutral site in the  NCAC footprint than Colorado College or Austin College would have brought to Conway, Ark.

Also remember that the SCAC was playing in two sites in the same city on the same day, so that split things up a little.

[ScotsFan]

It's going to take this kind of game this weekend to get by Wooster.  But we know that Wabash has the potential.  Should be a great game at Timken this weekend! 

Well Wabash played that kind of game and then some last night!  Congrats to Wabash on the sound arse kicking they delivered tonight at Timken!  I have not seen a Wooster team look that bad since I started following the Scots closely back in '97.  You could argue that tournament loss at Calvin several years back, but that was on the road and not in the friendly confines of Timken Gym.  And to think that the Scots had not lost at home until tonight's debacle.

Some thoughts from the game:

Who lit the fire under Aaron Brock?  He follows up a 21 point performance at Kenyon with a 29 point all-american 'esque performance last night?!  This dude is in one unbelievable groove right now.

You have to give credit to Wabash for weathering the Wooster comeback.  Wooster came out on fire in the 2nd half and you could tell they were responding to whatever Coach Moore and his staff had to say during the intermission.  Before you knew it, Wabash's 13 point lead was down to 4 and the crowd was jacked.  I couldn't believe Petty wasn't calling a t.o.  I guess that's why he's the coach as Wabash not only thwarted Wooster's comeback.  But they responded with a huge run of their own to put the game very much on ice...

And lastly, I think we got to see just how much Brandon Johnson brings to the table both offensively and defensively.  Losing him early in the game was a tremendous blow.  If Wooster is worthy of a C bid, they won't go far without Johnson on the floor.  And from the looks of it, I would be very surprised if Johnson is back for the early round games.

One more thing.  I overheard some OWU fans as I was leaving commenting on how empty the gym will be tomorrow.  Then one of them said that OWU fans would be there at least and the 8 or so Wabash fans that were there tonight.  I had to speak out at that point.  I said, I would expect there to be a few more than 8 or so Wabash fans in attendance tomorrow night.  So, you Lil' Giant followers.  Don't let me down!

OWU has been playing well....but really, who wants to play the team that just beat Wooster on their own floor by 24?  This is cool...one game to make the dance for the first time in 10 years.  Go Wabash....these kids deserve it.   

I'm sure that OWU was thinking the same thing after they won at Witt marking the first Witt sweep in 50+ years...

And as far as Wes Smith is concerned.  He certainly bothered Cooper a bit, but I wouldn't say he is the reason Cooper was 0-6 from deep.  Many of Coopers looks were pretty good.  The shot just wasn't falling tonight.  It happens to the best of them...

[pbrooks3]

Reporting from the SCAC tournament in Conway AR where the quarterfinal round games were played today. Most games followed the projected script - Centre and Millsaps won along with Trinity (TX) in a thrilling 2 overtime game over DePauw. In a mild upset the host school Hendrix defeated Oglethorpe in the late game. Attendance was generally 200-300 per early games this afternoon. The Hendrix-Oglethorpe men's game drew close to 600 tonight. Can't begin to compare with atmosphere at Timken in Wooster, but a better turnout than I expected. Hendrix should get another good draw tomorrow against Millsaps.

Thanks.  I was interested in your report because the SCAC is playing at a quasi-neutral site (at Hendrix, pre-selected and not based on seeding.)  200-300, eh?  There were more than that at Kenyon tonight for the women's NCAC tournament.  I think this is evidence that a neutral site tournament would not work for us.  Thanks again for the report, pbrooks3!

I think your conference is a tad more geographically compact than the SCAC. Probably safe to say that Wabash, almost always your furthest team, would bring more fans to a neutral site in the  NCAC footprint than Colorado College or Austin College would have brought to Conway, Ark.

Also remember that the SCAC was playing in two sites in the same city on the same day, so that split things up a little.

Good points, Pat - the SCAC is not the NCAC.  I don't consider Hendrix College's gym a quasi-neutral site.  Granted the quarter final games for the women were played today at a local high school, so we might classify those games as having been played at a quasi-neutral site.  Interestingly enough, the host school in the women's game almost upset a top seed (Oglethorpe) in the quarters this evening.  I got some additional opinions from Hendrix folks tonight on attendance at the men's 8 pm game between Hendrix and Oglethorpe - they suggested the house was closer to 700 rather than the 600 I previously noted.  The remainder of the tournament Saturday & Sunday will be played at Hendrix's new gym.  For a first hosting, my hat's off to the Hendrix folks for a fine job done on day one.  Hendrix is a school of 1,300 students located in Conway Arkansas (30 miles west of Little Rock).  Conway is a community of 50,000 with three colleges so it's a little more than a shade tree in the outback.

[David Collinge]

Reporting from the SCAC tournament in Conway AR where the quarterfinal round games were played today. Most games followed the projected script - Centre and Millsaps won along with Trinity (TX) in a thrilling 2 overtime game over DePauw. In a mild upset the host school Hendrix defeated Oglethorpe in the late game. Attendance was generally 200-300 per early games this afternoon. The Hendrix-Oglethorpe men's game drew close to 600 tonight. Can't begin to compare with atmosphere at Timken in Wooster, but a better turnout than I expected. Hendrix should get another good draw tomorrow against Millsaps.

Thanks.  I was interested in your report because the SCAC is playing at a quasi-neutral site (at Hendrix, pre-selected and not based on seeding.)  200-300, eh?  There were more than that at Kenyon tonight for the women's NCAC tournament.  I think this is evidence that a neutral site tournament would not work for us.  Thanks again for the report, pbrooks3!

I think your conference is a tad more geographically compact than the SCAC. Probably safe to say that Wabash, almost always your furthest team, would bring more fans to a neutral site in the  NCAC footprint than Colorado College or Austin College would have brought to Conway, Ark.

Also remember that the SCAC was playing in two sites in the same city on the same day, so that split things up a little.

Good points, Pat - the SCAC is not the NCAC.  I don't consider Hendrix College's gym a quasi-neutral site.  Granted the quarter final games for the women were played today at a local high school, so we might classify those games as having been played at a quasi-neutral site.  Interestingly enough, the host school in the women's game almost upset a top seed (Oglethorpe) in the quarters this evening.  I got some additional opinions from Hendrix folks tonight on attendance at the men's 8 pm game between Hendrix and Oglethorpe - they suggested the house was closer to 700 rather than the 600 I previously noted.  The remainder of the tournament Saturday & Sunday will be played at Hendrix's new gym.  For a first hosting, my hat's off to the Hendrix folks for a fine job done on day one.  Hendrix is a school of 1,300 students located in Conway Arkansas (30 miles west of Little Rock).  Conway is a community of 50,000 with three colleges so it's a little more than a shade tree in the outback.

I explained what I meant by "quasi-neutral": pre-selected and not based on seeding.  Perhaps my made-up term didn't capture that sentiment precisely. 

I've been to lots of NCAC games, both men's and women's, and I think I have a pretty good sense of how well fans show up to support their teams on the road.  Wooster's fanbase travels pretty well, and to a lesser degree so do Witt's.  Others, not so much.  I read upthread that someone suggested that "8" Wabash fans were in attendance last night at Wooster.  An exaggeration, I'm sure, but I've seen nearly empty visitor's sections in a lot of NCAC gyms.  And this is despite the fact (of which I already was aware) that we have a relatively geographically compact conference. 

The reported attendance for the second games of our doubleheaders was 1000 (Kenyon) and 1759 (Wooster).  I can attest to the Kenyon figure as that was my estimate, too.  (The two openers are listed at 350 and 1010, respectively.)  At a neutral, or "central", site, I think you can safely cut those figures in half, down towards a level like the SCAC, leaving you with a tournament that lacks both fan energy and financial viability.  I'll be interested to see tonight's figures, since we have truly neutral and relatively central sites in play.

[pbrooks3]

I got away from your definition of "quasi-neutral" site last night while watching the Oglethorpe-Hendrix game. Thanks for the reminder.

[wally_wabash]

How sweet is it that the win over Wooster last night may help to keep DePauw out of the dance?  Outstandiing.   

[smedindy]

Wow! I had no time to visit yesterday, and was at work all day today! Congrats LG's!

[Schwami]

Is there video of the game?

[smedindy]

Thanks.  I was interested in your report because the SCAC is playing at a quasi-neutral site (at Hendrix, pre-selected and not based on seeding.)  200-300, eh?  There were more than that at Kenyon tonight for the women's NCAC tournament.  I think this is evidence that a neutral site tournament would not work for us.  Thanks again for the report, pbrooks3!

Now, I like the idea of that just for hoop junkies. The issue with afternoon games on a Friday would probably keep that attendance down.

How about an NCAC final four in Dayton or Columbus? Play the first round at campus sites and then move there for the finals?

[wally_wabash]

Right here Schwami:

http://www.teamline.cc/free_view?teamcode=1061&eventcode=6&status=PFF

[Schwami]

Thanks Wally! 

[wally_wabash]

Blech...pretty poor finish to the half for Wabash there.  Wabash will have to a much better job rebounding the basketball in the second half. 

Halftime score is 42-30 with OWU in the lead.  Zimmer's foul trouble has thrown things off for the LGs big time.  He'll have to play smarter in the second half. 

Wabash Always Fights!