MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[LGHistorian]

Just wanted to pass along a good luck wish to Wooster and OWU in the tourney. Being a Wabash grad I would have liked for the LGs to be there since Coach Petty is contemplating retirement. But it was a competitive year for conference play and I hope this year was an indication that the NCAC be more balanced in the future.

[Marty Peretz]

Wash.U. has had terrific student support this year, and improved but still not significant support from the community. Though the players' families travel extremely well, the students begin spring break Friday and almost definitely not make the trip to Rock Island (at least that's the case for me and I suspect I speak for a lot of the WU student faithful) en masse. I would not worry about getting tickets considering the size of the venue. There won't be more than 200 Bears fans there, unfortunately. Then again, if they beat Wooster, some of the Chicago-area fans may make the trek for the Saturday night showdown.

And a question: If WU were to get out of the weekend, what are their chances of hosting  the sweet 16 games?

[Gregory Sager]

Augustana's Carver Center holds 3300 fans.  I don't know how well they draw, or how well Wash U. and Aurora travel, but with a gym that size I'd guess that tickets will be available at the door.  No word yet from Wooster about a pre-sale of tickets. 

Also no word yet from either OWU or Centre about tickets.  According to D3hoops.com, Centre's Alumni Gym seats 1300. 

Augie posters themselves complain about attendance and almost total lack of community support.  When IWU plays there, the crowd is generally at least 40-50% Green (and never anywhere near capacity).  And WashU can't draw even at home (don't know about Aurora).  I seriously doubt tickets would be a problem.

Augie doesn't draw well, and I'm pretty sure that the students will be on spring break there as well.

About half the crowd at the de facto UAA championship game at the U of C's Ratner Center on Saturday afternoon consisted of Wash U fans, so there were a good thousand or so people on hand who were wearing Wash U's Christmas colors. Rock Island is a closer trip from St. Louis than is Chicago. Then again, Wash U has a big Chicagoland fanbase (and several Chicagoland players on the roster), which helps explain the big turnout on Saturday. I'm not certain if that will translate to an equally big road turnout on Friday night in the QC for the Bears.

Aurora draws about 400-500 people to most home games. Last year the Spartans had about 400 or so of their fans in Thornton Gym watch them host the two opening rounds. They were dwarfed by the combined Hope and Calvin contingents, but they held their own. No telling how well they'll travel, though.

[Gregory Sager]

Wash U is led by their post man Ruths. IMO the key in this game will be whether or not Will and Co can contain and limit Ruths and make things difficult on him. If Johnson plays will certainly be the other key and how effective he can be. Wash U lost their PG early in the season and I think Johnson's ability to pressure the ball when healthy could be a big factor.

An even bigger problem for Wooster might be Wash U's Tyler Nading (15.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg). He's a do-everything 6'7 wing who creates a lot of matchup problems for opponents, because most D3 teams don't have someone that size who is mobile enough to play out on the perimeter.

[pbrooks3]

Alumni Gym at Centre can handle 1,500, and probably 200 more standing-room.

[smedindy]

I just did my pick 'em, and sad to say I can't be more of an NCAC homer. Wooster has a tough draw, and OWU going to Centre will be tough as well.

Best of luck! Prove me wrong!

[David Collinge]

Ohio Wesleyan sneaks into the bottom of the 'others receiving votes' category of this week's Top 25 poll, earning 2 votes (i.e., two voters had them at #25, or one had them at #24).  Woo-hoo!   

[wooscotsfan]

Wash U is led by their post man Ruths. IMO the key in this game will be whether or not Will and Co can contain and limit Ruths and make things difficult on him. If Johnson plays will certainly be the other key and how effective he can be. Wash U lost their PG early in the season and I think Johnson's ability to pressure the ball when healthy could be a big factor.

An even bigger problem for Wooster might be Wash U's Tyler Nading (15.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg). He's a do-everything 6'7 wing who creates a lot of matchup problems for opponents, because most D3 teams don't have someone that size who is mobile enough to play out on the perimeter.

Tyler Nading did the most damage in last year's third place game vs. Wooster as he led the Bears with 22 points.  Sean Wallis was right behind with 21 points and Troy Ruths had ~16-17 points.  Aaron Thompson is a good shooter as well and can hit the three pointer for the Bears.

Wooster will probably utilize Marty Bidwell (6'4", very quick, rebounds well) to defend Tyler Nading and this matchup will be one of the keys to the game.  If Wooster can prevent Troy Ruths and Tyler Nading from having a big scoring night (easier said than done), they will have a chance to win the game. 

[wooscotsfan]

In today's newspaper, Wooster Coach Steve Moore gives an update on the high ankle sprain and status of Brandon Johnson.  He is now starting to walk ...but it is still day to day and he has not done any running yet.

Best wishes to Brandon for a speedy recovery!

Here is the link to the Wooster Daily Record article on the Scots' NCAA bid:
http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/3408712

[jpope2]

Just a few stats to compare Wooster, Washington U. and the starting five of each, for fun.

            Wooster (23-4)           Washington U. (19-6)
ppg:           86.2                             72.3
rpg:            38.5                             33.7
fg%:           50.6%                          47.6%
3fg%:         44.3%                          41.3%

Probable starters:
Wooster
F Mary Bidwell (6'4" JR): 9.4 ppg 5.2 rpg 3.4 apg 1.8 steals
F Bryan Wickliffe (6'5" FR): 11 ppg 5.5 rpg
F/C Evan Will (6'6" SR): 9.7 ppg 6.6 rpg
G James cooper (6' SR): 19.4 ppg 2.5 rpg
G Brandon Johnson (6'2" JR): 11.4 ppg 3.8 rpg 3.4 apg 1.8 steals

Washington U.
F Troy Ruths (6'6" SR): 19.2 ppg 6.8 rpg
F Tyler Nading (6'7" JR): 15 ppg 5.9 rpg
F Cameron Smith (6'5" SO): 5.9 ppg 4.8 rpg
G Aaron Thompson (6'3" SO): 10.6 ppg 3.1 rpg 3.8 apg
G Ross Kelley (6'1" SO): 3.7 ppg 2 rpg

[David Collinge]

The NCAC All-Conference team has been announced.  Congratulations to the following award-winners:
Player of the Year: James Cooper, Wooster (his second POY)
Coach of the Year: Matt Croci, Kenyon
Newcomer of the Year: Kodey Haddox, Kenyon

First team:
James Cooper, Wooster
Gregg Hill, Wittenberg
Jesse Jean, Ohio Wesleyan
Brandon Johnson, Wooster
Dustin Rudegeair, Ohio Wesleyan
Bryan Yelvington, Kenyon
Andrew Zimmer, Wabash

Second team:
Brandan Babarino, senior, Wittenberg
Devin Fulk, senior, Wooster
Tristian Gregory, junior, Earlham
Kyle Holliday, junior, Ohio Wesleyan
Michael Loll, junior, Oberlin
Mike McDevitt, senior, Hiram
George Raftis, sophomore, Allegheny
Gary Simkus, senior, Wabash
Evan Will, senior, Wooster

Honorable Mention:
Bill Babe, senior, Allegheny
Marty Bidwell, junior, Wooster
Aaron Brock, sophomore, Wabash
Dave Knapke, sophomore, Kenyon
Mike Staley, sophomore, Hiram
Pat Sullivan, junior, Denison

Congratulations to these outstanding gentlemen! 

[smedindy]

I'm a bit surprised on how DeWitt wasn't coach of the year instead of Croci. Croci did a fine job, but OWU won the tourney.

Yes, I know their path was helped by upsets, but still, who wanted to play the Bishops this year anyway?

[Pat Coleman]

Did voting take place after the tournament?

[David Collinge]

I'm a bit surprised on how DeWitt wasn't coach of the year instead of Croci. Croci did a fine job, but OWU won the tourney.

Yes, I know their path was helped by upsets, but still, who wanted to play the Bishops this year anyway?

I think the difference was that DeWitt's team met expectations (2nd place), while Croci's exceeded theirs (4th).  I of course would have been happy with either choice.  FWIW, two of the three ballots in our poster's all-NCAC team were also for Croci.

Did voting take place after the tournament?

Voting began the Monday before the tournament began; I don't know what the deadline was.

[imderekpoe]

...who wanted to play the Bishops this year anyway?

I imagine Wooster wanted to play them one more time!