MBB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[division3hoops]

Well I will agree with you and say that I think the OAC has more competition, it's not to say that the NCAC can't offer competition.  Look at both OWU and Allegheny this year, who both beat Witt. 
I'm just tired of hearing that the only reason Wooster has a good record every year is because our conference is weak....

[Toph]

I'm just tired of hearing that the only reason Wooster has a good record every year is because our conference is weak....

Nobody here said that.

[john201]

35-32 Scots at half. Closer than I expected.

[wooscotsfan]

Final:  Wooster 83  John Carroll 73

Great win for Wooster as they go to the ELITE EIGHT!   

Wooster was led by Tim Vandervaart with 16 points, Tom Port with 16 points, Brandon Johnson with 14 points, James Cooper with 13 points and Devin Fulk with 10 points.

John Carroll was led by Rudy Kirbus with 23 points, Brandon Mimes with 21 points (11 boards), Terry Walsh with 11 points and Pete Moran with 11 points.

Wooster is now 28-3    Next up is the St. John Fisher/Brockport winner.

GO SCOTS!

[division3hoops]

I know nobody here said that, I was just making a point.

Onto other things, I just wanted to say that I was extremely impressed with JCU's team, their defense in particular.  They played really well.  Moran was all over everyone he was guarding the entire night. 
Wooster was luckily able to work their magic but to no ease.  Congrats to JCU on a great season.

[wooscotsfan]

I would like to add my congratulations as well to the John Carroll Blue Streaks and Coach Moran on a fine season.

Special note of congratulations to John Carroll Seniors Brandon Mimes, Terry Walsh and Pete Moran on their terrific collegiate careers!

[David Collinge]

JCU played great, and they played with class.  It was a great game, and they represented their university very well.  Congratulations to the Streaks! 

And that JCU pep band is still awesome! 

[fishermba]

Toph-

Thanks for being a major JCU supporter on this board for all of us alum (Class of 96).  I have one question now that the season has ended:  Is it just me or are you worried for next year?  I havent run the numbers but I would say that 95%+ of their offense is graduating and nothing seems to be lurking in the JR, SO class for talent.  In prior years they had some production in at least two sets of classes i.e SR and JRs.  This year it was all SRs.  Even looking back on this season I think they would have been hurting if Walsh hadnt transferred into the school.

I look forward to your opinion and keep up the good work. 

Go Streaks

[Toph]

Congrats to Wooster!  Keep it going.  I'd love to say JCU lost to the champs. 

Sorry it took me so long to get to my thoughts on the weekend.

First things first, I was at the MAC tourney so I was unable to listen to the games.  I had to settle for constant text message/phone call updates, but I always knew what was going on in the JCU/Woo game.  Like we all thought, Wooster was the better team and came out on top.  JCU kept it pretty close for most of the night, and lost to a better team, simple as that.  Congrats to the JCUers and coaches on another fine season.

fishermba-
I am worried about next season, but remember that JCU does have some young guns.  Kirbus is one hell of a player and he's only a freshman.  Johnny Curran will be back next year...but you're right, they have a lot of holes to fill.  I am particularly interested in Desmond Motley, who received rave reviews at Euclid from my good friend Dan Coughlin at Fox 8, but never dressed.  I would think that you'd be able to fit a 6-4 athletic foward into any rotation, but let's not forget that Moran has about 250 and change more career wins at John Carroll than I do.   

One thing that we can always count on, Moran recruits extremely well (it doesn't hurt that he has former players scattered all over the area as head and assistant high school coaches).  As long as Mike Moran is leading the program, I'll approach each new season with optimism.

[fishermba]

Toph-

Thanks for the insight.  Something else crossed my mind over the weekend.  Why doesnt Mimes have another year of eligibility left after sitting out last season?  Just curious.

[Toph]

Toph-

Thanks for the insight.  Something else crossed my mind over the weekend.  Why doesnt Mimes have another year of eligibility left after sitting out last season?  Just curious.

This is information that I am not privy to.  I am an alum now ('06) and can't keep my ear as low to the ground as it used to be.  I would guess that it is possible that he has another year of eligability, but I can't speak with any certainty.  Also, there is the matter of whether he is willing and able to pay for another year at John Carroll if he does have another year left. 

[ScotsFan]

I wouldn't see why he wouldn't have another year of eligibily left.  I think it would just be a matter of, as you said Toph, whether or not he would be willing or able to foot the bill for another year at JCU, or whether he even wanted to for that matter.

I will say this.  Having Mimes back next year would change the entire complexion of that team.  It would definately remove some of the questions for the Blue Streaks heading into next season.

Without Mimes, I'm not so sure that even as good as Kurbis showed he was capable of becoming in his last 3 contests, I don't even he can carry JCU to another playoff run.

As it stands right now, I'd have to say that Cap looks to be the team to beat in the OAC heading into next season and by a considerable margin at that.

[john201]

I heard a rumor, and it is just a rumor from after the WC and JCU game...Did Mimes take last year off to try and walk on for the Cleveland St. hoops team? I heard that and if its true he can't come back and play because that year would count because it's at the D-1 level. If someone could clear that up thatd be great. Congrats to Wooster. Love to see them win it all.

[Toph]

I heard a rumor, and it is just a rumor from after the WC and JCU game...Did Mimes take last year off to try and walk on for the Cleveland St. hoops team? I heard that and if its true he can't come back and play because that year would count because it's at the D-1 level. If someone could clear that up thatd be great.

That was a rumor that was flying around both the JCU campus and these message boards.  That is not true.  I can tell you with certainty that Brandon Mimes was enrolled at John Carroll all of last year.

[fishermba]

Toph-

Another topic I would like your insight on.....Do you think Rudy Kirbus will have a better football or basketball career at JCU? He was a solid FB player at Iggy.

Take Care