MBB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

93-80 final from Alliance.  Mount passes a big test this week taking care of business at home. 12-2, 7-0 now.  Enjoyed the video feed w/ the 1310 audio on it.  Much nicer than live stats.

[sac]

I enjoyed it to, watched most of the second half.  Mount's a very good looking team

Mt. Union      7-0
Marietta        6-2
Wilmington   5-2

really down to a 3 team race as JCU and Capital take their 4th losses.  Mount has some very tough road games remaining.  @ JCU, @ Capital, @ B-W, @ Marietta, @ Wilmington

[Dr. Acula]

They definitely have some talent now. Dillon is a nice player. And Gillespie deserves credit for stepping up his senior year. His 13 ppg/4.4 apg/53%/44%/81% at the point is a big key for them. He's done a great job.  Their issue will be 1) if Ruffin gets in foul trouble, 2) they go cold from 3.  They have no post scoring to speak of except Ruffin.  Hopefully Stevie Griffin returning gives them some diversity with scoring avenues. 

[RoyalPurple]

Better be seeing Mount Union about 18 in the Top 25 given the week and wins they had

[Pat Coleman]

Better be seeing Mount Union about 18 in the Top 25 given the week and wins they had

Welcome to basketball relevance. You're asking a bit much but Mount Union will definitely have votes, and I would think more votes than Marietta. That likely will not be enough to get into the Top 25, however, let alone the Top 20.

[Dr. Acula]

I think they'll definitely get votes.  I would be shocked if they cracked the top 25.  That's a lot to ask going from 0 votes to top 25 for a program that hasn't been a top 25 caliber team since I was watching Aaron Shipp fill it up (FYI, he's almost 40 now).

[David Collinge]

Mt. Union nearly cracked the Top 25 this week, and then wham! Capital reminded them that this is not football, 88-70.

[Dr. Acula]

That's a bad loss. I've been to Cap a couple times this year.  No one is mistaking that for a good Crusaders team.  They're very average this year.  It's tough to win conference road games though.  Mount barely won in Tiffin.

[sac]

  Mount has some very tough road games remaining.  @ JCU, @ Capital, @ B-W, @ Marietta, @ Wilmington

long way to go yet

[EttaFan1]

Marietta's Andy Dollman dislocated his elbow last night in the first half vs. Capital.  Don't know how long he will be out, but it is a big blow to the Pioneer lineup who is now without Hammons and Dollman for a few games.

Other guys are going to have to step up. 

Trip to Wilmington on Saturday for the Pioneers.  Need a road win badly to stay in the hunt.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Tonight's Hoopsville (Thursday, January 23) is set to air starting at 7 PM EST. Tune in to hear from Mount Union coach Michael Fuline and the following guests:

- Transylvania WBB coach Greg Todd
- Johns Hopkins WBB coach Nancy Funk
- William Smith WBB coach Lindsay Drury Sharman
- School of the Week: Schreiner and MBB coach Jimmy Smith
- #25 Dubuque MBB coach Robbie Sieverding

You can tune into Hoopsville on our website or here.

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Thank you and enjoy the show!

[Dr. Acula]

The Berg/Mount game has been ppd for the 3rd straight day today this time with no make up date named.  The Raiders have the Wed/Sat OAC two-step until 2/22/14 so who knows where it's going to get dropped in.

[RoyalPurple]

Sorry that I could not see 4 days ahead to a explainable loss to Capital, but the team is in first and handled JCU easily tonight. I'll accept no ranking but no votes,,,that's a little odd

[sac]

OAC pre-season favorite Baldwin Wallace picked up conference loss #6 tonight.

[Dr. Acula]

Sorry that I could not see 4 days ahead to a explainable loss to Capital, but the team is in first and handled JCU easily tonight. I'll accept no ranking but no votes,,,that's a little odd

If they win Saturday they'll be back to getting votes again I'm sure.  The road win at JCU helps. What doesn't help is that the OAC is down as a whole.  I'll say it again...I think they're a year ahead of schedule. I expected them to be very competitive this year building for a good shot at the OAC title next year when that first class will be seniors.  Fuline is doing a great job.