MBB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

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

I could see not being able to see ahead but then not posting about it for a week afterwards, that's a little odd in and of itself.

[sac]

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

I've watched a couple Mt. Union games, they look every bit as good or better than the Marietta team that's been getting votes for several consecutive polls now.

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.

I strongly disagree with that statement.

The OAC went 33-37 out of conference last year, this year the league went 40-29.  OAC cannibalism and a strong NCAC probably won't get them two teams in the tournament but I think the OAC is decidedly better than a year ago.

[Fifth and Putnam]

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

I've watched a couple Mt. Union games, they look every bit as good or better than the Marietta team that's been getting votes for several consecutive polls now.

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.

I strongly disagree with that statement.

The OAC went 33-37 out of conference last year, this year the league went 40-29.  OAC cannibalism and a strong NCAC probably won't get them two teams in the tournament but I think the OAC is decidedly better than a year ago.

I completely agree that the OAC is stronger as a whole this year. Massey also has the OAC as the 4th best conference in Division 3. Every night seems to be a grind in the conference and anyone can beat anyone.

[Dr. Acula]

I should have clarified, when I said the OAC was down what I meant was that the top teams aren't as good as top teams in years past.  The conference is certainly better top to bottom than last year.  I've seen more than half the conference play so far this year and it's definitely very competitive.  A team like Berg has a poor record, but they are not a bad basketball team from what I saw.  I didn't see much difference between them and, say, Cap.  I haven't seen Musky this year, but all the teams I've seen have been pretty solid.  No nights off in the OAC right now. 

[RoyalPurple]

So,,,Mount doesn't get votes because they were never good before?? I coached against Coach Fuline in HS,,,,,get used to Mount Union being ranked

BTW-The bottom teams in the OAC are no where near as weak as the bottom feeders in the NCAC,, leading one to wonder of about the strength of the four on the top

[sac]

Denison 87 Capital  82
Kenyon 93  Otterbein 73
Muskingum 82  Kenyon 80
Muskingum 84  Oberlin 74

The bottom half of the NCAC really hasn't played many games against the OAC.  Its split 2-2

Wooster 76  Baldwin Wallace 71
Wooster 81  Marietta 78
Wittenberg 79  Capital 55
Wittenberg 97  Otterbein 77
Ohio Wesleyan 90  Capital 73
Ohio Wesleayn 79  Marietta 74

There really can be no disputing the NCAC's top 4 teams success against their OAC opponents.   Three of these were close games that probably could have gone either way.  DePauw didn't play anyone from the OAC.

[Dr. Acula]

So,,,Mount doesn't get votes because they were never good before?? I coached against Coach Fuline in HS,,,,,get used to Mount Union being ranked

I'm a huge Fuline fan.  I think they're going to be good as long as he is there.  The question when a successful HS coach moves to college is recruiting.  Fuline can flat out recruit.  The depth already on the roster shows that.  Plus thanks to his time coaching in Portage/Stark counties and his family coaching ties to Youngstown he has great inroads basically in all directions within an hour of Alliance.  If they end up a top 25 team at the end of the year then that just adds ammo to his recruiting.  He got good players when they were losing.  What can he get when they're winning?  I'm pumped to find out. 

 

[Pat Coleman]

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

I've watched a couple Mt. Union games, they look every bit as good or better than the Marietta team that's been getting votes for several consecutive polls now.

They do seem pretty comparable. Mount Union won by a point at home when they got to go to the line with .8 seconds left on a bail-out foul call. (Review for yourself, around the 3:10:00 mark: https://www.boxcast.com/show/#/men-s-basketball-marietta-at-mount-union) On a neutral floor, it's reasonable to think Marietta is better but the rematch doesn't come for a few weeks yet.

[sac]

Marietta scores the last 8 points of the game to beat ONU 76-71,  Mt. Union hold off Capital and wins by 6.  Wilmington wins by 14

Everything stays the same at the top of the OAC.


Mt. Union has to travel to Baldwin Wallace next Wednesday.

[EttaFan1]

Marietta vs. Muskingum postponed to Thursday, and host Heidleberg on Saturday. 

Andy Dollman should be back in the lineup when the Pioneers host Mount Union.

Marietta had a rough game against Northern.  They took a lot of bad and forced shots for the first three fourths of the game.  They started settling in and playing together. 

It should be a fun finish to league play. 

[Fifth and Putnam]

Marietta vs. Muskingum postponed to Thursday, and host Heidleberg on Saturday. 

Andy Dollman should be back in the lineup when the Pioneers host Mount Union.

Marietta had a rough game against Northern.  They took a lot of bad and forced shots for the first three fourths of the game.  They started settling in and playing together. 

It should be a fun finish to league play.

Glad to hear Andy will be back, hadn't heard anything about him. We'll need him down the stretch.

[Dr. Acula]

Mount wins a 104-98 track meet in Berea. Ruffin was big with 21, 7 and 6 blocks.  A couple freshmen (Jackson and Griffin) each went 5-5 from the floor including multiple 3's.  But Krawkowiak was the story drilling 9-12 from deep. Didn't see Payne's name in the box score for BW.

[ohiofan1954]

say Dr. that looks like it was a old fashioned game there where players could actually shoot. Will be catching mt. tonight at Otterbein, it will be interesting to see if the hot shooting keeps up.

[Spence]

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

I've watched a couple Mt. Union games, they look every bit as good or better than the Marietta team that's been getting votes for several consecutive polls now.

They do seem pretty comparable. Mount Union won by a point at home when they got to go to the line with .8 seconds left on a bail-out foul call. (Review for yourself, around the 3:10:00 mark: https://www.boxcast.com/show/#/men-s-basketball-marietta-at-mount-union) On a neutral floor, it's reasonable to think Marietta is better but the rematch doesn't come for a few weeks yet.

Goodness what could the ref have been thinking there. Guy flings it over his head going perpendicular (or almost) to the basket and gets the call.

[sac]

Baldwin Wallace 65  Wilmington 61

Wilmington with 4 conference losses now and lose the tie-breaker with Marietta.  Unlikely to be any better than a 3 seed in the tournament.

Pretty much down to Mt. Union and Marietta for the Championship.