MBB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

I know nothing about Pete's coaching acumen, but what I do know is that's a really good job.  There will be excellent candidates interested from outside the program. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

While it was reported via Twitter weeks ago, this is the first full story I have seen and the first confirmation from Coach Moran.  It is official.  He will retire at the end of the season:

http://www.news-herald.com/sports/20161109/john-carroll-mens-basketball-coach-mike-moran-to-retire-after-2016-17-season

At the end of the article, it states that his son Pete would be his choice for successor and the AD, Laurie Massa, stated that he would be considered.  I am not sure how I feel about that.

What I have learned since we first reported his departure... while Mike wants Pete to take over, there is nothing guaranteed at all... and apparently strong support and voices to change directions. This is not a knock on Pete at all, but clearly there is strong voices to go outside the family. And I have heard that from a lot of different people.

[Onward on, John Carroll]

What I have learned since we first reported his departure... while Mike wants Pete to take over, there is nothing guaranteed at all... and apparently strong support and voices to change directions. This is not a knock on Pete at all, but clearly there is strong voices to go outside the family. And I have heard that from a lot of different people.

I would be one of those voices.  While I think that Pete could be a fine coach and may be the best option JCU has, looking at the options available is the responsible thing to do. 

I would think JCU would be an attractive place to coach in that it is a solid school in a metro area with a pretty good tradition.  Now, the school is not overly committed to basketball as evidenced by the fact that Coach Moran also coached golf and I certainly do not believe we have the "holy grail" of D3 basketball - a full-time assistant coach - but the facility is decent and we are not running things too much on a shoestring budget.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Believe it not, the 2016-17 basketball season is just days away. But the season can't start without Hoopsville hitting the air!

Tune in tonight starting at 7pm as Dave talks to the two preseason numbers one teams, finds out how the offseason went for the two defending national championships, and touches bases with the men's and women's basketball committee chairs.

Guests include:
- Kevin Vande Streek, men's basketball committee chair and head coach for Calvin
- Bobbi Morgan, women's basketball committee chair and head coach for Haverford
- John Tauer, head coach for No. 10 St. Thomas men
- Dave Hixon, head coach for No. 1 Amherst men
- Jeff Hans, head coach for No. 4 Thomas More women
- Carla Berube, head coach for No. 1 Tufts women

You can watch the show here: http://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2016-17/nov13

You can also tune into the podcast(s) after the show has aired:
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/hoopsville
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hoopsville/id1059517087

Don't forget you can always interact with us:
Website: www.d3hoopsville.com
Twitter: @d3hoopsville or #Hoopsville
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hoopsville
Email: hoopsville@d3hoops.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/d3hoopsville

[Beyond the Arc]

ONU opens tonight against a tough Alma team.  This will be an early test to see how ONU will be this year.  With every starter returning, ONU has a good shot at contending this year.  First year coach Rick Bensman is high on this team.  There are two players I am interested to see how they step up this year.  #22 Joey Diorio and #30 Nate Burger both expect to have expanded roles this year.  Both will come off the bench and if they raise their game to compliment the starting five, ONU will have a very good year.

GO POLAR BEARS

[Fifth and Putnam]

Olivet    43    Capital    83   
Kenyon    60    Muskingum  85
La Roche    75    Marietta    101
Baldwin Wallace   90   Case Western Reserve 76    
Mount St. Joseph   58    Wilmington  48    
Ohio Northern    72    Alma    80    

Nice wins for Cap, Muskingum, Marietta, and BW. ONU lead for a good portion of the Alma game before losing it down the stretch. Wilmington kept in respectable against a good MSJ team. La Roche hung with Marietta for about 25 minutes before blowing it open. Not a lot of big surprises tonight although Muskingum's margin of victory gave me second glance.

[Beyond the Arc]

Tough loss last night for the Polar Bears.  Up by 11 at half and let it slip away.  Hats off to Alma.  They made several good adjustments at halftime.  Alma took the ball right at ONU's bigs in the second half that propelled a large difference in foul shots.  On defense they adjusted the spacing on their zone and ONU had no answer inside.

The Polar Bears played tough and were lead by Nate Burger with 18.

[Dr. Acula]

Olivet    43    Capital    83   
Kenyon    60    Muskingum  85
La Roche    75    Marietta    101
Baldwin Wallace   90   Case Western Reserve 76    
Mount St. Joseph   58    Wilmington  48    
Ohio Northern    72    Alma    80    

Nice wins for Cap, Muskingum, Marietta, and BW. ONU lead for a good portion of the Alma game before losing it down the stretch. Wilmington kept in respectable against a good MSJ team. La Roche hung with Marietta for about 25 minutes before blowing it open. Not a lot of big surprises tonight although Muskingum's margin of victory gave me second glance.

Musky was picked 8th in the coaches poll.  Not great by any stretch, but I guess it at least means the coaches didn't think they were going to be awful. 

[Dr. Acula]

Mount won both of their games at Hilbert (NY).  I know nothing about the teams they played, but all I care about is that DeAllen Jackson played 35+ minutes both games so he must be 100%.  That's great.  He scored over 20 both games on very efficient shooting.  He absolutely has to play at a high level if they're going to be successful. 

It also looks like they're starting a freshman at one of the guard spots and bringing Francesconi in as the 6th man.  Kukura did that last year with much success.

[Beyond the Arc]

Finely a win for the Polar Bears.  After two tough losses Ohio Northern puts two halves together to beat Defiance College by 42.  ONU was lead by Konner Baker and Nate Burger with 17 each.  The Burger kid has come on tough this season averaging 18 points a game. Great game all around with 5 players in double figures.

Congrats to Coach Bensman on his first win at ONU.

Polar Bears have a couple of days off before hosting Wisconsin Whitewater this weekend.

[kiltedbryan]

In something of a surprise, Capital nips Ohio Wesleyan, 82-76.

The box score suggests the story was that Capital simply outshot OWU. Cap hit at 56% for the game and 63% (7-11) from 3pt vs. OWU's rather paltry 36% and 22% (8-35) from 3pt.

Capital is off to a 4-0 start. OWU falls to 2-1 with the loss.

[gordonmann]

Rough start for John Carroll, but this week's Around the Great Lakes column focuses on Coach Moran's final season on the Blue Streaks' sideline

http://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/greatlakes/2016-17/john-carroll-moran-sendoff

Around the Nation will talk about early surprises and I'm sure Marietta will make an appearance (again...they were also in last week's ATN).

[bouncer1]

Just some thoughts on early season topics. JCU job will have many applicants. Also not sure if Pete Moran is best man for the job. Maybe things have changed but he was really a loose cannon when he played. Maybe that is just "passion for the game."  Mike Moran was the best thing that ever happened for JCU hoops. Great guy with a great ability to bring in quality players. Took their program from mediocrity to top of the league and nationally known. On other fronts, good to see Damon back at Capital. Another good guy who is good for college hoops. Coach Schwab at Musky must be doing a good job. It is early but has them going in the right direction. Also as a long time follower of the OAC, it is difficult to fathom that Otterbein has been so bad since the end of the Reynold's days. Quality program that has been really on hard times. Not surprising but Marietta has a couple quality wins nationally early on in the season. They lost some good players but have just reloaded. Good test this Saturday travelling to play BW. Another OAC season is underway and it will probably be full of great games and surprises as always.

[Dr. Acula]

The state of affairs at Otterbein has been and continues to be a head scratcher.  I certainly don't expect them to be hanging another banner in the Rike Center, but being in the basement of the OAC is inexcusable.

As for the season so far...Mount is 4-1, but I'm still concerned.  Their leading rebounder is their 2 guard.  The offense is pretty much as expected...Jackson and Kukura both averaging almost 20 a game and no one else more than 7.  That's fine that you have two main scorers, but both of those guys have had some injury issues in the past.  They need both healthy if they want to have any chance to make noise in OAC play.

Finally, congrats to JJ Kukura for a career high effort against Hiram last night.  He put up 40 points and 10 boards in the win. 

[Fifth and Putnam]

John Carroll   95   Muskingum   99   
Heidelberg   70   Otterbein           53   
Capital           65    Ohio Northern   87   
Marietta           84    Baldwin Wallace 64   
Wilmington   79   Mount Union   84

Marietta wins the battle of Top 20 teams with a 20 point victory on the road after trailing at the half. The Pioneers certainly are the conference favorites early on. Nice to see Muskingum have some life this year at they score a HUGE home victory over a struggling JCU team who falls to 1-4. Does anyone know the story on JCU's struggles? This team had so much coming back this year on paper and they have looked so disjointed this year.