MBB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Hope you didn't decide to take a night off or two from games? You would have missed some important results. While Wednesdays and Saturdays tend to be the big "nights" of any week in Division III, games on any night could have major ramifications.

The algebra this time of year is both simple and complicated. Conference schedules, for the most part, have moved into the second half and teams seeing teams a second time sometimes have an advantage. Rivals, of course, have an advantage. There are also distractions as some teams have been sitting on mostly empty campuses for several weeks and may be bored. Or second semester classes are beginning and changes to schedules can be an abrupt adjustment. There are also long road trips that can take a team's focus. Plus, the weather. Yeah, Mother Nature loves changing things around.

All of it can lead to upsets or strange outcomes. From blowouts to close battles. On any night, you are bound to see something you will be chatting about the next day.

Thursday's show includes guests from a couple of the hottest teams in men's basketball: Capital and Swarthmore. We also hear from an island squad and find out if the Whitman women's upset of George Fox should have been a surprise. And Springfield's Naomi Graves chats about how the U.S. Marine Corps has helped her coach and preach diversity.

Hoopsville is presented by D3hoops.com and airs from the WBCA/NABC Studio. You can watch Thursday's show starting LIVE at 7:00 p.m. ET. in the video player above. If you miss any of the show, you can always watch it On Demand or listen to the audio-only podcast to the right (available shortly after the show goes off air).

If you have questions about Division III basketball, feel free to send them and we will answer them on a the show. Email them to hoopsville@d3hoops.com or use any of the social media options.

Guests Schedule (order subject to change):
- Damon Goodwin, No. 20 Capital men's coach
- Michelle Frentz, No. 24 Whitman women's coach
- Naomi Graves, Springfield women's coach (WBCA Center Court)
- Landry Kosmalski, No. 10 Swarthmore men's coach

If you enjoy the show via the podcasts, choose your favorite avenue to listen and/or subscribe via the the following four avenues (click on the images when necessary):
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/hoopsville




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

[Dr. Acula]

I just saw that Cap dropped one to Berg drawing Etta even with the Crusaders again at 9-1.  That's a big stumble as Berg is middle of the pack at best.  I still wouldn't be surprised if the winner of the Cap/Etta game finishes 17-1 though.  I'd like to say Mount can knock one of them off having both at home this time around, but I'm not so sure it's in the cards.  Mount is only a game back at 8-2, but they've also escaped a couple games that very easily could have been losses to middle of the road teams.   

[Onward on, John Carroll]

Not sure anyone has noticed - as JCU has not given anyone a reason to take notice this season - but Pete Moran has abandoned the platoon system his father employed and made famous  . . . for the season, it appears.  I would have to go back to the EARLY 2000s to think fo the last time we were not subbing out 5 for 5 every 8-10 possessions.

[Dr. Acula]

Not sure anyone has noticed - as JCU has not given anyone a reason to take notice this season - but Pete Moran has abandoned the platoon system his father employed and made famous  . . . for the season, it appears.  I would have to go back to the EARLY 2000s to think fo the last time we were not subbing out 5 for 5 every 8-10 possessions.

Lee Hood used that strategy too.  We used to call it line change or, as my one roommate referred to it, the Arby's rotation.

[Dr. Acula]

Mount bounced back today after getting handled in UH last game.  JCU jumped out early and Mount never really threatened them. 

Back at home today they got back on track against ONU 79-71.  I watched most of it since I'm stuck in the office.  First off, Bruns is a stud.  They aren't great overall, but he is.  28 and 9 today.  Second, when he's on the floor they didn't look anywhere near as bad as their record (or Mount didn't look as good as theirs?).  Point is it was basically a stalemate when it was 1's against 1's.  But Mount's second unit blitzed ONU pretty good in limited minutes.   

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The Hoopsville Marathon Show ... is tomorrow!

Tune in starting at 12:00 p.m. ET as we talk to guests from around the country about nothing but #d3hoops.

It is all about celebrating the season, student-athletes, coaches, and an exciting season.

For more information, click here: http://bit.ly/2HGx0N3

We will share more about the show a little later.

[Dr. Acula]

Huge game for Mount tonight with the Pios coming in.  Mount's slim hopes of winning the OAC are on the line.  Also on the line is Mount's 13 game home winning streak.  The Raiders are a perfect 9-0 this season at the MAAC.  They're going to need their best effort of the season to keep that intact.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Here are the first rankings for the men this season: https://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2019/02/men-regional-rankings-first

[Dr. Acula]

Mount gets a huge win over GLR#1 Marietta tonight 78-66.  Bower-Malone had 13 points and 5 steals to go along with an absurd 13 assists.  Slack came off the bench and went a perfect 4-4 including 3-3 from deep.  They've given themselves a chance now.   

[raiderpa]

Mount gets a huge win over GLR#1 Marietta tonight 78-66.  Bower-Malone had 13 points and 5 steals to go along with an absurd 13 assists.  Slack came off the bench and went a perfect 4-4 including 3-3 from deep.  They've given themselves a chance now.   

Have to give Slack great credit for picking up the scoring when Stenger got in foul trouble.  He really "picked up the Slack".  Was a real team effort as the defense was stout and the bench was strong.  Possibly the best Mount performance for quite some time.
Now, the key is to hold on at Heidleberg and BW before Cap comes to town. 
Kudos to Mount crowd last evening, they really showed up.

[joelmama]

I think it is just me but Mount only getting 12 points in the latest rankings.  Seems they have a resume that should be somewhere in that 24-27 range IMO.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The second week Regional Rankings have been released: https://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2019/02/men-regional-rankings-second

[Dr. Acula]

Great game this afternoon in Alliance.  Mount needed a win against RR #1 Cap to clinch a share of the OAC title at 14-4.  They exploded out of the gate and never looked back routing Cap 91-71.  It was effectively over at halftime (43-27) as Cap never made a serious push the entire 2nd half.  Congrats to Coach Fuline and the seniors.  Mount will host an OAC tournament game Tuesday with a chance to close out the season 12-0 at the MAAC. 

[BillyRayJimBob]

From the front page wrap-up:

"Capital lost on Saturday, but still ended up with the top seed after the Ohio Athletic Conference ended up in a three-way tie on the final day of the conference schedule. The Crusaders fell 91-71 on Saturday afternoon to finish 19-6, 10-4 in the conference as their opponent was 33-for-54 from the field and 12-for-26 from beyond the arc, ending up with the No. 2 seed. Jason Ellis scored 21 points off the bench, including making five of six from 3-point range, to lift Marietta past Heidelberg 83-66 and into the third seed."

Oddly, only three of the teams participating in the two games are mentioned.  I wonder who the fourth team might be.  Apparently good enough to tie in a three-way for the conference championship. 

Nice job MOUNT UNION Purple Raiders!!!

[wooscotsfan]

Final:  John Carroll 82  Marietta 79

Blue Streaks pull the road upset and the Pioneers will now be looking for a Pool C bid.
.