MBB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[jdean]

Good news and better. The better news? The football team won. I know, its old news.
The good news--I saw the Mount men play tonight. They've got a lot of kids (literally) playing and they aren't too bad. The youngsters don't have any bulk or height, but they are quick. Could have a bunch of good guards developing. As to Cap--they are big and there are lots of them. A couple of them play like hockey enforcers, with little finesse and bad hands. Mount was down 1 with 24 secs, worked it into Karpinski with 10 and Cap knocked the ball OOB. Mount couldn't knock down the winner. Losing by one was a tough loss but Mount actually played a good game.
Look out  JCU.

[Toph]

jdean-
JCU is looking at RC's Bears right now.  Hopefully they'll have the same success that the football team had against the team from Ada.  Let's not forget the CSU game is coming up as well from the game against the Vikings of CSU coming up as well.  Great tickets still available...by the way.  The Mounties will get their shot, and then you too can complain about the officiating that Carroll always seems to get against whoever they play.   

[ScotsFan]

As to Cap--they are big and there are lots of them. A couple of them play like hockey enforcers, with little finesse and bad hands.

Isn't that a proper description of Cap every year???

[Kramerica]

BW looks they are off to their usual start. Big win on the road in Ada, on a cold, cold Weds. night in the OAC. Tough to do.

Saw them vs Muskie on Sat. They play very uptempo, suprised to see the score of 67-65 tonight. BW goes to the line 23 times to ONU's 8?

BW/CAP line for Saturday is BW -7.5, o/u 157. Double Tori Davis looks like the way to go, but they have great shooters. Just have to hope they are off from the field. Doesn't usually happen in the Banky Center.

[Toph]

It'll be interesting to see how ONU rebounds at JCU.  Talk about a tough week for the Bears on the schedule.

[ScotsFan]

It'll be interesting to see how ONU rebounds at JCU. Talk about a tough week for the Bears on the schedule.

Tough week could be an understatement.  ONU gets to travel down to Springfield to take on #3 Wittenberg after their date @ JCU.  I had brought up ONU on the "Top 25" board as a team that was still hard to get a handle on.  They had almost cracked this week's Top 25, but after this week, they could be lucky to still be in the "Others receiving votes" category.  They were undefeated until last night and they had been winning handily.  But, at the same time, they hadn't really played anybody, until last night.  They could easily go from being undefeated, to having 3 losses by this time next week.

BTW, that was a nice win for the Yellow Jackets on the road in Ada.  That Wooster-BW game is shaping up to be quite a dandy in the opener of the Mose Hole Classic on the 29th!

[Toph]

SF-
I'm not counting out an ONU win in U-Heights yet.  Unfortunately I won't be able to make it to that one though. 
Remember, winning in Springfield's not so tough.  JCU has proved that over the past two years.   

Seriously though, now is a good time to find out if the Bears are for real.  If they play these three games tough (including that loss to BW), I don't think they have anything to hang their heads about.

[ScotsFan]

Toph,

I know ONU could just as easily win @ JCU and @ Witt, I was just speaking hypothetically about ONU having 3 losses basically because they are still relatively unproven.

Remember, winning in Springfield's not so tough. JCU has proved that over the past two years.

You are right about that.  JCU certainly enjoys the friendly confines of the HPER and Wooster has more wins over Witt the past few years in Springfield than they do in Timken?!   Go figure I guess.

I also agree that, even if the Bears were to lose all three, if they played JCU and Witt as tough as they did BW last night, I think we could all agree that they are a very good basketball team.  They did have 3 chances to win last night in the final minute as three 3-point attempts were missed by ONU that would have given the Bears the win.  It remains to be seen as to how ONU rebounds from this loss as they prepare for another top 25 opponent.

[Toph]

So since the Scots won at home this year, does that mean they pull out the big W and go 2-0 in the regular season series at Witt?  Either way, it doesn't really matter, barring a major, major surprise, the two teams will meet in the NCAC final and both will go to the playoffs.

[ScotsFan]

Either way, it doesn't really matter, barring a major, major surprise, the two teams will meet in the NCAC final and both will go to the playoffs.

You are correct about that.  And if it wasn't for JCU the past couple of seasons (and Albion last year) a 4th Wooster-Wittenberg matchup could have been possible.  You guys seem to like crashing the party.

[ScotsFan]

SF-
I'm not counting out an ONU win in U-Heights yet. Unfortunately I won't be able to make it to that one though.
Remember, winning in Springfield's not so tough. JCU has proved that over the past two years.

Seriously though, now is a good time to find out if the Bears are for real. If they play these three games tough (including that loss to BW), I don't think they have anything to hang their heads about.

Toph,

It looks  like it was a good thing you weren't able to attend today's game, although it  was obviosly one of those instant classics as they like to refer to them on "The Network."  I'd say the Bears did a lot today to prove that they are for real.  Two down and one to go for ONU.  We should definately get a good measuring stick as to how the best of the NCAC stack up against the best of the OAC on Wednesday given the fact that Wooster and Wittenberg met already and ONU is coming off of back to back games against 2 of the favorites in the OAC. 

[Basketball23]

What happened in OT that it ended so lopsided? Other then the final it sounded like a pretty good game. Took in the Mighty Berg' vs. The Hott Pink an Black Fish today. 'Berg wouldnt be too bad if they didnt turn it over every other possession. Teams like musky live off that with the offense they run an were up 30 at one point but went about 2 of 30 from the free throw line down the stretch to make the final only 10. Todd wasnt very impressive but i've heard he can light it up pretty good. No more OAC games till Jan 4th, first couple is such a tease i was just getting into it, shaping up like a good race so far cant wait for the finish.

[jdean]

jdean-
The Mounties will get their shot, and then you too can complain about the officiating that Carroll always seems to get against whoever they play.   

I've seen some bad crews, so bad you'd think they have to on the take or blind. But the only place I know of that has a reputation for "home" officiating is St Ignatius H.S. in Cleve. I've heard of basketball coaches saying the calls are so bad there they swear the HS is borrowing clergy from the church, taking their collars off and putting stripe shirts on and telling them to win one for the Gipper!
I have little problem with OAC officiating.  They make some great calls and make a few bad calls and miss a few--they're human. The big thing to me is that they be consistent on both ends, through the entire game. So I have no beef with the stripes at JCU.

In case you basketball fans were studying for finals between the basketball games and haven't heard any recent news, I'd like you to take time out, get on your knees and bow a couple times while chanting: Mount Union football rules the world.

In case I don't post here in the next week, Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to all.

[Toph]

First off, great game in Salem yesterday for the Purple Raiders.  It was the most pumped up I'd ever seen the students for a Stagg Bowl, and I've been to four. 

Secondly, and please don't believe that I am trying to make excuses.  I am not entirely surprised that ONU beat JCU.  First because they look like a good basketball team.  But I am not sure that the team's hearts were totally in the game.  Edward Moran, Coach Mike Moran's father, passed away on the 15th.  I do not, however, want to take anything away from Northern's big win.

[johnworms]

Last week in this forum, I predicted Otterbein to lose by 30 to John Carroll, and they nearly pulled off the upset against the Streaks. This week, I predict that the Cardinals will shock the nation and upset #3 Wittenberg in Springfield. Any thoughts?