MBB: Ohio Athletic Conference

David Collinge · February 18, 2006, 05:58:00 PM

Quote from: johnworms on February 18, 2006, 05:25:32 PM
Interesting day today as both Wooster and B-W fall in their regular season finales. Should we chalk it up to both teams not playing real hard knowing they are the number one seed in the conference, or is there some reason to be concerned? I recall watching my team (Otterbein) down the stretch (2001-2002), thinking that they had to win EVERY game just to secure home court advantage leading up to the final four. It is such a HUGE advantage in DIII basketball considering there are no neutral courts until you reach Salem!

I think Wooster played hard, but they didn't play good defense, didn't shoot well, and played a very inspired (and pretty good) team playing probably its best game of the year. Wooster didn't mail it in today, they just got outplayed.

fighting_scots · February 18, 2006, 09:02:54 PM

DC--Back from Delaware and you have nailed it on the head. OWU played a perfect 1st half--Warnock was unstoppable--he even hit a couple of 3's that were called off because of a foul before the shot. Woo in turn played a horrible 2nd half, scoring 18 pts in the 1st 17 min! Take nothing away from the Bishops, but there was the proverbial lid on their basket---Woo couldn't buy a bucket--similar to the 9 min stretch in the BW game. Port's shot at the buzzer was 1/2 way down--

Nice to see we weren't the only #1 seed to take it on the chin today---BW--Woo would make a fine "Great 8" matchup, a tough one for the Scots--

On to the tourney!

jdean · February 18, 2006, 11:27:52 PM

Mount played a game today like some of us wish they had played all year. For their effort MUC gets to visit BW on Weds. My guess is BWs little mini slump will end but I expect some upsets in this tournie.

Toph · February 19, 2006, 01:04:35 PM

Watch out for Northern in the tourney. They look to be firing on all cylinders. Badenhop's range starts as soon as he gets across midcourt, he had 24 yesterday...all on 3's.

As for the Streaks, the difference without a true point guard on the floor is very difficult to overcome. Chris Day is wokring as hard as he can, but he's not a PG. Without Moran on the floor JCU is without their leading scorer and leader in assists...and one of their better perimeter defenders. Not only does he score well, he creates with assists and steals. The offense is really struggling without him. We'll see if JCU can get a couple lucky bounces (and maybe get Moran healthy) and make some kind of run in the tournament.

I'm going to think about this for couple days, but any early predictions on round one and beyond?

jdean · February 20, 2006, 12:59:19 PM

Usually I would go with all the home teams but there are so many decent teams this year I don't think that is as big an advantage as usual. I agree with your ONU comment--they always seem to be on fire this time of year.
I'll be glad to help JCU with their guard situation--you can have any G except Switzer from Mount's current roster and two 50 yd seats to the next Browns SuperBowl appearance and Mount gets a freshman of our choice from JCU's 2006/07 men's roster. Such a Deal!!!!

bishopsfan · February 20, 2006, 05:18:16 PM

Very interesting proposal jdean but will the Browns ever make it to the Superbowl?

Toph · February 20, 2006, 05:45:13 PM

Come on, jdean, do you really think that anyone would be able to convince a recruit from John Carroll to go to school at Mount?

Here's what I think will happen right now:

Muskingum over Otterbein unless Tyler Ousley plays like he did against Carroll a few weeks ago, then there's only one player in the league who can stop him.

Northern over Carroll unless Pete Moran is healthy and/or the JCU coaching staff is able to come up with something to offset the 3 point shooters.

Capital over Wilmington unless I'm wrong...this is a coin flip I think.

BW over Mount unless hell freezes over

jdean · February 20, 2006, 06:35:56 PM

Toph:

Ok, I want to go on record: hell already froze over for JCU on 9-17-05 and for Mount on 10-22-05

And there is a caveat to the frosh recruit: IF he meets Mounts excellent academic standards!!!!

Bishopsfan:

The Browns are going to make the Super Bowl before Art Modell is elected to the Hall of Fame (which I'm counting on as NEVER).

bishopsfan · February 20, 2006, 09:32:34 PM

jdean-
Point well taken. As Browns fan myself it has been tough the last couple of years but I do feel the team is headed in the right direction.

jdean · February 20, 2006, 11:02:18 PM

Quote from: bishopsfan on February 20, 2006, 09:32:34 PM
jdean-
... but I do feel the team is headed in the right direction.

Yikes. They're moving again?

Toph · February 21, 2006, 10:02:00 AM

This is the only football comment I'm willing to make. To say the Browns are headed in the right direction is to say that they had more than one direction to go in. It was virtually impossible for things to be any worse than they were. This team had nowhere to go but up. I'm not sold on this new administration yet.

c-busballer · February 22, 2006, 05:04:18 PM

OAC Tournament Predictions

#1 BW vs #8 Mount - BW has lost 2 in row. Mount has won 2 in a row. BW handled Mount the first 2 times. I look for the Raiders to use offensive sets they have not used all year and pull out all the stops. If BW is loose and plays care free they win easily. I will go with Mount.

#2 ONU vs #7 JCU - ONU is playing well. JCU has had a tough year injury wise and emotionally. Only hope is that Pete Moran is healthy. Teams have shot a high percentage and have not turned the ball over against the Streaks recently. If ONU is ready and focused, it does not matter. ONU is too deep and too talented. Take ONU

#3 Muskingum vs #6 Otterbein - Teams spit during regular season and both teams are 5-4 the second time through the conference. Top players will determine this game. Todd, Ross, Pittis for Muskingum. Banaszak and Ousley for Otterbein. Reynolds has a great tournament record. Ford's first time around. Take Otterbein.

#4 Wilmington vs #5 Capital - Both teams playing well at 6-3 the second time around. Capital winners of 4 straight and Wilmington winners of 5 straight. Whoever wins the battle of tempo and instills their style of play will win this one. Turnovers will decide the game. If Wilmington forces the tempo and turnovers, they win easily. Capital needs less than 15 turnovers and Stahl to keep shooting well. Take Capital.

Not very smart predictions. I am glad I do not gamble. I would love to see 4 upsets like 1998. The only game that I am confident that the top seed will win is the ONU game.

jdean · February 22, 2006, 07:00:59 PM

I haven't seen BW's last 2 games but I have seen Mounts.
They played their collective heart out to win those 2 last games and that's exactly the reason I'm going with BW.
Mount is running on fumes and about run dry.

jdean · February 22, 2006, 10:50:53 PM

Four and one-half minutes to go, Mount down by five. Davis commits his fourth and Kaprinksi is at the line for two. He misses both shots, the teams trade threes and then the toilet starts to flush. Turnovers, an uncontested breakaway, foul shots and Mount is down by ten. Good effort Raiders. Find a couple guys to defend the post and sweep the boards and you'll be OK next year.

Ralph Turner · February 22, 2006, 11:06:37 PM

In this week's issue of SI, Milwaukee Buck Michael Redd is featured for his buying his father his own church building.

His father, Rev. James Redd, was a Capital University point guard in the 1970's.