MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Vanilla24COW]

I believe the game that DC is referring to is when the Scots met HS for the first time in a sweet 16 matchup back in 1999 that was played on HS's homecourt (or atleast in the south). You are indeed correct that Woo/HS matched up in a consolation (still burns to say that) game in Salem in 2003 when Witucky was a freshman. As far as Woo this year, Port is more of a 3 man forced to play the 4 spot but he can hit 3's and can put it on the floor and create for not only himself but also for his teammates. Judging from the posts, it appears Wooster has the advantage at the guard spots but I would give the early edge to RM for the frontcourt. Hopefully COW can slow Wansley and outgun the guards, should be a great game.

[ScotsFan]

I first started posting here because of a Wooster/ODAC tournament matchup (the game vs. Sydney 6 or 7 years ago), and now another ODAC game brings me back.  I only hope that Friday's game is as good as I remember that COW/HSC game was.

Yes, that was a good game -- close until the very end.  Your sense of time is a bit off, though, as it was less than 3 years ago, in March 2003.  Wooster's seniors were only freshmen then.  You all had a great contingent of fans present for the Final Four in Salem!

You beat me to it Vanilla.  That sweet 16 game was down at H-SC and it was quite a game.  That was a year I thought Wooster was poised to  make a run and it turned out to be an early exit to a very good H-SC team.  Another one of those early round match-ups that make you cringe.  Kind of like this year with two ranked teams meeting in the opening round with Woo and R-MC. 

Thanks for all the info on the Jackets.  It  sounds like Wooster is going to have it's hands full down low.  As has been stated earlier, if Wooster is hitting from the outside, they are tough to beat.  To say Wooster likes the perimeter game would be an understatement.  They have 4 guys at or around 50 or more 3's made on the season.  They have 2 more with nearly 30 or more 3's made and as a team they have hit 300, which has shattered the previous single season record of 245.  They are also on pace to break the team 3 pt. fg % of .437 as a team.  They are currently hitting at .441.  However, if they can't find their mid to late season shooting touch, they are very beatable. 

On paper, this looks to be one heck of a game.  I can't say that I was thrilled to see R-MC as the Scot's opening round opponent.  Many over in the GL region were saying Wooster got an easy draw in comparison to the other powers in our region this year (Witt, B-W, Hope, Calvin, CMU), but all I keep thinking is Lee Corso's, "Not so fast, my friend!"  This has all the makings of being a great game!

[3sdown]

I believe the game that DC is referring to is when the Scots met HS for the first time in a sweet 16 matchup back in 1999 that was played on HS's homecourt (or atleast in the south). You are indeed correct that Woo/HS matched up in a consolation (still burns to say that) game in Salem in 2003 when Witucky was a freshman. As far as Woo this year, Port is more of a 3 man forced to play the 4 spot but he can hit 3's and can put it on the floor and create for not only himself but also for his teammates. Judging from the posts, it appears Wooster has the advantage at the guard spots but I would give the early edge to RM for the frontcourt. Hopefully COW can slow Wansley and outgun the guards, should be a great game.

I would agree with you, but it sounds like this game may come down to the the COACH that is able to find the best match-ups.  It sounds like both teams will have difficulty in matching up with one another in some manner.  The coach that is able to find the right line-ups throughout the game will be important and may decide the game.  Ultimately the players have to execute, but coaches place them in the position to execute.  Should be interesting.

[78rmc]

Looks like it will be a RMC vs VWC final in Salem!

[fighting_scots]

Looks like it will be a RMC vs VWC final in Salem!

As ScotsFan reminded us--Lee Corso: "Not so fast, my friend!"

A bit premature, don't you think?  We can talk about matchups in Salem on March 11th--right now, it's one game at a time, my friend--

[78rmc]

Looks like it will be a RMC vs VWC final in Salem!

As ScotsFan reminded us--Lee Corso: "Not so fast, my friend!"

A bit premature, don't you think?  We can talk about matchups in Salem on March 11th--right now, it's one game at a time, my friend--

Obviously, a joke and a little wishful thinking.  But with the brackets, it's one of the few, if only, conference with such a chance.

[oldfish]

I find it hard to believe that anyone would say that Wooster got an easy draw in the tourney.   RMC is a top 25 team with 6 losses on the year.  But 3 of those losses came to #8 VWC.  That doesn't look like a cakewalk to me.

[Vanilla24COW]

There's no question that Wooster got a tough draw. The feeling of the cakewalk came from Great Lakes biased posters who do not know much about the other regions of D3 basketball. They were comparing Wooster's road compared with the other Great Lakes teams that were placed in the same sector (Witt, Baldwin Wallace and Hope) all of which are ranked in the top 10. However, at this time of the year rankings mean nothing, maybe the most underrated aspect of tournament basketball is having seniors and good chemistry. The team that has the seniors and the will not to lose along with good chemistry ie the team that does whatever it takes to win will end up cutting down the nets in Salem.

[jdubyadubya]

VWC Moves to #7 in the Top 25. GO FISH!

[justafan02]

Wooster will have their hands full because Wansley should now be close to 100%.  He is a beast, especially for teams not used to playing him.  VWC did a pretty good job, but he still lit them up for 24 in the ODAC championship.  Should be a very big matchup.


Wonder how the Marlins will match up against their opponent.  I don't think there are any "cake walks" once you get to the NCAA tournament.  All these teams will be ready to play the biggest game, thus far, of their season.

[njlincolnlion]

oldfish:

Va. Wesleyan gave R-MC losses and Lincoln & Fisk also beat R-MC also.  There could be a potential Lincoln - Va. Wesleyan matchup in the Tournament. 

[Pat Coleman]

Looks like it will be a RMC vs VWC final in Salem!

You're a little late. That game came eight days ago.

[njlincolnlion]

Touche Pat Coleman......Touche, I guess some people were disoriented with their dates   .

[mybleedinghands]

not saying RMC will win this, but if their big game player, adam krovic, is making some shots I don't like Wooster's chances unless they got guys like him. I mean, he's like Macon's version fo Robert Horry, he may only dominate a few games out of the year, but when it comes to the high stakes games he's money. Example: 18 points in the OT game agaisnt Hampden Sydney and 12 in the ODAC championship game against Va. Wesleyan. He's just one of those special big game players that produces when the stakes are very high and a lot is on the line!

[wooscotsfan]

Wooster also has several "big game players" so that shouldn't be a deciding factor in this game.

As others have noted, Wooster's senior point guard Kyle Witucky has played in the NCAA tourney the last 3 years including Final Four and Elite 8 games.  Witucky has hit big shots throughout his career to win games in the last minute or so.  He nailed a shot at the buzzer to knock off Earlham on the road earlier this season.

James Cooper also wants the ball in crunch time -- he hit a long three pointer with less than 5 seconds left to win Witt-Wooster game #1 this season.  He also dropped over 20 points on Wittenberg in game #2 to lead Wooster to a big road win.

Tom Port has also taken big shots for Wooster at critical points in various games.  Even Devin Fulk (Wooster's 6th man) nailed two three pointers in the last 2 minutes vs. Wittenberg last Saturday to nearly pull out the game for Wooster.

What concerns me most about RMC is their strong front line of Wansley and Hawley.  In some respects the Woo - RMC matchup reminds me of Woo - Witt where Wooster has the advantage at the guards and RMC (Witt) has the front line advantage in the paint.

The winner of this game may be the team that does the best job on defense of neutralizing the other team's strengths. 

Can't wait until Friday night -- this should be a great game!