Scots face two of OAC’s best in Mose Hole Tournament

  • Brian Questel
  • December 20, 2010
  • 282
                        
122710 mosehole Promo: Different look to 2010 Mose Hole Classic Scots face two of OAC’s best in Mose Hole Tournament By Brian Questel The Mose Hole Classic was one of the nation’s first college basketball holiday tournaments when The College of Wooster’s then-coach Al Van Wie debuted the tournament during the 1963-64 season. What was once a rarity has become the norm as countless college teams now utilize the Christmas break to either play in or host tournaments, but the Mose Hole Tournament remains a staple of the college hoop season. For the first time in the tournament’s 48-year history, though, it will have a non-championship look to it. Wooster will play John Carroll Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. and Wilmington at 7:30 Wednesday, Dec. 29. The fourth team in the tournament is Spalding (Ky.) University, which is 2-4 and a member of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. It will play in the 5:30 p.m. games. It will be a test for the Scots, who put the nation’s No. 1 ranking on the line Monday (Dec. 20) when they travelled to Indiana to play Anderson (Ind.) College before returning home for the classic. John Carroll and Wilmington were both 20-game winners and NCAA postseason teams a year ago. They were also picked 1-2, respectively, in the Ohio Athletic Conference preseason poll this fall. “The reason for the change is John Carroll and Wilmington are both Ohio Athletic Conference schools and they didn’t want to play each other,” said Scots coach Steve Moore. “They play each other twice in the regular season and they could meet in the conference tournament, so they didn’t want to potentially play a fourth game. To get them to come, we had to agree to play both of them.” The Scots and John Carroll have faced off frequently in recent years, but Wilmington and Spalding represent new looks for Wooster fans. “Spalding used to be NAIA and recently moved to Div. III,” said Moore. “It won’t be a real championship format, but it will be two nights of excellent basketball. We’re assured of two quality opponents. John Carroll was last year’s (OAC regular-season) champion and they return a lot – they are picked to win the OAC. Wilmington had a great year last year and made the national tournament. They haven’t gotten off to a great start this year, but they are still talented.” While Moore isn’t opposed to bringing in top talent for the tournament, it has gotten tougher to attract teams. Wooster is the winningest program across all NCAA divisions over the past decade, and that success has perhaps made drawing teams into Wooster a little tougher. “It has been a struggle recently,” admitted Moore. “We have all the teams for the Al Van Wie/Rotary Classic (for 2011-12), but we’re working on getting the Mose Hole teams for next year. It has been a struggle the last couple years. “I don’t know (if our success has hurt us). It’s hard to say, but I think we run a good tournament.” Wooster will see a John Carroll team that “is playing a different system from their constant full-court pressure” of recent years. “This year they’re not playing quite as many people,” said Moore. “All these years they’ve played two units where they would bring in five guys every 4-5 minutes and wear you down. Now it looks like they are playing their starters and not two equal units. Their starting lineup is their best five players and they are playing over 30 minutes a game. They’ve gone away from their unique system. “We haven’t played Wilmington very much. Back in the ‘90s we played down there and they were up here for the tournament one year also in the ‘90s. Last year they had a really good year (22-8) and they won the (OAC) tournament to get the automatic (NCAA) bid. … Wilmington only 3-4, so it’s not the start they envisioned. “We have two quality opponents and fans still have a chance to come see two games each night. I think it will be two really good nights of basketball.” The Mose Hole will also continue Wooster’s philanthropic approach to its two tournaments. The Wooster Kiwanis Club is sponsoring the two evenings of basketball and will be collecting clothes for Goodwill. “Fans can come in for half-price if they bring in clothing items, new or gently used,” said Moore. “These clothes will go to Goodwill Industries, which is a tremendous cause.”


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