Lots at stake Saturday when Scots host Wabash
Nick Everett and The College of Wooster men's basketball team hosts Wabash Saturday afternoon at Timken Gym, with the winner claiming the North Coast Athletic Conference title and right to host the NCAC tourney semifinals and final.
Although The College of Wooster men’s basketball team has clinched a share of the North Coast Athletic Conference title, the regular-season finale against Wabash at Timken Gym at 3:15 p.m. is for all the marbles.
“This is the conference championship game,” said Scots coach Doug Cline, whose team owns an 18-5 (12-3) NCAC record. “If we win, we’ll win the outright title and host the conference tournament.
“If someone had told me at the beginning of the season that we could have a one- game, basically winner-take-all for the No. 1 seed entering our league tournament, we would take it for sure. Wabash has had our number lately so we will really have to play well.”
The Little Giants enter at 18-6, 11-4 NCAC and have won four straight over the Fighting Scots.
Wabash beat Wooster 83-68 in Crawfordsville, Ind., on Jan. 7 and became the first team since Wittenberg in the mid-1990s to win four straight over the Scots.
Both teams will enter the game trying to rebound from tough losses. Wittenberg beat Wabash 58-56 in overtime Feb. 15, while Denison topped Wooster 78-70.
“The league is tough top to bottom and it's not like it used to be,” Cline said. “There are no off nights in the league anymore.
“The teams are better. There are more good coaches, more guys recruiting and the players are better overall than when I played. There’s lots of kids that want to play nowadays and have lots of experience, the teams have depth. The 3-point line makes a major, major difference, especially with all these teams playing small ball. We've always liked to pound the ball into the post and use our bigs, so you’ve got to be able to guard smaller teams and guard the arc.”
Ahmoni Jones (16.7 ppg) and Vinny Buccilla (14.3) lead the Little Giants in scoring, while Najee Hardway (12.9), Nick Everett (11.5), Elijah Meredith (11.0), Turner Kurt (10.4) and Jamir Billings (10.0) pace an extremely balanced Scots’ team.
Wabash, which advanced to the Div. III Final Four last year, can pull into a tie for the NCAC regular-season title with a win and would get to host the NCAC Tournament.
With the regional rankings only listing seven teams instead of 10, the NCAC is considered a longshot to send two teams to the NCAA Div. III Tournament. That puts even more pressure on Wooster to earn the right to host the NCAC Tournament and win the conference’s automatic qualifying spot.
“I’m proud of our guys to put us in this position,” Cline said. “It's been a long season, especially with starting early and going to France on our Fall Break trip. It’s been a grind and we’re still a young team, but we have a great opportunity on our home court Saturday.”
NOTE — Wooster’s women’s team will play DePauw at 1 p.m. to tip-off a women’s-men’s doubleheader.
Additionally, Wooster will recognize seniors JG Gillard, Kurt, and Hardaway prior to the 3:15 p.m. tipoff.
Tickets are $8 for adults and $7 for senior citizens and youth and one ticket is good for both games. College of Wooster faculty, staff, and students are admitted free of charge with their college ID card. Wooster accepts cash or credit cards for ticket purchases at basketball.
Wooster offers golf cart valet service for home men’s basketball games for those with limited mobility. Those needing the service can call 330-287-3077 upon arrival to provide your name and where you are located for pickup. The golf cart valet service is also available after the game to return you to your vehicle.