MBB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

I did not get a chance to watch the Mount game live, but I watched the first half later last night since that was pretty much the game with a 50-24 lead at half.  I had a little scare when Casenhiser was laying on the floor with a trainer looking at his knee, but he must have just slammed it on the floor diving for the loose ball.  Moore had a really nice game shooting the ball (5-9 3FG).  Weekly gave them good minutes and knocked down 4 triples. 

12-2 with two to go.  Ott still only a half game back so need to hold serve again Saturday.  With ONU keeping pace (10-3) the conference has developed a big gap from top 3 to 4 through 9.  Muskie is in 4th at 6-7 and it seems unlikely that they'll finish above .500 with ONU, @ Wilm, @ Ott to finish.  At one point 10-1, 3-1 with the only loss being a 3 point loss to Mount to dropping 7 of 11 games is a rough turn of events in New Concord.

Speaking of disappointing, Etta dropped their 3rd straight falling to 4-10 in OAC play.  They're now a half game up on last place Cap (3-10).  I cannot imagine anyone had that on their predictions for this season.

[raiderpa]

Etta is facing pains from a coaching change, I believe they will right the ship in the near future. Wilmington coming to Mount today,  They have proven a pain in the rear for Mount every year, hope we jump on them and keep them down.  The twin brothers are very talented and can light you up.

[Dr. Acula]

For anyone that tried to watch the replay of the Mount game like I did and found out that FloSports died a couple minutes into OT Mount did tweet out the link to Boxcast where you can watch the final 2.5 minutes of OT.

Boxcast OT video

My knee jerk thoughts are:  Wilm always gives them problems, Farrington played like a beast, some concerning careless turnovers and panicked decisions at the end, the officiating late was not good (especially if you're a Quaker fan).

[BillyRayJimBob]

For anyone that tried to watch the replay of the Mount game like I did and found out that FloSports died a couple minutes into OT Mount did tweet out the link to Boxcast where you can watch the final 2.5 minutes of OT.

Boxcast OT video

My knee jerk thoughts are:  Wilm always gives them problems, Farrington played like a beast, some concerning careless turnovers and panicked decisions at the end, the officiating late was not good (especially if you're a Quaker fan).

Thanks Doc ... I appreciate the link.
As were many, I assume, I was surprised, frustrated, and pissed when Flo's video went out! (I wish I could bundle my car insurance with reliable D3 sports coverage!!!) I scrambled to find a live audio feed and ended up with WDPN. I had the "Live Stats" up all game and it was always a ~minute ahead of the video/audio, so what I watched/heard was anticlimactic.
Too many turnovers and missed defensive coverages ... but a win. As you mentioned, Farrington had the most team on his back, but Hamilton was impressive! (Loved the commentator's remark about how Chance Casenhiser recruited him over the summer.) Chance, by chance, was not impactful on the scoreboard. Clutch free throws in overtime, but the defense's ball picks (turnovers) did not seem like him? Young Buck with phenomenal potential ... should still "Wow" us this year.
Back to Hamilton: I liked at the end where he was crouched on the floor. He seemed to be so thankful for the outcome, and well-spent on his part ... outstanding 25 points in all 40 minutes of the game. He stands tall in victory, again!!! ... A jab at the Otterbein baseball team who were trying to rile him with comments about his stature when throwing the inbounds pass at that end of the court ... with the mouthiest brat looking like he is the elementary school batboy hoping to start shaving by 2040!
Almost a third of the Purple Raider's 90 total points were from the free throw line, shooting 76% for the game.
How much did we beg for 75% free throw shooting last year?!?! "Mr. Automatic" (Farrington) made it interesting at the end, though.
Vaden made some nice bat-aways (4?) in the few minutes he played but missed a "bunny" underneath for his only scoring opportunity.
I love to watch Jarrett Taylor ... a big dude that handles the ball well. Only a sophomore ... Good!
And ... Laurich did NOT foul out (two Quakers did).
And Doc, by the way ... Can I send you pictures of this toe fungus issue I am experiencing, and get your diagnosis? I have Medicare.

[raiderpa]

Hopefully the brass at the OAC is tuning in on the Flosports streaming.  Time to find an alternative for next year, perhaps...

[Dr. Acula]

If I was adding to my list of complaints about FloSports I would include that it's annoying if you're watching on your phone or iPad and you flip the orientation of the screen it triggers a commercial sometimes.  It goes to commercial, I minimize the video to the corner so I could respond to a text, maximize the video when the commercial ended.  When I flip it back to landscape orientation here comes the same commercial I just saw again because I flipped my phone around.  Doesn't do it every time, but it's not rare either.

[D3fanboy]

Hopefully the brass at the OAC is tuning in on the Flosports streaming.  Time to find an alternative for next year, perhaps...

flo sports is absolutely horrible and has been rough since the football season....but it wont change unless an alternative can flip a couple of shekels to the OAC and its schools. as Wu-Tang once said, cash-rules-everything....

[Dr. Acula]

I took a look at the regional rankings through Sunday.  The OAC is in good shape at the moment with Mount and Ott ranked 1-2.

1. Mount
2. Ott
3. JCU
4. DPU
5. Denison
6. Pitt-Greensburg
7. Trine

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I took a look at the regional rankings through Sunday.  The OAC is in good shape at the moment with Mount and Ott ranked 1-2.

1. Mount
2. Ott
3. JCU
4. DPU
5. Denison
6. Pitt-Greensburg
7. Trine

Interesting, but regional rankings are completely meaningless as far as tournament selection is concerned.  It's all just about NPI, where currently Mount and Ott are the only ones with an NPI high enough to make the tournament.  Still lots fo games to be played of course.   

[Dr. Acula]

Right.  And the regional rankings are just the NPI order so they've lost some of the fun of the old days.

[Patrick Coleman]

Completely meaningless indeed.

[Dr. Acula]

Watching the Mount game and the name of the PBP and color guys were familiar.  A couple of Cap baseball players are calling the game.  Michael Andryszcyk is really good on PBP.  Good voice, very smooth delivery.  One of the best student announcers I've heard.

[Dr. Acula]

Congrats to Mount on the regular season title.  It wasn't the prettiest game, especially the first half, but they locked in mid way through the second and kept it at least a two possession game the rest of the way.  Farrington was dominant.  Cap had no answer for him.  21, 13 and 4 assists last night.  Dunbar was key on a night they did not shoot well as a team.  He had 18 pts on 7-9 FG.  The rest of the team was 2-16 from 3.  Hamilton came up gimpy right at the end of the first half and didn't play in the second half that I saw.  Hopefully he is okay.  With the bye Mount has 8 days between games with the semis being next Thursday.

With ONU's dramatic win over Ott I think(?) it sets up a scenario where ONU could be the 2 seed.  If Muskie beats Ott and ONU beats Etta to tie them at 12-4 I would think the tie breaker after H2H would be results going down the standings.  ONU split with Mount.

[D3fanboy]

just start designing the Fuline statue outside of the MAAC already

[raiderpa]

The week off will give Hamilton time to heal. He is key, IMO, for a tourney run.  Allows for Casenheiser to roam and get shots.  Dunbar has proven to be a beast when he is in there and provides some "juice" as he calls it.  Fuline has definitely made himself a near legend in the basketball history of Mount, I only hope we can keep him for years to come.  Perhaps he should receive some NIL funds...hah