Top-Seeded Scots Going After First NCAC Tourney Title Since 2004

Tom Port

After wrapping up its third consecutive North Coast Athletic Conference championship, The College of Wooster now turns its attention towards winning its first NCAC Tournament since 2004. The Fighting Scots, ranked No. 4 in NCAA Div. III (D3hoops.com), enter this week’s eight-team league tournament as the No. 1 seed and with home-court advantage. First, they’ll welcome eighth-seeded Earlham College (8-17) to Timken Gymnasium on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 7:30 p.m., in one of four quarterfinals. Earlham was picked to finish fourth in the NCAC in preseason polling and was in position to do so last week, but lost two games to drop into a three-way tie for sixth. Via the league’s tiebreak system, the Quakers were given the No. 8 seed. During the regular season, Wooster had a relatively easy time with Earlham the first time around, prevailing 84-62 Dec. 2. But less than a month ago (Jan. 27), the Quakers gave the Scots all they could handle, controlling the tempo and leading 29-27 at the half before Wooster won 64-51.

If the Scots win Tuesday, then they will host the 2007 NCAC Tournament semifinals and finals Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23-24. Wooster’s semi would be against the winner of No. 4 seed Allegheny College (12-12) and fifth-seeded Wabash College (10-15) on Friday at 7:45 p.m., or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first semifinal, scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. The NCAC tourney’s title game will take place Saturday, with the opening tip slated for 7 p.m., and the winner earns an automatic berth into the NCAA Div. III Tournament.

NCAC Tourney Notes: Wooster has had a great deal of success in the NCAC Tournament, having captured nine of the 22 previous titles, three more than any other school in the conference. The Scots, champions in 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2004, are a league-best 41-13 all-time (.759) in NCAC tourney play.

Wooster was the host and No. 1 seed each of the last two years as well, and the tourneys played out in eerily similar fashion. The Scots reached the title game via wins over Kenyon College (95-56 in 2005 and 96-44 in 2006) and Earlham College (84-52 in 2005 and 84-74 in 2006), and then dropped heartbreaking two-point decisions to arch-vial Wittenberg University (61-59 in 2005 and 71-69 in 2006) in the finals. As the top seed, Wooster has won the NCAC Tournament four times (1995, 1999, 2000, 2003).

Last Week: The Scots won both of their games, closing the regular season at 22-3 overall and 15-1 in the NCAC.

On Feb. 15, a 29-4 spurt for Wooster in the early going paved the way for an 87-62 victory at Kenyon College. The hosts opened up a 7-2 lead, but then the Scots followed with a stretch in which they made 11-of-14 field goals as well as 3-of-3 free throws, while helping force eight turnovers on the other end, to take a commanding 20-point lead (31-11). During the run, Brandon Johnson (Columbus, Ohio / Groveport Madison) asserted himself, accounting for nine points, three assists, and three steals. Wooster headed into the locker room with a 54-29 cushion and the outcome was never in doubt in the second half. Tom Port (Avon Lake, Ohio / Avon Lake) ended up with a game-high 22 points, including 4-of-7 3-pointers. Also with a hot hand was Devin Fulk (Newark, Ohio / Licking Valley), who connected on 5-of-9 3-pointers for 15 points. Johnson, who finished with team highs of six assists and four steals, and James Cooper (Springfield, Ohio / Springfield South) added 14- and 13-point nights, respectively.

On Feb. 17, Wooster found out before its home game with third-place Ohio Wesleyan University that it had already clinched the NCAC championship, but went ahead and added one more win to its league ledger, edging the Battling Bishops 95-89. Entering the final 4:55, it was tied 87-87 and then both teams dug in defensively, as the only points the rest of the way came from the Scots’ 8-of-9 free throw shooting and an Ohio Wesleyan jumper with 8.1 seconds remaining. Cooper and Port led the way, scoring 23 and 21 points, respectively, with Port also collecting a season-high 14 rebounds for his fourth double-double in the last nine contests. Johnson contributed 17 points and a game-high six assists, while Evan Will (Dublin, Ohio / Dublin Coffman) chipped in 11 points.

NCAC Player of the Week: For his efforts last week (see above), senior forward Tom Port (Avon Lake, Ohio / Avon Lake) was tabbed North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week. In the two games, he totaled 43 points on 16-of-23 field goals (.696), including 7-of-12 3-pointers (.583), and 4-of-4 free throws, as well as 18 rebounds, six assists, three blocks, and three steals.