Wooster Seeking "Final Four" Berth This Weekend in Rochester, N.Y.

Tom Port

» Wooster is the winningest NCAA men's basketball team of the 2000s

Having reached the NCAA Div. III Tournament sectional round, otherwise known as the “Sweet 16” and “Elite Eight” games, for the fifth time in nine seasons, The College of Wooster is now aiming to advance out of its four-team bracket, which also includes the State University of New York at Brockport (24-5), John Carroll University (21-9), and host St. John Fisher College (24-5), and reach the “Final Four” for the second time in school history. First, on Friday, March 9, Wooster, ranked No. 2 (D3hoops.com), will take on a familiar foe in 25th-ranked John Carroll as the two northeast Ohio schools will travel approximately 300 miles to Rochester, N.Y., to play each other for the fifth time in the NCAA’s since the 1995-96 campaign. They split two memorable games earlier this decade – a 77-75 Wooster win in the second round of 2003 when Rodney Mitchell hit a jumper with :03 remaining and a 70-64 John Carroll win in the “Elite Eight” round of 2004 when the Blue Streaks overcame a 13-point deficit in the second half. Friday’s match-up will tip-off at 6 p.m., at St. John Fisher’s Manning & Napier Varsity Gym. Brockport State and St. John Fisher follow at approximately 8 p.m., and that will serve as the rubber match this season between the two Rochester area teams. Brockport State took the first 97-86 at Manning & Napier Varsity Gym on Nov. 21, while St. John Fisher prevailed in the second (85-81 on Jan. 13), which was the consolation game of the 41st annual JP Morgan Chase Scholarship Tournament. Friday’s winners will meet in an “Elite Eight” game on Saturday, March 10, at 7 p.m., for the right to go to the “Final Four” in Salem, Va., March 16-17.

NCAA Tourney Notes: The Scots are making their 16th appearance in the NCAA Div. III tourney. Only eight others have been in as many – Calvin College (17), Christopher Newport University (16), Franklin & Marshall College (19), Hope College (18), Illinois Wesleyan University (18), Salem State College (20), the University of Scranton (20), and Wittenberg University (24).

Wooster, which also played in two other NCAA Tournaments prior to Div. III (1971, 1973), has been in the national field 12 of the last 13 seasons and 15 times since 1990. The  Scots’ all-time record in the Div. III tourney is 15-15 – 11-5 in games played at Timken Gymnasium, 3-2 in neutral-site games, and 1-8 in true road games. Prior to second-round exits the last two seasons, Wooster reached the “Sweet 16” four times during a six-year stretch (1999, 2000, 2003, 2004), highlighted by its first-ever run to the “Final Four” in 2003 where they finished third.

John Carroll is also a regular in the NCAA’s, making its 10th overall appearance and fourth in the last five years. The Blue Streaks, who are 17-11 all-time in national tourney action, are in the “Sweet 16” for the third time in a four-year stretch (2004, 2005, 2007), highlighted by their only run to the “Final Four” during 2004 when they placed third overall.

SUNY Brockport is in the NCAA field for the fourth time this decade and eighth overall. The Golden Eagles hold a 12-8 record in such games, highlighted by a trip to the “Final Four” and fourth-place finish in 1975. Most recently, they reached the “Sweet 16” in 2004 with a first-round bye and a second-round 80-76 victory over Trinity (Conn.) University before losing to eventual national runner-up Williams College 78-50.

St. John Fisher has also been a frequent Div. III tourney participant, as it is in the midst of a 13th appearance. Of the Cardinals’ eight NCAA Tournament wins (8-12), four have come in 2006 and 2007. Last season, St. John Fisher had an opening-round bye, then produced wins over Norwich University (71-50) and Utica College (94-78) before getting knocked out by Amherst College (93-70). The Cardinals are seeking their first trip to the “Final Four.”

Head Coach Steve Moore: The architect behind the winningest NCAA men’s basketball team of the 2000s (see above) is Steve Moore. In addition to guiding Wooster to 207 victories this decade, he carries a 20-year record of 465-106 (.814) with the Fighting Scots. Prior to coming to Wooster in 1987-88, Moore coached Muhlenberg College for six seasons and was successful there as well, giving him a career record of 552-171 (.763), which puts him No. 5 in wins among active coaches in Div. III and 11th all-time. Moore was recently lauded with his seventh Coach-of-the-Year honor from the North Coast Athletic Conference.

All-Time Series: Wooster owns a 19-6 advantage in 25 previous meetings with John Carroll, however, the Blue Streaks have held the upper hand in NCAA Tournament match-ups. The Blue Streaks were winners in three of four such contests, triumphing 86-72 during the first round Feb. 29, 1996, and 78-59 in second-round action on March 7, 1998, in addition to their victory three years ago (see opening paragraph).

Should Brockport State and Wooster play in the quarterfinals, it would mark just the teams’ second meeting and the first was way back on Dec. 30, 1971, a 73-71 decision for the Golden Eagles. Noteworthy, Brockport State was part of the Scots’ season-opening Al Van Wie/ Wooster Rotary Classic in 2003, but they did not play each other.

St. John Fisher and Wooster have never met previously on the hardwood.

Common Opponents: Wooster played two members out of the Ohio Athletic Conference, the same league that John Carroll belongs to, during 2006-07. In their second game of the season (Nov. 18), the Scots defeated Mt. Union College 85-60, while the Blue Streaks swept Mt. Union 83-72 on the road (Jan. 17) and 85-66 at home (Jan. 31). One of Wooster’s three losses came against Ohio Northern University, a 91-84 decision on Dec. 29, while John Carroll also swept the Polar Bears, prevailing 63-61 at home (Jan. 13) and 79-67 on the road (Feb. 3).

Brockport State and the Scots share one common foe from this season – Oberlin College. In their season opener, the Golden Eagles dispatched Oberlin 78-66, while Wooster triumphed over its fellow conference foe 95-76 on Dec. 6.

St. John Fisher and Wooster do not share any common opponents.

NCAA Tourney Recap: Wooster hosted and won a pair of NCAA Div. III Tournament games last week with an average margin of victory of 21.5 points.

On March 2, the Scots shot 60 percent from the field in the first half (18-of-30), bolting out to a 48-27 lead, and went on to a 92-66 victory over Transylvania University during NCAA tourney first-round action at Timken Gymnasium. The score was 10-10 about 4:30 into the action and then Wooster came up with eight unanswered points, including a pair of 3-pointers from Tom Port (Avon Lake, Ohio / Avon Lake). Transylvania cut it down to a five-point margin a couple of times (20-15, 22-17) before the Scots strung together another key stretch, this time going on a 13-1 run, capped by a three-point play via Brandon Johnson (Columbus, Ohio / Groveport Madison), to build a 35-18 advantage. Wooster would go into the halftime break with a 21-point margin (48-27), and in the second, it quickly pushed the lead out to 34 (66-32). James Cooper (Springfield, Ohio / Springfield South), Port, and Johnson led the way offensively, combining for 57 of the Scots’ 84 points scored before the regulars were pulled with 3:42 remaining. Cooper had a game-high 21, Port put 19 in the scorebook, thanks in part to 5-of-6 3-point shooting, and Johnson finished with 17. Also of note, Johnson shared team honors in rebounding with Evan Will (Dublin, Ohio / Dublin Coffman) as they each had six boards, and in assists with Cooper as each dished out three helpers.

On March 3, Wooster limited Centre College to three points during the final eight minutes of the first half, transforming a two-point deficit (21-19) into a 39-24 halftime lead, and moved on in the NCAA Tournament with a 73-56 second-round victory at Timken Gymnasium. Centre led for several possessions in the early going, including by as much as 17-12. After the Colonels went ahead 21-19 at the 8:03 mark, the Scots closed the half on a 20-3 run, highlighted by a Port 3-pointer right before the buzzer. Wooster carried that momentum over into the second half, scoring the first nine points for an overall run of 29-3. Although it was 48-24 by the time Centre ended the drought, the Colonels steadily pulled back within 15 (68-53) at the 2:47 mark. Following a timeout, the Scots’ Tim Vandervaart (North Canton, Ohio / Hoover) converted a nice feed from Marty Bidwell (Middletown, Ohio / Bishop Fenwick) for a lay-up while being fouled. He added the free throw for the three-point play and a 71-53 advantage to effectively seal the game. Centre was effective in holding Wooster’s top scorers, Cooper and Port in check, as they combined for 19 points – 11 for Cooper and eight for Port – but Vandervaart came up with a team-high 18 points on 8-of-11 field goals and 2-of-2 free throws. Will added 10 markers in the scorebook.

Conference Tourney Recap: Wooster hosted the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, coasting to its league-best 10th tourney title by an average margin of victory of 21.7 points.

On Feb. 20, the Scots began their postseason by shooting nearly 60 percent from the field (.597), as top-seeded Wooster led from wire-to-wire and posted a 94-76 victory over the No. 8 seed, Earlham College, in NCAC Tournament quarterfinal action at Timken Gym. The turning point may have been when, with the Scots leading 36-32, an intentional foul was called, which sent James Cooper (Springfield, Ohio / Springfield South) to the line. He made both free throws and then Tom Port (Avon Lake, Ohio / Avon Lake) got a lay-up off the ensuing in-bounds pass. After an Earlham turnover, Brandon Johnson (Columbus, Ohio / Groveport Madison) added a jumper and suddenly it was a double-digit lead for Wooster (42-32). The Scots would hold a 50-38 advantage at the half and then started the second with a 12-4 run, giving themselves a 20-point cushion (62-42). Wooster received a big night from Port, who put up his second-highest point total of the season with 27 on 11-of-17 field goals, including a first-half dunk and two 3-pointers, as well as 3-of-3 free throws. Cooper was right behind with 21 points, highlighted by  4-of-9 3-pointers. Playing in his first game since suffering a fractured wrist exactly a month ago (Jan. 20), Tim Vandervaart (North Canton, Ohio / Hoover) was effective, adding 10 points and team-highs of eight rebounds and three blocked shots. Also noteworthy, Johnson and Marty Bidwell (Middletown, Ohio / Bishop Fenwick) each matched career-highs in assists with seven apiece.

On Feb. 23, the Scots built a 35-point cushion (77-42) before settling for a 92-80 victory over Wabash College in one NCAC Tournament semifinal at Timken Gymnasium. Leading 21-17, Wooster scored seven points in a row to build a double-digit advantage for the first time. The Little Giants pulled back within seven (31-24), but then the Scots ended the half on a 16-7 stretch to take a 47-31 at the break. Wooster put any hopes of a Wabash comeback to rest early in the second, scoring on 15 of its first 16 possessions and increasing its lead to the aforementioned 77-42 margin. The Scots’ regulars shot nearly 70 percent from the field (.679; 36-of-53), led by Cooper and Vandervaart. Cooper made 7-of-11, including two 3-pointers, as part of an 18-point game, while Vandervaart did not miss a shot, going 7-of-7 from the floor and 2-of-2 at the free throw line for 16 points. Johnson tallied 13 markers in the scorebook.

On Feb. 24, Wooster was clicking on all cylinders during the title game of the NCAC Tournament, as the top-seeded Scots ran out to a 27-8 lead less than 10 minutes in and never looked back en route to an 86-51 win against third-seeded Ohio Wesleyan University at Timken Gym. After turning the ball over five seconds into the game, Wooster scored on 12 of its next 14 possessions, making 10-of-13 field goals (.769), including three 3-pointers, and 3-of-4 free throws, which gave the Scots that 19-point advantage. Wooster continued to play at a high level throughout the opening half, upping its lead to as much as 28 (44-16), and held a 48-27 cushion at the break. Cooper accounted for 22 of those 48 points, hitting 7-of-9 from the field, including 4-of-5 3-pointers, and 4-of-4 free throws. The closest Ohio Wesleyan would get in the second half was 15 (48-33). In addition to their offensive efficiency – the Scots ended up shooting 55.2 percent from the field (32-of-58) – they put together one of their best defensive performances of the season. Wooster held Ohio Wesleyan 25 points under its season average coming in (76.5 ppg), compiling a defensive field-goal percentage of .316 (18-of-57), helping to cause 13 turnovers, and owning a +13 advantage in the rebounding department (41-28). Also of note, the final 35-point margin was the largest in the title game of the NCAC Tournament’s 23-year history. Cooper added four more points in the second half to lead all scorers with 26 en route to collecting tournament MVP honors. Over the three games, Cooper scored 65 points on 23-of-37 field goals (10-of-19 3-pointers) and 9-of-10 free throws. Port also earned a spot on the all-tourney team, registering a stat line of 18 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three blocked shots, and two steals in the title game, leading the Scots in the latter four categories.