55 thoughts on “Men’s championship blog”

1. It’s go time…

   Our officials are from the American Southwest Conference.

2. MMMM…waiting for tv to return

3. First basket by Dan Russ – pounding it down low. That’s what we expect Witt to do all night. What will the rest of the Witt offense have? Time shall tell…

4. D3hoops.com All-Americans were announced during the pre-game show leading up to the championship….

   Coach of the Year: Dave Macedo, Virginia Wesleyan
   Player of the Year: Kyle Myrick, Lincoln

5. VaWes 0 for the field so far, 3 minutes in.

6. Witt’s Dain Borchers had a nice chance to make it 7-0 but missed an early layup. Marlins finally answered. 7-2 Witt 15:54

7. First media timeout. Eight extra timeouts per game to expect.

   TV timeouts come at the first stoppage when less than 16, 12, 8, and 4 minutes in a half.

8. Low scoring games typically favor the Tigers, but last weekend’s sectional final against William Paterson proved VaWes can play anyway they want. So far, defense reigns. 7-5 Witt 14:26

9. JSR using D-mac’s account to post:

   Witt’s guards are very exposed so far in this game. Either Russ and Borchers will need to be on the floor at all times, and it would be better if they were both on at the same time.

10. Virginia Wesleyan fans behind me are correctly noting that Wittenberg has pitched a tent in the paint…which does take more than 3 seconds. No call so far, but we might as well be on the court next to the refs and I am sure they are hearing that.

11. 11-8 Witt – 11:42 1st half – TV Timeout

12. Very vocal fans on both sides of the court right now. Neither team too happy with the officiating…so maybe they are in fact doing a good job

13. 110 seconds later, and we’re back

14. Fouls are tight, but legitimate. I haven’t seen an overtly bad call…5 fouls for VWC, 6 for Witt – 1055 left in the 1st – still 11-8 Witt

15. Dan Russ got his first breakaway basket…and no dunk, just an easy finger roll layup. Witt up 4, 15-11 9:20

16. Anybody for Witt want to get a defensive rebound?

17. Dain Borchers just picked up his second personal foul with 8:35 to play in the half. He’ll sit.

18. Phil Steffes picks up #2 for Witt, two big players with 2 fouls for the Tigers.

    TV Timeout – 15-11 Witt 7:56 1st half

19. Stat updates…

    Witt
    Dan Russ – 8 pts, 3 boards
    46.7% shooting as a team

    VWC
    30.8% shooting as a team

20. Dave Macedo calls a :30 timeout, first timeout initiated by a team today. 20-11 Witt 6:46 remaining.

    Heard from the Witt student section…”You [VWC] can’t guard him [Russ]”

    True.

21. Some of the mature, stodgy Witt fans sitting behind Dave McHugh and Pat Coleman might need to check their glasses.

    Every call that is against Witt…one will hear

    “What foul”
    “You’ve gotta be kidding me”
    “No way”

    Along with a plethora of other such pithy remarks. No clapping about their teams performance, just always ripping the officials.

    Same thing yesterday too. How bout you enjoy the game?

22. It’s only gotten worse in the last two minutes too…as Witt holds a 20-13 lead with 5:18 left.

23. Brandon Adair doesn’t always look like a small player, but he sure does when he’s trying to guard Dan Russ, who looks so much bigger than the 6-9 he is listed at.

24. 20-16 Witt with 3:33 remaining. In the Under-4 tv timeout.

25. Brandon Adair, still guarding Russ, just called for his first foul.

26. Greg Hill is the only Witt guard that is really stepping up on offense. The others are no threat.

    As long as Russ and Borchers keep working inside Witt will be ok.

    Brady hits a huge 3 and gets fouled. He is so effective on the perimeter.

27. Ton Ton Balenga called for foul as Kenny Brady took, and made, a 3-pointer. The new-fashioned 4-point play

28. VaWes hasn’t hit much lately as Witt has. 27-18 Witt approaching the final minute.

29. 2 fouls on Fantin, but he should be ok with only 1 minute left in the first half.

    Witt goes up 10 and a good time for a time out for VWC. Definitely Witt’s style so far.

30. If Dane Borchers and Dann Russ stay out of foul trouble, Witt should be ables to beat the Marlins into submission in the second half.

31. Sounds like there’s elevator music in the background of the half time show.

32. JSR taking over for Pat Cummings on the blog…

    Good energy from VWC early in the second half but Witt is working to hold them off.

    2 free throws and a turnover from Witt give VW the chance to pull closer, but they don’t convert. Witt can’t find the basket either right now.

    Borchers gets open underneath for a nice basket.

    33-23 Witt 17:12 to go

33. VWC cuts the lead to 6 as Witt hasn’t scored in quite some time.

34. Witt letting the small guards for VWC get into the paint.

    Witt keeps answering when VWC scores. If the Marlins can stop them a few consecutive times, they can get back into this game.

    JJ Jumper is blindfolded searching for some kids. He’s getting closer…closer…

35. We haven’t really talked about it, but if you use the scientific method of looking at mascots, I’m pretty sure a Tiger would beat a Marlin most days of the week. Of course, how you get the Tiger in the water is anybody’s guess.

36. JJ Jumper must have a matter transporting machine. He was here in Springfield earlier tonight.

37. Coming out of a timeout, both teams playing with some energy as Witt forces a quick turnover but Borchers goes over the back and fouls.

38. VWC scores on a turnover and looks to show a full court press but then pulls back…something tells me it was a good idea not to try that.

    VWC scores on another turnover, Witt’s lead down to 4, 37-33…

    PLEASE CALL TIMEOUT
    (as if Coach Brown can see this right now)

    Same thing happened last night when Amherst made their run. They lost their lead, then fell way behind and had to play catch up.

    That last foul on Borchers was his 3rd.

39. Adair looks at the Witt crowd coming out of a timeout and smiles.

40. HUGE block by Bown as Dixon goes up for a 3.

    The Witt crowd is definitely fired up right now as Witt makes a layup.

41. Adair cuts the lead to 5 and then a turnover by Witt and Hill fouls as WVC was about to get a wide open dunk.

    Fans very unhappy as is the entire coaching staff of VWC.

42. VWC fouls on a Witt free throw and now has 7. Witt will be shooting free throws on every foul for the rest of the game.

    Witt only has 4 fouls so far in this half (6:45 left).

43. You’ve gotta wonder how much the media timeouts help these teams. Wittenberg needs to have Russ and Co on the floor and every 4 minutes they get to rest.

    VWC is tired from last night, but it’s everybody and it’s the kind of tired you don’t get back in 1 minute of rest.

44. Witt having trouble breaking the WVC press when they surprise and throw it on. Not sure why they don’t have another guard cut up the middle of the floor and send Russ deep and force a 2-1 situation.

45. HUGE 3 by Brady

46. 4:28 remaining, Witt leads 50-44 with one more free throw for Ton ton…he misses.

47. Great hustle by Greg Hill going for the loose ball as he slides into our table right in front of me, nearly taking us out.

    His arm seemed to be hurting him, but I think it’s more floor burn than anything. He should be ok and looks like he is going to stay in the game as he has time to recover during a media timeout.

    3:50 to go, Witt leads 50-44

48. Russ has no fear.

49. Interesting foul called on Russ as Adair heads to the line to shoot two FTs.

    Misses the first, second on its way…

    Good. 52-48 Witt, 2:50. Timeout VWC.

50. Ton Ton making a bid for all tournament team.

    Steal by Ton Ton and ties the game at 52 with 2 minutes to go!

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