A three-game winning streak, a conference player of the week, and an 8-4 record are good reasons for Mac Petty to be smiling these days. The Little Giant basketball coach knows, however, his team’s biggest test up to this point of the season will come this Saturday with a home game against nationally-ranked Wooster.
Petty and his Wabash basketball team have had a lot to celebrate in the new year. The Little Giants opened the 2008 portion of their season with two wins over the weekend. Senior center Andrew Zimmer was named the North Coast Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for his role in double-digit victories over Allegheny and Hiram, boosting Wabash to 8-4 and 2-1 in NCAC play.
Zimmer averaged 21.5 points in the two wins. He scored a season-best 30 Saturday in the 80-60 victory over Hiram. He added 13 points against Allegheny in a 75-56 win. Zimmer has shot 56 percent from the field (23-of-41) in his last three games, including 4-of-9 (44.4 percent) from beyond the three-point arc. He also averaged eight rebounds a game in addition to eight blocked shots, five steals, and four assists during that period.
His performance is just part of an overall improvement by the Little Giant team.
"This past weekend is a step forward," Petty said. "Our goal is to get better as we go along. We’ve not gotten exactly where we want to be yet, which is OK. We’re starting to not be so spotty in terms of our overall play. I would hope that prepares us for this Saturday’s game against Wooster."
Wabash has proven it can score from just about anywhere over the last few games. Senior guard Earl Rooks earned All-Classic Team honors during the Little Giants’ trip to Texas with his clutch shooting and defensive play. Fellow senior Gary Simkus scored a season-high 18 points to lead Wabash in scoring against Allegheny, while sophomore Aaron Brock added 14 points. Brock grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds Saturday against Hiram. Freshman Wes Smith scored 12 points against the Terriers, including two monster dunks and three huge steals.
The Little Giants will need that kind of effort against an equally balanced Wooster team that heads to Chadwick Court Saturday for a 2 p.m. tipoff.
The Scots, ranked 22nd in the latest D3Hoops.com poll, have won more games than any other team in the nation this decade and show no sign of a drop off this year despite the loss of three starters from last year’s national semi-final team. All-American senior James Cooper is back, however, and leads Wooster (10-2, 3-0 NCAC) in scoring for the third straight season. The 6-0 guard is averaging 21.3 points a contest. Cooper’s combination of slashing penetration and outside shooting skills make him difficult to guard.
"I know Cooper having seen him play over the past three seasons and I’ve worked with him at a summer camp at Wooster," Petty said. "He handles the ball well and can shoot the three.
"I watched the tape of the Wooster game against Walsh. Cooper went through a stretch where he scored about 11 points in a row. He can shoot well from about 25 feet in. If you have your hands down on defense and he thinks you’re not paying attention, he can put it in the bucket from about anywhere."
Cooper isn’t the only offensive weapon the Little Giants will have to deal with Saturday. Three other Wooster players are averaging double figures in scoring. Brandon Johnson has started every game for the Scots at guard, scoring at a clip of 12.3 points a game. Senior Devin Fulk averages 12.8 points coming off the bench.
"It’s not a one-man show at Wooster," Petty said. "It’s not like Cooper is on the floor every minute. They have other guys who complement his play. Johnson and Evan Will play very hard. Will does a good job inside. He doesn’t necessarily post big numbers at times, but he’s very strong inside. They have a great supporting cast. That’s why they are 10-2."
A new member of that supporting cast is freshman Bryan Wickliffe. A 6-5 forward out of nearby Columbus, Ohio, he has started nine games and is averaging 10.7 points a game.
Petty’s teams have been close in games at Chadwick against the Scots, but have not posted a win since a 91-83 victory in 1975. Wooster won a 68-63 contest last season in its trip to Crawfordsville.
"We had opportunities to win last year at home against Wooster," Petty added. "We just didn’t’ hit some key baskets in one stretch of the game, but that’s basketball. The team that executes in key moments of the game is the one that comes away with the win."
Saturday’s game will also feature a silent auction and donation collection to support the American Cancer Society as part of the annual "Coaches vs. Cancer" effort put together by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Fans can bid on authentic Wabash basketball game jerseys, including the game jersey worn by all-time shot blocking leader and 2003 NCAC Player of the Year Joe DesJean ’03.