I will start by saying I am obviously biased as a Guilford Alum....but I think Sanborn will blossom.  He actually already has.  Leading his team to the final four with some more than impressive games.  There is no more need to question him.  He has already proven himself and IS a dominant center.  Even if he comes out tomorrow with a sub par game (which I don't think he will), he has shown he is one of the top big men in the nation. While his numbers are not as strong as Strong's, he gets significantly less touches.  This team is not a one many show (I am not saying the previous Guilford team was, they had a very strong team with Snipes, Kimbrough, Belkoski, and Edmonds). But this team is probably more well balanced.   Tyler deserves the credit he has been given recently, and has had an amazing history as an initial secondary big man, and now the MAN inside.  Good luck Guilford tomorrow.

Mr. Nova, I will be there on Friday as well.  I know you posted that you are 'buying your ticket.'  What is the deal with tickets to the Final Four in Salem?  Do we need to buy ahead of time and if so how, or will there be plenty at the gate if we buy the day of?  Anybody that knows I would appreciate the advice,  I would hate to miss the game due to a sell out.  I also wanted to say congratulations to Mat Stanley.  Mat doesnt get much love on the boards and I understand why.  He plays 6 minutes a game and his statistics arent much, but Mat is a huge part of the Guilford team.  He has started in all 30 games and is ever a presence in practice.  As a former player at Guilford I know that no one loves the game more than Mat, and no one plays it harder in practice than Mat. He is someone that has never complained about minutes, and understands his role. Best of luck to Mat and the rest of the Quaks come Friday.  On a side note Nova Mat told me it looks like they are getting some busses together to bring fans up.  Hopefully a lot of students will make it, it would be nice to have a 'home court' advantage.

I have been watching from a distance this year but as it is near the end of the season I feel like chiming in.  Congrats to all this season.  Mr. Nova....hope you have been doing well.  Lets go Guilford.  Congrats to Coach Palombo in what I believe is another coach of the year trophy.  Maybe Clay wins player of the year but there are two that are very deserving.  Co-Player of the year would not be a cop-out.  Good luck to all in the tourney as I am sure it will be great.

A lot of talk from Wise and the coach if you ask my opinion.  Wise is listed at 6'4 215.  Not really that big.  I think he might need to average more than 12 and 7 before he can really start talking smack about the Guilford big men.  That article has been passed around Guilford athletes and student body the last two days.  I am thinking he might hear about it from the fans come tonight.  Saying that may not have been too wise...pun intended.  Go Quaks!!!

Cant wait for Friday night.  I hope there is a big turnout for the games.  I think Guilford has grown a nice fan base outside the Quaker community and have drawn fans from the city of Greensboro.  They are consistently on the front page of Greensboro's main newspaper and I think a lot of non Guilford affiliated people will show up.  Also it is nice that they play the second game, as many fans and players of the first game may stick around.  One thing that scares me Nova is after Friday Guilford's spring break begins.  Much of the student section could be depeleted as student head off to Florida or whatever party paradise they choose.  I still expect a great crowd and I know I will be there for both games.  Lets Go Quaks!!! 

I know I am delayed in responding to the VA Wes-Guilford game but I wanted to say some things....I am not suprised that TonTon put up a donut against Guilford.  He started the game off by talking smack to the student section and making inapproprate gestures about female students sitting in the crowd.  The student section rode him hard, mostly because last year he continued to shoot the bird to the crowd after he made a shot.  No birds this year as he badly missed on most of his attempts.  Four years of watching VA Wes play and I have yet to see them win or lose with class.  Just my opinions based on things I have seen first hand.  

yes sir mr. nova, i will be there in wednesday.  i expect guilford to have as good of a crowd as they have the last two games.  from what i hear methodist is streaky and athletic.  should be a good game, but i would love to see an out of conference blow out.  hope to see you there.

very juicy stuff as far as the indirect technical foul is concerned.  my previous understanding of the call was that it was a technical on the player who hit the ball illegally.  but it sounds as if it goes as a bench foul???  still unclear exactly though.  i have played ball for a very long time and am very familiar with the rules.  hitting the ball illegally constitutes a delay of game??? so who should have gotten the technical???  the bench???  also from my understanding once the ball crosses the plane of the inbound line it is fair game, even if it is still in the inbounders hand.  this could be completely wrong but i used to be a player that would do exactly what josh did.  savvy play, but i have been told by refs not to cross the plane with the ball, as it becomes live once you do.  scotty, i dont have a rule book but i would be interested in whether i am correct or wrong.  i am leaning towards thinking i am wrong, and was mis-informed by a two dollar ref when i was younger.  there are some great out of bounds rules in the rule book that most people (including refs) dont know.  i have seen some big games go the wrong way when a ref interprets a rule one way, and the player in question interprets it differently. 

My heart and prayers go out to all involved in the terrible tragedy that occurred last week.

Mr. Nova,
I of course will be there Wednesday.  You missed a huge crowd against Villa on the 17th.  They were manned by a large student section including the Guilford College football team and other athletes.  The word is that they are heading down the road on Wednesday to cheer on the Quakers.  With Greensboro's gym being so small I actually think seating may become a problem.  I have a feeling people are going to be turned away that dont show up in a timely fashion.  Fire Marshall is on the prowl according to Palombo. I actually plan on getting up there at least 2 hours before tip off, so I wanted to let you know that seating may be hard to come by.  Hope to see you there.

Lets Go Guilford!!!!   I am back Nova for hopefully a multi-chamionship year.  Good to see the talk already started.  Nova, you coming to the game on Saturday?  I will be there in full force.  Looks like Guilford is gonna start Strong and Sanborn in the post.  Thats 6'11 and 6'10 respectively.  Rather large for DI, let alone DIII.  Good look to all ODAC teams playing non conference.  Represent ODAC boys.

I am already looking forward to next year too Hasanova.  Just talked to Strong and he received the NABC National Player of the year as well.  He will be travleing to Atlanta for the NCAA final four to receive his award.  As far as the starters though I see Caleb, Clay, Strickland, Belkoski, and Strong starting next year.  With Tyler and Neville coming of the bench inside.  I see now reason why they should not be a preseason top 10 team, or maybe even a favorite.  This team will miss Jordan and Thomas, but have no excuses not to be better this coming up year than they were this previous year, which is scary.  I may be wrong about the starters but even though Belkoski is undersized he and Strong have been playing down low together for 3 years.  But it could be fun to move him to the wing and start the big fellas down low.  6'10, 6'11 is a presence, especially in DIII

Congratulations to Ben Strong for Player of the year and Tom Palombo for coach of the year.  Both very well deserved in my opinion.  Now enough with awards lets play!

Mr. Nova, yes I still ocassionally will post.  I read everyday but only post when I want to express my opinion.  As far as the tourney goes I think most of the games could go both ways.  If VA Wesleyan and Guilford play decent they should both easily win, but you never know in the ODAC.  I predict they will both win by a large amount.  I also think that Emory and Henry will beat Sydney which will result in a very interesting round two matchup between EandH and VA Wes.  I think Roanoke has proved they are a tough team and have been very well coached, but I think the experience of Macon will show in the first round as they barely pull off the minor upset.  I think Page Moir should get some considerable respect and some votes for coach of the year.  I believe coach of the year will go to Tom Palombo though, as it should.  I think the Quakers have blown away people's expectations and I hope to see them continue in their success.  Good luck to all fans come tourney time.

Although Mr. Adair and VWC have had remarkable years, I believe the player of the year goes to Strong.  If Adair wins it I believe it will only be because of his previous year.  Ask any coach in the ODAC who they scout pre game harder, Adair or Strong and I believe all of them will tell you the answer is Strong.  He puts the numbers up with double teams every possesion.  It is tough to double Adair as his team is loaded with deadly shooters.  And please dont forget about the blocks.  No one is even close in the blocks category...well honeslty no one is close in blocks, points, or rebounds.  Mucho respect to Adair and I hope to see these two meet again in the finals, with different results.

Just got off the phone with a Guilford player...sounds like they won in double overtime over Methodist.  Looks like Methodist came back from a decent deficit to force  the first overtime where one more was needed to decide the outcome.  Teh second overtime was all Guilfords.  I dont have stats of the game yet but am looking, but Ben Strong with a big game...41 points and 17 rebounds.  8-0 for the Quakers who have a very tough game next.