Been reading all year, but haven't posted since I had not seen a game.  I did finally make it to a HSC game to see them play W&L.  Pleased with what I saw from the Tigers, but I know that has been an anomaly this year.

What I must say I was really impressed with was the W&L kids and coaches.  It was Senior Night and HSC did a nice job with it, but it took a little time.  The W&L coaches and players (they didn't have a single fan in their section) stood respectfully, didn't poke fun or act childish as I probably would have done at their age if I had been in that position, and politely clapped for each of the HSC seniors.  It was very nice to see and my hats off to them for showing some real class. 

Any word on what happened with the other assistant coach HSC had last year, Chuck Thomas?  I know Chad Warner got a head coaching gig in Georgia, but I haven't heard anything about Thomas.  Also, interesting to see Green is helping out this year...should help with young guards. 

God Bless VT.  I think everything that can be said has been and all we can do is pray for all affected.

On a basketball note, someone asked about news.  Chad Warner, HSC assistant coach, is leaving HSC to be the head coach at Shorter College in Rome, GA.

Here's the link:  http://shorter.edu/about/news/2007/2007_04_18_chad_warner.htm

Good luck to Chad as he takes the next step in his career.

On to something else, I think "handshakegate" has had its 15 minutes.  I wouldn't post this as I do not like rumors but I will to try to turn the discussion to something else, particularly next year. 

From a friend with ties to the University of Richmond athletic department, if Chris Mooney leaves UR for Princeton (he is a Princeton alum and a disciple of the Princeton style offense), Mike Rhoads' name is on the list. 

I did not take this as a suprise as I know for a fact (not rumor) he is well respected in the coaching profession.  I would imagine that being local to the Richmond area and with his record of success, he may have even had his name mentioned when Wainwright left.  It just seems interesting to me to hear anything in light of the "perceived" issues ongoing at RMC.

Congrats to the Marlins!  A gutsy performance.  

Good luck to the Marlins.  Great run for Guilford as well.  A whole lot of good press for the conference between Strong's herculean effort and VWC's repeat run to Salem.

I'm interested in what's going on in Ashland too...I hope the seniors not playing is not related to Rhodes' status.  I've heard some rumblings that all is not well there.  Being a HSC fan and looking at it from a competitive standpoint, I'd be happy as can be to see Rhodes go....he's a heckuva coach and I can't imagine RMC bringing in an upgrade. They need to be careful or they are going to lose him.

I'll ditto your thoughts there Algernon.  Hasa, thanks for setting me straight on the bracket.

Algernon, I am interested in what you know about the HSC recruiting class.  I've heard very little other than a swing guard from  Richmond as a possibility.

Congrats to the Marlins and Quakers for making in to the Sweet 16...keep the torch burning for the ODAC.

Wish my Tigers could have kept the Cinderella slipper on.  What an exciting run though.  Congratulations to the Tigers for winning the ODAC tourney and getting a win in the NCAA's.  I am very proud of how the team peaked at the right time.  Kudos to Coach Smith and his staff.  I am also proud of how the young men on this team conducted themselves and represented HSC.

Edwards (especially the late season version) and Green will be tough to replace....fortunately, Kaase will be back.  I also think Tyler Murray is poised for a big senior year...he really stepped up his game with Kaase out.

Hope the see the Marlins and/or Quakers in Salem (haven't memorized the bracket to see if it's possible both can be there!).  Keep the title in the ODAC!

HSC-VWC #4 tomorrow night.  Heckuva night of basketball at the beach tonight.

63-60 Marlins pull it out at the end.  Averett lost the lead....sounds like the experience of the Marlins came through....big buckets by Adair and Balenga.

Quote from: algernon on February 26, 2007, 11:08:50 PM
HSC was seeded #5 in 1997 when they won the tournament.  However, they were only seeded #5 with a 11-7 record because there were FOUR teams that were tied for 2nd, including HSC, and HSC ended up with the 5th seed.  The regular season champion that year had a record of only 12-6.

Thanks...your memory is certainly a lot better than mine.

Hasa-
Thanks for the info.  I read the bracket wrong earlier.  I did see Averett early this year at HSC and they beat the Tigers before Kaase got hurt.  They were very impressive...very fast and athletic.  I am sure VWC is going to be loaded for bear, but I bet they would've prefered a little bit easier first round foe.  Being defending champs, I would've thought the committee would've showed them some love and not put them up against a team that already beat them this year.

Reading around the site, it appears several folks are high on your Quakers.  I gotta believe a team that hasn't seen Strong is going to have a hard time dealing with him.

I'm glad they got the bid and I hope they take advantage of it.  While I obviously hope it's my Tigers, if they can't keep the run going, I hope VWC of GC makes a deep run.

Phil-
Thanks for the knowledge.  I'm not going to complain too much if they aren't competitive for a while, with how competive the league has gotten.  

I remember a time when almost all the discussion on the board was centered around HSC and RMC....now look at the board and the league.  VWC and Guilford coming up large, Roanoke with its resurgence, Bridgewater still dangerous, E&H bringing some excitement and W&L improving.  EMU and Lynchburg have shown some real bright spots over the past couple of years and are much improved programs than they were a few years ago.

There was discussion a while back about HSC and RMC slipping a bit.  I think that's true to an extent, but I also think that the overall strength of the league has improved over the last few years.  Makes HSC's run to the title all the more impressive.  Any of our historians (Jim Loesel, Steely, where are you?) remember when such a low seed won the tourney?  I burned out too many brain cells to remember back very far, but my memory is telling me it's been a while since it wasn't one of the top 3.

Funny reading about the neutral site thing....you should be a politician!

Seriously though, if it can be done, playing at a neutral site is a big positive.  The ODAC plays the tourney at the Salem Civic Center and it gives all the teams a bit of extra excitement...a chance to play in a bigger venue not on someone's campus....adds a bit to the overall experience.

That being said, I don't know what would be a good central venue for the USAC (other than Emporia  ) with a usable facility.  Maybe something like the Vines Center in Lynchburg or the Ashe or Siegel Center in Richmond? 

I hope it will be a good game b/w HSC and Hood.  Impressive to get to the dance in just 4 years of existence.  You are correct...HSC would not have been a Pool C team.  They got hot at the right time to win the ODAC.  They lost their best player and only real inside presence to a torn ACL at Christmas.  They were inconsistent even before then....but it looks like they hit their stride.

Fill us in (on the ODAC board would be great) about Hood.  From a peek at their roster, looks like a good senior guard and junior big man.  I don't know a thing about them or the team, but gotta believe I'd be pulling hard for them if they weren't playing HSC as kids who took a chance to build something are obviously getting some reward for their work building the program.