WBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[heinbball]

Speaking of BC OUCH!  Let down after beating Macon or just beat by a much better team?

I was fortunate enough to be at the RMC/BC game and RMC is the better team. Bridgewater faught hard and played well. RMC was flat and they played not to loose versus to win. RMC's Silva was off (eventhough posting 30 points) from average. RMC was missing easy layups and making silly passes.

[bbald eagle]

[I was fortunate enough to be at the RMC/BC game and RMC is the better team.

Maybe on paper, but not on the court on Tuesday night. 

[heinbball]

True - Tuesday BC did come out on top. This makes for an intereseting OCAC tourney in Feb.

[justafan02]

I know they really haven't played all of the top teams in the conference but a nod needs to go to Stephanie Dunmyer at VWC for the impressive start.  Remember her first year at VWC she was 5-20 or something and almost .500 last year.  Pretty good for a young VWC team. 

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Bridgewater looked good versus Lynchburg this afternoon.  Eagles won 81-63.

Now we can prepare for Virginia Wesleyan on Thursday.

[Mom#15]

Bridgewater.....here VWC comes! Still undefeated! 

[Mom#15]

Bridgewater.....here comes VWC! Still undefeated! 

[justafan02]

Mom15,

You may have provided the kiss of death.  Never ever jinx a team.....sorry to all the basketball gods.

[bcsportswriter]

How about a little more C match-up for first place in the ODAC thursday?  Is Bridgewater gonna pressure full court like they have been doing the past few games?  can the marlins handle the pressure?  I see it being a close game, but the home court advantage will pull thru.  Eagles by around 10.  How about 65-55.

[odacbballfan]

I don't think the "basketball gods" will be able to help the Marlins Thursday night. If the Eagles get up and pressure the Marlins they will fold like a paper bag.  The fish are about to be brought back to reality with back to back games against BC and Macon....... Congratulations on a great start, hope you enjoyed the view from the top while you were there. Just remember what goes up must come down. 

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

My thoughts on the upcoming Virginia Wesleyan (11-2, 6-0) at Bridgewater (7-4, 5-1) game on Thursday:

First let's take a look at who they've played...

• The Marlins' opponent's combined record is 61-75 (44.9%) while the Eagles' opponent's combined record is 77-43 (64.2%).  So sure, 11-2 and 6-0 are better than 7-4 and 5-1, but the Eagles schedule has been much tougher.


• Bridgewater's four losses are to Emory (10-2), #24-ranked Oglethorpe (12-1), #7-ranked Mary Washington (12-0) and #15-ranked Randolph-Macon (9-2).  The Marlins' two losses are to an 8-5 Wittenberg team and a 10-5 Division II Chowan squad.

Now let's take a look at the stats...

• Bridgewater shoots a whole heck of a lot better than Virginia Wesleyan ... making 45% of their field goals, 71% free throws and 41% three pointers.  VA Wesleyan averages considerably less at 39% fg, 61% ft and 30% tp.


• The Marlins have a significant advantage in rebounding (by 8.4) and blocking (by 1.5).  They also seem to take care of the ball better averaging 3.3 less turnovers a game.


• Bridgewater's Marsha Kinder is 35-for-66 from behind the arc this year for the 6th best percentage in all of Division III at 53%.  Katy Herr is a statistical machine averaging 10.4 pts, 5.4 rebs, 4.7 assts and 3.5 stls this season.


• Virginia Wesleyan's two starting guards (Rector and Dove) are averaging only 3.5 turnovers (combined) a game.

So I think the only way VWC will win is to win the rebounding battle and take care of the ball, seeing that they don't shoot very well from the floor.  Bridgewater is 5-0 at home this season, winning those games by an average of 20.4 points.

The Eagles have scored 70+ in seven games this season, but the Marlins have only let opponents score than many twice (and VWC won both of those times). 

Prediction: Bridgewater 76, Virginia Wesleyan 62

[Old School Marlin]

What goes up must come down?  I think VWC has been pretty humble about their great start of the season.  For a team to be doing so well for once at a school who is the toddler of the ODAC is to be commended.  No matter what happens in the ever-awaited BC-VWC game and the rest of the season, Coach Dunmyer and her team should be extremely proud.  Most schools dream of going undefeated in a tough league until the middle of January.  Give them their props.

[justafan02]

I think I already threw it out there that VWC really hasn't played anyone yet and they know that.  They have played the bottom of the conference. BC/Macon will let them know where they stand.  My only point is this.  The six games they have won, are six games they would have lost over the last five years.  I am excited about the improvement and look forward to seeing how they match up against the top half of the ODAC.

[Old School Marlin]

I would hardly say that "Virgina Wesleyan hasn't played anyone yet."  They've played every team in the ODAC except for R-MC and Bridgewater!  The Jackets and the Eagles have consistently been strong teams in the league - great players, great coaches - and they are due their respect, but let's not forget the ODAC is ELEVEN teams strong...it's a little haughty to belittle everyone else's performance thus far.  I don't know, just my opinion.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

I would hardly say that "Virgina Wesleyan hasn't played anyone yet."  They've played every team in the ODAC except for R-MC and Bridgewater!  The Jackets and the Eagles have consistently been strong teams in the league - great players, great coaches - and they are due their respect, but let's not forget the ODAC is ELEVEN teams strong...it's a little haughty to belittle everyone else's performance thus far.  I don't know, just my opinion.

Who isn't respecting what the Marlins have accomplished?