WBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[fairmont1113]

I've seen every team in the ODAC play at least once this year, and many of them I've seen twice....so....with what I have seen I would definitely say Molly Ariail is the front runner for the FOY award. She was unstoppable last night!

So......any ideas for front runners for POY? or COY?

Erin Hanson has some impressive stats as she leads the league in scoring and is third in rebounds, but she plays for a team that is barely above .500.

If you look at the 1st place team, RMC, they have some very impressive players, but who would you choose?

For VWC, they are such a well balanced team, that I don't see any potentials from there.

For BC, Katy Herr Lovell is the one who sticks out as she is the only player in the ODAC that ranks in the top 15 in scoring(9), rebounding(13), steals(1), and assists(1), and she is also #3 in free throw percentage, 3 pnt. field goal percentage, and #1 in assist-turnover ratio.

Caroline Wesley is having a big year at Lynchburg averaging a double-double, but Lynchburg only has five wins on the year.

So...any thoughts?

[bbald eagle]

As much as the Jackets had the game in hand from the tipoff until two minutes left in the game, that was Bridgewater's game to lose there at the end ... and the ref made that happen.

Bridgewater got a really questionable foul call in its favor near the buzzer of the UMW game at Bridgewater. Herr Lovell made both shots to tie it and send it to OT where UMW prevailed

Nice "broadcast" last night.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

I'm sticking with my mid-season all-ODAC first team...

All-ODAC first team
Erin Hanson, Roanoke
Jessica Hunsinger, Washington & Lee
Nicole Thurston, Virginia Wesleyan
Caroline Wesley, Lynchburg
Katy Herr Lovell, Bridgewater

I think Carolyn Riley (EMU) has a good shot, too.  From R-MC, I think Lindsay Riesbeck, Molly Ariail, and Salem Shaffer are all equally deserving.

As far as individual awards, I think it's pretty easy simple this year...

Player-of-the-Year: Katy Herr Lovell (Bridgewater) - best all-around player in the league.  Not only do her numbers show it, but she is a vocal leader and very smart player on one of the better teams in the conference.

Coach-of-the-Year: Carroll LaHaye (Randolph-Macon) - what she has done this year w/out Silva is amazing.  Shows how good of a coach she is and how well her players play as a team.

Freshman-of-the-Year: Molly Ariail (Randolph-Macon) - her numbers are pretty sick for someone who has started only one game.  She's good on both ends of the court, with a quick first step.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

As much as the Jackets had the game in hand from the tipoff until two minutes left in the game, that was Bridgewater's game to lose there at the end ... and the ref made that happen.

Bridgewater got a really questionable foul call in its favor near the buzzer of the UMW game at Bridgewater. Herr Lovell made both shots to tie it and send it to OT where UMW prevailed

Oh trust me ... I know questionable calls happen in every game.  And I know there were questionable calls made against RMC during the game as well.

I will also admit that it's usually understood not to call a foul in the final seconds of a game unless it's really a foul.  Honestly, I felt Herr Lovell got hacked on her way to the rim against UMW.  Even if she wasn't, that's certainly not the same as calling an offensive foul on someone setting a pick when they had clearly been set.  I think the fact that the RMC player dropped to the ground made the ref think he had to make a call (which he didn't).

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Bridgewater.edu just reported Herr Lovell was named to the ESPN The Magazine All-District 3 Academic Team College Division first team, along with Lynchburg's Caroline Wesley.

They are both eligible for consideration for the Division III Academic All-American team.

[bbald eagle]

Matt-
i wondered what happened when the offensive foul on BC showed up on your "broadcast" as a player control foul seemed odd at that time of the game as it seemed a mental error to attack the basket at that time.  i see now that that is not what happened, but a moving pick is also a very unusual call at that time of the game - i'd expect no call unless it was very clear and your post suggests it was not only not very clear but also wrong.  very tough way to lose.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Matt-
i wondered what happened when the offensive foul on BC showed up on your "broadcast" as a player control foul seemed odd at that time of the game as it seemed a mental error to attack the basket at that time.  i see now that that is not what happened, but a moving pick is also a very unusual call at that time of the game - i'd expect no call unless it was very clear and your post suggests it was not only not very clear but also wrong.  very tough way to lose.

Yeah.  Even the RMC bench was like "uhhh, really?"

I hope people don't think i'm making excuses for how well both teams played the entire game.  The Jackets sure did take it to us and held a lead most of the game.  But to see the Eagles fight back and take a 68-67 lead with under a minute to go, then to get the ball back with that lead, and THEN get that call made on them ... it just stinks.  Both for RMC and BC.  Who knows how the game would have ended had that call not been made.  RMC certainly could have still won, and perhaps it would have tasted a little sweeter.

[valleybballfan]

I agree with how awful of a call that was. That was such a fun game to watch, and both teams played great, it is just unfortunate that the outcome was somewhat dictated by a poor call by the official.

Oh well, that's sports for you.

I also agree with the POY, COY, and FOY.

I think Herr Lovell is a no brainer, at least to me. She leads the conference in three stats, and is in the top 15 in 9 of the statistical categories listed on the ODAC website. Also, she plays for one of the top teams in the ODAC where she has set several records.

COY is also a no brainer as Coach LaHaye has her team with a firm hold in first place....and this is all without either Silva or Orton!

FOY is where I just am not sure? I think Arial from RMC is a good choice, but I also like Katie Rechnitzer (RMWC) and Kristina Darby (Lynchburg).

[fairmont1113]

I'm sticking with my mid-season all-ODAC first team...

All-ODAC first team
Erin Hanson, Roanoke
Jessica Hunsinger, Washington & Lee
Nicole Thurston, Virginia Wesleyan
Caroline Wesley, Lynchburg
Katy Herr Lovell, Bridgewater

I think Carolyn Riley (EMU) has a good shot, too.  From R-MC, I think Lindsay Riesbeck, Molly Ariail, and Salem Shaffer are all equally deserving.

As far as individual awards, I think it's pretty easy simple this year...

Player-of-the-Year: Katy Herr Lovell (Bridgewater) - best all-around player in the league.  Not only do her numbers show it, but she is a vocal leader and very smart player on one of the better teams in the conference.

Coach-of-the-Year: Carroll LaHaye (Randolph-Macon) - what she has done this year w/out Silva is amazing.  Shows how good of a coach she is and how well her players play as a team.

Freshman-of-the-Year: Molly Ariail (Randolph-Macon) - her numbers are pretty sick for someone who has started only one game.  She's good on both ends of the court, with a quick first step.

I agree on all of those predictions....and I actually think Carolyn Riley has a better shot at the 1st team then does Nicole Thurston, simply because her numbers are better and because of how well EMU has done this year. VWC is just too well balanced. Two years ago BC finished 2nd in the conference and 2nd in the tournament and placed no one on either the 1st or 2nd team. I could potentially see VWC being the same way this year.

I agree with POY, COY, and FOY. I think the first two are definites...and I think FOY will go to Arial simply because of what she means to her team and because of how well they have done.

[fairmont1113]

Bridgewater.edu just reported Herr Lovell was named to the ESPN The Magazine All-District 3 Academic Team College Division first team, along with Lynchburg's Caroline Wesley.

They are both eligible for consideration for the Division III Academic All-American team.

Congrats to both of them!

Herr Lovell was also recently accepted into graduate school to get her doctorate of physical therapy....so well done!

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

With under 10 days until the regular season ends, I'll take a crack at picking the rest of the games and final standings.

Current ODAC Standings...

1 - Randolph-Macon (14-2)
2 - Virginia Wesleyan (15-3)
3 - Eastern Mennonite (13-3)
4 - Bridgewater (13-4)
5 - Roanoke (9-7)
6 - Washington & Lee (8-8)
7 - Guilford (7-10)
8 - Lynchburg (5-11)
9 - Emory & Henry (3-14)
10 - R-M Woman's (2-14)
11 - Hollins (1-14)

Remaining Games...

Thursday, February 8
Emory & Henry at Hollins

Saturday, February 10
Lynchburg at Hollins
Bridgewater at Virginia Wesleyan
Guilford at Roanoke
Washington & Lee at Eastern Mennonite
Randolph-Macon at R-M Woman's Coll.

Tuesday, February 13
Bridgewater at Roanoke
Washington & Lee at Hollins
Eastern Mennonite at Randolph-Macon
Guilford at Emory & Henry

Wednesday, February 14
Lynchburg at R-M Woman's Coll.

Friday, February 16
Lynchburg at Randolph-Macon
Hollins at Bridgewater
Roanoke at Eastern Mennonite
Emory & Henry at Washington & Lee
R-M Woman's Coll. at Guilford

Saturday, February 17
Lynchburg at Washington & Lee
Virginia Wesleyan at Eastern Mennonite
Hollins at Randolph-Macon
R-M Woman's Coll. at Roanoke

ODAC Tournament Pairings...

1 - Randolph-Macon (18-2) vs. 8 - Lynchburg (7-13)
2 - Bridgewater (16-4) vs. 7 - Guilford (9-11)
3 - Virginia Wesleyan (16-4) - 6 - Washington & Lee (11-9)
4 - Eastern Mennonite (15-5) vs. 5 - Roanoke (11-9)

[RMCAlum30]

Got to catch the BC/R-MC game last night... definitely a good one.

So, what did you think about the foul called on Herr Lovell when setting the pick?  Clearly a game changer.  Had that call not been made, RMC would have had to foul the No. 1 free throw shooting team to the line already up one with under a half a minute to go.

As much as the Jackets had the game in hand from the tipoff until two minutes left in the game, that was Bridgewater's game to lose there at the end ... and the ref made that happen.

Although I know that was a VERY inopportune call for BC at that point in time, I have to go with what I was told throughout my entire basketball career. I know it's cliche... but I honestly believe the refs cannot "lose" a game for you.

Yes, overall they have "control" of the game, but the players have the ultimate control over what they do on the court.

There are 40 minutes for each team to do what they need to do to win the game. The "key play" to winning the game could be anywhere from the first 5 minutes of the game to 10.3 seconds to go in the game.

In an ideal world, ODAC refs would make every correct call, see every travel, every slap of the wrist... but they can't.

And I'll say that whether R-MC is on the winning or losing end of a call like last night... it just happens that R-MC was on the winning side of that call.

ODAC refs will always be bad... a proven track record over the past 7 years I've known the ODAC. I only have three or four "favorite" refs... and even THEY make bad calls every now and then.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Got to catch the BC/R-MC game last night... definitely a good one.

So, what did you think about the foul called on Herr Lovell when setting the pick?  Clearly a game changer.  Had that call not been made, RMC would have had to foul the No. 1 free throw shooting team to the line already up one with under a half a minute to go.

As much as the Jackets had the game in hand from the tipoff until two minutes left in the game, that was Bridgewater's game to lose there at the end ... and the ref made that happen.

Although I know that was a VERY inopportune call for BC at that point in time, I have to go with what I was told throughout my entire basketball career. I know it's cliche... but I honestly believe the refs cannot "lose" a game for you.

Yes, overall they have "control" of the game, but the players have the ultimate control over what they do on the court.

There are 40 minutes for each team to do what they need to do to win the game. The "key play" to winning the game could be anywhere from the first 5 minutes of the game to 10.3 seconds to go in the game.

In an ideal world, ODAC refs would make every correct call, see every travel, every slap of the wrist... but they can't.

And I'll say that whether R-MC is on the winning or losing end of a call like last night... it just happens that R-MC was on the winning side of that call.

ODAC refs will always be bad... a proven track record over the past 7 years I've known the ODAC. I only have three or four "favorite" refs... and even THEY make bad calls every now and then.

Is it safe to assume that's your round about way of saying, "Yes, Matt ... I agree it was a bad call."

[baller116]

It may have been a bad call, but it certainly didnt lose the game for them... I think that saying the refs lost the game for them is taking away credit that RMC most certainly deserves for a great game.  They had 39 minutes before that to make sure they werent put in that position, but they ultimately were and they lost. I think its interesting how at the beginning of the ODAC season, people posted about how RMC wasnt going to be anything special without Silva this year yet they find themselves at the top spot once again...If Coach LaHaye doesnt get COY, I for one will be VERY surprised. 

[Pat Coleman]

They had 39 minutes before that to make sure they werent put in that position, but they ultimately were and they lost.

Indeed. If you are in a position where an official's call can change the outcome in the closing seconds, that's your fault, not the official's.