WBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[RVAHokie]

Let's hope they find a way to get some rest between now and Friday.  Saturday is even more important than Friday for the seeding.

Amazing comeback when things looked pretty darn bleak...

[wmjofva]

I am curious about one thing...what goes thru your (fan/parent/watcher) when the EMU player is driving for a layup that may well put the game out of hand, she is tripped and there is no call and ball given back to W&L.

or

RM is 17 down, has come back to 7, W&L lost ball out of bounds with about 4 mins to go and as RM inbounds the ball, the W&L table sounds the horn and RM guard turns to see why game stopped, ball rolls out and ball given to W&L.

I think about what my old coach used to say " the harder I work, the luckier I get"

W&L has to be one of the hardest working teams I have seen this year.  The offensive rebounds, that gave them extra possessions,saved them last night.  They were not rebounds where the big player missed the layup and keep putting the ball back, but weak side rebounds.

[BH2OFan]

You hate to see it (I hate to see the wrong call even if it benefits my team) but for every one that goes against you there is at least one in some other game that went for you. Falls under the category of "that's why they play the games".
A while back, near the end of an AAU game my daughter played in the coach specifically asked the ref how many timeouts he had left and she told him (and gestured for all to see) "one". So he calls it, they check the book and he's out of em', gets a technical and the free throws from that prove to be the winning margin.

[dukeofargyle]

wmjofva, I have to agree wit BH20Fan.

I too, have watched countess games and seen countless bad calls in AAU games, and in many leagues over the East coast.

I wish I could say that the reffing in the ODAC is stellar, but unfortunately, I cannot. Be assured that for every call that has benefitted any team, that same team has suffered through at least an equal number of those that hurt them. Missed calls, calls that are made by the ref 30 feet down the floor from the play while the one 6 feet away sees nothing, multiple muggings in the low block with no call, endless hand checks on the back of the shooter in order to facilitate poking the ball out from behind (especially favored by one player that I know of) that seem to be 'missed' or 'overlooked' time, after time, after time.

Anyone who is familiar with W&L's record over the past 10 years, will rest very assured that the Gennies have NOT been unduly favored by doting or biased referees.

Reffing is an admittedly thankless job. Everyone has the same refs. My view is that  bad calls will be distributed more or less equally over time....

Hopefully, they will assign those most qualified to the ODAC tournament.

[RVAHokie]

Being a ref takes a special kind of person, unfortunately there are not enough of these people available and so, some folks that are not well-suited end up being refs.

The inadvertant horn during the RMC-WLU game on Saturday was weird.  Usually a scorers table error would be "neutralized" by the game refs.  I was surprised they did not stop the game and reset in that instance. 

I would say that over time the calls equal out, however, it can take a long time.  I believe consistency is the most important part of being a ref.  If a coach/player to count on a ref to make the same call on the same game action - then there is nothing to argue about.  Basketball moves quickly and there are 10 athletes on the court with only 3 refs.

I believe most coaches/players and fans probably have more issues with the inconsistency that I see on a regular basis.....

[BH2OFan]

Agreed, if a certain call is going to be made the same way, both ways, from start to finish you know what to expect and have to adjust accordingly. It's easy to be critical from the stands, but I wouldn't wanna do it. Like I told a guy before a high school game once: "I'm not telling you how to call the game because you don't tell me how to mop the floor at the bus station......"

[wmjofva]

I my mind, I think those are all good answers.  Sad...to say but I often see better called games in AAU 9 yr old girls than I do in some of the ODAC games.  The pay is a little better in ODAC.

[RVAHokie]

Personally, I've done some reffing and I would prefer to work ODAC games for free than to worlk AAU or high school - there are way too many parents in the stands at AAU and high school games. 

[wmjofva]

would prefer to work ODAC games for free than to worlk AAU or high school - there are way too many parents in the stands at AAU and high school games. 

On the jersey of a player at National AAU in Fl  "Many play, few understand"......

[RVAHokie]

true but unfortunate, but somehow I doubt that player was commenting on the actual rules of basketball....

[RVAHokie]

So here we go - final 11 games of the regular season over the next 3 days-

Roanoke goes 1-0
RMC goes 2-0
W&L goes 1-1
Bridgewater goes 1-1
Guilford goes 1-1
EMU goes 0-1
VWC goes 1-1
Lynchburg goes 2-0
Randolph goes 0-1
E&H goes 0-2
Hollins goes 0-2

What's your prediction?

Let the games begin!

[BH2OFan]

I predict Roanoke will be anything but 1-0 since they play twice 
Call me a homer, but the Eagles will sweep the weekend to finish 3rd.....

[RVAHokie]

Good catch - Roanoke should be 2-0 but 1-1 is definitely possible.  Motivation may be difficult for the Maroon this weekend.

I think the only way Bridgewater takes third is if W&L goes 0-2 for the weekend, right?  If the Gennies are 1-1 all the tiebreakers go for W&L.  Definitely possible but a loss tonight by W&L against Roanoke (not a sure thing only lost by 3 in Roanoke and the Nokes don't have much to play for at this point), and a BW win over Hollins tonight (as much of a sure thing as exists, although Hollins broke through with an ODAC win this week), makes tomorrow's 4PM tipoff in Lexington a play-off game for 3rd.  That would be cool and worth the $7.00 B2Live feed to see.

[Bammer]

Roanoke has a lot to play for tonight.  Didn't they win the regular season last year, not win the tournament and not get an at large bid?  They need a win tonight to keep their #2 ranking in the south.  If they lose, they will probably have to win the tournament or not get a bid.  They had a weak out of conference schedule with a loss to Ferrum.  I would call the game tonight a toss-up.  The BC-WLU game on Saturday should be a good one.  Pressure on BC to win on the road to a team that they lost to at home. The game a Bridgewater was not a close game.  The conference is really balanced 1-7 seeds and it should make for an exciting time in Salem.

[BH2OFan]

Bridgewater-W&L 1 was the Eagles worst shooting performance of the season- I'd like to say they're playing much better but Tuesdays % vs. LC was only marginally better. Rebounding will be key- W&L was +18 last time. I just think W&L's schedule leading up to Saturday gives BC the edge.