WBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[y_jack_lok]

WOW - RMC at #19 this week.  Were they ever ranked this high last year?  That must be some group of freshmen and underclassmen stepping up this year. 

Actually it's #18. And if you look at the pre-season poll they were the third team in the "others receiving votes" category, therefore essentially #28. While it's a bit hard to make credible observations without having seen the team play, having listened to two of the three games it seems that everyone is playing well so far when on the floor and the chemistry is good.

[y_jack_lok]

WOW - RMC at #19 this week.  Were they ever ranked this high last year?  That must be some group of freshmen and underclassmen stepping up this year. 

Actually it's #18. And if you look at the pre-season poll they were the third team in the "others receiving votes" category, therefore essentially #28. While it's a bit hard to make credible observations without having seen the team play, having listened to two of the three games it seems that everyone is playing well so far when on the floor and the chemistry is good.

I get to eat my words already. I was able to watch the first 15 minutes of tonight's R-MC v Lynchburg game on the videocast. In spite of the fact that the Jackets got out to a 9-0 lead, there was never a point at which I thought they looked like the better team. Not that Lynchburg looked all that great, either, but Lynchburg appeared to me to be playing with more energy and determination. When I had to leave I think the score was tied, but I was not suprised to get home and find that Lynchburg had won.

[Brookland]

I watched the entire webcast and I think you are right - Lynchburg wanted it more. RMC looked a bit flat in the first half but made a determined comeback in the second half that almost carried the day. Lynchburg had just enough heart and hustle to hold them off. Great effort by the Lynchburg starters and great contibutions from the Lynchburg bench (including 27 of the team's 41 first half points). Overall, an exciting game!
Lynchburg is a young team that looks like it is beginning to believe in itself. It will be interesting to see how well they build on this win, but they sure don't look like they intend to finish in ninth place in the conference! They have a lot of new faces - fully half of last night's points were scored by players who were not on the team last year - but they are playing as a team at both ends of the floor with many contributors. That's a good sign for them.
RMC has great talent and may have just had a bad night - looking past an opponent, perhaps?
At this point it looks like it should be a very interesting season in the ODAC!

[Bball21]

I saw Lynchburg play EMU. Lynchburg started out strong and was ahead for a period of time. EMU came back with a strong second half. Lynchburg played hard and has a nice young team. But EMU has a lot of weapons. If EMU can get it all together...look out! They have some very good Freshman playing with some very good upperclassmen. If they can get a little more healthier and get all the bugs out, I feel they can go a long way.

[wmjofva]

RM made strong comeback and it was great game that was spoiled at end by dirty play.  With 3pt lead, #23, Snead of Lynchburg threw an elbow and broke the nose of RM player, the blow was so strong it caused concern of a damaged eye socket.  While it got Snead out of game with 36 seconds to go with her 5th, and gave RM under the basket out of bounds layup to close to 1 pt, the RM team and coaches had to be distracted by their player laying on the floor with the damaged face by an unnecessary play on the part of the Lynchburg player.

Playing with spirit is great but it is a bad reflection on the coach and school if the players cross the line.

[whitecaylxx]

If dirty play was involved, I am sorry.  But I don't think RMC should have been in such a tight position anyway.  And how about Guilford?  The Quakers certainly picked up a big win!  Not a good showing for the Generals!  Here's hoping the tide turns in California.

[gr8day4bsbll]

I was sorry to see what happened to the RM player as well, but my understanding is that the play in question was certainly aggressive, but not dirty and not overly aggressive -- simply what you'd expect from a hungry team hustling to protect a lead, and an unfortunate although inadvertent injury occurred.  Yes, a foul was called -- but it wasn't called as a flagrant foul nor did it include a technical foul with ejection, which is what you'd expect if the refs thought the player's actions had crossed the line.

That being said, it's clearly going to be an interesting ODAC hoops season this year...

[wmjofva]

Dirty play is dirty play.  Often if officals review a play on tape they make changes.  When a players leaves a program, we assume it's the player, there may be a reason a number of players from last years team have left.

No doubt they will give #23 the game ball.  Having to go back to school and prepare for exams this week,as well as deal with a face operation is not the way I would want to spend my xmas vacation.

[bballmom4]

WOW...I did not see the game with LC and RM, however, from the comments here, sounds like it was a very physical one.  All I have to say is that if you throw an elbow so hard that you break someone's nose, that is way too physical.  Yes, basketball is a contact sport, but with that hard of a hit....well, if the tables were turned I am sure the thought would be exactly the same on the other side.  Oh, and also, rest assured that refs always miss the big picture and/or big play.  Hope the RM player is doing well! I wonder if the #23 thought to even ask the RM player if she was o.k.?  That too would have been good sportsmanship!  Hopefully she did.

[whitecaylxx]

Predictions?

Dec. 4   Lynchburg - Emory & Henry   
           
             Roanoke -  Randolph   
   
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Dec. 5   Randolph-Macon -  Bridgewater   
           
             Hollins -  Roanoke   
   
             Randolph -  Emory & Henry     
   
             Eastern Mennonite -  Virginia Wesleyan   
 
             Lynchburg - Guilford   
   

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[Brookland]

Dirty play is dirty play.  Often if officals review a play on tape they make changes.  When a players leaves a program, we assume it's the player, there may be a reason a number of players from last years team have left.

No doubt they will give #23 the game ball.  Having to go back to school and prepare for exams this week,as well as deal with a face operation is not the way I would want to spend my xmas vacation.

Wow, that seems like a lot of conclusions to be drawing from a single incident! Dirty play=dirty player=dirty coach=dirty program=game balls for dirty play=girls leaving because they don't want to play dirty!!
I agree with gr8day4bsbll that it was an unfortunate play, and I sincerely hope the injured girl has a quick and complete recovery, but I don't think it was a deliberate blow to inflict injury. As I saw it, #23 grabbed a rebound while surrounded by RMC players, and swiped the ball to get space for herself. That is standard post play - one swipe is fine, 2 or 3 will usually draw a foul. I think that's what happened in the heat of the moment. Maybe you saw something different, but I don't know how either of us can know the players intent without asking her...
Either way, I hope we can all remember that sportsmanship should apply here as well as on the court!

[Brookland]

Predictions?

Dec. 4   Lynchburg - Emory & Henry   
           
             Roanoke -  Randolph   
   
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Dec. 5   Randolph-Macon -  Bridgewater   
           
             Hollins -  Roanoke   
   
             Randolph -  Emory & Henry     
   
             Eastern Mennonite -  Virginia Wesleyan   
 
             Lynchburg - Guilford   
   

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Given the season so far, I'm afraid to predict anything other than that there will be at least one upset! ;-)

[Jeremybozz]

BC 18.RMC 4 so far. Ariail with 2 fouls.

[Jeremybozz]

BC 21,RMC 4

Burkholder with 12 points. Logan with 6 thus far.

[hoopstermom]

Macon 76, BC 70
Burkholder just fouled out with :55 to go