WBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[BH2OFan]

BH2OFan,
Have you been following the Top 25 Discussion thread on the Multi-Regional Topics site? That's where you can make your case... although none of it is likely to sway the actual voters...

Brookland, had not seen that thread before- thanks. I'll state my case there, although I agree it will fall on deaf ears.
With regards to the ODAC being a "weak" conference, I guess I have a better understanding of TCU's and Boise State's arguments now

[Wydown Blvd.]

With regards to the ODAC being a "weak" conference, I guess I have a better understanding of TCU's and Boise State's arguments now

yeah, but good thing these polls don't count for crap when it comes to the NCAA tourney.... unlike that darn BCS...

[Bammer]

Another thing that hurts the ODAC is scheduling.  If the conference wants respect, its teams need to schedule more out of conference games against ranked "name" programs and win some.  The 2 wins over Mary Washington and the close game with CNU will help (RMC and W&L).  This and having teams consistently compete in the NCAA tournament will provide respect. 

[wmjofva]

BH2OFan,
Have you been following the Top 25 Discussion thread on the Multi-Regional Topics site? That's where you can make your case... although none of it is likely to sway the actual voters...

Brookland, had not seen that thread before- thanks. I'll state my case there, although I agree it will fall on deaf ears.
With regards to the ODAC being a "weak" conference, I guess I have a better understanding of TCU's and Boise State's arguments now

Hold off on post...Bridgewater is 5-0 but the teams they have beaten are 7-20 in ODAC and Mary Bawin is (I think 2-3 with big loss to W/L.  Teams can't have close games with ranked programs, they have to beat them.    Bridgewater looks good, playing well.  Jordan is playing under control and the rest of the players are starting to look for steals in the passing lanes as she does.  Hottinger is playing out of her mind!   BUT...they are small...What happens when Hottinger has to play players as big or bigger than she is...check the fouls on her of the first 5 games...she will foul out against Roanoke, W &L (if players are back) and RMC.

Check last couple years...ODAC has been playing against Mary Balwin's conference and I think that conference got the best of us last year.   

[Brookland]

It seems that most ODAC teams schedule their out-of-conference games against USA South teams, with a few against CAC teams. That is completely understandable to me, given the geography of those conferences and the scarcity of budget dollars for travel in most programs. (Some other teams spend big $$ traveling to holiday tournaments in far away places where they can be seen by more  folks who vote in the polls - how many ODAC teams can afford that?) Neither the CAC nor the USA South conference is loaded with teams that have name recognition with poll voters, with the exception of Marymount and UMW  in the CAC and, more recently, CNU in the USA South. In the ODAC, those teams are RMC and Roanoke. The rest of us who play teams  other than those mentioned aren't likely to get recognition for playing against CAC and USA South competition. Unfortunate, but at this point unavoidable, IMHO.
ODAC teams also have another disadvantage in trying to schedule more games against ranked teams - conference size. With 11 teams in the ODAC (becoming 12 in 2012 when Shenandoah joins), ODAC teams can only play 5 out-of-conference games (and maybe 3 in 2012). CAC teams (9 in conference) play 9 out-of-conference games, and USA South teams (10 in conference) play 7. The numbers aren't in our favor...
I figure there are only two ways to get poll recognition early in the season: either have a long, recognized history of excellence, or have a spectacular season the previous year with most of your roster back...and the latter doen't work consistently.

[BH2OFan]

BH2OFan,
Have you been following the Top 25 Discussion thread on the Multi-Regional Topics site? That's where you can make your case... although none of it is likely to sway the actual voters...

Brookland, had not seen that thread before- thanks. I'll state my case there, although I agree it will fall on deaf ears.
With regards to the ODAC being a "weak" conference, I guess I have a better understanding of TCU's and Boise State's arguments now

Hold off on post...Bridgewater is 5-0 but the teams they have beaten are 7-20 in ODAC and Mary Bawin is (I think 2-3 with big loss to W/L.  Teams can't have close games with ranked programs, they have to beat them.    Bridgewater looks good, playing well.  Jordan is playing under control and the rest of the players are starting to look for steals in the passing lanes as she does.  Hottinger is playing out of her mind!   BUT...they are small...What happens when Hottinger has to play players as big or bigger than she is...check the fouls on her of the first 5 games...she will foul out against Roanoke, W &L (if players are back) and RMC.

Check last couple years...ODAC has been playing against Mary Balwin's conference and I think that conference got the best of us last year.   

wjmofva-

Perhaps you missed my earlier post stating my case- I acknowledge the Eagles have a less than stellar resume with regards to strength of schedule so far, but in comparing them with three other teams that ARE getting votes the numbers are virtually identical (margin of victory, opponents record).
That being said I agree that size will be an issue all year, if Hottinger can't stay on the floor it will be a significant problem.

Brookland-

Spot on about geography, budget, and conference size being major factors in the ability to play against stronger competition.

[wmjofva]

Ok BH20 Fan, I read your 12/7/10 post and it was excellent!

Speaking of schedules and recruiting:  Mary Washington hasn't lost since the first two losses to ODAC teams and I'm hoping they keep winning as it helps our records at end of year.  They are going to be in Puerto Rico this xmas, year before last they were in the caribbean (St John's).

Christopher Newport is in Hawaii for Dec, Roanoke goes to Las Vagas and Bridgewater and RM head to Fl. 

I have to laugh, couple years ago we were down watching RM in St John's and I was swiming , feeding the fish and the next day I was sitting in a duck blind at 26 degrees wondering was I really there.

If I am a lanky basketball player who had put the time in to hone my skills, I would find those trips interesting vs spending my holiday ice skating on a local frozen pond

So when you get the letter asking to help the school or a department you are interested in- respond the best you can!

[wmjofva]

Calvin Rides Three-Ball Attack in Upset Victory Over Fifth-Ranked Carthage
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Box Score

Baldwin-Wallace -Last year played until 3/5/j10 had 24-5 record, was in NCAA till 2nd round loss to Hope, which is ranked very high this year (2nd at present)

So past history helps!

http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/women/2010-11/week2

[BH2OFan]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other teams to watch (as suggested by posters on this board)
Rank    Pts    Team W-L    Results
--- --- Bridgewater (Va.) 5-0 IDLE

(The last entry is there because of BH20Fan's post; no additional information at this point because Bridgewater has no games scheduled until Tuesday.)


Quote from: BH2OFan on December 09, 2010, 08:42:52 pm
...
Alright, time to start stumping for some top 25 votes for Bridgewater.
...


The seed is planted

[wmjofva]

Bad news!  Mary Washington lost to Marymounts' 7 52-53.....The early season victories for ODAC won't count for much as MW falls from the rankings as fast as a kawk dives for field mice.

[wmjofva]

Hope everyone has a great Christmas!!

[2RMCFans]

Wow... this board is QUIET... hope the Jackets have a good time in FL and we'll be listening as best we can.

Wishing a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to ALL! 

GO JACKETS!!   

[BH2OFan]

With the Eagles in FL, they rocked Ottowa (KS) by 18 yesterday and tip at 8AM against Manchester (IN). Am I back on the AAU circuit???

[BH2OFan]

BC beats Manchester 73-56, Burkholder sits a large chunk of the 2nd half with foul trouble but Mullen picks up the slack with 23. Could have been 30 but I guess the refs had a plane to catch, physical game called poorly both ways. So 8-0 with Roanoke looming Jan 4- the Top 25 message board lists BC as a 'team to watch" since my post Will know tomorrow if it's enough.
By the way, If you have the opportunity to spend a long weekend in Florida while it's 30 degrees in Virginia, I highly recommend it

[wmjofva]

8AM against Manchester (IN). Am I back on the AAU circuit???

that's funny..   Loved those 8 am games...with two to follow that afternoon and evening.