WBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Bammer]

Whitecaylxx - Interesting picks, wondering why you picked EMU over W&L.  The Generals are defending champions, with everybody back.  EMU is a young team and could not match up inside when the Generals are healthy and focused.  Last night was the best that I have seen the Generals play.  I know your admiration for Coach Willi and Burkholder and I agree that Willi was COY.  She got more out of this team than anyone expected.  They did not have the inside presence and that was exposed last night.  I will ask without needing to ask - who are you picking between RMC and W&L?  Don't let your anti-General bias influence your pick.

GO GENERALS
Your defending ODAC champions

[2RMCFans]

^ we also saw the Generals play yesterday and they look very solid.  Should be a good game!

GO JACKETS!!!

[whitecaylxx]

I do not have a General bias.  The two teams split, and EMU is deeper than W & L.  Just because I picked EMU doesn't mean I don't like W & L!  Childish!  With Bridgewater out, (I agree they lack size) I think it is possible for W & L to take the crown again!

[wmjofva]

Seconds earlier, Bridgewater senior Jordan Burkholder, the ODAC's Player of the Year, left the game with ankle injury. She sparked the Eagles strong second-half start with 11 of her team-high 21 points and three of her five steals.

With Burkholder on the bench, the Quakers crept back into the game and eventually tied it at 61-61 with 2:53 left on two Morgan King free throws.


In last years first round  upset of RM-C by EMC, RM-C lost point guard Jennifer O'Briant  early in the game and it really was a factor.   Both Jennifer and Katie Williams mean so much to the RM-C program.  They are the type of players who do so many of the little things that never make the papers.


I see where #5 ranked Kean (D3 Hoops.com) lost in the first round of their tournament, that sends them over to the "at large bid'....that type of loss reduces the number of bids for NCAA's to some of the other programs.

l

[BH2OFan]

We guess it's a truism that we should never count our chickens....

Yep, winner winner chicken dinner for Guilford as the Eagles lay an egg
I'll leave the motivational speeches that turn a lesser opponent into the UConn Huskies to the coaches. As a fan on this forum I'll talk a little trash from time to time and accept the (hopefully) good natured ribbing when things don't work out.
Every team except for one that is fortunate enough to play in the postseason is guaranteed to have the year end with a loss. If you can advance far enough to be playing with house money, that's a good run. Not so for the Eagles this year, very disappointing end to a fantastic campaign.
Best of luck to all those that remain.

[Bammer]

Having followed this board for the last 3 years, I did not base the anti-General statement on your one pick but on 3 years of reading your posts.  We all have our favorites as we should.  Having more players does not make you deeper, having more talented players gives quality depth.  In big games teams often only go 7-8 deep.  The W&L bench outscored the EMU bench last night also. 

[whitecaylxx]

You yourself said it would probably be a close game - it was not.  You also agreed earlier in the year that the Generals had been very inconsistent this year.  With a small number of players, W & L could have run out of gas.  Instead they came up big.  As for 3 years of posts , I comment on many of the teams.  Just because I like a team, doesn't mean they get a free pass. 

[wmjofva]

Having followed this board for the last 3 years, I did not base the anti-General statement on your one pick but on 3 years of reading your posts.  We all have our favorites as we should.  Having more players does not make you deeper, having more talented players gives quality depth.  In big games teams often only go 7-8 deep.  The W&L bench outscored the EMU bench last night also. 

It's funny..as I was watching on computer, W &L romp over EMU..I kept seeing the same names on the W & L board...why don't they empty the bench....oh wait!  they don't have a bench!   W&L (after Bridgewater) was the hottest team in the league in last 5 games of the season.  I really didn't think I would see EMU fans jumpiing around like they did when they beat W & L at their place.

Roanoke will be hard to beat at home.  Inside play, rebounding, defense is key in big games.  If your guards can get the ball down and in, it's money.  An outstanding guard can control their game as they have the ball, the outstanding inside player must hope their teammates get the ball to them.

[BH2OFan]

  They did not have the inside presence and that was exposed last night. 

Lack of size has been an issue this year, care to elaborate on how that was exposed by Guilford last night? I think the perception by us Eagle fans was they were outrebounding us, particularly in the first half (Hottinger sat with 2 fouls), yet BC was +10 by the end of the game. I think the Quakers won the game with a very patient half court offense and some timely 3's from the parking lot in the last 10 minutes. Nothing new- BC went up big creating turnovers and running, lost Burkholder, slowed it down to run clock and got tight.

[Bammer]

Oglesby had 16 and King had 22 and I guessed that most of those came in the paint.  Your guards do an awesome job rebounding.  Saw where Burkholder had 8 boards.  She is such an intense, competitive player that I will miss watching.  By saying exposed inside, I looked at the box and saw the GC bigs had good numbers.  I thought BC was 1 of the 2 hottest teams going into the tournament.  I picked them to get to the finals.

[GuyFormerlyPSBBG]

I hate to say it but the BC loss to Guilford officially put them outside the bubble looking in

[Bammer]

Do you think RMC would get an at large if they lose in the semis or if RC were to lose in the finals would they get an at large bid?

[wmjofva]

I hate to say it but the BC loss to Guilford officially put them outside the bubble looking in

Correct me if I'm wrong but RM-C and Bridgewater would have had to have met in the Championship game for the loser to be considered .

Too bad.. Bridgewater with Burkholder & co and coach would have been fun to watch in the NCAA's.

[BH2OFan]

Do you think RMC would get an at large if they lose in the semis or if RC were to lose in the finals would they get an at large bid?

I hate to say it but the BC loss to Guilford officially put them outside the bubble looking in

Correct me if I'm wrong but RM-C and Bridgewater would have had to have met in the Championship game for the loser to be considered .

Too bad.. Bridgewater with Burkholder & co and coach would have been fun to watch in the NCAA's.

From what I have learned on the NCAA Tourney, Pool C and Top 25 boards, my opinion (agreeing with wmjofva) is the loser of a RMC-BC final was the only realistic chance for an at-large.  I think RMC still has a slim chance if they were to lose Sunday- but it seems favorites going down in other conference tournaments is expanding the list of highly qualified at-large teams pretty quick.

[2RMCFans]

"Yep, winner winner chicken dinner for Guilford as the Eagles lay an egg
I'll leave the motivational speeches that turn a lesser opponent into the UConn Huskies to the coaches. As a fan on this forum I'll talk a little trash from time to time and accept the (hopefully) good natured ribbing when things don't work out.
Every team except for one that is fortunate enough to play in the postseason is guaranteed to have the year end with a loss. If you can advance far enough to be playing with house money, that's a good run. Not so for the Eagles this year, very disappointing end to a fantastic campaign.
Best of luck to all those that remain."

Yes, we totally meant that in a good natured way... ya had a GREAT season!  
Good luck to the ODAC Final 4 today!
GO JACKETS!!!!!