WBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[BH2OFan]

EMU has a nice team but their out of conference schedule will hurt them.  They have not played a ranked team that I am aware of.  Overall, the best out of conference win for the ODAC would be the Generals beating #4 CNU at CNU.  To get at large bids, the strength of schedule must improve and a few NCAA wins would really help the ODAC.  Just win the ODAC tournament and you get a bid.

http://masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=cbw&yr=2012&sub=11620

This list has EMU at number 99 in the nation, actually a few spots below VWC. I don't see one of the 20 at large bids coming either.

I would also like to see the ODAC teams build on strength of schedule by playing stronger out of conference teams. Travel budgets will dictate to a large degree how much better we can get as a group, as there are only so many higher quality opponents within day-trip driving distance. Plus, with an 11 team conference (soon to be 12 with Shenandoah), your opportunities within a 25 game schedule are small.
BC led at the half and hung around with Johns Hopkins, no. 4 in the mid-atlantic, very early in the year. I firmly believe we (all the ODAC) have the quality play to compete, but getting it noticed is the challenge.

[BH2OFan]

BIG day today-

Who will be first- EMU or VWC?
Who will be fourth- BC or RMC?
Can Guilford stay back on track against Lynchburg?
Can Roanoke complete the sweep of Hollins and get back in the tournament hunt?

[2RMCFans]

Great win for the Jackets at home on Senior Day yesterday.  We hope these 4 seniors know how much we will miss them.... on the court & off!

GO JACKETS!!!!

[Bammer]

Sure is going to be a heartbreak for the last spot in the ODAC tournament.  By the way it looks and if the last 2 games go accordingly, Roanoke and Hollins may wind up with 7-13 records.  Roanoke's 2 wins over Hollins would put RC in and Hollins out.  As much as Hollins has improved, it is tough for them to not make it.  Another spot up for grabs is the 5 spot.  If BC loses to Guilford and beats E&H and W&L can beat Lynchburg and Randolph, W&L gets the 5 spot due to them sweeping BC.  It looks like the EMU and Guilford game is for the 2 spot.  Should be a good finish and hopefully a good tournament.

[Brookland]

Bammer,
Agreed! Personally I am happy that my Hornets will not be part of that heartbreak. I know that most of the chatter on this board is about the teams in the top half of the standings, but Coach Pyzik has done a really good job this year bringing her team along, and their play has improved steadily since mid-season. Their win over Roanoke last night was not a fluke; they started the game with a huge run and never looked back. Roanoke never managed to cut the lead to single digits. Add that to their solid win (admittedly an upset) of EMU, and very respectable play against some of the conference leaders, and we fans have some reason to hope.
I think this tournament could hold some surprises, and LC is not the only candidate to pull them off. I am really looking forward to a competitive tournament. My only prediction: no cakewalks!

[Bammer]

Coach Pyzik has done a solid job at Lynchburg.  Brookland, next year I believe that you will be looking at the top half of the standings to follow LC.  You have an outstanding young coach.  It should be a good game this Friday with the Generals.  A win would be big for either team to build momentum going into the tournament.  I look for the senior leadership of the Generals to be the difference in this game. 

[2RMCFans]

Jackets are on the road this weekend.

GO JACKETS!!! 

[2RMCFans]

Great win tonight Jackets... way to go! 

GO JACKETS!!!! 

[hoopstermom]

Hollins up over R-MC 55-51 with 6:43 to go.

If they win, they might steal that last playoff spot from Roanoke.

[hoopstermom]

Hollins up 64-58 with 3:00 to go, but another barn burner in Roanoke. That game (vs VA Wesleyan) is tied 54-54 with 3:46 to go.

[hoopstermom]

Hollins takes down R-MC 74-66.  Great finish to their season.  Finish 8-12.  That's same record as Lynchburg. They split games with them during the season.

Roanoke pulls the upset over VA Wesleyan 63-58. Also finishes the season 8-12.

Now which of these 3 teams will fill the final 2 spots in the playoffs? 

Hollins split regular season games with Lynchburg and lost both games to Roanoke.
Roanoke split games with Lynchburg too and beat Hollins both games.
Lynchburg split games with both Hollins and Roanoke.

If you consider final standings of the higher seeded teams these three beat during the season:
  Roanoke beat #1 VA Wesleyan, but no other team ranked above them
  Lynchburg beat #2 Eastern Mennonite and #5 Washington and Lee once each
  Hollins beat #5 W&L twice and #4 R-MC

Will really be a heartbreak for whichever one doesn't get in, but especially Hollins.

[BH2OFan]

Without looking up the tiebreakers I think it will be Roanoke and Lynchburg- RC by virtue of sweeping Hollins and LC by better quality wins against higher finishing teams.

[wmjofva]

Hollins is why it's a shame they can't have all teams in the tournament.  They are playing better now at end of tournament than many of the teams that are in.  There should be a reward for improving tho the year.

[Bammer]

I agree.  You could easily give coach of year honor to the Hollins coach.  Coach Pyzik of LC should also get some consideration.

[78rmc]

Hollins is why it's a shame they can't have all teams in the tournament.  They are playing better now at end of tournament than many of the teams that are in.  There should be a reward for improving tho the year.

Excellent question, why do the women not use the same tourney format as the men, both have 11 teams?