WBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[whitecaylxx]

Go Blue - Just because you are  a "fan" doesn't mean you can't be somewhat realistic as well.  I did not say I did not wish the Generals well.   I said they would struggle with the considerable losses since the last Coaches Poll.  So bleed blue all you want - just realize the times are a changing...  Time will tell which teams makes improvement and which ones do not. 

[eaglejacket1421]

Finally! - The games have started. This weekend's opening tourneys really shed some light on some ODAC standings. Lynchburg opens the season with a loss to Alvernia 81-72. R-MC turns around and beats Alvernia resoundingly 99-86. Amanda Hiltunen dropped 30. 30. Did I say 30? Yeah, she shines in transition and it sounds like Jen O'Briant handled the press well for 37 minutes. Big guys Reisbeck and Ariail look like they may have struggled a little with 8 and 9 pts respectively, but I imagine that is because a lot of the points were in transition, considering that they only took 6 and 7 shots each - and because Molly fouled out. Newbie Molly Brown's stat line also impressed me. 5 for 6 from the field, 3 for 4 from the stripe, 13 points, 3 rebs in 14 minutes of play? That's pretty solid.

The lesson we should all take from this - R-MC has weapons both inside and outside the paint and can make things happen when Reisbeck and Ariail aren't a huge facor. They took the #1 pre-season ranking in stride.

As far as Lynchburg is concerned - youth has a funny way of breaking in. Sometimes it takes a little time for the young guns to warm up. They'll be fine once conference play starts, but won't find themselves on top of the totem poll come March. Next year will be there year - and if they truly are #2 in the ODAC as predicted in the preseason poll, R-MC should cruise.

[hoopstermom]

Congrats to Coach Carroll LaHaye of R-MC for becoming the winningest basketball coach in history at Randolph-Macon. 

http://www.rmc.edu/News/08-11-17%20-%20News-LaHaye432.aspx

[whitecaylxx]

The W & L Generals rebuilding year seems off to a slow start.  Mary Washington defeated the Generals, 74-43.  As in the past, turnovers and shooting percentages plagued W & L.   W & L was able to hang on in the beginning, though, and it was just the opener.  The Bridgewater Eagles aren't out of the gate as strong as I thought they might be.  They have been competitive in the first halves and then they have faded away.  EMU opened strong.  What's happening down at Emory & Henry?  They certainly have a ton of girls on the roster!  Let's get this board jumping!

[eaglejacket1421]

The W&L loss to Mary Washington does not bode well for the Generals. UMW is in a rebuilding year, losing a HUGE chunk of their talent to graduation last year. The two "Katies" (Katy Larson and Kaitie Clarkin) and Ashton Mitchell are they're money three. Other than that, they're really not very deep. This might be a rough one for W&L.

[generalee]

Coach King was hoping to get a jump on Mary Washington since they had lost a bunch of talent.  It didn't work out, though.  30 points is not good

[hoopstermom]

Based on box score and story lines, VWC got off to a good start last evening beating Salisbury handily.  Will be a good early test for both them and RMC when they meet next Tuesday night at the Batten Center.  Anyone have first hand scoop of the game?

[dukeofargyle]

Go Blue - Just because you are  a "fan" doesn't mean you can't be somewhat realistic as well.  I did not say I did not wish the Generals well.   I said they would struggle with the considerable losses since the last Coaches Poll.  So bleed blue all you want - just realize the times are a changing...  Time will tell which teams makes improvement and which ones do not. 

For all you 'blue' Generals fans out there- here's the deal as I see it. W&L has real issues recruiting and will always have these in contrast with every other college in the ODAC. Not that it is impossible to recruit strong players- as we have seen in past years, but just extremely difficult to assemble a full team of exceptional talent  because of the real low admissions percentages there.

It is what it is, however. Anything can and does happen in a season. Best wishes go out to the Gennies as they begin the season.

[whitecaylxx]

I do agree the standards of admission at W & L rule out some types of players.  However, the Generals great advantage is their intelligence  - and that is an asset that can certainly be harnessed.  There are more and more smart, talented female athletes out there.  I remain unconvinced that the ODAC's other teams simply have better players.  Good luck Generals in your upcoming tournament.

[dukeofargyle]

To clarify, I believe I did not say or mean to imply that the other ODAC teams have better players. What I said is that the recruiting is necessarily a different process with the other ODAC teams. With 60% of all college applicants being women nowadays, without doubt there are many more intelligent and talented athletes that are women.  Still, the male-female ratio at W&L remains at about 50-50. By my calculations, this translates that the women are getting in at more difficult admissions percentages than the men.

You make a good point that intelligence can be an asset on the court. Still, I might point out that Basketball IQ often is not the same as excelling at organic bio.

Many factors besides these will go into the completion of a successful season with any team, however talented. As I said; it is what it is. Hopefully, the season will answer many of these questions.

[ODAC Has-been]

Let's get some predictions going for the ODAC match-ups tomorrow night...

Guilford @ Roanoke
R-MC @ Va Wes
EMU @ Lynchburg

Thoughts? Insights?

[bballmom4]

My prediction is Roanoke over Guilford; RMC over VA Wes; and EMU and Lynchburg its a toss up.  Depends on who comes to play and if the chemistry is right.  Lynchburg is capable.  It should be a great game.  Just like RMC and VA Wes Should be a great game. 

I, think, however, a lot of this board doesn't give Lynchburg the credit they are do.  They had a great cast....and sometimes you just have to let them play.

[bballmom4]

I need to restate that last sentence.  THEY HAVE  A GREAT CAST...and will for the next two years.  Let's just hope they use it.

[generalee]

The Generals lost both of their tournament games  - BUT - the new players definitely showed a great deal of promise.  I definitely think there is hope!

[whitecaylxx]

Generalee - I thought W & L was doing well the first half of the Dickinson game.  Turnovers and shooting percentages resulted in another 30 point loss.  Much better on the turnovers versus Cabrini.  I don't understand not going with your experienced players, however.  You must play your new athletes, but you need experience in tight games.

As for "Let's get some predictions going for the ODAC match-ups tomorrow night..."

Guilford @ Roanoke
R-MC @ Va Wes
EMU @ Lynchburg

I choose Roanoke, R-MC, and sorry - I'm going with EMU.  A gamble, but we'll see...