MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[hasanova]

Todays games and my predictions I think some of you guys forgot what that word means 

Guilford @ Bridgewater...I think Guilford will be pumped up to beat Bridgewater and this one could turn ugly with Guilford getting the win

How right you were!  Guilford was embarrassed 71-54 when BC came to GC a few weeks back - that's a 38 point swing from tonight's margin!  The Quakers were all over the Eagles tonight at Bridgewater with a 97-76 win.  The Quakes led 54-38 at the half. 

Josh Pittman with 26 points in 24 minutes - his line was 8 of 15 from the field, 7 of 10 threes and 3 of 3 from the line.  All together, Guilford was 16 of 30 from behind the arc and that's hard to beat.  Three more Quakers, Gabriel Lowder (14), Matt McCarthy (15) and Will Freeman (15), all with solid games.  Speaking of Freeman, I think he's a guy to watch for ODAC ROY - he almost always produces.

Guilford improves to 10-5, 4-2 and Bridgewater drops to 4-10, 1-4.

[78rmc]

RMC wins its fourth game at the buzzer.

http://athletics.rmc.edu/sports/mbkb/2011-12/releases/20120112844tul

[hasanova]

RMC wins its fourth game at the buzzer.

http://athletics.rmc.edu/sports/mbkb/2011-12/releases/20120112844tul

Nice win on the road.  Looked as though EMU had it for the last shot and got it knocked away with just enough time for RMC to get across midcourt and get off a shot.  Thanks for sharing the video.  +1

Royals visit Guilford for a 3 pm game on Saturday, Jan. 14. 

[y_jack_lok]

RMC wins its fourth game at the buzzer.

http://athletics.rmc.edu/sports/mbkb/2011-12/releases/20120112844tul

In the game recap on the R-MC website it says Desgain blocked the EMU player's shot. However, from the video it looks like Desgain cut him off at the baseline but someone else, Giggets I think, blocked the shot then Simon got the loose ball and hit the buzzer beater.

[78rmc]

RMC wins its fourth game at the buzzer.

http://athletics.rmc.edu/sports/mbkb/2011-12/releases/20120112844tul

In the game recap on the R-MC website it says Desgain blocked the EMU player's shot. However, from the video it looks like Desgain cut him off at the baseline but someone else, Giggets I think, blocked the shot then Simon got the loose ball and hit the buzzer beater.

Yes, a heck of a defensive play by Desgain, who left his man on the weak side, crossed the paint and stopped the drive by the EMU player, outstanding!  Likewise, I watched it several times as I too thought that Giggetts blocked it.  But, looking closely, it seems like Desgain made him lose the handle down low first and Giggetts cleaned it up on the way up.  And a headsup play by Simon to push it up the floor and not hold it for OT.

This team may not be as talented as I would wish, but they sure are smart, and lucky.  That's four wins now with a last second desperation shot.

[donho]

  78rmc that being said, bring me to an early post this week on first half season awards. How about Nathan Davis for COY???  One point wins, four last second wins, who cares a win is a win! Ask NC State over Houston or ask Duke over UNLV!

[2RMCFans]

^ We second & third that mid-season COY nomination.

GO JACKETS!!!! 

[78rmc]

  78rmc that being said, bring me to an early post this week on first half season awards. How about Nathan Davis for COY???  One point wins, four last second wins, who cares a win is a win! Ask NC State over Houston or ask Duke over UNLV!

With all due respect to Coach Davis, whom I don't know and have never talked to, I think he should have had 'more in the tank' this year.  He had two years to live off Rhoades recruits.  I also look at the fact that of his nine recruits from the previous two years, five have left the team and only four remain.  I think you build a program by retaining kids (and it's good for the school also to keep these kids) so that you're playing Seniors and juniors, who typically win games for you.  Now, DIII is a tough retention situation, with kids having financial issues, wanting playing time, etc, but successful teams and coaches find a way to do it.  And losing over 50% of your recruits yearly isn't going to cut it.  Coach Davis is a smart man, so he's likely concerned about retention as well.  Just one man's humble opinion.

Having said that, I wish the Jackets and Coach Davis nothing but continued success!

[algernon]

My predictions for tomorrow:

Hampden-Sydney @ Bridgewater - 1:00 PM ....  Hampden-Sydney in a crusher on the road.

Roanoke @ Virginia Wesleyan - 2:00 PM ....  There's no way that the Maroons will stay close to VWC.  25-50 point differential.

Randolph-Macon @ Emory and Henry - 2:00 PM ....  It's a long way for the Yellow Jackets to travel!  Nevertheless, I expect that they'll get the win in Emory.

Eastern Mennonite @ Guilford - 3:00 PM .... This one could go either way, especially since the Royals appear to be rapidly improving over the course of this season, but I expect the home team will squeeze by.
      
Washington and Lee @ Lynchburg .... This might be another close one (and maybe not), but I expect that the Hornets will get another victory at home.

[donho]

 78rmc, you are looking at the whole picture, I am looking at just the W-L record.

[78rmc]

78rmc, you are looking at the whole picture, I am looking at just the W-L record.

Agreed, if the W-L record continues on its current projectory, then yes, Coach Davis deserves COY consideration.  And, my comments are no reflection of the players, as I think they play hard and play smart.  They're fun to watch and seem to be improving as the season progresses.  And the 8 freshmen are contributing and will do great things at RMC during their careers.  But, higher retention would negate the need to recruit such a large class.  With no knowledge as to why the 5 players left in two seasons, I just wonder if there is some common underlying reason, or is it simply five unique, unpreventable and unrelated circumstances?

[hasanova]

It's Alumni Day with a luncheon and an alumni game at Guilford tomorrow.  The Quakers have not been home since Dec. 17, so I'm hoping for a great crowd.  The Quakers certainly played better at BC Wednesday night, so I hope that momentum can continue tomorrow afternoon versus EMU. 

[y_jack_lok]

  78rmc that being said, bring me to an early post this week on first half season awards. How about Nathan Davis for COY???  One point wins, four last second wins, who cares a win is a win! Ask NC State over Houston or ask Duke over UNLV!

With all due respect to Coach Davis, whom I don't know and have never talked to, I think he should have had 'more in the tank' this year.  He had two years to live off Rhoades recruits.  I also look at the fact that of his nine recruits from the previous two years, five have left the team and only four remain.  I think you build a program by retaining kids (and it's good for the school also to keep these kids) so that you're playing Seniors and juniors, who typically win games for you.  Now, DIII is a tough retention situation, with kids having financial issues, wanting playing time, etc, but successful teams and coaches find a way to do it.  And losing over 50% of your recruits yearly isn't going to cut it.  Coach Davis is a smart man, so he's likely concerned about retention as well.  Just one man's humble opinion.

Having said that, I wish the Jackets and Coach Davis nothing but continued success!

For what it's worth, I went from my home in St. Louis to Wabash in November 2010, the start of Coach Davis' 2nd season, for the tournament R-MC played in. I met and chatted with parents of at least four players (two were seniors that year and two juniors) all of whom said their sons liked Coach Davis. In fact, that information was volunteered to me, I didn't ask for it. I'd also say that the players who were freshmen during Coach Davis' first year likely might not have been players he had a chance to recruit. Yes, two of those are gone, whatever that  means. Rhoades lost players, too. I have every confidence that Coach Davis will maintain a solid, competitive basketball program.

[2RMCFans]

Young players leave colleges for many reasons, and usually the coaches do more than anyone else to retain the ones who stay.

We think Coach Davis has built a very solid program in a short time.  Only time will tell how great a coach he is, but he's sure gotten off to a solid start.  Graduating 7 Seniors one year after a Final Four appearance is a great accomplishment & sets up a big challenge for any coach, but especially one who's still "new".  Looks like he's rising to the challenges here pretty well.

GO JACKETS!!!

[HSCDad]

HS-C 82 Bridgewater 69 but Bridgewater was in it most of the way - George and Obradovic had 14 each George had 4 fouls so not in a lot in 2nd half  Wiliamson 11/6  Anderson 13/6 and Corrigan had good game with 7 points  so bench strength really paid off thi
s afternoon