MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[jdubyadubya]

Yeah, interesting that RMC beat the Seagulls by 20+ and the Marlins lost to them by 9. The Marlins must have really been off that night but not taking anything away from Salisbury. They have become a very good team.

[SUADC]

Jackets got a BIG win at home last night v. Salisbury 77-55.  They played really well against a really good, well-coached team. 

Happy holidays & safe travels to everyone over the next couple weeks.

GO JACKETS!!!!

It was very good in the begginning, that second half was great for the Jackets, they really dominated the second half, I though at moments we could mount something, but you guys were great...Maybe we were looking a ahead to the W&M game.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Well... VWC has lost to Wesley 72-70... two straight. Ouch.

[Brian Hamilton]

I'll mention that HSC beat Wesley since there was discussion of Macon beating Salisbury. HSC up 37-17 at half over Marygrove.  Cam Anderson and Khobi Williamson have not played as well as some others who are usually in the rotation.  Merry Christmas to everyone!

[HSCDad]

H-SC 75 Marygrove 50   Williamson was out the entire first half but had about 25 points in the 2nd
half with numerous rebounds!!.

[algernon]

H-SC 75 Marygrove 50   Williamson was out the entire first half but had about 25 points in the 2nd
half with numerous rebounds!!.

Khobi scored 26 points in 12 minutes of play.   Wow.

[algernon]

Well... VWC has lost to Wesley 72-70... two straight. Ouch.

That probably drops them out of the Top 25, even though the Marlins are certainly, in my opinion, among the best 25 teams in the country. 

The Marlins' best win to date is the 14-point win over the Quakers.  Their schedule has not been quite as "cupcake" as Hampden-Sydney's has been, but the Marlins are now only 2-2 against the toughest teams they've played (Cabrini, Salisbury, Guilford, and Wesley), and none of the teams I've mentioned is currently a Top 25 team.  I doubt that any ODAC team will be in the Top 25 in the next poll, which will be based upon games through Sunday, December 30.

[DeWayneCarter]

Well... VWC has lost to Wesley 72-70... two straight. Ouch.

That probably drops them out of the Top 25, even though the Marlins are certainly, in my opinion, among the best 25 teams in the country. 

The Marlins' best win to date is the 14-point win over the Quakers.  Their schedule has not been quite as "cupcake" as Hampden-Sydney's has been, but the Marlins are now only 2-2 against the toughest teams they've played (Cabrini, Salisbury, Guilford, and Wesley), and none of the teams I've mentioned is currently a Top 25 team.  I doubt that any ODAC team will be in the Top 25 in the next poll, which will be based upon games through Sunday, December 30.

Two close losses are going to drop the current #1 out of the top 25? Highly doubt that. They obviously have some issues that need to be fixed though. I'm sure Macedo will get those guys together. They have enough talent, just have to put it all together.

[hasanova]

Well... VWC has lost to Wesley 72-70... two straight. Ouch.

That probably drops them out of the Top 25, even though the Marlins are certainly, in my opinion, among the best 25 teams in the country. 

The Marlins' best win to date is the 14-point win over the Quakers.  Their schedule has not been quite as "cupcake" as Hampden-Sydney's has been, but the Marlins are now only 2-2 against the toughest teams they've played (Cabrini, Salisbury, Guilford, and Wesley), and none of the teams I've mentioned is currently a Top 25 team.  I doubt that any ODAC team will be in the Top 25 in the next poll, which will be based upon games through Sunday, December 30.

I'd like to note that the Quakers had the lead at the half at the Batten Center.  VWC also has to visit Ragan-Brown later.

[algernon]

Two close losses are going to drop the current #1 out of the top 25? Highly doubt that. They obviously have some issues that need to be fixed though. I'm sure Macedo will get those guys together. They have enough talent, just have to put it all together.

I think that the Marlins are among the best 25 teams in the country, but that definitely won't influence the rankings ...

The Marlins will be ranked below #19 CNU, a team that lost only to #16 St. Mary's (which lost only to #15 Catholic) and has now beaten both Salisbury and Wesley.  I don't know whether the Marlins will be ranked above #25 Amherst, another team with a great national reputation that has now lost twice.

The Marlins might still get more votes than Hampden-Sydney, given their Elite Eight finish last season, but the Marlins now have 1 more loss than the Tigers, lost to a team that the Tigers beat (Wesley, at Wesley), and barely got by 2 teams that the Tigers defeated by 35+ points (Roanoke and Methodist).  If I were voting, I'd be more likely to put the Tigers at #25 than the Marlins.  At this point, it's unlikely I'd give either team a Top 25 vote, given who else is out there.

Undoubtedly, the Marlins' national ranking at this point in the season has little to do with whether they are a team of great talent that might return to Salem in late March.  It only means that, for now, they won't have the same bragging rights ... or target on their back.  Looking at their schedule, I see that they have a tough matchup on December 30 at Emory.  The worst part of the Marlins' schedule is the last 5 games of their season ... at Christopher Newport, at Eastern Mennonite, at Guilford, at Hampden-Sydney, and finally at home, vs. Lynchburg.

[yj424]

Oh come on, Algernon! The Marlins may get more votes for top 25 than hsc based upon last years Elite 8 showing? And being #1 yet again does not bring out the best in their competition?

To date the total record of Marlin competitors is 56-34. Seven of those have winning records.

I dare to think that a sydney team at 9-1, which  has played a schedule of 10 teams that have gone 33-63 even deserves a sniff at top 25.

tigers probably are the most talented team in the ODAC, yet they still have not proved anything given their schedule. I mean Marygrove?  WTH? Marygrove? Really.

[algernon]

No, the Marlins won't have quite the same target on their back once the next poll comes out and they are ranked at #20 or lower.  That might be good for them.

What the Tigers deserve isn't really the question ... The fact is that they are already ranked at #29 and will continue to move up as long as they keep winning. 

It's true that the Tigers are playing an easy schedule.  it's also true that their 9-1 record hasn't been achieved by merely squeaking by a bunch of easy teams: They are currently leading all of Division III in both scoring margin (+26.6 pts/game) and FG% (54.4%). 

How high either of these teams are ranked isn't as important as whether they win their next game.

In a season of basketball rest and good cheer, I hope that each of you has a merry holiday season!

[tigerfanalso]

With the schedule RMC has played to date, I fear they have been battle tested more so than any other ODAC team and will be ready to kick butt come January. I've not seen one game this year so I have no idea what I'm talking about, other than it seems everytime I pick up the paper RMC has played another quality team and not so with other ODAC programs. To my knowledge HSC has played two decent teams and lost to one of them; basically has run everybody else out of the gym minus the Wesley game. VWC is playing a tough out of conference schedule and will also be ready for the ODAC run. Should be another fun season in the ODAC. I see five teams having an opportunity to win the tourney. Good luck to all !!!

[hasanova]

We'll see what the 7-2 Quakers are made of this weekend during their holiday road trip to Maryville (TN).  Guilford faces the 4-4 Scots on Friday and then plays 6-2 Birmingham-Southern at Maryville on Saturday.  Go Quakers!

[hasanova]

Guilford over Maryville today in Tennessee, 73-63, with Josh Pittman scoring 18.

Quakers improve to 8-2 and Scots fall to 4-5.  Next up, Birmingham-Southern tomorrow!