MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Brian Hamilton]

Jacketlawyer,

I wasn't there but I did listen.  It sounded like HSC had three problems.  The first was shooting.  Over the past four games their jump shots have not been falling.  That allows teams to focus on Kaase and the other big men which makes it even more difficult to score.  Second and third are rebounding and loose balls.  From listening it appeared that VWC was just quicker to the ball and had things go there way a couple of times.  The Tigers really let the game get away from them in the final 2-3 minutes of the first half.  They were able to keep the game close for about 15-16 minutes with Kaase in foul trouble in the 1st half, but Wesleyan pushed the lead to 8 right before halftime with a shot at the buzzer.  The Tiger's youth showed itself in the final few minutes with a few turnovers.  While 8 points is not impossible to overcome, it seemed that VWC had an answer for every run that HSC tried to make.  VWC did a good job of extending the 8 point lead to 12-14 at the beginning of the 2nd half.  Once again though, if HSC could have made some of their shots they would have been able to get back in it.  

The Tiger's offense is really struggling right now, but it appears that the defensive intensity was higher last night than in previous games.  The Tiger's won't remain in this slump forever, but I certainly hope that they can get out of it soon.  Emory is not an easy place to play and the game at Guilford next week could be huge.

[FISHTANKFAN]

 I listened to the VWC- HSC game on the internet last night and I have never heard such contradictory remarks about  why HSC lost and VWC won.  It's as if the announcers were forced to say that VWC played a better game and even though they won, the announcers were not impressed at all.  They basically refused to give any credit to VWC.  I expected bias but was not prepared for the amount of it shown to HSC and against VWC.  Oh well it doesn't matter really because the Marlins won.  

[hasanova]

... and the game at Guilford next week could be huge.

"... could be..."?  I think it definitely is huge.  OK, Guilfordians, let's put some fans in the stands on January 25th!  I believe 3rd place will be up for grabs and that's an important spot as we get closer to the ODAC tournament.  Hold that Tiger!  Go Quakers! 

[tigerfanalso]

Third Place is absolutely up for grabs and the next two games are huge for the Tigers... @ Emory and @ Guillford... Both places will be difficult for the Tigers to win, but must wins if they are to finish third in the regular season as they still must go to Macon, to EMU, to Lynchburg and play a fairly decent Bridgewater team at home. Maybe the Emory game will get them out of their offensive slump since the defensive pressure will not be as great. If they can score points their confidence might return.

One thing I noticed last nite that does not bode well... The players were scolding each other last nite after a turnover was committed... not with words but with looks... something I have seen before and not condusive to team chemistry

[eagleslam]

Speaking of pro athletes from the ODAC, David Branshaw from Bridgewater is currently on the PGA Tour.  He earned his card through Q-School for the 2004 season, but did not earn enough money for 2005.  Last year, he finished 7th on the Nationwide Money List.  He finished T-36th at last week's Sony Open.

[hasanova]

Third Place is absolutely up for grabs and the next two games are huge for the Tigers... @ Emory and @ Guillford... Both places will be difficult for the Tigers to win, but must wins if they are to finish third in the regular season as they still must go to Macon, to EMU, to Lynchburg and play a fairly decent Bridgewater team at home. Maybe the Emory game will get them out of their offensive slump since the defensive pressure will not be as great. If they can score points their confidence might return.

One thing I noticed last nite that does not bode well... The players were scolding each other last nite after a turnover was committed... not with words but with looks... something I have seen before and not condusive to team chemistry

For whatever scheduling reason, Guilford and Hampden-Sydney have not yet met this year, so there is a game in Ragan-Brown next week and one later at the Fleet Center.  I think both will be big games!

[tigerfanalso]

No question HSC will be tested at home by Guilford. I firmly believe that every game remaing on HSC's schedule will be highly competitive; not one is a layup. There are only two teams in the ODAC that are heads above the rest; VWC and RMC and it appears VWC has an advantage at this time with their win in Ashland. Either way, RMC & VWC should play each other for the regular season title whenever they get together @ the beach. I don't see any other team in the ODAC beating either of those two in the regular season unless a key player is injuried or otherwise out.

[hasanova]

No question HSC will be tested at home by Guilford. I firmly believe that every game remaing on HSC's schedule will be highly competitive; not one is a layup. There are only two teams in the ODAC that are heads above the rest; VWC and RMC and it appears VWC has an advantage at this time with their win in Ashland. Either way, RMC & VWC should play each other for the regular season title whenever they get together @ the beach. I don't see any other team in the ODAC beating either of those two in the regular season unless a key player is injuried or otherwise out.

Well, maybe, but GC took RMC to OT in Ashland on the recent RMC/VWC weekend road trip from "you know where."  On the second day, Guilford was really flat at VWC, but the Quakers did beat both teams in Greensboro last season.   In December and early January, GC went through a tough 7-game stretch where almost nothing seemed to go right, but they now appear to be playing good ball.  I'm not saying the Quakers will contend for the ODAC title ( I agree that RMC and VWC are in the drivers' seats), but I am not conceding any game to anyone in the league in the second half of the season.   I think the Quakers are "capable" of beating any ODAC team on a given day.

[hasanova]

Speaking of pro athletes from the ODAC, David Branshaw from Bridgewater is currently on the PGA Tour.  He earned his card through Q-School for the 2004 season, but did not earn enough money for 2005.  Last year, he finished 7th on the Nationwide Money List.  He finished T-36th at last week's Sony Open.

Thanks again!  I've really enjoyed reading and learning about these ODAC athletes.  I'll look for David's name (and others) in the future.

[Jacketlawyer]

Thanks for the analysis, Brian.  Good stuff.

[tigerfanalso]

Hasanova

Guilford has certainly played better basketball since their poor start to the season and do  have the talent to win on any given night. They very well may beat RMC & VWC @ home, I sort of hope they do because that could potentially improve HSC's tournament seeding, but I'm not counting on it. Good luck the remainder of the year, except for on the 25th.

[hasanova]

Hasanova

Guilford has certainly played better basketball since their poor start to the season and do  have the talent to win on any given night. They very well may beat RMC & VWC @ home, I sort of hope they do because that could potentially improve HSC's tournament seeding, but I'm not counting on it. Good luck the remainder of the year, except for on the 25th.

Thanks.  I understand your January 25th exclusion completely.  You failed to mention Feb. 8, so may I assume it's OK if we play well that day in the Fleet Center?  lol 

Speaking of Guilford's slow start, they were actually 4-1, having only lost to a highly ranked NAIA team on the road in Florida.  Then they lost their 6th game, as I expected, to DI Elon on the road.  The surprise to me, however, was losing to W&L at Lexington two days later.  Certainly, the Generals are improved this year, but some Guilford insiders told me the Quakers might have been a bit overconfident.  Granted, Bienemann shot lights out that night, but I think Guilford overall is a better team.  The rest of the 7-game losing streak was a mixed bag.  Ohio Dominican is a scholarship NAIA program that could not miss the day we played them and I think we let one get away the next day versus Heidelberg.  Both these games came after a 22 day layoff from the W&L game on Dec. 7 to Dec. 29.  Ohio Dominican and Heidelberg, on the other hand, had played some more recent games.  Then came Averett, a team that's playing very well, and the RMC/VWC weekend road trip.  A lot of teams could have stumbled with those three in a row.  I've said it before, but Guilford, to me, is a better DIII team than their 8-8 record might indicate.  I think they did some soul-searching and had a "come to Jesus" meeting before their road game at Roanoke and they've now rattled off 4 wins in a row.   Funny, but 10-6, 7-2 sounds so much more successful than 8-8, 6-3.  Anyway, to make a long story short, I like how they're playing right now as we move into the 2nd half of the ODAC schedule.  It should be fun!

[tigerfanalso]

Hasanova

Feb 8th is included in my exclusion I just didn't know the date of the game. Outside of my exclusion, play well and enjoy the balance of the season !!!!

[hasanova]

Hasanova

Feb 8th is included in my exclusion I just didn't know the date of the game. Outside of my exclusion, play well and enjoy the balance of the season !!!!

Thanks, you too.  I'll be in Ragan-Brown next Wednesday.  I'm already looking forward to the game!

[stillfamily]

Just in case i forgot to pick...here they are for the weekend...

Saturday, January 21
Eastern Mennonite @ Bridgewater    EMU
Hampden-Sydney @ Emory & Henry  EH
Guilford @ Lynchburg   GC
Roanoke @ Randolph-Macon  RMC
Washington & Lee @ Virginia Wesleyan  VWC

Sunday, January 22
Washington & Lee @ Randolph-Macon   RMC
Roanoke @ Virginia Wesleyan   VWC