MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[78rmc]

78 RMC--Thanks for your notes!!  As for my picks, I'll be happy to be wrong any day of the week!!

If Wansley is out, having a game against LC and a week's preparation will give Coach time to refocus and have this team ready for the weekend.

[jdubyadubya]

Fishtankfan - that's because we have the rep as the "thugs from the beach" and that doesn't exactly fit into the elite of RMC, HSC, or Roanoke. It's always been that way and I don't see it ever changing. And, by the way Tigerfanalso, I guess you haven't seen a VWC game yet...reference to poor shooting. Attend a Marlins game when Adair, Balenga, and Fantin are shooting the ball well. Sorry you don't like ODCA basketball.

[Jacketlawyer]

FTF and JWW:

Not all of us think VWC are the "thugs from the beach."  Personally I do not.  Lambeth Clarke (former VWC president) was a good friend of my family, and I've known plenty of great people who went to VWC.

I would modestly assert that since VWC's founding date is 1961, there just aren't as many alumni/fan numbers for the Marlins as there are for those "elite" schools you mentioned.

ANYHOO, not trying to start an international incident here.  If VWC is the only school from the ODAC to go to the NCAAs, I will certainly pull for them.

But until then, I won't.

[tigerfanalso]

Jdubyadubya

I have seen VWC play and I can't say I was overly impressed but I think they are certainly one of the best teams in the conference again this year. I do like ODAC b'ball and for you to say otherwise is laughable. I attend ODAC games at other schools when HSC is on the road I like it so much. I'm still waiting to see a well played game. Maybe that will happen in the tournament !!!!

[rip08]

JWW - The only person I've heard refer to VWC as "thugs from the beach" is you over and over again.  Give it a rest, please.  You guys are the ODAC champs.  Great team last year and looking to be a great team this year. 

[baselinejam]

FTF and JWW:

Not all of us think VWC are the "thugs from the beach."  Personally I do not.  Lambeth Clarke (former VWC president) was a good friend of my family, and I've known plenty of great people who went to VWC.

I would modestly assert that since VWC's founding date is 1961, there just aren't as many alumni/fan numbers for the Marlins as there are for those "elite" schools you mentioned.

ANYHOO, not trying to start an international incident here.  If VWC is the only school from the ODAC to go to the NCAAs, I will certainly pull for them.

But until then, I won't.

This is only my 2nd seasson posting here. Since I'm a relative newcomer,  I really don't understand the "thugs at the beach" thing.  VW seems to have a good coach, good athletes and a good team. Is this some sort of 'chip on the shoulder' ploy to get the us a against them motivation tool working?

I haven't had the pleasure of watching the Marlins. Maybe I can get to Salem and see them. I have seen a few other teams that like to compensate with lack of defensive skill with a lot of grabbing and holding etc(hardly thugish). And I think I saw 1 really strange player at BC who seemed overly impressed with himself (more laughable than thugish). So is the rap on VW imagined or accurate?

[Jacketlawyer]

Baselinejam:

I think it's imagined.  I watched VWC beat us last year in the ODAC championship game in Salem, and they're one good team.  Lots of good talent.

[hasanova]

If any d3hoops posters and fans of the Tigers, Marlins and Yellowjackets are coming to Guilford Jan. 25, 28 and 29, respectively, please let me know, I'd like to say hello.   I'll even be glad to give you a 50 cent tour if you'd like. 

[tigerfanalso]

Why argue about VWC being referred to as "Thugs". I've been around the ODAC for along time and I've never heard anyone refer to that, in fact, never heard a cross word about them, never seen players from VWC act poorly or unsportsmanlike and I certainly have nothing but respect for that program. Great coach, with good talent year to year with players that represent the school well and they represent the ODAC well when they play outside of the conference. Leave it alone and go to the next topic!!

[Jacketlawyer]

If any d3hoops posters and fans of the Tigers, Marlins and Yellowjackets are coming to Guilford Jan. 25, 28 and 29, respectively, please let me know, I'd like to say hello.   I'll even be glad to give you a 50 cent tour if you'd like. 

I'm still planning to make the trip, Hasanova, unless visiting family makes it too difficult to get away.  If I don't see you, then I hope to, in a few weeks, at the A-SC.

[dmillio44]

I graduated from VWC back in 2002, and have followed the Marlins as best as I can since then.  Since I've been following ODAC hoops, I have noticed the perception of VWC that has been noted by several other posters regarding this subject.The "thugs from the beach" thing is not made up.  The term "thug" was used to describe certain Marlins' players that played in the last several years, including a certain player who shall remain nameless at this point. 

[hasanova]

If any d3hoops posters and fans of the Tigers, Marlins and Yellowjackets are coming to Guilford Jan. 25, 28 and 29, respectively, please let me know, I'd like to say hello.   I'll even be glad to give you a 50 cent tour if you'd like. 

I'm still planning to make the trip, Hasanova, unless visiting family makes it too difficult to get away.  If I don't see you, then I hope to, in a few weeks, at the A-SC.

I understand - I hope you make the Jan. 29 trip to Guilford and, if not, see you on Feb. 18 at the A-SC.  Do you need directions?  I assume you'll be coming to Greensboro on US 29.

[coopersharpe]

I don't post often on this website although I read it frequently.  I was wondering with the season just over half finished what were your choices for 1st and 2nd team all-odac, and coach of the year.  My fist team is super filled with big men, and I was curious what everyone else says. 

p.s.-  How difficult is it to leave off GC's Ben Strong as well as he has been playing?

[hasanova]

I don't post often on this website although I read it frequently.  I was wondering with the season just over half finished what were your choices for 1st and 2nd team all-odac, and coach of the year.  My fist team is super filled with big men, and I was curious what everyone else says. 

p.s.-  How difficult is it to leave off GC's Ben Strong as well as he has been playing?

If you read this site often, I'm sure you saw some of the comparisons Eagleslam and I were making a week or so ago.  Since Ben has now been selected ODAC POW for the 3rd time this season and is 2nd in ppg, 1st in blocks, 2nd in FG %, etc., I think he has solidified the rationale that he should be 1st Team All-ODAC.  I realize the E&H style of play aided his cause, but he was 14 of 16 from the floor and scored 30 against the Wasps!  Granted, some were dunks and lay-ups, but he also hit several nice jumpers.  His blocks and rebounds were also up in the LC game.  As of today, I think he has to be in the top 5 in the league.  It should be very interesting to see how he - and the team - does Wednesday night against H-SC.  I even have a good friend from New Bern - a Hampden-Sydney alumnus - visiting Wednesday night to see the game before continuing a business trip.  It should be fun!

By the way, I hope your injury has healed nicely so you can resume play next year.       

[justafan02]

I think that the question to why VWC isn't mentioned much has been nailed by some posters..  It is true that VWC is a young college with not much alumni base and/or support.  I have found that there isn't much support for basketball or any other athletic program at VWC for students, alumni or the surrounding area.  When the Batten Center first opened up, and VWC was a mediocre basketball team, it was very difficult to play there.  NO one wanted to play at the beach.  The first two years there was pretty much standing room only and now the stands are like picket fences.  I think the administration has tightened the reins and students are scolded for heckling other teams or making a bunch of noise.  The "fun" for the fan isn't there.  That is where VWC is a lot different from other ODAC schools who seem to pack gyms when their teams are successful. 

On another note, I believe there isn't much talk about VWC's success on the board because everyone is waiting for VWC to start playing poorly.  Every year the Marlins have a 10/12 game winning streak and then go on to lose 3 of 4 etc. and other than the last two seasons they haven't made much noise when it counted.

The "thugs from the beach" is a true stereotype of VWC.  It isn't a sterotype on bad behavior or lack of class, because Macedo and co. run a top notch, class act program.  But the stereotype is based more on image.  What I mean by image is the hip hop style athletes that VWC typically has, and I am not referring to just the black players (so don't say I am trying to turn this into a racial thing), compared to the rest of the ODAC.  Macedo goes out and gets the best athletes who happen to be good basketball players.  That is just my opinion and I am sure that will stir up another cat fight somewhere on here.