MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[coopersharpe]

I have been watching Strong play, and he is completely focussed this year, he is greatly improved, put on some weight, and grew a little and is about 6'9 1/2 now.  He does have a lot to prove though as he had as many lows as highs last year.  I just expect him to thrive with his ability to run and don't see a favorable way to guard him in the post, as his mid-range jumper is good.  Expect GC to emerge some stars this year as they have them, if they can play together. 

[mybleedinghands]

is he [ben strong] really just 220 lbs. as the guilford website says?

EMU's roster is now up. http://www.emu.edu/athletics/rosters/index.php?sport=basketball-m

[coopersharpe]

yeah maybe 225 at most, he played at about 205 last year, but banging really wasnt his game.  he is still tough to move as he knows how to position himself well.  his athleticism in my eyes makes up for his lack of weight.

[hasanova]

coopersharpe - Where is Josh Connor this year?  I know he helped Coach Palombo last year, but also knew he was looking for full-time employment.  I spoke to Coach at the RMC football game, but forgot to ask him.  I hope you heal really well and are able to play without injury next year.

[stillfamily]

scottie     mike culen is in california, he isnt coaching this year.....

[jdubyadubya]

STH - re. Aaron Smith....did he have a year if eligibility left? He graduated in May, right? Aaron is from Berryville, next to Winchester, and we kind of followed his career.

[mybleedinghands]

STH - re. Aaron Smith....did he have a year if eligibility left? He graduated in May, right? Aaron is from Berryville, next to Winchester, and we kind of followed his career.

yes he does have a year left, but he decided not to play. he's rather busy now with grad school and other things, so he didnt really have the time for basketball.

[jdubyadubya]

Scottie - I thought Aaron was a good basketball player. Where is he going to grad school?

[mybleedinghands]

Scottie - I thought Aaron was a good basketball player. Where is he going to grad school?

yeah he was good. pretty darn athletic and fast, and he was a defensive beast. he is going to grad school here at LC.

[DenbowsRoomie]

Alright, it's about time I transitioned back to some D3hoops.  Though I must say that the past few weeks have been more than entertaining on the D3football side of things.

Congrats to Bridgewater for getting another ODAC title wrapped up.  And props to W&L's team, easily their best and most exciting football group in some time.  The W&L-BC game was something special...even though the Gennies didn't win, I enjoyed being there as BC fans held their collective breath for 3 hours.

On to Generals basketball --

Obviously, my new role as grad student at JMU means that I'm not quite as close to the team this year, and so I lack my usual Generals basketball insight.  But here are my comments, all the same.

1) There's nowhere to go but up.  In a new increased-parity ODAC, the Generals record was heart-breaking last year, to say the least.  But when you hit rock-bottom, up is the only way to go.

2) Chemistry will be better this year.

3) Experience is everything.  I still think that last year's W&L team was their most talented that I had seen, but with such a young roster (in some games starting as many as 4 froshies), it became obvious that experience is just as important as talent.  Sometimes, you just have to KNOW how to win.

There are tons of other factors at play, but I feel good about W&L this year.  Femi and Greg Bieneman are phenomenal and I look for them to develop into all-ODAC players this year.  But W&L really needs Halkitis to play his game and Alex White to be healthy.

I'm not 100% sure of the roster right now and who the new players are.  More to come later.

[steelyglen]

Tim...I'm with you in that for the first time since my initial association with Bridgewater I am really on the outside looking in. Here's what I know so far...this team lost 6 Seniors and Junior Harry Moore from last years squad. There will NOT be a less experienced team in the ODAC than Bridgewater College. Early returns on the newcomers I have heard are...Kris Cecil (5-8 freshman PG) is young and small be will be star in this league before he is through...not this year mind you but before he is through! Andrew Cathlin (transfer guard) is one of BC's better athletes and has impressed in early workouts. Josh Fox will be counted on heavily by coach Bill Leatherman this season, but has been slow to adjust in the early going. He will come around but it'll take time. With 2 Freshmen, 8 Sophmores, 1 Junior and 2 Seniors, this team will take time to come together. Walk-ons may play some quality minutes this season.
Guard play will be key as Michael, Cunningham, Butler and Fox will hold their on night in and night out. But Maupin, Hopper plus newcomers Cathllin and Cecil must give Bill Leatherman quality minutes from opening tip-off if this team is going to compete.

On a basketball side note...last years ODAC Scholar-Athlete Award winner Clay Michael has been nominated for the prestigious RHODES SCHOLARSHIP...yes that Rhodes Scholarship! Hopefully he will be invited for interviews and if so will miss BC's first 2 games...but what an opportunity for Clay. Hat's off to him!

Look for BC to struggle early but hopefully get its act together as the season wears on. There is a lot of talent on campus, but it'll take time for it to gel. Bill Leatherman may have his toughest challenge since the 89-90 season.

[steelyglen]

oh by the way...just to get it off my chest early...Will the schedule makers in the ODAC at least try? Another example...BC's early January road trip from hell...

January 7th at Hampden-Sydney
January 9th Lynchburg at BC
January 11th at Virginia Wesleyan
January 14th at Emory & Henry
January 15th at Guilford

It's not even so much 5 games in 9 days although that's bad enough  , but criss-crossing the Commonwealth of Virginia from south to north then east to west then into NC and back to Va...sheesh...come guys how about a break here! That is just brutal!

[mybleedinghands]

oh by the way...just to get it off my chest early...Will the schedule makers in the ODAC at least try? Another example...BC's early January road trip from hell...

January 7th at Hampden-Sydney
January 9th Lynchburg at BC
January 11th at Virginia Wesleyan
January 14th at Emory & Henry
January 15th at Guilford

It's not even so much 5 games in 9 days although that's bad enough  , but criss-crossing the Commonwealth of Virginia from south to north then east to west then into NC and back to Va...sheesh...come guys how about a break here! That is just brutal!

LC didn't exactly get a good conference schedule either.  From Jan. 2-9 we have 4 games, and from Feb. 4-14 we have 5 games to close out the season. I wish the ODAC would have decided to use a few more Mondays and Wednesdays: 10 of our conference games are on either a Saturday or a Sunday, including two back-to-back weekends. But they did decide to stick us with another Valentine's Day game on a Tuesday!

[diehardfan]

The Terms of Service - http://www.d3sports.com/post/index.php?topic=3566.0 are pretty well-stated on this issue:

"3) ..............  POSTS IN ALL CAPS WILL BE REMOVED. Every keyboard has a shift key. Learn how to use it. Certainly your professors don't accept papers in all caps."

lol... don't you just love the terms of service... pat is hilarious 

[jdubyadubya]

I'm with you, Steely. How I'll miss those winter roadtrips. From Winchester to Emory & Henry, to Guilford and home up I-81 in a blizzard or ice storm! No one knows January roadtrips like the Marlins. That's where we got into trouble last year -- losses at E&H and Guilford. Something to work on this year.