MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[jdubyadubya]

The other thing I know the guys hated was that they have four or five home games during winter break when there are no kids on campus. I also remember a game last year at NC Wesleyan during break when there were about 20 people in the whole gym.

[steelyglen]

JWW...I know the guys hate playing in front of sparse crowds but the price you pay for that is a January crammed full of games, heavy travel, weary legs and time away from school. BC is again a prime example. The Eagles play 4 games in December. There is an entire week (Dec.8-14) when students are around but no games are played. Bridgewater is off from December 8th -December 28th but yet play 10 times in 26 days in January. Guys basically sit around and have to work out on their own. Why not schedule a couple of games during this part of December and ease back in January. There has been talk for years about extending the regular season by a week (there is a week off after the ODAC tournament before the Big Dance starts) but it would put the men's and women's ODAC tournament occurring the same weekend. SO? It would certainly ease the Jaunuary strain by having a week in February to play a couple of regular season games! Same saopbox different year! Hoops season is always the best time of year.2 1/2 weeks and counting!

[baselinejam]

How about W&L? There season opening tournament starts Friday night 11/18. Thanksgiving break starts that day as well. I doubt anyone will hang around to watch a couple of games.

[bcsportswriter]

steelyglen--any word on how Kevin Nmah is doing?  he is a long, athletic player that has the build ricky had.  He sees the floor awesome and can get to the rim, but he is a senior and this is his first time playing varsity. (he played JV for a year and has taken two years off i think)  any word if he is going to get some solid time?

[carlweathers]

JWW...I know the guys hate playing in front of sparse crowds but the price you pay for that is a January crammed full of games, heavy travel, weary legs and time away from school. BC is again a prime example. The Eagles play 4 games in December. There is an entire week (Dec.8-14) when students are around but no games are played.

Steely, there is a pretty simple answer to this.  I guessed and was correct that Bridgewater is in reading day/exams during the December week that you reference where the students are around but there are no games.  Many D3 schools don't allow athletic teams to schedule games during exams.  Not sure about Bridgewater but if I were coach I wouldn't want to play games then either. 

While crowds are always nice, as a coach I can understand why the BC staff doesn't want to mess with games during that period even if allowed.  Some schools will play a game after exams before sending the kids home for a few days but that doesn't solve your crowd problem.

[mybleedinghands]

i'd rather have zero people show up to a game than have a game or games during exam week. that week should be devoted to school and not preparing for a game.

[ladyeagle]

A few really quick notes. 

-Bridgewater played Shenandoah in two 20 minute halves and then a short 10 min period.  The first 20 min ended with Bridgewater winning (i think something like 78-70...although it's been a long day and I don't totally remember). 

-The guys played alright but really need to pick it up their aggression level.

-I think this team is going to be better than last years! ( did I really say that?!  yes i did)  I think that the fact that Bridgewater isn't going to be revolving their whole game around one guy is a big factor.  The team doesn't just look to give it to one guy.  It is gonna be good to see these guys playing more as a team and relying on everyone.

-Bridgewater has a few new freshmen that will really be big contributors.  Also, besides Nmah (who hopefully will contribute a lot...and i must say is one of the most entertaining players I've seen in a while...he had the refs laughing today) there are a few other players who either moved up from JV or are making comebacks after not playing for a while so the team isn't entirely full of freshmen.   The transfers also obviously will be a nice help (namely Josh Fox).

I can't believe it is already time for basketball....however I'm definitley ready for it. 

[steelyglen]

carlweathers...touche on the exam week and I agree...there should be no games during that week. I overlooked that ...my bad! But should school work actually interfere with basketball?   
I hope you see my point however about spreading the season out a little!

Ladyeagle...any more details on the scrimmage/ Good to see Nmah back in  the mix. How about Drew Briedenbaugh? Did he see any quality minutes? He's been out of the loop for a couple of years himself!

and 78-70 in the first 20 minute period? WOW! Were they scrimmaging Loyola Marymount or what? I know it was a typo...just giving you grief...the score is of no importance, more interested in how they looked. How was the guard play? That will be an Eagle key this year!

I'm sure Coach Leatherman was glad to see a different set of faces on the other side of the court. Now the coaching can begin in earnest.

[mybleedinghands]

I'd have to say guard play is of utmost importance for Bridgewater this year. We already know they have talented big men (Clay Michael, Dan Cunningham, Josh Fox), but will there be anyone who can get them the ball sufficiently?? If not, then the Eagles are gonna have one long season surely full of defensive presses and traps that will cause loads of turnovers. Just absed on what they have returning from last year (hopper, antes, maupin, weyl), I don't see anyone other than possibly maupin - who i'm not sold on as te answer - that could get the job done at the guard positions.

[3sdown]

Steely-

I vote for you as Commissioner.  And I agree with you about Chris Cecil.  He is a solid point guard with tons of heart.  Came out of Amherst County High School I believe and was a very good player there.  He will contribute eventually at Bridgewater and may do so earlier than thought.  Smart and well-grounded kid.  No non-sense and may be a real asset due to those characteristics. 

[baselinejam]

The Generals scrimmage Southern Virginia this evening at 6:15. 7 new faces and the return of Alex White (after missing the last 22 games of last season with a broken leg). Good Luck and have a great season. W&L has no place to go but up!

[baselinejam]

Does anyone know when Bridgewater & Roanoke will post their rosters?

[ladyeagle]

ooo i am so sorry...i was typing that up quick last night.  it was definitely the the score after the two 20 minute halves.  Anyway....

Drew Briedenbaugh actually started last night and saw a good amount of minutes.  Although he may have been out of comission the last few years, he should be able to add a lot to the team.  He has worked hard to earn a spot on the team for his final year at BC and is well deserving of it.

Weyl and Antes left the team.  (I think Antes is actually going to be playing baseball instead this year) So there goes a few guards.  Cecil has the potential to develop into a pretty good guard but I don't think that he will be the only answer for the guard position.  Maupin and Nmah will definitely see some minutes as well as possibly Va Wesleyan transfer Ryan Glover. 

No clue when rosters will be up.  Coach Leatherman may stll be figuring out if a few of the guys will be seeing some JV time and stuff so I would give it at least another week or so.

[steelyglen]

Ladyeagle...besides Steve Cox does little with the basketball webpage until regular season football is over. We still know who rules the roost  there...Glad to hear some good things about Drew...Good kid and glad to see him putting his heart into hoops. The ability has always been there! Cathlin, Cecil and Nmah will have to contribute much earlier that Coach Leatherman had hoped. I don't think that weyl and Antes would have ever smelled the floor anyway. Maupin is solid and although not a point guard by trade held things together last year while Durrette healed. Jeremy Hopper will lend some good depth there as well!

3sdown...figured you'd have some good insight on Cecil. I have heard good things about him. As for Commissioner when do I start?  Brad Bankston is a good guy and does a really fine job there in Roanoke. Not an easy job I am sure...but my suggestion would be to get the coaches back involved in conference scheduling! tick tock tick tock on the regular season!

[steelyglen]

Coaches pre-season poll is out...not much in the way of surprises here. EMU getting some upper division love finally and deservedly so with what they return.The usual 4 lead the way...anybody wanna wager that RC and moonpie that it doesn't finish this way?

1.         Virginia Wesleyan                95 (6)
2.         Randolph-Macon                  90 (3)
3.         Hampden-Sydney                75 (1)
4.         Roanoke                             56
5.         Eastern Mennonite               55
6.         Guilford                               49
7.         Bridgewater                         48
8.         Lynchburg                           36
9          Emory and Henry                 30
10.        Washington and Lee            11

One very nice feature this year if you go to the ODAC website (www.odacline.com/mbball) or go through the Bridgewater basketball page and click on the ODAC icon (I guess all of the schools have an ODAC link)...they have audio from each of the head coaches talking about their respective teams. Very nicely done ODAC office.