MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[cnufan]

And VWC could play CNU if they pull out two wins this weekend over Lincoln and the Alvernia/Messiah winner. The Capts could be in the Fish Tank the following weekend. But I dont want to get ahead of myself, gotta get Lincoln first, a team CNU lost too 114-112 in OT in Myrtle Beach. Should be exciting.

[oldfish]

Anyone have any info on Ursinus OR Farmingdale?  I tried going over to the CC and Skyline Conf. boards to get some info but no one really posts there.  I saw that Ursinus has 5 seniors and have been to the tourney before but never won a game.

Sorry to see RMC get such a tough draw.  It just doesnt make any sense from RMC or Wooster's perspective.  RMC, as an at-large team would certainly be the equivalent of a 7-10 seed in the Div. I tourney.  Why do they have to play a #2 seed???  And if I was wooster, I wouldn't be any happier b/c they have had a great season and as a reward get to play a tough RMC team in the first round?

[hasanova]

Anyone have any info on Ursinus OR Farmingdale?  I tried going over to the CC and Skyline Conf. boards to get some info but no one really posts there.  I saw that Ursinus has 5 seniors and have been to the tourney before but never won a game.

Sorry to see RMC get such a tough draw.  It just doesnt make any sense from RMC or Wooster's perspective.  RMC, as an at-large team would certainly be the equivalent of a 7-10 seed in the Div. I tourney.  Why do they have to play a #2 seed???  And if I was wooster, I wouldn't be any happier b/c they have had a great season and as a reward get to play a tough RMC team in the first round?

You're right, it wouldn't happen that way in DI.  Not sure if it's strictly due to DIII's under 500-mile rule, but it looks that way.   

[Jacketlawyer]

You're right, it wouldn't happen that way in DI.  Not sure if it's strictly due to DIII's under 500-mile rule, but it looks that way.   

I knew R-M's first round wouldn't be against a cupcake.  Somebody posted earlier this year that a match-up between R-M and Wooster would be good.  Looks like he got his wish.

Yep, 494 miles. . . don't get me started.

[hasanova]

FYI From a common opponents perspective, the College of Wooster defeated E&H at Emory early in the season 150-101 while RMC split with the Wasps, winning 104-89 in Ashland and losing 101-89 in Emory.

[njlincolnlion]

Goose13:

I'm glad CNU is coming to Lincoln, instead of playing on a neutral court with 15 fans (Myrtle Beach).  It shouls be a good game between the Lions and the Captains.  I'm hoping the "Lion Faithful will fill up 2,500 seat Rivero Hall.



To the R-MC fans, good luck in the NCAA's.  I appreciate the fact that R-MC plaed Lincoln twice this season (which basically amounted to a home & home).  Being an independent makes it difficult to get teams to play at there sites.  R-MC is a classy institution.

[Vanilla24COW]

Probably the main reason that Wooster did not host or get a bye is because they have lost 2 of their last 4 games. They lost the NCAC championship to Wittenberg in a closely contested game 71-69. What style of play does Randolph Macon use? I can remember playing against Hampden Sydney a few years ago and the pressing up tempo style, and from looking at a few of RM scores it appears that they use a uptempo style, is this correct? As a Wooster fan it is too bad that 2 ranked schools meet in the first round but at the same time both programs have had a lot of success in the past 10 years or so and I think it will be a very competitive game between 2 of the top programs in D3 hoops. Good luck to all teams in the tourney and may the best team cut the nets down in salem (although sometimes its the team that gets the most bounces)

[cnufan]

Goose13:

I'm glad CNU is coming to Lincoln, instead of playing on a neutral court with 15 fans (Myrtle Beach).  It shouls be a good game between the Lions and the Captains.  I'm hoping the "Lion Faithful will fill up 2,500 seat Rivero Hall.



To the R-MC fans, good luck in the NCAA's.  I appreciate the fact that R-MC plaed Lincoln twice this season (which basically amounted to a home & home).  Being an independent makes it difficult to get teams to play at there sites.  R-MC is a classy institution.

Will the students remain there?? I hear spring break starts Friday.

[njlincolnlion]

Goose13:

I'm glad CNU is coming to Lincoln, instead of playing on a neutral court with 15 fans (Myrtle Beach).  It should be a good game between the Lions and the Captains.  I'm hoping the "Lion Faithful will fill up 2,500 seat Rivero Hall.



To the R-MC fans, good luck in the NCAA's.  I appreciate the fact that R-MC plaed Lincoln twice this season (which basically amounted to a home & home).  Being an independent makes it difficult to get teams to play at there sites.  R-MC is a classy institution.

[3sdown]

Probably the main reason that Wooster did not host or get a bye is because they have lost 2 of their last 4 games. They lost the NCAC championship to Wittenberg in a closely contested game 71-69. What style of play does Randolph Macon use? I can remember playing against Hampden Sydney a few years ago and the pressing up tempo style, and from looking at a few of RM scores it appears that they use a uptempo style, is this correct? As a Wooster fan it is too bad that 2 ranked schools meet in the first round but at the same time both programs have had a lot of success in the past 10 years or so and I think it will be a very competitive game between 2 of the top programs in D3 hoops. Good luck to all teams in the tourney and may the best team cut the nets down in salem (although sometimes its the team that gets the most bounces)

Wouldn't call RMC's pace up-tempo.  However, they are a rather efficient offensive team.  THey will play good sound man-to-man defense for the most part.  The guards are young up front, but have played solidly for Coach Rhoades over the close of the season, especially in the ODAC Championship Game against VWC.  Don't know what Wooster has in the frontcourt, but Macon is solid there with Wansley and Hawley leading the way, but with several solid bodies coming off the bench to fill time.  Gill, a senior 2 guard, really stepped it up in the ODAC tournament and will need to continue to provide inspiration in the backcourt...However, the players in the backcourt are streaky and can shoot the ball rather well (Krovic, Sutherland, Carlson (ODAC FOY), and others) although over the course of the year the guard play has been inconsistent, mostly due to youth.  The freshman point guards are solid and have gotten extremely better over the season.  Overall RMC has improved (especially the guard play) over the course of the year and the team is coming off one of its strongest outings all year (Championship Game against VWC) although that particular game was a lost. 

This RMC team could really put together a streak of games, especially if the guard play continues as it did in the ODAC tournament.  And the team commits to playing 40 minutes of solid defense.  Don't know what Wooster has in terms of personnel...However, VWC has been the toughest match-up for RMC all year (losing 3 times)...Curious as to how similar Wooster is to VWC?

 

[fighting_scots]

Curious as to how similar Wooster is to VWC?

Not having seen VWC play, I would say that based purely on the numbers, VWC and Wooster are a very similar team--Woo starts Port 6'5 and Vandervaart 6'6, and a trio of guards 6' to 6'3.  While VWC has a couple of bigs, it doesn't appear that they make much of an impact.  Wooster also has strong bench play, going 9 deep, and it appears that VWC pretty much plays 5-7 on any given night.

Again, #s are just that--#s.  Seeing the athletic abilities and other intangibles of the respective players would tell the tale--

Only one common opponent--E & H--VWC 2-0. Scots 1-0 (150-101 in the Championship game of E & H's holiday tourney)

It should be an interesting matchup--they came to Wooster a couple of years back for a tourney but the marquee matchup (RMC vs. Woo) never happened due to an upset of RMC in the first round--

Looking forward to an exciting opening game on Friday in Lexington--

GO SCOTS!

[David Collinge]

...and so we meet again.   

The last time I was in here, Scottie was only in the -20s, which means I've been away for, well, several weeks at least.    I first started posting here because of a Wooster/ODAC tournament matchup (the game vs. Sydney 6 or 7 years ago), and now another ODAC game brings me back.  I only hope that Friday's game is as good as I remember that COW/HSC game was. 

Wooster has been slumping a bit lately, losing to Ohio Wesleyan in the last game of the regular season, and to Wittenberg in the conference championship game.  In both cases, the Scots mounted a furious last-minute comeback and had a chance to tie when the horn sounded (against OWU, the tying three went in and came back out; against Witt, the tying tap play was just too difficult to execute.)  So while they are not on their best form, they're still a pretty good team with a lot of weapons.

On offense, the Scots are perimeter-oriented--a big difference from the COW/HSC third-place game, to which Vanilla24COW refers, when we pounded the ball inside as often as possible. Back then our only perimeter threat was Vanilla24COW himself.  We now have four starters and two key reserves who shoot in the 40% range from three; several of them have been in prolonged slumps, dropping their percentages into the high 30s, but two others are still over 50% for the season (Andy Van Horn, starter at the 3, is 35/66, and Devin Fulk, reserve at 2/3, is 55/105.)  Our point guard (Kyle Witucky) has started every game in his collegiate career, and is close to setting the D3 record for games played.  He's the only senior in the rotation.  The key offensive players are 6'5" Tom Port (4) and 6'0" James Cooper (2).  Cooper is a slasher and shooter who has a very effective jump-stop.  Port can do it all: shoot, drive, rebound, dish.  He's a poor man's Justin Wansley.  Down low is 6'6" Tim Vandervaart, who is improving as an offensive player and a very good rebounder, despite being one of the smaller centers in our league.  These three score 19.4, 15.4, and 14.6 per game, respectively.

On defense, the Scots play man; always have, always will.  Port and Vandervaart do the inside work, where they usualy give up some size.  Van Horn and Witucky are good stoppers on the other team's guards or small forwards.  Cooper is, well, an offensive player.  But freshman Brandon Johnson, the reserve point, is a very quick defender who has excellent hands and ball instincts.  He's second on the team in steals, as well as 4th in scoring at 9.6 ppg. 

Expect Wansley to have a big numbers game.  The game plan when there's a dominating big man (ala Baldwin-Wallace or Wittenberg) is to do as well as you can on him without doubling down, and take out the other weapons.  So B-W's Tori Davis and Witt's twin towers of Dan Russ and Dane Borchers have had career games against the Scots, but Wooster is 2-2 in those games, losing to B-W in 2 OTs and to Witt by 2. 

If Wooster is able to find the open man on offense, and hit the open shot, they'll be tough to beat.  If RMC can take away the 3-ball like OWU and Witt did this past week, or if the shots aren't falling, it could be a long night for the Scots.

[3sdown]

Curious as to how similar Wooster is to VWC?

Not having seen VWC play, I would say that based purely on the numbers, VWC and Wooster are a very similar team--Woo starts Port 6'5 and Vandervaart 6'6, and a trio of guards 6' to 6'3.  While VWC has a couple of bigs, it doesn't appear that they make much of an impact.  Wooster also has strong bench play, going 9 deep, and it appears that VWC pretty much plays 5-7 on any given night.

Again, #s are just that--#s.  Seeing the athletic abilities and other intangibles of the respective players would tell the tale--

Only one common opponent--E & H--VWC 2-0. Scots 1-0 (150-101 in the Championship game of E & H's holiday tourney)

It should be an interesting matchup--they came to Wooster a couple of years back for a tourney but the marquee matchup (RMC vs. Woo) never happened due to an upset of RMC in the first round--

Looking forward to an exciting opening game on Friday in Lexington--

GO SCOTS!

Yeah, I was with RMC the year we visited Wooster with a young team...And we lost in the 1st game.  Hopefully the story will be different this time around for the Yellow Jackets!

Curious...How good are the "Bigs" at shooting outside and stretching defenses?  In my opinion, this will have a big effect on the game for RMC.  Additionally, the guards for Wooster appear to be "bigger" than RMC's guard.  Traditional Mid-West Guards sounds like to me...That also could be an issue for RMC.

[3sdown]

...and so we meet again.   

The last time I was in here, Scottie was only in the -20s, which means I've been away for, well, several weeks at least.    I first started posting here because of a Wooster/ODAC tournament matchup (the game vs. Sydney 6 or 7 years ago), and now another ODAC game brings me back.  I only hope that Friday's game is as good as I remember that COW/HSC game was. 

Wooster has been slumping a bit lately, losing to Ohio Wesleyan in the last game of the regular season, and to Wittenberg in the conference championship game.  In both cases, the Scots mounted a furious last-minute comeback and had a chance to tie when the horn sounded (against OWU, the tying three went in and came back out; against Witt, the tying tap play was just too difficult to execute.)  So while they are not on their best form, they're still a pretty good team with a lot of weapons.

On offense, the Scots are perimeter-oriented--a big difference from the COW/HSC third-place game, to which Vanilla24COW refers, when we pounded the ball inside as often as possible. Back then our only perimeter threat was Vanilla24COW himself.  We now have four starters and two key reserves who shoot in the 40% range from three; several of them have been in prolonged slumps, dropping their percentages into the high 30s, but two others are still over 50% for the season (Andy Van Horn, starter at the 3, is 35/66, and Devin Fulk, reserve at 2/3, is 55/105.)  Our point guard (Kyle Witucky) has started every game in his collegiate career, and is close to setting the D3 record for games played.  He's the only senior in the rotation.  The key offensive players are 6'5" Tom Port (4) and 6'0" James Cooper (2).  Cooper is a slasher and shooter who has a very effective jump-stop.  Port can do it all: shoot, drive, rebound, dish.  He's a poor man's Justin Wansley.  Down low is 6'6" Tim Vandervaart, who is improving as an offensive player and a very good rebounder, despite being one of the smaller centers in our league.  These three score 19.4, 15.4, and 14.6 per game, respectively.

On defense, the Scots play man; always have, always will.  Port and Vandervaart do the inside work, where they usualy give up some size.  Van Horn and Witucky are good stoppers on the other team's guards or small forwards.  Cooper is, well, an offensive player.  But freshman Brandon Johnson, the reserve point, is a very quick defender who has excellent hands and ball instincts.  He's second on the team in steals, as well as 4th in scoring at 9.6 ppg. 

Expect Wansley to have a big numbers game.  The game plan when there's a dominating big man (ala Baldwin-Wallace or Wittenberg) is to do as well as you can on him without doubling down, and take out the other weapons.  So B-W's Tori Davis and Witt's twin towers of Dan Russ and Dane Borchers have had career games against the Scots, but Wooster is 2-2 in those games, losing to B-W in 2 OTs and to Witt by 2. 

If Wooster is able to find the open man on offense, and hit the open shot, they'll be tough to beat.  If RMC can take away the 3-ball like OWU and Witt did this past week, or if the shots aren't falling, it could be a long night for the Scots.

Really sounds like this game for RMC is going to depend upon the ability of RMC's guards to play defense.  Additionally, a senior (and very experienced) Wooster Pt. Guard against 2 freshmen point guards for RMC could be a factor.  And it doesn't sound like Wooster has a 4 man (that is big) that can step out and it a "3."  However, Port does scare me a bit with the type of game he apparently plays.  However, the Scots not having a traditional 4 man that can shoot 3s may be a blessing for RMC since RMC has had trouble with this type of player, especially VWC.  Evan Will appears to be  another big body for Wooster and is 9-18 from 3 land...So he may be a factor for Wooster. 

However, Hawley and Wansley may be a handful it sounds like for Wooster down low.  But, again I think it is going to come down to the ability of RMC's guards to handle the pressure and then play solid defense against Wooster's guards.  Sounds like it is going to be an interesting game. 

Which coach will force the other out of its game.  For example, if Tom Port is the 2nd biggest kid on Wooster team put plays more of a "3" game then how will Wansley and Hawley play together?  Or will Wansley have to guard Port with Hawley on Vandervart?  On the flip side how will the Scots matchup against Hawley and Wansley when they are on the floor together?  Can the guards for RMC control the tempo for RMC and run the show?  And one guard for RMC must step up and have a 15 point game...Maybe Sutherland, Krovic, Gill, or Carlson? 

Just sounds like a great game with all kinds of interesting tactical ploys for the coaches.  Bigs playing smalls.  Smalls play bigs.  RMC must start inside and then go outside.  Wooster will start outside and then go in.  Great match-up it sounds like.  Good luck to the Jackets.

[algernon]

I first started posting here because of a Wooster/ODAC tournament matchup (the game vs. Sydney 6 or 7 years ago), and now another ODAC game brings me back.  I only hope that Friday's game is as good as I remember that COW/HSC game was.

Yes, that was a good game -- close until the very end.  Your sense of time is a bit off, though, as it was less than 3 years ago, in March 2003.  Wooster's seniors were only freshmen then.  You all had a great contingent of fans present for the Final Four in Salem!