MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[mybleedinghands]

Apparently VWC isn't playing their game. They trail 23-19 at the half, shooting 22.7% overall on 5-22 shooting. They are 0-6 from 3, but their saving grace is being 9-10 from the charity stripe. They are also losing the rebounding duel 19-10. If not for the good free throw shooting, it appears as if VWC would be down big, or at least big in relation to the amount of scoring there is.

[Ralph Turner]

Tied at 23, 18:07 left.

[algernon]

Virginia Wesleyan takes the ODAC to the Final Four for the 3rd Time in Eight Years!!!

Way to go, Marlins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[VW-16]

Congratulations to Virginia Wesleyan and good luck in the FINAL FOUR!!!!!!!!!! Go to Salem and play your game, leave it all on the floor.

[Hampton U SID]

Awesome Job Marlins!!!

Way to take it to Salem!!!!

Enjoy the ride Joe W...

[GP87]

The Marlins proved in two games this weekend that they can play an offensive or defensive style of basketball.  The Final Four is next.  Great game and great atmosphere.  Congrats to the Marlins, as well as WP. WP played well and had a great season just to get to the Elite 8.  VWC just had too many weapons tonight.

[former rmcsid]

Congrats and good luck to VWC -- players, coaches, administrators, and especially the SID!

Go ODAC . . .

[FISHTANKFAN]

It wasn't pretty, it was downright ugly , but a win is a win.  Congrats to WP on a great season, and WTG Marlins!  You have a knack for finding a way to win, no matter how improbable.   Tonight it was defense and free throws.  Yesterday it was a thrilling all net 3 pointer. Now on to the FINAL FOUR!!!! It will be your most difficult challenge but given the year you have had thus far, I for one will never count you out until the final buzzer. 26 in a row!!!!..Let's make it 27 or better yet 28!!  Good luck in Salem!!!

[patcummings]

Illinois Wesleyan fans were interested to hear what they should expect from VaWes...

Here's what I told them...

"Who cares if you shoot 75% in the second half like you did tonight against a feisty Puget Sound."

Absolutely no way IWU will shoot as poorly as Widener did on Friday or both teams tonight...IWU is a heavy favorite in my mind...and I saw Paterson play twice in the regional last week and IWU play twice here in Appleton, WI this week...

[jeloesel]

Welcome back to Salem, Marlins.  Please defend your "home" floor.   

[algernon]

Illinois Wesleyan fans were interested to hear what they should expect from VaWes...

Here's what I told them...

"Who cares if you shoot 75% in the second half like you did tonight against a feisty Puget Sound."

Absolutely no way IWU will shoot as poorly as Widener did on Friday or both teams tonight...IWU is a heavy favorite in my mind...and I saw Paterson play twice in the regional last week and IWU play twice here in Appleton, WI this week...

A very confusing post, patcummings .... 

Why, in answering a question about what IWU should expect from VWC, would you respond with (1) how IWU shot against Puget Sound, (2) a mention of Widener's shooting against William Paterson on Friday night, or (3) the fact that you saw Paterson play twice in a regional last week?  How any of this relates to what IWU should expect from VWC is not clear to me.



Why do you think IWU is a heavy favorite?  The experts who rank teams for the D3hoops.com poll appear to think otherwise, since they have ranked Virginia Wesleyan higher than IWU.  That doesn't make Virginia Wesleyan the "favorite", but it disputes the idea that IWU is a "heavy favorite"!

The ODAC has not done poorly against IWU or the CCIW over the past 5 years.  I'm not sure how many games have been played between the two conferences -- but Hampden-Sydney beat IWU only 3 years ago and the Marlins are definitely a team that could do it again.

[mybleedinghands]

Illinois Wesleyan fans were interested to hear what they should expect from VaWes...

Here's what I told them...

"Who cares if you shoot 75% in the second half like you did tonight against a feisty Puget Sound."

Absolutely no way IWU will shoot as poorly as Widener did on Friday or both teams tonight...IWU is a heavy favorite in my mind...and I saw Paterson play twice in the regional last week and IWU play twice here in Appleton, WI this week...

A very confusing post, patcummings .... 

Why, in answering a question about what IWU should expect from VWC, would you respond with (1) how IWU shot against Puget Sound, (2) a mention of Widener's shooting against William Paterson on Friday night, or (3) the fact that you saw Paterson play twice in a regional last week?  How any of this relates to what IWU should expect from VWC is not clear to me.



Why do you think IWU is a heavy favorite?  The experts who rank teams for the D3hoops.com poll appear to think otherwise, since they have ranked Virginia Wesleyan higher than IWU.  That doesn't make Virginia Wesleyan the "favorite", but it disputes the idea that IWU is a "heavy favorite"!

The ODAC has not done poorly against IWU or the CCIW over the past 5 years.  I'm not sure how many games have been played between the two conferences -- but Hampden-Sydney beat IWU only 3 years ago and the Marlins are definitely a team that could do it again.

Well the ODAC's performance in previous years has nothing to do with VWC's soon to be performance against IWU this year...

[shadylady]

Ya dun good Marlins!!!  Made us proud in the ODAC.     
   
The doc says if I behave the next few days, I may be able to watch the Final Four in Salem . The stroke I had on Friday eve was only a minor one and last night's chest pains subsided about 8:45 pm. So I will rest until Fri and maybe catch up on my reading.  There is an interesting story I have been putting off because I have been following  the Marlins in the NCAA's. Anyway,  it's  about someone named David and another character called Goliath. Should be an interesting read.....  heard it has a surprise ending too!     
   
   
Go FISH! !

[algernon]

Well the ODAC's performance in previous years has nothing to do with VWC's soon to be performance against IWU this year...

The ODAC's performance against the CCIW in previous years indicates only that ODAC representatives can do quite well in matchups with CCIW representatives.

Virginia Wesleyan's appearance in the Final Four this year is no surprise to those who have watched the Marlins play over the past 3 months.  26 wins in a row is no accident and includes 3 wins against Randolph-Macon and another 3 wins against other NCAA tournament teams.

My point is that any of these four teams -- #3 Wittenberg, #4 Amherst, #7 Virginia Wesleyan, and #11 Illinois Wesleyan -- has the ability to bring home the national championship trophy.  None of these teams is a "heavy favorite" in any Final Four game.

[patcummings]

Well the ODAC's performance in previous years has nothing to do with VWC's soon to be performance against IWU this year...

The ODAC's performance against the CCIW in previous years indicates only that ODAC representatives can do quite well in matchups with CCIW representatives.

Virginia Wesleyan's appearance in the Final Four this year is no surprise to those who have watched the Marlins play over the past 3 months. 26 wins in a row is no accident and includes 3 wins against Randolph-Macon and another 3 wins against other NCAA tournament teams.

My point is that any of these four teams -- #3 Wittenberg, #4 Amherst, #7 Virginia Wesleyan, and #11 Illinois Wesleyan -- has the ability to bring home the national championship trophy. None of these teams is a "heavy favorite" in any Final Four game.

I think it is pretty clear Algernon...if Illinois Wesleyan shoots 75% as they did against Puget Sound, they'll win...

The biggest debate to be had before the IWU/VaWes game will be the difference in strength of schedule (no, not quality of win index, that's behind us fortunately).  And you will have plenty of chance to hear about it and chime in as Hoopsville will broadcast live from the Final Four on Thursday night.

VaWes beat athletic teams from Farmingdale and Lincoln, then demolished Paterson...to me that doesn't quite add up to Carroll, Whitewater, Lawrence, and Puget Sound.  I think IWU is a favorite based on their wins over their playoff opponents already...mind you, all of them away from home (even though IWU had a home-type crowd last night).  IWU hasn't played a single home game in the postseason and they have looked spectacular.