MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[algernon]

It does seem very quick.  But, what is says to me is that ODAC men's b-ball teams will be forced to schedule a very weak (at least in the short term) team and lose two opportunities to play better non-conference teams.  I don't think it's good for men's basketball in the short term.  It's the same problem the better women's teams have now. 

Good point.  An 11-team ODAC is a big conference and I wonder if there are any ODAC schools who might move to the USA South, which only has 7 teams? 

[hasanova]

It does seem very quick.  But, what is says to me is that ODAC men's b-ball teams will be forced to schedule a very weak (at least in the short term) team and lose two opportunities to play better non-conference teams.  I don't think it's good for men's basketball in the short term.  It's the same problem the better women's teams have now. 

Good point.  An 11-team ODAC is a big conference and I wonder if there are any ODAC schools who might move to the USA South, which only has 7 teams?

Perhaps the ODAC needs a 12th team so there can be two six-team divisions, much like the SEC, ACC and Big 12.  I think they play the five other teams in their division home and away and play one game each (alternate years for home and away) against the six teams in the other division.  That makes a 16-game regular season schedule.  One and two in each division get a bye in the conference tournament, so you have to win 4 games if you finish 3-6.

[hasanova]

Does anyone else have problems with their post number?  Mine now shows an alphabetic sequence.  Odd.

Note - after I posted this it reverted back to a number.  Even more odd.  lol

[baselinejam]

Maybe the ODAC & USA SOuth shoulld merge & form the first D-# Super Conference?

[steelyglen]

hasanova...your post numbers look okay to me...its the karma numbers that are terribly skewed  ...those should be shared with us more crotchety folks...no one should be bogarting 43 good karmas...show a brother a little love!

I like the idea of 2 6-team divisions..but will the ODAC go for the extra day needed to run the hoops tournament (assuming all teams qualify to participate)?

[jdubyadubya]

It would solve all the problems if VWC and Guilford joined USA South and RMWC joined ODAC.

[hasanova]

hasanova...your post numbers look okay to me...its the karma numbers that are terribly skewed  ...those should be shared with us more crotchety folks...no one should be bogarting 43 good karmas...show a brother a little love!

I like the idea of 2 6-team divisions..but will the ODAC go for the extra day needed to run the hoops tournament (assuming all teams qualify to participate)?

You're now up to 4 karma my man!  Sorry, but I can't give you another for 18 hours.  lol  I talked to P. Coleman and he said someone else saw "leet" when their post total was 1337 (3 is e and 7 is t on a touchpad).  He said it must be a software glitch. 

I'm not sure right now who the 12th school should be, but I think two 6-team divisions is an option.  In this scenario, I think the four first round games (1 & 2 in each division get a bye) should be played in the home gym of the higher seed and then move to Salem for the quarterfinals.     

[hasanova]

It would solve all the problems if VWC and Guilford joined USA South and RMWC joined ODAC.

I can't speak for VWC, but I don't believe Guilford wants to be in the USASAC (what do I know? - watch them join tomorrow! lol).  There is more to conference affiliation than just sports scheduling and I believe Guilford sees itself as more closely aligned - historically, philosophically and academically - with the ODAC.

Besides, if Guilford went to the USASAC, the ODAC would only have six remaining football members.  Seven schools are needed for an Automatic Qualifier and this has been tenuous for several years with CUA a football-only member of the ODAC and W&L sometimes pondering a move to the Centennial.  Don't forget, other sports are also in the mix besides basketball.   

[steelyglen]

hasanova...thanks for love man! I've pissed off way too many people over the years to expect much more than I already have! And I agree, I don't see anyone (current ODAC members) willing to move to the Dixie...er...USASAC (sorry some habits are just hard to break) with the possible excpetion of VWC. Geographically it makes more sense and it would set up a couple of instant rivalries (CNU & Methodist come to mind...maybe Chowan if they ever become competitive again. I like the idea of the first round games being in home gyms...I guess time will tell!

[hasanova]

hasanova...thanks for love man! I've pissed off way too many people over the years to expect much more than I already have! And I agree, I don't see anyone (current ODAC members) willing to move to the Dixie...er...USASAC (sorry some habits are just hard to break) with the possible excpetion of VWC. Geographically it makes more sense and it would set up a couple of instant rivalries (CNU & Methodist come to mind...maybe Chowan if they ever become competitive again. I like the idea of the first round games being in home gyms...I guess time will tell!

You're welcome.  I think VWC and NCWC could be a good rivalry as well.  I've been racking my brain trying to think of another Virginia or North Carolina school that might consider the ODAC - or equally  appropriate - that the ODAC would consider them.  One option is CUA joining for all sports, but I don't think that will happen.  Davidson is out because they play DI in everything but football.  The Apprentice School is sort of an odd case and not really a good fit for an all-sports conference.  The only school that seemed like a good fit might be Mary Washington, but they have a conference affiliation already and they're a state school.  I don't think Southern Virginia is a good candidate yet for several reasons.  I don't see Hollins or Sweet Briar changing their coed status, but who knows, I didn't see RMWC doing it either.  Is there someone obvious I'm missing?

[jeloesel]

Is there someone obvious I'm missing?

I think we are getting way ahead of ourselves about the possible impacts of RMWC's decision to go coed on men's basketball play in the ODAC.

--If RMWC does decide to add men's basketball, it is likely to start with a club team that makes a transition to full ODAC varsity play over a period of several years.
--The ODAC women already have 11 members playing basketball, and it is unlikely that the addition RMWC to the men's competition will bring any change to the structure or membership of the ODAC.
--Further, the ODAC already has 12 teams competing in women's soccer.  I don't think that there will be much weight given to adding an 11th member to men's basketball.
--Some of the women's teams don't schedule an allowed 25th game now.  The argument that having only five instead of seven non-conference games available for scheduling doesn't seem carry much weight among the women coaches.
--In my opinion, the impact of RMWC potentially adding cross country for both men and women will be favorably received by the running community.
--In my opinion, the impact of RMWC potentially adding men's lacrosse would be unfavorable to the four strong men's lacrosse programs, but might be seen in more favorable light by the weaker programs.

[mybleedinghands]

RMWC 's website says they will be an official varsity team next year with a competitive schedule and will be competing in the ODAC for basketball in 2008 with a full schedule of games, just thought i'd post that since no one seems to be looking at their website for info.

[algernon]

Good input, Jim.  You make a good case for the idea that ODAC membership and structure is unlikely to be changed by the addition of Rivermont College, or whatever they choose to name R-MWC .....

The Tigers' 2007-2008 schedule includes 7 non-conference games, with 4 of the games in 2 tournaments, plus 3 games against USA South teams: Averett, Ferrum, and North Carolina Wesleyan.  I'm betting that their 2008-2009 schedule will include fewer games against USA South members, since they will play 2 different ODAC teams from Lynchburg.

I wonder what will be the effect of an 11-member ODAC upon the schedules of USA South members?

[steelyglen]

Scottie...and why should we be looking at the RMWC website?...you'll learn as you go through life to NEVER and I mean NEVER let facts get in the way of a good story!

If we knew how the story ended then our opinions and speculations would mean absolutely nothing...this way we are all right and we all look awfully smart in the eyes of our fellow gurus and afterall why else are we here?

As you were gurus!

[jeloesel]

Actually, I not only looked at the RMWC website, I also looked at the ODAC site and called the ODAC office.  Unlike Scottie, I'm skeptical of regarding press releases as facts, especially in this case a press release coming from Randolph-Macon Woman's College.  I might put a bit more credence in a press release from the ODAC office regarding future ODAC structure and participation by RMWC.    However, I thought Brad Bankston's quote in the RMWC press release was appropriately diplomatic (and vague) about the future:

ODAC Commissioner Brad Bankston is looking forward to integrating R-MWC's men's programs into the conference structure. "This transition will take time," says Bankston. "The conference is prepared to do whatever is necessary to ensure successful growth in R-MWC's athletics department, and our members welcome the new competition presented by this exciting addition to the conference."