MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[fairmont1113]

Anyone know how the EMU vs. JMU exhibition game went?

[Llamaguy]

Anyone know how the EMU vs. JMU exhibition game went?

JMU  85    EMU  56

EMU was down I believe 21 at the half and played a respectable 8 pt game in the second. EMU played their regular up tempo style which JMU plays also. Kirby said prior to the game that they could stall and lose by less but that wouldn't help EMU improve with their offense. He mentioned that they may lose by a few more but they would play straight up. Sager fouled out late in the game with 2 pts for the night. Corey Bailey had a very good game and the freshman  from Salem El'De Jesus had a great debut for the Royals. The JMU announcers mentioned several times how he could play. He had 9 pts at the half and I believe finished in double figures. All in all a good scrimmage for EMU. The EMU Women's team lost 103 - 34. 

[Jhoops]

Back from the JMU vs. EMU game:

Don't remember the final score, but JMU won by about 30 to 35.

JMU is a very poor D1 team, but nonetheless a D1 team. As you would expect, they had a serious size and athleticism advantage, but I would argue that EMU did not let it get to them.

EMU is a young squad. They started (jr) Jered Lyons, (so) Lee Parrish, (fr) Yanni El' De Jesus, (jr) Brad Parkes, and (sr) Jason Sager.

Some thoughts on the EMU players:

- Lyons is a nice PG when he plays confidently, he's got some nice quickness and can really shoot it, though tonight he didn't shoot well. His passing needs work.

- Sager was a non-factor, just not athletic enough to score inside against the JMU bigs. He'll be a 20/10 man in the ODAC. We all know how tough he is.

- When Parkes sticks to doing dirty work in  the post, he's efficient and puts up points.

- 6'7" (jr) center Corey Bailey gave the Royals some nice minutes. He's a really nice athlete and has improved his touch around the basket. He's got the most size of anyone on the team and he'll be key in their success this season.

- 6'0" tank (fr) PG Xavier Chambliss backed Lyons up and did a superb job. He handles the ball extremely well, took better care of it than Lyons, and ran the offense smoothly. There is a very small drop off from Lyons to Chambliss. 6'0" (fr) combo Austin Twine came off the bench and was also impressive. Twine is a very good defender, and might be EMU's fastest player 94 feet. He made a very impressive finish at the rim tonight. 6'4 (fr) John Overstreet played limited minutes, but showed a very good breakdown game that will be more effective in ODAC play, he's a strong athlete.

- 6'2 (so) Lee Parrish started at the two. Lee is a very good athlete, but needs to play with more confidence. He shot well, but not nearly enough. When he takes his man off the dribble and shoots with confidence, he can put up points quickly. Kirby Dean gives him the green light, and Parrish needs to take advantage of it.

- In my opinion, the real star for the Royals is 6'4" (fr) Yanni El' De Jesus out of Salem, Va. De Jesus was the only Royals player not affected by the JMU size/athleticism/speed difference. De Jesus scored approx. 15 points. He's a very strong 6'4", has the ball on a string, decent shooter, extremely fluid and tricky with the ball, patient and smart. He can literally do it all, he looked like a senior on the court. He's also the best passer on the team, he can literally pick a D3 team apart with his skill. The sky is the limit for De Jesus in this conference, he has to be the top candidate for freshman of the year, as well as a first team all league selection. The best player Dean has brought in.

Looking forward to the season...

[jeloesel]

He's a very strong 6'4", has the ball on a string, decent shooter, extremely fluid and tricky with the ball, patient and smart. He can literally do it all, he looked like a senior on the court. He's also the best passer on the team, he can literally pick a D3 team apart with his skill. The sky is the limit for De Jesus in this conference, he has to be the top candidate for freshman of the year, as well as a first team all league selection.

Before you hold a coronation for DeJesus for FOY and First Team All-ODAC based on one pre-season exhibition game, I suggest we let him play 18 games against the ODAC teams to get some notion of his abilities relative to the rest of the players in the conference. 

According to the JMU story about the exhibition, DeJesus had 11 points, not "approximately 15". 
http://www.jmusports.com/Team/Stories/18_4586.asp?TeamID=18

[Warren Thompson]

OK. I'm confused. Now there's ODAC b'ball. So what's the difference? Maybe ODAC b'ball is designed for the basketball purist, guys like Frankenmuth's own Mr. Loesel.

Ha.  I think it's a conspiracy by Scottie to create confusion in the ODAC ranks, just to distract from the impending Lynchburg debacle.

Sounds like things are warming up for another season of Scottie antics .... 

[jdubyadubya]

Hmmm. So you think it's a diversion. ODAC b'ball vs. ODAC Conversation. Perhaps ODAC b'ball posters will post in code so mere mortals will not be able to understand them. Time will tell. Nice to hear from Loesel and Thompson. Where's Algernon?

[steelyglen]

I wouldn't go overboard either way...considering it was an EXHIBITON game. I wasn't there, but if was like most "tune-ups", both coaches played with rotations and probably spent much more time "tweaking" than caring about who won or lost. Sager and Parkes are established commodities in the ODAC. I also agree with "jimmy's" assessment that everyone needs to let their newcomers get the D3 feet wet before annointing them or writing them off.

The quality of the ODAC is well established and well known and an exhibition with a bad D-1 (win or lose) doesn't equate to a January night in a packed Nininger Hall or Crenshaw Gymansium when its all on the line. I'm ready to go "live" myself.

Warren, don't how much we'll see of the "boy wonder" this season. He's lurking I'm sure but his "real" job at LC may keep him from a post an hour this season. Plus I'm sure the taste of toe nails got very old last season!

The Bridgewater 06-07 roster is up and with no Seniors playing, it will be an uphill struggle. That said, Bill Leatherman is well known for doing some of his best coaching with "youngin's" and teams that are not supposed to compete. Not touting a run to the title but as the saying goes..."never sleep on the 'water"!

[jeloesel]

It appears "ODAC b'ball", like Scottie, has disappeared from the board. 

Steely,
Are you up for dusting off the old abacus to serve as score keeper of the ODAC Pick'em for the new season?  As in the past, I'd be willing to select the contests, if the board members support. 

(I must make clear that I have already eaten the Moonpie from last year, so we'll have to find another source for the traditional prize to the winner of the Pick'em.   

[steelyglen]

Jim...with blessing of the "gurus" I am in for another season.

How 'bout we sweeten the pot a little this year? In addition to the food and drink of the gods how's about we add 2 tournament passes to the ODAC tournament? Maybe something like this...

Players must commit by November 15th to be in or out! We'll all split the cost of the passes later... Winner will be determined by highest winning percentage AND AND AND participation in a minimum of 80% of the pick'em games. 79.5% ( no rounding up  ) participation means no moonies/RC's or ducats!

Anyone can play don't get me wrong and I'll post ALL participants but for the loot you must play pretty much every week! Just a thought...any comments or better ideas? I'm always open to new thoughts!  I'm good no matter what!

[stillfamily]

i would say for the most part the summaries of jmu vs emu are accuarate. although i wouldnt committttt to those picks of a FOY or First team all odac player off of that one game. Yes, yanni el' looked great, and played well as did the other guys, the odac is a different story we all know. the number one conference in america night in and night out can be a challenge!! don't get me wrong i am so excited for this to get started, and yanni, twine, xavier, overstreet   THEY CAN PLAY.. but they are freshmen..lets toss it up and see what happens.....

[stillfamily]

JMU WON THAT SCRIMMAGE BY 29-----   21 IN THE FIRST HALF AND 8 IN THE SECOND....

[and1wasp]

Good to be back for another season.  Just an update from E&H.  They played at VMI last friday night.  VMI from what I hear is running the same system as E&H this year.  This is the first D-1 team in my knowing to run this system.  I know LMU of the old days kind of did the same thing but not to this degree.  They open up with Ohio State first game of the year, so they might lose by 200...haha...Nonetheless, here is the info from the game...

152-118 VMI over E&H
http://www.vmikeydets.com/article.asp?articleid=81917

[baselinejam]

Jim...with blessing of the "gurus" I am in for another season.

How 'bout we sweeten the pot a little this year? In addition to the food and drink of the gods how's about we add 2 tournament passes to the ODAC tournament? Maybe something like this...

Players must commit by November 15th to be in or out! We'll all split the cost of the passes later... Winner will be determined by highest winning percentage AND AND AND participation in a minimum of 80% of the pick'em games. 79.5% ( no rounding up  ) participation means no moonies/RC's or ducats!

Anyone can play don't get me wrong and I'll post ALL participants but for the loot you must play pretty much every week! Just a thought...any comments or better ideas? I'm always open to new thoughts!  I'm good no matter what!

I'm in.

[fairmont1113]

Pre-Season All-Americans are up on the d3hoops website. VWC got two on the roster. Brandon Adair is on the 1st team, and TonTon Balenga made the 2nd team. With two pre-season All-Americans and a pre-season ranking of #1 in the country, do the Marlins have a good shot at not only a repeat of the ODAC? but also a repeat of the National Title?

[and1wasp]

In a word....sure