MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Tigerfan]

EMU fans, when you have a good program going, you'll get coaches for free, like this

[Jeremybozz]

Congrats to EMU from a BC fan.

[3sdown]

Tigerfan-

You cannot make a more true statement!

[eagleslam]

As far as E&H goes, they do not play basketball.  As 3s down quoted Herm Edwards, I will too.  "You play to win the game!"  The Wasps do not play to win the game.  When you let your opponent shoot lay-ups all game long, you are not playing to win the game.  When you force 25 foot shots off the dribble with a hand in your face, you are not playing to win the game.  You are playing to score a bunch of points, which they do.  They are not, however, playing to win, which they rarely will.

As far as the Bridgewater football score goes, I'm glad to see a H-SC fan post it and point out that BC was in the National Quarter-Finals.  Especially since no one posted scores  from the Eagles' first two games in the playoffs, nor from the last five NCAA playoffs, nor from the last 35 regular season games.  But that's not a coinsidence, I'm sure.

The Eagles, as compared to EMU right now, are not at as good.  There is a reason why EMU was picked 5th in the preseason poll, and BC was picked 7th.  And it has nothing to do with recruiting budgets.  When a team loses 6 seniors, one of which led the ODAC in scoring, they will probably lose to a team who returns nearly everyone, and adds EJ Arrington, especially when playing on that team's home floor.  I seriously doubt the Eagles didn't play hard.  And obviously with a 17-13 lead, against a team that has beaten you 18 times in a row, most of the crowd probably got up and left since there was never any question about the outcome. 

[jeloesel]

Eagleslam,
There are a lot of things that can be said about E&H coach Bob Johnson, but accusing him of not wanting to win?  Do you have even a slight acquaintance with the man?  He is one of the most competitive persons you will ever meet.  He's also one of the most basketball-savy fellows in the ODAC.  There are plenty of things to critique about the "system" style of basketball but your accusations are off the mark.

[mybleedinghands]

you don't stay at a school for 26 years if you aren't trying to win games, especially conference games.

[ladyfan]

All eagle fans are having a hard time looking at reality today. They got a glimpse of the future last night, and it certainly looks Royal. EMU dominated from the tip off. It didn't appear that any of the Eagles wanted to be on the court. EMU did not play great, they just played with heart and intesity. It could have easily been a 25-30 point game if Coach Dean had allowed the kids to keep it up. At the 7 minute mark he was subitutuing anyone that shot the ball with more than 5 seconds on the shot clock.

Great Coach, good core of young players, great facilities, great fan base(ever see 1,000 at Ninnenger?).

[3sdown]

Jim-

I agree with your post.  Bob Johnson is intensly competitive.  And he has made a decision that the "System" gives his team the best chance to win.  Some may disagree with his judgement, but his decision originates solely from his competitive desires to win.  One can question the man's decision, but don't question the man's competitive desires. 

[hasanova]

If you want to see a glimpse of a good team that's still developing into a great team, watch the Quakers this year.  I am not saying they are going to win every game this year and I am not saying they are going to win the ODAC, I am just saying they are better than their #6 preseason ranking and they will be a force with which to reckon in the league this season.  The Quakers have a 6'10" sophomore center who is making great strides as a player.  Guilford starts two juniors, two sophomores and a freshman.  Many of the top guys off the bench are underclassmen.

Fear the Quaker ....

[ladyeagle]

BC looked like they didnt want to play, and never look like they are having fun... There should be no excuse for a down year at BC, with a recruiting budget that big and a full time asst.

Well that first part is true Stillfamily.  Bridgewater doesn't look like they even want to play when they step out onto the court and it is heartbreaking to watch.  These guys have the individual skills, they just haven't put them together as a team. 

As for the recruiting budget, if you knew really what was going on you'd know that EMU actually has a tendency to give larger financial packages than Bridgewater.  Regardless of how much money a school spends on recruiting someone, if the player gets a larger package, where do you think they are gonna go?  (not to mention...no offense...SAT scores have a little bit of a say at Bridgewater...maybe not as high as W&L, but not as low as EMU)

EMU dominated from the tip off. It didn't appear that any of the Eagles wanted to be on the court. EMU did not play great, they just played with heart and intesity...

Great Coach, good core of young players, great facilities, great fan base(ever see 1,000 at Ninnenger?).

So true Ladyfan.  EMU is a very intense team.  They wanted it from the moment they stepped out on the court to warm-up.  Really, this should've been a much closer game.  Hopefully BC can get their act together by the time we meet at Nininger.  (As much as I gave gotten annoyed by the intensity, enthusiasm, and sometimes down right madness of Dustin Gaylon, he is definitely one player that continually works to pump up his team...if Bridgewater could even find a player to be half as enthusiastic as that guy, the team might be a little bit more hyped for games)

And yes....sadly our fan base is down, but largely in part that Saturday was one of the play-off football games and many students traveled to DE, not making it back for the bball game.  Still, EMU has a great crowd atmosphere.  Our student fan base is usually pretty big at an EMU game, but for some reason I think the largest turn out is usually HSC.  (I think more because the students like to make fun of how different our schools are than whether or not they are our biggest rival  )

anyway, im looking for the Eagles to still finish strong.  I think they are gonna be off to a rough start but definitely have the potential to turn things around.  This is still a good team, I am just not sure the players have realized what they can do yet. 

[stillfamily]

Lets start by saying the your as good as your last game out...EMU did win and they played with one senior on the floor.. With all the sophs and juniors playing i would imgine the other 175 mins..so its not like we are full of seniors...And as for the ASST. Coaching at EMU..Its done because we believe in Kirby and what he stands for and what he is building at EMU. AS long as he is there, we will continue to support him and our boys. Their budget is 36X's smaller than BC's just for the facts...about 500 bucks to about 18,000.....They should have been recruiting while they had Ricky and those boys, so they can be there at BC, not waiting til they are gone to recruit..But EMU did take TWO Enormous recruits from BC, one being Brad Parkes , the other LaRoger Parish , both being TOP RECRUITS for BC, that ended at EMU.. Looks like a good choice...but none the less...Leatherman will be fine i'm sure. he is one of the best coaches in the league i am just proud to see us back on top.....

[stillfamily]

I agree with ladyfan, she is about right...but not about giving out larger packages, they are very similar in fact...But BC costs more to go to i think? EMU is about 26k....EMU did play with one senior on the floor.. With all the sophs and juniors playing i would imgine the other 175 mins..so its not like we are full of seniors...And as for the ASST. Coaching at EMU..Its done because we believe in Kirby and what he stands for and what he is building at EMU. AS long as he is there, we will continue to support him and our boys. Their budget is 36X's smaller than BC's just for the facts...about 500 bucks to about 18,000.....They should have been recruiting while they had Ricky and those boys, so they can be there at BC, not waiting til they are gone to recruit..But EMU did take TWO Enormous recruits from BC, one being Brad Parkes , the other LaRoger Parish , both being TOP RECRUITS for BC, that ended at EMU.. Looks like a good choice...but none the less...Leatherman will be fine i'm sure. he is one of the best coaches in the league i am just proud to see us back on top.....

[ladyeagle]

I agree with ladyfan, she is about right...but not about giving out larger packages, they are very similar in fact...But BC costs more to go to i think? EMU is about 26k....EMU did play with one senior on the floor.. With all the sophs and juniors playing i would imgine the other 175 mins..so its not like we are full of seniors...

It's LadyEagle.  haha...

BC is about 27k...not too much more when it comes down to it.  My point wasn't that we don't have a larger recruiting budget.  We definitely do.  My point is our financial packages aren't the same at all.  Anyway...

As for you playing with the sophomores and juniors on the court, not being full of seniors.  True, you aren't.  However, you have experienced players.  They've all played together at least one year if not longer.  BC has three players that have really seen some time on the court (Michael, Maupin, and Butler).  The rest of the guys either were freshman last year and saw little time, transferred, haven't played in four years, or are freshmen this year.  This team hasn't played together yet.  EMU has.  but don't think I'm saying EMU didn't play well yesterday.  Although both teams had some silly turnovers, EMU dominated the court. 

[eagleslam]

Jim...

Never talked to the man for more than 30 seconds in my life.  Those 30 seconds were at an E&H vs. H-SC game a couple of years ago.  But, I should also say that was while the game was going on!  He came right over and started a conversation with me.  

So, let's look at some competing concepts.  First off, last year, they are outscored by slightly under two points per game.  This year, three points per game.  Not much difference.  But, they had 10 letterwinners returning, so I would think that with all of that experience, they would be able to turn some, if not a lot, of those losses, into wins.  And there is a change in the style of play.  It does not give a guy like Lance Reasbeck a chance to handle the ball, and that was the strongest part of his game.  It gives their best players, at most 20 minutes per game.  Their best players have only a little more time than some of the guys that are in the 3rd group rotation.  So, taking away your players strengths, not keeping your best players on the floor, and not playing defense is competing?  

I am just going to say it, and if people on here disagree, so be it.  It won't be the first, and it wont' be the last.  It's what makes this fun.  This style of play is not real basketball.  You let the opponent score, and I thought the purpose of any "competitve game" was to not allow the opponent to score.  This style of play bastardizes the game, and is a gimmick.  It's why the military football teams run the option... teams do not have a lot of time to prepare for it, and they do not have the talent to win without doing something different.  But that is the strange part.  I do believe that the Wasps would be competitive just playing basketball.


stillfamily...

To say you are only as good as your last game is ridiculous.  Joe Paterno once said something to the effect of "You are never as bad as you look when you lose, and are never as good as you look when you win."  Granted, teams will have bad games, but that does not mean they are not a good team.  Simply means they played poorly.  Is BC as bad as they looked?  Doubt it.  Is EMU as good as they looked?  Probably not.  As far as EMU getting some kids BC wanted, I would think that is very simple.  Why would kids want to go somewhere and play very little.  They knew if they went to EMU, they would get playing time right off the bat.

[eagleslam]

3sdown...

You said in a post before the season started that coaching would be important this year because the league was a toss up.  I agree with you 100%.  Team could finish 2-3 spots, maybe even more, than they were picked in the poll.  So, basically you said coaching would be a key element of the season.  Down 71-51 at halftime yesterday, Coach Johnson could not make any adjustments because they were doing exactly what they were supposed to be doing.  When he calls timeout, it's not to talk X's and O's, it's to make substitutions like at the end of a blow-out game.  Not making adjustments at halftime, because you can't, and not talking X's and O's during timeouts sound like "coaching" or "competing" to you?


scottie...

Dude, you've been yapping for a week now about how Lynchburg was playing Liberty for the money.  How in the world can you agree with someone who disagrees with me when I say a team is not competing?  Isn't that what you've been saying about LC?  Is it just okay when the Hornets don't compete?  Or is just okay to not compete as long as you're getting cash for it?  What about personal, team, and school pride?  What about saying how the regulars were taken out of the game earlier than they were and the reserves got the lead extended on them, only to have Jim shoot that lie down?  Oh, wait, that happened.