MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

eagleslam · October 16, 2008, 11:19:54 AM

scottharris...

You had some very caustic remarks to say to me on the personal message page. Now, I cannot reply to you, and when I type in your name to send you a response, it is not able to find your name. Maybe you are trying to hide behind one of your five names on here, or maybe you are just a coward. But know I tried to respond to you first, not in full view of everyone.

So I will say this here. Some of what you had to say was actually what I was looking for. Some of it was personal. You even resorted to name calling. So, my last comment will be this. If you want to have rules of how we discuss things, then don't get in any discussions with me. If you want to have a discussion about ODAC basketball, feel free to do so. If you want to discuss rules of debate, forget it. Your rules suit you, like this is an actual debate or discussion that gets points or matters in the real world. Maybe you are too worried about your karma points, as if they matter. And do not make the mistake of getting personal. I could do the same, but am choosing to take the high ground.

jdubyadubya · October 16, 2008, 11:46:39 AM

eagleslam/scottharris - What the hell is going on here? Both of you need to get over this. This is a site for a free exchange of information about basketball. I caution you to not jeopardize this for the rest of us. If neither of you has anything positve to say about basketball then please try to refrain altogether.

HSCfan · October 16, 2008, 03:17:31 PM

I have never been a huge fan of preseason rankings, ESPECIALLY in Division III where the lack of exposure and ridiculous amount of teams makes it impossible for anyone to be expert enough to rate the 25 best teams prior to the season, or even in-season for that matter.

However, I am not surprised at the high ranking for R-MC, nor the No. 22 ranking for VWC. I believe the Fish will be a Top-25 caliber team by the end of the year, but as was mentioned earlier, they have about 60% of their scoring to replace. Although they have Fields coming back, losing TonTon, Tyler and D'juan is huge. I have no doubt that VWC fans will reply to this talking about their new recruits, and I have no doubt that they are fine players...but to think that they can come right in, or anyone for that matter, and replace the production and tremendous leadership of Fantin and Tucker, and the scoring potency of TonTon, is a bit forward IMO.

The Marlins will be there, but it will take time. I believe their reputation, however, has rightly earned them a spot in the preseason Top-25.

Macon, on the other hand, is loaded with proven talent...the only ODAC team that boasts such a label. Top-5 right now??? Is anyone deserving of that in a DIII preseason poll...who knows. But I do know that if everything goes as planned, this will be the year that Mike Rhoades returns to the head of the ODAC, and could do so, in my opinion, in 16-0 fashion!

Jacketlawyer · October 16, 2008, 04:17:17 PM

Quote from: tigerfanalso on October 15, 2008, 02:04:41 PM
Don't be afraid Jacketlawyer, be excited !!!!!

sludge · October 16, 2008, 06:29:08 PM

Eagleslam, don't bother too much about Scott. If I've got the right guy and if I remember rightly, he relentlessly dissed his own school's coach on these boards for a year. (If I've got the wrong guy, then whoops!)

As for VWC, I agree they're reloading. It would take some really remarkable freshmen to get them realoaded in the first half; big hill to climb, even in the second half. They've got to be both good and jell. I've seen some good freshmen enter the league, and it is hard to be huge right away.

Playing RMC won't be anybody's idea of an easy party. But 16-0? I'm not buying that.
Yet.

hasanova · October 16, 2008, 06:34:28 PM

Maybe RMC will go 16-0, but I'm not buying it yet either. Guilford, for example, was clearly the favorite last season and lost two in the ODAC. I think at least 4 other teams are capable of beating the Jackets ... especially when you consider road games, injuries and games when their opponent's shots are falling and those for the Jackets are not.

Brian Hamilton · October 16, 2008, 06:42:29 PM

I don't believe RMC will go 16-0 either. In fact, I would argue that it would probably be better for them if they don't! Close games will help to prepare them for the postseason, but a loss will help to keep them hungry. I also think that there are too many things that can happen for RMC to go undefeated. They have to play HSC and VWC twice I believe. I think history also shows that even the best teams usually have a slip up. Even though they return the most from last year, they still must prove that they can win night-in and night-out and get it done in Salem. They are talented, but chemistry and health also factor into a full season of basketball. Is Carlson going to be back? If so, what effect does it have on the team? Will any newcomers become significant contributors? Just too many unknowns. I didn't even think that HSC was going to go undefeated in 2000 and they returned a senior class that all went over 1,000 pts before they graduated and had played in the National Championship game their junior year. One thing is for sure, this is going to be an interesting year with the new coaches, new players, new schedule, and new school in Randolph.

Brian Hamilton · October 16, 2008, 06:44:02 PM

Nova,

You beat me to the punch!

hasanova · October 16, 2008, 09:52:02 PM

Quote from: Brian Hamilton on October 16, 2008, 06:44:02 PM
Nova,

You beat me to the punch!

Timing is everything, Brian!

jdubyadubya · October 17, 2008, 08:49:16 AM

scottharris has resigned from the board and wants me to let Sludge know that he's not the guy who dissed his coach, etc. That was the California guy. I hope that scottharris will return at another time and that perhaps he can bury the hatchet with eagleslam. Note that I said "with" as opposed to "in!"

HSCfan · October 17, 2008, 10:04:23 AM

I was a bit forward myself!

I meant to say that if there is ever to be an undefeated run through the ODAC regular season, I think this may be the best shot, for the following reasons:

1) The schedule now calls for just 16 games as opposed to 18; two less chances to be beaten

2) As much as I hate to admit it, being an ODAC junkie, the league is down this year meaning that a team like R-MC, with such a big advantage on paper, has its best chance to run through the ODAC this year. We all know the league will improve overall next year with all the new coaches entering their second seasons and these recruiting/transfer classes maturing

3) Although the Jackets do play H-SC and VWC twice, they also play W&L, Randolph, E&H, and Bridgewater twice...teams they should handle. The have just one game against Guilford, LC (who could give them problems with Wooldridge), EMU, and Roanoke.

I should have adjusted my statement to say that 16-0 is probably the most possible this season! I apologize!

HSCfan · October 17, 2008, 10:06:36 AM

And yes, Brian Hamilton, it would certainly be better for the Jackets if they lose in conference before the ODAC tourney!

eagleslam · October 17, 2008, 12:02:55 PM

HSCfan...

There has been an undefeated, regular season run. During the 1999-2000 season, H-SC went 18-0. Of course, a loss to Roanoke in the finals at the ODAC Tournament and a 2nd round loss in the NCAA, at home, after a first round bye, put somewhat of a damper on the season.

baselinejam · October 17, 2008, 02:43:07 PM

Quote from: HSCfan on October 17, 2008, 10:04:23 AM

3) Although the Jackets do play H-SC and VWC twice, they also play W&L, Randolph, E&H, and Bridgewater twice...teams they should handle. The have just one game against Guilford, LC (who could give them problems with Wooldridge), EMU, and Roanoke.

Lets address the W&L portion of the"teams they should handle". You play the Generals at home this year.At home last year you beat a good W&L team by 12; the season before you beat a not so good team by 5; in 05/06 you beat a bad W&L by 4 in OT and in 04/05 you beat a truly horrible team by 5. Yes you're the favorites - I for one hope that the RM team reads about how good they are and then have my Gennies sneak up and steal one from them.

No one on this board believes me. I'll state it again for the record. The Generals will have a decent club this year. Underestimate them at your own risk.

HSCfan · October 17, 2008, 02:56:48 PM

eagleslam,

Thanks for again finding a hole in my posts! I have to pay more attention! I was aware of the Tigers' undefeated season, but it seems to me as the league has gotten much better from top to bottom since those days, that the days for an undefeated run could be over...with that the case, I was saying that this year may be the best year for that to happen, because it may never happen again!

...and baselinejam...I think that all posters here will agree that "on paper" Randolph-Macon should handle W&L. It's not a jab at the Gennies, it's just how it is. I know firsthand that W&L is a fiesty squad and they have given H-SC more than enough problems in Lexington. However, when you look at the match up on paper, R-MC should beat W&L. Not a knock on you, just what I believe to be the case. Heck, on paper, R-MC should handle H-SC!