MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[hasanova]

It's funny, but college basketball, like almost all other sports, is about match ups...and while some teams match up well with others, that same team may not match up well with another - and this may be the case with NCWC and Guilford.

While NCWC is bigger and more athletic than the Tigers, I don't know if that will be the case in Greensboro tomorrow night. The Bishops may have an edge athletically, but I think Sanborn on the inside will give NCWC a different look and certainly close the rebounding gap that they have enjoyed on their opponents to this point. Hasa, I like your chances tomorrow night, especially since you guys get the luxury of playing at home and pulling the Bishops out of their Rocky Mount comfort zone.

Go ODAC and let's steal this game against another USASC opponent!

I also like our chances.  The last three Guilford home games have drawn very good crowds, so I hope this will be a noisy bunch as well.   The students should be back from holiday and ready for some hoops!  Sanborn has not been a great scorer this season, but he has rebounded and blocked very well and when Henson is hot, he can play with anyone.   When a team such as NCWC starts 6-0, it gets your attention, but I bet the Bishops aren't overlooking Guilford's 4-1 start either.  GC's only loss is to the U. of Texas-Dallas on their home court and the Comets are 4-0.  The Quakers led that game by 5 with 16 minutes to go and then nothing went right the rest of the way ... it was a tough test on the road.  Thanks for the encouragement ... I'll be there and really want the Quakers to win this one too!   

[hasanova]

For those interested

DeSales - 59
RMC - 57

Ummmmm.  . . yeah.  I saw that.  R-MC is 1-3 thus far (we actually wanted 3-1 in the Macon camp).

However, we start ODAC play this Wednesday at Randolph College.  This will be the first time I've been to see the Yellow Jackets play since R-MWC became Randolph.  So I'll be going to that.

Hope we come in ready to play and not looking past these guys.  No doubt they'll play hard.

I'm surprised too, Jacketlawyer.  I conceded the Richmond game, but really thought RMC would win the other three.  Have fun at the Randolph game ... I think the Jackets will win this one!

[rmc1982]

....the way we've been playin'???dont be too sure........but I'm sure Mike Rhoades will have then back on track soon.......I sure HOPE so.......looks like a  wide open year in the ODAC this season --not out of the question for 10-6 or 9-7 record to win it this yr......

[hasanova]

....the way we've been playin'???dont be too sure........but I'm sure Mike Rhoades will have then back on track soon.......I sure HOPE so.......looks like a  wide open year in the ODAC this season --not out of the question for 10-6 or 9-7 record to win it this yr......

Randolph had a year to get their feet wet last season, but I think it'll be a tough year for them in 2008-09.  I'm still going with the Jackets.  As for your ODAC prediction, there does seem to be much more parity, but I'm not sure there's that much ... I'm going with 12-4 or so for ODAC regular-season champ.  I'd be interested to see what others think.

[HSCfan]

Personally, I think the Jackets will right the ship and finish atop the ODAC at 14-2. I know some people will question that, especially with their start, but look at their schedule my logic in parentheses:

The Jackets play twice: Randolph (too novel, two wins), Emory and Henry (too talented, two wins), Bridgewater (still adjusting to new system, two wins), Washington and Lee (not a good matchup for the Gennies, two wins), Virginia Wesleyan (experience vs. youth...experience usually wins in the ODAC, so [fully prepared to eat my words] two wins) and Hampden-Sydney (rivalry game, I'll be a homer here and say a split )

R-MC plays once: Eastern Mennonite (still think that R-MC is a bad matchup for the Royals with a great ball handler in Short, so a win), Roanoke (have the Maroons at home, win), Lynchburg (struggling team, win) and Guilford (at Guilford, so I will give them a loss here)

With that predicition, 14-2 will win the conference. I think the Jackets will lose once to either VWC or H-SC (not both) and will slip up at Guilford. I really feel that Rhoades will right the ship come conference time in January and take care of business.

[DeWayneCarter]

With all thats gone on, I'd say its waaay to early for me to make predictions. But I would say that the Marlins have a very important week ahead of them, playing two games on the road at Averett and Guilford. I think this week could tell what kind of mettle these young Marlins have after a loss at EMU.

[hasanova]

With all thats gone on, I'd say its waaay to early for me to make predictions. But I would say that the Marlins have a very important week ahead of them, playing two games on the road at Averett and Guilford. I think this week could tell what kind of mettle these young Marlins have after a loss at EMU.

Yep.  I've had this week circled on the calendar as well.  GC hosts the undefeated NCWC Bishops tomorrow night and then the always tough VWC Marlins on Saturday.  With a few exceptions, the Quakers and the Marlins have played some of the more hotly-contested games the last few years ... there's never any doubt that both teams play with all they've got.

[hasanova]

Looks like three ODAC finals Monday night:

Methodist makes a point in Fayetteville to take the sting out of Lynchburg, 58-57
W&L periodically tables their offense, but irons out de(fe)nse in Ferrum, 60-56
E&H Wasps wisely clinch a win in western UVa's valley, 107-97

[baselinejam]

Looks like three ODAC finals Monday night:


W&L periodically tables their offense, but irons out de(fe)nse in Ferrum, 60-56

Ugly

However I'm pleased with the Ferrum split.

[oldfish]

Thought it was interesting that no one mentioned anything about the UTD-Guilford game.  It was a showdown of ex-VWC coaches.  Palombo vs. Butterfield.  Although Palombo never played for Butterfield I can promise you that he wanted to win that game more than usual.  As someone who was around in the Palombo/Butterfield days it would have been great to see them both on the sidelines. 

[hasanova]

Looks like three ODAC finals Monday night:


W&L periodically tables their offense, but irons out de(fe)nse in Ferrum, 60-56

Ugly

However I'm pleased with the Ferrum split.

(Au)dacious, I know, but the puns can't all be golden.  W&L's team chemistry must have been good ...  I'm glad the Generals won too!

[hasanova]

Thought it was interesting that no one mentioned anything about the UTD-Guilford game.  It was a showdown of ex-VWC coaches.  Palombo vs. Butterfield.  Although Palombo never played for Butterfield I can promise you that he wanted to win that game more than usual.  As someone who was around in the Palombo/Butterfield days it would have been great to see them both on the sidelines. 

Ralph Turner attended and talked about the game in this forum a week or so ago.  The Quakers led by 3 at the half and by 5 with about 16 minutes to go, but got smoked by the Comets down the stretch.  To be honest, I hadn't made the Palombo/Butterfield connection, so thanks for mentioning it ... that helps explain some of the reasons Guilford was invited.

[jdubyadubya]

See there Nova, it all comes back to VWC, doesn't it! BIG INFLUENCE on the ODAC

[baselinejam]

Looks like three ODAC finals Monday night:


W&L periodically tables their offense, but irons out de(fe)nse in Ferrum, 60-56

Ugly

However I'm pleased with the Ferrum split.

(Au)dacious, I know, but the puns can't all be golden.  W&L's team chemistry must have been good ...  I'm glad the Generals won too!

You are golden.

I'm glad the Gennies have repaid Ferrum for the earlier loss. Through 7 games we've had 6 different scoring leaders and 5 rebound leaders. Look out ODAC. When we  take care of the ball we can make some noise.

[hasanova]

See there Nova, it all comes back to VWC, doesn't it! BIG INFLUENCE on the ODAC

Yep, jww, VWC's had a lot of influence on the ODAC!  Palombo has certainly done a good job at Guilford.    I don't suppose you'll be in Greensboro on Saturday for the Quakers and the Marlins ... hopefully, I'll be there and be able to offer a postgame report.  Just a quick limerick for you:

There once was a school by the ocean
Putting waves of new coaches in motion.
"We are Marlins!" they teach,
"Coachin' sons of the beach
To toss chum on a sea of promotion!"