MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[ODACHOOPS]

odacfan, no attack felt at all, I respect your opinion and think you have a very valid point.  You are right..the way most of these type of awards end up, especially when you have more then 1 candidate that is so close in ability and talent is they end up going to either the older player or the player who is on the better team, and Short has both of those going for him.  King will have to post very high and impressive numbers for the voters to vote for a jr on a weaker team as appose to a sr. on a stronger team, just the way it is, however I do believe King has that ability in him...wow already getting all jacked up for the 2nd half of the season.

[odacfan1225]

should be fun to see those two play each other especially

[sludge]

Before any anointing goes on for POY, Curtis Peery at Roanoke may make himself noticed also, both in numbers and impact. 

Whoa, I'm no fan of Roanoke; just making an oberservation that I'm surprised to be making.

And a surprise might emerge from Guilford, although Guilford seems to be relying on very good team balance.

[sludge]

Grapevine says two ODAC teams were featured on ESPN sportcenter this evening, playing the game with the shot ranked #7 on the list of all time great game breaking shots.   

[ODACHOOPS]

Perry is a talented player make no mistake about it, and he is THE engine that makes Roanoke go, this year Perry is probably the best big man in the ODAC (I may be leaving someone out) so yes you could make an argument for him...But i just think at the end of the day he wont have the #'s nor impact that a King or Short has..I have seen all 3 of those players play numerous times and just don't see Perry having the same killer instinct/ability to completely take over a game that Short and King that is the only reason why I believe that even in mid December the POY is just a 2 horse race

[sludge]

Perry is a talented player make no mistake about it, and he is THE engine that makes Roanoke go, this year Perry is probably the best big man in the ODAC (I may be leaving someone out) so yes you could make an argument for him...But i just think at the end of the day he wont have the #'s nor impact that a King or Short has..I have seen all 3 of those players play numerous times and just don't see Perry having the same killer instinct/ability to completely take over a game that Short and King that is the only reason why I believe that even in mid December the POY is just a 2 horse race

Good point!

[hasanova]

Before any anointing goes on for POY, Curtis Peery at Roanoke may make himself noticed also, both in numbers and impact. 

Whoa, I'm no fan of Roanoke; just making an oberservation that I'm surprised to be making.

And a surprise might emerge from Guilford, although Guilford seems to be relying on very good team balance.

Clay Henson had 27 on the road tonight as the Quakers top McDaniel 68-62.  Guilford's 6-2, 1-0 and I've only spotted one "off" night for Clay out of eight games.  If GC has success as the ODAC season continues, it'll be hard to ignore some of his numbers. 

[hasanova]

...seriously, holiday greetings to all you posters, especially to some of the older guys like nova, Jimmy Loesel, and Steelyglen. I would have included STH in that but he's disappeared! Anyhoooo...Merry ho, ho!

Thanks, jww.  I am what I am.    Happy Holidays to you and everyone on board as well.  Peace

[hasanova]

Turner King is hands down the POY up to this point in the season in my opinion..HSC has lil offensive productivity and that kid is literally CARING the team in each game scoring wise while seeing the opponents best D/double teams ect..I'm sure there will be other thoughts and opinions on that topic, this is a very special kid that comes around once in blue moon and I am sure Dee and HSC realize just that

King is a great player.  "Carrying a team" is a huge burden, especially when opposing defenses start to adjust - just look at the Stephen Curry at Davidson.  One game this season, Curry stood in the corner of the court with two defenders while the other Wildcats went 4 on 3.  Curry scored zero that game, but DC still won!  Wow!   

[HSCfan]

Looks like King was at it again last night with 26 points to lead the Tigers. I know H-SC only beat up on Lancaster Bible, but if it wasn't for rarely-played-reserve-turn-starter John Barker, who netted 20 including 6 threes in his first-ever start, then the Tigers, again, would have struggled to put up points. Those two were the only ones in double figures, and by a long shot.

Hampden-Sydney is still trying to find that groove offensively. Again, I know it was just Lancaster Bible,  but H-SC forced 22 turnovers (albeit they allowed 53 percent shooting, the Chargers got up significantly less shots) and the defense has seemed to be pretty consistent throughout the year. However, while the old saying goes "defense wins championships," offense does win games, and without some other consistent help for King, it will be nip-and-tuck for the Tigers all year.

I still believe they have the talent to make some noise this season...heck! They have lost their four games by 9 points combined!! But I think this again, goes to show how valuable King is to his team. He shot 11-for-15 last night...he's doing this consistently. Lancaster Bible had a guy in his grill as soon as he crossed half court...this is happening consistently...and he's still shooting 60 percent from the field as a two-guard and 59 percent from three in SEVEN games...not just two or three, but SEVEN! I have to agree, and I know that I am a homer on this, that Turner King should be the favorite for Player of the Year if this level of play continues...averaging 22+ ppg as your team's first, second, and third option with other teams knowing it, AND shooting a helluva percentage is unreal.

On another note, by no means am I saying that the Tigers will only be a one-man show for the duration. Several players have shown that they are capable of stepping up. Shane Payne picked up two fouls in the first three minutes last night and played just 14 minutes b/c of foul trouble - he has had big games. Jon Mudd didn't really hunt his shot last night, but was still efficient with four pretty assists - he has had big games including 18 at Roanoke in 23 minutes (and with sitting for 12 minutes in the second half with foul trouble). Matt Partsch has shown he is a dead-eye shooter; Paul Matthews was a stud last year off the bench and can be this year, Lane Medlin still has yet to emerge, but I feel he will in this system...I think that as time goes on and the Tiger personnel and Dee Vick, alike, get accustomed to each others styles, we will see it click. But for now, it is King's team to "carry" and I don't really have a problem watching that kid do his thing...it's amazing to watch!

[HSCfan]

And I know this has been talked about, but I also agree with the sentiments of ODACHOOPS and odacfan...this should end up being a two-man race with King and Justin Short, and typically, the older player on the better team does win the award. I would have no problem with Short winning it if his level of play continues and Macon fulfills those preseason, high-hopes...just as it is tough to will a team to play better, it is almost as tough to keep a team focused and meet expectations when people are gunning for you every night, no matter what gym you step into. Part of being a great point guard is having the uncanny ability not only to make sure you play at a high level, but that your teammates, each and every one, are maximizing their potential as well whenever you step on the floor, be it in practice everyday or under the lights - and Short has that quality. He has progressed into a player with a little bit of everything, and his knack for making the big play is something to behold in big games.

However, I just want to make sure that people don't discount what King will probably do this year...he just eclipsed the 1,000-point mark last night in the seventh game of his JUNIOR year (congrats to Turner on that). He almost reminds me of Stephen Curry as far as how he is defensed...if anyone watched the Davidson/West Virginia game, the Mountaineers not only switched every ball screen, they switched every off-ball screen, they trapped him, they threw waves of guys at him...and that's what teams are doing/will do to Turner all year because there are guys they feel they can leave. With R-MC, I wouldn't want to leave anyone else on the floor...

[jdubyadubya]

I watched the Marlins beat up on the Hornets of Shenandoah University last night. It was a sloppy game...the Hornets were totally off their shooting game and the Marlins gave up a lot of fouls. At the end of the contest I think there were four or five Marlins who had at least 3 fouls, two had 4. I can honestly say that the Marlins have some real talent. McDuffie has a lot of potential. Fields was spotty but pretty good. Hassell has come a long way. Dixon is very good. No. 20, freshman Paul Meredith, played a good game. They don't have much of an inside game like the days of B. Adair, who would methodically back into the basket and then lay it up or slam it down. They have some good three point shooting. Looks like a work in progress that is getting a little better as the season goes on. 

[HSCfan]

jdub ~

The scary thing about VWC is that they always, regardless of how their offense is treating them, bring the defensive pressure. Although this may not always result in wins this year, the Marlins' ability to force turnovers and capitalize with transition buckets is always a viable threat to opponents will keep them in every ODAC game...

...and the Fish Tank is a tough place to play, on top of everything else. Again, this season is going to come down to which team(s) can pull everything together at the end of the year and best deal with new coaches, youth, systems, etc. That is why through everything else, I think that H-SC, VWC and Guilford, who have the best combinations (of course, in my opinion) of coaching and talent overall, will be the top challengers to R-MC at the end of the year.

Not saying anyone else cannot join in the fun, but those three teams I feel will have the best teams if everything clicks, aside from the favorite Macon.

[jdubyadubya]

HSCfan - darned good synopsis! It was interesting watching the Marlins last night because #44 was sitting next to me and now that his four years are over and Brandon is gone, it's a whole new ballgame! There were incredible flashes last night of defensive brillance, fast-paced offense, etc. But it was just that, nothing cosistent yet. As you said, let's see how it all gels at season's end.

[hasanova]

Keep Guilford's Henson in sight of your "two-man" radar screen ... Clay's averaging 19.4 ppg and the Quakers are 6-2 so far.