MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

smithgraham77 · February 19, 2009, 08:32:26 PM

Quote from: smithgraham77 on February 19, 2009, 08:24:40 PM
Quote from: hasanova on February 19, 2009, 04:52:40 PM
Hey, HSCfan. +1 for your analysis. I think the ODAC usually has five players on each all-conference team, but last year there were ties for the last spot(s) ... so, more players got 2008 post-season honors.

No, six players make each team from now on. That started last year...

On another note, I was extremely disappointed in the Hornets last night. Randolph earned the win and deserved to win it, but LC looked like they didn't even want to be in that gym and didn't even want to play a basketball game. If the players can't get up for a must-win game then that is simply disturbing. What I liked about this team this year was that despite the losing they were still competing until the final buzzer, but that was completely absent from the first second of the game. I thought the players had gotten over their quitting ways this season based on how they have played the past couple of weeks, but I guess you can't take the quit out them for good. Hopefully Coach Scott is a better scout of not just talent, but attitude as well because Swickrath's players are quitters.

hasanova · February 19, 2009, 10:22:35 PM

Quote from: smithgraham77 on February 19, 2009, 08:24:40 PM
Quote from: hasanova on February 19, 2009, 04:52:40 PM
Hey, HSCfan. +1 for your analysis. I think the ODAC usually has five players on each all-conference team, but last year there were ties for the last spot(s) ... so, more players got 2008 post-season honors.

No, six players make each team from now on. That started last year...

I didn't know that. There are only five players on the court at a time, so it would seem more logical (to me) if it was five. Thanks for the information.

hasanova · February 19, 2009, 10:27:01 PM

Quote from: smithgraham77 on February 19, 2009, 08:32:26 PMOn another note, I was extremely disappointed in the Hornets last night. Randolph earned the win and deserved to win it, but LC looked like they didn't even want to be in that gym and didn't even want to play a basketball game. If the players can't get up for a must-win game then that is simply disturbing. What I liked about this team this year was that despite the losing they were still competing until the final buzzer, but that was completely absent from the first second of the game. I thought the players had gotten over their quitting ways this season based on how they have played the past couple of weeks, but I guess you can't take the quit out them for good. Hopefully Coach Scott is a better scout of not just talent, but attitude as well because Swickrath's players are quitters.

Those are strong words, but I've only seen LC play once this season ... when they got pounded at Guilford. It does seem as though the Hornets are "mailing it in." At the rate they're going, however, their season may be over in two more games. I'm sure they had higher hopes when the season started, but it takes time.

hasanova · February 20, 2009, 09:48:15 AM

sludge,

Are you going to Senior Day when the Quakers host Randolph? I'll be at Brevard for my nephew. I was just reading about the York women's coach's dilemma: six seniors ... who doesn't start? Fortunately, GC just has two: Neville and Stanley ... and they both start! I hope the game goes well so Mat gets lots of minutes.

These guys will certainly be missed, of course, but it bodes well for a good 2009-10 team. Tyler, Clay and Rhett as Seniors will be formidable. Not sure who'll start with them, but I predict Lowder and Stephenson.

Henson's five points shy of 1000 and 11 points behind Short for the ODAC regular-season scoring lead. I expect him to pass both marks, but I don't expect Palombo to allow a big total tomorrow unless the game's tight.

I look forward to your report!

xcoach · February 20, 2009, 10:34:41 AM

I, too, am very disappointed in the LC season. I came out of my cave in the preseason and made a case for LC being an impact team. I based my thesis on a team that returned players with 2 and 3 years experience, 2 All-ODAC caliber players, and a new coach with a new system. I do not apologize for my prognostication.
Now, some of you have implied that LC does not have ODAC caliber players yet all of you have Woolridge on your All-ODAC picks and lavish praise has appeared on this board for Echols. I assure you that the remaining LC roster contains several players who have the talent to round out a competitive rotation.
smithgraham77 should be ashamed. He calls the players quitters and is still trying to kick Swickrath around for the quit that he sees in these players. That is shameful as well as cowardly and I would invite you to go to practice this afternoon where these guys have worked their tails off for the past 4 months and lecture them on their lack of effort. My friend, Swickrath is gone and having had the great pleasure to work with these kids, they are not quitters. It is certainly likely that after having high hopes, the same old 3-20 record hanging around their necks has affected their play and to someone who has never played the game nor coached the game, it might appear like quitting.
Perhaps smithgraham, instead of hoping Coach Scott is a better scout of talent and attitude, you had better hope he can prepare his players on the practice floor and put his game plans into action when the scoreboard comes on. I don't think he is blaming his players. I would imagine he is trying to figure out what might yet work with this team. smithgraham, you would be well served to confine your analysis to the same.

hasanova · February 20, 2009, 05:38:31 PM

Congratulations to Coach Rhoades and the RMC Yellow Jackets for a fine regular season. Twenty and five (14-2) is a great record, especially when you consider one of the losses is to DI Richmond!

Pending Guilford's game with Randolph, RMC could be outright ODAC champ or tied with the Quakers. If Guilford wins, I know GC will be the number one seed based on the lone game head-to-head tie-breaker, but I'll consider them co-champs. I was at the GC/RMC game in Greensboro ... it was a tight, back-and-forth game with Guilford coming from behind in the last few mintues to win ... either team could have won (and would have deserved it!) Who knows what would have happened if the game had been in Ashland or if the teams had played twice.

It'll have to be in the ODAC final or the NCAA tournament if they meet again, so we'll see. I'm looking forward to this weekend and next! Go ODAC!

sludge · February 20, 2009, 06:58:46 PM

Xcoach, your story rings true to me. I think Lynchburg has had more hustle this year, and certainly, anyone who has survived on the team to this point isn't a quitter. It's very plausible to me that they would have a let-down near season end, due to disappointment.

Hasanova, I hope to be there for Senior day. I'll see what shakes out on that.

If Guilford played RMC at Ashland, the Quakers would've won on a 3 pointer at the buzzer.
Just kidding.

coopersharpe · February 20, 2009, 11:05:40 PM

I have been watching from a distance this year but as it is near the end of the season I feel like chiming in. Congrats to all this season. Mr. Nova....hope you have been doing well. Lets go Guilford. Congrats to Coach Palombo in what I believe is another coach of the year trophy. Maybe Clay wins player of the year but there are two that are very deserving. Co-Player of the year would not be a cop-out. Good luck to all in the tourney as I am sure it will be great.

Mr. Ypsi · February 20, 2009, 11:09:12 PM

Quote from: coopersharpe on February 20, 2009, 11:05:40 PM
I have been watching from a distance this year but as it is near the end of the season I feel like chiming in. Congrats to all this season. Mr. Nova....hope you have been doing well. Lets go Guilford. Congrats to Coach Palombo in what I believe is another coach of the year trophy. Maybe Clay wins player of the year but there are two that are very deserving. Co-Player of the year would not be a cop-out. Good luck to all in the tourney as I am sure it will be great.

I love it - gotta be the first time hasanova has ever gotten due respect!

+k to coopersharpe and hasa!

(I would have said Mr. ..., but wasn't sure where to break coopersharpe between first and last name?

)

hasanova · February 21, 2009, 01:52:08 AM

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 20, 2009, 11:09:12 PM
Quote from: coopersharpe on February 20, 2009, 11:05:40 PM
I have been watching from a distance this year but as it is near the end of the season I feel like chiming in. Congrats to all this season. Mr. Nova....hope you have been doing well. Lets go Guilford. Congrats to Coach Palombo in what I believe is another coach of the year trophy. Maybe Clay wins player of the year but there are two that are very deserving. Co-Player of the year would not be a cop-out. Good luck to all in the tourney as I am sure it will be great.

I love it - gotta be the first time hasanova has ever gotten due respect!

+k to coopersharpe and hasa!

(I would have said Mr. ..., but wasn't sure where to break coopersharpe between first and last name? )

coopersharpe, thanks and glad to see you online! I hope things have been going well for you since graduation. I'm experiencing a little difficulty on the employment front, but otherwise I'm great.

I'm not sure if you've seen the Quakers play this season, but they're having a terrific year ... it's not always the same star, but someone steps up each game. Hopefully, they can make a run in the ODAC tournament and NCAAs! I'll be at Brevard College tomorrow and will have to miss George and Mat's last home game, but I'm hoping to make it to Salem next weekend.

Mr. Ypsi, thanks for the kind words, but I get lots of respect ... often more than I probably deserve! You are, as the saying goes, a gentleman and a scholar. And as for coopersharpe, he gets my respect as well. I enjoyed watching him play and I still enjoy talking to him about anything and everything ... and oh yeah, he's a lot bigger than me!

Peace. Good luck to the Quakers on Saturday!

HSCDad · February 21, 2009, 04:07:10 PM

HS-C had a very good 10 point win today at Va Weslyen

Ben Jesse was tops at 22 points but all contributed - Medlin had a double double

HSCfan · February 21, 2009, 04:19:47 PM

Atta way Tigers! Great win in the Fish Tank to earn a season sweep of VWC!!!

Ben Jessee is absolutely brimming with confidence right now...great time to get your career high!

H-SC has won 3 of 4 and now has a bit of momentum heading into the tourney!

HSCfan · February 21, 2009, 04:22:01 PM

And an added bonus...Hampden-Sydney will have the No. 6 seed...will host Lynchburg on Tuesday and then avoid R-MC or Guilford in the first round in Salem if they move on!

Things couldn't line up any better, now we just have to go and take it!

stillfamily · February 21, 2009, 04:50:56 PM

WOW an EMU win today over W&L and a BC loss @ Lynchburg...
Either way EMU would finish 5th, now that BC has lost they will finish 4th...
That only means one of the biggest rivalries of the ODAC will see each other in the first round down in
Salem!!!!!!
This should be a great first round game!!!!

Brian Hamilton · February 21, 2009, 05:24:29 PM

Stillfamily,

BC-EMU is a good rivalry and should be interesting in the 1st round, but if HSC can defeat Lynchburg (never count your chickens), then they would play Roanoke and if they won that would then (most likely) play Macon. I know BC-EMU is a good rivalry, but HSC-RoC and HSC-RMC would/will (depending on outcomes) most likely draw more fans. In any event, the tourney is shaping up to be a good one.

As for predictions,

Play-in
HSC over L-burg
VWC over Randolph
W&L over E&H (Isn't E&H glad W&L lost so they can avoid a trip to the Fish Tank)

1st Round
GC over W&L (going away)
RMC over VWC (but I think it will be competitive)
HSC over RoC (huge crowd for both teams and close game)
EMU over BC (EMU will rebound from the emotional loss just a few days ago)

2nd Round
GC over EMU (EMU won't have enough left after an emotional win over BC)
HSC over RMC (reliving last year, but this time in the 2nd round!)

Final
GC over HSC (but I hope HSC can pull it out)

In a 3-day back-to-back-to-back tourney format anything can happen. It will be interesting to see. I think Guilford has to like their draw. If I'm RMC I don't know that I like mine. They get (most likely) VWC in round 1. I know they beat them at home earlier, but it is that proverbial monkey on the back. Then, if they win, they get HSC or RoC. Then they (most likely) get GC if they win that. Still lots of b-ball to be played. Will a team have a player step up like Mike Edwards did 2 years ago or will seedings hold? I think next weekend should be some good b-ball, but we have to get through Tuesday night first.