MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Jacketlawyer]

Jacketlawyer

You're too conservative to be cocky, however minus a major melt down by the Jackets, I don't think you have much to worry about on Wednesday nite. If the Tigers keep improving you may have reason to worry when they get togther in Feb @ HSC.

. . . . well said. 

[Jacketlawyer]

I agree, HSC vs. RMC is a very special affair. I know the Tigers are not where they want to be, but give Coach Vick a couple of recruiting years and this game will really turn into something special.    

The GAME will always be special.  I remember when H-S upset us back in '86 or '87 when we were DII and all the phone calls from my H-S friends I got at my fraternity house.  More recently, I recall losing to the Tigers in the first round of the ODAC tournament last year.  No fun for the Macon fans.

I agree we should win on Wednesday, but have seen too many of these games over the years to ever be cocky about it. GO JACKETS! 8)

Hey, Jacketlawyer.  You're right - it will always be The Game.  I hope it's well-played and you get to attend.

We've talked for a couple of seasons about you attending an RMC at GC game.  We've missed the Ben Strong era, but I still think both schools have fine teams this year.  You should think about being my guest for the game on Saturday, January 31.  The Quakers will retire four jerseys at halftime - Dan Kuzma, Bob Kauffman, M.L. Carr and World B. Free - as well as dedicate the court to former HC Jack Jensen.  Three of those guys had long NBA careers and were All-Stars.  All are scheduled to attend and I think it'll be a huge crowd. 

And I still want to get down there!

[hasanova]

I agree, HSC vs. RMC is a very special affair. I know the Tigers are not where they want to be, but give Coach Vick a couple of recruiting years and this game will really turn into something special.    

The GAME will always be special.  I remember when H-S upset us back in '86 or '87 when we were DII and all the phone calls from my H-S friends I got at my fraternity house.  More recently, I recall losing to the Tigers in the first round of the ODAC tournament last year.  No fun for the Macon fans.

I agree we should win on Wednesday, but have seen too many of these games over the years to ever be cocky about it. GO JACKETS! 8)

Hey, Jacketlawyer.  You're right - it will always be The Game.  I hope it's well-played and you get to attend.

We've talked for a couple of seasons about you attending an RMC at GC game.  We've missed the Ben Strong era, but I still think both schools have fine teams this year.  You should think about being my guest for the game on Saturday, January 31.  The Quakers will retire four jerseys at halftime - Dan Kuzma, Bob Kauffman, M.L. Carr and World B. Free - as well as dedicate the court to former HC Jack Jensen.  Three of those guys had long NBA careers and were All-Stars.  All are scheduled to attend and I think it'll be a huge crowd. 

And I still want to get down there!

"Make it so." 

[yj424]

Gentlemen, most importantly, first and foremost, is an extremely important game tonight in Crenshaw between the Yellow Jackets and the Eagles of Bridgewater. Jacket Lawyer, let's not start looking ahead. We need a victory tonight to keep up with EMU and Roanoke.

[ODACHOOPS]

Indeed Turner King is as good as any player to ever wear an HSC jersey that is undisputable, every night he steps on the floor history will me made.  In my opinion he should have been an All-American last year (maybe just honorable mention) but should have been one with his: 20ppg, 6 rpg, 40% from 3 and 84% from the free-throw line, as well as getting first team all conference and finishing runner up for POY to none other then Ben Strong.  With the ODAC being recognized year in and year out as one of the top 4-5 conferences in the country, I just think he earned that. And that may have made him the first 3 time All American for HSC, not sure though, don't have the record books or know the ancient history enough to be that certain.  Would have to run that one by the stat freak Algernon.

[Jacketlawyer]

Gentlemen, most importantly, first and foremost, is an extremely important game tonight in Crenshaw between the Yellow Jackets and the Eagles of Bridgewater. Jacket Lawyer, let's not start looking ahead. We need a victory tonight to keep up with EMU and Roanoke.

I stand corrected.  Must practice what I preach!

[hasanova]

Gentlemen, most importantly, first and foremost, is an extremely important game tonight in Crenshaw between the Yellow Jackets and the Eagles of Bridgewater. Jacket Lawyer, let's not start looking ahead. We need a victory tonight to keep up with EMU and Roanoke.

I stand corrected.  Must practice what I preach!

Yeah, but let's not forget the 0-9 Polytechnic (NY) Bluejays are visiting the 0-10 Caltech Beavers today.  The loser just may be the land's worst DIII team - now that's pressure!    Forget their 7.1 ppg stats, however.  In 5 years they'll probably all be making $200k designing cars that get 347 mpg fueled by sweaty gym socks!

[hasanova]

Congratulations to Randolph for halting their losing streak with a home OT win over Washington (MD), 69-68.

Kudos as well to W&L for keeping their good start alive, 75-59, over Goucher in Lexington.

And in ODAC play, RMC handled BC in Ashland, 78-61.

[odacfan1225]

http://rmc.edu/News/MBBALL09-SHORT-POW2.aspx

[HSCfan]

Hey tigerfanalso,

Glad to see another Tiger fan posting on the board, in addition to seeing the return of Algernon! I know that you noted watching the Tigers play this season that you believe they have improved in many important facets of the game. I can agree to a point, but I think it is important to note that statistically, the Tigers are actually not as effective as they were the past two years under Bubba Smith (I stress that this is AT THIS POINT!!!):

2006-07 (ODAC Title Season)
Opp. FG%: 43.5%
Opp. 3pt%: 32.4%
Reb. Margin: +3.5
H-S FG%: 47.0%
H-S 3pt%: 39.5%

2007-08
Opp. FG%: 45.3%
Opp. 3pt%: 35.8%
Reb. Margin: +4.3
H-S FG%: 48.2%
H-S 3pt%: 39.4%

2008-09 (This Season)
Opp. FG%: 45.8%
Opp. 3pt%: 40.2%
Reb. Margin: +3.1
H-S FG%: 45.8%
H-S 3pt%: 37.7%

As you can see, Hampden-Sydney's defensive field goal percentages were lower the past two seasons, rebounding margins were greater in the past two seasons, and the Tigers' field goal percentages from the floor and from three were greater the past two seasons.

I think that because Hampden-Sydney is allowing about 5-6 fewer points per game, there is a thought that they have improved a great deal defensively. However, teams are shooting very high percentages against H-SC right now. Also, the Tigers are struggling overall from the field on the offensive end, and the combination has dealt them several heartbreaking losses.

While I am very confident that the Tigers' luck will change in the remainder of the season, let's not be too quick to dismiss the great work that Bubba did, especially in his last two seasons in a brutally talented ODAC. This year's ODAC is a bit down from years past of Adair, Strong, Sager, Balenga, Fitch, Dixon, Hawley, Edwards, Kaase, Dowell, LaPorte, Bienemann, Kusimo, Parkes, etc.

Now, H-SC has lost 5 of their six games by a combined ten points (three 1 point losses, one 2 point loss, and one 5 point loss), but 5-6 is 5-6, and who was it, Mike Ditka, who said that you are as good as your record indicates. I cannot wait to see this team explode, but right now, we are 5-6, 0-2 and the stats kind of mirror that.

[ODACHOOPS]

Very well put hscfan, I too think that the numbers and success that Bubba put up are often overlooked/ forgotten about. He did one hell of a job in the 5 years he was there and that no one can dispute.  In Dee's defense though this years Tiger's team in no where near as talented as the past Tigers teams. I can't think of the last time that the Tigers truly lacked and had zero inside presence.  You went from the mike thompson, dave wilson, era right into the troy kaase era into the jyri laakso and lane medlin era??? Also I can't remember the last time the Tigers only had ONE true scoring threat..again you go from the Monroe, Randall, Thompson era into the Green, Edwards, Prehmus, Kasse and Murray era into the King and...well the Turner himself era.  And yes I though the Tigers would be off to a better start then this even with the lack of talent from past hsc teams strictly because of how down the ODAC is this year in relation to years past but with time I think Dee will be just fine and have the Tigers recruiting classes back to previous years talent level.

[tigerfanalso]

HSCFAN

You are way over my head with all of the stats you mention, but all good points. I think the overall talent from the previuos three years was probably better, maybe much better, than the current team; so maybe that addresses the stats you pointed out. Given time, hopefully Coach Vick will be able to bring in more impact players and rebuild the program back into the national contender it once was. When I mentioned I saw an improvement I refer to how some of the younger players are maturing, the  effort, the buy into a new scheme/program. It just looks to be very positive and heading in the right direction at least that is my prospective. As I said, I've only seen them play twice and will only have time to make two more trips (Guilford & RMC)  this season; so you are much more in step and up to date than I, so I will defer for the time being. Hopefully next season I'll have more time to enjoy watching the Tigers play & grow. Keep up the good work and keep me posted.

Go Tigers !!!!   

[hasanova]

Under the title "something I found while looking up something else", the ODAC's nonconference slate is 56-37:

RoC   8-1
GC     7-2
W&L  7-2
E&H   6-3
VWC  6-3
RMC   5-3  @ CNU
EMU   4-3  SVU and Washington Bible
HSC   5-4 
BC     4-4  @ Shenandoah
RaC   2-5  Patrick Henry College (the Wildcats only have a 24-game slate)
LC     2-7 

So, there are 5 games left to complete the 98 game non-ODAC portion.  The out-of-conference schedule, of course, runs the gamut from mid-major DIs on the road to East Central Podunk Schools of Basketweaving at home, but it's still a barometer of the ODAC's overall competitiveness.

[HSCfan]

tigerfanalso and ODACHOOPS,

By no means did I intend to downplay the work that Vick and his staff has done to this point. I agree that this team is not as talented overall as past teams, but even I would not characterize that 2007 championship team as being overly talented...Mike Edwards was a very talented player, Prehmus a deadly shooter, and Murray stepped up when it mattered most, but by no means was Green a scorer (I would say that Lawton is a better pure point and that Mudd is definitely a step up!), and let's remember, Kaase was out that season with an ACL!

Also, the talent level in the ODAC was much better overall. While this year's ODAC is more balanced, I think the overall talent level of the teams was higher then. But again, there is no way to accurately compare and contrast teams from different seasons...too many variables! I was just attempting to show, using stats, that this year's team, though a bounce of the ball away from 9-2, is still a big work in progress. There is still plenty of ball to be played this year, and I wouldn't be shocked if Vick has the guys playing their best ball come February.

The lack of a consistent inside presence certainly is hindering the squad a bit this year, but I have been pleased with the play of Colin O'Neill. He pulled down 10 boards against EMU and is an energetic and physical presence down low. He struggles to score one-on-one at times, but he attacks the glass relentlessly and gets most of his points from O-boards.

Any time the opportunity arises to talk Tiger hoops comes along, I'll take it! I hope that you, tigerfanalso, get to see plenty of games in the near future. This team is certainly fun to watch and Turner King is a treasure to behold...I'm just glad he's a junior!!!!

[Brian Hamilton]

HSCFan,

I agree with a number of other posters.  While the numbers support your theory, I think it is fair to say that Coach Vick would be having a much easier time if he had Prehmus and Kaase from last year's team.  I think it is also worth noting that Coach Vick has had to deal with some injury issues that have had a major impact upon his rotation.  Karlis Trops was starting earlier in the year and then got injured and has not yet returned to form.  Byron Lawton had some back issues against Eastern Mennonite in a game where an extra ball handler and another set of fresh legs could have made a difference.  I would also add that Coach Vick did not have much time to recruit given his late hiring and that means that he is having to adapt what he wants to do to the players he has.  This first season is going to be an adjustment and will hopefully be a season in which we start to see a turnaround.

As far as Coach Smith, I do believe that he never got as much credit as he deserved.  Following in Shaver's footsteps was something that I would not wish on anyone.  Additionally, Shavers ( and Macons) success during the late 90s and early 2000s helped to improve the rest of the league and are part of the reason that VWC and Guilford emerged as contenders while the rest of the league improved.  When your conference has a couple of powers who figure in the national scene that makes the other schools a little more attractice as well because it improves the perception of the conference as a whole.

There is a lot of basketball left to be played.  We will just have to wait and see how things play out.  I would love to see a repeat of the 1st round of the ODACs last year at Crenshaw on Wednesday night!