MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[hasanova]

It's not the 'evil' NCAA imposing a difference on d3; d3 itself has chosen to emphasize regional play.  Personally, I don't like it, but I assume the rationale is to avoid unfairness to schools who can't afford the travel.

I'm a logical person and the regional concept seems illogical.  Guilford to McDaniel is a lot closer than games within the West region or, for that matter, just the ASC!  Heck, it's closer than the "regional" trip Guilford took to Dallas! 

[Mr. Ypsi]

It's not the 'evil' NCAA imposing a difference on d3; d3 itself has chosen to emphasize regional play.  Personally, I don't like it, but I assume the rationale is to avoid unfairness to schools who can't afford the travel.

I'm a logical person and the regional concept seems illogical.  Guilford to McDaniel is a lot closer than games within the West region or, for that matter, just the ASC!  Heck, it's closer than the "regional" trip Guilford took to Dallas! 

The rules for in-region can lead to some weird anomalies.  e.g., Wheaton at a SoCal school (c. 2000 miles) is in-region; Wheaton at Calvin (202 miles) is not.

I suppose there have to be some sort of understood and consistent rules (if they insist on regions at all), but it can get strange.

[hasanova]

It's not the 'evil' NCAA imposing a difference on d3; d3 itself has chosen to emphasize regional play.  Personally, I don't like it, but I assume the rationale is to avoid unfairness to schools who can't afford the travel.

I'm a logical person and the regional concept seems illogical.  Guilford to McDaniel is a lot closer than games within the West region or, for that matter, just the ASC!  Heck, it's closer than the "regional" trip Guilford took to Dallas! 

The rules for in-region can lead to some weird anomalies.  e.g., Wheaton at a SoCal school (c. 2000 miles) is in-region; Wheaton at Calvin (202 miles) is not.

I suppose there have to be some sort of understood and consistent rules (if they insist on regions at all), but it can get strange.

I see and understand the anomalies ... I just don't see why regions are needed.  I always hear the only way to see if one area is stronger than another is to compare head-to-head games, but the rules then contradict that notion by discouraging interregional play!  (Brandeis can play Emory because they're both in the UAA, but Guilford can't go to McDaniel!)

[hasanova]

Changing the subject to POY candidates, I think Clay Henson just helped his case by winning his second straight ODAC POTW award (and his 3rd of the season).  In last week's two GC wins, he scored 44 points and was 15 of 26 from the field (8 of 15 from behind the arc).  He's leading the ODAC at 19.8 ppg and has improved his shooting stats.  Nice!

[2RMCFans]

Henson certainly is looking like a superstar lately.  Congrats to him and good luck to Guilford in closing out another great season.

Speaking of POY, here's a link to a great article about Justin Short in today's Times-Dispatch:

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/sports/college/college_basketball/article/RMCB18_20090217-222307/209224/

(Sorry we don't know how to truncate that link...)

GO JACKETS!!!!  And, best of luck to all the players for a great night of basketball!

[hasanova]

Henson certainly is looking like a superstar lately.  Congrats to him and good luck to Guilford in closing out another great season.

Speaking of POY, here's a link to a great article about Justin Short in today's Times-Dispatch:

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/sports/college/college_basketball/article/RMCB18_20090217-222307/209224/

(Sorry we don't know how to truncate that link...)

GO JACKETS!!!!  And, best of luck to all the players for a great night of basketball!

Thanks for including the Short story (pun intended) ... I enjoyed reading it.  +1  I'm a GC fan, but I'm also an ODAC and a DIII fan. 

I wish I could be at the RMC/HSC game tonight ... that's a trip I'm going to make one day.  RMC's favored, of course, but I won't be surprised at any outcome.  Obviously, it helps Guilford if HSC wins, but there's a certain poetic justice if GC and RMC remain tied.  I'm not assuming anything, however, as the Quakers face an always tough E&H on the road and then a greatly improved Randolph squad on Saturday.   I normally listen, but I'll have to check the score after I attend a wake tonight.  Good luck, Quakers!

[badcall!]

Someone help me out on this.  Several days ago I stated that EMU has not won at BC in 15 games, which includes a couple of Glick Tournament games.  However, a friend has suggested I look deeper that it is closer to 18 or 20 times that BC has won in a row on their own floor.  He stated that the last victory at BC for EMU was under his friend Mark Fleming which goes way back to when EMU was EMC.  Can the Royals do it!  Talk is beginning about the POY and I note that some say Trawick is deserving.  I believe that George Johnson has better numbers and is equally deserving.  When was the last EMC (EMC) win at BC??

[ODACHOOPS]

Yes Clay Henson has played very well as of late and is certainly deserving of being in the hunt for POY.  However here is why I believe Justin Short of RMC will and should win the award.  Short is a more valuable asset to his teams success then Henson is.  Now I'm sure the Guildford fans are going to say that Henson is essential to their success and that is very true but when you look at both players and both players supporting casts Short clearly has the weaker supporting cast.  Henson has 6'11" Sanborn (15ppg 12rpg) which I don't think people realize how much relief and pressure that takes off a scorer when you have someone of that size and skill who demands constant attention, as well having Bonner who is putting up 15ppg, another scoring threat. Short on the other hand, his best supporting cast mate is Jordan Brown who is putting up 11ppg and I think even RMC fans would admit he is playing inconsistent and not meeting all their pre-season hype.

Bottom line both Short and Henson are getting every team's best shot every night but Short is lacking a consistent supporting cast to help with the work load and still putting up blistering #'s while leading his team to #1 in the ODAC.  Henson is putting up blistering #'s as well but also has (2 supporting cast) Bonner and Sandborn to help with the scoring load and take pressure off him.  Not taking anything away from Henson who is clearly a top ODAC player, but you have to understand that having a 6'11 talented player who is averaging 15/12 is going to make your job A LOT easier any way you look at it.  And no Brandon Braxton is not a Sandborn

I dont believe Trawick is deserving of being mentioned for POY, a very talented player who is capable of putting up big numbers but not a POY candidate this year, not with the likes of Henson, Short and King all more deseving

[HSCfan]

I think it's pretty clear that the POY race has come down to Justin Short and Clay Henson, of which I believe that Short should and will win, however, this may be one of the toughest years in which to select first team, second team and honorable mention squads...here's my first (and probably much flawed) attempt at the first and second teams!

In the last few years, I know they have put six players on each team...

First Team
Justin Short, RMC (obvious)
Clay Henson, GC (a close second behind Short for POY)
Curtis Peery, RC (leading scorer and rebounder for a team that is now 3rd)
Turner King, HSC (would be a candidate for POY if it wasn't for the Tigers' record)
Dom Trawick, BC (great player; really sold me when he led his team to a win at W&L without Oblitey)
Tyler Sanborn, GC (he is 6-10 which is an advantage over everyone, but he is the real difference maker for the Quakers with a 15 and 12 average)

Second Team
Quinton McDuffie, VWC (hard to keep him off first team, but who is he going to replace?)
Rhett Bonner, GC (see McDuffie)
Jordan Brown, RMC (although his offensive numbers have fluxxed, his defensive numbers are great)
Mason Wooldridge, LC (hard for me to put a guy here from a 3-20 team, but his numbers are great even though he is LC's marked man)
George Johnson, EMU (the key to EMU's great season; big shot maker)
Derrick Woods-Morrow, Rand (a beast inside that is putting up great numbers against bigger players with better supporting casts)

A couple guys that I had a hard time leaving off second team: Stephen Fields (VWC), D.J. Hinson (EMU)

[rmc1982]

Regional rankings are out GC in 3rd and RMC@ 4th...both teams moving up 1 notch....

[2RMCFans]

HSCFan, we think your picks are better than good in a league loaded up with talent; and also think there could be a spot on 2nd team for W & L's senior Ben Heller - he has good offensive and defensive numbers (10.3/4.9) and the team is 2nd in scoring defense as of this week (w/R-MC closing in on that position however).  His teammate Zac White's numbers are almost identical, but we'd give Heller the nod since he's graduating this year. 

It is great to see Justin Short getting accolades here - he is really a champ on & off the court. 

GO JACKETS!

[hasanova]

Guilford.  Sanborn.  Two words, but only one "d" total.  It's a learning process, but Sanborn's been in the ODAC for three years and Guilford's been in for 18.

There were similar arguments the past few years about whether Strong should be POY in a DIII league since he's so tall.  Maybe we should change the rules so we always give the POY to a player 6'7" or under and whose team has no other player averaging over 10 ppg.   

With that said, Short or Henson would both be great choices.  I think it'll be decided by this week's three games:  RMC at HSC, GC at E&H and RaC at GC.

Tonight's games are big for POY and ODAC champ!  Go Quakers!

[donho]

 ten -ten at 12 minute mark

[donho]

 do  you need updates 78rmc ??

[78rmc]

do  you need updates 78rmc ??

Thanks, but I've got the video working.