MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Brian Hamilton]

Thanks Pat,

I was about to say the same thing and then saw you beat me to it.  JCU runs through their halfcourt offense and gets after you defensively.  It reminds me some of what the Tigers used to do in the late 90s with their full court press and very little if any drop off when they subbed in.  As I said earlier, I think that it will be a very intersting and competitive game.  Time will tell if Guilford can weather the storm.  JCU will definitely try to wear GC out and they have the depth to do it.  Reserves will be very important for Guilford in this one.

[hasanova]

Only on defense, though, not on offense. JCU isn't chucking threes and giving up quick layups to get the ball back.

Yeah, I see that too ... and thanks for providing the JCU Coach Mike Moran interview on the OAC board.

[hasanova]

Well, the Greensboro News & Record made its first (very brief) attempt today to offer any mention of Guilford's Sweet Sixteen run ... with the following results:

- Guilford's record was listed as 22-5, not the correct 23-5
- The Nationals in Salem are said to be March 19-20, not the correct March 20-21
- Curiously, the records were listed for three teams (one was wrong), but not JCU

Where are their fact checkers!?

Oh well. 

[Pat Coleman]

Where are their fact checkers!?

Laid off, no doubt.

[rmc1982]

Only on defense, though, not on offense. JCU isn't chucking threes and giving up quick layups to get the ball back.

You got that right ,Pat-we played them in Ashland in the finals of the Rees jewelers/Yellow Jacket Christmas classic a few years ago(I want to say 2004) and they were a HANDFUL! As a matter of fact they had us and should have beaten us-we came back at the end of the game,thanks to a controversial call or two, and won by the skin of our teeth. I was sitting right beside some of the JCU parents in Crenshaw and they were furious at a few calls, and on one especially,rightfully so.They did platoon alot of kids in on defense but were a very methodical,surgical even,offensive team.They will work the ball inside and don't take bad shots(at least not  that night)They are very well coached.The Quakers will have their hands full with this bunch,especially @ their place.....

[hasanova]

Well, the Greensboro News & Record made its first (very brief) attempt today to offer any mention of Guilford's Sweet Sixteen run ... with the following results:

- Guilford's record was listed as 22-5, not the correct 23-5
- The Nationals in Salem are said to be March 19-20, not the correct March 20-21
- Curiously, the records were listed for three teams (one was wrong), but not JCU

Where are their fact checkers!?

Oh well. 

The N&R said they got their information from JCU's website (and it was wrong Monday), so there you go!

[hasanova]

Kudos to the NCAA for providing video coverage for two of the men's sectionals.

Shame on the NCAA for not providing video coverage for two of the men's sectionals.

I understand the St. Thomas/Puget Sound and Wheaton/Washington U. decision ... they're all highly ranked, but the Richard Stockton sectional is confusing.   Why is that more important than the JCU sectional where all four teams are ranked from #10-23?  When you get this far into the tournament, videocast all four sectionals!

[Pat Coleman]

Two is more than the zero we had last year, Hasanova. Can't do everything at once.

I suspect that some of their decisions were motivated by where they had personnel available. Like our audio crews, the NCAA's video crews are freelancers that do not do this full time. Many years, we have not been able to do audio of all of the sectionals, and in fact, this year we won't be able to cover up at F&M until Saturday because we simply don't have enough people with Friday night availability on very little notice in the right places.

So let's ease up on the shame, alright?

[hasanova]

Two is more than the zero we had last year, Hasanova. Can't do everything at once.

I suspect that some of their decisions were motivated by where they had personnel available. Like our audio crews, the NCAA's video crews are freelancers that do not do this full time. Many years, we have not been able to do audio of all of the sectionals, and in fact, this year we won't be able to cover up at F&M until Saturday because we simply don't have enough people with Friday night availability on very little notice in the right places.

So let's ease up on the shame, alright?

Thanks for the math lesson, Pat ... and I fully realize you can't do everything at once and I understand the practical logistics of the coverage.  It is another indication, however, that the NCAA treats DIII as more of a nuisance than a viable part of the organization.  I predicted you'd take slight umbrage at the rather innocuous use of the word "shame" ... its use was intended more for poetic license than my indignation.  I apologize for that, but I also correctly predicted you'd counter both editorally and punitively.

Sometimes I think perhaps you should ease up a little, as well.   

[Pat Coleman]

If you fully realize and understand everything then I guess I don't understand why you're complaining.

You're right -- adding to the NCAA's video coverage of D-III is clearly an indication that they don't care at all. (Not to mention taking the time to hire out D-III people to broadcast the games rather than picking up whomever they use to call D-II games in the area or using students from the schools or taking a homer radio broadcast from one of the teams in the game and alienating the other.)

[hasanova]

If you fully realize and understand everything then I guess I don't understand why you're complaining.

You're right -- adding to the NCAA's video coverage of D-III is clearly an indication that they don't care at all. (Not to mention taking the time to hire out D-III people to broadcast the games rather than picking up whomever they use to call D-II games in the area or using students from the schools or taking a homer radio broadcast from one of the teams in the game and alienating the other.)

Expressing disappointment and complaining are two different things.

Thanks for the great work you and this site do ... it is sincerely appreciated ... unlike, however, the sometimes thinly veiled sarcasm.  I'm not going to post anything else on this subject ... it's getting both of us nowhere ... and it's taking away from the games.  I hope you'll agree.

Thanks again for a stellar site.   I give you two stars ... and that's more than zero!

[Pat Coleman]

Well, listen, I can see why you want your sectional covered by the NCAA rather than the Richard Stockton one, and I thought I gave you a fairly thoughtful rundown of some things that went into the NCAA's coverage decision. You opened with a thinly veiled sarcastic line of your own -- "Thanks for the math lesson, Pat" -- and basically dismissed my response.

So yeah, I responded with sarcasm of my own. It doesn't seem like that surprised you, but it was apparently important to lecture me on it nonetheless.

[sludge]

From one point of view, you'd figure that Sanborn and Neville (Center and PF) are the key for Guilford against John Carroll U. this weekend.  It looks like the Quakers have a major power advantage in the paint.

I wonder if Guilford's guards might be more key, though.  JCU is going to pressure the ball like crazy and use line changes to keep the pressure fresh.  So, can Guilford even get the ball up the floor and anywhere near the paint?

Maybe the ODAC pressure defenses have helped Guilford prepare for this.  In recent tradition, VWC got after the ball in a big way, and RMC and Hampden-Sydney have also notably pressed at times.  E&H brings its own style of overplaying the full court.  Any opinions on whether the Quakers are ready to play 10 guys going after the ball?

Going the other way, JCU reportedly executes a very methodical, patient offense.  I think Guilford has seen quite a bit of this also, with Roanoke and RMC doing this very well.  If JCU works the ball like crazy to get a shot in the paint, that shot might still not work out as well as they'd like.

[hasanova]

Well, listen, I can see why you want your sectional covered by the NCAA rather than the Richard Stockton one, and I thought I gave you a fairly thoughtful rundown of some things that went into the NCAA's coverage decision. You opened with a thinly veiled sarcastic line of your own -- "Thanks for the math lesson, Pat" -- and basically dismissed my response.

So yeah, I responded with sarcasm of my own. It doesn't seem like that surprised you, but it was apparently important to lecture me on it nonetheless.

You are correct, from the perspective of participating teams, I do think the JCU sectional was more worthy of broadcast than Richard Stockton's.

You are correct, from a logistics perspective, given that the resources only exist to broadcast two of the four regionals, Richard Stockton may be more practical.  Your response was thoughtful ... I do have reason.

You are correct, we both use sarcasm ... sometimes to our mutual detriment.

You are incorrect, I did not basically dismiss your response.   I understood what you said even if I didn't openly acknowledge it ... now consider it publicly acknowledged.

You are the alpha male on this site, Pat, so it's your world.  Yes, I do expect you to use sarcasm with me ... I've become accustomed to it in the past ... Pavlov was right.  I don't think I always deserve it, but you're right, I do expect it.   I don't set out to offend you ... and I don't think that's your intention either, but somehow we do.  I'm sorry if I did.

Now, go Quakers!  I'll be listening!

[hasanova]

From one point of view, you'd figure that Sanborn and Neville (Center and PF) are the key for Guilford against John Carroll U. this weekend.  It looks like the Quakers have a major power advantage in the paint.

I wonder if Guilford's guards might be more key, though.  JCU is going to pressure the ball like crazy and use line changes to keep the pressure fresh.  So, can Guilford even get the ball up the floor and anywhere near the paint?

Maybe the ODAC pressure defenses have helped Guilford prepare for this.  In recent tradition, VWC got after the ball in a big way, and RMC and Hampden-Sydney have also notably pressed at times.  E&H brings its own style of overplaying the full court.  Any opinions on whether the Quakers are ready to play 10 guys going after the ball?

Going the other way, JCU reportedly executes a very methodical, patient offense.  I think Guilford has seen quite a bit of this also, with Roanoke and RMC doing this very well.  If JCU works the ball like crazy to get a shot in the paint, that shot might still not work out as well as they'd like.

Hey sludge.  Guilford does have the height advantage, but I hope Sanborn won't get in foul trouble and JCU won't wear us down with their substitution pattern.  I expect the GC starters to play 10-12 minutes more each than the Blue Streaks.

Guilford seems to thrive on the road in front of big hostile crowds, but let's face it, this one will be overwhelmingly pro-Ohio!