MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[jdubyadubya]

baselinejam - tell us about the Gennies big men. I can't get anything out of the Marlins camp about new recruits, the season outlook, new coaches, etc. 

[sludge]

I'm hearing that the generals have recruited a talented point guard... onto the coaching staff.  Caleb Kimbrough, Guilford '08 will be the new assistant coach at Washington & Lee.  A smart move by Hutchinson.  Caleb will work those guys hard.

[hasanova]

I'm hearing that the generals have recruited a talented point guard... onto the coaching staff.  Caleb Kimbrough, Guilford '08 will be the new assistant coach at Washington & Lee.  A smart move by Hutchinson.  Caleb will work those guys hard.

Interesting ... and congratulations to Caleb!  I'm sure he will work them hard ... just hope he takes it easy on the Quakers. 

[baselinejam]

I'm hearing that the generals have recruited a talented point guard... onto the coaching staff.  Caleb Kimbrough, Guilford '08 will be the new assistant coach at Washington & Lee.  A smart move by Hutchinson.  Caleb will work those guys hard.

Interesting ... and congratulations to Caleb!  I'm sure he will work them hard ... just hope he takes it easy on the Quakers. 

That's awesome - from the Washington Generals( I think) to the W&L Generals!

He is a quality individual and I believe will be a wonderful addition. He brings that runningback mentality that I love.

As far as the size goes I here he's 6'10" with decent footwork.

[sludge]

Yeah, his footwork is really good.  But I guess you pegged it.
He's a Generalist.

[HSC85]

I think that the only time that HSC will beat Guilford this year in football or basketball is this weekend.  The Quaker basketball team is shaping up to be one of the best in ODAC history.  Quaker fans enjoy the ride.  It is really special to watch such talented young men play the game they love.

[hasanova]

I think that the only time that HSC will beat Guilford this year in football or basketball is this weekend.  The Quaker basketball team is shaping up to be one of the best in ODAC history.  Quaker fans enjoy the ride.  It is really special to watch such talented young men play the game they love.

HSC85 - I would certainly agree that the football Tigers are heavily favored this weekend.  It's shaping up to be a great season for HSC!  I also agree that Guilford has assembled a really fine team and they are exciting to watch.  I never take anything for granted, however, and very much look forward to the basketball season.  I also know teams like HSC will ALWAYS give us their best shot and that's what makes college hoops so great!   Some day (maybe this season), I'm going to watch the Quakers and the Tigers in Fleet!

[jdubyadubya]

If Shenandoah University is granted a full pass into the ODAC starting in 2012 what does that mean for the other ODAC schools? Does someone leave for another conference? Just curious.

[Ralph Turner]

If Shenandoah University is granted a full pass into the ODAC starting in 2012 what does that mean for the other ODAC schools? Does someone leave for another conference? Just curious.

Good question...

What conference in that region is more prestigeous in D-III than the ODAC?

Therefore who wants to leave, and why?

In that scenario, Shenandoah gets what they perceive is a better match for their intercollegiate athletic needs.

If that happens, then the shuffle continues.

[hasanova]

Hi Ralph.  Academically, I think the ODAC is perceived below the Centennial and above the USASAC.  It's no secret that W&L's admission standards are generally higher than the rest of the ODAC and their endowment is certainly much larger.  They've been mentioned as a school that might bolt to the Centennial for those reasons, but geographically the ODAC's a much better fit.  Sometimes, I think I also see W&L aligned with the SCAC, but that has travel logistic nightmares as well.

Catholic is another school perhaps on the bubble.  They joined the ODAC as a football-only member about 10 years ago to meet the required seven for AQ.  I could see CUA leaving for another conference if an "all sports" option is available.  Besides, they're probably also geographically better-suited to a Maryland/Pennsylvania area conference.  

[HSC85]

I was under the impression that the ODAC had a moratorium on adding any all sport members due to the amount of non-football schools.  Has that changed or been shown to have any flexibility?

[hasanova]

I was under the impression that the ODAC had a moratorium on adding any all sport members due to the amount of non-football schools.  Has that changed or been shown to have any flexibility?

I don't know of any flexibility here, but I'm certain they'd react accordingly if the football AQ was ever threatened (need 7).  Ideally, I'm sure they'd like to see an existing school (say LC or RoC) start football.  An even number, such as 8 for football or 12 for other sports, eliminates a lot of open dates or out-of-conference games late in a season.

[HSC85]

I agree 8 for football makes scheduling easier and you have less of a chance of a split championship with an odd number of games.  There are just so many schools in some of the other sports besides football, I don't think there is a majority there to add Shenandoah unless the AQ was in danger.

[hasanova]

I agree 8 for football makes scheduling easier and you have less of a chance of a split championship with an odd number of games.  There are just so many schools in some of the other sports besides football, I don't think there is a majority there to add Shenandoah unless the AQ was in danger.

All your points are quite right.  Eight just feels right for football - it gives four conference games every Saturday, lowers the number of required regular season out-of-conference games to three and lessens the chance for ties at the end of the season.  If done properly, it can also create standard rivalry games to end the season every year.  I'd suggest SU/BC, W&L/CUA, E&H/GC and, of course, RMC/HSC.

To me, 12 in basketball works better than 11  ... with two 6-team divisions.  Play the five other teams in your division home and away and play the six teams in the other division once each - three at home and three away.  The next season still play the other division teams once, but alternate the home and away.  Sixteen ODAC games and 9 OOC.

Other sports, especially for the women, are a little tougher as there are already 12 (HSC is men only and CUA is football only) ... but I think it could be solved. 

I'm sure CUA is quite welcome to be a football-only member as long as they want, but it would be better if they played all sports or another, existing ODAC school started football.  I think another scenario would be HU and/or SBC joining a women's only conference where they could be more competitive.  Personally, I think they're better suited to Mary Baldwin (VA), Meredith (NC), Salem (NC), Agnes Scott (GA), Peace (NC) and others, especially in some sports.   

[hasanova]

Two ODAC Divisions?

The Valley Division

E&H, W&L, Roanoke, BC, EMU and SU

The Piedmont Division   Sorry VWC, you're not Piedmont, but close. 

GC, LC, Randolph, RMC, HSC, VWC