MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[hasanova]

Anything can happen between now and during the ODAC tournament, of course, but can you visualize the semifinals buzz if all four ranked teams advance?

[hasanova]

We've talked earlier about the dearth of DIII coverage in our local papers, but Guilford got major props with two large color photos and a feature story on the front page of today's Sports Section in the Greensboro News & Record:

http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/01/17/article/palombos_program_focuses_on_teamwork

One tidbit from the article:

At 109-19 since the start of the 2006-07 season, UNC has an 85% winning percentage (article said 86%, but it didn't include yesterday's loss to Georgia Tech)

Who's #2 in the state?  At 88-17, the Quakers now stand at 84%.

I think GC will pass them before the season's over.  

[algernon]

My guess about the rankings is something like this.
GC #1-#3
EMU #5-#8
RMC #6-#9
VWC #9-#12

If I had to guess on a single spot I would say
GC#2
EMU#7
RMC#8
VWC#11

I pretty much agree, but this is my best guess:
GC#2
EMU#7
VWC#9
RMC#10

I think that a 23-point loss to another ranked opponent can easily drop RMC from #1 to #10.  At this point, in games against Top 25 teams, Randolph-Macon has a 5-point win over Williams and a 23-point loss to EMU.  If I were voting, I'd be more likely to drop them below Williams than to rank them above EMU.

[y_jack_lok]

I think that a 23-point loss to another ranked opponent can easily drop RMC from #1 to #10.  At this point, in games against Top 25 teams, Randolph-Macon has a 5-point win over Williams and a 23-point loss to EMU.  If I were voting, I'd be more likely to drop them below Williams than to rank them above EMU.

DeSales and Wooster were both ranked at the time R-MC beat them, both are 11-4 now and undefeated in their conference, and both received votes in the most recent poll. I'm not familiar with the schedules of GC, VWC, and EMU, so can someone shed some light on their strength of schedule compared to R-MC? That ought to factor into the voting to some extent.

[hasanova]

With sincere apologies to my friends at EMU, I just heard a joke from Garrison Keillor's Praire Home Companion on NPR:

Did you hear about the Amish woman with two husbands?

Yes, it's true, she wanted two men a night. 

[donho]

 Algernon, I would think your pretty close to where the top four ODAC teams to this point will be sitting in the D-3 poll come monday night.

[2RMCFans]

With all due respect, last week there wasn't a single team in the top 10 with 2 losses, so we hardly think last week's #8, now with 2 losses, is going to bounce ahead of last week's #1, now with only 1 loss.  It certainly could happen, but probably only if there are other teams in the top 10 with 2 losses.  We still think VWC is headed out of the top 10; EMU is headed in, and we'd be happy to see Guilford at No. 1!

We're all for sharing the wealth in what is arguably the toughest conference in all of D111 this year.  It doesn't make that much difference (to us, not speaking for anyone else) if we do fall to #10... with our record at 14-1 we're still feeling pretty good about this season.  

It was fun to be No. 1 for a couple weeks, but now we need to look at the rest of a very tough schedule... one game at a time starting Wednesday!  

hasanova... glad to hear the Quakers are getting the attention they deserve in your local press and we agree with you that you look good to outstrip UNC's  win percentage and that must feel really great.

The Jackets got terrific TV news coverage this morning on the local NBC affiliate -- they filmed a dunk each by Braxton & Brown, and 2 no-look passes that set up 3's from Pugh & Croskey.  

GO JACKETS!!!!

[hasanova]

I'm equally glad to see the ODAC get a lot of recognition this season!   It's good for all of us and it certainly makes the regular season and tournament championships up for grabs.

Regarding the poll next week, I sincerely think UW-SP is headed to #1 and, unless I'm mistaken, Guilford will be #2.   With EMU, RMC and VWC, I'm not so sure.

With wins over both RMC and VWC (and no d3 losses), you'd think the Royals would jump all the way to the Top 10, but they're such a relative unknown to most voters.  To further complicate things, they just broke into the poll two weeks ago at #24 followed by #18 - the Top 10 is quite a jump.

Granted, RMC got smacked, but they still only have one loss - and so many teams in the Top 25 now have two or more.

VWC has lost only to two ranked teams and if Guilford was a legitimate #6, you'd expect them to win at home over the #8 Marlins.

I think they're all in the Top 12, but I don't know what order.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Hasa, I'll go ya one better, FWIW.  Only two Posters' Poll ballots in so far, but both have all four ODAC teams in the top NINE.

I'll agree that the regular poll tends to be 'sticky'; EMU will probably be underranked (IMO), since they began 'off the radar'.  Since the PP has only reached week 2, we're less tied to pre-season notions.  I have them 3rd, the other voter 2nd!  Guilford is 2nd (me) and 5th.  Randy Mac is 7th (me) and 6th.  We both have VaWes 9th.

[hasanova]

Hasa, I'll go ya one better, FWIW.  Only two Posters' Poll ballots in so far, but both have all four ODAC teams in the top NINE.

I'll agree that the regular poll tends to be 'sticky'; EMU will probably be underranked (IMO), since they began 'off the radar'.  Since the PP has only reached week 2, we're less tied to pre-season notions.  I have them 3rd, the other voter 2nd!  Guilford is 2nd (me) and 5th.  Randy Mac is 7th (me) and 6th.  We both have VaWes 9th.

Thanks for the information, Mr. Ypsi.  Guilford hasn't played EMU and RMC yet and also RMC hasn't played VWC yet - these will be key games.  I haven't seem all the other teams in the Top 5 play (via video), but I have a tough time reasoning why Guilford would only move up one spot on your fellow voter's ballot given what's happened in the past week.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Hasa, I'll go ya one better, FWIW.  Only two Posters' Poll ballots in so far, but both have all four ODAC teams in the top NINE.

I'll agree that the regular poll tends to be 'sticky'; EMU will probably be underranked (IMO), since they began 'off the radar'.  Since the PP has only reached week 2, we're less tied to pre-season notions.  I have them 3rd, the other voter 2nd!  Guilford is 2nd (me) and 5th.  Randy Mac is 7th (me) and 6th.  We both have VaWes 9th.

Thanks for the information, Mr. Ypsi.  Guilford hasn't played EMU and RMC yet and also RMC hasn't played VWC yet - these will be key games.  I haven't seem all the other teams in the Top 5 play (via video), but I have a tough time reasoning why Guilford would only move up one spot on your fellow voter's ballot given what's happened in the past week.

That voter was the 'low outlier' for Guilford last week; he raised them 5 spots on HIS ballot.

I've now received 5 ballots - VaWes now has an 11th, 12th, but also a 6th.  It looks quite probable that there will be four ODAC teams in the PP top ten this week; now we await the real poll.

[rmc1982]

I know it was against one of the lower teams but the Jackets win yesterday counts for a good bounce back. I have seen on this board for the past ten years that  any ODAC win is a good win! Well we got one yesterday. Where the hell are all the R-MC posters??? ( not you 2rmcfans) So EMU beat us! I have been saying all year that we have been over-ranked. Wednesday  night was gonna happen . Let's hope the team keeps moving forward and turns into a darn good team by the time they get to Salem. Go Jackets!

Sorry DonHo!! I was at my place @ the OBX and didn't take my laptop! I did run down to the Stop-N-Shop yesterday morning to get a Richmond paper and check the score! Yes a good comeback win......and now we can just play ball and not worry about the "bullseye" any longer.....many tough tests remain for the Jackets!...Let's play ball guys!

[2RMCFans]

^ Wow, who gets to go to the beach anymore & NOT take their laptop???  Good for you, rmc1982!

Let's hope we turn out a big crowd in Ashland on Wed. night to really show the players how much support they have!  We won't have a full contingent of students but let's at least pull the same size crowd as the CNU game did.

If the ODAC winds up with 4 teams in top 10, that means we are all getting national recognition for the strength of this year's teams.  Way to go, ODAC programs, hopefully the post season will feature some VA venues for a change!

GO JACKETS!!!!

[hasanova]

^ Wow, who gets to go to the beach anymore & NOT take their laptop???  Good for you, rmc1982!

Let's hope we turn out a big crowd in Ashland on Wed. night to really show the players how much support they have!  We won't have a full contingent of students but let's at least pull the same size crowd as the CNU game did.

If the ODAC winds up with 4 teams in top 10, that means we are all getting national recognition for the strength of this year's teams.  Way to go, ODAC programs, hopefully the post season will feature some VA venues for a change!

GO JACKETS!!!!

And one in NC for good measure!  Although I hope the Guilford men are more successful than they were the only other time they hosted (2008)!

[bigrips77]

Some thoughts from Saturday...

First, regarding Guilford/VWC... I have to say that, in order to beat Guilford, you have to play a complete basketball game because the Quakers really have it all.  Shooting, rebounding, ball-handling, defense, depth... their flaws are relatively minor.  The only time I could see them have any trouble would be when they get into any considerable foul trouble at certain positions (Henson, Sanborn) and, even then, they aren't in bad shape.  That said, Virginia Wesleyan won the first meeting between the schools because they matched Guilford with a complete showing.  They shot the ball well especially late, kept Sanborn from getting big numbers, and limited their turnovers.  Move ahead to Saturday's game... VWC, until they had fallem behind by double-digits, had protected the ball fairly well on the offensive end.  They just went cold from the field early second half... enough to allow Guilford to pull away mid-second half as they were finishing on the other end.  Aside from that, Sanborn really came alive on the boards second half as VWC struggled to make shots.  11 of his 15 rebs came in the 2nd half.  Once Guilford pulled away, the Marlins started to force things, generating 6 turnovers over the final eight minutes (16 for the game) and some poor shot selections which seemed to come out of frustration more than anything.  Fields had a rare off-night from the floor, so by the time he started to really force runners near the lane, it was just too late.  Very solid and well-deserved win for Guilford...

As for other games... sounded like Randolph really gave EMU fits down the stretch in Lynchburg.  Not surprised this happened – I figured there would be some drop off for the Royals off the big Wednesday win.  Also, Randolph has proven they can hang with anybody now... R-MC got a solid win as well - E&H is the lone guppie in a sea of sharks this year in the ODAC.  Nice confidence booster for the Jackets who get VWC at home Wednesday night... Bridgewater pulls off another impressive victory.  Seems like things are on the up for the Eagles while Hampden-Sydney can't catch a break right now to the point where you almost want to chalk this one up as a rebuilding year for them... Roanoke badly needed the win they picked up at home over W&L to keep pace with the rest of the league... And congrats again to Lynchburg as the ODAC continues to have USA South's number this year in non-conf play.