MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[nescac1]

Hmmm if ODAC fans are going to unite, I may have to try to form an alliance with the Stevens Point fans ... not that it would matter much, I have a feeling we are going to be seriously outnumbered on Friday.  A lot of the Ephs do not have ties to the mid-Atlantic region, so I hope there is a decent turn-out of family members, but I can't imagine many students will be able to get to the game on time given that Friday there are classes in session, and it's a ten hour trip.  Oh well, those that are there will just have to cheer louder!

Looking forward to Williams vs. Guilford.  The teams seem like a great match-up on paper.  Our center duo is fantastic, but for the first time all year, they'll be playing someone better than them.  Whittington vs. Sanborn, when Troy is in, should be particularly intriguing ... Troy is MUCH shorter and smaller (6'5, at most) but is incredibly quick with very long arms and insane hops which help him deals with bigger guys.  Still, he's never faced anyone (at least not in college) like Sanborn.  Meanwhile, as good as your point guard and small forward are, they will face a similar challenge vs. Wang and Schultz, who are both all-American caliber players and certainly the two best individual players on the Ephs.  Of course, if the three (and I'm counting Whittington and Geoghegan as one combined star since they split time) stars even each other out, it could well come down to role players, who don't get enough acclaim at times for the Ephs, and I imagine for Guilford as well.  Each team even has a precocious frosh guard off the bench (Robertson and Pittman) who have the look of future stars. 

If any ODAC folks have any recommendations for good places to eat, drink, etc. in the area, I'd love to hear them!  Hope the Ephs can pull it out on Friday and maybe even have a chance for redemption of their own on Saturday vs. RMC. 

[donho]

  Pat you are correct. Coach M. Rhoades got me started on here in 2000. Other than a few times when I have made stupid posts I really enjoy this site.
 
  Thank you Pat, for this site!!

[donho]

   Man the box score shows attandance of 398 at SMC last night. That was the loudest 398 I have ever heard!
   I think the R-MC fans did a great job of making noise, and pushing the jackets on.

[donho]

  nescac1 , WOW,   News flash ...... This is not the first time all year your duo will be playing someone better than they are!!!!you must have forgotten how you got your ONE loss. The three bigs from R-MC took the lunch of your fantastic center duo and ate it. I  will take our three big men Brandon,Billyand Danny over your fantastic duo anytime.
 Our big men dropped 44 points and grabbed 19 boards against your fantastic duo. Thats pretty damn good in my book. So have at it.  Tyler eat their breakfast!!

GO QUAKERS!! (for this game)

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

398 seems small to me for the RMC game. I was at the game and figured the building was about half full. But granted... that attendance number is based on ticket sales - hard numbers... so not sure if my eyes are going... or someone's count!

[nescac1]

Actually, Jones when I was watching was almost always playing the four, and  he was the one who really killed the Ephs.  I'd agree that RMC is much stronger at the FOUR than Williams.  But Whittington and Geoghegan (who split time at the five) combined for 19 points, 15 boards, and 4 blocks, on 6-10 from the field and 7-9 from the line, which is very close to their combined average for the year.  Your centers got 17-13 and no blocks in the game, so they basically played to a near-draw, but a definite edge for Williams.  And no way I'd take Braxton/Campion over Geoghegan/Whittington after seeing them play all year -- not even close.  Whittington in particular has improved tremendously since that game, and is now a force to be reckoned with.    

Williams lost that game for two primary reasons: they lost composure late in the game once RMC started to press, and they could not stop Danny Jones at the four spot.  Also, Schultz didn't have his best game, but I give credit to RMC's defender who did a great job on him.  Guilford does not seem to have a player of Jones' caliber at that position, although obviously Sanborn is a whole different level at the five.  The Ephs' interior defense has really improved since the RMC game, but they rarely face big men who can score like Sanborn and Jones in the northeast, so those guys will still present a huge challenge on defense.    

[donho]

 Billy,Brandon,Danny ! Our FANTASTIC DUO!

 R-MC, did a great job with adjustments last night. I really liked the match-up and changing defenses. F+M was really confused at times. Great coaching !!

[royalrooter]

Ahh what a weekend. Much like the weather Saturday. Started out beautiful but ended a little dreary. While i'm sure it is no consolation to coach Dean and the team, I'm sure if anyone had said the Royals would be among the last 8 DIII teams playing they would have been delighted. Thanks for a great season and for bringing more excitement than previously imaginable to EMU. You've made us proud to be alumni.

Kudos to the Quakers on an inspired and complete effort. Tyler got his, as usual, but the rest of the cast showed up as well. Having 3 of the last 8 teams from the ODAC and 2 of the final four attests to the strength of the conference. I'd love to see an all ODAC championship.

Kudos as well to the event staff at Guilford for getting a little more cool air in the place for Saturday night. Above all my deep respect for taking decisive action to remove the young fan who was wildly out of bounds in his actions. Thankfully, most all the other fans, on both sides, were spirited and respectful in their cheering which made for a tremedous environment to complement a well played and officated game.

Hasanova, Sorry I missed you but we had a fine time and ate too much good food in Greensboro. Maybe next year you all can come to our house 

[Emu435]

Hmmm if ODAC fans are going to unite, I may have to try to form an alliance with the Stevens Point fans ... not that it would matter much, I have a feeling we are going to be seriously outnumbered on Friday.  A lot of the Ephs do not have ties to the mid-Atlantic region, so I hope there is a decent turn-out of family members, but I can't imagine many students will be able to get to the game on time given that Friday there are classes in session, and it's a ten hour trip.  Oh well, those that are there will just have to cheer louder!

Looking forward to Williams vs. Guilford.  The teams seem like a great match-up on paper.  Our center duo is fantastic, but for the first time all year, they'll be playing someone better than them.  Whittington vs. Sanborn, when Troy is in, should be particularly intriguing ... Troy is MUCH shorter and smaller (6'5, at most) but is incredibly quick with very long arms and insane hops which help him deals with bigger guys.  Still, he's never faced anyone (at least not in college) like Sanborn.  Meanwhile, as good as your point guard and small forward are, they will face a similar challenge vs. Wang and Schultz, who are both all-American caliber players and certainly the two best individual players on the Ephs.  Of course, if the three (and I'm counting Whittington and Geoghegan as one combined star since they split time) stars even each other out, it could well come down to role players, who don't get enough acclaim at times for the Ephs, and I imagine for Guilford as well.  Each team even has a precocious frosh guard off the bench (Robertson and Pittman) who have the look of future stars. 

If any ODAC folks have any recommendations for good places to eat, drink, etc. in the area, I'd love to hear them!  Hope the Ephs can pull it out on Friday and maybe even have a chance for redemption of their own on Saturday vs. RMC. 

have you watched any of the ODAC teams this year other than the one loss to the only ODAC team you played? i would say we have four teams that could give you guys alot of trouble.  (Randy Mac, Guilford, EMU, and Virginia Wesleyan) 

If you were in the ODAC i GUARANTEE you would have lost more games.  Go ODAC!  Beat the brakes off of Williams.

Furthermore i would like to congratulate Guilford on the win, and everyone here in Harrisonburg is glad for such an amazing season from our Runnin Royals!  Great Season guys, and congrats to Kirby Dean.  We appreciate all your hard work.

[2RMCFans]

398 seems small to me for the RMC game. I was at the game and figured the building was about half full. But granted... that attendance number is based on ticket sales - hard numbers... so not sure if my eyes are going... or someone's count!

Yes, it seemed more like 600 total to us; F & M actually had a decent crowd & they almost kept up with us in the noise department.  We were happy that many R-MC students made the trip, and especially a large contingent of players and coaches from our womens' team who came to root the guys on!

For you out-of-towners, Salem is a beautiful small town and Roanoke more like a medium sized city.  They are virtually side by side.  The Hotel Roanoke is an institution and a very graceful place to stay with very good dining.  Just down the hill there is a market area with some really good restaurants--check at hotel desk for reservations for steaks or sushi.

We like the Holiday Inn Express at Exit 141 since it's very close to the stadium.  Mac & Bob's in downtown Salem is a college crowd stalwart--- reservations not needed but you may need to stand in line depending on what might be going on at Roanoke College that day/night.

GO JACKETS!!!

[2RMCFans]

have you watched any of the ODAC teams this year other than the one loss to the only ODAC team you played? i would say we have four teams that could give you guys alot of trouble.  (Randy Mac, Guilford, EMU, and Virginia Wesleyan)  

If you were in the ODAC i GUARANTEE you would have lost more games.  Go ODAC!  Beat the brakes off of Williams.

Furthermore i would like to congratulate Guilford on the win, and everyone here in Harrisonburg is glad for such an amazing season from our Runnin Royals!  Great Season guys, and congrats to Kirby Dean.  We appreciate all your hard work.

^^ yes, what he said.

[hasanova]

Sounds like 2RMCfans made some good recommendations for food in the Salem/Roanoke area.   I'd definitely take his advice and go downtown or up on Mill Mountain.

Hopefully, the Quakers and the Yellow Jackets will be able to muster a lot of fan support for this weekend's Final Four.  I know it's much more difficult for Ephs and Pointers fans.  If the NCAA would just (logically) schedule it for Saturday and Sunday, a lot more people could come to the semifinals!  It's difficult for most folks who work to come on a Friday at 5 pm no matter how close you are.

I think it's interesting to note that three of the Final Four teams have spent time at #1, but #2-ranked Williams, the highest ranked team in the field, hasn't.  Williams is, without doubt, a fine team, but I agree with Emu435 who said they wouldn't have gotten through the ODAC with one loss.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Hasa,

There are a number of schools (including some that have made it to FFs) that will not play on Sundays for religious reasons.

[hasanova]

Hasa,

There are a number of schools (including some that have made it to FFs) that will not play on Sundays for religious reasons.

Ah, hadn't thought of that ... thanks.  DI, however, would seem to have the same mix of religious affiliation as DIII and it's not an overwhelming problem there.

[hasanova]

With the elimination of this year's 3rd place game (I don't like it), I thought there was supposed to be a DIII All-Star game ... yet I've heard nothing about it and cannot find a time.  Is it still on?

Also, when I checked ticket prices for Salem, it had $25 for a two-day package, but no mention of single day tickets.  Is this an option and, if so, how much?  There are some folks who can't go Friday or won't go Saturday if their team's not still alive, so I'm just curious.