MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[2RMCFans]

^ that's a heartbreaker for H-SC.  They were "right there" in a number of really close losses this season, so they deserve a lot of credit for their persistence.

Jackets really looked strong last night in every department-- we can't say enough about this great senior class we're watching.

The big sophomore Dylan Cole got in the game right at the 10:00 mark in the 2nd.  All the freshmen played more minutes than we've seen before and they show great athleticism.  The home crowd really enjoys seeing them on the floor together.  With Croskey, Desgain and Giggetts all returning in the fall, it looks like things will fall into place for the future.

Very tough test tomorrow at Guilford... GO JACKETS!!!!

[78rmc]

HSC loses to Lynchburg by 2 at home.  A 3 at the buzzer went in and rattled out for HSC.  They got behind by double digits in the 1st half and fought back early in the second half to get within 4 and kept it there for the majority of the 2nd half.  They took a few leads in the final 7 minutes, but LC kept answering HSC runs.  Both teams made the same number of field goals and took the same number of shots for the exact same field goal percentage.  The difference was LC made 1 more three pointer and 1 more foul shot than HSC for the 2-point win.  Things do not get any easier as Randolph comes to town on Saturday. 

Other than RMC games, I'm an HSC fan.  Always like to see my HSC brothers do well.  For those that follow HSC more closely, what's missing from this team?  What does Coach Vick need to recruit?  Who needs to step up to finish strong?

[hsctigers2002]

Here's my All-ODAC predictions

POY - Colton Hunt
ROY - DJ Woodmore
COY - Clay Nunley - It's no contest here as far as I'm concerned

First-Team
Harrison George - His talent is undeniable, he can be the best player on the court every game when he wants to be. However, too many games this year he hasn't played like he wants to be.
Colton Hunt - One of the toughest competitors in the league
Nate Campbell - Name a better mid range to long two point shooter in the league. Maybe its because the two games I saw he got whatever he wanted against the H-SC defense, but his jumper was about as money as it can possibly be.
Danny Jones - As efficient on offense as they come
Todd Phillips - Not as good as he was predicted to be, but still getting the job done well
Josh Pittman - It was tough here, I was having a hard time coming up with someone who I legitimately felt was a clear cut first-teamer, but of all the players I was choosing between, I think his team relies on him more than any of the others.

Second-Team
Melvin Felix
George Johnson - Both Felix and Johnson were in the mix for the last first-team spot
Rick Maloney
DJ Woodmore
Tobi Akinsola
Eli Crawford

HM
Ru White - TOugh to put two guys from a team with as poor of an ODAC record as H-SC, but he is the most well-rounded player on the team. If they were better, he'd be second-team easily in my book. If H-SC was amongst the best in the conference, first-teamer
Terrance Grigg
Chris Teasley
Donald Vaughn
Eric Pugh
Brandon Braxton

[algernon]

Other than RMC games, I'm an HSC fan.  Always like to see my HSC brothers do well.  For those that follow HSC more closely, what's missing from this team?  What does Coach Vick need to recruit?  Who needs to step up to finish strong?

What's missing is first-half intensity.  HSC's second-half record against DIII opponents this season is 10-3-1, but the team has ended up winning only 7 of those 14 games, due to the hole it dug itself into during the first half.  The team that won the first half has gone on to win 13 of these 14 games.

Over the past 5 games, the team is 1-4 in the first half, 5-0 in the second half, and 1-4 at the end of the game.  The second half comebacks are exciting, but they're not enough to win the game when you go into the locker room down by 7, 11, 10, & 13 points at half-time.

What's also missing is the ability to win close games.  HSC is 1-13 in games decided by 1-2 points over the past 3 years.

Although HSC's ODAC record is 2-7, it's still true that the Tigers have a winning record, overall.  They are currently 9-8; with a few extra points on the board against Bridgewater, Lynchburg (X2), and Randolph-Macon in games already played, they could be 13-4 (6-3 in-conference).   Let's hope that they can put a few extra things in place over the next 8 games!  If the Tigers can get wins at home against Randolph, Guilford, Washington & Lee, and Bridgewater, along with a road win against Emory & Henry, they'll finish the season at 7-9 and be seeded 6th or 7th in the tournament.  It will be tougher, but the Tigers could also upset Virginia Wesleyan on their home court and beat Randolph-Macon on the road (as they did last year).

We'll see ....

[algernon]

hsctigers2002 .... I like your choices, generally, but I think a better case can be made for Harrison George as POY (with 20.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals/game ... plus hitting 59.4% of his shots).

If being a senior is important, then George Johnson, Todd Phillips, and Danny Jones should be at the top of the list.

If being on one of the top 4 teams is important, then Colton Hunt and Todd Phillips would be good choices.

I'd probably go with Phillips or George for POY.  My first team would be the same as yours, although I'd put Johnson on the first team and move Pittman to the second team.

ROY - DJ Woodmore, VWC -- An obvious choice. 12.4 pts/g, 5.0 reb/g, 39.7% 3PCT, 81.8% FTpct.  2nd in minutes/game after Donald Vaughn.

COY - Clay Nunley, RAND -- Yes, a no-brainer.

[DeWayneCarter]

In most years, you would normally have a VWC Marlin on that 1st team or in the running for POY... not this year though.... not to say no one on the team has the talent, but this team is one of the deepest teams that Macedo has had. No one on the team is averaging eye popping numbers because it seems as if a different player steps up every night.. I think that will make this team dangerous in the post season.

[HSCDad]

H-SC  71  Rand  61   O'neal with 21 points

[rmc1982]

Jackets up 27-20 @ half in Ragan-Brown....Lamar Giggetts with 10 in the 1st half......

[algernon]

The Tigers get the win, 71-61.  O'Neill had 21 points on 8-9 shooting, with 5-6 from the line.  Harrison contributed 16 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal.  Ward had 12 points and 5 assists, and Ru White added 7 points, 5 assists, 4 blocks, and a steal.  Colton Hunt scored 19 points and had 6 rebounds and 2 steals for Randolph.

Great game for the Tigers, and they had fewer turnovers than their opponent for the first time in many games!  Hopefully, they can move on from this game and win at home against Bridgewater on Wednesday and on the road against Emory & Henry on Saturday, improving to 5-7 in the ODAC by next weekend.

[algernon]

The Quakers have just scored, and now lead by 1 point over the Jackets in Ragan-Brown, with 9.2 seconds to go.  Jackets take a time-out and will have the ball.

[algernon]

Following 2 Jacket time-outs and a Quaker time-out, the Jackets' miss their only shot in their last possession, at the buzzer, and the Quakers get the win, 62-61.

[algernon]

Given today's results, my bet is that the final standings will look something like this:
1) Virginia Wesleyan  14   2
2) Randolph-Macon   13   3
3) EMU                   11   5
   Guilford              11   5
    Randolph           11   5
6) Hampden-Sydney   7   9
7) Washington & Lee  6   10
    Roanoke             6   10
9) Lynchburg            5   11
10) Bridgewater        3   13
11) Emory & Henry     1   15

[hasanova]

                                  FG   3FG  FT   OD  R  F   PT A TO BL St Min
21  PITTMAN, Josh  *  10-15  5-8  5-5  0-5  5  0  30  3  0  0  2  36

The guy has his ups and downs, but any discussion of POY and 1st Team ODAC has to include Josh Pittman.  Here's his line from today's win over RMC - and he was doubled much of the game.

[2RMCFans]

Congrats to the Quakers on a big home win today.... now the Jackets need to regroup & get ready for February.

On a happier note R-MC women took out VWC 67-53 in Ashland today. 

Congrats to all the day's winners around the ODAC  today.

GO JACKETS!!!

[algernon]

                                 FG   3FG  FT   OD  R  F   PT A TO BL St Min
21  PITTMAN, Josh  *  10-15  5-8  5-5  0-5  5  0  30  3  0  0  2  36

The guy has his ups and downs, but any discussion of POY and 1st Team ODAC has to include Josh Pittman.  Here's his line from today's win over RMC - and he was doubled much of the game.

Definitely .... I think that I'd put Phillips, Hunt, and George on the 1st team and then add 3 of the following 4:  Jones, Johnson, Pittman, and Campbell.