MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[algernon]

I generally don't get into speculating about outcomes of games, but I'd say most of today's games are toss-ups except for EMU @ E&H which should be a win for EMU, and VWC @ Shennandoah, which should be a win for VWC. Home court advantage could factor into the outcomes of the other games. Having said that, I don't know much about Bridgewater, Roanoke, Lynchburg & W&L.

Thank you, hasanova!

Yes, I'd agree with you, y_jack_lok. However, if I was placing a bet, I'd tentatively go with Roanoke, W&L, HSC, and RMC in the other 4 games, with each of these 4 being extremely close.

So in the 4 potentially close games you would pick (if you were betting) 2 home teams to win (Roanoke and W&L) and 2 to lose (Guilford and Randolph). Even though Randolph is undefeated, it is quite likely that R-MC is their toughest opponent to date, so that will be a good game. Should be a fun weekend in the ODAC.

Updating this because I just saw some scores. Bridgewater beats Roanoke 64-57; EMU beats E&H 78-71; Lynchburg beats W&L 68-67. The other two games starting soon.

Yes, so far, I'm not doing very well on the close games .... wrong on the Roanoke win at home and wrong on the W&L win at home.  At this point, Guilford leads HSC just before the half, 34-29, and Randolph-Macon leads Randolph very early in the game, 9-3.

[Brian Hamilton]

36-29 GC at half over HSC. GC is hitting most there threes and got off to an early 7-0 lead.

[Seatfiller]

GC 57 HSC 38 9mins left in the game

Bridgewater 64 Roanoke 57

Virginia Wesleyan 87  Shenandoah 54

Lynchburg 68 Washington & Lee 67

Eastern Mennonite 78 Emory & Henry 71

RC 36 RMC 29 with 19mins left in the game

[y_jack_lok]

Lots of ODAC action this weekend so good luck to all.  Congrats to all the ranked and "almost ranked" teams in the Top 25.   Personally, we have our money on Middlebury this year.

GO JACKETS!!!!

Being out here in Saint Louis and having seen Wash U (10-1, ranked #5) a couple of times, I'd be willing to place some money on them. Their only loss was on a buzzer beater to a very good Wheaton (IL) team (also 10-1 and currently ranked # 8) at Wheaton.

I think this is shaping up to be a very fun season.

I tout Wash U and then they lose to University of Chicago 68-60. At least I might be right about the fun season part.

[Brian Hamilton]

GC over HSC 68-54.  HSC shot the ball poorly.  Guilford was physical with thevHSC bigs and often had three players around them after the post entry pass.  GC was hitting outside shots and they will be hard to beat when they do that.  HSC shot poorly from the foul line.  Richardson for GC is really good.

[hasanova]

GC over HSC 68-54.  HSC shot the ball poorly.  Guilford was physical with thevHSC bigs and often had three players around them after the post entry pass.  GC was hitting outside shots and they will be hard to beat when they do that.  HSC shot poorly from the foul line.  Richardson for GC is really good.

Nice win for Guilford today over HSC - I was worried about this game.  Good crowd on hand too - terrific to see a fairly large Tiger contingent in the stands.  Guilford has one of our big men, Kevin Gibbs, still hobbling, but Zeb Richardson and Will Freeman are playing well.

Both teams are now 11-2.

[algernon]

I was 0 for 4 in my "close game" predictions!   

Nice win for Guilford.  Tigers couldn't hit anything .... The HSC team that has led the country in FG% prior to today was only not only a pathetic 32.3% from the field and 21.4% from 3-land, but couldn't even hit the basket when there was no defense, hitting only 44% from the FT line!  Michael Murray, who has been over 50% from behind the arc, was 0 for 6 in his attempts to hit 3s today.  Guilford's defense certainly deserves credit.

i think that HSC's easy schedule did not adequately prepare them for a big game against a quality opponent.  Hopefully, today's game will make a difference in what the Tigers do in the upcoming big games.  Tigers at Lynchburg on Wednesday.

After VWC's most recent loss, HSC's loss, and Randolph's win, I'll bet that Randolph will be the only ODAC team to make the Top 25 in the next poll.

[y_jack_lok]

d

I was 0 for 4 in my "close game" predictions! 

Nice win for Guilford.  Tigers couldn't hit anything .... The HSC team that has led the country in FG% prior to today was only not only a pathetic 32.3% from the field and 21.4% from 3-land, but couldn't even hit the basket when there was no defense, hitting only 44% from the FT line!  Michael Murray, who has been over 50% from behind the arc, was 0 for 6 in his attempts to hit 3s today.  Guilford's defense certainly deserves credit.

i think that HSC's easy schedule did not adequately prepare them for a big game against a quality opponent.  Hopefully, today's game will make a difference in what the Tigers do in the upcoming big games.  Tigers at Lynchburg on Wednesday.

After today, I'd bet that Randolph will join VWC in the next Top 25 poll.

I watched the R-MC/Randolph game online. Randolph is definitely a good team and might crack the top 25. R-MC had the ball down one with 17 seconds to play and failed to get off a shot. Decent defense by Randolph but no reason why the Jackets couldn't take a shot. Giggetts made a move to the hoop with about 5 seconds left. He was defended but could have put up a shot, especially given his location on the floor and being left handed with defenders to his right. Instead he passes to Badger on the right wing who must not have been aware that only 3 seconds were left when he got the ball so instead of shooting it seemed like he was looking for someone to pass to as time expired. Whether or not you make a basket in that situation, you have to get a shot off.

[2RMCFans]

^ Bingo.  It looked pretty disorganized from our seats above left of the basket.  Full credit to Randolph for figuring out the Jackets defense after the first 10 minutes.  Plus, they kept their offense sharp, penetrated well to the basket & have 4 consistent outside shooters.  They deserved the win! 

But, in the "what if" department for the Jackets: several missed easy layups, TOs at crucial times & that last "play" that went nowhere with plenty of time for shot or at least a foul. 

On to the next game.  Congrats to the winners around the ODAC this weekend.

GO JACKETS!!!!

[hasanova]

GC over HSC 68-54.  HSC shot the ball poorly.  Guilford was physical with thevHSC bigs and often had three players around them after the post entry pass.  GC was hitting outside shots and they will be hard to beat when they do that.  HSC shot poorly from the foul line.  Richardson for GC is really good.

I first suggested Zeb Richardson in early December as "someone to watch" this season - especially for ODAC ROY.  Everything I've seen over the first 13 games certainly reinforces that.  Consider:

Games played: 13
Games started: 4
Minutes per game:  20.1
Rebounds per game: 8.3
Points:  153
Points per game: 11.8 
FG%: 53.8  (64 of 119)
FT%: 65.8  (25 of 38)

Are there other ODAC rookies having similar success?

[tigerfanalso]

Hasa

Congrats on the victory this past Saturday. Sounds like the Tigers received an ole fashion butt whipping. Hopefully the Tigers had an off night and can regroup to make a run in ODAC play. Playing a soft schedule can make a team seem better than they really are, hopefully that is not the case for the Tigers. I've heard from some that are close to the team and I've been told the Tigers have some excellent talent. I guess we'll find out soon with the brutal ODAC schedule looming.

[hasanova]

Hasa

Congrats on the victory this past Saturday. Sounds like the Tigers received an ole fashion butt whipping. Hopefully the Tigers had an off night and can regroup to make a run in ODAC play. Playing a soft schedule can make a team seem better than they really are, hopefully that is not the case for the Tigers. I've heard from some that are close to the team and I've been told the Tigers have some excellent talent. I guess we'll find out soon with the brutal ODAC schedule looming.

Thanks, tfa.  I was at the game and was, quite frankly, stunned at the lead Guilford was able to build and hold.  The Quakers jumped out to a 13-4 lead and, other than the run HSC made to tie at 25, were never seriously threatened.  This may not be a valid observation, but I think, on this one day, HSC had better athletes and Guilford had a better team.  I counted at least four times a Tiger went up for a ferocious dunk and it bounced out.  Meanwhile, a Quaker would gently lay the same shot over the rim or off the backboard.  HSC had more flash, but the final result speaks for itself.  I also believe the HSC frontcourt had not been seriously fronted until this game and they got frustrated.  Another key point - GC's FT shooting was stellar (25 of 30) and HSC faltered (8 of 18) - after a while, it adds up - especially if you repeatedly miss the front ends of 1 and 1's.  You don't win 11 games as HSC has without considerable talent, but teams like Marygrove have probably not done them any favors as they get into ODAC play.  Good luck the rest of the way. 

[tigerfanalso]

If u get outscored by 17 at the FT line u are probably not going to win. At least that stat helps me better understand the game result and gives me hope for the future.

[hasanova]

Congratulations to Randolph for cracking this week's Top 25 - just a hunch, but I bet this is the Wildcats' first national ranking!

Kudos are also in order for Guilford's freshman center, Zeb Richardson, who was named ODAC POTW. 

Nicely done, gentlemen.  This is my 5,555th post, so high-fives for everyone!

[jdubyadubya]

I'm going out on a limb here and predicting that the Marlins will beat Randolph in The Batten Center on Saturday. The Marlins have Bridgewater coming up tonight at Bridgewater and then a few days to prepare for the mighty Randolph