MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Michael Herbert]

Wow, Algernon.  Awful similar on those write-ups.  It's almost like we talked after the game...

[algernon]

Wow, Algernon.  Awful similar on those write-ups.  It's almost like we talked after the game...

You're right, Michael Herbert.  Funny how that happens ... 

[Tiger Mic]

Anyone have any insight as to Randolph's plans for a new gym, if any? 

[hasanova]

I attended the LC at GC game last night and the 86-66 final score is a bit deceptive.  With that said, however, LC played extremely well and is a very solid team.  I was worried about this game before tip-off and my fears proved well-founded.

Lynchburg jumped out to an early lead - 27-15 at one point, I think - but Guilford made a run and took the halftime lead at 36-35 on a three with about 3 seconds to go.  At that point, I felt like GC had weathered the storm and would control the second half.

Things looked great for GC with a surge and a 50-42 lead and then the proverbial wheels fell off - GC could do no right and LC could do no wrong.  It was still close in the low-sixties, but GC could never hit a clutch shot and made too many errant passes.  After that, the Quakers were forced to foul and the Hornets were stellar down the stretch, hitting a superior 20 of 22 FTs for the game.

LC deserved to win, so congratulations.  Here's hoping the Quakers can right the ship and stop this losing streak at two!    Both teams now stand at 6-3 in the ODAC.

[HSCDad]

From comments on H-SC/RC game - Colton Hunt has a deceptive way to draw fouls - he elbows his way through good blocks, he traveled numerous times without a call - that one extra step,  He is quick and has an eye for the basket but no team ever wins totally with one shooter and that's what he is.  In the first half until the 3 minute mark - he had 2 points and not sure if they were actually his.  He then had about 5 opportunities at the line and made most  with a number of questionable calls (nine points).  A key to the game was definitely H-SC's big men but there was another factor.  I was not aware but the Randoph program said that their two other guards were 2 and 3 in the conference in 3 pointer shooting.  Even though Colton had his usual night, the other two guards were held to almost nothing.  H-SC defense was really good.  That last 7 minutes of the game when H-SC went 20-4 was something else.  The guards fed Willaimson and George with great passes and then when the Randolph defense drop back, they would throw back out - Randolph would relax and then Lewis and Murray would send it right back to Williamson and George for easy layups and then several foul opportunities,  Expression on Randolph coach in last few minutes was priceless!!

[jdubyadubya]

1/26/13 picks:

BC
RMC
VWC
HSC
EMU
Randolph

[2RMCFans]

^^ HSCDad (& other) above on how the refs show the love to Colton Hunt.  We noticed that-- especially their missing his use of an elbow or shoulder but it was not a game changer that day.  Maybe he's just that opportunistic a player & simply dazzles them?  He has some sharp skills but at least on the day we played there, they had 3 other guys hitting well from the perimeter so it wasn't the Hunt Solo Show.  Congrats to the Tigers on beating the Randolph gym curse this year with a commanding win.

R-MC has picked up 2 good wins with an absolute blowout in Crenshaw last night.  Hope they are starting to gel & will finish the season strong. 

GO JACKETS!!!! 

[algernon]

ODAC teams still have another 3 games to play before the NCAA does its first Regional Rankings.  However, if the rankings were based upon games to date, I'm thinking that the the South Region ranking would look something like this:

1.  Christopher Newport   14-2   
2.  Hampden-Sydney   16-2   
3.  Emory   11-4
4.  Mary Hardin-Baylor   14-3
5.  Concordia (Texas)   13-4
6.  Virginia Wesleyan   13-4   
7.  Birmingham-Southern   12-4   
8.  Lynchburg   15-3

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I think HS gets the nod over CNU based on the fact they have a better W/L percentage and I have to imagine HS' SOS will be stronger.

[algernon]

I think HS gets the nod over CNU based on the fact they have a better W/L percentage and I have to imagine HS' SOS will be stronger.

I was thinking about that just after posting ... and agree with you, d-mac.  I'll go with this:

1.  Hampden-Sydney   16-2   
2.  Christopher Newport   14-2   
3.  Emory   11-4
4.  Mary Hardin-Baylor   14-3
5.  Concordia (Texas)   13-4
6.  Virginia Wesleyan   13-4   
7.  Birmingham-Southern   12-4   
8.  Lynchburg   15-3

[HSCDad]

I mentioned the Randolph gym a couple of weeks ago and the stress it puts on opposing players.  Last night, it appeared refreshed some but my wife's photography showed some really weird lighting effects.  She had several shots that had a beam of light about 6 feet across coming all the way down from the ceiling to the floor.  They were at random under each overhead light.  In between the beams were a lot dark spots.  It might be that while on the court you don't really see these beams but your eyes could be possibly deceived and a player could have depth perspective and/or distance problems.  Wonder if sunglasses would remove!! Good crowd of over 750 so they need to enlarge and improve their facilities  - one bathroom with one "holer" for men and same for women also could use some upgrading.

[hasanova]

Speaking of Randolph's gym, many middle school's are better.  To me, watching a game there is akin to seeing a game being played on the bottom of a swimming pool.  I don't like it at all.  lol

[algernon]

Speaking of Randolph's gym, many middle school's are better.  To me, watching a game there is akin to seeing a game being played on the bottom of a swimming pool.  I don't like it at all.  lol

You made me laugh, hasa, and you definitely hit the nail on the head ... it's like "seeing a game being played on the bottom of a swimming pool."

[hasanova]

Speaking of Randolph's gym, many middle school's are better.  To me, watching a game there is akin to seeing a game being played on the bottom of a swimming pool.  I don't like it at all.  lol

You made me laugh, hasa, and you definitely hit the nail on the head ... it's like "seeing a game being played on the bottom of a swimming pool."

Thanks, algernon.  When I attended a game there, I couldn't get a seat on the front row, so I never saw what was happening on the near sideline!  If someone traveled or stepped out of bounds, you couldn't tell because all you could see was the far 2/3 of the court.   

[algernon]

Big game tomorrow, hasa!  For both teams.  Guilford is the only team to beat HSC by more than 1 point this season, winning at Guilford by 68-54. 

The last time Guilford came to Fleet Gymnasium (2/16/11), the Tigers claimed a 73-61 victory.  It was Guilford's first year after Tyler Sanborn's graduation.

The Tigers have a 5-game win streak, whereas Guilford has a 2-game losing streak that follows on their 9-game win streak.  Two of the league's top players will be on the court.  Both Josh Pittman and Harrison George are two-time First Team All-ODAC selections.

My picks for tomorrow:
Bridgewater @ Emory and Henry - 2:00 PM    
Roanoke @ Randolph-Macon - 2:00 PM    
Virginia Wesleyan @ Washington and Lee - 2:00 PM    
Guilford @ Hampden-Sydney - 2:00 PM    
Eastern Mennonite @ Lynchburg - 3:00 PM    
Randolph @ Shenandoah - 4:00 PM