MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[2RMCFans]

Just a quick note from Sat's game v. Roanoke, A. Simon (a junior starter) had 23 points and 13 rebounds while 2 sophs scored in double figures, one of them (A. Holmes) also with 9 rebounds off the bench.  It looks like the younger players are becoming more confident and/or comfortable.  Good timing!

Senior Lamar Giggetts also scored 14 in the win. Team held TO's to 14.  A positive sign of progress.

Roanoke's K. Amponsah was contained by the Jackets defense but with his skills he's still fun to watch.

GO JACKETS!!!!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Would be nice to see mulitple ODAC teams in the tourney. You really think HSC has real chance to host even without winning the ODAC tourney ? That would be great for the program and a big step towards the goal of going deep into the tourney; Final Four ??

I know, one game at a time and let the rest take care of itself.

Don't forget that there is a one-time change in the format this year - no pods.  There will be 31 host teams in the first round, so as long as they have fewer than five losses, they should host.

Plus, H-SC won't be having an ODAC championship women's team competing with their men for a coveted hosting spot.  Since we ALL know how the home court can affect tournament play this bodes well for H-SC & of course for the ODAC.

Since the men's tourney will not have pods, I believe a school this year can host both a women's pod and a men's game.  (Someone correct me if I've got that wrong.)  Apparently a moot point for HSC anyway, but relevant to some schools around the country.

[tigerfanalso]

RMC scares me to death. Nobody wants them in the ODAC tourney. They are going to be tough out for any team in the ODAC. With the schedule they have played I think they are more battle tested and this is the time of year a tough out of conference schedule starts to really help.

[2RMCFans]

^^ Ah, yes.  These changes would have been v e r y relevant for R-MC just a couple seasons ago. 

Thanks for the info Mr. Ypsi. 

[2RMCFans]

RMC scares me to death. Nobody wants them in the ODAC tourney. They are going to be tough out for any team in the ODAC. With the schedule they have played I think they are more battle tested and this is the time of year a tough out of conference schedule starts to really help.

Well said tigerfanalso, but the ODAC tourney is scary for all of us.  What a tough conference we play in.  Hopefully, we'll all see some good games in Salem this year. 

GO ODAC TEAMS!

[algernon]

Don't forget that there is a one-time change in the format this year - no pods.  There will be 31 host teams in the first round, so as long as they have fewer than five losses, they should host.

My math may be off, but it seems that there would be 30 host teams in the first round .... with 60 teams scheduled, plus 2 teams that have a first-round bye.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Don't forget that there is a one-time change in the format this year - no pods.  There will be 31 host teams in the first round, so as long as they have fewer than five losses, they should host.

My math may be off, but it seems that there would be 30 host teams in the first round .... with 60 teams scheduled, plus 2 teams that have a first-round bye.

OOPS!   You are correct.  (30, then 16, then 8, then Salem, then Atlanta.)

[Brian Hamilton]

The Wednesday-Saturday schedule has made the board quiet for most of the season, but we are hopping today!

[hasanova]

The Wednesday-Saturday schedule has made the board quiet for most of the season, but we are hopping today!

Sometimes I miss the old Saturday/Sunday travel partner schedule. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Ypsi

I agree with your assesment. I think D3 Championship should keep to itself and stay way from The Final Four.
D3 championship game will be played in a huge arena with hardly anyone in the stands. I don't understand what they were thinking. Waiting 15 days to play the championship game is a joke as well. In Salem, the final four was a big deal and all the attention was on the D3 Championship. March Madness will totally take over and overlook the D3 game.

Is D2 championship doing the same ?

This is not a fair assessment... the D3 were asked by the NCAA if they would join the Atlanta Final Four this year to help celebrate the 75th Anniversary of men's basketball in the NCAA. D3 had the chance to vote this down, but chose to do this anyway. It isn't perfect because you had multiple things going on here that extended the season...
a) D3 couldn't adjust its season so late in the process to allow less time between the end of their season and D1's (which is normally two weeks)
b) the Final Four was actually moved back a week because of Easter, I believe, or the fact that this is the first full week of April - as a result there is actually an extra week on the schedule than usual.

The D3 along with the D2 game will be played on Sunday afternoon which according to almost every coach I have talked to is a day that is incredibly empty at the Final Four.

The game will also not be played in as large an arena as you think...

I believe both d2 and d3 title games will be across town from the d1 game.

Actually, the games will be right next door to D1's games. D1 is playing at the Georgia Dome... D3 and D2 are playing at Phillips Arena which seats I believe about 17,000. The games are free to anyone with tickets to the D1 Final Four and are free to any D3 and D2 fans who want to attend. Add those factors plus the interest of fans to see the games they normally don't see plus the push from the NCAA and we might be surprised by the attendance for these games.

Since the men's tourney will not have pods, I believe a school this year can host both a women's pod and a men's game.  (Someone correct me if I've got that wrong.)  Apparently a moot point for HSC anyway, but relevant to some schools around the country.

This is true in theory... the women can host a pod and the men can host a single game EXCEPT scheduling of practices and locker rooms and such are major factors on whether this would be allowed. It isn't a sure thing, but we saw it last year I think at Amherst as something that could be done.

And reference to R-MC... if that was the screw up a couple of years ago that didn't allow the men to host (assuming)... that was based a screw-up and then no communication from the women that they had changed their minds on R-MC women hosting - who had the first right to do so the opening weekend that year.

[Seatfiller]

My picks for tomorrow

Randolph @ Emory and Henry

Guilford @ Roanoke, I have a feeling this will be a close one though and could go either way

Lynchburg @ Hampden-Sydney

Shenandoah @ Eastern Mennonite, Emu in a blow out 

Washington and Lee @ Bridgewater, Washington and Lee in a close one

Randolph-Macon @ Virginia Wesleyan, Going with Macon in a very close upset

[jdubyadubya]

Congrats to HSC in the Top 25! Great to have the ODAC solidly represented.
My picks for tomorrow =
Randolph
Guilford
HSC
EMU
W&L
VWC

[hasanova]

Hasa: I thought you would disagree but you did so with class, as always.

Algernon: I certainly hope you're right. I understand saving the legs during the course of a long season. If the Tigers are fortunate enough to play in post season, the top 7/8 guys are going to get more minutes than normal. I trust your opinion that they are ready to do so.

Will the ODAC get two teams in the NCAA's ?

Thanks, tfa.  +1  I think the coach is a little frustrated with the injury bug at the moment, but the Quakes will be back. 

[hasanova]

How do you think SU is enjoying the ODAC ?

No ODAC wins in football/basketball.

Was that the right move for them ? Should the ODAC have been looking elsewhere ? Will they be able to recruit better being in the ODAC.

Baseball is SU's sport, right ?

I believe the SU/ODAC marriage will be the right choice for both parties in the long run, but it may take a few years.  SU just changed football coaches so they seem to have an interest in making progress.  The travel footprint is a little tighter now than it would have been in the "new" USASAC - it's a lot farther from Winchester to Georgia and Alabama than it is to Guilford, E&H and VWC!

[Michael Herbert]

Very intense game in Fleet as the Tigers are up on the Hornets 45-37at the half.  Greg Lewis is a hot 6-6 from behind the 3 point line. Khobi Williamson with some more Sportscenter-like dunks.