MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[algernon]

Guilford (16-5), Lynchburg (16-5), Randolph (17-4), and VWC (15-6) share pretty much the same boat, with regard to getting into the NCAA tournament ... they have to either win the ODAC tournament to get the AQ, or they have to run the table until the championship game and only lose a close one then.  I think that Guilford would have a better shot than the others of getting a Pool C bid, if they can win out until the championship game, given that they have a higher Strength of Schedule than the others, as well as fewer losses than VWC.  To win out, they'd have to beat the Marlins and the Wildcats during the regular season and then get a couple of good wins in the ODAC tournament.

I'm not at all sure that the Marlins can get in by winning out but losing the championship game.  They'd end up with a 21-7 record, with 6 losses in-region.  Winning out would mean a win at Hampden-Sydney and Guilford, so they'd have a win vs. Hampden-Sydney, 2 wins vs. Guilford, a win against Randolph, 2 against Lynchburg, and another vs. CNU, but they'd also have losses to Wesley and Emory.  It seems that Wesley (currently 17-5) and Emory (currently 14-5) would be more likely to get a Pool C bid than Virginia Wesleyan, if those teams also were sitting at 6-7 losses.

In contrast, Randolph-Macon has no shot at a Pool C bid, given that a loss anywhere along the way would result in, at best, a 19-9 record.  However, like a number of other teams, they are strong enough to make a run in the tournament and win the conference championship and AQ.  In the end, the ODAC will probably get 2 teams into the NCAAs, although various scenarios could produce anywhere from 1 to 3 bids.

[algernon]

My picks for todays games:

Roanoke at Lynchburg - Roanoke's not been able to win many on the road .... and Lynchburg is 16-5.

Bridgewater at SU - SU will probably go 0-18 in the ODAC.  They could win on 2/9    at Roanoke, but I would be very surprised if they did.

VWC vs EMU - It'll be very close and could go either way. The Marlins won by only 5 points on their home court, so I wouldn't want to put any money on this one.

Emory and Henry at Washington and Lee - E&H's only win on the road in the entire season is when they went to Shenandoah.  That says something about both E&H and Shenandoah ....

Guilford at Randolph - Home court advantage.  A win by Guilford would not be at all surprising.

HSC vs RMC - This is probably the game this season that I have the hardest time calling for the Tigers, as RMC is hard to beat on their own court.  Nevertheless, I think that George, Williamson, Lumpkin, and Anderson will be more than enough for Giggetts, Simon, Cole, and Holmes under the basket, and I have no doubt that HSC's guards are faster and shoot as well or better than RMC's.  Just one fan's opinion ....

[hasanova]

My picks for todays games:

Roanoke at Lynchburg - Roanoke's not been able to win many on the road .... and Lynchburg is 16-5.

Bridgewater at SU - SU will probably go 0-18 in the ODAC.  They could win on 2/9    at Roanoke, but I would be very surprised if they did.

VWC vs EMU - It'll be very close and could go either way. The Marlins won by only 5 points on their home court, so I wouldn't want to put any money on this one.

Emory and Henry at Washington and Lee - E&H's only win on the road in the entire season is when they went to Shenandoah.  That says something about both E&H and Shenandoah ....

Guilford at Randolph - Home court advantage.  A win by Guilford would not be at all surprising.

HSC vs RMC - This is probably the game this season that I have the hardest time calling for the Tigers, as RMC is hard to beat on their own court.  Nevertheless, I think that George, Williamson, Lumpkin, and Anderson will be more than enough for Giggetts, Simon, Cole, and Holmes under the basket, and I have no doubt that HSC's guards are faster and shoot as well or better than RMC's.  Just one fan's opinion ....

Speaking of SU, very doubtful they'll go 0-18 since the ODAC has a 16-game schedule.   They could, however, very easily go 0-16 or 1-15 this season. 

[Brian Hamilton]

Actually Hasa, I predict 0-17.  0-16 in the regular season and lose on the road in the 1st round of the ODAC tourney to the #5 seed! 

[hasanova]

Actually Hasa, I predict 0-17.  0-16 in the regular season and lose on the road in the 1st round of the ODAC tourney to the #5 seed! 

Touche.  You're as cool as the back side of the pillow. 

[algernon]

Actually Hasa, I predict 0-17.  0-16 in the regular season and lose on the road in the 1st round of the ODAC tourney to the #5 seed! 

Touche.  You're as cool as the back side of the pillow. 

He definitely is.  Then there are some of us Hampden-Sydney folks who are still stuck in the 2008 world of "2 games X 9 teams and the 10th-place team doesn't get a tournament game" .... which is why I had the 0-18 record stuck in my head.

You're also very cool, Hasa ... even if you're not as cool as Brian. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

FYI - in recent years... if a team had 6 or more losses their chances of making the tournament as an at large were very, very slim. We have even seen 20-win teams left out. Certainly SOS has a lot to do with these decisions, but when you get into 6 loss territory - especially if they are all regional losses - you pretty much have put yourself on a very fragile bubble.

[rmc1982]

I give VWC as good a chance as HSC and RMC and whoever else the contenders are to win the ODAC Tournament. I would never bet against Dave Macedo

DITTO DeWayne!!.....and I'm Yellow Jacket thru and thru!! Just seen it too many times!!

[rmc1982]

My picks =
LC
BC
VWC
W&L
GC
HSC

And, SU will not win a game in the ODAC unless they get serious about playing basketball in the ODAC and that translates to a new facility. They are going to lose a perfectly good coach in Rob Pryor if they don't watch out.

JWW.....I agree with all but "The Game Part II".....Jackets win in a close one.....Tigers aren't THAT good yet!!....HeeHee.....and I, for one, think your Fish are THE MOST DANGEROUS TEAM in the country right now!! NEVER EVER count Macedo out-EVER!! They string a few together, get a little confidence, and WHAM!! Slip into the tourney and they may SAIL from there!!

[HSCDad]

3 minutes to half time  H-SC 32  RMC 13

[HSCDad]

32-17 at half   RMC led 7-4 and then H-SC went on 15-0 run  RMC made last 4 of half to cut lead back to 15

[rmc1982]

32-17 at half   RMC led 7-4 and then H-SC went on 15-0 run  RMC made last 4 of half to cut lead back to 15

BOY was I wrong!! Tigers are SMOKIN us!! 61-39 with 3 min left....Congrats to the Tigers....now I gotta pay off my bets to my HSC buds!! Looks like flashes of brilliance are all we are capable of this year!!

[hasanova]

I'm really starting to dislike Randolph.    The Quakers had their chance to win and couldn't get a shot to fall.  Colton Hunt (who else?) hit the game winning 2 with 1.1 seconds to go.  Final RC 72, GC 70   Hunt with 29 and Pittman with 26.

[Michael Herbert]

Tigers take it to Macon 66-47.  Feels so good to get that 20th win against Macon!

[rmc1982]

Tigers take it to Macon 66-47.  Feels so good to get that 20th win against Macon!

Careful son!! Don't crow too loudly!!.......You kicked our a$$es in our house tonight no doubt......A smart man is humble this time of year, though....... .....No telling who can trip you up....HeeHee