MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[HSC85]

Immediately after the game ended, D.J. Woodmore came over to the end of the court where I was sitting, where there were mostly older people (including a former Prince Edward County Sheriff), as well as a smaller number of high school and college students.  He was yelling at the fans and actually threw up both arms and gave two middle fingers to the crowd.  I could hardly believe it.  I have never seen anything like it in the ODAC, even from Marlins players.

I also witnessed players flip the bird with both hands to the section of the crowd that had the older people in it.  I understand when people come to the VWC players defense in their reaction to a hostile environment.  It was very emotional for all sides.  I hope that when all of these players and fans encounter a similar situation they can act like the posters on this board would like them to act.  I am an HSC fan.  I have been embarassed by behavior of members of our athletic teams and fans over the 30 plus years that I have followed HSC sports.  I try not to defend bad behavior by blaming the environment or blaming the other guy or the officials.  These young men playing this sport need to understand that they have a responsibility to rise above being baited into bad behavior.  We have to remember that they are 18-23 year old young men.  This is not an excuse only an observation.  I know that I did things that I wish I would not have done when I was that age.  While not casting blame we should reinforce the positive things about the game, the effort by both teams, the atmosphere and the competition.  Then we can point out how to better handle the disappointment of losing and the elation of winning to the players and the fans. 

The game on Wednesday was one of the most competitive games that I have every seen.  Everyone who participated should be proud of the effort.  Both teams are good enough to win the ODAC tourney and if given the chance to go deep into the NCAA tournament. 

I think the reason that HSC is considered a difficult place to play is that the size of the crowd is usally much larger than any other road game in the ODAC.  This is a different environment than many of the other schools due to the larger crowd.  I know people resent HSC and do not like to play there.  I believe one comment was "it feels like 1950."  I really do not know what that means.  The other comment regarding having ever been to Duke for a home game then there is nothing to complain about is more accurate.  Fans should be passionate but they get out of control sometimes.  The larger the crowd the more likely that will happen. 

This board has some great supporters of their respective teams.  Please do not try to excuse behavior or build your team up by tearing another team down. 

[algernon]

After Wednesday's games, I still see the Top 5 in the South Rankings as unchanged. 

Hampden-Sydney and Mary Hardin-Baylor both lost, and I think there was enough of a gap between #2 MH-B and #3 Emory that there'll be no change there.  VWC's win could conceivably push them up past Emory to the #3 spot, but there's still that 9-point loss to Emory that's an issue. 

This is how I see the standing of the Top 5, with current records:

1   Hampden-Sydney   17-3   21-3         Could be ODAC AQ.  If not, a certain Pool C.
2   Mary Hardin-Baylor  20-4   20-4        Could be ASC AQ.  If not, likely Pool C.
3   Emory                     16-6   16-6       Will not get the UAA AQ; needs a Pool C.       
4   Virginia Wesleyan   15-5   18-6        Could be ODAC AQ.  If not, possible Pool C.
5   Concordia ( Texas)   17-4   19-5        Could be ASC AQ.  If not, possible Pool C.

[Seatfiller]

Bridgewater with the upset over Guilford 78-75, Guilford was without Josh Pittman

VWC beats LC 72-53, LC was actually up by 8 at half but only scored 17 points in the second half

W and L narrowly beats SU 61-60, got the game winner with 16 seconds left

Randolph Macon gets some pay back and blows Randolph out 70-52

HSC beats E and H 82-61

[hasanova]

Bridgewater with the upset over Guilford 78-75

VWC beats LC 72-53, LC was actually up by 8 at half but only scored 17 points in the second half

W and L narrowly beats SU 61-60, got the game winner with 16 seconds left

Randolph Macon gets some pay back and blows Randolph out 70-52

HSC beats E and H 82-61

It should be noted that Josh Pittman had the flu and didn't play for Guilford, but congratulations to the Eagles.

[y_jack_lok]

Randolph Macon gets some pay back and blows Randolph out 70-52

Colton Hunt with 6 points on 3-11 shooting and 0-2 from the line with 5 turnovers.

[2RMCFans]

Very proud of our Jackets tonight.  They came into the gym ready to play & were totally dominant even though the calls really didn't go our way for much of the game (27 R-MC v. 20 RaC fouls).  So glad to see our 2 seniors Cole & Giggetts each had a good day-- we will REALLY miss them, along with our graduating student assistant coach & manager.

Having seen both games between these 2 this season, it's amazing the effect the Randolph gym had on their ability to produce offensively.  Colton Hunt definitely had a bad game in Crenshaw as someone noted above, plus 5 TO's.   Overall, the Jackets' defense held the Wildcats to around 30% shooting today.

The gym you're playing in is always a factor for the visitors so we could all try harder to keep it positive when we host.  Our players are often looking to us as fans to set the tone & be the adults.

Best of luck to everyone for the play in's this week & in Salem this weekend. 

GO JACKETS!!!! 

[2RMCFans]

^^^ hasanova -- sorry to hear that about J. Pittman.  What a shame to miss his last regular season game-- but he won't soon be forgotten by his opponents. 

[y_jack_lok]

The gym you're playing in is always a factor for the visitors so we could all try harder to keep it positive when we host.  Our players are often looking to us as fans to set the tone & be the adults.

This is SO true.

[Seatfiller]

Roanoke with the upset over EMU 83-81

[rmc1982]

The gym you're playing in is always a factor for the visitors so we could all try harder to keep it positive when we host.  Our players are often looking to us as fans to set the tone & be the adults.

This is SO true.

DITTO!......Crenshaw is often rowdy and partisan, and our student section is often boisterous also, but in all the years I have been there I have NEVER seen ugly behavior by our fans or students, not even to our brethren from Farmville... ... and ESPECIALLY not to the Marlins....who ALWAYS play us hard and tough.I can remember Mike Rhoades yelling into our stands when we were playing at VWC telling us to shut our mouths and quit griping about officiating when even he knew it was horrible.....thats just the class act that he is.I'm not jibing at either party from wednesday night....I have friends on both sides and have heard both versions of the events- I'm just saying that we as fans need to understand that in the end this is still just A GAME.....we ALL would be better served to act as we would like our student-athletes to act..they represent US AND OUR SCHOOLS...and to set an example for them to follow...and also to act to stop whatever behavior we see as in corrigible......'Nuff said....

[hasanova]

^^^ hasanova -- sorry to hear that about J. Pittman.  What a shame to miss his last regular season game-- but he won't soon be forgotten by his opponents.

Thanks.  Hopefully, he'll be able to play versus E&H on Tuesday.

[algernon]

My current South Region Ranking projection through today.  Included are regional and overall records, Regional Win %, SoS, and Record against Regionally Ranked Opponents: 

    Team                                 RegWL   Overall     RegW%   SoS   RegRkOppo.
1.  Hampden-Sydney  (ODAC)     18-3        22-3        .857     .523         4-2
2.  Emory (UAA)                         17-6         17-6       .739      .568        4-4
3.  Virginia Wesleyan  (ODAC)      16-5       19-6        .762      .534         7-2
4.  Mary Hardin-Baylor  (ASC)      21-4        21-4       .840      .540         3-2
5.  Concordia (Texas) (ASC)         18-4         20-5     .818       .523         2-2
6.  Christopher Newport  (USAC)  17-5         18-5      .773      .533         1-2
7.  Randolph (ODAC)                   14-5         20-5      .737      .485         2-3
8.  Texas-Dallas (ASC)                 19-6        19-6       .760      .517         0-3

While I'm pretty clear about the ordering of #4-#8, I'm not at all clear about the ordering of #1-#3.  HSC and VWC have better records against regionally ranked opponents than Emory; Emory has a stronger SoS than VWC or HSC; HSC has 2 fewer losses than either of the other two, Emory has a 9-point win at home against VWC, which has a 1-point win on the road against HSC.  I could rank these teams in any number of ways and it will be interesting to see what the committee does.

However, I'll say that all 3 of these teams will be playing in the NCAA Tournament, either by getting their conference AQ or by getting a Pool C bid.  That seems certain, assuming only that both VWC and HSC make it at least to the semifinals .. and that Emory defeats Covenant (before a likely loss to Rochester).  Mary Hardin-Baylor and Concordia (Texas) have a shot at a Pool C bid, if they get as far as the ASC final, but CNU, Texas-Dallas, and Randolph will almost certainly need to win their conference tournaments and the AQ to get into the NCAAs.  I don't see any of them getting a Pool C bid.

As a note of interest, these are the numbers for RMC, the team which had the toughest ODAC schedule and has finished the regular season with the #3 seed in the ODAC tournament:
       Randolph-Macon                        15-9        16-9         .625       .562         4-8
In games against regionally ranked opponents, RMC had wins against VWC, Randolph, and Lynchburg (2x), but losses to HSC (2x), CNU, Transylvania, St. Mary's, Catholic, Guilford, and Randolph.  Notably, they finished their season with an 8-1 streak, including a 2-1 record against regionally ranked opponents.  They'll need to continue to win and defeat (likely opponents) Guilford, Hampden-Sydney, and Virginia Wesleyan to get into the NCAAs.

[Seatfiller]

1st round games for tuesday:

EMU at W and L

SU at Lynchburg

Roanoke vs. Bridgewater

Emory and Henry vs. Guilford

[2RMCFans]

^ good luck to all above for Tues. games.

On the front page poll here, the ODAC (w/11%) beat "Other" (8%).   

Guess this means that among those polled the ODAC is the 5th toughest D-III conference in which to go unbeaten during the regular season.  Not bad!

On to Salem, glad the Jackets finished stronger than it looked like they might. 

GO JACKETS!!!! 

[Mr. Ypsi]

^ good luck to all above for Tues. games.

On the front page poll here, the ODAC (w/11%) beat "Other" (8%).   

Guess this means that among those polled the ODAC is the 5th toughest D-III conference in which to go unbeaten during the regular season.  Not bad!

On to Salem, glad the Jackets finished stronger than it looked like they might. 

GO JACKETS!!!!

FWIW, I personally would say ODAC is 4th, since NESCAC has only a 10-game conference season.  I voted CCIW first (partly being a homer, but mainly because it hasn't happened in forty years), but later looked over the UAA records this season (for a different reason) and saw the widest disparity in home/away outcomes I can ever recall!  I'd now vote UAA first (almost impossible to go undefeated on the road), CCIW second, WIAC third (just because that conference is usually the best top-to-bottom conference in d3), then ODAC and last NESCAC.

(Though there may be weaker conferences where it is harder than one of these, just because - though weak - they are incredibly balanced.  Just have no idea which conference(s) that would be.)