MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[y_jack_lok]

^^^ That was Cabrini's 2nd game of the season and their star guard, Walton-Moss, was not in the lineup for that game.

[FISHTANKFAN]

I couldn't watch the HSC /Cabrini game last night but from looking at the box score, it looked like the lack of offensive rebounds and only 20 minutes of playing time for khobi Williamson played a big part in the loss. HSC got the foul calls 22/13 over Cabrini but missed 7 shots.  In such a close game, free throws are usually the difference between winning and losing a game.  Cabrini also led in 2nd chance points with 20 vs.13.  Both Cabrini and HSC are really good teams and it was a good match but home court should have given HSC the edge and it didn't.  If they were to play again, HSC might win by 15, but as we all know, any team can be beaten on any given night.  HSC had a great year and congratulations should be given to them on a fine season.   I am sorry that it ended too early.  For RMC, a great game.  You have been battle-tested all year and continue to improve your play.  Keep going!!!! A really well-coached gutsy team!

[algernon]

Actually, the Tigers had fewer turnovers than Cabrini and hit 2/3rds of their free throws, which isn't bad. The general feeling among HSC fans was that Cabrini is the best team the Tigers have seen this season, certainly as good or better than Virginia Wesleyan.  The Cavaliers are strong and fast and have multiple weapons.  Aaron-Moss was the best guard I have seen on an opponent's team since the Tigers faced Horace Jenkins at William Patterson in the 2001 tournament.  He's fast, and rebounds and passes well ... and felt nearly unstoppable at times last night, ending up with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists.  This is pretty much the same Cabrini team that lost the national championship to UW-Whitewater by 3 points last year, and it will not be at all surprising to see Cabrini back in Salem for the Elite Eight in 3 weeks.

Idk about that one, VWC beat Cabrini by 37 this year

Yes, but the Marlins only beat Roanoke at the Batten Center by 6 points a week after that November VWC/Cabrini game, and yet Roanoke wouldn't stay within 30 points of the Cabrini team we saw last night. 

Last night, Cabrini was at least as impressive as the Marlins' team we saw at Fleet a couple of weeks ago, and Walton-Moss is definitely scarier than Woodmore or Astorga (as good as they are).  The November game you're referring to was against a different Cabrini team, one that did not include Walton-Moss, who was last year's D3 Rookie of the Year on a team that played in the national championship game.

[algernon]

The Tigers' last 3 losses have all been extremely tight games that could have gone either way against teams that are among the 32 still playing in the tournament, and I think that Cabrini, Virginia Wesleyan, and Randolph-Macon are all teams that have the potential to go deeper in the tournament.

I expect #30 Cabrini to win in Ohio against #21 Ohio Wesleyan and then (likely opponent) #20 Wooster, and then return to Salem to play #2 Amherst, #4 WPI, or Randolph-Macon in the Elite Eight.  And, on the other side of the bracket, I wouldn't be surprised to see the #25 Marlins defeat #27 CNU at home, and then #8 Williams or #9 Catholic on the road, to also get back to Salem for an Elite Eight game. 

Every game is a tough one at this point.  Not only have the Delaware Valleys, Fitchburg States, and Elms type of Cinderella teams been eliminated, but the field has already seen the elimination of a couple of very strong teams, with #16 Hampden-Sydney losing by 2 points to Cabrini and #34 Springfield (a team that defeated both #2 Amherst and #4 WPI and twice defeated #24 MIT) falling at home to Ithaca.

[2RMCFans]

I couldn't watch the HSC /Cabrini game last night but from looking at the box score, it looked like the lack of offensive rebounds and only 20 minutes of playing time for khobi Williamson played a big part in the loss. HSC got the foul calls 22/13 over Cabrini but missed 7 shots.  In such a close game, free throws are usually the difference between winning and losing a game.  Cabrini also led in 2nd chance points with 20 vs.13.  Both Cabrini and HSC are really good teams and it was a good match but home court should have given HSC the edge and it didn't.  If they were to play again, HSC might win by 15, but as we all know, any team can be beaten on any given night.  HSC had a great year and congratulations should be given to them on a fine season.   I am sorry that it ended too early.  For RMC, a great game.  You have been battle-tested all year and continue to improve your play.  Keep going!!!! A really well-coached gutsy team!

We especially appreciate the last part of your well-reasoned post on the subject of H-SC v. Cabrini.  We wondered if Algernon was down-playing the skills of both VWC & R-MC by his initial high praise of Cabrini above.   But we know better & therefore took no offense.  The Tigers will be back & ready for all takers next season.

GO MARLINS!!!  GO JACKETS!!!! 

[donho]

2rmcfans,just how small was the gym ? I noticed in the box score that only 550 in attendance. VWC looked to me like a sellout last night and the box score said 1410. It was great to see that many people at a d3game.

[FISHTANKFAN]

To compare a team's ability or play against 2 very different teams makes no sense. It is not logical and is not a basis to build an argument for or against. We can wonder what the win margin might have been had Cabrini been at full muster, but it has nothing to do with how a team performed against a league opponent afterwards. Every game is in itself unique. The Marlins were at their best against Cabrini, a team certainly weaker on that particular night. Could Cabrini  have overcome a 37 point deficit with their star player? Maybe.  Could we have beaten RMC had DJ Woodmore been able to play?  Who knows? Just how much is a starter worth? The Marlins, to say the least, have been erratic this year,  losing some very unexpected games.  HSC easily put away  RMC in league play this year twice, but failed to win on their third try in the playoffs. That is what makes basketball such a great game. Nothing is a sure bet. (ask any bookie lol) . I think we were all rooting for HSC to beat Cabrini because we wanted to show just what a fine, powerful league the ODAC can be. Let's not compare apples and oranges and wish the best to both RMC and VWC as they continue.

[hoopstermom]

2rmcfans,just how small was the gym ? I noticed in the box score that only 550 in attendance. VWC looked to me like a sellout last night and the box score said 1410. It was great to see that many people at a d3game.

The APEX (gym) @ Lehman College was very small.  Spectator seats only on one side of court.  Acoustics were even worse.  There are photos on Lehman's website of the APEX facility which may be very nice overall, just the portion that housed the basketball court was quite disappointing especially as a site choice for an NCAA playoff game.

http://www.lehmanathletics.com/sports/2008/12/31/APEX_1231081855.aspx

[Maroons07]

Tough to compare who beat who and when, but with the likes of Washington College, Huntingdon, Piedmont (quit the season) and Marywood on your schedule, saying Cabrini is the best team H-SC has played this year is really not that profound of a statement. 

Actually, the Tigers had fewer turnovers than Cabrini and hit 2/3rds of their free throws, which isn't bad. The general feeling among HSC fans was that Cabrini is the best team the Tigers have seen this season, certainly as good or better than Virginia Wesleyan.  The Cavaliers are strong and fast and have multiple weapons.  Aaron-Moss was the best guard I have seen on an opponent's team since the Tigers faced Horace Jenkins at William Patterson in the 2001 tournament.  He's fast, and rebounds and passes well ... and felt nearly unstoppable at times last night, ending up with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists.  This is pretty much the same Cabrini team that lost the national championship to UW-Whitewater by 3 points last year, and it will not be at all surprising to see Cabrini back in Salem for the Elite Eight in 3 weeks.

Idk about that one, VWC beat Cabrini by 37 this year

Yes, but the Marlins only beat Roanoke at the Batten Center by 6 points a week after that November VWC/Cabrini game, and yet Roanoke wouldn't stay within 30 points of the Cabrini team we saw last night. 

Last night, Cabrini was at least as impressive as the Marlins' team we saw at Fleet a couple of weeks ago, and Walton-Moss is definitely scarier than Woodmore or Astorga (as good as they are).  The November game you're referring to was against a different Cabrini team, one that did not include Walton-Moss, who was last year's D3 Rookie of the Year on a team that played in the national championship game.

[donho]

 Yeah, what he said!

[algernon]

... saying Cabrini is the best team H-SC has played this year is really not that profound of a statement.

Actually, I said that Cabrini was at least as impressive as the Marlins' team we saw at Fleet a couple of weeks ago.  It is high praise to compare Cabrini to the Marlins, a team that most Tiger fans agree has the potential to go as deep or deeper than they did last year.

Last year, UW-Whitewater beat the Marlins by 3 points in OT in the Elite Eight and, a week later, beat Cabrini by 3 points in the national championship game.

[donho]

Perhaps he is referring to your post from last night. The one that says the "HSC fans feel Cabrini is/was the best team HSC faced all year." And "they are as good as if not better than the marlins."

[Maroons07]

Can't compare with last year.   Cabrini lost a first-team all-american guard and VWC lost Vaughan.  Different year, different teams.

[FISHTANKFAN]

  Last year the Marlins lost to Whitewater by 14 points in the elite eight without Chris Astorga.  We actually beat Whitworth in the sweet sixteen by 3 points.   This year we have the potential to go deep, but it's up to the Marlins to determine their fate.... GO MARLINS!!!!!

[algernon]

  Last year the Marlins lost to Whitewater by 14 points in the elite eight without Chris Astorga.  We actually beat Whitworth in the sweet sixteen by 3 points.   This year we have the potential to go deep, but it's up to the Marlins to determine their fate.... GO MARLINS!!!!!

Good point.  I read the bracket wrong.  As you said, the Marlins lost to Whitewater by 14 points in the Elite Eight without Chris Astorga.  And, as Maroons07 has noted, Cabrini got to the national championship and lost to Whitewater with an All-American guard, Cory Lemons.  Both teams have the same coach and bring back much of the same team they had last year, are battle-tested, and are top quality.  HSC fans at the game last night felt that the Cabrini team we saw (now 23-5) was as good or better than any team we've faced this year, which is saying something, as the Tigers have played 6 games against 4 other 20-game winners that made the NCAA Tournament: Wesley (20-8), Randolph-Macon x3 (20-9), Randolph (21-7), and Virginia Wesleyan (22-7).