MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[hasanova]

Just took a look at Guilford's (7-0) schedule the next few weeks before the Quakers are into all ODAC play:

Dec. 14 Methodist (2-5)
Dec. 17 @ NCWC (3-4)
Dec. 28 Dickinson (6-1) @ RMC
Dec. 29 Birmingham-Southern (4-1) @ RMC
Jan. 4 Messiah (8-0)

We should get a real feel for the Quakers by the time this 5-game stretch is complete!

[algernon]

Thanks for the post, Hasanova.  Guilford should win the first two, but the latter 3 games will ech be a true test for the Quakers!

The Tigers also have a challenging schedule before they face off against ODAC foes:

Dec. 29    Washington & Jefferson (5-2)   4:00pm
Dec. 30    Baruch (6-2)   4:00pm
Jan. 2    #5 Williams (7-1)   7:00pm

[hasanova]

Thanks for the post, Hasanova.  Guilford should win the first two, but the latter 3 games will ech be a true test for the Quakers!

The Tigers also have a challenging schedule before they face off against ODAC foes:

Dec. 29    Washington & Jefferson (5-2)   4:00pm
Dec. 30    Baruch (6-2)   4:00pm
Jan. 2    #5 Williams (7-1)   7:00pm

That's a tough five days for the Tigers!  "Challenging" may be an understatement.  Good luck!

[tigerfanalso]

Can the Tigers win all three of those games ?

[hasanova]

Can the Tigers win all three of those games ?

Can they?  Sure.  Will they?  Probably not.  As a non-HSC insider, but an ODAC fan against OOC opponents, I'd be pleased if they got 2 out of 3.  Obviously, #5 Williams will be the toughest test, but the Tigers do have the Ephs at home.

[algernon]

Looks like W&L is likely to play Williams in their tournament just 3 days before the HSC/Williams game.

[hasanova]

Looks like W&L is likely to play Williams in their tournament just 3 days before the HSC/Williams game.

Interesting.  That'll be a barometer of sorts.

[hasanova]

The Quakers move to 8-0 with a 68-66 home win over Methodist (2-6) this afternoon.  Matt McCarthy hit the game-winning shot with 1.7 seconds left on an 8-foot floater driving the lane.

Honestly, MU looks as though they ought to be better than 2-6 ... they have some leapers.  It was a back and forth game with the Monarchs up 32-31 at the break.  I don't remember GC leading by more than 5, but the Quakers had a lot of silly turnovers today.

Anyway, see you at RMC on the 28th and 29th for Dickinson and Birmingham-Southern.

[jknezek]

Looks like W&L is likely to play Williams in their tournament just 3 days before the HSC/Williams game.

Interesting.  That'll be a barometer of sorts.

Of sorts is being polite. Don't think much will be learned other than W&L is not a player at that level. Kind of like the Amherst game last year

[hasanova]

Looks like W&L is likely to play Williams in their tournament just 3 days before the HSC/Williams game.

Interesting.  That'll be a barometer of sorts.

Of sorts is being polite. Don't think much will be learned other than W&L is not a player at that level. Kind of like the Amherst game last year

I don't disagree ... I think it's sort of like Averett finding out where they stacked up on the national football scene when they scheduled Mt. Union a few years ago.

[jknezek]

Looks like W&L is likely to play Williams in their tournament just 3 days before the HSC/Williams game.

Interesting.  That'll be a barometer of sorts.

Of sorts is being polite. Don't think much will be learned other than W&L is not a player at that level. Kind of like the Amherst game last year

I don't disagree ... I think it's sort of like Averett finding out where they stacked up on the national football scene when they scheduled Mt. Union a few years ago.

Yeah. I just can't figure out W&L's problem in basketball. For a school that cancompete in the bigger team sports, football, soccer, lacrosse and occasionally baseball, I just can't figure out why the Generals struggle to get 8-10 men's basketball players. Now it's a lot better under Coach Hutchinson then it was when I was there in the late 90s, but it still isn't very good. I understand the ODAC is a tough conference, and that makes it harder, but basketball seems to be the main sport where W&L just can't seem to get enough of the right players. We seem to have one or two every year or every other year, but nothing consistent. Maybe just a problem with history, as the Generals just aren't known as a place for those players to go...

[Seatfiller]

Looks like W&L is likely to play Williams in their tournament just 3 days before the HSC/Williams game.

Interesting.  That'll be a barometer of sorts.

Of sorts is being polite. Don't think much will be learned other than W&L is not a player at that level. Kind of like the Amherst game last year

I don't disagree ... I think it's sort of like Averett finding out where they stacked up on the national football scene when they scheduled Mt. Union a few years ago.

Yeah. I just can't figure out W&L's problem in basketball. For a school that cancompete in the bigger team sports, football, soccer, lacrosse and occasionally baseball, I just can't figure out why the Generals struggle to get 8-10 men's basketball players. Now it's a lot better under Coach Hutchinson then it was when I was there in the late 90s, but it still isn't very good. I understand the ODAC is a tough conference, and that makes it harder, but basketball seems to be the main sport where W&L just can't seem to get enough of the right players. We seem to have one or two every year or every other year, but nothing consistent. Maybe just a problem with history, as the Generals just aren't known as a place for those players to go...

If you feel this way about W and L imagine how I feel about Noke, we haven't been relevant in the ODAC for almost a decade 

[hasanova]

You're right, seatfiller.  I remember a period when Guilford couldn't bribe the refs to get a win over Roanoke!

[madzillagd]

Looks like W&L is likely to play Williams in their tournament just 3 days before the HSC/Williams game.

They already have a common opponent this year if you are looking for a barometer of sorts.  HSC beat Springfield 89-82.  Williams beat Springfield a week later 80-75.  I watched both of those contests and the biggest difference between the two was Williamson for HSC and the lack of Mayer for Williams.  The Springfield front line is strong and skilled, but Williamson (20 pts, 9 rbs) was able to win the matchup even though he and Lumpkin struggled with fouls.  Williams on the other hand just got crushed down low with Mayer out, the backup Kilcullen struggled against the bigger front line (he was listed as the same size as Swenson but even the announcer pointed out there had to be a 20 lb difference in size.) Williams plays with only one big on the floor, with the four really a wing and not a power forward.  I do expect Mayer to be back for Williams by the time these teams match up.

For HSC to pull off the upset they need to get back to shooting the 3 much better. Last two games they've shot poorly from 3 and as a result their scoring dropped dramatically.  They averaged 80 ppg the first 5 contests but were at 60 ppg the last two, putting them at 74 ppg on the year.  Contrast that with Williams, they are averaging 94 ppg.  However, if you look at the most difficult team Williams has played this year has been Springfield and they only scored 80 against them, that may be a better measure when they play tougher competition (although I think Mayer being out definitely impacted them that game).  The lower the score, the better chance HSC has of coming out on top I think.   

[jknezek]

If you feel this way about W and L imagine how I feel about Noke, we haven't been relevant in the ODAC for almost a decade 

Almost a decade? That's nothing. Sure W&L had a surprise run to the ODAC Tourney final a few years ago, but other than that there is only one season where W&L was better than 2 games over .500 in conference play since '87/'88. And the less said about the 0-18 '04/'05 conference season the better!

The combined record in my four years at school was something like 27-72 and 19-53 in ODAC play. Was hard to sit through as a sports reporter for The Trident.