MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[y_jack_lok]

Haven't seen any All-ODAC chatter yet like we usually do at this point in the season. Coach of the Year and Rookie of the Year have to pretty much be locks to Nathan Davis and Clayton Murtha, I would think, but who do you all think is the Player of the Year? Doesn't really seem like there is a clear cut choice going by the typical combination of stats + team record.

I don't know much about a lot of players in the conference, and there haven't been many comments on this board about dominant players with gaudy stats on any team. Seems like a good year for a player who provided consistent leadership to his team throughout conference play, one whose defense was really solid, and whose team is one of the four with a bye in the tournament.

[algernon]

Haven't seen any All-ODAC chatter yet like we usually do at this point in the season. Coach of the Year and Rookie of the Year have to pretty much be locks to Nathan Davis and Clayton Murtha, I would think, but who do you all think is the Player of the Year? Doesn't really seem like there is a clear cut choice going by the typical combination of stats + team record.

Ed Reddick?
Matt MaCarthy?
Marcus Badger?
Khory Moore?

[2RMCFans]

^^ There may be no clear cut choice for POY, but look at this player's stats for consistent leadership:

PPG    21st      11.7
FG%    9th      .532
RPG     5th      7.0
Blocks  6th      1.4 APG

All this in fewer average minutes per game than any similar contender.  The closest we see to this type of overall performance is Zach Desgain, a JR, not that that should control the outcome but factoring in the team records, Randolph is not a top 4 team this year.  (Apologies for overlooking anyone else on a top 4 team with similar offensive & defensive stats to these 2 players.)

Joe ended the 2014-15 regular season with a double/double in 4 of his last 5 games, a season that has even broken a few records for Jackets basketball.  We think he's earned POY & hope he will get a long look. 

Good luck to all for the tournament!  GO JACKETS!!!!

[y_jack_lok]

^^ There may be no clear cut choice for POY, but look at this player's stats for consistent leadership:

PPG    21st      11.7
FG%    9th      .532
RPG     5th      7.0
Blocks  6th      1.4 APG

All this in fewer average minutes per game than any similar contender. The closest we see to this type of overall performance is Zach Desgain, a JR, not that that should control the outcome but factoring in the team records, Randolph is not a top 4 team this year.  (Apologies for overlooking anyone else on a top 4 team with similar offensive & defensive stats to these 2 players.)

Joe ended the 2014-15 regular season with a double/double in 4 of his last 5 games, a season that has even broken a few records for Jackets basketball.  We think he's earned POY & hope he will get a long look. 

Good luck to all for the tournament!  GO JACKETS!!!!

I hope any player in the conference would take the kind of season R-MC has had over more minutes and more impressive stats and any awards that come with them. But you make a strong case. I expect the four named by algernon will also get a good long look. I get the feeling that if you want to play for Nathan Davis you need to focus on team not self, and that is what his players seem to do. I like that formula and it sure does seem to be working.

[CMR]

2RMC, you beat me to the punch, as I think Hassell has been the rock that's carried the Jackets to the finish line.  Playing his best ball at the right time.  Going undefeated in league play with top scorer in the #19 slot, amazing! 

[flightless bird fan]

The Royals shook of the two losses and beat RC to clinch the 4th seed.  Hope that is the team that shows in the Tourney.  http://www.emuroyals.com/sports/mbkb/2014-15/releases/2015022226cp6y  In other news, did anyone see Funky Winkerbean? http://comicskingdom.com/funky-winkerbean/2015-02-22 

[algernon]

Among the Tigers, I think Mike Murray is deserving of 2nd team All-ODAC. 

PPG:       14.0 Pt/G        13th
3Pt%      42.1%            Unranked, because he was one 3PT short of the required one three-pointer per game
Assists    4.1 A/G           3rd
A/T          2.0 A/T           10th
Steals     1.5 St/G          9th
Rebs       4.6 Reb/G       27th (and Mike is 5'9", if that)

[hscathletics]

Among the Tigers, I think Mike Murray is deserving of 2nd team All-ODAC. 

PPG:       14.0 Pt/G        13th
3Pt%      42.1%            Unranked, because he was one 3PT short of the required one three-pointer per game
Assists    4.1 A/G           3rd
A/T          2.0 A/T           10th
Steals     1.5 St/G          9th
Rebs       4.6 Reb/G       27th (and Mike is 5'9", if that)

His FG% of 46.8% is 17th along with the 4th most made free throws in the league. He was playing like a Player of the Year Contender through January, but the beating he takes every game getting to the rim seems to have really taken a toll on him.

Not sure if placing sixth will get a team a second All-ODAC player or not, but Jake Duncan and Leon Hargrove would be strong candidates for our second All-ODACer. Both have played their best basketball of the year here in February, which has been a big help with the shooting slumps Mike and Mitch Owens have found themselves in of late.

[CMR]

Comparing the pre-season poll to final results, most teams performed as expected, with Roanoke being the only outlier, dropping 4 slots.  With no team performing significantly better than expected, then COY is a lock for Davis.  Even though RMC was the pre-season #1, no one expected an undefeated season.  As to POY, lots of balance this year, and no obvious choice.  If RMC had a dominant scorer, the choice would be easy, but too much balance on the Jacket's team.  Plus, if any team had move up significantly from the pre-season, then that team's dominant player would have a case, but that didn't happen as well.  Again, I think you may have to reward the undefeated season, thus does it then go to Badger or Hassell.  But, then again, maybe Moore of VWC?  As to FOY, Murtha seems to be a lock, as no other Freshman even shows up on the conference stats.  My 2 cents. 

[CMR]

But, on second thought, as the way politics sometimes goes, the league will probably not pick an RMC player, thus spreading the awards.  I'd have to then give the edge to Moore.

[HSCDad]

 HSAthletics is correct - only one Sr transfer under Coach Vick's time at HSC- Anderson would have been other Sr that was missing - did not mean to create issue


 

[HSCDad]

HSC up 8 with 9 minutes to go in 1st half and them down 15 at half    At about 4-5 minutes left in game -HSC down 12 - but won 79-75 - unbelievable defense in last 3 minutes. Repeated steals. E&H really played well and will be something to tend with next year. 10 turnovers by HSC in 1st half and only 4 in 2nd was difference at E&H had 12 in 2nd half - great come back - see you in Salem 

[hscathletics]

HSAthletics is correct - only one Sr transfer under Coach Vick's time at HSC- Anderson would have been other Sr that was missing - did not mean to create issue

Not a problem! Cam is having a good year for Green Mountain College, glad to see he got back on his feet athletically somewhere. Hopefully, he's getting it done in the classroom now too.

[algernon]

Tigers were down by 15 (45-30) at the half and still down by 16 (64-48) with 10 minutes to play.  Then only down by 10 (71-61) with 5 minutes to play, by 5 (75-70) with 2 minutes to play, and finally took the lead for the first time in the second half with 31 seconds to go on a Mike Murray layup, 76-75, going on to win 79-75.  Biggest comeback we've seen in 20 years of watching Tiger basketball!

Greg Lewis scored 15 (with 3 assists and 3 steals) and now stands at 986 career points.  Mike Murray made 19 points and now has 854 career points as a junior.

[tigerfanalso]

Glad HSC got the victory, however the fact they were behind to E&H by 17 points is concerning. Everything I hear, including comments from several E&H backers, E&H is not very good. Every team has their day and perhaps last nite was almost that day for E&H. I guess at this point it is all about advancing to the next game and HSC certainly accomplished that goal but rest assured if HSC does not show up in the first half against the Quakers, the game result will not be a good one for the Tigers. Hopefully lesson learned and on to the next game. I'm impressed with HSC will to win. I hope there was a big crowd there to support them.