MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

It's not about actual cost, it's about average cost.  Travel budgets are done across all the D3 championships - they come up with averages for driving and for bussing in each round and that's how things are assigned.  We had the example this year of the Cortland football team choosing to drive twice when they were entitled to fly, which will likely improve the travel budget for everyone in every sport next year.

You can't really expect them to price out two different options for travel for sixteen traveling parties on a Saturday night, and then make hosting decisions.  That's pretty impractical.

I guarantee you, while the RMC basketball team would rather be playing at home, they're not devoting much, if any, time to worrying about it.

The realistic solution is lobbying the right people to increase the travel budget to better enable seeding to hold into the second weekend.  It's not a cheap proposition and there's really no one who doesn't want to see it happening. There's just not yet been a way to find that money.

It's also not like RMC hasn't benefitted from this in other years. Being within 500 miles of Western New England and much of New York has given you guys hosting opportunities other schools can only dream of.

Yeah, it's disappointing this year - it might have an outsized impact this year - but it's not worth beating a dead horse over.

[rmc1982]

It's not about actual cost, it's about average cost.  Travel budgets are done across all the D3 championships - they come up with averages for driving and for bussing in each round and that's how things are assigned.  We had the example this year of the Cortland football team choosing to drive twice when they were entitled to fly, which will likely improve the travel budget for everyone in every sport next year.

You can't really expect them to price out two different options for travel for sixteen traveling parties on a Saturday night, and then make hosting decisions.  That's pretty impractical.

I guarantee you, while the RMC basketball team would rather be playing at home, they're not devoting much, if any, time to worrying about it.

The realistic solution is lobbying the right people to increase the travel budget to better enable seeding to hold into the second weekend.  It's not a cheap proposition and there's really no one who doesn't want to see it happening. There's just not yet been a way to find that money.

It's also not like RMC hasn't benefitted from this in other years. Being within 500 miles of Western New England and much of New York has given you guys hosting opportunities other schools can only dream of.

Yeah, it's disappointing this year - it might have an outsized impact this year - but it's not worth beating a dead horse over.

Thank you Ryan.....I was just trying to prove a point. It may actually end up being GOOD for  our relatively young group, especially if we get Jabril back. No I don't think Josh Merkel is worrying about it now- there's really no need to.....but I can tell you there were some pretty upset people in the men's basketball inner circle. We just have another in a series of obstacles to climb as we have all year! This is probably the best coaching job we've seen out of Josh with all he's had to contend with this season! He's done a marvelous job with these kids win or lose!On to the next round!  And as for Cortland this past Fall- it didn't look like driving them down hurt them ANY- they sure put an a$$ whooping on us- on our field! Lol

[Macon]

Here's an interesting thought.  It's spring break at all of the host schools.  So, I'm thinking student attendance and home court advantage will both be down this weekend.  Good for visiting teams.

Ironically, RMC has spring break later in March because of their 4-1-4 academic schedule.  Just sayin'.

[algernon]

... if they were looking at a less expensive option flying two teams into Richmond and busing then 20 minutes( at most) into Ashland is certainly cheaper than busing them 2-2.5 hrs to FarmVille with much less hotel space available....

You're just making driving times up, rmc1982.  Richmond International to Ashland is 29 minutes (not "20 minutes at most") and Richmond International to Farmville is only 1 hour, 21 minutes (not "2-2.5 hrs").  It's not that the distance from the airport even matters to the decision, but at least make your argument with reference to the actual driving-time facts.

By the way, Farmville has had more than adequate hotel space for visiting teams on the many occasions that HSC has previously hosted athletic events, including NCAA sectionals.

[Macon]

... if they were looking at a less expensive option flying two teams into Richmond and busing then 20 minutes( at most) into Ashland is certainly cheaper than busing them 2-2.5 hrs to FarmVille with much less hotel space available....

You're just making driving times up, rmc1982.  Richmond International to Ashland is 29 minutes (not "20 minutes at most") and Richmond International to Farmville is only 1 hour, 21 minutes (not "2-2.5 hrs").  It's not that the distance from the airport even matters to the decision, but at least make your argument with reference to the actual driving-time facts.
 
By the way, Farmville has had more than adequate hotel space for visiting teams on the many occasions that HSC has previously hosted athletic events, including NCAA sectionals.

Here we go again.  Someone else trying to bring their facts into the conversation!   

[rmc1982]

... if they were looking at a less expensive option flying two teams into Richmond and busing then 20 minutes( at most) into Ashland is certainly cheaper than busing them 2-2.5 hrs to FarmVille with much less hotel space available....

You're just making driving times up, rmc1982.  Richmond International to Ashland is 29 minutes (not "20 minutes at most") and Richmond International to Farmville is only 1 hour, 21 minutes (not "2-2.5 hrs").  It's not that the distance from the airport even matters to the decision, but at least make your argument with reference to the actual driving-time facts.

By the way, Farmville has had more than adequate hotel space for visiting teams on the many occasions that HSC has previously hosted athletic events, including NCAA sectionals.

Excuse me algernon- from RIC to Ashland is 26.1 miles via I295 with a speed limit of 70MPH, and most people drive about 78MPH, it would take you 20.0769 minutes. HSC is approximately 12 minutes on the other side of  Farmville or approx 1.5-1.75 hrs from RIC. I was a little off....my apologies....and I never said they didn't have more than adequate hotel space in Farmville, I just said there was much MORE in Ashland. Sorry if I ruffled your feathers, or your stripes in this case..🐅🐅🐅...lol Hope your Tigers can win the region this weekend!GO TIGERS!... GO QUAKERS!... GO JACKETS!🐝🐝🐝🐝

[algernon]

Excuse me algernon- from RIC to Ashland is 26.1 miles via I295 with a speed limit of 70MPH, and most people drive about 78MPH, it would take you 20.0769 minutes.

Yes, it would take you 20.0769 minutes if you drove the entire trip at 78mph, including the 1.5 miles from the I95 exit through the town of Ashland to the college.  That's a funny idea.  Google Maps says that it's 33 minutes from the airport's arrivals terminal to Crenshaw Gym. 

Not that this has anything to do with hosting a sectional ....

[Pat Coleman]

... if they were looking at a less expensive option flying two teams into Richmond and busing then 20 minutes( at most) into Ashland is certainly cheaper than busing them 2-2.5 hrs to FarmVille with much less hotel space available....

You're just making driving times up, rmc1982.  Richmond International to Ashland is 29 minutes (not "20 minutes at most") and Richmond International to Farmville is only 1 hour, 21 minutes (not "2-2.5 hrs").  It's not that the distance from the airport even matters to the decision, but at least make your argument with reference to the actual driving-time facts.

By the way, Farmville has had more than adequate hotel space for visiting teams on the many occasions that HSC has previously hosted athletic events, including NCAA sectionals.

Excuse me algernon- from RIC to Ashland is 26.1 miles via I295 with a speed limit of 70MPH, and most people drive about 78MPH, it would take you 20.0769 minutes. HSC is approximately 12 minutes on the other side of  Farmville or approx 1.5-1.75 hrs from RIC. I was a little off....my apologies....and I never said they didn't have more than adequate hotel space in Farmville, I just said there was much MORE in Ashland. Sorry if I ruffled your feathers, or your stripes in this case..🐅🐅🐅...lol Hope your Tigers can win the region this weekend!GO TIGERS!... GO QUAKERS!... GO JACKETS!🐝🐝🐝🐝

Are you letting your rant go? Let me know.

[CNU85]

Maybe I can help. Somewhere it was mentioned that driving from RIC to Crenshaw would take "20 minutes at most". But then someone pointed out that it is 26.1 miles and not possible. Then it was said that if you drive 78 MPH it would take 20.0769 minutes. This confused me slightly since 20.0769 is still more than 20 minutes. However if it was said to travel at 79 MPH then the first argument holds true since that equates to 19.822785 Minutes and thus "20 minutes at most".

Then there is the issue of acceleration and deceleration. One would have to go from 0-79 in an instant and also from 79-0 in another instant and maintain exactly 79 MPH for the duration of the 26.1 miles. I can attest firsthand that it takes 3 seconds to go from 0-150 when launched off of a carrier deck and also 2 seconds to decelerate from 135-0. So the only way I can see a deceleration anywhere close to what is being proposed would involve the brick wall at Crenshaw. And then there would be the airbags and blood and screaming. Although mathematically possible, I would not recommend anyone trying it.

I hope this helps clarify some things

[algernon]

Nice D3HOOPS.COM piece on the Tigers! 

https://www.d3hoops.com/playoffs/men/2024/a-tale-of-the-hampdeb-sydney-tigers

[Brian Hamilton]

It is a nice piece.  I commented on it this morning and my comment is no longer there.  HSC made the Final Four during the 1998-99 season (losing to Platteville in 2OT by 1 in the championship game) and during the 2002-03 season.  So they are actually playing for their third trip to the Final Four.

[Brian Hamilton]

Any update on Jabril's status for Macon for this weekend's games?  I know him being able to play would be huge for Macon.

[y_jack_lok]

Congrats to RMC on a great season. Tough loss today to a very good Calvin team. I knew the reputations of Overway and Egekeze and they proved to be accurate. What was unclear was just how good Calvin was defensively. Turns out they are quite good.

[y_jack_lok]

Guilford and H-SC both advance. Guilford plays CNU tomorrow. H-SC plays Nebraska Wesleyan.

[y_jack_lok]

Guilford and H-SC both win and will face each other in the semi-finals in Fort Wayne next weekend, guaranteeing an ODAC team in the championship game. The winner will face the winner of Trine vs Trinity (CT).