MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Tigerfan]

Great Senior Day at Hampden-Sydney as Ayman McGowan, Nick Shryock and Adam Brazil were recognized.  McGowan celebrated the day by setting a new H-SC record for 3's in a game by going 9-17 from behind the arc, finishing with a career high 31 points in the 95-78 win over EMU. 

[Tigerfan]

The current NPI doesn't look great for the ODAC.  Having higher ranked teams now means the wins in conference will be more valuable later.  The WIAC, UAA, and NESCAC all have quite a few teams in the top 40.  It's just going to make things more difficult at the end of the year.

How's the ODAC looking now? 


To be fair, I didn't include the last sentence from the quoted post which gave him an out.

[Seatfiller]

RMC with a pretty convincing win over VWU tonight. Roanoke survives Ferrum in OT. W&L and Shenandoah could end up in a tie for the final conference tourney spot if the Generals lose to Ferrum and SU downs Bridgewater on Saturday. In that case SU wins the tie breaker having defeated the Generals twice this season.

Guilford and VWU are tied for the 4th first round hosting spot. If that holds after Saturday's games, VWU wins the tiebreaker with a win over the Quakers on January 15th.

Roanoke got lucky that game from what I was told.  We were up 9 at half and from what I heard the wheels starting falling off. This win doesn't give too much confidence right now before we have to play in the ODAC tourney. Before the ODAC tourney Roanoke hosts Apprentice School (14-5) tomorrow.

Looking at the other ODAC games for tomorrow the notable games I have are:

Virginia Wesleyan at Lynchburg

Ferrum at Washington and Lee

Averett at Guilford

Randolph Macon at Randolph

Shenandoah at Bridgewater

So if the top 8 teams are in then Randolph, Averett, Bridgewater and EMU are all eliminated. The remaining spot would be between Washington and Lee and Shenandoah with W and L having a one game lead over them in the ODAC. SU beat Washington and Lee in the regular season so I'm guessing if W and L loses and SU wins then SU would get that last spot. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong.

So I was actually correct on my post.  So the 1st round ODAC playoff match ups for Wednesday are:

Lynchburg vs. Hampden Sydney

Ferrum at Roanoke

Shenandoah vs. Randolph Macon

Guilford at Virginia Wesleyan


Out of those match ups I think 2 match ups are a toss up.  The Ferrum at Roanoke will be the close as Roanoke only beat Ferrum at home last week by 2.  Guilford and Virginia Wesleayn I also think is a complete toss up as both are capable of being the best in the ODAC when playing well. 

[y_jack_lok]

^^^ Shenandoah has given RMC serious trouble the last three times they've met -- at SU and in the ODAC tourney last season and at SU this season. Coach Doyle has figured out how to play against the Jackets to give SU a chance to win. This game being in Crenshaw should help the Jackets, but I expect it to be a real battle.

And in the only game between H-SC and Lynchburg this season, the Tigers won by 11 at Lynchburg. Home court will Help H-SC, but I've watched parts of a number of Lynchburg's games. They've had some tough losses, but they are good enough to pull off an upset.

Wednesday's games are going to be fun.

[Tigerfan]

Anybody else happy their squad didn't end up as the 4 or 5 seed?  That is going to be a desperate battle to make sure the season doesn't end right there for a good team.  For a long time, its been apparent that the the 4 seed would have home court advantage, but would be facing a really good team. 

Lynchburg is a good young team.  With only one senior contributing, they will get even better next year.  Piercen Young is a solid, experienced ODAC guard and one of the Hornets' leaders in points, rebounds and assists, but I noticed he didn't play the last game and played relatively few minutes in a 1 point game with BC prior to that.  He might be dinged up. 

For most of the season, I was wondering how Shenandoah could be at the bottom of the ODAC.  They've got some length, some athletes who attack the basket, and some guys who can get hot from behind the arc.  Looks like they got themselves together over the last few weeks to seize the final spot in the ODAC tournament.  However, playing the Jackets in Ashland should put an end to their run. 

[rmc1982]

^^^ Shenandoah has given RMC serious trouble the last three times they've met -- at SU and in the ODAC tourney last season and at SU this season. Coach Doyle has figured out how to play against the Jackets to give SU a chance to win. This game being in Crenshaw should help the Jackets, but I expect it to be a real battle.

And in the only game between H-SC and Lynchburg this season, the Tigers won by 11 at Lynchburg. Home court will Help H-SC, but I've watched parts of a number of Lynchburg's games. They've had some tough losses, but they are good enough to pull off an upset.

Wednesday's games are going to be fun.

Nic Doyle grew up
With and played with my kids ! All three of them! Great young man and very smart! That's why he always plays us tough! He was a great player at VWU ALSO! We need to be at our best Wednesday !

[hasanova]

I'd say whatever bubble Virginia Wesleyan was on has disappeared.

Guilford 74, VW 61 at VA Beach

I'm glad the Quakers got to 20 Ws.  Now, RMC on Saturday.

With Lynchburg's 72-66 upset over HSC, it's Roanoke and the Hornets in the other ODAC semifinal.

[Seatfiller]

I'd say whatever bubble Virginia Wesleyan was on has disappeared.

Guilford 74, VW 61 at VA Beach

I'm glad the Quakers got to 20 Ws.  Now, RMC on Saturday.

With Lynchburg's 72-66 upset over HSC, it's Roanoke and the Hornets in the other ODAC semifinal.

Roanoke got a good win against Ferrum.  Close game until the 6 minute mark it was a 6 point game at that point when Roanoke would get the lead up to 13.  From that point Ferrum didn't get any closer than 12. Final score would be 89-75.  The HSC loss complicates things for Roanoke getting a bid now if we don't win the ODAC.  Roanoke plays the hottest team in the ODAC right now in Randolph Macon on Sunday.  Randolph Macon crushed Shenandoah 81-51 and hasn't lost since Dec 7th. 

[Brian Hamilton]

No, Roanoke plays Lynchburg.  Bracket is set.  It doesn't reseed.  Guilford plays Macon.

[y_jack_lok]

RMC with a strong win over Shenandoah 81-51. The best I've seen the Jackets play against a zone defense.

I caught the last three minutes of Lynchburg at H-SC. Kudos to the Hornets for holding on to win. It has to feel good to have learned how to do that after giving up last minute leads and losing a couple of times this season. To win like that on the road against the Tigers says a lot about how far they've come. It was a close game throughout. Lynchburg led most of the first half. H-SC went up by six in the second half, but the Hornets took the lead for good with six minutes remaining. Michael Gray had 31 points for Lynchburg.

VWU couldn't overcome a horrible first half in their home loss to Guilford.

Ferrum gave Roanoke a tough game, but the Maroons answered whenever the Panthers cut into their lead.

[Seatfiller]

No, Roanoke plays Lynchburg.  Bracket is set.  It doesn't reseed.  Guilford plays Macon.

Thanks definitely some confusion on my end. Lynchburg will be ready on Saturday, they should've beat us in the regular season (we came back down 10 with a minute left). Roanoke better be ready to play.

[rmc1982]

Since nobody has acknowledged the Elephant in the room........ I've been waiting for one of you "Hamsters"( and I mean that in the kindest way)to say something about the game last night??? More than that, I wonder how the first round loss will affect their NCAA seeding?? Hey- we could easily lose Saturday vs a very good Guilford team but a loss in the semis isn't as bad as losing in the first round plus the fact that unless the wheels fall off of the bus this weekend for our ladies we weren't gonna host in the first round anyway because it's the ladies turn. This one HAS to hurt those kids- the last few weeks they haven't been at their best and have not played up to the potential of the team that beat us TWICE earlier this year. I KNOW they're better than they have played lately. Any of you HSC guys have any insight as to why??We're gonna have to go on the road regardless of whether we win out or not for the first round at least. We are, however , seemingly peaking at a good time and playing some of our best basketball. I fear a team with size will perhaps be our downfall but you Tigers seemingly have it all, size, shooters, young fireballs - what up and what's wrong?? I'm not trying to be a smarta$$- I really don't watch any other teams much unless they're playing us. Just doesent seem right for them to stumble like this late and I'm not just talking about this one game. Thoughts??

[Brian Hamilton]

I haven't commented because a work obligation kept me away from the game on Wednesday and it was hard to see some things on the computer feed.  I am willing to offer some perspective on what has been going on a little later, but I don't have time right now.

[algernon]

Just doesent seem right for them to stumble like this late and I'm not just talking about this one game. Thoughts??

The Tigers certainly stumbled on Wednesday evening, but they have also beaten Virginia Wesleyan by 19 and Guilford by 7 during the past 3 weeks.  Although HSC lost to #19 Roanoke almost 2 weeks ago, the Maroons are a tremendous team that beat the Quakers by 25 points the week before they beat the Tigers by 9.  If Roanoke gets past Lynchburg in the 4:30 game tomorrow afternoon, they could very possibly finish as ODAC Champs on Sunday.  It is a very tough conference, and I think that the ODAC will get at least 3 tournament bids (RMC, HSC, and Roanoke) and maybe 4 bids (Guilford, too).

With their loss to Lynchburg, the Tigers might have lost their opportunity to host the first couple of games. They might travel to Emory, CNU, or NYU.  We're still hoping they will be one of the 16 teams to host the first weekend's games!

[rmc1982]

I'm on the left coast for work until Wednesday and I wasn't in any way trying to belittle HSC- my son went there - however-the last month they have stumbled... barely winning games or having to come back on big leads etc.... Basically not looking sharp. My entire point was that they haven't looked like the dominamt team they were the first few months ... I was wondering if there was an underlying reason for it that was  not so obvious but beyond what has been reported. THATS ALL! Hey- they could come
Out world beaters in the NCAAS ... and it wouldn't surprise me a bit because Caleb Kimbrough is an awesome coach. They may very well still host- just maybe in a tougher pod! Who knows?? GO JACKETS!!