MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[vaghr]

Ladyeagle
 You should be impressed that Wansley is able to get 14 points when most coaches in the ODAC are trying to stop him first. He is a very business like player and does what needs to be done. No flash, not very much emotion but he gets the job done. Everyone on RMC team is better because of him.

[steelyglen]

quickie write-up on last night's RMC v. BC game...

http://www.bridgewater.edu/Sports/

Wasn't there so just looking at the numbers and box score...the Jackets shoot 55% from the floor 57% from behind the arc and don't miss a free throw in 10 attempts. They force 16 turnovers including 8 steals. They will beat a LOT of teams with those numbers. A 21-5 run early in the game after being down 6-2 put MAcon in control BC went 2-8 from the floor and turned it over 5 times during this 8 minutes run by RMC. 6 different players scored during this run for Macon which set the tone for the rest of the night!

For Bridgewater...others besdies Michael must begin to show up...on both sides of the ball...on a consistent night in and night out basis. Now I wasn't there...so I don't know if Michael, Fox and Butler did the defensive job on Wansley, whether Wansley took the night off (not likely) or whether Wansley found other ways to help his team win...bottom...the "W" went the wrong way! But consistenly having a negative assist to turnover ratio will not win you many games. Allowing a team to shoot 57% from behind the arc will not win you many games. I could go on... this one is now in the books and its time to look ahead to Sydney. Now this team CAN shoot it so the Eagles MUST defend the perimeter...And they must protect the ball. Sydney will likely pressure the ball all over the floor...patience, spacing and passing through the pressure (not dribbling through it). Finally others must step up offensively. They wil attempt to lock down Michael and dare Fox, Maupin, Oblitey, Glover, Cecil and others to beat them.  Pound the boards...the 28-23 rebounding advantage was one of just a few pluses last night!

Ladyeagle...love your loyalty and don't stop what you're doing...but...Wansley IS all that AND a bag of chips! Coaches have seen the kid do what he does for 4 years and that won't be forgotten when POY voting time comes around. I'm sure you are right about it being an off night last night...but "W's" are all that count and the Eagles didn't get one at home last night. One night doesn't a POY make or break!  No way the words "handily beaten...blown-out...comfortable win...should ever be used AGAINST Bridgewater in Nininger Hall! Let's get a big "W" Saturday.

[mybleedinghands]

Jim,
After sweeney gets 20 and Pat gets 15, would you like ro reassess your statement that we have no scoring threats? In conference games (which is the only games we have anymore), Pat is averaging 12.8 on 51.2 shooting and 91.7% fromt ft, weeney is coming on strong and is averaging 9.6 with 55.6% overall 33.3% from 3 and 75% from FT, andy albright is averaging 8.4 points, Pete Vasilou is averaging 11.6 points on 55% shooting, and kwame safo is averaging 7.6 points on 58.6% shooting.

[hasanova]

Averett: the scourge of the ODAC.  With a win over Guilford and two over LC, they gotta be good. 

Well this is an interesting development.  Averett.  Never hear all that much from 'em.  What makes them so good?  Any objective analysis out there?

With regards to the BC-R-MC game, I see LadyEagle's point.  But whenever Wans gets the ball, at least two players in the paint collapse on him, so any points he gets are hard earned, and certainly not pretty!!

They're quick, apply a lot of full-court defensive pressure, can hit their Free Throws and, against Guilford, made 10 of 20 three-pointers.  You're going to win a lot of games if you consistently do all those things. 

[Jacketlawyer]

Thanks Hasanova and STH (Happy New Year, btw).   Glad we don't have to play 'em.

[78rmc]

Jacketlawyer, we did play Averett and won by 25.

[ladyeagle]

My comments were directed towards last night and last night, well I wasn't impressed.  Wansley is a good player.  I'm sure he is even better than how I percieved him, but last night just wasn't an impressive game for reigning POY.  I do enjoy seeing other players from other schools have stellar performances, but I just didn't feel I saw that last night.  It was a good performance, just not as great as I was expecting. 

I don't think you can watch a player once a year and make such statements. 

ps.  i watch players twice a year, maybe more depending on what games I see at the ODAC tourney, and often I catch at least some of all the first rounders. 

[ladyeagle]

Ladyeagle
  You should be impressed that Wansley is able to get 14 points when most coaches in the ODAC are trying to stop him first.

Aren't great basketball players used to being stopped?  Isn't the reason they are great because they work past the defense and still produce great games?

[Jacketlawyer]

Jacketlawyer, we did play Averett and won by 25.

I think I knew that. . . . . . .    Thanks for keeping me straight.

[vaghr]

Yes thats right for some players.........but like Wansley, some let the others on their team take up the slack and when necessary they take over the game. If you look at Wansley's history, he doesn't force many shots or take to many bad shots and he has taken over games when he has needed to. With the way his other post player has come along he hasn't had to do as much for RMC to win.

[Jimmy Mad]

How in the hell does EMU lose to Greensboro?! Sager didn't get the start, played only 20 minutes, and just 1-10 from the field with 4 points?? WHats up with that??

Greensboro had a transfer who just started playing in the last three games and has led them in scoring in all three games.  They are an improved team with him.  Granted, EMU didn't play its best basketball, but GC is an improved team with Steve Berg.  Sager was clearly off his game and battled through a nagging ankle injury.  He pulled a few defensive boards but did not bang around in the paint like he normally would.  Execution on offense just wasn't there for the Royals.

[ladyfan]

In regards to EMU's game last night. Horrible!! First, Sager didn't start due to practice issue (late or didn't show?).

Second, and the most concerning is, Where did the offense go? I have been a Kirby Dean fan since the days he played at EMU, but what has he done with the Running Royals? He had three players coming back this year that were in the top 15 in the league (Sager, Parkes, and Whiting) plus Arrington who was a standout 2 years ago. Now all I see is those and others stopping all momentum at 1/2 court and running a set play almost every possesion. Then if that play doesn't work the offending player (turnover, missed shot) is taken out of the game. This leads to NO player sticking their neck out to make a play, because they are all afraid to make a mistake. There is no creativity, emotion etc.. Kirby and his staff has hade the top 2-3 recruiting classes the last 2 years, its time to let them play.

Before the bulk of the league games start every person associated with that program has to look in the mirror and ask "Am I better today than yesterday, did I help the program get better today?" They can not have anymore games like the one last night. I have only seen 3 games this year (medical reasons), but from I have seen and read the ODAC is loaded and you have to come to play every night.   

[baselinejam]

Ladyeagle
  You should be impressed that Wansley is able to get 14 points when most coaches in the ODAC are trying to stop him first.

Aren't great basketball players used to being stopped?  Isn't the reason they are great because they work past the defense and still produce great games?

You're both right. Watching uninspired play effects the kudo's flowing to a player. Not dominating every game doesn't mean the player isn't a dominant player.

Are we done with this now?

What about this weekend's games?

[hasanova]

Thanks Hasanova and STH (Happy New Year, btw).   Glad we don't have to play 'em.

Jacketlawyer - You're welcome.  You had talked earlier about going to the RMC/Guilford game in Greensboro.  Is that still on your calendar?

[jdubyadubya]

baselinejam - thanks for bringing the board back into focus . Yeah, I think there are some significant games this weekend. The Marlins have a chance to go to 11 and 3 and 6 and 1 in the conference; the Tigers can go to 10 and 0 and RMC to 6 and 0 in the conference.