MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[baselinejam]

All conference selection should be based on talent; talent is not judged by stats.
All Star performers on really good teams do not always have great stats due to the team concept. The really good HSC and RMC  teams of the recent past indicate same. Those teams had so many go do guys that not one or two players were forced to carry the load.

Your post doesn't really state a compelling reason to make All-ODAC. Your reasoning supports why teams win championships and individuals don't. I especially like the line "Those teams had so many go do guys that not one or two players were forced to carry the load".  A good player on a poor team never gets a break. They do have to carry the load. Their opponent always know who the "go to guy" is and the doubles and triples follow. They rarely see single coverage. A player like this needs to be recognized. That's why stats are important to use as a measuring device.
Of course talent is critical. For any top player in the ODAC ask yourself how their team would do without them? The players lost by Lynchburg, E&H and BC don't appear to have effected those teams very much. They may even be better without them. When you consider that 2 of them were team leading scorers - that's interesting.

[tigerfanalso]

Basellinejam

No question good players do win championships but some of the better players in the conference that play for the best teams often are over looked when  conference teams are picked because  they don't have the stats for the reasons stated in my earlier post , whereby had those players played on a lesser team their stats would be better; more minutes played equals more shots, rebounds, steals, blocked shots all of which are considered heavily when conference teams are picked. Best example this year are the guards at VWC which are probably the best in the league and all would probably be considered for the all conference team had they not played on the same team. They have more talent but they all will not the all conference team.

[jeloesel]

Wednesday, January 25
Emory & Henry @ Washington & Lee.  I think Bob Johnson has the Wasps running the System fast enough to outpace the Gennies.
Hampden-Sydney @ Guilford.  One team on the way up, one team on the way down.  I don't think that trend is changing today.
Lynchburg @ Randolph-Macon. It will take a miracle to change this outcome.  < provided all the motivation the Yellow Jackets needed to assure there is no upset.
Roanoke @ Eastern Mennonite.  The Maroons need to put together 40 minutes for a change if they want to get by the Emus.

Saturday, January 28
Hampden Sydney @ Eastern Mennonite. The Emus will be mad after the beatdown by Roanoke.
Virginia Wesleyan @ Guilford.  I'm not ready to pick against the Marlins, even if they are on the front of their version of the road-trip-from-hell.
Lynchburg @ Bridgewater. Steelyglen will make certain < won't have much to say afterward.
Randolph-Macon @ Emory & Henry.  It could be a squeaker if Wansley is not ready to go.
Washington & Lee @ Roanoke.  It's payback time.

Sunday, January 29
Virginia Wesleyan @ Emory & Henry.  Day Two of the road-trip-from-hell.  I'd be nervous if I were Macedo.
Randolph-Macon @ Guilford.  Hmmmm.   I haven't got a clue about Wansley's condition, so I'm passing.  However, I predict that Hasanova will be involved in a hit-and-run and Jacketlawyer will sue.   

[mr_divac]

Wednesday, January 25
Emory & Henry @ Washington & Lee
Hampden-Sydney @ Guilford. 
Lynchburg @ Randolph-Macon.
Roanoke @ Eastern Mennonite. 

Saturday, January 28
Hampden Sydney @ Eastern Mennonite.
Virginia Wesleyan @ Guilford. 
Lynchburg @ Bridgewater.
Randolph-Macon @ Emory & Henry. Upset Special!!!
Washington & Lee @ Roanoke. 

Sunday, January 29
Virginia Wesleyan @ Emory & Henry. 
Randolph-Macon @ Guilford., No OT Needed!!

[3sdown]

Wednesday, January 25
Emory & Henry @ Washington & Lee
Hampden-Sydney @ Guilford
Lynchburg @ Randolph-Macon
Roanoke @ Eastern Mennonite

Saturday, January 28
Hampden Sydney @ Eastern Mennonite
Virginia Wesleyan @ Guilford
Lynchburg @ Bridgewater
Randolph-Macon @ Emory & Henry
Washington & Lee @ Roanoke

Sunday, January 29
Virginia Wesleyan @ Emory & Henry
Randolph-Macon @ Guilford

Bonus #1 = 128
Bonus #2 = 141

[steelyglen]

Wednesday, January 25
Emory & Henry @ Washington & Lee
Hampden-Sydney @ Guilford
Lynchburg @ Randolph-Macon
Roanoke @ Eastern Mennonite

Saturday, January 28
Hampden Sydney @ Eastern Mennonite
Virginia Wesleyan @ Guilford
Lynchburg @ Bridgewater
Randolph-Macon @ Emory & Henry
Washington & Lee @ Roanoke

Sunday, January 29
Virginia Wesleyan @ Emory & Henry
Randolph-Macon @ Guilford

bonus#1 149

bonus #2  148

[steelyglen]

just your friendly 2 minute warning

birdjersey...eh...kid...stillfamily...tigerphil...goose13...primetimeplayer haven't heard from you guys yet...just checking

Also don't forget the bonus pick'ems this week...

bonus #1 total points: Methodist v. Christopher- Newport (3 pts.)

bonus #2 total points: Randolph-Macon v. Guilford (4 points)

[Jacketlawyer]

quote]

Good one, Jeloesel.  Brought a much needed laugh on a Wednesday morning!!

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

I have a feeling this week is going to be a crazy week ... here goes nothing *gulp*

"Jimmy the German's" List of ODAC Pick'em Games for Week Nine

Wednesday, January 25
Emory & Henry @ Washington & Lee
Hampden-Sydney @ Guilford
Lynchburg @ Randolph-Macon
Roanoke @ Eastern Mennonite

Saturday, January 28
Hampden Sydney @ Eastern Mennonite
Virginia Wesleyan @ Guilford
Lynchburg @ Bridgewater
Randolph-Macon @ Emory & Henry
Washington & Lee @ Roanoke

Sunday, January 29
Virginia Wesleyan @ Emory & Henry
Randolph-Macon @ Guilford


Bonus #1: 152 (total pts in the MC/CNU game)

Bonus #2: 137 (total pts in the R-MC/GC game)

[tigerfanalso]

Am not that familar with Guilford; does HSC have a realistic  chance to win the game ?

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

I think when H-SC started out 11-0 this year, a lot of people thought "ahh, the Tigers of 2004 are back" following their disappointing 17-10 finished last season.  But of the 11 teams they beat, only three have winning records (VWC 16-3, Old Westbury 8-7, Wheaton (Mass.) 11-7).  And of the eight wins against teams with losing records, they had two squeakers over teams with only five wins on the year (three-point win over a 5-13 Springfield team, and a five-point win over a 5-11 N.C. Wesleyan team).

So yes, starting out 11-0 vaulted them in the Top 25, but their wins weren't overly impressive.

Even with their un-Sydney-like slump the last five games, I like their chances on the road this week.  Bubba will have them ready.

[algernon]

kid .... Thanks for the info on the Tigers' victories.

Here's a different kind of breakdown of the Tigers' 12-4 record:

Against teams with 70% Win PCT:  1-2 (1-1 against VWC; L to RMC)

Against teams with 50-69% Win PCT:  2-1 (Beat Ithaca, SUNY- Old Westbury; L to Roanoke)

Against teams with 30-49% Win PCT:  5-1 (Beat Ithaca, Emory & Henry, NC Wesleyan, EMU, Bridgewater; L to Roanoke)

Against teams with <30% Win PCT: 4-0 (Beat Springfield, Ferrum, Lynchburg, W&L)

[tigerfanalso]

Kid:

Thanks for your response and I hope your thoughts are correct. Unless Bubba can figure out how to get our shooters more open looks I see the slump continuing as Kasse cannot carry the load without an outside game to force the defense to play straight up. That should be a fairly simple adjustment to make, it just hasn't been done effectively throughout this entire 5 game slump. I'll hold my breath and hope I receive good news in the paper on Thursday morning !!!

[mybleedinghands]

did anyone ever consider the fact that maybe it is the players fault and not bubba smith's fault? ever consider the fact that the players arent executing? every odac coach is going to know what the other teams are going to do and the plays arent going to work if you dont execute precisely. the plays worked in previous years, now all of a sudden it's the coach's fault?

[tigerfanalso]

Cetainly I have considered the fact that maybe the players are not executing, but who is responsible for seeing to it that the plays are executed correctly....
Never said the slump is the coaches fault, just said that if the offensive sets don't produce more open looks I can't see them winning the game... not hammering Bubba Smith, don't know him well enough to do so... I do know that players like Prehemus cannot play an entire game and only take three shots like he did against VWC and still have a chance to win against a quality opponent.