MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[jdubyadubya]

Re. last night's VWC 70-51 win vs. Lynchburg, it was historic for the school on 3 levels: 18 consecutive game winning streak; 15 ODAC victories for the first time ever; 20-win level for 3rd year in a row. That's a pretty strong case for Macedo getting COY.   

[hasanova]

hasanova...

Saw Ben Strong play last night, and I must say I did not come away all that impressed.  He is a good shooter with nice form and can hit that 15 foot baseline jumper consistantly and at times asserted himself in the post.  He passes very well out of double-teams, too.  But, he got pushed around while on defense and always seemed winded.  He never seemed to be physical.  In the first half, the Quakers, I thought, acutally played better when he was not in the game.  I know the Tigers were really forcing an up-tempo game, and that is not his strength right now, but to be a 1st Team player, to me, you have to be able to play well regardless of tempo.  

Well, the Quakers obviously weren't at their best last night and especially so since Jordan Snipes was unable to play.  Unfortunately, you probably saw the Quakers' worst game of the year, but taken for what he has accomplished for the whole season, I still believe Strong will be First Team.  Even really good players have an off night from time to time.   

[Jacketlawyer]

Re. last night's VWC 70-51 win vs. Lynchburg, it was historic for the school on 3 levels: 18 consecutive game winning streak; 15 ODAC victories for the first time ever; 20-win level for 3rd year in a row. That's a pretty strong case for Macedo getting COY.   

I would think Macedo would be a lock for COY thus far.  When he sat one of his guys down earlier in the season for academic reasons, I was really impressed.

[seminoletiger]

Eagleslam,

I see your point...and no doubt, there is more parity top to bottiom in this year's ODAC than in 2003.  I think the comparisons supporting the "strength" of the 2003 ODAC over the current version relates to the 2003 ODAC (ie. Macon and Sydney) was more of a threat going into the NCAAs than this year's version.

VWC is on a heck of a roll right now...but I don't see two ODAC teams still playing in the Sectionals come March.  I'd be very pleased, but shocked if it happens.

[tigerfanalso]

Fishtank

There is nothing I can say that will convince you that I'm not bias, but I'm not. I'm simply comparing VWC & RMC to the teams I've seen play in the past years in both the ODAC and the NCAA's and I don't think any team in the ODAC this year is at that level. If that is bias so be it, I see it has being my opinion. I'll pull for VWC & RMC come tourney time you can rest assured of that and I'll get no statisfaction of being right if the results indicate that I am.     

[algernon]

So EMU has the tiebreaker over BC if it comes to that?

My expectation is that EMU will end up 7-11 and Bridgewater will finish 6-12.

However, in the unlikely scenario where EMU loses to Lynchburg, with  both teams losing both of their remaining games and finishing 6-12, Bridgewater will win the tie-breaker if Emory & Henry finishes ahead of Roanoke, but EMU wins the tie-breaker if Roanoke finishes ahead of Emory & Henry, given that Bridgewater beat E&H and EMU beat Roanoke.  That's because of the "point system" tie-breaker that's used after the "head-to-head" tie-breaker (in which B'water and EMU were 1-1).

If either of these two teams gets a win against the #1  or #2 seed in the final days of the season, that will probably assure that team the #7 seed (or maybe even #6 if Roanoke loses its last couple of games).

[mybleedinghands]

So EMU has the tiebreaker over BC if it comes to that?

My expectation is that EMU will end up 7-11 and Bridgewater will finish 6-12.

However, in the unlikely scenario where EMU loses to Lynchburg, with  both teams losing both of their remaining games and finishing 6-12, Bridgewater will win the tie-breaker if Emory & Henry finishes ahead of Roanoke, but EMU wins the tie-breaker if Roanoke finishes ahead of Emory & Henry, given that Bridgewater beat E&H and EMU beat Roanoke.  That's because of the "point system" tie-breaker that's used after the "head-to-head" tie-breaker (in which B'water and EMU were 1-1).

If either of these two teams gets a win against the #1  or #2 seed in the final days of the season, that will probably assure that team the #7 seed (or maybe even #6 if Roanoke loses its last couple of games).

LC has already lost to EMU twice. We play emory and henry on saturday and hampden sydney on tuesday

[justafan02]

I would think Macedo would be a lock for COY thus far. When he sat one of his guys down earlier in the season for academic reasons, I was really impressed.

He actually sat two guys.  Balenga and Sumpter did not play in VWC's only ODAC loss to HSC.

[seminoletiger]

He actually sat two guys.  Balenga and Sumpter did not play in VWC's only ODAC loss to HSC.

Sumpter played 30 min. and scored 9 points.  I hardly call that being seated. 

[tigerfanalso]

I think Macedo should win the COY for sure but those that vote  look at things differently for some reason. Coaching your team to the ODAC title often times is overlooked come selection day. I think Macedo has done a tremendous job this year and has his team playing better and more consistently than any other team in the ODAC, by far.. and that is a sign of a great job coaching job.  If VWC holds suit, finishes the season strong he should win it hands down .... than of course you are going to get that argument from others suggesting that he had the best team/best players ... he should of won the conference and that some other coach that had less talent did a better job...

You've got to look at consistentance and VWC played better, more often, with fewer peaks/valleys... that's good coaching.. no other coach this year has that  working in their favor ..  

[seminoletiger]

Some here might run me off the board, but what about Bob Johnson at E&H for COY?  He's in the first full year of "the system", started ODAC play at 1-5, and his team has shown dramatic improvement since that mark.  I can't say for sure that he would get my vote, but he's certainly worth floating out there.

[tigerfanalso]

Everybody is going to have an opinion regarding the COY and win/loss record isn't going to have that much to do with the final vote. What coach in the ODAC has done the best job preparing his team on a game by game basis meaning that his team has played to or above it's ability on a more consistent basis. That coach should be COY and I think Macedo wins hands down...

[algernon]

LC has already lost to EMU twice. We play emory and henry on saturday and hampden sydney on tuesday

You're right.  I should have said "the unlikely scenario where EMU loses to W&L" in the earlier post.

[oldfish]

I think that Bob Johnson would have to be considered for COY given E&H's improvement.  However, I think there will be some bias towards him due to the "system".  There are a lot of people who will say that E&H's wins were due to the gimmick factor.  So I think that as long as the "system" is run, there will be people who resist giving credit to Johnson or E&H.

[hasanova]

kid - you're the research guy - has there ever been a men's basketball player who led the ODAC in scoring (ppg) who failed to make the First Team?  I see Ben Strong got one (negative) vote in the current poll.  Give it up, Eagleslam, was that you?  lol