MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Mr. Ypsi]

Pre-Season All-Americans are up on the d3hoops website. VWC got two on the roster. Brandon Adair is on the 1st team, and TonTon Balenga made the 2nd team. With two pre-season All-Americans and a pre-season ranking of #1 in the country, do the Marlins have a good shot at not only a repeat of the ODAC? but also a repeat of the National Title?

Of course.

But note that last year IWU had TWO first team All-Americans and was ranked #1 pre-season (and for all weeks to the end of 2005) - since you caused it, I'm sure you recall what happened!

Although I do NOT think this is what happened to IWU, be sure you don't fall in love with your press clippings!

You've got a good shot, but you've been warned! 

[jdubyadubya]

I, too, agree that VWC could repeat. I actually think they have a stronger team this year than the last, or even 2 years ago. Adair and Balenga are the two marquee players but don't overlook the potential of Fantin, Sumpter, Tucker and Paschal. And, Macedo has recruited a couple of trees who supposedly can play. All this said, the Marlins need to keep their wits about them and their heads out of the clouds. If any coach can tame big heads it's Macedo.

[Brian Hamilton]

Steely and Jimbo,

Yall can count me in on the pick'em.  Looking forward to the season getting under way.  Sydney may be able to pay Macon back for a couple of bad years and everyone will be angling for the Marlins!

[algernon]

Your suggested plan sounds great, Steelyglen.

I'm in for the pick'ems again .... and hoping that I can do well while always picking the Tigers.

[DeWayneCarter]

The gem of the Marlin recruiting class is Stephen Fields, a 6'2" combo guard from Hampton High School in Hampton, VA. Fields is quick with the ball, has a nice shooting touch, and is great at using his athleticism around the basket. Add him to the mix with Adair, Balenga, Tucker, Sumpter, Fantin, and rapidly developing Norman Hassell, Virginia Wesleyan has a chance to be a great team this season. They have a great test this weekend against Mt. Olive (NC), the 19th ranked team in D2. They also open up the season with a game against rival CNU, who is favored to be one of the top teams in the USA South. If the Marlins perform well against these two teams, the sky is the limit for these guys.

[feelthesting10]

Scottie,

Let us know whats going on with the Hornets this season. Some people aren't around them as much as you, and we wanna know what they're bringing to the table. I figure big Vas will turn into a Chris Kaman type this year, about 10 and 10 right??

[baselinejam]

The Generals scrimmage at Ferrum this afternoon.

[jeloesel]

Here you go, ODAC fans.  The games for the first week of the annual ODAC Pick'em contest.  You can post your picks here and/or send them via email to Steelyglen.

Week One

Friday
Bridgewater vs. Southern Virginia (at EMU)
E&H vs. Mt Union (at Wooster)
H-SC vs. Roberts Wesleyan (at Westminister)
Lynchburg at Westminister
R-MC vs. Penn State-Berks (at Lycoming)
W&L vs. Denison

Saturday
Guilford vs. Robert Morris (IL) (at Roanoke)
Roanoke vs. U. of the South

Tuesday
EMU at Shenandoah
VWC vs. Christopher Newport

Wild Card Game
Wooster vs. Cabrini

Wooster is ranked number two in the D3hoops preseason poll, and E&H is playing in the Scots' season-opening tournament.  We might even entice David Collinge, sometimes visitor to the ODAC Conversation, to render an opinion about the prospects of Wooster for this game and the season.

[baselinejam]

Friday
Bridgewater vs. Southern Virginia (at EMU)
E&H vs. Mt Union (at Wooster)
H-SC vs. Roberts Wesleyan (at Westminister)
Lynchburg at Westminister
R-MC vs. Penn State-Berks (at Lycoming)
W&L vs. Denison

Saturday
Guilford vs. Robert Morris (IL) (at Roanoke)
Roanoke vs. U. of the South

Tuesday
EMU at Shenandoah
VWC vs. Christopher Newport

Wild Card Game
Wooster vs. Cabrini

[hasanova]

I have to say Guilford's game versus Robert Morris (IL) scares me more than a little.  The Eagles have been an NAIA Final Four team the last two seasons and are ranked #1 this year, but I think Coach Palombo's scheduling strategy is correct.  The ODAC has the defending DIII national champion and two other top 25 teams, so you're not going to get any better playing Creampuff U. early in the season.  I've seen a lot of basketball in my life and have some relatives who have played (and are playing) college basketball, so competitively I'd rank the divisions as NCAA DI, then the NCAA mid-majors, NAIA DI, NCAA DII, NAIA DII and NCAA DIII.  Certainly, there is some crossover among the top and bottom teams in each division, but I believe it will be an upset if the Quakers beat NAIA DI top-ranked Robert Morrris.  Guilford upset Elon on the road and this game will be played in an ODAC venue, so who knows.  Go Quakers!

[baselinejam]

Here you go, ODAC fans.  The games for the first week of the annual ODAC Pick'em contest.  You can post your picks here and/or send them via email to Steelyglen.

When are they official? Hasanova spooked me about piking The Quakers.

[algernon]

I'm just going to be a clone of baselinejam this time around, as I can't see any reason to disagree with his picks.  I wonder about whether Bridgewater will win against Southern Virginia, whether Guilford will win against Robert Morris, and whether Shenandoah will defeat EMU ....  games are very hard to predict at this point in the season.  The only easy picks, in my mind, are HSC, RMC, VWC, and Wooster.

Friday
Bridgewater vs. Southern Virginia (at EMU)
E&H vs. Mt Union (at Wooster)
H-SC vs. Roberts Wesleyan (at Westminister)
Lynchburg at Westminister
R-MC vs. Penn State-Berks (at Lycoming)
W&L vs. Denison

Saturday
Guilford vs. Robert Morris (IL) (at Roanoke)
Roanoke vs. U. of the South

Tuesday
EMU at Shenandoah
VWC vs. Christopher Newport

Wild Card Game
Wooster vs. Cabrini

[GCAlumnus]

I have to say Guilford's game versus Robert Morris (IL) scares me more than a little.  The Eagles have been an NAIA Final Four team the last two seasons and are ranked #1 this year, but I think Coach Palombo's scheduling strategy is correct......

Hasanova, i think ur slightly mistaken on the scheduling, Guilford is playing Robert Morris from springfield Illinoise, but theres also a chicago campus, which is the one you are speaking of.. haha believe me, we dont want to play them, Number 1 preseason Division 1 NAIA, haha supposively there big man inside could have been a draft pick last yr in the NBA, they also have 2 other all americans on there...   no no no... however, the other team, the springfield team does have some solid players on there, should be a good game for the quakers...           

On an update, the quaks scrimmaged D2 Queens University in charlotte on sat, the scrimmage went well, the quakers pretty much took it took it to them. Queens was athletic but guilford just moved the ball around and out played them. I think a couple of the other top teams in the ODAC could have beat them as well also... Should be a tough conference this yr, really tough. Good luck to all the teams this yr! lets all win our games against USA south teams, it'll make the conference look better! 8)

[steelyglen]

baselinejam...just as in years past...you are responsible for scheduling your own "exhibition games/scrimmages" and getting your team preapred. Once Jimmy has thrown the ball up ( as he did today) its live, its real, and its every guru for him (or her)self. The season has begun...let the pick'ems begin!
Algernon...when in doubt, do me a favor and pick against the Eagles..it'll make my climb to the top a little easier! Let the schmack begin!

[hasanova]

I have to say Guilford's game versus Robert Morris (IL) scares me more than a little.  The Eagles have been an NAIA Final Four team the last two seasons and are ranked #1 this year, but I think Coach Palombo's scheduling strategy is correct......

Hasanova, i think ur slightly mistaken on the scheduling, Guilford is playing Robert Morris from Springfield, Illinois, but there's also a Chicago campus, which is the one you are speaking of.. haha believe me, we don't want to play them, Number 1 preseason Division 1 NAIA, haha supposedly their big man inside could have been a draft pick last yr in the NBA, they also have 2 other all americans on there...   no no no... however, the other team, the Springfield team does have some solid players on there, should be a good game for the quakers...           

On an update, the quaks scrimmaged D2 Queens University in Charlotte on sat, the scrimmage went well, the quakers pretty much took it took it to them. Queens was athletic but guilford just moved the ball around and out played them. I think a couple of the other top teams in the ODAC could have beat them as well also... Should be a tough conference this yr, really tough. Good luck to all the teams this yr! let's all win our games against USA south teams, it'll make the conference look better! 8)

OK, thanks.  When you follow the link on the schedule, it takes you to the Chicago campus - I didn't even know there was another affiliated school in Springfield.  Very confusing for me and the pick'em participants, so I apologize if I muddied the waters.

Based on what I now understand and have researched about the two different campuses (and sports programs) of Robert Morris, I believe the Quakers will be favored to win against the Springfield team.  If they were indeed playing the Chicago team, that would be a different ballgame all together.