MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[stillfamily]

emu fan,
i think everyone is picking W & L , b/c they are actually a senior led team that is pretty good... they won't finish at the bottom of the odac this year. they are led by some talented players and will be a handful for any team. if emu gets out of there with a win it will be because they played as hard as they can play and outwork the older W & L team....no pushover in lexington this year!!! But yes , i am for EMU

[sludge]

Congratulations to Macedo family. 

And I do think VWC is a class operation, a credit to the ODAC.

Hate to admit it, some days. 

[hasanova]

Just want to say congrats to Coach Macedo and his wife.  They became the pround parents of a baby boy this morning....a little Marlin..

Congrats to Coach and Mrs. Coach on their new 'basketball baby." 

My congratulations also.  If he's a "basketball baby," I guess he will truly qualify as a "bouncing baby boy!" 

So, this deserved a ding on karma?  In fact, I've been getting one or more a day for the last week or so and I honestly don't know why.  Seems rather vindictive to me.  Be open enough to say what's bothering you and we'll discuss it.  Peace

[Brian Hamilton]

Wednesday, December 6
Virginia Wesleyan at Bridgewater
Eastern Mennonite at Washington & Lee
Emory & Henry at Roanoke
Guilford at Hampden-Sydney
Randolph-Macon at Lynchburg

Saturday, December 9
Randolph-Macon at Eastern Mennonite
Lynchburg at Emory & Henry
Roanoke at Guilford 
Virginia Wesleyan at Hampden-Sydney (Hope I am wrong here!)

[algernon]

Averett appears to be an extremely good team.  Their record is now 4-0 and they've broken the nationally ranked #1 VWC Marlins' 29-game win streak and handed the #29 HSC Tigers (3-1) and the Washington & Lee Generals (3-1) their only losses of the season.  If Averett was an ODAC team, they'd have a nice hold on 1st place, with the first round against the Marlins and the Tigers out of the way.

In the newly released d3hoops Top 25, HSC has dropped from #21 to #29 this past week, as a result of the loss to Averett.  VWC's ranking has not changed, because the voting was done before the loss to Averett.  If the voting were done today, I expect that Averett would move into the Top 25 -- somewhere between #10 and #20 -- and that the Tigers might move up into the very bottom part of the Top 25 with them.  Virginia Wesleyan would drop to somewhere around #10.

In the newly released d3hoops Top 25, Averett does in fact move into the Top 25 -- currently ranked at #20 -- and the Marlins get knocked out of #1, but only drop to #4.  Very interesting that the Marlins are still ranked above St. Thomas and Wittenberg.

The Tigers actually drop from #29 to #33, despite a 1-0 week -- with a good win at Emory & Henry -- and a record that includes only a loss to #20 Averett.

ODAC Teams in the Top 25:
  #4 VWC (4-1) - only loss to #20 Averett, 1-pt. win over #30 CNU
#16 RMC (4-1) - only loss to #30 CNU
#33 HSC (4-1) - only loss to #20 Averett

Big games on tap for the Quakers/Tigers on Wednesday and the Marlins/Tigers on Saturday!

[tigerfanalso]

Tigers playing at home Wed. against Guilford and Sat. against VWC can establish themselves as being a real contender in the ODAC. Any comments or opinions on the outcome of those two games and the consequences for not winning or at least splitting ? 

[hasanova]

Tigers playing at home Wed. against Guilford and Sat. against VWC can establish themselves as being a real contender in the ODAC. Any comments or opinions on the outcome of those two games and the consequences for not winning or at least splitting ? 

Statistically, assuming HSC has a 60% chance to beat Guilford and a 50% chance to beat VWC (just my own handicapping), that means the following:

HSC probability to win both:  .6 X .5 = 30%
Split:  (.6 X .5) + (.4 X .5) = 50%
Lose both: .4 X .5 = 20%

This is just my opinion mind you, but lose one and you're still very much in the ODAC
race (partly because of the teams you just played).   Lose both and I think your chances of being the ODAC regular season champion are doubtful.  Obviously, if you win both you are in the proverbial "catbird seat." 

[tigerfanalso]

I knew you would have a valid response. We'll see what happens. Like you, I don't think the Tigers will win both games. I'll be very happy to win just one of these and don't really care which one. HSC does have a tendancy to play well against both Guilford and VWC, so you never know. Both games should be very exciting.   

[hasanova]

I knew you would have a valid response. We'll see what happens. Like you, I don't think the Tigers will win both games. I'll be very happy to win just one of these and don't really care which one. HSC does have a tendancy to play well against both Guilford and VWC, so you never know. Both games should be very exciting. 

Thanks.  To use the old baseball expression about the 1927 NY Yankees, I think this week is sort of like the ODAC's 2006 partial version of "murderers' row."  Personally, I won't be surpised at any combination of outcomes for the Tigers this week, but I do agree the Tigers have historically played well against both teams.  I really wish I could be there tomorrow night, but it is just too hard on a work night from this far away.  I hope you and sludge will give us a good report after the game.  Here's hoping both teams give it their best and play with the type of uncompromising sportmanship that leaves no doubt you represent two fine colleges!  Peace

[3sdown]

Those who are criticizing the picks for Washington & Lee to win obviously have not seen W&L play yet.  This team is vastly improved over past seasons.  They control tempo, play to their strengths, and are well-coached.  Additionally, they have some tall, lengthy bodies...Thus, they will have pretty decent, if not above average, post play this year.  This W&L team should not be underestimated...THey will surprise some teams in the ODAC this year in my opinion and may be the wildcard as the ODAC Season progresses. 

[tigerfanalso]

What is up in Lexington ? W&L wins the ODAC in football and all of a sudden is much improved in b'ball. What the hell comes next; championships in f'ball, b'ball and Lax all in the academic year ?

[baselinejam]

my picks:


Wednesday, December 6
Virginia Wesleyan at Bridgewater
Eastern Mennonite at Washington & Lee
Emory & Henry at Roanoke
Guilford at Hampden-Sydney
Randolph-Macon at Lynchburg

Saturday, December 9
Randolph-Macon at Eastern Mennonite
Lynchburg at Emory & Henry
Roanoke at Guilford
Virginia Wesleyan at Hampden-Sydne

[baselinejam]

I can't believe that W&L is picked to beat EMU by everyone but two persons.  W&L has been at the bottom of the ODAC for as long as I have been around.  While EMU hasn't been winning ODAC championships, since Coach Dean has arrived on campus EMU has been very competitive.

Two thoughts about picking W&L over EMU

1. EMU still has Sager and Parkes

2.  Even though EMU is extremely young, they have been in every game including a two point lose to Shenandoah and a 8 pt lose to Greensboro.

I've been on this forum for a couple years and it is nice that some folks are beginning to believe in the Gennies. Honestly it makes me a little nervous. I don't want us to get jinxed.

The following is not intended as a slight to EMU. It is whyI think W&L should be favored. The quotes are from W&L game notes:

A. "The big difference is among the five freshmen, which W&L has had to rely on for just 82 of 1200 total minutes this year (6.8%). To put this into perspective, consider that W&L's seven freshmen last season played 1819 of 4675 minutes (39%) and the seven freshman in 2004-05 played 2579 of 5000 minutes (52%)."

B. W&L posted 'a 91-68 win over Eastern Mennonite at the Warner Center last February 11."

This is the exact  same team that beat EMU then. It isn't he same EMU.

Hopefully my Generals will prevail against Sager, Parkes & a well coached EMU team.

[jeloesel]

Wednesday, December 6
Virginia Wesleyan at Bridgewater
After the drubbing applied by the Marlins to my Maroons, I'm not going to pick against VWC in the ODAC this week.

Eastern Mennonite at Washington & Lee
The Generals are at home, which should tip the game in their favor.

Emory & Henry at Roanoke
I've got to believe.

Guilford at Hampden-Sydney
In the two games I watched Guilford play at the beginning of the season made me a believer.

Randolph-Macon at Lynchburg
Not even Scottie can prevent a loss by the Hornets in this one.

Saturday, December 9
Randolph-Macon at Eastern Mennonite
The Yellow Jackets have too many stingers.

Lynchburg at Emory & Henry
E&H will be running and gunning after their loss to the Maroons.

Roanoke at Guilford
I've seen both teams play.  So Roanoke will probably play to their capabilities and win, just to show me up.

Virginia Wesleyan at Hampden-Sydney
Maybe Sydney will pull off the upset at home, but I don't think they are playing their best ball yet.  Macedo will have the Fish ready. 

[steelyglen]

just a quickie reminder that week 4 of the pick'ems is up for your viewing and pickin' pleasure. 3sdown, llamaguy, justafan02, feelthesting10, odacfan01, dewaynecarter, coopersharpe, smmtiger...haven't heard from you yet, but there's still time!

ladyeagle... glad to see you back in this year. It was good to be in Nininger Saturday night. been awhile, the old barn looked good. No cheerleaders though? No pep band? The Glick is a BIG event and I wondered where they all were? any thoughts?