MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

hasanova · December 07, 2006, 10:08:43 AM

Quote from: tigerfanalso on December 07, 2006, 09:31:38 AM
Great game last nite at HSC. Both teams played hard but at the end of the day, the best team won. Both teams will get better but for HSC to step up they need to protect the b'ball AND they need to learn how to box out. Guilford just absolutely killed them on the boards. I don't know the numbers but the rebounding advantage was huge and many of those were offensive rebounds that created points. I think Guilford is the team to beat this year. HSC has a chance IF the can reduce the number of turnovers and figure out how to get a rebound. Kasse can't go it alone... he needs help underneath. I hope I can get down to Greensboro for the rematch. Guilford is for real and if they continue to improve the ODAC better watch out !!!

tfa - Wish I could have been there! I had to settle for listening over the net in my home office. The Guilford announcers do a real nice job, so they gave a good representation of the game's intensity.

As mentioned in an earlier report, the Quakers out-rebounded the Tigers, 53-39. As coopersharpe (a former GC player) said, that and better FT shooting won the game. Two other things stood out to me: Kaase had 15 rebounds, but, as you said, he can't do it alone, and Prehmus did not score. The Quakers are bringing some defensive intensity this year that I haven't seen in the past. I think they are very hungry this year and know they have a chance to make some noise in the ODAC.

I was very surprised to see this was GC's first 5-0 start (would be 6-0, but Elon was an exhibition game) since 1967-68 (that team started 13-0). The Quakers had some very good teams from the 1960's to mid-80's, but I guess they always stumbled once or twice early in the year.

Come on down to Greensboro for the rematch. It will be great to me meet you and posters from all the ODAC teams. I met Scottie too Hottie from LC last Saturday and said hello again to GC fans sludge and coopersharpe.

algernon · December 07, 2006, 10:41:39 AM

Last night's game was down to the wire .... the shot by Mike Edwards was truly at the buzzer and wasn't even as much as .5 seconds too late.

Free throw shooting by the Tigers hasn't been a problem this year, except for Troy Kaase. Last night, Tyler Murray was 4-4 from the line, but Kaase was 2-6.

As noted by someone, Kaase got more than his share of rebounds, with 15!! Tyler Murray also had 6 and Mike Edwards was really going after the ball bigtime and ended up with 5, despite his height disadvantage. Unfortunately, the other 3 Tiger forward/centers got only 4 rebounds in a combined 18 minutes of play.

The Tigers' loss had everything to do with too many turnovers as critical moments in the game, and Drew Prehmus had one of the worst nights of his career, with 0 points and 1 rebound in 24 minutes of action. Fortunately for the Tigers, Drew usually gets 12 or 20 or even 29 points, plus 5-7 rebounds.

I think that the Quakers are, without any doubt, capable of winning the ODAC this year. My sense is that the Marlins, Tigers, Quakers, and Yellow Jackets will be fighting it out for the #1-#4 spots and I would be very surprised to see any ODAC team finish with an ODAC record that's better than 16-2. Even a 15-3 record may be good enough for the #1 seed in the conference tournament.

The top of the ODAC is probably as good as any conference in the country, and the Generals and Wasps and Hornets are going to get some wins against the top four teams ..... witness last night's Hornet win over the Yellow Jackets!

tigerfanalso · December 07, 2006, 10:56:43 AM

Hasanova: All the discussion this year about Guilford is justified. I was really impressed with them and how they were coached. Opportunity for a very special year.

Algernon: I've got to go against you on your comment regarding the turnovers. They had a huge impact on the outcome. Mid way through the second half, HSC finally was up by 1 point; committed three straight turnovers; two of which lead to layups and the other to a wide open 3 point shot. HSC went from 1 up to 7 down in about 45 seconds of play. I thought that was huge and in my opinion won the game for Guilford.

HSC can get/will get better but that has to stop

algernon · December 07, 2006, 11:06:02 AM

tigerfanalso .... What you've written about the Tigers' turnovers substantiates my comment, that the "Tigers' loss had everything to do with too many turnovers as critical moments in the game". You've reported what happened mid-way through the second half, as Brian Hamilton has also done.

Matt Barnhart (kid) · December 07, 2006, 11:07:13 AM

Congrats to Ben Strong for making D3hoops.com Team of the Week!

tigerfanalso · December 07, 2006, 11:19:20 AM

Algernon: You are exactly right. The first time I read your post I thought you were saying turnovers had little to do with the final result ... I just went back and educated myself. Sorry and I promise not to misread again !!!! Being ADHD is very difficult sometimes

BballFan1 · December 07, 2006, 12:11:23 PM

I agree with the earlier major kudos for Snipes and Kimbrough.

After the Lynchburg game, someone said that Lynchburg didn't box out. Well, HSC does know how to box out, which makes the rebounding outcome pretty cool for Guilford.

I don't think the comment about Strong being under-conditioned holds much water, though. Could be true, but I doubt it. I think the reason he stayed sitting last night was that his replacement, Tyler Sanborn, was in the process of getting 6 rebounds, 2 points and one assist in 9 minutes time., a real contribution. I remembering wondering why he was going to sit down! Also, you don't get to be at or near the top of the ODAC in scoring and rebounding and blocks, in addition being on the receiving end of a ton of fouls, while being inactive on the floor. Just doesn't seem plausible.

I think HSC is a good team that plays good D and is exciting a pleasure to watch. I wish HSC joy of the season.

algernon · December 07, 2006, 12:27:04 PM

Results against non-conference opponents so far this year:

ODAC - 26, non-ODAC - 13

Quakers, Marlins, Yellow Jackets, and Tigers against non-ODAC: 10-3.

ODAC - 4, USA South - 9

hasanova · December 07, 2006, 12:27:33 PM

Quote from: Matt Barnhart (kid) on December 07, 2006, 11:07:13 AM
Congrats to Ben Strong for making D3hoops.com Team of the Week!

Thanks for the heads up, Matt. I hadn't noticed that. I saw both games last week and Ben certainly did play well. Yes, my congratulations to Ben as well!

hasanova · December 07, 2006, 12:35:41 PM

Quote from: algernon on December 07, 2006, 12:27:04 PM
Results against non-conference opponents so far this year:

ODAC - 26, non-ODAC - 13

Quakers, Marlins, Yellow Jackets, and Tigers against non-ODAC: 10-3.

ODAC - 4, USA South - 9

Yikes! Guilford has four games against the USASAC this season and has only played one so far (Greensboro). The Quakers still have to go to Averett and Methodist and have Shenandoah at home. All the games should be good, but I wonder what the records will be when GC goes to Danville on Jan. 2.

hasanova · December 07, 2006, 01:53:04 PM

Every 18 hours - just like clockwork! lol

justafan02 · December 07, 2006, 02:56:37 PM

I thought I had posted my picks, but obviously it did'nt go through. Here is what they would have been, honestly regardless of game outcomes so far. You can take my honesty and my picks for what they are.... sorry about being late...

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

coopersharpe · December 07, 2006, 03:58:11 PM

I actually disagree with the Strong comment on his conditioning. Watching him this year I would say that him being in shape is one of his stronger attributes. It will be easier to tell as the season goes on though, as he is sure to take a beating. I got the pleasure to watch Lynchburg play here in Greensboro. Although they have struggled some this year, they look like a team that has much upside, as you can see with their big win this weekend. If not this year, they appear to be one of the ODAC teams of the future.

jdubyadubya · December 08, 2006, 08:23:32 AM

OBSERVATIONS: While it's still early, this ODAC season is fascinating so far with upsets and surprise stars. Let's not overlook what someone referred to as a perennial bottom feeder, Lynchburg College, who jumped up and took a bite out of RMC. Did anyone notice that LC was 21-21 from the FT line that eclipsed the old 04 E&H record of 20-20? LC guard Danny Reed is proving a problem for some court veterans as well. And how about Guilford College and W&L. I've been around a few years and it's refreshing to see these schools getting their due acolades early on. I attended the VWC - Bridgewater game on Wednesday and sensed Coach Leathermans's frustration but also observed that he's got a bunch of freshmen who are going to be very good soon. I also talked to Coach Macedo who is still looking for the right mix and rotation of players. VWC's offense is very good but their defense plays in spurts. The next few weeks are going to be very enjoyable.

jeloesel · December 08, 2006, 08:38:47 AM

Quote from: hasanova on December 07, 2006, 01:53:04 PM
Every 18 hours - just like clockwork! lol

It's probably the anti-doggerel police at work.

I've ruled out a trip to Greensboro this weekend. I left the E&H game on Wednesday with a minute left. I thought it best to leave before my frustration rose to a level that would pose a danger to other drivers on the way back home. I'm not sure I could endure a Greensboro trip.