MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[allsky7]

     Ok party people, I'm off to Salem. Hope to see some of you there. With the BC upset, I'm assuming some of you BC folks will be there.
      With all due respect to my friend Hasa 8).....SHOCK THE WORLD TIGERS....SHOCK THE WORLD!! 

     Shock the world indeed!! WOW...if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it.  What a ballgame!! What an incredible second half defensive performance by the Tigers to allow them to get back in the game. The Marlins hit some clutch treys down the stetch to make it go to the wire.
     In the first half the Tigers hung in there to keep it under 10 at half. Even at that point I thought that  H-S just wasn't talented enough to win the game. I really thought the Marlins would put a run together in the second half and put it away. Guess I kept thinking about the dismantling the Tigers took a few weeks ago at the hands of the Marlins. Boy was I wrong. Shame on me.  Everyone contributed but kudos to Mike Edwards with 21 and for being the inspirational catalyst, Turner King with 20, and to Drew Prehmus with some huge 3's.
     GO TIGERS, finish it off. It would be a real shame not to after the huge win today. Roanoke is a very solid team and it will take another big effort tomorrow. BC hung in there early against the Maroons but IMO Roanoke was clearly the more talented team.
     VWC is certainly in the NCAA's. Hasa...I honestly feel for the Quakers. They deserve to be in but it is mighty iffy now. Hopefully, there won't be any upsets in other conferences and maybe they still have a shot.

[algernon]

Hasa...I honestly feel for the Quakers. They deserve to be in but it is mighty iffy now. Hopefully, there won't be any upsets in other conferences and maybe they still have a shot.

The front page of d3hoops.com:
"But the upset of the early afternoon belongs to Hampden-Sydney, which knocked off No. 2 Virginia Wesleyan to advance to the ODAC finals. If Hampden-Sydney wins, the ODAC have a shot at getting three teams in."

This statement suggests that a Tiger win in the championship game could make a difference to the Quakers' chance of getting a bid .... but I don't know why the title game outcome would have anything to do with the Quakers' chances.  Maybe Pat can offer some insight.

[allsky7]

Hasa...I honestly feel for the Quakers. They deserve to be in but it is mighty iffy now. Hopefully, there won't be any upsets in other conferences and maybe they still have a shot.

The front page of d3hoops.com:
"But the upset of the early afternoon belongs to Hampden-Sydney, which knocked off No. 2 Virginia Wesleyan to advance to the ODAC finals. If Hampden-Sydney wins, the ODAC have a shot at getting three teams in."

This statement suggests that a Tiger win in the championship game could make a difference to the Quakers' chance of getting a bid .... but I don't know why the title game outcome would have anything to do with the Quakers' chances.  Maybe Pat can offer some insight.

     Strange....wouldn't think H-S or Roanoke winning would make much difference to GC. Hopefully, someone can offer insight on that.
     Hasa...if true wouldn't that be ironic. Saturday, hoping like hell the Tigers lose and 24 hours later hoping like hell they win. Strange...strange...strange. 

[allsky7]

Hasa...I honestly feel for the Quakers. They deserve to be in but it is mighty iffy now. Hopefully, there won't be any upsets in other conferences and maybe they still have a shot.

The front page of d3hoops.com:
"But the upset of the early afternoon belongs to Hampden-Sydney, which knocked off No. 2 Virginia Wesleyan to advance to the ODAC finals. If Hampden-Sydney wins, the ODAC have a shot at getting three teams in."

This statement suggests that a Tiger win in the championship game could make a difference to the Quakers' chance of getting a bid .... but I don't know why the title game outcome would have anything to do with the Quakers' chances.  Maybe Pat can offer some insight.

     Strange....wouldn't think H-S or Roanoke winning would make much difference to GC. Hopefully, someone can offer insight on that.
     Hasa...if true wouldn't that be ironic. Saturday, hoping like hell the Tigers lose and 24 hours later hoping like hell they win. Strange...strange...strange. 

     Could it be because GC was 2 and 0 against H-S and 1  and 1 against Roanoke?

[sludge]

Who would have predicted H-SC vs. RC in the final!  Should be a well-attended game.

Beats me which one is better for Guilford.  Deep bubble, but maybe still a possibility for GC in the NCAA, I think.  Hope so!

And H-S fans, how about gimme some props for mentioning earlier that if you are in the  tournament, there's hope in the tournament!

[algernon]

Beats me which one is better for Guilford.  Deep bubble, but maybe still a possibility for GC in the NCAA, I think.  Hope so!

And H-S fans, how about gimme some props for mentioning earlier that if you are in the  tournament, there's hope in the tournament!

My sense is that whether HSC or RC wins the ODAC Championship game makes no difference at all to Guilford's chances of making the tournament.  However, what happens all around the country today and tomorrow will make a big difference.  Guilford is definitely not out, yet.

And sludge, props to you!  While today was not expected, the biggest tournament surprise in my memory was when #1 Randolph-Macon lost to #8 Lynchburg by 4 points in the 2004 ODAC quarterfinals.

[Gregory Sager]

Guilford's not out of the running yet for a Pool C berth, but it's definitely not looking good. I'm currently showing about twelve Pool C berths already spoken for, with ten teams that could cut in line ahead of Guilford if they should lose tonight or tomorrow, and three more teams no longer playing who each appear to be better situated than Guilford.

[hasanova]

Hasa...I honestly feel for the Quakers. They deserve to be in but it is mighty iffy now. Hopefully, there won't be any upsets in other conferences and maybe they still have a shot.

The front page of d3hoops.com:
"But the upset of the early afternoon belongs to Hampden-Sydney, which knocked off No. 2 Virginia Wesleyan to advance to the ODAC finals. If Hampden-Sydney wins, the ODAC have a shot at getting three teams in."

This statement suggests that a Tiger win in the championship game could make a difference to the Quakers' chance of getting a bid .... but I don't know why the title game outcome would have anything to do with the Quakers' chances.  Maybe Pat can offer some insight.

Yeah, I saw the "three team" quote on the front page.  I guess I won't know for sure until tomorrow night, but I did wonder about it.  I still have hope!

[3sdown]

Randolph-Macon went from a 22-7 NCAA Tournament team last year to a 14-12 6th-place team this year.  It's not surprising that they had difficulties, since they lost Wansley and Gill to graduation, as well as Alex Irmer, Nick Annacone, and Derrick DeLaGrana, all freshmen, to who-knows-what?

Next year may be even more challenging for the Yellow Jackets, since they lose 4 of their 8 or 9 most productive players to graduation (Hawley, Krovic, Sutherland, and Sisson).  They'll have Carlson, Dixon, Short, Varela, and Hunter coming back, presumably, but there are some ODAC teams that are losing very little to graduation (Roanoke, Bridgewater, Washington & Lee, for instance).

Succinct analysis as ever.  Hopefully we can recruit to fill in the void left by these four seniors.  I've got faith in Rhoades, though, and I think we'll be back in 2008.

I was lucky enough to make it to the game.  And also see the upset of Guilford, although I missed the HSC and EHC game, which sounded very interesting when talking to the broadcasters from HSC.  And congrats to HSC for upsetting VWC today...Congrats to a very good team and a great program.  Congrats to Bubba for overcoming all of the criticism and winning the big one giving his team a chance to win the ODAC Tournament and go to the NCAA Tournament.  

About Macon...I have followed from a far throughout this season.  I became so frustrated that I wouldn't post on D3Hoops b/c I knew I would post things that I may regret.  Looking at box scores on a regular basis and only seeing a handful of games it was obvious that there was no consistency in regards to the play on the court.  And this had nothing to do with the coaching staff.  

I have faith in Coach Rhoades...He has proven it year in and year out...And probably proved it this year b/c to be honest there were many times throughout this season that RMC did not appear to even be the 6th place team in the ODAC and he managed to take a team (and a young team) to a winning record.  The game against Roanoke College was the season in a capsule.  Great first half in which the team played traditional Macon defense and played solid offense working to get the best shot for an open man.  They were mentally in the game.  The 2nd half was a different story...Lack of defensive concentration and flat out panic and impatience displayed on the offensive end.  No mental toughness at all.  Lack of execution on the part of the players.    

Coaches coach and players play.  Great coaches put players in the best possible position to succeed.  And there is such a thing as "free will" in which players have to make the right decisions and plays on the court for ultimate success.  Coach Rhoades has over his career at RMC put all of his players (Mike LaGuardia, Doug Cunningham, Jared Mills, Tim Smith, Jamal Brunt, Tim Smith, Kurt Bergmann, Buck Porpatich, Marshall Rumney, Tom Ridder, Ryan Stein, to name a few, but there are many more) in the best possible position in order to be successful.  And all of them have been successful and are successful after leaving RMC.  This is no doubt the fact in regards to this year's team although it was a struggle this year.  I admire the seniors this year...It was a tough  season for them and the team.    

HOWEVER, I must say (since I am always a straightforward person) that when I sit and watch the team (such as I did on Thursday) this season, then also hear stories (even if 1/10th of the informtion is true) about the program in the stands, and then hear tid bits of information from people closer to the program than me I get pissed off and it makes me mad.  After leaving the game on Thursday night I ranted to an individual (affliated with a different ODAC sport) on the phone for 40 minutes on my ride back to my home.  And this is the only advice that I could come up with in regards to the situation:

1.  To the players--Play the Game the Macon Way.  If you don't know what "this way" is then go back and watch tapes of teams from Rhoades' earlier years or even venture back to when Rhoades was an assistant for Coach Nunnally...And if that doesn't give you enough go back even further to the Kurt Axe and Nathan Davis years...And if that doesn't help you then keep going to RMC's DII years.  Or ask Rhoades for some numbers of former players/coaches and give them a call.  Learn what playing at Macon is all about.  It is not just about playing...It is about doing it the Macon Way and having character.  

2.  To the parents--Sit in the stands and cheer.  Listen to your son and say "Do what the coach tells you to do!"  Say yes sir, no sir.  Tell your son "If you aren't playing then practice more, practice harder.  Work out in the morning, at lunch, and at night.  Run 10 miles a day.  Dribble 2 hours a day.  Make 1,000 jump shots a day."  Be a parent not a 2nd coach.

3.  To the coaches--Remain true to your principles.  You are some of the best coaches in DIII Basketball if not all of college basketball.  You have had numerous opportunities to take your show other places and have chosen not to b/c of your dedication to RMC.  If players and parents don't want to do it your way then send them down the highway.  
         

[Llamaguy]

Personally I would think a Roanoke win tomorrow would bode better for Guilford getting in as the third ODAC representative. Roanoke as the #3 seed would make the ODAC tourney champion look a little better in the committee's eyes than the #5 seed HSC winning in a upset. Especially since HSC would have knocked off the #1 and #3 seeds to get the automatic bid. Just my opinion though.

[Ralph Turner]

Personally I would think a Roanoke win tomorrow would bode better for Guilford getting in as the third ODAC representative. Roanoke as the #3 seed would make the ODAC tourney champion look a little better in the committee's eyes than the #5 seed HSC winning in a upset. Especially since HSC would have knocked off the #1 and #3 seeds to get the automatic bid. Just my opinion though.

Unfortunately looking good in the committee's eyes is not a criterion.

[Llamaguy]

Unfortunately looking good in the committee's eyes is not a criterion.

+1 K Ralph! As you know I am much more up to date with the D3football criterion when it comes to playoffs.

Looking good in someone's eyes used to matter! Not for me unfortunately  , but it sure did work for some of the guys on campus back in the day. 

[Ralph Turner]

Unfortunately looking good in the committee's eyes is not a criterion.

+1 K Ralph! As you know I am much more up to date with the D3football criterion when it comes to playoffs.

Looking good in someone's eyes used to matter! Not for me unfortunately  , but it sure did work for some of the guys on campus back in the day. 

Llama, actually they are essentially the same.  Thanks for the win over Guilford.  We didn't need HSC to knock off VWC tho'.   

[scottiedoug]

Thinking back on it, I am not really surprised at HS-C beating the Marlins based on what I saw on Thursday.  I thought HS-C looked very impressive in beating E&H, but I had never seen "the system" and found it hard to judge what I was seeing.  No doubt that Mike Edwards is a real player...he was the main reason HS-C beat the Wasps.  I still think the Marlins will do well in the NCAA. 

I also think Maryville can play with any of the top ODAC teams, especially if they were to play as well as they must have today in the GSAC finals, beating LaGrange convincingly on LaGrange's floor (and earning Coach Lambert his 500th win).

Good luck to Southern Teams!

Allsky7:  If I knew you are a Scot, I'd forgotten.  I'll remember now and maybe see you somewhere.  It would have been fun to have that beer.

[allsky7]

Thinking back on it, I am not really surprised at HS-C beating the Marlins based on what I saw on Thursday.  I thought HS-C looked very impressive in beating E&H, but I had never seen "the system" and found it hard to judge what I was seeing.  No doubt that Mike Edwards is a real player...he was the main reason HS-C beat the Wasps.  I still think the Marlins will do well in the NCAA. 

I also think Maryville can play with any of the top ODAC teams, especially if they were to play as well as they must have today in the GSAC finals, beating LaGrange convincingly on LaGrange's floor (and earning Coach Lambert his 500th win).

Good luck to Southern Teams!

Allsky7:  If I knew you are a Scot, I'd forgotten.  I'll remember now and maybe see you somewhere.  It would have been fun to have that beer.

    Scottie... I get down to HC just about every year in October but haven't seen the Scots play roundball since they beat H-SC in the NCAA's a few years back. Perhaps there will be an opportunity in the next few weeks. Congrats to Coach Lambert on #500.