MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[justafan02]

Thanks for your report, justafan02.  I've been watching Ben all season, but his game tonight must have been something!  I have some questions:

Was Lincoln's shot a 2 or a 3 late in the 1st half?  The refs appeared to change their minds a couple of times.  I thought it was the right call.
Kimbrough sounds as though he gets a little frustrated at times.  How effective is he and freshman PG Henson?  Kimbrough gets flustered but its because he is a warrior.  Henson struggled big time.  He looked like a freshman.  He turned the ball over a lot and looked lost all night...but he is a freshman in a HUGE game against Lincoln guards
How close did LU come to scoring on their last possession in OT3? Their last possesion was a waste.  Guard took it in and then kicked it around a bit. Whew!
Was Snipes being guarded when he hit the 3 to send it to OT1?  Did he really bank it in?  Honestly, he was 5-10 feet behind the line.  It looked like the Lincoln guys just let him shoot as if they were trying not to foul him.  AMAZING.
Obviously, Strong was dominant and he had a lot of old-fashioned 3-point plays.  How tight were the Lions guarding him?  They were very physical with him.  He worked hard for everyone of those 59 points.  But I don't understand why Guilford didn't go to him at the end of regulation or at the end of the first OT?
I didn't listen to all of the VWC/MC game, but the Marlins must have been "on."  Will GC be too tired to compete tomorrow night?  I hope so...for the Marlin's sake.

Thanks

[hasanova]

I'm still in awe after listening to last night's Guilford/Lincoln game, but I just took a look at the boxscore and Ben Strong's stats.  Get this:

FG 20/27
FT 19/22
Rebounds OF 7, DE 10 = 17
Assists 3
Turnovers 6
Blocks 4
Steals 1
Fouls 3
Minutes 49

Points 59

Fifty-nine points and literally Guilford needed every one of them to win.  Wow!  That's a DIII NCAA tournament record (second in all NCAA tournament games), an ODAC record and a new Guilford record.  I was in the stands in 1971 when my Dad's 6'8" first cousin, David Smith, scored 50 versus Atlantic Christian (now DII Barton College of Wilson, NC).  David was truly a great All-American player (who also once scored 65 in HS!) and, frankly, so is Ben Strong.  My congratulations to Ben for his performance, for helping send the Quakers to the Elite Eight and for breaking a 36-year old Guilford standard.  Everyone wants to be immortalized with a record, but I'm sure David, now deceased, would like nothing better than to see his Quakers win another title.  Go Guilford!

I also don't want to lose sight of the 22 points and 3-pointer by Jordan Snipes to send the game to OT.  Clutch!  Some guys never get one truly memorable shot in their career - Snipes now has two that fans and alumni will discuss for generations.  If you get a chance, listen to the audio call posted on the d3hoops.com front page.  Wow!

http://www.rlnn.com/  Looks like the Red Lake (MN) Chippewa Nation is also still playing it up big on their site.  It's front page news and they have a link for tonight's broadcast.  They're proud of Ben and so far, he sure hasn't disappointed!

Congratulations also to the Lincoln Lions!  This was a game no one should have to lose, but you definitely impressed me.  Good luck in DII and the CIAA!

[hasanova]

Did I mean to say "eating crow?" Either way, it tastes awful and I was seriously wrong about VWC. But I'm still hoping that the Quakers will pull off the upset and represent the ODAC in Salem. Note that I said "hoping" and not "predicting", so you Guilford guys that are less than impressed with my ability to predict outcomes can rest a little easier. I'm not picking them to win, I'm just hoping that they will do so.

"Crow" and "humble pie" are in the same general unsavory food group.    I'm "hoping" the Quakers can win as well, but we know how tough the Marlins are, especially at home!  Thanks for your support!

[hasanova]

jaf2 - I appreciate your answers to my questions.  Thanks.  I've met Ben and his family and they're the real deal.  Ben's well aware of Guilford's basketball legacy from my era and sincerely wants a Guilford return to national prominence.  Even though Ben scored 59, he's a team player.  He will do whatever it takes to help his team be a winner ... and last night it took all 59!  This team is amazing and right now they're hot.  It should be "interesting" tonight!  Enjoy the game and thanks again.

[FISHTANKFAN]

Airborne....There are many  big and small injustices in this world and certainly some in the NCAA Division lll decisions. Until they become wiser or hell freezes over, we must abide by irrational decisions based on geography and money.   There is no sane reason why the 3rd and 4th ranked teams should have even met so early in tournament play either.  Yet, this was the playing field we were given and must accept it.   
You have every right to be proud of your team .They were deserving of their rank and certainly should have hosted.  As coach Macedo stated several times, home court advantage is a huge factor, simply huge. Throw team stats out the window in Tournament play. They don't transfer over well.   It is all about preparation, attitude and heart. That is what really levels the playing fields the most, despite the NCAA's indifference to fairness.  Guilford and Lincoln proved it last night. I think VWC did too, because they probably played one of their finest games all season. I'll give you much credit for eating crow on the board. It shows that Mississippi was worthy of your devotion. Classy.     

[Airborne]

Well, thanks for that. And please recognize that my main disappointment is not that the Choctaws had to play in a hostile environment when they were deserving of better (although that's a very, very close second), but that by having to do so they were far less than their best. You guys would have seen a great game. I'm sure that the VWC fans would have rather seen a barn-burner like the first game rather than the one-sided victory they did see. My favorite victories are always the close one, and I don't think I'm unique that way.

[hoopstar]

I thought the game was determined within the first two minutes of the 2nd half. VWC  gets an opening bucket and the foul. Then they get a steal and make a three and then  get another steal and make a jumper. 42-25 now up 17 GAME OVER. Choctaws look like they give up. If MC would have came out on a 8-0 scoring run the game would have been totally different.

[t_money]

All I can say is "WOW!"  Congrats to VWC and all their fans.  Very disappointing performance by the Choctaws.  However, VWC had a lot to do with that performance.  Good luck to you guys tonite.  Apparently we still have a long way to go before we can be considered among the nation's elite.

[Mr. Ypsi]

The front page poll asks: Guilford/Lincoln - great game or the greatest game?  I'd add to that:  Ben Strong - great game or the greatest game?

Although I've got the fish going to the final four on my pickems ballot, I think I've just got to now root for Guilford.  But after last night, I've got to wonder how much gas will be left in the tank? 

[njlincolnlion]

I'm still in awe after listening to last night's Guilford/Lincoln game, but I just took a look at the boxscore and Ben Strong's stats.  Get this:

FG 20/27
FT 19/22
Rebounds OF 7, DE 10 = 17
Assists 3
Turnovers 6
Blocks 4
Steals 1
Fouls 3
Minutes 49

Points 59

Fifty-nine points and literally Guilford needed every one of them to win.  Wow!  That's a DIII NCAA tournament record (second in all NCAA tournament games), an ODAC record and a new Guilford record.  I was in the stands in 1971 when my Dad's 6'8" first cousin, David Smith, scored 50 versus Atlantic Christian (now DII Barton College of Wilson, NC).  David was truly a great All-American player (who also once scored 65 in HS!) and, frankly, so is Ben Strong.  My congratulations to Ben for his performance, for helping send the Quakers to the Elite Eight and for breaking a 36-year old Guilford standard.  Everyone wants to be immortalized with a record, but I'm sure David, now deceased, would like nothing better than to see his Quakers win another title.  Go Guilford!

I also don't want to lose sight of the 22 points and 3-pointer by Jordan Snipes to send the game to OT.  Clutch!  Some guys never get one truly memorable shot in their career - Snipes now has two that fans and alumni will discuss for generations.  If you get a chance, listen to the audio call posted on the d3hoops.com front page.  Wow!

http://www.rlnn.com/  Looks like the Red Lake (MN) Chippewa Nation is also still playing it up big on their site.  It's front page news and they have a link for tonight's broadcast.  They're proud of Ben and so far, he sure hasn't disappointed!

Congratulations also to the Lincoln Lions!  This was a game no one should have to lose, but you definitely impressed me.  Good luck in DII and the CIAA!

Hasanova:

Thanks for your well wishes in DII and the CIAA.  Last night Ben was just too Stong  for the Lions.  If nothing else, this game took some of the negative vibes from Lincoln after this seasons escapades, and the Lions left DIII with what I consider the Best  Playoff game ever in DIII.  Again, good luck aganist the Marlins tonight in the Fishtank.

[njlincolnlion]

Hasanova & the ODAC fans:

The Lions lost to Guilford will linger for a while, however I just found out the Men's Track team just won Lincoln's 17th NCAA Championship in Terre Haute IN, so at least I feel and will sleep a little better tonight.   

[allsky7]

     Hey everybody. I'm running a little late tonight. Is there a stream for the game?

GO ODAC!! 

[njlincolnlion]

Congratulations to VWC on winning their Sectional.  Good game by both Guilford and VWC.  Ben Strong was awesome again!  The Quakers may have been a bit worn out after last night.

[hasanova]

Congratulations to VWC.  I hope you bring another title back to the ODAC. 

Never leaving the state of VA in two years certainly helps, but the Marlins are definitely a fine team.  I guess the Quaker legs were just a bit weary after last night, but what a great season for Guilford as well. 

[Rikki_Tikki_Tavi]

Congrats to the Marlins on their win tonight. My hats off to the Quakers on a FINE season! You guys did well and I know I was a bandwagon fan! Good luck to the Marlins in the semis and represent that state to the best of your abilities.