MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[mybleedinghands]

speaking of HSC losing its starting point guard to graduation, Matt Green is currently the assistant SID at HSC now, in case anyone was wondering...

[sludge]

Kaase, Medlin, Murray, And Jyri were playing the other evening and I believe they will be hard to handle on both ends of the court. HSC might have the best GROUP of post players in the ODAC.

<snort>  (first reaction)

Actually, you've got a point.  They are a really good group, and a lot to handle.  I think Guilford's got a better group, though.  I think people might have overlooked some of post the talent, but it is seasoned and ready to bloom this year.

I think E&H will run and gun.  They seem to like it, and it works pretty well. Its pretty strange playing at their place.

I think Roanoke will threaten.

Randolph-Macon is a cipher to me.

[algernon]

Byron Lawton and Fitz Robertson, both rising juniors, appear to be the most likely point guards for the Tigers this season.  I think that folks may be pleasantly surprised.

The Tigers are solid at the #2/#3 positions, with Drew Prehmus and Turner King ready to have All-ODAC seasons, each averaging 27-30 minutes a game last season.  We'll get a sense about the depth at these positions after the season gets underway.

[tigerfanalso]

I agree, the Tigers are set for another run at an ODAC championship. Post play should be outstanding with the major question mark being dept at the #1 & 2 position. If they can figure that out they should be very competitive.
Will be a lot of fun to watch.

That said, I think Guilford is going to be outstanding. Can't wait to see them at Kirby. That game could be outstanding.

Go Tigers !!!!

[mybleedinghands]

1. Guilford - Ben Strong is beyond unstoppable at this level
2. Virginia Wesleyan - No Adair but still pretty darn good
3. Hampden-Sydney - Kaase big "addition", would have them #2 but I'm not sold on the PG position, yet
4. Roanoke - Return almost every single key player and key backup, I could honestly put them higher if I wanted to
5. Emory & Henry
6. Randolph-Macon - I'm interested to see what they do after a subpar year (in Macon standards) and considering they lose A LOT of the best talent from last year
7. Bridgewater - strong end to the season could be foreshadowing more success this year, but I'm not sure. Is Trawick coming back? I heard rumors last year he wasn't
8. Washington & Lee - Bienemann and Kusimo will have to carry them on his back this year
9. Eastern Mennonite - Have no idea what they will do without Sager, although they did have some good freshman last year

[algernon]

Scottie ....  You forgot the Hornets .... 

[ODACfan4life]

I do like Roanoke's chances and think they could be in the top 3 by the end of the year.  Guilford starts as the presumptive favorite and, frankly, I don't think that is the best position to be in.  I'd rather be the team to sneak up on everyone at year end.  But a guy like Strong in his senior year can be a steadying influence late in the season.  VW's talent and the sting from the end of last season means it may still be the team to beat even without Adair.  HSC appears to be very solid at the 4/5 spots.  With some help from veterans that were not counted on before, or a newcomer at guard, HSC has the experience and talent to be very solid across the board.  The rest of the teams have much to prove, but I would put RMC at the top of the rest.    

[Jacketlawyer]

Randolph-Macon is a cipher to me.

That's a really good way of putting it.  But in Rhoades we trust! 8)

[tigerrat]

Who should be some sophmore's and junior's to watch with break out seasons?

[mybleedinghands]

Who should be some sophmore's and junior's to watch with break out seasons?

bridgewater: dj billups
emu: austin twine, yanni el' dejesus
guilford: tyler sanborn, clay henson?
hsc: whoever ends up being the PG, lane medlin (although with kaase coming back i dont know)
roanoke: zach milton
vwc: norman hassell
W&L: whoever ends up being the PG

[tigerrat]

How about Murray, will he play 3 some and create huge mismatch?

[mybleedinghands]

How about Murray, will he play 3 some and create huge mismatch?

Murray is a beast, i had him on my all-odac second-team squad last year. as far as i'm concerned, he's teh most underrated player in the league, along with jay strotman and caleb kimbrough

[sludge]

How about Murray, will he play 3 some and create huge mismatch?

Yeah, Murray is a swing problem for your opposition, if he can get that slot.

[baselinejam]

To borrow from my friends in College Park:

Fear the Generals!

The schedule is up:  http://www1.wlu.edu/x3331.xml

In their season opening tourney in New Jersey; Williams & Ursinus are on the other side of the bracket.

[algernon]

Murray is a beast, i had him on my all-odac second-team squad last year. as far as i'm concerned, he's teh most underrated player in the league, along with jay strotman and caleb kimbrough

Tyler Murray had 15 points and 14 rebounds in the ODAC Championship victory.  He had 12 rebounds in each of the Tigers' last 2 games against Virginia Wesleyan (ODAC Semifinal win and NCAA 2nd Round loss).  Murray had a great season and finished it strong.  He is certainly one of the best players in the league.

Murray's fellow seniors include Troy Kaase and Drew Prehmus ... and the Tigers have a great leadership squad in these 3 players.  Troy was First-Team the last year he really played and was averaging 15+ points a game last season before his injury ended his season.  Drew already has 1000 points over his first 3 years as a Tiger; if he continues to average 13 points/game, as he has done so far, he will end up among the top 6-10 scorers in HSC history.

This group (along with A. J. Dowell) arrived in 2004 just as Monroe, Randall, Holman, Wilson, and Thompson were graduating.  I believe they are certainly one of the best classes HSC has ever recruited.