MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[allsky7]

http://www.guilford.edu/sports/Mbasketball/2007-08/HTML/gcm-09.htm

I just returned from tonight's 93-79 GC victory over HSC.  First, the Tigers are a solid team and they had great fan support tonight.  A good crowd of 430 considering the GC students are still on break.  HSC will be right in the mix for the ODAC championship this year.  With that said, here are my observations:

The ODAC better get used to hearing the name Clay Henson for the next two and a half years.  He is on a roll right now and was Mr. Outside in the first half, picking up right where he left off versus Averett and Emory.  Clay put up 20 in the first half (4 of 4 behind the arc) and 24 for the game.

While Clay carried the 1st half, Mr. Inside (aka Ben Strong) dominated the 2nd half.  Ben had a "slow" 11 points at the break, but scored about 13 points in the first 3 to 4 minutes after halftime.  When he nailed a jumper from left of the key just inside the 3-point line, I knew it was his night.  With 23 2nd half points, Ben had 34, but missed a double-double with 7 boards.

After leading 7-2 and 10-6, HSC never led again.  GC went on a 13-0 run to go up 19-10 and later led 35-16.  Some timely late 3-point shooting by the Tigers cut it to 43-33 at the half, but GC boosted the lead to 69-46 with about 13 minutes to go.  To their credit, the Tigers cut it to 9, but couldn't pull off a comeback.

In spurts, I think Guilford proved why they're in the Top 25 and HSC, while good, failed this test versus a top team.  The Tigers are talented and well-coached, but the better team won tonight as evidenced by not only the final score, but rebounding margins and shooting percentages.  I am not, however, looking forward to playing at HSC!

In addition to Strong and Henson, Belkoski chipped in a very solid 11 points and 12 boards.  The scoring was very balanced by the Tigers - King 17, Prehmus 16, Murray 14, Lawton 13 and Kaase 9.   Both teams are now 7-2, but the Quakers improve to 2-0 in the ODAC and the Tigers drop to 1-1.  Now, we can concentrate on the Jackets and Marlins!

     I am already sick of hearing his name!! 

[baselinejam]

gmail

[/quote]

Not a bad effort tonight for a chubby kid. Never was much of laces guy, more the velcro type.
[/quote]

Did the velcro shoes have little red  lights?

[hasanova]

Amazing to me:  EMU defeated Washington & Lee, 79-65.

If it were true it would be amazing

EMU is trying to claim victory:  http://www.emu.edu/athletics/schedules/?sport=basketball-m

You know, I'd expect a little more from Mennonites ... 

Dewey tried it in 1948 - it didn't work then either! 

Modified for formatting purposes -- Ralph Turner

[jdubyadubya]

Hillary's trying it too! Oops, I really didn't say that did I?

[jdubyadubya]

The Marlins have the dreaded southern swing weekend coming up. The gym at E&H will probably be sweltering. The Quakers will probably have their place packed to the rafters. I would kill to be there but I'll have to rely on Nova for an objective report after Sunday's game.

[hasanova]

The Marlins have the dreaded southern swing weekend coming up. The gym at E&H will probably be sweltering. The Quakers will probably have their place packed to the rafters. I would kill to be there but I'll have to rely on Nova for an objective report after Sunday's game.

It is a tough trip.  I think the comparable trip for Guilford is when the Quakers visit RMC on Saturday & VWC on Sunday.  It is what it is.    You know, I'm very disappointed Guilford has so many big games with the students still on an extended winter break, but I'm hoping many will be back in town by 3 pm Sunday.  I will be at the VWC game & will be glad to give an "objective" report.  lol  I wish I could go to the RMC game, but I was given Carolina Hurricanes tickets for 7 pm Saturday night as a Christmas gift.  The "giver" didn't even think to check Guilford's basketball schedule, so what do you do?  You say thanks, go to the hockey game & miss a GC game!  lol

[jdubyadubya]

Maybe you can work it out so you can go to both

[hasanova]

Maybe you can work it out so you can go to both

Well, when I opened the Christmas gift I immediately recognized the scheduling issue (of course, there were about 20 available Hurricanes games not conflicting with a Guilford game, but that's another issue lol).  My mind immediately went to Plan B (that I could do both!) and I could have except I was also "told" we were going to Raleigh early enough to meet some folks for supper.  "The best laid plans of mice and men" ....  lol  Sadly, I am not always in complete control of my life.    There's only one thing to say ... Go Hurricanes!

[sludge]

I guess I could also try to produce an objective report on the Guilford-Voldemort game on Sunday.

[hasanova]

I guess I could also try to produce an objective report on the Guilford-Voldemort game on Sunday.

Ah, but do the Harry Potters, I mean the Quakers, still have the power to defeat him!  Also, I've always heard of Merlin the Magician ... are you telling me it's actually Marlin the Magician? 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Wow, the ODAC is tight this year. How tight? It's so tight that.......(you finish the sentence)

.... that my Gennies are going to surprise a lot of people!

I am not so sure about that. W&L's big man looks like he added a few too many in the off season. He was vertical was limited the last few years, the added weight can only hurt. He has to produce for the Generals to make noise but doesnt look like he is taking his senior year to seriously.

sorry gmail the stats don't pan out with your interpretation. Plus, if you've ever played the post, then you know it's better to do it heavier rather than lighter. Questioning the commitment of a 1st Team ODAC player may  inspire him. We'll see.

dont know if you ever played, doesnt sound like it but basketball is a game of quickness not big guys with spare tires. Didnt know he was a 1st team ODAC player but it seems unlikely he will repeat. Last year was 25lbs ago.

Unusual - you know our center is bulkier; but didn't know he was 1st team all-ODAC last year. You really think a 6'7" 205  5 is better than an in shape 230 5. I'm not to certain you ever laced them up after CYO.

Not a bad effort tonight for a chubby kid. Never was much of laces guy, more the velcro type.

gmail - having seen him play, personally... don't worry about the weight. He is very good inside with plenty of moves and plenty of jump. Glad you assume things based on weight. Looked in pretty good shape to me!

Saw part of the HSC/Guilford game last night on the Penn Atlantic/ODAC feed (more on that later). I was actually surprised by HSC. I expected a bit more out of them. They certainly shot pretty well late and made it closer than with 10 minutes left in the game (Guilford had something like a 20 points lead then).

The one thing many people have been curious about is whether Guilford will be able to compete with a lack of outside shooting, compared to last year. Clay Henson certainly answered some of those questions, but I was disappointed that HSC didn't have some type of answer to shut down either Henson or Strong (though that is very difficult, we all know).

I look forward to following what happens this weekend... especially Virginia Wesleyan/Guilford. I have not been sold on VWC this year since I think they lost a lot and there is a lot on the shoulders of Balenga. Maybe the Marlins can prove me wrong .

[hasanova]

The one thing many people have been curious about is whether Guilford will be able to compete with a lack of outside shooting, compared to last year. Clay Henson certainly answered some of those questions, but I was disappointed that HSC didn't have some type of answer to shut down either Henson or Strong (though that is very difficult, we all know).

After an 0 for 5 performance by Henson (and 0 for 10 by the team) in the 2-point loss to Shenandoah, the Quakers have been shooting much better ... and particularly behind the arc.  SU hit 12 three-pointers in their 64-62 win - that was a tough game for the Quakers to lose.  Henson had 29 vs Averett, 18 at Emory and 24 last night against HSC, for a total of 71 points.  With 9 threes against AU and 4 each against Emory and Sydney, Clay's personally hit 17 in the last three games.  It's also worth noting that Guilford has a 2nd semester transfer guard from Presbyterian, Rhett Bonner, who's also contributed some three-pointers in a reserve role.  Finally, as impressive as Henson's been in these games, Strong's put up 75, with 13, 28 and 34.

[allsky7]

Wow, the ODAC is tight this year. How tight? It's so tight that.......(you finish the sentence)

.... that my Gennies are going to surprise a lot of people!

I am not so sure about that. W&L's big man looks like he added a few too many in the off season. He was vertical was limited the last few years, the added weight can only hurt. He has to produce for the Generals to make noise but doesnt look like he is taking his senior year to seriously.

sorry gmail the stats don't pan out with your interpretation. Plus, if you've ever played the post, then you know it's better to do it heavier rather than lighter. Questioning the commitment of a 1st Team ODAC player may  inspire him. We'll see.

dont know if you ever played, doesnt sound like it but basketball is a game of quickness not big guys with spare tires. Didnt know he was a 1st team ODAC player but it seems unlikely he will repeat. Last year was 25lbs ago.

Unusual - you know our center is bulkier; but didn't know he was 1st team all-ODAC last year. You really think a 6'7" 205  5 is better than an in shape 230 5. I'm not to certain you ever laced them up after CYO.

Not a bad effort tonight for a chubby kid. Never was much of laces guy, more the velcro type.

gmail - having seen him play, personally... don't worry about the weight. He is very good inside with plenty of moves and plenty of jump. Glad you assume things based on weight. Looked in pretty good shape to me!

Saw part of the HSC/Guilford game last night on the Penn Atlantic/ODAC feed (more on that later). I was actually surprised by HSC. I expected a bit more out of them. They certainly shot pretty well late and made it closer than with 10 minutes left in the game (Guilford had something like a 20 points lead then).

The one thing many people have been curious about is whether Guilford will be able to compete with a lack of outside shooting, compared to last year. Clay Henson certainly answered some of those questions, but I was disappointed that HSC didn't have some type of answer to shut down either Henson or Strong (though that is very difficult, we all know).

I look forward to following what happens this weekend... especially Virginia Wesleyan/Guilford. I have not been sold on VWC this year since I think they lost a lot and there is a lot on the shoulders of Balenga. Maybe the Marlins can prove me wrong .

     I wouldn't worry too much about the Tigers. They will continue to get better and likely be in the thick of things again this year in Salem. They are rarely flashy but usually solid. Who would have thunk the Tigers would win it last year as a #5 seed? Guilford is no doubt the fav come March, but the ODAC tourn. should be fun again this year. 
     

[jdubyadubya]

d-mac says he's not sold on VWC this year but their two losses were by a point each and they are beating their opposition by an average of 15+ points. BUT, there are some who will say that their schedule has been soft to date. We'll see starting tomorrow afternoon at E&H and then at Guilford Sunday(the real test). As I said in an earlier post, this weekend has always been a grueling swing for the Marlins. I, of course, wish them well.

[allsky7]

Wow, the ODAC is tight this year. How tight? It's so tight that.......(you finish the sentence)

.... that my Gennies are going to surprise a lot of people!

I am not so sure about that. W&L's big man looks like he added a few too many in the off season. He was vertical was limited the last few years, the added weight can only hurt. He has to produce for the Generals to make noise but doesnt look like he is taking his senior year to seriously.

sorry gmail the stats don't pan out with your interpretation. Plus, if you've ever played the post, then you know it's better to do it heavier rather than lighter. Questioning the commitment of a 1st Team ODAC player may  inspire him. We'll see.

dont know if you ever played, doesnt sound like it but basketball is a game of quickness not big guys with spare tires. Didnt know he was a 1st team ODAC player but it seems unlikely he will repeat. Last year was 25lbs ago.

Unusual - you know our center is bulkier; but didn't know he was 1st team all-ODAC last year. You really think a 6'7" 205  5 is better than an in shape 230 5. I'm not to certain you ever laced them up after CYO.

Not a bad effort tonight for a chubby kid. Never was much of laces guy, more the velcro type.

gmail - having seen him play, personally... don't worry about the weight. He is very good inside with plenty of moves and plenty of jump. Glad you assume things based on weight. Looked in pretty good shape to me!

Saw part of the HSC/Guilford game last night on the Penn Atlantic/ODAC feed (more on that later). I was actually surprised by HSC. I expected a bit more out of them. They certainly shot pretty well late and made it closer than with 10 minutes left in the game (Guilford had something like a 20 points lead then).

The one thing many people have been curious about is whether Guilford will be able to compete with a lack of outside shooting, compared to last year. Clay Henson certainly answered some of those questions, but I was disappointed that HSC didn't have some type of answer to shut down either Henson or Strong (though that is very difficult, we all know).

I look forward to following what happens this weekend... especially Virginia Wesleyan/Guilford. I have not been sold on VWC this year since I think they lost a lot and there is a lot on the shoulders of Balenga. Maybe the Marlins can prove me wrong .

     I wouldn't worry too much about the Tigers. They will continue to get better and likely be in the thick of things again this year in Salem. They are rarely flashy but usually solid. Who would have thunk the Tigers would win it last year as a #5 seed? Guilford is no doubt the fav come March, but the ODAC tourn. should be fun again this year. 
     

     Just occurred to me....weren't the Tigers picked to finish 5th in the ODAC in football this year?  Things that make you go hmmmm!!