MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[hasanova]

After a hiatus, I see my overnight smiter has returned on a regular basis.  I honestly don't believe I've said anything smite-worthy or, for that matter on many days, said anything at all.  Is it just my imagination or purely a coincidence that a poster has to be at 200 posts again to smite or applaud? 

[hasanova]

Hey, an interesting week for ODAC match-ups!

Tonight:  RC@BC, LC@E&H, VWC@HSC and EMU@W&L.

- BC has impressed me - I think RC might be vulnerable.
- E&H at home - I expect the Wasps to take it in Emory and even the season series.  Someone will start to move ahead in the current 3-way tie for the final 8th spot.  Will it be E&H?
- HSC always wants to beat VWC - do they have enough gas at home?
- On paper, I think the Generals will make it a 5-way tie for first ... at least until the RC and VWC games are in the books.  Is W&L top tier or will they fall behind the four leaders?

What does everyone else think?

Then this weekend, I'm still too nervous to think about Guilford at RMC and VWC back-to-back.  If you're a good team, this is what you live for - right? 

[ODACfan4life]

I think that W&L is the real deal.  W&L has alot of experience.  They start two very strong, experienced and productive senior forwards in Bienemann and Fusimo who have been playing substantial minutes since they were freshmen.  W&L's backup forward, Owens, a junior, is also pretty good.  They also start three junior guards in Goodman, McHugh and Jones who have alot of experience.  They have beaten good teams.  They may lose some games just because the ODAC is so competitive, but I do not see W&L fading away.   

[hasanova]

I think that W&L is the real deal.  W&L has alot of experience.  They start two very strong, experienced and productive senior forwards in Bienemann and Fusimo who have been playing substantial minutes since they were freshmen.  W&L's backup forward, Owens, a junior, is also pretty good.  They also start three junior guards in Goodman, McHugh and Jones who have alot of experience.  They have beaten good teams.  They may lose some games just because the ODAC is so competitive, but I do not see W&L fading away.   

I look forward to seeing the Generals play at Guilford.  With W&L's overall record and win over RMC, they've made a lot of progress the past few years.  Congratulations to Greg Bienemann, by the way, for his POW award.  I thought it might go to Strong with his 3-0 week (82 points, great shooting percentage, etc.), but I can't argue with Greg's 83 point 3-0 week either.  Sounds as though it was well-deserved by Bienemann!

I see a lot of the pick'em participants think GC will drop both on the road this weekend.  Man, do I hope that's not the way it plays out!  It certainly could, of course, but this may be a make it or break it trip for the conference championship.  Peace

[DenbowsRoomie]

Before Coach Hutchinson arrived in Lexington and to some extent even in his first 2 years, W&L struggled to keep many players for a complete 4 years of basketball.  As a result, the W&L teams from 2001-2006 were almost always "young" and inexperienced.  Consider the following...

'01-'02 typical starting line-up
Denbow (soph)
Hamill Jones (soph)
Mike Stuart (fresh)
Mark Franceski (fresh)
Touissaint Crawford (jr)
1 upperclassman, no seniors

'02-'03 typical starting line-up
Hetterman (senior)
Hamill (jr)
Denbow (jr)
D. Will (fr)
Mike Stu (so)
3 upperclassmen, 1 senior -- and this one should be qualified -- as much as I eternally love Denbow and Hamill Jones, they likely would not have started for almost any other ODAC squad that year

'03-'04 typical starting line-up
Phil Landes (soph)
Hamill (sr)
Ian McClure (fr)
D. Will (so)
Mike Stu (jr)
2 upperclassmen, 1 senior

'04-'05 typical starting line-up (also the 0-18 ODAC year)
Greg (fresh)
D. Will (jr)
Mumper (fr)
Mike Stu (sr)
Halkitis (soph)
2 upperclassmen, 1 senior

'05-'06 typical starting line-up
Halkitis (jr)
Greg (so)
Femi (so)
Alex White (jr)
Isaiah Goodman (fr) or Mumper (so)
2 upperclassmen, no seniors

'06-'07 squad -- 1 senior, 2 juniors, 2 sophomores

So essentially, only last season did W&L begin to use a starting line-up that had substantial college experience.  Not surprisingly, the Generals had their best season in 16 years, and if not for a subpar finish, would've done even better.

So, to answer the "are the Generals legit?" question, I will say that only time will tell, but for the first time in forever, the Generals seem to have experience in their favor.

[hasanova]

Nicely done, DenbowsRoomie.  I knew there had been turnover and lack of upperclassmen at W&L, but your post really put it in perspective.  With a few notable exceptions, most upper tier ODAC teams used to count on two wins versus the Generals.  Obviously, that's no longer the case.  This point is up for debate, but I see the ODAC this season with three tiers: four or five teams at the top that beat each other and everyone beneath them, two or three in the middle that beat each other and occasional go up (or down) for a win (or loss!) and three at the bottom who can basically just beat each other most of the time.  I see W&L on the fence right now between level one and two.  If the Generals beat RC tonight, they'll certainly make a stronger case for level one.

[rmc1982]

I know they beat my Jackets in December,and although i didn't see the game,friends of mine who did said they aren't a fluke!We had a furious comeback at the end of regulation to send it to O.T but we lost it in the extra period.Time will tell,but I certainly would put them in dark horse status to win the tournament-they can string together a few games and ....who knows......

[hasanova]

I know they beat my Jackets in December,and although i didn't see the game,friends of mine who did said they aren't a fluke!We had a furious comeback at the end of regulation to send it to O.T but we lost it in the extra period.Time will tell,but I certainly would put them in dark horse status to win the tournament-they can string together a few games and ....who knows......

I think this year's ODAC tournament is shaping up to be super.  Normally, in a fairly balanced 10-team league that eliminates the two bottom teams, even 8th place is not a "gimme" ... often 8th place has 5 to 7 wins!  Look at 7th BC over 2nd GC last season.  The 1st round should be good, but the semifinals should be incredibly competitive ... pick your poison.  lol  Peace 

[algernon]

Virginia Wesleyan defeats HSC tonight, 81-62.  Balenga had 18; Fields, 17; Hassell, 16; Fantin, 15; and Dixon, 10.  They outrebounded HSC, 33-20.  Tigers were led by Troy Kaase with 20 and Karlis Trops with 18.  Drew Prehmus played 32 minutes, despite continuing effects of injury, scoring 2 but getting a bunch of assists.

Maroons defeat Bridgewater on the road, 76-55.  Keith Carter scored career-high 17 points.

Washington and Lee defeats EMU in Lexington, 72-60.

UPDATED STANDINGS:
1)  Roanoke               8    2    
     Virginia Wesleyan    8    2    
3)  Guilford                  7    2    
     Randolph-Macon     7    2    
     Washington & Lee    7    2    
6)  Bridgewater            4    5    
7)  Hampden-Sydney      3    7    
8 ) Emory & Henry          1    8    
     Lynchburg                1    8
10) Eastern Mennonite     1    9    

Standings don't include the outcome of Lynchburg at Emory & Henry.

[sludge]

Cool, thanks for that update.

[hasanova]

E&H beat LC 105-96, so the updated standings are now:

1)  Roanoke                 8-2    
     Virginia Wesleyan    8-2    
3)  Guilford                  7-2    
     Randolph-Macon     7-2    
     Washington & Lee    7-2    
6)  Bridgewater            4-5    
7)  Hampden-Sydney      3-7    
8 ) Emory & Henry          2-8    
9) Eastern Mennonite   1-9
      Lynchburg           1-9    

[ODACfan4life]

Roanoke remains impressive with a decisive win over Bridgewater.  And the W&L beat goes on.  I would not want to be Bridgewater going into HSC on Saturday.  Don't count those boys out yet - they will make a run. 

[algernon]

Back to the Alll-ODAC thoughts, having seen almost all of these guys play now .....

POY: Ben Strong
FOY:  ??
COY: Hutchinson?  Macedo?  Moir? 

First-Team:
Ben Strong, GC
Tyler Fantin, VWC
TonTon Balenga, VWC
Greg Bienemann, W&L
Turner King, HSC

Second Team:
Mason Wooldridge, LC
Dominic Trawick, BC
Justin Short, RMC
Troy Kaase, HSC
Brad Parkes, EMU

Honorable Mention:
Josh LaPorte, RC
Curtis Peery, RC
A. J. Dowell, RC
Jeremy Dixon, RMC
Clay Henson, GC
Camillo Weinz, EHC
Michael Oblitey, BC

[mybleedinghands]

there's a minimum 6 players on first, second, and hm teams. that started last year.

[Tigerfan]

No offense to Balenga intended, but from what I saw last night, he's not the best wing guard on VWC.  Fields has got a lot of game.  He is quick and explosive to the basket, can hit pullup or fadeaway jumpers and his behind the arc shooting is good, although his form isn't as nice as Balenga's.  Last year as a freshman in Salem, he helped the Tigers out by taking some shots outside the Marlin offense, but he has it going on now.  His offensive quickness is hard to handle. 

The Marlin combination of speed and good shooters is tough.