MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[GuilfordAlum]

WnL has to have alot of kids from outside the state.... It simple because as a Coach, with those kinds of unbeleivable academic standards, you have to open up your recruiting grounds to basically anywhere and everywhere. If I were the coach, I'd be thinking about big time private high schools. More the reason why I believe Hutchinson has done an unbelievable job there. It is easily the hardest coaching job in the ODAC(in my opinion), just because purely of the academic standards his kids have to meet. Not to say that there aren't many other fine schools in the ODAC, and that other coaches don't have to meet standards (I know Guilford does for sure), but I dare anyone to take a look at WnL's players highschool SAT/ACT scores and compare them to somebody like.... Va Wes, .... guarantee that would be interesting. .....                   Then of course, theres other schools out there that are getting in done on the hardwood and the classroom, Wash U etc etc...   We played Johns Hopkins last yr who has one of the finest medical facilities in the country, and they were certainly able to compete on the hardwood as well.   All in all, recruiting in DIII is interesting, you dont have the clearing house (I dont think), and each school has their standards that the players have to meet.

[hasanova]

This sort of thing is hard to predict, of course, but I think Ben Strong has a good chance to score his 2000th career point on Saturday versus Lynchburg.  The Quakers face W&L at home on Wednesday and then Lynchburg at home on Saturday.  Ben needs 49 and at his current pace it might happen late versus LC.   I mean absolutely no disrespect to the Generals and the Hornets, but I'd personally like to see him reach this milestone at home before traveling to Sydney on the 13th.

[DenbowsRoomie]

The debate over W&L's academic standards has frequented this board over the years.  I continue to maintain the "double-edged-sword" mentality.  I'll list my thoughts...

PROS of W&L's admissions requirements in terms of hoops recruiting
-- As a school with a decent national reputation for academics, W&L likely can attract recruits from a broader geographic range than some other ODAC schools.
-- As a private school, W&L seems to draw more recruits from private high schools & boarding schools than other ODAC schools.

CON of W&L's admissions requirements
-- With higher requirements for admissions, W&L essentially automatically excludes certain potential recruits that its ODAC rivals are vying for

But, despite the stereotypes our society occasionally loves to make, not all good basketball players are dumb jocks.  There are plenty of good basketball players who are also great students.  So while W&L's admissions requirements might add some nuances to the basketball recruiting process, it's not the kiss of death.

[jmill07]

Incredible! GCAlum....what in the world prompted you to suggest the "comparison" that you did....WHY did you you select VWC for that comparison? What standard are you basing this on? Do you have inside knowledge of VWC's academic marks? Or are you basing it on some observation? I would suggest that if you would like to see comparisons made between W&L's testing scores and that of other ODAC schools, that you start with your own! You seem to be fine representation of that institution!

[GoQuakers]

Avg SAT score for incoming freshman
W&L = 1390
Guilford = 1138
VWC = 983

[GP05]

WnL has to have alot of kids from outside the state.... It simple because as a Coach, with those kinds of unbeleivable academic standards, you have to open up your recruiting grounds to basically anywhere and everywhere. If I were the coach, I'd be thinking about big time private high schools. More the reason why I believe Hutchinson has done an unbelievable job there. It is easily the hardest coaching job in the ODAC(in my opinion), just because purely of the academic standards his kids have to meet. Not to say that there aren't many other fine schools in the ODAC, and that other coaches don't have to meet standards (I know Guilford does for sure), but I dare anyone to take a look at WnL's players highschool SAT/ACT scores and compare them to somebody like.... Va Wes, .... guarantee that would be interesting. .....                   Then of course, theres other schools out there that are getting in done on the hardwood and the classroom, Wash U etc etc...   We played Johns Hopkins last yr who has one of the finest medical facilities in the country, and they were certainly able to compete on the hardwood as well.   All in all, recruiting in DIII is interesting, you dont have the clearing house (I dont think), and each school has their standards that the players have to meet.

...and Notre Dame can't get football recruits. Oh wait, they're the most storied football university on earth.  Good recruiting is good recruiting and each school comes with unique advantages and challenges.  At the D3 level, where there are no scholarships and a high school player's college decision is based more on academics, a reputation for academic excellence is a great recruiting tool. 


I won't throw fuel on the fire over the Virginia Wesleyan comment.. but it probably deserves it.

[FortyFour]

JMill07 hit the nail on the head.  Why VWC?  I did a quick search of the incoming freshman profile for a few ODAC schools (E&H, LC, RMC) and the profiles for all schools are relatively similar (SAT score somewhere in 1000-1100 range, GPA in the 3.0 - 3.5 range).   And, guess what, VWC's freshman profile fell in that range too.  The point is that VWC is along the same lines, in terms of the incoming freshman profile, as a lot of ODAC schools.  Are you going to call out these schools, GuilfordAlum?

What is the beef with VWC's players?  If you've got something to say about them, say it!  Don't hide behind blanket statements with no evidence to support your claims.

By the way, since I really love it when people come on here and throw out baseless claims with substantive evidence to back up their claims, so just to be consistent, the information I cited above came from each of the schools' websites.

[sludge]

Even looking at GoQs numbers (instead of  44's more recent numbers), maybe what GoQ was really trying to say is that Guilford's SAT profile is more similar to VWC's than to W&L's.  Could that have been it?   

But 44 has the point.  The SAT profiles of many ODAC schools has been rising recently.  

And please let's not start saying that W&L is overrated! 

[GoQuakers]

Avg SAT scores for incoming freshman:
WL    1390
HS    1139
GC    1138
RC    1108
RMC    1102
EMU    1101
BC    1026
EH    1023
LC    1002
VWC      983

[mybleedinghands]

I'd rather go to a school that gives me the best education and prepares me the best for after college, rather that be VWC or a UAA school - regardless of what the average SAT score is for incoming students.

[sludge]

I'd rather go to a school that gives me the best education and prepares me the best for after college, rather that be VWC or a UAA school - regardless of what the average SAT score is for incoming students.

Yeah man.  It's for the impact on the students, not for how they start out.

[allsky7]

I'd rather go to a school that gives me the best education and prepares me the best for after college, rather that be VWC or a UAA school - regardless of what the average SAT score is for incoming students.

     My SAT scores were like 600. I think you get that much for signing your name in the correct spot.  Good thing I am charming and good looking or I never would have received that BA!!   

[hasanova]

New Top 25 out - GC 16 and VWC 18 - RMC and RC both garnering votes.

[rmc1982]

JMill07 hit the nail on the head.  Why VWC? 

What is the beef with VWC's players?  If you've got something to say about them, say it!  Don't hide behind blanket statements with no evidence to support your claims.

By the way, since I really love it when people come on here and throw out baseless claims with substantive evidence to back up their claims, so just to be consistent, the information I cited above came from each of the schools' websites.

GEEZ!You VWC guys sure are testy!Could it be that some of these accusations have weight?I live in the norfolk/va beach area and i have LOTS of friends that are VWC alumni and they certainly are not idiots-ok?...And none of these accusations are directed at you guys personally-but your basketball program is what the accusations are about........now if the test scores of the basketball teams could be revealed-all of them at all schools....i know that ALL of us may be more than a little surprised at the results.....you know,people in glass houses??I think the real test ,honestly, is not whether these kids can get into school but whether they can STAY in-I know that when i was at RMC most of the professors didn't care how you got in but how you performed once you got  there....If these kids are still there,you can probably believe they have to go to class-I find it hard to believe ANYONE at a d-3 school bends the rules THAT much-whether or not it's that hard to stay in is up for grabs-Get off your high horse,guys.....RMC is not W&l is not HSC is not GC is not EMU.etc.......we can be in this debate all day........Fact- VWC has the lowest test scores...does that mean it's the worst school=NO!W&L has the best-is it the best school-well...maybe to the W&L guys but not to me...I think RMC....but i went there....so........the debate continues..........

[FortyFour]

RMC,

I have a lot of pride in my school, and I wouldn't trade my years there for anything, and that's why I get testy when I feel it's attacked unfairly.  You are right when you say that the real test is whether these kids are still on the roster in their later years.  I think that alone says alot about the kids in this conference...kids from every school.

My point with my earlier post was why come on here and make blanket statements about a program or its players?  If you have something to say, and can verify its authenticity, then say it, but don't throw out insinuations and not back them up.

I agree with Sludge and Scottie, it's all about what you get out of your years at a school that determine the worth of that school.  I think we all should feel proud of the institutions that belong to the ODAC, and realize how special each of these schools is to many, many people.