MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[DeWayneCarter]

I too agree with RMC being the favorite by a long ways over the rest of the ODAC.  VWC is always a ? though just in terms of whom they may bring in not in terms of how they might play.  With their ability to get just about anyone into their school, not to mention give just about any player close to a full ride in terms of financial aid you just never know what recruits they could bring in year to year.  HSC's "cupboard" is not completely dry your right but that is only because they return Turner King, Pre-season player of the year candidate.  After that they have very little in my mind in terms of scoring.  A very solid but by know means a "scoring point guard" in Lawton and other then King really no one who can consistently knock down perimeter shots, let alone create shots for themselves.  They by know means are "dry" of talent but do have a lot of areas of potential weakness.

ODACHOOPS you  don't have ANY idea what you are talking about... I know a player on the team who is going  to be bustin his butt for years after graduation paying off loans  lol

Dont be bitter because your team gets smacked by the Marlins....

Maybe  you should be one of those "anybody"s that gets  in to VWC because  they teach you that know means to have knowledge about something, and "no" is a word of negative  connotation.

[HSCfan]

Allsky,

If Russell Turner is willing to turn in his NBA coaching attire and 20,000-seat arenas for the non-air conditioned, bleacher-filled Fleet Gymnasium, then by all means bring him on! Fortunately H-SC has many viable options, so whoever is chosen, I have great trust that they will keep the program at its high level!

[tigers]

I would certainly not characterize the Tigers program as being at a high level right now.  They are always strong, and can certainly compete on any given night, but there has been a significant drop-off in the past few years.  Not sure what the reasons are, whether financial aid, recruiting, admission or some other reason.  But, there is definite work to be done after finishing 8-10 in the conference and not having a significant cast of players expected to raise the bar for the upcoming year. 

Bubba has been a good amabassador for the school and he is a great man.  I wish him the best at Sewanee and I am sure he will represent that University well.

Agree there are certainly options.  Vick, Warner are probably the two top choices.  Odom will not be returning to Farmville and I'd be shocked if Turner would consider moving back to D3 (notwithstanding all of the great attributes of this level).  One other alumnus that has a solid career in the high school coaching profession is Andy Gray.  He might be a great fit as well.

[DeWayneCarter]

I didn't know he went to HSC..... he's done a great job at Gar-Field.

[HSCfan]

Sure, the Tiger program is not at its peak level at the current juncture. They did go 8-10 in the conference last year, a very tough conference at that with three teams either ranked or receiving votes for most of the year. Don't forget, H-SC is just one year removed from having won its tenth title...can't do much better than that! Every program goes through a tough year or two (i.e. Macon from a couple years ago), but the good programs bounce back (Macon, again), and I'm sure Hampden-Sydney is in that category!

I think Dee Vick is all but a lock to get this job. Warner has too good a deal down at Shorter, with a chance to give scholarships and coach in his hometown.

[ODACfan4life]

As someone pointed out on this board many weeks ago, many ODAC teams graduated some very solid senior players this year, including Guilford, VWC, W&L, Roanoke & HSC. 

W&L, Guilford and Roanoke did not play their younger guys alot of minutes.  RMC and Eastern Menonite played their freshman alot of minutes this past year.  (I think EMU is the sleeper team).  VWC played two freshman - Carlton & Simmons - alot of minutes.  Two freshman at HSC averaged double figure minutes per game, and HSC returns three starters.  Both Lynchburg and HSC will have new coaches which can often provide a spark.  And, of course, alot can happen between now and November.

So, every team - including HSC - has much to look forward to this upcoming season.  I am not sure that it is the best thing for this board to continue to create bulletin board material for HSC's new coach!

[HSCfan]

EMU is a great sleeper pick, especially with the high octane style of Coach Dean. The Royals certainly put a scare on many an ODAC opponent last season and when the shots are falling and the pressure defense is forcing turnovers, they can beat anyone on a given night. I think Guilford is still a very very solid team. They will look vastly different without the likes of Strong and the steady Kimbrough, but I was very impressed last year with the emergence of Clay Henson and Rhett Bonner in addition to the solid minutes provided by T.C. Anderson off the bench. Throw in Tyler Sanborn, who no matter how you slice it is a 6-10 presence in the paint, and Guilford has some solid pieces in place to finish at or near the top of the ODAC standing.

Coach Palombo is one of my favorite ODAC coaches, so I may be a bit biased there as well!

[ODACHOOPS]

Where do I get my facts about VWC and its easy acceptance requirements?? Ok first off I'm not bashing or trying to tear apart VWC and what they have built there over the past several years.  My hat goes off to Macedo and what he has been able to accomplish there! HOWEVER at the same time EVERYONE knows, whether you want to admit it or not, that VWC has the lowest academic requirements in the ODAC and can get kids into their program that most other schools in the ODAC couldn't even look twice at.  I have talked first hand with former players who have told me in casual conversation that "yes the requirements to get in there are easy, and that once you get in there it's pretty hard not to stay in.  Most the kids that go there are commuter students; therefore they don't have to pay room and board (which saves a lot of money right there).  Their average SAT score is 970.  No other school in the ODAC's is below 1000.  The AVERAGE score is 970 meaning they can and will go a significant amount below that.  What I don't understand is why VW people are so bitter when this topic comes up? Everyone knows it (so do you guys) so just admit it and move on. 
As for me "being mad about VWC spanking the Tigers"...why would you even begin to go down that road? You're talking about a team that has 10 ODAC championships (looong term success) vs. "your marlins" (very short term success). Didn't really want to get into that but for some reason all VWC people get soooo upset and bitter the second you mention academics, grades and enrollment... haha, I just find that very amusing

[hasanova]

EMU is a great sleeper pick, especially with the high octane style of Coach Dean. The Royals certainly put a scare on many an ODAC opponent last season and when the shots are falling and the pressure defense is forcing turnovers, they can beat anyone on a given night. I think Guilford is still a very very solid team. They will look vastly different without the likes of Strong and the steady Kimbrough, but I was very impressed last year with the emergence of Clay Henson and Rhett Bonner in addition to the solid minutes provided by T.C. Anderson off the bench. Throw in Tyler Sanborn, who no matter how you slice it is a 6-10 presence in the paint, and Guilford has some solid pieces in place to finish at or near the top of the ODAC standing.

Coach Palombo is one of my favorite ODAC coaches, so I may be a bit biased there as well!

Certainly, Guilford had some of the biggest losses in terms of graduation.  They may never see another player of Strong's caliber, but Kimbrough, Belkoski and Edmond also made it a great team.  I agree, however, that Guilford will still be solid.  Sanborn is, as you said, 6'10", and that's saying something in DIII.  He's gotten better each season and I think he'll blossom next season.  Henson is arguably the best athlete on the team and Anderson is also solid.  I've heard Guilford is also recruiting well, so we'll see what new talent will be on campus in the fall.  Coach Palombo is a fine coach and he's done good things at Guilford.

I have to agree with the assessment of EMU.  I was very impressed with them last winter.  I think they'll win often this next season.

[HSCfan]

Hasanova,

Although it may be a bit late to offer, I would just like to say one more time congratulations to you and the Quakers for earning the ODAC title last season. As I said, I've always been a fan of Coach Palombo, how he carries himself, and also how his players conduct themselves on and off the court, especially that group of seniors. He and his team are truly class acts from top to bottom and I must say, although the stars weren't aligned for the Tigers in 2007-08, I wasn't too upset about the Quakers pulling it out 

[hasanova]

Hasanova,

Although it may be a bit late to offer, I would just like to say one more time congratulations to you and the Quakers for earning the ODAC title last season. As I said, I've always been a fan of Coach Palombo, how he carries himself, and also how his players conduct themselves on and off the court, especially that group of seniors. He and his team are truly class acts from top to bottom and I must say, although the stars weren't aligned for the Tigers in 2007-08, I wasn't too upset about the Quakers pulling it out 

HSCfan, thanks.  I'm in the school that says it's never too late to offer good wishes.    After five seasons, I'll have to say I'm quite pleased with Coach Palombo - he's helped return Quaker basketball to prominence.  In my four years at Guilford, the Quakers won more than 100 games, won an NAIA title and had three future NBA players, so we were spoiled!

This past season was Guilford's year, but I think everyone's still stinging from the one and done NCAA appearance at home.  I was at the game and it was difficult to watch.  With that said, however, it was still a tremendous season, so thanks again.

[allsky7]

Allsky,

If Russell Turner is willing to turn in his NBA coaching attire and 20,000-seat arenas for the non-air conditioned, bleacher-filled Fleet Gymnasium, then by all means bring him on! Fortunately H-SC has many viable options, so whoever is chosen, I have great trust that they will keep the program at its high level!

     Didn't realize he had moved so far up the totem pole. That is, if you consider the NBA further UP the totem pole.  Not sure I do though I'm sure the pay is better.
     Figured Odom probably wouldn't be back if he has ambition to be a head coach on the D1 level. Much easier to get there from Blacksburg than Hampden-Sydney.
     Dee Vick was the first name that popped into my head as the likely choice. Though The Tribe was one game from The Dance this year. I would think that would open up even more doors for him had they done so. Anyone know what W&M lost to graduation?
     Don't know much about Warner. Where is he now?

[HSCfan]

Warner is now the head coach at Shorter College in Rome, Georgia. Shorter is an NAIA institution and in his first year, Warner led the Hawks to 19 wins and a trip to the semifinals of the conference tournament - a great turnaround for a program that had struggled to about 10 wins the season before. They even cracked the NAIA Division I rankings for a short time.

I think had William and Mary won the CAA Tournament final, Shaver and the staff would have had opportunities to move elsewhere. But in the crazy world that is coaching, sometimes very good seasons aren't enough! I personally thought that Tony would have been offered an opportunity at another school after such a strong year, and if he had, I'm sure he would have taken Dee along. But, I don't mind reaping the benefits!

[DeWayneCarter]

Where do I get my facts about VWC and its easy acceptance requirements?? Ok first off I'm not bashing or trying to tear apart VWC and what they have built there over the past several years.  My hat goes off to Macedo and what he has been able to accomplish there! HOWEVER at the same time EVERYONE knows, whether you want to admit it or not, that VWC has the lowest academic requirements in the ODAC and can get kids into their program that most other schools in the ODAC couldn't even look twice at.  I have talked first hand with former players who have told me in casual conversation that "yes the requirements to get in there are easy, and that once you get in there it's pretty hard not to stay in.  Most the kids that go there are commuter students; therefore they don't have to pay room and board (which saves a lot of money right there).  Their average SAT score is 970.  No other school in the ODAC's is below 1000.  The AVERAGE score is 970 meaning they can and will go a significant amount below that.  What I don't understand is why VW people are so bitter when this topic comes up? Everyone knows it (so do you guys) so just admit it and move on. 
As for me "being mad about VWC spanking the Tigers"...why would you even begin to go down that road? You're talking about a team that has 10 ODAC championships (looong term success) vs. "your marlins" (very short term success). Didn't really want to get into that but for some reason all VWC people get soooo upset and bitter the second you mention academics, grades and enrollment... haha, I just find that very amusing

You do sound a little bitter  with that EXTRA long paragraph....

It's okay... there's no reason to be upset! 

[allsky7]

Warner is now the head coach at Shorter College in Rome, Georgia. Shorter is an NAIA institution and in his first year, Warner led the Hawks to 19 wins and a trip to the semifinals of the conference tournament - a great turnaround for a program that had struggled to about 10 wins the season before. They even cracked the NAIA Division I rankings for a short time.

I think had William and Mary won the CAA Tournament final, Shaver and the staff would have had opportunities to move elsewhere. But in the crazy world that is coaching, sometimes very good seasons aren't enough! I personally thought that Tony would have been offered an opportunity at another school after such a strong year, and if he had, I'm sure he would have taken Dee along. But, I don't mind reaping the benefits!

     Thanks for the info. A good friend of mines father is a retired administrator from Berry College. Didn't realize there was another school in Rome.