MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[ODACHOOPS]

Only time will tell whether Rhodes can handle the pressure of being the odds on favorite to win the conference.  He is a great coach with loads of talent but like many have stated, winning on the court is much different then winning on paper.  Yes, indeed the ODAC is going to be down this year, very down in measurement to resent years.  I cant remember a time in recent yrs where the ODAC has lost such talent and will be on such a level playing field (aside from rmc).  However winning games in Nov, Dec, Jan and early Feb are alot different then winning those 4 "must win games" in late Feb down in Salem.  It will be an interesting year for the ODAC, but I just dont see how RMC can screw this one up this year.   

[Brian Hamilton]

One thing no one has mentioned (in terms of possibility of winning the regular season title) is the new schedule.  Teams that only have to play certain other teams once may have an advantage or receive higher seeds than they should because of who they played.  Since we have not experienced this type of schedule before, that is also a variable that may impact who wins the conference.

[HSCfan]

Very true, Brian. The ACC type schedule definitely throws a wrench into the equation. Whereas I can understand the move to this alternative schedule, there is one thing that is blatantly absent from this system. When you have teams playing "unbalanced" schedules (i.e. some teams may have to play tougher schedules, perhaps playing R-MC, VWC, and Guilford twice while another gets Randolph, LC, and EMU twice instead) you should allow ALL 11 teams into the conference tournament. Division I conference do this (The ACC, etc.) to account for the potential inbalance of scheduling. If you do not allow all teams into the tournament, a team that faced a much tougher schedule could be penalized.

Now I know the initial argument will be that the cream should rise to the top. But you cannot dispute the fact that some teams will face an uphill battle playing a much tougher conference slate. Now, I understand that the scheduling rotates every two years, but this will continue to be an issue until the ODAC allows for the three "play-in" games like Division I conferences with unbalanced grids (6 v 11, 7 v 10, and 8 v 9 earlier in the week, maybe a Tuesday or Wednesday before the tourney begins).

And the references to Randolph, LC, and EMU are only for demonstration purposes, no jabs intended!

[jdubyadubya]

MEMO TO PAT COLEMAN: Minneapolis, eh! The Mall of America and the connected sky ways. The Mayo Clinic. Big mosquitoes. Ok, so we can look forward to a new perspective. Or, if you are giving up d3hoops can I have it?   

[jdubyadubya]

Hey! The last gazillion posts are all about HSC and Macon....how about you guys from Bridgewater, E&H, EMU, W&L, Roanoke, Lynchburg, Randolph College, Guilford, and VWC chime in every once in a while! I know it's summertime but you guys must have something to say, especially STH! 

[Pat Coleman]

MEMO TO PAT COLEMAN: Minneapolis, eh! The Mall of America and the connected sky ways. The Mayo Clinic. Big mosquitoes. Ok, so we can look forward to a new perspective. Or, if you are giving up d3hoops can I have it?   

Not giving up D3hoops -- it would take something pretty massive in my life or a big monetary offer for that to happen.

We'll still be well represented here on the East Coast with Dave McHugh in Baltimore, Gordon Mann in Philadelphia and Mark Simon in Hartford.

[jdubyadubya]

Pat Coleman - Great! We look forward to your dispatches from afar every once in a while.

[tigerfanalso]

Can you imagine a season when HSC does not play RMC home and away

When VWC does not play HSC home and away (good for HSC) ?

When RMC does not play VWC home and away ??

When RC does not play HSC, RMC,, VWC home and away ?

Change is a constant and is to be expected, but the ODAC will have a different look/feel in years to come. Any talk/discussion about adding another school to the ODAC ? I think all teams need to play the same conference schedule. No other way to fairly seed the teams for the conference tourney.

[6-5FAN]

Very true, Brian. The ACC type schedule definitely throws a wrench into the equation. Whereas I can understand the move to this alternative schedule, there is one thing that is blatantly absent from this system. When you have teams playing "unbalanced" schedules (i.e. some teams may have to play tougher schedules, perhaps playing R-MC, VWC, and Guilford twice while another gets Randolph, LC, and EMU twice instead) you should allow ALL 11 teams into the conference tournament. Division I conference do this (The ACC, etc.) to account for the potential inbalance of scheduling. If you do not allow all teams into the tournament, a team that faced a much tougher schedule could be penalized.

Now I know the initial argument will be that the cream should rise to the top. But you cannot dispute the fact that some teams will face an uphill battle playing a much tougher conference slate. Now, I understand that the scheduling rotates every two years, but this will continue to be an issue until the ODAC allows for the three "play-in" games like Division I conferences with unbalanced grids (6 v 11, 7 v 10, and 8 v 9 earlier in the week, maybe a Tuesday or Wednesday before the tourney begins).

And the references to Randolph, LC, and EMU are only for demonstration purposes, no jabs intended!

No sense in saying no jabs intended.  You knew what you were saying when you posted Randolph, LC, and EMU as the weaker teams and RMC, Guilford and HSC as the tougher teams.  This may be the way all these teams were seen before but more than likely its not going to stay that way.  The "weaker teams" such as EMU are not going to be so weak from what I have seen. 

[6-5FAN]

Correction......RMC, VWC, and Guilford

[HSCfan]

TFA,

Luckily, teams will always play their rivals twice in a season. Hampden-Sydney will always play Randolph-Macon and VWC twice, so no worries about that!

6-5FAN,

Thankfully, other posters on the board understand that I was simply making a point using traditional finishes. I have already been on record saying that I see EMU as a spoiler pick this year and, as Scotty will confirm, mentioning that teams had better watch out for Lynchburg due to the lethal Wooldridge/Echols combo.

Also, it appears that the Vick/Shaver combo will be back in action, with a little twist!
http://www2.hsc.edu/athletics/basketball/2008_09/news_releases/shaver_hire.html

[6-5FAN]

TFA,

Luckily, teams will always play their rivals twice in a season. Hampden-Sydney will always play Randolph-Macon and VWC twice, so no worries about that!

6-5FAN,

Thankfully, other posters on the board understand that I was simply making a point using traditional finishes. I have already been on record saying that I see EMU as a spoiler pick this year and, as Scotty will confirm, mentioning that teams had better watch out for Lynchburg due to the lethal Wooldridge/Echols combo.

Also, it appears that the Vick/Shaver combo will be back in action, with a little twist!
http://www2.hsc.edu/athletics/basketball/2008_09/news_releases/shaver_hire.html

I uderstand, and as an ODAC fan I see some of the traditional weaker teams getting stronger and more competitive and I just think it is important that other people realize that.  I honestly feel that there is not one team that can be looked at as an easy win or a definite lose.  The teams of the past that you looked at as "well lets just try to make this lose respectable" are gone.  However I am only one person with my own oppinions.

  ONE QUESTION?     If you say you do see EMU as a sleeper and the Lynchburg combination of Echols/Woolridge dangerous, then how do you as well as other members of this blog see the ODAC standings looking like at the end of this upcoming season?

[tigerfanalso]

VWC
RMC
Guilford
HSC
RC
Bridgewater
EMC
W&L
E&H
Lynchburg
Randolph

[HSCfan]

There are definitely no easy wins in the ODAC this year, and I believe that this trend began about four or five years ago, with Lynchburg's uncanny ability to upend those Jackets about once a year  

It is early, but I'll go ahead and jump at the chance to get out a first round of picks!

1. Randolph-Macon - too many returnees from a 20-6 team, plus a top POY candidate at point means they will have tremendous leadership.

2. Virginia Wesleyan - the Marlins lost a ton, but they still have Stephen Fields and a host of good athletes that can fill it up (i.e. Norman Hassell).

3. Bridgewater - not a surprise when you realize that two of the conference's returning marquee players are Eagles (Trawick and Oblitey).

4. Hampden-Sydney - Turner King can flat out play and I believe the new energy from Dee Vick will get the Tigers at least two or three extra wins.

5. Guilford - again, the Quakers lost a lot, but they have a true 6-10 player inside and a few skilled guards to get the ball to Henson, who is lights out from 26-feet when he's hot.

6. Eastern Mennonite - Here's that sleeper. This team will be inconsistent IMHO but they are poised to make a few splashes when their shots fall and they force TOs.

7. Roanoke - Lost every starter with the exception of Curtis Peery, who I don't think will be as effective without LaPorte and Dowell drawing attention. I could be very wrong here.

8. Lynchburg - They have Wooldridge and Echols and a new coach in Hilliary Scott. This seed will change for the better in the next couple of years for sure.

9. Washington and Lee - I love Adam Hutchinson, but losing a 20-10 guy in Bienemann will hurt. I have a hard time putting W&L outside of the top-8.

10. Emory and Henry - It will take a while for Russo to recruit for a new style. The Wasps don't really have a big man so they will struggle in half court games for now.

11. Randolph - Trust me, THIS will NOT be a consistent seed for the Wildcats. Clay is a terrific recruiter and will have this program up and running in no time. Hey, they beat Lynchburg last year and almost took out EMU if I'm remembering correctly.

Alright, I'm ready to be analyzed...this is what I joined the board for! I know I have some  crazy picks up there...Bridgewater at 3 may be a bit high, but if this is Leatherman's last go-round, the boys will have a lot to play for.

Roanoke at 7 is tough for me to swallow but with all they lost can they really match up with the top-5 in that list?

W&L out of the top-8 bothers me too, mostly b/c Hutchinson doesn't deserve it, but also because they have improved steadily over the past few years.

Lynchburg has the talent to be anywhere from 6-8 in my opinion...

[scottiedoug]

Hello from the GSAC, that tiny conference to the South.  HSC and VWU are playing Maryville and LaGrange in a tournament in LaGrange in December.  I am glad Maryville has finally tricked some ODAC teams into playing the Scots!  It will be a good (if early) test for everybody.