MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[baselinejam]

The ODAC lost a lot of talented players to graduation ( tis the beauty of college hoops - hope springs eternal). My Generals share in the loss. However we'll start 5 seniors with 3/4 very capable reserves. Don't assume since Greg & Femi are gone that the team is in a tailspin. 2009-10 now that'll be a different story. 2008-09 - don't be surprised to have the Gennies in the top 5. Yes you heard it here first & since I'm probably the only W&L regular posting these days, probably last as well.

[HSCfan]

baselinejam - Although I am a confessed Adam Hutchinson fan and admire everything that he has done over the past few years to put W&L back in the picture, IMHO I have a hard time seeing the Gens in the top 5. As I have already stated, I love Isaiah Goodman and everything he brings to the table, but losing Bienemann means that W&L now has no proven inside presence, and surely will not have a 20-10 guy to draw the attention of opposing defenses. Chris McHugh and Kirk Jones, although improved, were able to feed off of Bienemann's success and Femi's dynamics in the past, being left open for scoring opportunities due to the defenses designed to limit Greg and Femi's effectiveness. Can McHugh and Jones create their own opportunities? I don't know if I am too convinced.

Like I said, I had a hard time putting W&L out of the top-8 in my predictions, but aside from the fact that the coaching talent of Hutch and the experience and skill of Isaiah can get the Gens 3 or 4 more wins, I don't see W&L matching up well with R-MC, VWC, BC, H-SC, and GC...even Roanoke who still has Curtis Peery lurking under the rim!

I love the confidence though...I love die hard ODAC fans! And I will be the first to apologize to you if the Gens finish in the top-5! You heard THAT here first!

[Jacketlawyer]

Great article on the Randolph-Macon and Hampden-Sydney rivalry on ESPNU web site.  It explains how the rivalry started in football but has spread to other sports:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3476639

[hasanova]

Great article on the Randolph-Macon and Hampden-Sydney rivalry on ESPNU web site.  It explains how the rivalry started in football but has spread to other sports:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3476639

Nice.  Thanks for sharing.

[jdubyadubya]

Jacketlawyer - thanks for the link. I sent it to my oldest son who is a '95 graduate of HSC(soccer, golf) who responded, "very cool!" It's a great rivalry. There's nothing like DIII and ODAC in the entire world.

[HSCfan]

The H-SC/R-MC rivalry truly is deserving of the recognition it received on ESPN.com. The part about "Macon guys usually working for the H-SC guy" is hilarious to me (and obviously not ALWAYS accurate haha), although I am happy that it is somewhat true on the Hampden-Sydney campus - the Tigers' head soccer coach and his three-year top assistant were both standout soccer players at Macon, graduating in 2001 and 2006, respectively. They are tremendous people and coaches, and have brought plenty of wins to the pitch during their tenure. I wouldn't want anyone else leading our soccer squad (even if he did don the lemon and black at one, confused point in his lifetime  ).

[allsky7]

Great article on the Randolph-Macon and Hampden-Sydney rivalry on ESPNU web site.  It explains how the rivalry started in football but has spread to other sports:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3476639

     Ahhhhh....what a warm fuzzy feeling I get when I think about that day 15 years ago when they threw the goal post in Chalgrove Lake. Almost as warm and fuzzy as November 10, 2007. 
     Ok...back to hoops. I will be shocked if the Jackets don't win the ODAC this year. Based on what I saw, they were the best team in the ODAC last year. I predict this year they will have enough W's come March, that even when the Tigers upset them again in Salem, they will still get to dance. 
     The H-S / RC hoops rivalry is second only to R-MC. NO CONTEST!! I remember some wild ones going as far back as the 70's.
     Jacket....thanks for the post of the ESPN article. Nice write up. IMO....after following the rivalry for almost 40 years, it has always been about more than just football but THE GAME has gotten most of the press.
   

[Jacketlawyer]

Great article on the Randolph-Macon and Hampden-Sydney rivalry on ESPNU web site.  It explains how the rivalry started in football but has spread to other sports:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3476639

     Ahhhhh....what a warm fuzzy feeling I get when I think about that day 15 years ago when they threw the goal post in Chalgrove Lake. Almost as warm and fuzzy as November 10, 2007. 
     Ok...back to hoops. I will be shocked if the Jackets don't win the ODAC this year. Based on what I saw, they were the best team in the ODAC last year. I predict this year they will have enough W's come March, that even when the Tigers upset them again in Salem, they will still get to dance. 
     The H-S / RC hoops rivalry is second only to R-MC. NO CONTEST!! I remember some wild ones going as far back as the 70's.
     Jacket....thanks for the post of the ESPN article. Nice write up. IMO....after following the rivalry for almost 40 years, it has always been about more than just football but THE GAME has gotten most of the press.
   

Couldn't agree with you more, Allsky.  We'll get to see what R-M does this year, but we still have 4 more months to go!!  I thought the article was great, and that The Rivalry is finally getting some of the national attention it deserves. 8)

I'm sure some of the other ODAC school posters are a bit weary of hearing about the Tigers and Jackets, but I have reason to believe that any attention these two programs get will naturally spill over to the others as well.  So hopefully the ODAC as well as DIII sports profit too.

[baselinejam]

baselinejam - Although I am a confessed Adam Hutchinson fan and admire everything that he has done over the past few years to put W&L back in the picture, IMHO I have a hard time seeing the Gens in the top 5. As I have already stated, I love Isaiah Goodman and everything he brings to the table, but losing Bienemann means that W&L now has no proven inside presence, and surely will not have a 20-10 guy to draw the attention of opposing defenses. Chris McHugh and Kirk Jones, although improved, were able to feed off of Bienemann's success and Femi's dynamics in the past, being left open for scoring opportunities due to the defenses designed to limit Greg and Femi's effectiveness. Can McHugh and Jones create their own opportunities? I don't know if I am too convinced.

Like I said, I had a hard time putting W&L out of the top-8 in my predictions, but aside from the fact that the coaching talent of Hutch and the experience and skill of Isaiah can get the Gens 3 or 4 more wins, I don't see W&L matching up well with R-MC, VWC, BC, H-SC, and GC...even Roanoke who still has Curtis Peery lurking under the rim!

I love the confidence though...I love die hard ODAC fans! And I will be the first to apologize to you if the Gens finish in the top-5! You heard THAT here first!

Why are you such a Hutchinson fan? I like him alright - but he's only won 32 games in the past 4 seasons.

Any way - we return 3 very good guards. Look for a strong scoring season from McHugh. We get back a healthy Ben Heller in the post and I'm looking for improved basketball from the best athlete on the team - Zach White. The cupboard is far from bare in Lexington.

[HSCfan]

Oh baselinejam, how could you not be?  He is the reigning ODAC Coach of the Year representing W&L! Obviously there are many other Hutch fans among his coaching peers to have achieved that honor after finishing fifth in the ODAC last season. A pretty amazing feat if you ask me! It's hard enough to consistently compete in basketball at a school like W&L, much less get the COY nod with an 5-seed! Bubba Smith never won a COY award and he won two ODAC titles! I'm not saying that he was deserving or got slighted, but it's just an example of how hard it is to win one of those even when you win!

I remember the days, not too long ago, when the Gennies went WINLESS in the ODAC! Those days are long gone now in Lexington, mostly due to the excellent job by Hutch. He is able to coach his teams to play at a higher level than their raw talent may otherwise allow them, and they have been able to match up with the ODAC's elite at times over the past few seasons.

Just interested, but why do you think that McHugh is set for a breakout year? Maybe it's because I have never seen him play particularly well against H-SC, but I felt that he only was able to score because of the presence of Greg inside to get him wide open looks. He and Kirk Jones aren't, IMO, the best one-on-one scorers or off the bounce guys. Zach White is a decent athlete, but I'm sure you guys could use the services of his older brother, who was a bruiser inside that gave many teams fits with his physicality. Although the younger White is a decent athlete, I think what the Generals need to be successful is that solid inside stud - hopefully Heller can give you all enough to open things up for McHugh and Jones, both excellent shooters from the outside.

[ODACHOOPS]

I have to agree with hscfan, what makes you think that McHugh is headed for a break out year? I have seen the kid player several times over the years and deffenetly think he is a solid role player who plays at a high energy level, but not someone who can "take over a game" or dominate a stat sheet.  I also think his recent success was due largly impart to the presence of greg and the constant double teams he drew, often freeing up McHugh on the perimeter.  He can't create off the dribble and isn't a great athlete that is going to blow by you or finish above the rim.  Again I think he is a very solid role player who teams are going to have to highlight on the scouting report--- but not a "game changer."  Alex White is also a solid player who has the ability to get hot from the perimeter and knock down 3's.  I'm not too familar with the w&l roster but have seen alex white play and didn't see him as a "great athlete." He is deceptively quick and can knock down the open jumper but due to his rail thin frame I think hurts him in this ability to get get to the rim and score with contact.  I think w&l can compete this year in the "weaken odac" but even with the sr presence of several players I think they will struggle to find consistent offense.

[HSCfan]

It appears the Tigers have hired their second and final assistant for the upcoming year: Larry Blunt, who according to the article on the H-SC website coached at Division II Shaw University the past two seasons. Certainly appeared to be a tough gig in the deep CIAA (with national power Virginia Union and tough outs such as VSU) - one of the top DII conferences in America - but his coaching and recruiting experience coupled with his youth and energy should be an added jolt to the H-SC program!

Welcome, Larry! Go Tigers!

[oldfish]

Any word on what Ben Strong is doing?  Is he going to try to play basketball next season?

[hasanova]

Any word on what Ben Strong is doing?  Is he going to try to play basketball next season?

I haven't heard either.

Sludge, that's your department.  Any update you can give us? 

[sludge]

Ben Strong is training, has added weight, and looks great.  He's signed with an agent and is looking for opportunities overseas.  He'll probably know more by September.

Meantime, he also plays in the Rusty LaRue Pro-Am league, will be at the Pete Newell camp, and who knows what else.  (Word is Chris Paul made a big splash in the Rusty LaRue league last night).

There's an encouraging mention of Ben in the current issue of SLAM magazine as an "under the radar" player with a pro career ahead.

***
I think some new names for Guilford next year might be
  Eric High
  Luke Knief
  Gabriel Lowder
  LaBradford Monroe
  Justin Stafford
I don't have anything on these guys, though.