CBS Sportsline

[DarthDave]

Does not predict an order of finish but does list ODU as #63 in their top 64 teams behind such powers as Air Force, Davidson and Wis.-Milwaukee.
1st team Barea, Loughton, Nana, George, Stokes
2nd team Butler, Hunter, Goldsberry, Agudio, Lewis

Newcomer - Hendley

POY - Barea

[bigblue1975]

OK, I know I am biased but ODU 63rd?

Loughton not repeating as POY makes this pre-season prediction as bad or worse than Lindy's. :lol:

[ODU Commish]

Barea is going to put up some great numbers I'm sure. The question is will POY go to the guy with the big numbers, or the MVP? There were several players with better numbers that Alex last year, and he still got the award. Time will tell.

[Mr. Jablomi]

62 teams better than ODU? Uh, no. Barea to win the POY? Could happen, as he'll likely put up the best numbers.

[masonfan]

ESPN doesn't have you in the top 50 and CBS has 62 better then you, I would say that is about right.

[gmutom]

Wow, what a slap in the face to a powerhouse like ODU. I need to call my credit card company right away and put a stop on the NCAA tournament tickets I bought to watch the Monarchs. :lol:

[Mr. Jablomi]

ODU is 100-1 win the national title (ahead of many national "powers"). GMU? No such line is available, they are part of the "field".
When was the last time a CAA squad had it's own line to win the national title?

We're about a top 25-35 team, easily. CBS and ESPN broadcast just about 100% of the BCS conference games, and won't give schools like ODU the recognition it deserves.

[geewiz]

Draftexpress has NU ranked #40. Not sure where they have ODU ranked.

http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1089

[bigblue1975]

It will be interesting to see if they think ODU is better, if so ODU will most likely be ranked between 21st and 30th. Collegehoops.net will at least have ODU in their top 46. They are now at their 47th ranked team without
mentioning the Monarchs. :D

[DarthDave]

ODU is 100-1 win the national title (ahead of many national "powers"). GMU? No such line is available, they are part of the "field".
When was the last time a CAA squad had it's own line to win the national title?

We're about a top 25-35 team, easily. CBS and ESPN broadcast just about 100% of the BCS conference games, and won't give schools like ODU the recognition it deserves.

#39 Ohio (not state)
#40 St Marys
#46 Kent St
#47 N Iowa
#54 S Illinois
#58 Wisc Mil
#59 Manhattan
#60 Bradley
#61 Davidson

#63 ODU

I didn't realize these schools were in a BCS conference.

Edit: They have ODU #42 and the UD #56 in womens.

[Mr. Jablomi]

Kent State? Manhattan? Davidson? Please. Obviously, these guys did not do their homework.

Well, you guys keep on ragging on the CAA's best team. Guys from UD, GMU, HU...all looking up at us, as usual. It'll be that way, AGAIN, this year, and you'll still continue to rip us. Too funny.

[DarthDave]

Easy guns.....we all know ODU is #1 coming into this year...throw in your enthusiasm and makes it easy for us to rag on you. :wink:

[stuball888]

Mr J its the guys from Hofstra that have been showing ODU respect.

[DABIGBLUE]

Draftexpress has NU ranked #40. Not sure where they have ODU ranked.

These guys are missing something, they got NU as the only CAA school in the NCAA bracket. :lol:
NCAA Bracket - Must be a Joke (http://)

[bigblue1975]

Draftexpress has NU ranked #40. Not sure where they have ODU ranked.

These guys are missing something, they got NU as the only CAA school in the NCAA bracket. :lol:
NCAA Bracket - Must be a Joke (http://)

The way I read their site they are going to rank the teams who they think are the top 40. Today they only did
31-40. Let's hope ODU shows up in their next ten.

Here is a link to their home page. :D

http://www.draftexpress.com/

[gmutom]

Guys from UD, GMU, HU...all looking up at us, as usual. It'll be that way, AGAIN, this year, and you'll still continue to rip us. Too funny.

As usual? Now that's the funny part. How long have we all been looking up at you? Let's see, you were mediocre two seasons ago and the seven years prior, and conference play last year didn't start until January. The season ended in March, so I'd estimate that we looked up at you for all of three months. As I see it now, we are all even at 0-0 in CAA play, so your so-called dominance has lasted a whopping 25-percent of a calendar year. Very impressive. :roll:

[Timbo]

ODU is a top ten team......they would easily win the ACC without any problems.....they will be in the final four this year! I know it!

[Mr. Jablomi]

Uh, Tom? Which of the current CAA teams has the most CAA regular season titles? Most CAA tourney titles? Best % of titles/seasons played? Most NCAA appearances? Most NIT appearances? Most recent title?
That's right. You can answer all of the above with the following program: Old Dominion University.
So, when I say you're looking up at us, AS USUAL, I'd be correct.

Thanks for playing.

[Ovis Fan]

This preseason stuff is meaningless except to ignite entertaining pissing contests. For example, VCU was ranked about 12th preseason in soccer and look where we are now. What really matters are the final polls in March.

The lack of respect for the CAA, and especially ODU this year, will continue until two things happen on a regular basis:
1) multiple CAA teams win important OOC games
2) teams making the NCAA dance come away with more than a moral victory (e.g. ODU, VCU, UNCW, etc.)

[gmutom]

Uh, Tom? Which of the current CAA teams has the most CAA regular season titles? Most CAA tourney titles? Best % of titles/seasons played? Most NCAA appearances? Most NIT appearances? Most recent title?
That's right. You can answer all of the above with the following program: Old Dominion University.
So, when I say you're looking up at us, AS USUAL, I'd be correct. Thanks for playing.

Nice try, Heywood. I admire your ability to spin things, but that's all it is. Who gives a flying crap what you guys did 15 years ago when most players on your current roster were first graders in some far-away country? The bottom line is that the CAA has been and always will be cyclical in terms of what team is on top. Navy, Richmond, JMU, Mason and UNCW have all had their runs, and ODU will enjoy a brief year or two as the frontrunner. That, my friend, is the name of the game, I appreciate you taking the time to play.

[hemloche]

Uh, Tom? Which of the current CAA teams has the most CAA regular season titles? Most CAA tourney titles? Best % of titles/seasons played? Most NCAA appearances? Most NIT appearances? Most recent title?
That's right. You can answer all of the above with the following program: Old Dominion University.
So, when I say you're looking up at us, AS USUAL, I'd be correct. Thanks for playing.

Nice try, Heywood. I admire your ability to spin things, but that's all it is. Who gives a flying crap what you guys did 15 years ago when most players on your current roster were first graders in some far-away country? The bottom line is that the CAA has been and always will be cyclical in terms of what team is on top. Navy, Richmond, JMU, Mason and UNCW have all had their runs, and ODU will enjoy a brief year or two as the frontrunner. That, my friend, is the name of the game, I appreciate you taking the time to play.

talking to heywood and quite a few others in the ODU camp is like talking to this

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hemloche/brickwall.jpg

[masonfan]

National Championship and ODU isn the same sentence....WOW...a 100-1 shot. That is something to hang your hat on.

[T-McGriddle]

National Championship and ODU isn the same sentence....WOW...a 100-1 shot. That is something to hang your hat on.

Virginia Tech's football team was 40-1 to win the Rose Bowl prior to this season. They seem to be doing alright. 100-1 means that we're getting quite a lot of respect from the line-makers. I would put us more like 500-1 if I were setting the lines. But I guess people in Vegas think more of ODU's team than even I do!

[masonfan]

How many teams are 100-1? Comparing college football odds to college basketball odds, is like comparing apples to oranges. Actually, for the simple fact you made that comparision you should excuse yourself from any further discussion of college basketball or football topics the rest of your life. Have a good day. Don't bother coming back again.

[hemloche]

How many teams are 100-1? Comparing college football odds to college basketball odds, is like comparing apples to oranges. Actually, for the simple fact you made that comparision you should excuse yourself from any further discussion of college basketball or football topics the rest of your life. Have a good day. Don't bother coming back again.

having that stupid picture for his avatar should have excused him from any valid statements.

[Mr. Jablomi]

Talk about spin! When I say, "you'll be looking up, AS USUAL", I'm exactly right. The other programs in the CAA look up at ODU in the standings more than any other program. How is that a spin? That's a cold, hard fact.
Most CAA titles? ODU. Most RECENT CAA title? ODU. What else needs to be said?

Oh, and the gap will be even bigger after this season, when we win ANOTHER title. We need to go to a better league, to get some decent competition. The CAA is too weak for ODU.

[masonfan]

The CAA is too weak for ODU

That's the Jablomi we all know and love.

[MattHaus11]

The CAA is too weak for ODU

.....which brings me to my next point.....Don't Smoke Crack! :lol:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/995000/images/_999973_waterboy300.jpg

[PrideSuperfan]

National Championship and ODU isn the same sentence....WOW...a 100-1 shot. That is something to hang your hat on.

Virginia Tech's football team was 40-1 to win the Rose Bowl prior to this season. They seem to be doing alright. 100-1 means that we're getting quite a lot of respect from the line-makers. I would put us more like 500-1 if I were setting the lines. But I guess people in Vegas think more of ODU's team than even I do!

Va Tech is that bad of a shot despite being so high in teh polls is because there is one dominant team in college football that knocks down everyone's shot...this year's college bball is so wide open, teams like ODU actually have a 100-1 shot

[geewiz]

Oh, and the gap will be even bigger after this season, when we win ANOTHER title. We need to go to a better league, to get some decent competition. The CAA is too weak for ODU.

WOW! :shock: Are really serious?

[monarchmac23507]

I couldn't agree more Jablomi. Georgia Tech should go to the SEC and we should go to the ACC.

[Polito1]

Sorry if I'm bringing some real discussion to this thread but:

i think Northeastern is getting waaay too much respect for having proven absolutely nothing yet in the CAA

they should be good yes, and barea's talented, but let's take it easy - gotta earn your stripes around here, as the most recent members of this conf can assure

[masonfan]

I agree Polito, have they ever played in the TED, Siegel, William and Mary, DU or in an arena the size of the Pat Center? They are in for a bit of shock facing CAA teams on the road is not easy.

[monarchmac23507]

All I know about NE is that they have one great player who might challenge for POY. He is a guard so I am not too worried about him in particular as Williamson and BJ will handle him. They seem to have lost their 2nd leading scorer to graduation. The only other double diget scorer at 10 ppg was a freshman last year so he has potential to be dangerous. At 6'9", he could give us problems as we really don't have any great inside defenders. Could be a game where Sam gets significant PT. Either way I am looking forward to that one and I am glad it is on a Saturday night at the Ted. NE certainly is a wildcard in the league as is GA St. Nobody really knows how they will matchup. I still see an ODU - VCU repeat 1 - 2 from last year and perhaps both making it in the big dance, depending on out of conference play. Hopefully, VCU steps up out of conference as that has been their weakness in the past. I think last year was just a matter of gaining the experience with time for that team. This year, I think they are more prepared for their early schedule.

[MetSox]

I actually stayed this weekend at Northeastern since I was going to yanks/sox sunday, and ended up in the Providence airport Sunday night and ran into two people from two different CAA coaching staffs on my way home to Philly, both of them pretty much gushed about NU... They especially love the big man they have up there defensively.

We fans can not think NU is for real all we want, but after listening to these 2 assistants, I think us fans would be wrong in doing so. They'll be good.

That said, GSU doesnt get much respect from me, or them... I see them as the flop coming in.

[geewiz]

I agree Polito, have they ever played in the TED, Siegel, William and Mary, DU or in an arena the size of the Pat Center? They are in for a bit of shock facing CAA teams on the road is not easy.

Umm...NU has played (and won) at West Virginia, BC (Conte Forum) and UMass. We've also played (and lost) at Villanova and Providence and Florida so that statement about not playing in a big arena is just retarded and not true. Plus "masonfan" I wouldn't brag about the Pat Center since everyone else on here has been bad mouthing it's fandom and loudness.

Hey, no one from what I can tell, has ever said we'd win this league - but again like I had stated last week, I think that a lot of you guys are really putting too much stock into how powerful this league as well. Some of your comparisons to other conferences such as the ACC, et al,l is a little much.

This is a great league and I'm happy as can be that we're here. When you loose just one player from a 21-10 team and an NIT team and your best player is back for his Sr. campaign it shouldn't be too much of a shock that we're getting a little attention.

From what I can see, most publications are predicting us to finish anywhere between fourth and seventh.

...so what are you guys complaining about?

[Duke Dawg]

They are in for a bit of shock facing CAA teams on the road is not easy.


Something the original AE4 found out. That's what separates the CAA from other leagues. There is absolutely no easy road game. No gimmees at all.

[geewiz]

They are in for a bit of shock facing CAA teams on the road is not easy.


Something the original AE4 found out. That's what separates the CAA from other leagues. There is absolutely no easy road game. No gimmees at all.

Once again no one ever said there was from our end. No one ever said we'd win this league.

Again what are you guys complaining about? :?

[GannonFan]

I agree Polito, have they ever played in the TED, Siegel, William and Mary, DU or in an arena the size of the Pat Center? They are in for a bit of shock facing CAA teams on the road is not easy.

They (the program) did play against both UD and Hofstra when both were good and their arenas were full. Not sure about the current crop of kids in the program but I'm sure it won't be the first time they've played in a tough gym.

[gmutom]

Plus "masonfan" I wouldn't brag about the Pat Center since everyone else on here has been bad mouthing it's fandom and loudness.

geewhiz, I posted this on another thread, but Mason's homecourt advantage doesn't necessarily have to do with crowd size or noise. We are 77-13 at the Patriot Center over the past seven years, so we definitely have one of the best winning percentages in the conference over that span. My theory is that it is a bigger arena than most CAA schools and players are accustomed to, but I would be interested in hearing from opposing schools what they attribute our success to (just analysis, no trash talking).

Either way, I'm looking forward to seeing both Barea and Northeastern come to Fairfax. You guys are a great addition to the conference, and it's only going to benefit all of us by having you in the CAA.

[geewiz]

I know the Pat Center holds something like 10,000, it was just the comment about NU not playing in big arenas that was odd. I don't think every facility in this conference is Cameron Indoor.

...but I damn sure know that the America Least arenas, aside from Vermont, wasn't rabid.

There will be an adjustment period night-in-and-night-out in the CAA for NU. They have to be on the top of their game every night in the CAA.

[mglau]

Tom, not a bit of trash, but my opinion:

1. Just plain talent. You have had varying degrees of success, but you've never been a doormat.

2. A 10,000-seat gym with almost no noise. Backgrounds are difficult to get used to, but the lack of racket and the sheer size without people is odd.

3. Percentages. It is documented that home teams win 71% of the time in college basketball. Your number is 85%. The Mendoza Line for 71% in 90 games is 64. Is it unreasonable to expect a team that has not completely stunk to beat the percentages by 13 games in seven years? (Guessing 13 home games per year...)

[gmutom]

Good points, mglau. I think it's a combination of what you said and a comfort level with our players since they practice every day on that court. We obviously shoot a lot better at home than we do on the road. Our only loss two years ago was to ODU, and that was the infamous game in which we blew a 20-point lead in the second half.

[Polito1]

My thought isn't about NU playing in wild arenas or in front of huge crowds - NU has played big boys on the road just like the rest of us, we know this - and HU/UD are quite familiar with NU as well - not complaining or belittling here, this is just my opinion

and i just think NU is getting too much respect from outside sources (not your fans) for having done nothing yet in the CAA - this is a tough conf - far from the ACC (believe me, i'm def not one of the CAA fans in la la land who thinks this conf is as good as the majors) BUT this is a damn good mid conf and NU will NOT come in here in YEAR 1 and put it on the CAA - ESP this yr where this conf will be very talented top to bottom

we know NU well from the AE days, a conf by the way that NU did not in any shape or form dominate, even with Barea - believe me, the CAA is tougher, most notably on the road

will they be competitive? sure, there's some talent there - obviously Barea is very good but the CAA is not short on star guards and it takes a helluva lot more than one star player to win here - I've seen NU ranked as high as 2nd and seen Barea getting POY talk - i mean c'mon, let's take it easy here - they have yet to play a SINGLE CAA game

so all I'm sayin is let the games be played and THEN we'll see where NU stands in the CAA - NU has to a LOT to prove - maybe they will be in the top group, maybe they won't - time will tell, not outsiders or preseason rankings

[geewiz]

we know NU well from the AE days, a conf by the way that NU did not in any shape or form dominate, even with Barea

This isn't your father's NU!

This program is light years ahead of the days when UD, Hofstra, Drexel used to trample on NU back in the America Least days.

You can say all you want about Barea and the guards in the CAA, but I'm sure that if he can put up big numbers vs. Team USA (as in Chris Paul in '04 and Marcus Williams and Darius Washington in '05) in international play the last two years, he'll more than hold his own in the CAA.

Like you said, we'll just wait and see how it all plays out.

[T-McGriddle]

I wanna know who ODU is gonna have guard Barea? Will it be Hunter, Williamson or do we put Johnson on him all game to aggrivate the $#!+ out of him? No doubt he'll get his numbers in the CAA, but it'll be a lot harder than it was in the AE I think.

[Ramdog]

"i'm def not one of the CAA fans in la la land "

Isnt that near Va Beach? :wink:

[ODU True Blue]

1. Just plain talent. You have had varying degrees of success, but you've never been a doormat.

Oh from 1992-1998 Mason had mulitple dead last finishes in that time span. I would call that being a doormat.

They were dead last in 92, 93, 95 and 97. I would call that being a doormat.

They were tied for next to last in 94, 96, 98. combined with the previous point, I would call that a doormat.

In 7 straight seasons they were either dead last or next to last. I call that being a doormat.

I don't think W&M has even had a 7 year streak like that. For crying our loud as supremely awful as East Carolina was in the CAA they never had a 7 year streak like that.

[TJ Reaper]

Sorry; I would agree. Mason WAS a doormat. But, the keyword is WAS. I don't think anyone takes Mason lightly anymore. Focusing on the present and future is a pretty good thing.

I am not worried about NU because of Barea. He's going to score his points. VCU averages around 70 ppg normally. If Barea can score 71, then wow! But that's not the case. What talent do they have to score the remaining 50 points? Shawn James. Janon Cole. Bennet Davis. Aaron Davis.

CBS and ESPN are clueless.

[NU Hoop Fan]

I've stayed on the sideline for most of this conversation, but here's my $0.02.

Preseason polls are like arseholes, everyone has one, and no one really cares about anyone's but their own unless it smells.

Is NU in for an adjustment, yep, they are. However, you're making it sound like NU hasn't played a game in front of a screaming crowd before, and that's just silly.

Are the CAA gyms tough to play in - I'm sure they are, and NU hasn't done overly well on the road in conference play against good teams in the AE - I don't think we've won at Vermont since 2000 or something like that, and that's the toughest AE gym there is.

I see NU coming in around 4th and making the NIT. We're not going to beat out ODU for the title. In the tournament, yeah, we'll have a puncher's chance, but in the 18 game schedule, the Monarchs will be the team to beat.

Is Barea good, yes. Is Shawn James good, yes. Is losing Marcus Barnes addition by subtraction, yes. Barnes may have been our second leading scorer, but (a) he didn't play defense, and (b) he just didn't mesh well with JJB on the court. Are his 16 ppg going to be tough to replace, I think they will be, but I think that we'll be a better defensive team than last year.

The X factor for NU is Benson Egemonye. If he's as good as advertised, he's going to give NU some muscle and a physical presence underneath and will loosen things up for Shawn James.

I respect ODU, VCU, UNCW, GMU immensely, but to think NU's going to turn into a panty-waist walking into the Ted or Wilmington or the Patriot Center is just silly. The one thing I can say about NU is that they fear no one. You're looking at a team that 3 years ago went down to the Pit in Albuquerque and nearly upset a UNM team, beat WVU at WVU, beat UMass at UMass, and won at Boston College and kept them from the NCAA's. I know these kids pretty well, they're not going to be afraid of some screaming fans. Keep in mind, Barea's been on the Puerto Rican U21 team for 4 seasons and has played all over the world in front of hostile foreign fans. Benson Egemonye's been through more adversity in his life coming from Nigeria than all of us combined - so I don't think he's going to wilt when folks in Norfolk rag on him.

The CAA is a tough place to win on the road, but y'all haven't played a game in the friendly confines of Matthews Arena, where the shooting background is miserable, and if its snowing, you're going to be staring at a ton of empty seats. Oh, and if they put the floor down late, it gets chilly!

[TriRam]

Here it is.

NU has played tough teams in big arenas. They have played well in those games. Barea is a very good player. But what they have not seen in the A least is:

at Old Dominion* 7 p.m.
Thu. 12 DELAWARE* 7 p.m.
Sat. 14 DREXEL* 1 p.m.
Thu. 19 at George Mason* 7 p.m.
Sat. 21 HOFSTRA* 1 p.m.
Thu. 26 at Georgia State* 7 p.m.
Sat. 28 at UNC-Wilmington* 7 p.m.
FEBRUARY
Thu. 2 WILLIAM & MARY* 7 p.m.
Sat. 4 VA COMMONWEALTH* 1 p.m.
Thu. 9 at Drexel* 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 11 at Hofstra*

You may have two-three easy games in an eleven game stretch. This will be the big difference between the A-East and the CAA. Drexel might be down a little bit this year, but believe that Bruiser will have his boys ready to play. A road game at Georgia St. sandwiched between HU and at UNCW becomes a let down game. I am not saying NU cannot be a winner in the CAA, they certainly could be. BUT, we have to wait and see. If NU goes 9-2 or better in this stretch they are for real. I doubt it will happen.

[Monarch Nation]

The CAA is a tough place to win on the road, but y'all haven't played a game in the friendly confines of Matthews Arena, where the shooting background is miserable, and if its snowing, you're going to be staring at a ton of empty seats. Oh, and if they put the floor down late, it gets chilly!

All very good points, NU Hoop Fan, especially that last one. While ODU and VCU used to play in their city arenas that contained ice for the minor league hockey teams, only the fans will remember what it was like because the current players will not. If I'm not mistaken, the colder temps near the floor cause the ball to become slightly heavier, giving it less bounce. The cold will also weaken the legs a little quicker. Not much, but just a little. A team that is used to playing on that surface certainly would have the advantage.

[ODU True Blue]

The difference between playing "big teams" in their arena and road conference games in immense. A team will get pumped playing at the major conferences, the major conference teams tend to take us less seriously. In CAA conference games a lot more is on the line for both schools. Until we, as a conference, get to a point where we can get more than the auto bid, every conference game is important. Its important for momentum, its important for tourney seeding. Playing at BC or at WVU is probably easier. You have nothing lose, you are probalby feeling looser. In fact you are who the big name schools are afraid of. A loss to a CAA or ALeast school hurts their reputation. Why do you think that punk-arse Gillen at UVA wouldn't play ODU he was scared $hitless to lose to us. He was a fricking coward and it showed on how his teams played. They played awful and they lost too much and now his punk butt is gone.

Conference road games are just plain tougher. Simply because of the familarity. They know each other, know the players, know the styles, etc. NU will probalby have a better road record this year than if the same players had been in the league a couple of years. You are new and for the most part, new to most of the schools. There is no familarity with you. And as you've seen from posts of the other old-AE members, the CAA is just plain better top to bottom than anything the AE ever had. With the exception of Drexel, and last year Hofstra, the old AE schools have had tough times in the CAA tourney. I'm looking forward to the day when that changes when we don't think of it as the core CAA and the other invitees. Hopefully, though we are moving in that direction.

[Ramdog]

"you're going to be staring at a ton of empty seats"


All CAA teams are used to that

[Mr. Jablomi]

NU will be just fine, and it would not surprise me at all to see ODU playing them for the title this year. Barea is as good as anyone in the league, and James can really play. He looked like a better version of Chaz Crawford at BOTH ends of the floor.
We'll see soon enough.

[Duke Dawg]

Clearly NU has proven they can win in tough road environments the past few years. The difficulty of the CAA conference schedule though is that it is relentless. There is no "break". No easy games at all. Every game, especially on the road, is tough.

[NU Hoop Fan]

Ok, we give, we suck, we forfeit all CAA road games. ;)

And the poster who talked about the impact of the cold arena on the ball is correct, the ball is heavier (because of the impact of the cold on the air in the ball), the leather is actually a little tighter (it can't breathe as much), and it does tire the legs a bit, and one more thing, players have a tendency to cramp a little bit more in the cool temperatures of the hockey rink.

The one "advantage" NU lost was in its old floor. There were certain areas that had known dead spots. When I was in school, NU would trap opponents over a dead spot, hope the player would dribble, and the Husky defenders would swipe the ball on the way up. The new floor won't give us that advantage.

NU's hockey rink is also very long, making the shooting background simply terrible.