CAA COACHES, SID'S, MEDIA PICK ODU #1, VCU #2

[TJ Reaper]

ODU was a unanimous #1 choice

1 Old Dominion
2 VCU
3 George Mason
4 Hofstra
5 UNC Wilmington
6 Northeastern
7 Drexel
8 Delaware
9 James Madison
10 Georgia State
11 Towson
12 William & Mary

[T-McGriddle]

Hofstra and Northeastern seem a little low, but 2-6 are pretty much all interchangable.

[masonfan]

Wow, Mason picked 3rd........imagine that.

[TJ Reaper]

Masonfan, #2-#6 are interchangable..........no surprise that Mason got that respect. Cannot remember the last time Mason was picked below 3rd preseason.....

[masonfan]

You know, I really can't either. Imagine that!

[gmutom]

This is where I thought Mason belonged all along in the preseason polls. I'm not predicting that we will finish 3rd, because you never know what will happen with injuries and this year's X-factor (Northeastern). But when you look at what everybody is returning this season, I'm happy to see that the coaches gave Mason the respect that many people on these boards refuse to give us.

That said, I'm excited for the season to start. This should be a banner year for the CAA. It's time to stop playing the games on paper and bring them to the hardwood where they belong. Good luck to everybody -- even ODU. :wink:

[T-McGriddle]

Tom, its not that people on this board don't think that Mason is one of the top 3 teams, its that there are 5 other teams that are just a deserving of being listed as one of the top 3 teams. GMU fans just get their panties in a bunch if anyone "disrespects" them by listing them somewhere outside of the top 3.

The honest truth is that VCU, Hofstra, Northeastern, GMU, or UNCW could all finish in the top 3...that would mean that GMU is just as capable of finishing 2nd as they are to finish 6th again.

[masonfan]

Who knows. Hell even, ODU could finish 6th again. That's why the games are played. Good luck everyone, looking forward to a VERY exciting CAA!


Does anyone know the schedule? Like, for example when is Coach L going to speak, when is Taylor, Capel, etc.?

[DarthDave]

To me, and I may be way off here, but the coaches know the teams better than anyone on these boards. By picking Mason 3rd, they feel better about them then say UNCW or Northeastern....so all this interchangable talk is nonsense.

[gmutom]

To me, and I may be way off here, but the coaches know the teams better than anyone on these boards. By picking Mason 3rd, they feel better about them then say UNCW or Northeastern....so all this interchangable talk is nonsense.

Welll said, Dave. I think it's funny how some posters who maybe saw us play two times last year try to judge us based on reading some boxscores and where we finished in the standings. The coaches pick the order based on which teams they fear the most, and I know that Mason is near the top of that list this season. Let's just hope that Coach Taylor and his team are getting their flu shots this year. :lol:

[T-McGriddle]

Don't the coaches see the teams twice a year too? I fear Hofstra, VCU, Northeastern, and GMU all equally. VCU a little more than that pack because of the rivalry. Hofstra and Northeastern more than GMU because of their game breaking individuals. I'm not too worried about UNCW even though they're due to break the streak soon.

Tom, just like you think GMU is the second best CAA team (you really think they're the best but you don't want to sound like a complete homer by coming out and saying it), every other team listed in the top 6 can make an argument just as legitimate as to why they should be 2nd or 3rd.

[TJ Reaper]

DarthDave, that is never proven. Preseason picks are rarely or nearly 100%.

Last year, UNCW was picked 6/7, VCU was picked 4th, Mason was picked 2/3, etc.......the year before it was just as crazy.

Coaches vote for teams they respect the most. This is probably why you see State and NU so low; they haven't earned that CAA respect yet to be picked any higher. Mason will always get respect because they can win on the road and have a great coach in Coach L.

With picking Hofstra 4th (I picked them 2nd), they are probably looking at their young depth and lack of true big men or depth inside. HU will probably play small to get points on the board, but that type of ball kills teams (hard to defend).

[bigrips77]

I'm shocked to see Drexel down at #7... did they lose alot of players from last year's team? Bruiser's gonna have them playing extra tough as usual up there in Philly

[gmutom]

Don't the coaches see the teams twice a year too?...

Tom, just like you think GMU is the second best CAA team (you really think they're the best but you don't want to sound like a complete homer by coming out and saying it), every other team listed in the top 6 can make an argument just as legitimate as to why they should be 2nd or 3rd.

The difference being that the coaches also watch hours upon hours of tapes from every team in addition to playing them twice.

TM, I'm a big fan, but I'm also a realist. I obviously know enough basketball to know that Mason should not be ranked higher than ODU. That said, I'm not afraid to play ODU. We just happen to match up well with your style of play better than we do with other teams in the conference. VCU and Hofstra always gives us fits because they are so athletic, and UNCW is a tough game for us because they can slow a game down and be so damn patient.

[DarthDave]

RR, I realize pre-season picks are not set in stone...Until ODU wins, it is up in the air..but why cant people just accept a ranking w/o pissing on it. VCU was picked 2nd, GMU 3rd by the COACHES. Why insight a pissing match but implying that NU at 6th is just as good as GMU at 3rd. The coaches look at the players, injuries, recruits and they deem GMU 3rd. Poll done by coaches, not Jay Bilas or Andy Katx providing a half-ass preseason ranking.

Ok, I will get down now.

[TJ Reaper]

Bigrips77, Drexel lost 4 seniors who made up 64% of their offense, 50% of their rebounding. They have potential, but on paper, they aren't as strong as the 6 above them.

That's the thing. Don't assume that "oh, they got picked 7th. They must not be good!" It's just that on paper, in the preseason, the team is not as proven as those ranked above them. That is all.

IMO, the CAA top 7 is EXCELLENT. Just EXCELLENT. Georgia State, JMU, Delaware will win their share of games, too.

[bigrips77]

ok... that makes sense then - thanks for the clarification RR. I haven't read up on Drexel much this year but I was under the impression they returned more than just one starter when you consider plenty of CAA teams return alot of solid players. Bruiser's still gonna have those boys ready to play in conference competition.

[Halftime Hero]

We lost something like 4,000 points to graduation. I think #7 is fair pre-season.

[VRam2]

2 thru 6 interchangeable? :lol: Pecora just said that 1 thru 4 are interchangeable. :wink:

[masonfan]

2 thru 6 interchangeable? :lol: Pecora just said that 1 thru 4 are interchangeable. :wink:

The Coaches most have no idea what they are talking about :wink:, Keener said pretty much the samething.

[geewiz]

I hope all of you NU doubters are happy now. We're picked to finish sixth.

Can we stop with the "NU might not win on the road or Jose Juan Barea hasn't faced CAA players" talk? :roll:

Let the games begin!

[Oneway]

I'm shocked to see Drexel down at #7... did they lose alot of players from last year's team? Bruiser's gonna have them playing extra tough as usual up there in Philly

I'm not shocked...but expect them to exceed expectations yet again, especially with a rivalry schedule that includes W&M twice, Towson twice, etc. I think we will finish higher in the conference than our talent will show due to our relatively soft schedule in comarison to the teams picked ahead of us and equal in talent level to.

[TJ Reaper]

Oneway, I think Drexel has the potential to finish 11-7 vs. that schedule in conference.......



DREXEL
L at Princeton (NIT)
W vs Shouston/Mizzou
W Rider
L at Penn
W at St. Joes (Palestra)
W vs La Salle (Palestra)
W JMU
W ODU
L at FDU
W Ball St
W at Monmouth
W at W&M
W at VCU
W UNCW
L at NU
W GSU
W UD
W Towson
L at ODU
L HU
L at UNCW
W at Towson
W NU
L at UD
L at GMU
W BB
W W&M
L at HU
18-10, 11-7 CAA


I do, though, think that ODU may sweep you and that VCU will win that game in Richmond this year. But, it was tough picking games for ODU-VCU to lose (preseason..guys...). I went with history (past last year, ODU fans! Dahi's buzzer beater).

[blackout]

I listened to most of it. As someone who has done broadcast work, some constructive criticism (related to NU, and the itnerview of Everheart):

1) Don't act so shocked Barea was a 1st teamer. I dont care it's the first year for NU in the CAA, as mentioned here somewhere, if he's a top-10 PG, how could you leave him off? If you disagree with it, then pose it as an opinion. Not a huge deal, but I was laughign when the kids were acting shocked.

2) In the interview with Everheart, he was asked about: recruiting differences moving to the CAA, Jose, and Shawn James. Not BAD questions, but anyone who has read any previews know this much about the team, and would also have heard the quotes from Ron before. I was a bit dissapointed that I tuned in, and heard alot of things I already knew. I was hoping they'd ask about thenew freshman, what Benson's role will be, who is going to start at 2 with Barnes gone? How about the move to Matthews?

I know I know more since I'm an NU fan, and the questions asked may have been insightful for the average fans from other schools, but the way I look at it, if people from other schools took the time to listen, they're an above-average fan who is fairly knowlegable about the CAA and is looking for more...

Again, not trying to be a jerk, just trying to be constructive :)

[apiri]

Oneway, I think Drexel has the potential to finish 11-7 vs. that schedule in conference.......



DREXEL
L at Princeton (NIT)
W vs Shouston/Mizzou


I do, though, think that ODU may sweep you and that VCU will win that game in Richmond this year. But, it was tough picking games for ODU-VCU to lose (preseason..guys...). I went with history (past last year, ODU fans! Dahi's buzzer beater).

Pardon my ignorance, but is there a consolation game for losers of the first round in the P-NIT?

And with Steven Smith staying for his senior year in lieu of the hitting up the NBA, I question our chances against the Explorers at this point in time.

Regardless, I would agree that we will do better than expected in the standings due to our rivalry scheduling. Whether or not that indicates our team is better than expected remains to be seen. I'm hopeful, like in times passed, that will be the scenario.

[geewiz]

blackout,

I listened to the same Hofstra broadcast this morning too. And although I agree that I was hoping to hear more about our team and specifically the freshman etc., it IS a Hofstra sportscast and more importantly, they had to cram in not just all of the CAA men's coaches, but the CAA women's coaches as well.

They obviously had time limitations which is why we didn't get more in-depth questions.

It was about what I expected. I listened to the A-10 football coaches media day broadcast by Hofstra earlier this year as well and those guys do a good job.

[Rob]

I listened to most of it. As someone who has done broadcast work, some constructive criticism (related to NU, and the itnerview of Everheart):

1) Don't act so shocked Barea was a 1st teamer. I dont care it's the first year for NU in the CAA, as mentioned here somewhere, if he's a top-10 PG, how could you leave him off? If you disagree with it, then pose it as an opinion. Not a huge deal, but I was laughign when the kids were acting shocked.

2) In the interview with Everheart, he was asked about: recruiting differences moving to the CAA, Jose, and Shawn James. Not BAD questions, but anyone who has read any previews know this much about the team, and would also have heard the quotes from Ron before. I was a bit dissapointed that I tuned in, and heard alot of things I already knew. I was hoping they'd ask about thenew freshman, what Benson's role will be, who is going to start at 2 with Barnes gone? How about the move to Matthews?

I know I know more since I'm an NU fan, and the questions asked may have been insightful for the average fans from other schools, but the way I look at it, if people from other schools took the time to listen, they're an above-average fan who is fairly knowlegable about the CAA and is looking for more...

Again, not trying to be a jerk, just trying to be constructive :)

They probably had to do some research on 24 teams and the conferences overall. They did a great job with the huge task put in front of them.

[Woody Paige]

That's why ya should have listened to the Georgia State broadcast. Quality over quantity. :wink:

[Rob]

LOL, glad to see that the radio broadcasts is about to turn into the latest pissing match. LOL

[Mr. Jablomi]

Nice to see those in the know recognize ODU's dominance, in both men's and women's hoops.

UNANIMOUS.

[PrideSuperfan]

I did notice GSU didn't make it over to the Hofstra broadcast...were they contractually obligated not to talk :wink:

[NU Hoop Fan]

Husky Hoops 05-06... "The Joy of Six"

;)

Pre-Season Polls are like arseholes, everyone has one, and they all stink!!!

[Big Green]

Those "in the know" are quite often completely wrong.

All in takes are a couple of blown knees, torn hamstrings or other major injuries and "those in the know" know nothing.

According to ODU fans we shouldn't even play the season.

[bigrips77]

According to ODU fans we shouldn't even play the season.

sounds good to me - give ODU the bid right now, and we'll patiently await to see who we'll face in the NCAA first round :D .

[EverydayinVA]

2 thru 6 interchangeable? :lol: Pecora just said that 1 thru 4 are interchangeable. :wink:

The Coaches most have no idea what they are talking about :wink:, Keener said pretty much the samething.

If ONE through four were interchangeable, I dont think ODU would have been unanimous. I'm with RR the top 6-7 in the CAA this year are as good as I can remember. There's always been 2 maybe 3 teams that would be in the hunt, but honestly come March any of those 6 or 7 could go on a streak and take the tourney.

[EverydayinVA]

According to ODU fans we shouldn't even play the season.

I'm gettin a little tired of this bull$hit, any team in the league would be as optimistic as we are, everyone is making their predictions just because ours are pretty high, though I will say some are a little TOO high, But I dont jump on you guys anymore when you talk about the "history" of GMUs program. The GMU fans remind me of Redskins fans, I guess that makes sense because of location. "remember when we won that title", "how about that ONE win over the Cowboys!" :wink:


Oh, and congrats to the WHITESOX! World Champs!

[Mr. Jablomi]

I find it hilarious that Big Green, the King of Hyperbole, the guy who goes on about every cement-footed W&M recruit as if he is the next Larry Bird, takes offense to the optimism, and confidence, of the ODU fans.

How's that EOA working out for ya'? :lol:

[mglau]

Look, the real issue is very clear and some of you are going to have to get comfortable with it:

The CAA preseason picks, while interesting, are not what we need to be concerned about. Until we--the CAA "we"--win some games OOC, it's not going to matter that VCU was second or Northeastern is sixth, or ODU was unanimous. If we don't win important OOC games, we're just another vanilla mid major that beats the crap out of each other and then plays a major conference team well but loses in the NCAA.

As much as it pains me, I'll be rooting for ODU in St. Thomas, against Va Tech, and against DePaul. I'll root for Ga State against Kentucky. I want Hofstra to head out to South Bend and beat ND. I'll do that because in the grand scheme of things, it's good for my team, VCU, to have those teams win those games. It's not unreasonable to believe VCU can win the CAA. It's also not unreasonable to think that when VCU wins the CAA, ODU can get an at large. But ODU needs to be 9-1 OOC, not 6-4.

So go on and argue whether or not ODU is going to go 15-3, 16-2, or 17-1 in the conference. GMU guys can whine about history and all freshmen teams and lack of respect. Debate third, fourth, fifth place. I will closely watch and cheer during the OOC season, and then have a ton of fun during the conference season watching us all beat the crap out of each other.

Think I'm full of crap? Then you also think Blaine Taylor, Jim Larranaga, Pat Kennedy, and Tom Pecora are also full of it. All of those coaches talked yesterday about the importance of winning OOC games this year.

(Tom Yeager also said this, but I didn't want to open up that can of worms... :wink: )

[T-McGriddle]

Those "in the know" are quite often completely wrong.

All in takes are a couple of blown knees, torn hamstrings or other major injuries and "those in the know" know nothing.

According to ODU fans we shouldn't even play the season.

I agree, W&M shouldn't even play the season. They have no hope of finishing even in the top 2/3 of the league. Concentrate on women's soccer and the debate team.

[Ovis Fan]

mglau, thanks for putting things in focus. Let's all go out and win the big OOC games and then start throwing darts after the regular season starts.

[EverydayinVA]

I'm with you Mglau, picks dont mean anything, the CAA HAS TO WIN OOC, like you say right now its just a nice mid major thats one and done recently come tourney time. ODU did their part last year OOC early, at this point in the year I cant remember what the other teams did but it wasnt overwhelming. VCU should do better OOC this year, being a usual slow starter and strong finisher. We have to get out there and BEAT EVERYONE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO, and a few we werent supposed to. MAKE NOISE EARLY!

[WM Beancounter]

I agree, W&M shouldn't even play the season. They have no hope of finishing even in the top 2/3 of the league. Concentrate on women's soccer and the debate team.

...or academics. Or football. Or most any other sport. (http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/nacda/sports/directorscup/auto_pdf/0405D1FinalStand.pdf)

Funny that a "debate team" jab would come from a poster with an avatar like that! :lol:

[T-McGriddle]

Can you letter in academics? Let's be honest, W&M is a one trick pony (football) and that's just in the last few years. Their sports dept. has been hurting ever since their Men's Soccer team fell out of national prominence.

Edit: After following your link, I seem to have left out your dominance in women's tennis and men's tennis. You should be very proud of those two high profile sports. You would think your golf team would fair pretty well with the abundance of country clubs in Williamsburg.

[masonfan]

A comment about high profile sports from a ODU fan? Aren't you all really a one trick poney with basketball, and that's just last year. Sorry but women's sports and sailing aren't "high profile"

[Mr. Jablomi]

Masonfan is starting another pissing contest, so please ban him. Oh, BTW, ODU's men's soccer is top 10 in the nation. Field hockey also top 10. Mens' and women's hoops will be ranked this year.
Next?

[gmutom]

Masonfan is starting another pissing contest, so please ban him. Oh, BTW, ODU's men's soccer is top 10 in the nation. Field hockey also top 10. Mens' and women's hoops will be ranked this year.
Next?

And their former women's coach is dating Cheryl Swoopes, so there! :P

[masonfan]

How was I starting a pissing contest? I just applied what an ODU poster said about William and Mary, to his own program.

Hey, Tom, if you can't join them, lick them. :wink:

Anyway, Mr Jablomi are you coming to Mason for the game this year?

[bigblue1975]

Masonfan is starting another pissing contest, so please ban him. Oh, BTW, ODU's men's soccer is top 10 in the nation. Field hockey also top 10. Mens' and women's hoops will be ranked this year.
Next?

And their former women's coach is dating Cheryl Swoopes, so there! :P

Come on Tom, you no better than to say that, but not that there's anything wrong with that. :lol:

[T-McGriddle]

Masonfan, aside from a nationally feared and recognized men's and women's b-ball teams, #3 ranked men's soccer team, #8 ranked field hockey team, top 5 sailing team, and a wrestling team that's on the cusp of breaking into the top 25 ODU has no sports with any success.

[masonfan]

TM I am aware of all that. But you referred to William & Mary and said high profile. Again, what is considered high profile? I don't think anyone considers women's sports, sailing, soccer field hockey high profile. and your basketball team, has had one good year and is just getting some press. Nevermind, I am not getting into a pissing match. I mean outside of football and basketball what is "high-profile" in college?

[WM Beancounter]

Let's be honest, W&M is a one trick pony (football) and that's just in the last few years. Their sports dept. has been hurting ever since their Men's Soccer team fell out of national prominence.

Okay, lets be honest. If someone from a school that doesn't even PLAY football can call 25 years of one of the highest winning percentages in college football as only good "just in the last few years", what's the point of arguing? If someone from a school that didn't even score a single point in the Spring Sears Cup standings can call the annual conference Sears Cup leader a "one trick pony", is there any point to a response? If someone who mocks the success of a school's tennis teams then turns around and actually seriously brags about their school's top-5 sailing team (are there 6 sailing teams in the nation?!?), either someone is clearly lacking some relevant facts in a discussion, or someone is lacking some brainpower. I'll let others decide which it is.

And no, T-McGriddle, you can't letter in academics. But thank you for showing us why there's no substitute for a decent education.

[masonfan]

^ :shock: :lol:

[OJoo]

mcgriddle has violated the no speaking policy...

[T-McGriddle]

Let's put this whole football thing into perspective, Beancounter. Nobody in VA that isn't a W&M alum or student even knew that their football program was competitive until last season when they made it to the national semi-finals. Why, you might ask? Because nobody without any DI-AA affiliation even follows DI-AA football. By finishing in the top four in the DI-AA rankings last season, W&M made it on TV slightly less than ODU's women's basketball team. Now that's an accomplishment. For such a high profile sport, it sure seems to get overshadowed quite a bit by a women's sport. Everybody in Hampton Roads, and most everybody in VA, and quite a few people around the country know that ODU's women's b-ball team is very good. Out of that same sample group, a fraction could tell you anything about W&M's football program.

In illustrating my point about the difference between ODU's sports program and W&M's I used the sailing team (hardly a high profile sport) as an example only because ODU has many (I repeat, MANY) more nationally ranked programs, and many more nationally respected programs (men's and women's b-ball). Using tennis to boost your rankings is no less embarrassing than using sailing. But if you throw out the embarrassing sports, ODU is left with men's basketball, women's basketball, men's soccer, and field hockey (all of which compete with all D-I teams), while W&M is left with a successful DI-AA football team that only competes with the weakest D-I schools in the nation.

I'm sure even with your vastly superior education you can follow this logic rather easily.

[OJoo]

unless it's speed walking or competitive underwater basketweaving, there is no such thing as an embarrassing sport

[Monarch Nation]

I've noticed that whenever a W&M debate gets going, the W&M side will nearly always:

1. Bring that obscure cup they have into the argument.
2. Insult the other party's intellegence and education.
3. Make a grammatical error in their debate.
:lol: :lol:

[OJoo]

but mn, we're a 4th tier school, what would we know?

[Halftime Hero]

Fellas fellas fellas... lets set the record straight here. The only sports you are allowed to argue about or bring into any conversation seriously are the following:

Football
Men's basketball
Baseball

maybe men's soccer
maybe men's LAX
maybe wrestling

As Kornheiser would say, "That's it, that's the list."

Under no circumstance should any man brag about any women's athetlic accomplishments his school has (in the case of ODU I realize the women's hoops team is only "women" by title as there are no actual women on the team, but i digress), nor should he brag about sailing, tennis, golf, fencing (or jousting), volleyball, field hockey, swimming, diving, equestrian, monkey in the middle, freestyle walking, ultimate frisbee, concrete canoe racing, darts, bowling, hackey-sack, jump rope, chess, "Its Academic" shows, etc, etc...

So stop arguing the insignificant sports. Here's your argument, W&M's football team is a very good IAA team - ODU has no football team. ODU has a very good hoops team - W&M doesn't have a hoops team. I'd say you're even. How are your baseball teams? :D

Side note: "Its Academic" is the WORST show i've ever seen, and yet it strangely draws me in when I stumble across it waiting for the NFL pregame shows, its like a car wreck.

[OJoo]

that's the sport i forgot....ultimate, it's the cornerstone of the hippie olympics

[gmutom]

Under no circumstance should any man brag about any women's athetlic accomplishments his school has (in the case of ODU I realize the women's hoops team is only "women" by title as there are no actual women on the team, but i digress)...

Well that sure as hell explains why we always lose to them! :shock: :lol:

[OJoo]

no, the mason ladies' inability to shoot is why

[masonfan]

Does this mean that Swoopes isn't gay?

[OJoo]

if she plays for mason perhaps

[T-McGriddle]

$50 bet: ODU beats W&M within five years of having a football team.

[OJoo]

$100 bet, odu football ends a season with a winning record by 2014

[masonfan]

Does ODU have football yet? I thought I read an article saying they still have LOTS of work to do. But then again I could be making that up.

[VRam2]

Lax? Wrestling? What is that an attempt at humor? Unless, of course, you mean pro wrastlin. Can anyone name any pro lax player? There's no such thing as real pro wrestling, is there?

[T-McGriddle]

Lax? Wrestling? What is that an attempt at humor? Unless, of course, you mean pro wrastlin. Can anyone name any pro lax player? There's no such thing as real pro wrestling, is there?


...Actually (http://www.realprowrestling.com/)

[VRam2]

:shock: :shock: For your sake, I hope you didn't already know about that and you just found it on a google search. :shock: :shock:

[T-McGriddle]

I wrestled in high school.

The first season was shown on PAX almost every Sunday last year.

[DrexelTim]

PAX Network.............so there were all of 3 people watching that at any given time?

[OJoo]

or all the fans of touched by nell carter

[VRam2]

Yikes. Talk about ****** chills.

[118cc5]

Rankings schmankings. The only thing that matters are the results on the floor. Central Michigan was predicted to win the MAC in 2003 with everybody coming back and went like 5-23. The next year with low expectations they won like 25 games. Nothing is for sure until you start playing games and the officials keep score.

[VRam2]

Very true 118. Remember Georgia Tech a couple years ago. Final Four, everybody back and poof, nothing.

[T-McGriddle]

Very true 118. Remember Georgia Tech a couple years ago. Final Four, everybody back and poof, nothing.

Except that "poof" had a lot more to do with 3-4 or GT's starting line-up being out for a good portion of the season, and they definitely didn't have the depth that ODU has this season.

If ODU were to have injuries at any position, we have quality back-ups that will come in and replace those minutes without any noticable drop-off. The two exceptions are AL and Hunter. If either or them went down with an injury we would simply have to shuffle the line-up to cover their spot.

If AL went down, Harris would start up top, along with Dahi and VV. Or we play a more athletic front court and start Dahi, VV, Adams.

If Isaiah went down, we would start BJ and Williamson beside each other and hope Lidonde, Henderson, or Morris could find their stroke enough so that we would have an outside shooting threat.

[VRam2]

The Georgia Tech team that went to the final four didn't have the depth that ODU has. Now I've friggin' heard everything. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[T-McGriddle]

Uh, they didn't. GT in their final four season was nowhere near as deep as ODU is now. They had more superstars, but they only had one guard that could come off the bench and play as effective as the starters (Bynum), and all of their other bench players were a significant drop off. ODU this year has VV and BJ who are just as good as the starters, plus Harris, Henderson, Adonde, and Morris who will all play solid minutes as role players.

[OJoo]

i want some of what you're smoking

[fmrick]

i want some of what you're smoking

Really! These guys need to get out more and realize the world does not revolve around ODU. "AL" is the preseason Conference Player of the Year and they can just put another player in his place and not lose anything? Get real. If he went down ODU would drop from 1st preseason to 5th real quick. Any team that lost a player of that quality would. If we lost George for some reason we would have trouble.

The funny thing is that for the last year we have been told that "AL" is the best player ever, best player the CAA has ever seen, the best player college basketball has seen, and will be the undisputed #1 draft pick for the NBA. Now we hear they could lose him and nothing would change. :roll:

I can't wait for the season to start.

[ODUDAD2K8]

If he went down ODU would drop from 1st preseason to 5th real quick. Any team that lost a player of that quality would.

But Alex is soft, remember?!

:roll:

[bigblue1975]

The funny thing is that for the last year we have been told that "AL" is the best player ever, best player the CAA has ever seen, the best player college basketball has seen, and will be the undisputed #1 draft pick for the NBA.


Not that you have ever been credible but find me one post from this board where an ODU poster claims Alex is the best
college basketball player ever and the undisputed # 1 draft pick in the NBA? What's up with you ? I can understand the
jealously of ODU but why do you make posts that are lies? :shock: Does it just make you feel better or what? :roll:

[VRam2]

Come on Rick, they'll just stick Sam in there, move Janko up and everything will be fine. I read the other day that Sam's gonna play 20 minutes a game anyway and grab nine boards a game. :shock:

[T-McGriddle]

Come on Rick, they'll just stick Sam in there, move Janko up and everything will be fine. I read the other day that Sam's gonna play 20 minutes a game anyway and grab nine boards a game. :shock:

VRam, do you have a reading comprehension problem? Or do you just like to stir up trouble by twisting and contorting quotes until they fit your agenda?

[bigblue1975]

Come on Rick, they'll just stick Sam in there, move Janko up and everything will be fine. I read the other day that Sam's gonna play 20 minutes a game anyway and grab nine boards a game. :shock:

Come on V2 let's get some new material. :lol: BTW why don't you find a post about Loughton to back up your buddy
Fmrick? :shock:

Please keep making your "goin pro " post about Alex (about 1000 times now :roll: ). Like I said you are bright enough to come up with some new material. :roll:

When Loughton is playing in the NBA next year you can just call Loughton "PRO".

[T-McGriddle]

i want some of what you're smoking

Really! These guys need to get out more and realize the world does not revolve around ODU. "AL" is the preseason Conference Player of the Year and they can just put another player in his place and not lose anything? Get real. If he went down ODU would drop from 1st preseason to 5th real quick. Any team that lost a player of that quality would. If we lost George for some reason we would have trouble.

The funny thing is that for the last year we have been told that "AL" is the best player ever, best player the CAA has ever seen, the best player college basketball has seen, and will be the undisputed #1 draft pick for the NBA. Now we hear they could lose him and nothing would change. :roll:

I can't wait for the season to start.


The difference between you losing George and us losing AL is that we would have a 7-4 guy to shut down any opposing center (ask Sean Brooks), and a guy that averages 16+ppg when he starts (VV) coming off the bench. I'm not saying we would be as good with out AL, but we'd still be good enough to win the CAA.

[VRam2]

Don't be so dopey. Sam will never average 9 rebounds a game. In addition, if he averages 20 minutes a game you guys won't finish in the top 5.

[T-McGriddle]

Don't be so dopey. Sam will never average 9 rebounds a game. In addition, if he averages 20 minutes a game you guys won't finish in the top 5.

OK, 6-8 Harding Nana can average 10 rebounds a game, but 7-4 Sam Harris could never average slightly less. Wow.

Ask UNCW how we'd do if we gave Sam some more minutes. He had 10pts, 2reb, and 1ast in only 6 minutes against them. Had he kept up half that pace for an additional 18 minutes, he would have finished with 25pts, 5reb, and 2ast. Not such a bad night a for tall, goofy bastard, huh?

[VRam2]

Yeah, Sam will only have to average 8 more rebounds a game this year to get to your projection. :lol: :lol: Stop it, your killing us with this stuff. :lol: :lol:

[T-McGriddle]

As a true freshman and playing a mere 6mpg, his stats weren't anything to write home about. However, Cal Bowdler (a first round draft pick) started his freshman season averaging 8.9mpg, 2.1ppg, 1.7reb. By his senior season, Cal was averaging 30mpg, 14.7ppg, 10.0reb (oh my!). Cal was five full inches shorter (at least) than Sam, didn't have the range Sam has, and was about as agile. I don't think it's absurd at all to think that in a year or two Sam could produce as much as Cal did. Sam didn't have the luxury of growing up in the U.S. and being surrounded by U.S. style ball. Sam has to adjust to the speed and style of ball we play over here. Once he does, I expect big things out of him.

[TriRam]

Part of the reason that ODU is one of the better teams in the league is their depth. Howevert your theory of plug and play with a new guy, either BJ or Val, is not realistic. Those guys were as good as they were because they didn't have to grind out 30+ min. a game. This kept your team healthier and fresher than others in the CAA. I think this is a big reason why you had such success in the tournament. If you lose a couple of pieces to the puzzle you lose that edge.

Alex is not a tough player, hence the term soft. That does not mean he is not good. He is more of a finesse player. He got a little tougher last year, and I expect him to get tougher this year. Karl Malone was big and menacing, but his game (it got dirtier as he got older) is soft. Does that make Karl Malone a bad player?

[fmrick]

The funny thing is that for the last year we have been told that "AL" is the best player ever, best player the CAA has ever seen, the best player college basketball has seen, and will be the undisputed #1 draft pick for the NBA.


Not that you have ever been credible but find me one post from this board where an ODU poster claims Alex is the best
college basketball player ever and the undisputed # 1 draft pick in the NBA? What's up with you ? I can understand the
jealously of ODU but why do you make posts that are lies? :shock: Does it just make you feel better or what? :roll:

I guess you don't understand the tounge-in-cheek stuff. It is called humor. It is a device used to make fun of people. You must be lots of fun at a party.

[bigblue1975]

Actually I am and I think is hilarious you try to turn a post around when someone calls you on it. Please. :lol:

[VCURamsFan]

Actually I am and I think is hilarious you try to turn a post around when someone calls you on it. Please. :lol:

Dingle dongles, Rick was being sarcastic, loosen up!

[VRam2]

Yeah, come on Blue, I thought you didn't want us pointing out the obvious. :lol:

[bigblue1975]

Rick is just a jealous hater, let him have his fun. He's steaming inside that his Rams suck.

Actually, Heywood's quote is the best answer. :lol:

[fmrick]

Rick is just a jealous hater, let him have his fun. He's steaming inside that his Rams suck.

Actually, Heywood's quote is the best answer. :lol:

There is nothing about being jealous that I hate! :lol:

[TJ Reaper]

How can we be jealous of a team that's only won the same amount of championships as we have in the last 5 years?? Look, dude, compare ODU to any other program you want, but let's not do the ODU vs. VCU thing again.......let's keep the peace.

And T-McGriddles, I am convinced that you know very little about how to judge a players ability. Rebounding is something that big Sam has not proven to me that he has the ability to do. I see him as more of a scorer and shot blocker type with Val/Dahi/Adams cleaning up the boards. Like some have said, he is LEARNING how to be in the right place to rebound the basketball; keyword is learning. To say that he could be a 9 rebound a game player is crazy.....Do you know how tough it is to average 9 rebounds/game????

And as for Nick George leaving after this year, I don't even want to talk about it! But, hey, we have lost some really good players (a good # are playing overseas), including an HM All-American, and Capel found a way to be competitive the next season. We will be losing Roland, George, Harper, Capel (walk-on guard) after this season, but we will be bringing back Pellot-Rosa, Walker, Davis, Maynor (proj. starter @ PG this season as a FR), Dixon/Anderson/Shuler (have something to prove this year), and also introducing the monster that is Wil Fameni to the CAA. He's a beast. Plus, highly regarded freshman Franck Ndongo, a 6-7, 205 kid that could develop into a Nick George type eventually and also 6-6 James Eversley, a prep, that plays on the wing in addition to playing the point (he will play point at Hargrave this season).

The future looks bright for the Rams. Even entering 2006-07, we will still return 4 starters..........


(Just had to put that in there :))

[VRam2]

Yeah, big Sam's gonna play 20 minutes a game and average 8 points and 9 rebounds a game this year. Based on last year's conference leaders, that would make him the second best rebounder in the league. All that in just 20 minutes a game. Under past logic, they should play him 40 minutes a game and he'd average 18 rebounds a game - half of the entire per game average for the Monarchs. :lol: Quite an increase from last year's average of 1.6 rpg and his career high of 6 (which, by the way, came against an NAIA team). :lol: :shock: Oh, and he's gonna lead the league in blocked shots.

[OJoo]

sam's projected stats from my fellow odu posters are a bit optimistic. i'd be pleased with a 3-4 rpg at best. sam is a continuous work in progress, much like janko. as long as neither turn into another joe principe i'll be happy.

[MarshaLee]

From everything I have seen Sam and Yanko are very, very different players. Sam has shown flashes of an ability to be a consistent scoring threat. I think as Alex graduates and Sam's minutes go way up, his numbers will do also. Yanko will never be more than a defensive/rebounding-minded player used only to give the starters some relief. He is a good motivational player who can also serve as the enforcer. I fully expect Sam to be the starting center next year and have two good years of production. He will be a handful for any CAA team to stop.

[OJoo]

i agree that sam has shown flashes that janko didn't when he was on the court a couple years back, but i just can't see either of them being the type of threat that alex is. i really wish they would prove me wrong.

[T-McGriddle]

And T-McGriddles, I am convinced that you know very little about how to judge a players ability. Rebounding is something that big Sam has not proven to me that he has the ability to do. I see him as more of a scorer and shot blocker type with Val/Dahi/Adams cleaning up the boards. Like some have said, he is LEARNING how to be in the right place to rebound the basketball; keyword is learning. To say that he could be a 9 rebound a game player is crazy.....Do you know how tough it is to average 9 rebounds/game????

Do I know how hard it is to average 9 rebounds a game? Yes. That's why only one player in the CAA did it last season. Also, I know how hard it is to grow to 7-3. How many college players have achieved that feat? Uh...none other than Sam Harris! At 7-3 the typical standards for judging talent become irrelevent. For a 6-6 player to make a leap from averaging 1rpg to 9rpg in two to three seasons is almost impossible. However, for a 7-3 guy, its almost expected. Sam's biggest challenge in dominating the boards is not getting position on a 6-9 "center," he simply needs to position himself near the basket. He's got a two foot reach on the average forward in the CAA, even with his four inch vertical he's going to outrebound anybody in the CAA if he maintains decent position. Mark my words, when Alex graduates, Sam will be a force in the CAA for the following two years. He's already shown sparks of being a scoring threat after his true Freshman season. As a Junior and Senior, he'll put up solid numbers.

[OJoo]

i'm pretty certain that the ability to grow to 7'3" is not resume material. what's the argument? superior genetics?

[T-McGriddle]

i'm pretty certain that the ability to grow to 7'3" is not resume material. what's the argument? superior genetics?

When discussing rebounding, height is certainly a major factor. The fact that Sam is five inches taller than just about every center in the league gives him a distinct advantage when rebounding. Why do you think all of the leading rebounders in the league are 6'6"-6'-11"? Not too many 6'3" guards on that list.

[Mr. Jablomi]

Do I think Sam can play in the CAA, and make an impact? Yes, especially given the lack of quality big men in the league.
He'll rebound, block shots, and score around the net.
That said, he won't be Alex.

[gmutom]

Why do you think all of the leading rebounders in the league are 6'6"-6'-11"?

Of course height always helps when it comes to rebounding, but it's also vastly overrated. The key to being a good rebounder is solid positioning (see Charles Barkley), and Sam has a very long way to go when it comes to that. He might be able to reach over players from time to time, but he won't be the low-post player you project him to be until he can learn to use that massive body to his advantage. At this point, I'd be more concerned with his fouls than rebounding potential.

Some of you older posters might remember GMU forward Kenny Sanders, who was only 6-5. He averaged 11 boards a game and set a then-conference record with 22 in a game in 1989. Kenny had a knack for getting inside his opponent and cleaning the glass, despite giving up up to five inches in height to opposing players. On the flip side, we had 6-11 Henri Abrahms, who couldn't get a rebound if his life depended upon it.

[JonP]

T-McGriddle, you obviously never saw Derrick Goode in person. He makes your argument totally irrelevant.

Go look up the all-time NCAA leading rebounders and then look up their heights. You might learn something.

[T-McGriddle]

Guys, obviously I'm not saying that just because Sam is tall he's a good rebounder. I realize that there's more to rebounding than just being tall. He was a GD freshman last season! I'm saying within the next three years, he'll LEARN to be in better position to rebound more. It's a lot easier to teach someone to be in good position than it is to teach someone to be 7'3". After watching the Blue-White game, there's no doubt that Blaine has taught Sam to stay in better position. Last season he was wandering out to the three point line, at the B-W he stayed within 10-15 feet of the bucket. If he can learn to stay 5-10 feet away when the shots are going up, he'll start to dominate the boards.

[masonfan]

You might learn something.

I wouldn't count on it.

[OJoo]

i think it was stated above somewhere, but height is part of what makes a good rebounding player. 7'3" doesn't do any good if you're not under the basket. positioning and speed are equally important, if not more so. i'm not saying sam doesn't have the potential to do those things, but so far both he and janko seem to be caught out of position too frequently.

[gmutom]

Last season he was wandering out to the three point line, at the B-W he stayed within 10-15 feet of the bucket. If he can learn to stay 5-10 feet away when the shots are going up, he'll start to dominate the boards.

I think a lot of his postioning problems also have to do with stamina. Sam is big, but he's hardly the most agile and well-conditioned player on the court. When you see big men hainging out so far away from the basket, it oftentimes has to do with them not being able to run the whole length of the court. They try to hide on the perimeter to catch their breath.

With the CAA being a running conference, I think Sam will more often than not be a detriment to the uptempo game at which your guards excel. Alex isn't the fastest player in the league, but he is able to run the court when you get your fastbreak going. With Sam, you almost have no choice other than to slow the tempo down and allow him to set up in your half-court offense. Once there, I think he can make a difference if he does learn to stay near the basket like Taylor wants. At this point, that is a very big "if."

[monarchmac23507]

Alex isn't the fastest in the league, but I bet he is up there in the 6'9" class.

[T-McGriddle]

There aren't many players in the country that can beat his two-mile time either.

[VRam2]

There have been plenty of 7 foot stiffs in college basketball. Plenty. I'm not saying Sam will be one of 'em, but so far he hasn't shown anything at all that would make him dominant in the CAA. Nothing. Mabye he'll be something in between, but there's a big difference between making an impact and being dominant.

[T-McGriddle]

There have been plenty of 7 foot stiffs in college basketball. Plenty. I'm not saying Sam will be one of 'em, but so far he hasn't shown anything at all that would make him dominant in the CAA. Nothing. Mabye he'll be something in between, but there's a big difference between making an impact and being dominant.

I don't think Sam is capable of dominating the CAA like Alex does. He will probably always be a difference maker and potentially a go-to guy against some teams with 6-6 centers. A solid year for Sam would be averaging 10pts, 8reb, 3blk per game by his senior season.

[monarchmac23507]

There have been plenty of 7 foot stiffs in college basketball. Plenty. I'm not saying Sam will be one of 'em, but so far he hasn't shown anything at all that would make him dominant in the CAA. Nothing. Mabye he'll be something in between, but there's a big difference between making an impact and being dominant.

I don't think Sam is capable of dominating the CAA like Alex does. He will probably always be a difference maker and potentially a go-to guy against some teams with 6-6 centers. A solid year for Sam would be averaging 10pts, 8reb, 3blk per game by his senior season.

If I am BT, I have Sam taking karate to work on his speed, balance, and agility.

[Mac]

Regarding Sam Harris. Sam may not dominate but for his limited time playing last year he had a few highlights for sure. 7 blocked shots in one game. 4 for 4 from the floor and 2 for 2 from the foul line against UNCW. A total shut down against Sean Brooks of Drexel in the second half of that game at the Ted last year when no one else could handle that cat. He also had another game where he had 14 points .Not bad for a guy who played very little. Coach Taylor really likes this guy and works him hard. He will get much better. He ain't no Lew Alcindor but he is not a stiff either. I know he's working hard on developing that hook shot ...... hey, maybe he will be the next Lew Alcindor...... ok, I know !

[monarchmac23507]

Regarding Sam Harris. Sam may not dominate but for his limited time playing last year he had a few highlights for sure. 7 blocked shots in one game. 4 for 4 from the floor and 2 for 2 from the foul line against UNCW. A total shut down against Sean Brooks of Drexel in the second half of that game at the Ted last year when no one else could handle that cat. He also had another game where he had 14 points .Not bad for a guy who played very little. Coach Taylor really likes this guy and works him hard. He will get much better. He ain't no Lew Alcindor but he is not a stiff either. I know he's working hard on developing that hook shot ...... hey, maybe he will be the next Lew Alcindor...... ok, I know !

I'll take the next Shaun Bradley. Another 7-6 goofy white guy that excelled at the college level.

[Ovis Fan]

As I said a couple times last year, Sam is a project. My guess is that this will be another learning year and everyone will see some improvement in Sam. Next year and especially his senior year he will be a signicant force for opposing teams. However, much of this depends on improved conditioning and foot work. Remember LF at VCU? He improved every year and was a major defensive force his senior year. Never much on offense and alway an adventure at the free throw line. IMO he could have benefited from a good big man coach. Same for Sam, he needs to be coached by someone that knows how to develop big guys.