ODU #1...

[Mr. Jablomi]

In Foxsports.com's mid major top 10 poll. Read it and weep, ladies:

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/5046174

Let's continue to hear how we're really not THAT good, how the gap is not THAT big, and how we'll get smoked by every major conference team we play, and how we're not deserving of a national ranking. :roll:

But hey, what does Foxsports, Blue Ribbon, Lindy's, College hoops insider, etc know, right? :lol:

This is the best CAA team in at least 15 years, and probably since the David Robinson Navy teams.

[RAMKING]

First off, congrats.

Secondly, this is just a duplicate of the College Insider poll since Fox Sports decided to call Gonzaga a "Major."

[dukaholic]

Congratulations. Preseason honors are nice and all, but all that matters is what you prove on the court this year. You are what your record is, and you're 0-0 with a lot of reason for hope right now. That's it.

[Mr. Jablomi]

Actually, we're more than that. All of this pub, so early on, really does help in making a case for an at large bid, if needed. Going into the year, all the writers/broadcaster, etc are aware of ODU, so at year's end, if we're sitting there at say 25-7, I think we have a good shot at getting in.
That, and it'll be nice to have our highlights on ESPN as a ranked team. This also helps with recruiting.

[VRam2]

Yeah, it helps for the at-large. That's good because I'm pretty sure you're gonna need it. :lol: :wink:

[dukaholic]

And if your team winds up at 20-11, it all won't matter.

[KevinMac]

Secondly, this is just a duplicate of the College Insider poll since Fox Sports decided to call Gonzaga a "Major."

This is not a duplicate of anything. In fact, it isn't even a poll. It's one man's thoughts on the coming season.

[ODUblue]

A nice honor indeed....but at 0-0 I think we'll wait a lil while before we start planning the celebration party. I'm sure the players and coaches haven't returned the rsvp's for the dance yet either. So let it begin!! And to all the CAA teams- Good Luck on a successful season and let's show some of those"majors" what the CAA is all about!!!

[Rob]

Going into the year, all the writers/broadcaster, etc are aware of ODU, so at year's end, if we're sitting there at say 25-7, I think we have a good shot at getting in.


Wow, I wasn't aware that the selection committee included broadcasters and writers now.

[P8triotfan4life]

when can I hop on the ODU bandwagon Mr. Jablomi? :lol:

[gmutom]

In Foxsports.com's mid major top 10 poll. Read it and weep, ladies

Wow, that's great. Hey, how are your soccer and field hockey teams doing? :wink:

[dukaholic]

The women's soccer team was just knocked out of the CAA tournament by JMU last night, in a crushing 5-0 defeat ;)

[s_curl]

Wow, that's great. Hey, how are your soccer and field hockey teams doing? :wink:

Tom, FYI....the answer lies somewhere in these 127 posts.

http://www.caazone.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=34017

Enjoy :P

[gmutom]

The women's soccer team was just knocked out of the CAA tournament by JMU last night, in a crushing 5-0 defeat ;)

Uh-oh, do we need to put Jablomi on a suicide watch? I know he's such a big fan. :shock:

[KevinMac]

What is really funny is that some of the same people who jump in with the "it doesn't mean anything" junk in every thread they can, are the very same people who couldn't wait to champion the preseason I-AA football poll when it came out. Funny how that is.

EVERYONE here should be thrilled that someone in the conference is getting attention instead of poo-pooing it at every opportunity. This helps all of you. It affords the CAA some extra exposure, putting talk of the conference at the top of all these lists. It makes victories by your favorite team look all the more impressive, regardless of how good ODU really is in the long run. The list goes on and on.

I'm not saying ODU is on Gonzaga's level of course, but take a look at what happened in the WCC since Gonzaga has become a big power. The conference has gone from also ran that occasionally had a good team sprout up for a season or two, to now being the top mid-major conference in the country (finishing #7 in the RPI last season, ahead of conferences such as CUSA, and up from #16 in 2000). That's because Gonzaga has gotten good and the pub helped everyone else get better.

Sadly, some people are either jealous or they allow their hatred of some ODU fans to cloud their reasoning as to what is in the best interest of their team.

I also find hilarity in how some of you look at things like ODU vs GMU. Mason barely finished .500 last season, returns a bunch of players, and their fans can't wait to tell us how good they are going to be. Of course, that is ok. On the other hand, ODU wins 28 games, returns every player on the roster save one (a player far from being a star), and people can't wait to point out that it means nothing until games are played. Quite the double standard.

Just sit back, relax, and be thankful that someone in this stinking conference is getting a ton of attention. It helps all of us, especially if ODU isn't that much better than the rest of the conference.

[VRam2]

There's a 1-AA Football poll?

[Dukie95]

EVERYONE here should be thrilled that someone in the conference is getting attention instead of poo-pooing it at every opportunity. This helps all of you. It affords the CAA some extra exposure, putting talk of the conference at the top of all these lists. It makes victories by your favorite team look all the more impressive, regardless of how good ODU really is in the long run. The list goes on and on.

I'm always excited for the CAA whenever they get this kind of exposure. I root for every CAA team in their OOC games, including in the NCAA and NIT...

But, when it says "Read it and weep, ladies", it just makes the whole thing about how ODU is better than everyone, not about how the CAA's getting better, so it kinda puts a damper on my wanting to post here and congratulate anyone at all.

Just coming from someone who doesn't care how good ODU or VCU or GMU are relative to one another...I just know they'll kill my Dukes. :)

[metternick]

Well said Kevin,

These preseason articles and polls dont mean that much in March, but it cant hurt! College sports is politcal as you get. Getting sportswriters to notice your program is not a bad thing at all. I would love it if VCU or GMU were ranked, especially when they come to Norfolk to play. Somebody show me the downside to any CAA team getting good press in the preseason.

And again thank you from the GMU posters for the words!

[masonfan]

The women's soccer team was just knocked out of the CAA tournament by JMU last night, in a crushing 5-0 defeat ;)

That's great! The women's soccer coach at Madison is a good friend and a hell of a coach. I hope Dave and his girls go on another big run and he gets coach of year again!

[EverydayinVA]

I'm pretty sure they were talking about mens soccer, the team that was #2 in the country.

[Duke Dawg]

EVERYONE here should be thrilled that someone in the conference is getting attention instead of poo-pooing it at every opportunity. This helps all of you. It affords the CAA some extra exposure, putting talk of the conference at the top of all these lists. It makes victories by your favorite team look all the more impressive, regardless of how good ODU really is in the long run. The list goes on and on.


This is where you are wrong Kevinmac.

I would bet you that 99% of the people on here will be rooting for ODU to beat Georgia and Wisconsin and Depaul, etc, etc. And to get ranked in the AP Top 25, etc, etc. I know I will.

It's the annoying boasts by Jablowme that ODU is the greatest thing since air that get under people's skin.

[GannonFan]

What is really funny is that some of the same people who jump in with the "it doesn't mean anything" junk in every thread they can, are the very same people who couldn't wait to champion the preseason I-AA football poll when it came out. Funny how that is.

EVERYONE here should be thrilled that someone in the conference is getting attention instead of poo-pooing it at every opportunity. This helps all of you. It affords the CAA some extra exposure, putting talk of the conference at the top of all these lists. It makes victories by your favorite team look all the more impressive, regardless of how good ODU really is in the long run. The list goes on and on.

I'm not saying ODU is on Gonzaga's level of course, but take a look at what happened in the WCC since Gonzaga has become a big power. The conference has gone from also ran that occasionally had a good team sprout up for a season or two, to now being the top mid-major conference in the country (finishing #7 in the RPI last season, ahead of conferences such as CUSA, and up from #16 in 2000). That's because Gonzaga has gotten good and the pub helped everyone else get better.

Sadly, some people are either jealous or they allow their hatred of some ODU fans to cloud their reasoning as to what is in the best interest of their team.

I also find hilarity in how some of you look at things like ODU vs GMU. Mason barely finished .500 last season, returns a bunch of players, and their fans can't wait to tell us how good they are going to be. Of course, that is ok. On the other hand, ODU wins 28 games, returns every player on the roster save one (a player far from being a star), and people can't wait to point out that it means nothing until games are played. Quite the double standard.

Just sit back, relax, and be thankful that someone in this stinking conference is getting a ton of attention. It helps all of us, especially if ODU isn't that much better than the rest of the conference.

It wasn't just about Gonzaga getting good pub that made the WCC better - they got good pub because Gonzaga actually played well and won several games in several different March Madness's (that's a lot of s's at the end of that word). Gonzaga won a lot of games against a lot of major teams and has been doing it now for going on about 8 years. The CAA, if it's going to ever move up in the echelons of mid-majordom, has to win some of these games. ODU for all of their good play last season, didn't really come up with the big win over a good major. Same with VCU the year before, and so on and so on. You have to go back to UNCW's win over USC to find a win like that and that's too long ago for people to really remember. Even more so, the parity in the CAA hurts itself - you don't have a flagship program like the WCC has in Gonzaga that is going to be out there every year making itself a recognizable name. The CAA is much deeper a league than that and as such sees a fairly wide range of teams earning the NCAA bid - ODU is up now but was out of the picture a few years ago. UNCW was top of the world a few years ago but is an afterthought now. Actually, a little more dominance by one or two teams would help the league, but as the history of the CAA shows, that isn't likely to happen. The best bet then is for the CAA to make noise in the postseason, and that means getting by the first weekend into the Sweet Sixteen, and maybe doing it every so often. But to do that we need to win the first round game and that hasn't happened in awhile.

[Mr. Jablomi]

Hey, just because ODU is the CAA's flagship program (not my words, but rather in the DNR article on the front page of the boards), you guys should not be so jealous.
Oh, and if it were any other school getting this kind of pub (not that it will ever happen for any other school), you guys would be the same way.
I just like pointing this stuff out, since I was told by sooooo many folks on here that I was crazy, when I stated that ODU was building itself like a high major when we had the Loughton/Hunter class, followed up by the Dahi/Williamson/Vasylius class. Everyone had so much to say at that time, but I don't hear nearly as much now.
Good luck to the rest of the league in OOC games, as I don't want your bad RPIs to hurt our seeding in the Dance this year.

[MarshaLee]

EVERYONE here should be thrilled that someone in the conference is getting attention instead of poo-pooing it at every opportunity. This helps all of you. It affords the CAA some extra exposure, putting talk of the conference at the top of all these lists. It makes victories by your favorite team look all the more impressive, regardless of how good ODU really is in the long run. The list goes on and on.

I'm not saying ODU is on Gonzaga's level of course, but take a look at what happened in the WCC since Gonzaga has become a big power. The conference has gone from also ran that occasionally had a good team sprout up for a season or two, to now being the top mid-major conference in the country (finishing #7 in the RPI last season, ahead of conferences such as CUSA, and up from #16 in 2000). That's because Gonzaga has gotten good and the pub helped everyone else get better.

Sadly, some people are either jealous or they allow their hatred of some ODU fans to cloud their reasoning as to what is in the best interest of their team.

Just sit back, relax, and be thankful that someone in this stinking conference is getting a ton of attention. It helps all of us, especially if ODU isn't that much better than the rest of the conference.


AMEN brother! You are too logical, Mac! What are you trying to do? Start some sort of logical pissing match, you logical *****! I just don't get it. Our success makes or brakes how everyone in the nation will view our conference this year. If we go down in flames, then the CAA will be looked at as, well... just the same 'ol CAA. If we approach the level of success that many people around the nation expect then everyone in the conference wins (possible 2 bids, inevitable wins against a nationally recognized ODU team, etc). Yet, the posters that dominate these boards would just as soon see us torn to shreds. I understand that viewpoint in head-to-head match-ups, but not in how we fair against other teams.

[masonfan]

I would argue that the success of this conference is determined every year by the returning champ.

[gmutom]

But, when it says "Read it and weep, ladies", it just makes the whole thing about how ODU is better than everyone, not about how the CAA's getting better, so it kinda puts a damper on my wanting to post here and congratulate anyone at all.

And that, folks, is a perfect summation of why people find it difficult to be happy for ODU. If it was Hofstra, UNCW or Drexel (even VCU), I would be doing cartwheels and pulling out my CAA pom poms. But the arrogance of some ODU posters who constantly have to rub your one-year of success in all of our faces really takes the enjoyment out of what should be a great distinction for all of us as a conference.

[masonfan]

AMEN

[metternick]

It's the annoying boasts by Jablowme that ODU is the greatest thing since air that get under people's skin.



Why does this bother you so much?

If you go to a game with Bridgewater College, and someone brings a sign that say "JMU SUCKS"! Youd most likely just laugh them off as idiots! Especially after your team destroys them.

I think Mr Jablomi needles at you guys so much because there is some element of truth there! Otherwise it wouldnt bother you. Kinda like some GMU poster claiming to be the best basketball program in the CAA. ODU and VCU and UNCW and JMU posters dont take it as the bible.

[Duke Dawg]

Don't flatter yourself. I'm not wasting my day thinking about how jealous I am of ODU.

I read selected threads on every board on the Zone. No one has time to read them all bit I see many threads with Jablowme spouting off at how great ODU is, and it just gets annoying. It would be nice to read somthing else during the time I can browse the Zone.

And I'm sure you get annoyed with the Mason people jabbering back at Jablowme and the ODU fans.

[MarshaLee]

I would argue that the success of this conference is determined every year by the returning champ.

Baloney. With ODU this year, the stakes are different. This is not like past years for the CAA. The conference has a unique opportunity to ride the coat tails of a special ODU team. Let's take GMU for example, nobody around the country was giving GMU these type of accolades or attention after they got dropped in the tourney in 2001.

Here's the challenge, MF: Point out to me the last time a CAA team was ranked this high going into the season, was getting all this positive national press, had a 3rd team All-American selection, and a substantial OOC schedule lined up. Then tell me why ODU fans shouldn't be excited as hell and optimistic about our team.

Chances are, you won't answer this challenge directly. You will likely change the subject and attack me persoanlly. I anxiously await your response.

[masonfan]

I am not saying you shouldn't be excited. I am excited for ODU and the conference as well, it's going to an exciting year. I don't know, those Navy teams were damn good. All I said, is that it's always been important for the returning champ to have another good year. That's what makes news. So, like I said, it is important for the CAA for ODU to have a good year, or this press doesn't mean ****.

[gmutom]

Then tell me why ODU fans shouldn't be excited as hell and optimistic about our team.

Blahi, you should be excited and optimistic. Assuming your team stays healthy and doesn't overlook anybody, ODU could enjoy an incredible year. But there is such a thing as handling things with class and dignity. Lose the chip on your shoulder, and you'll find that a majority of posters on these boards (myself included) will be right there rooting for your school. That's the way it's always been in this conference, at least until ODU won the title last year.

[scottyward]

It would be a total shame if posters on this board painted all ODU, GMU or other fans by the rantings of a few. They are spirited and excited and have every right to share their feelings with us.

Remember, these are the sincere feelings of a FEW (less than .0005%) of the total fans of a particular school....and you shouldn't paint the entire school, based on their opinions.

I cordially invite all of you down to Norfolk when your schools plays here. I'll be happy to recommend restaurants, bars, and lodging facilities.

If you let me know enough in advance that you're coming into town, I'll clear my calendar and buy you a beer!! :lol:

We're (the CAA) all in this thing together !! :D

[masonfan]

It would be a total shame if posters on this board painted all ODU or GMU fans by the rantings of a few.

I cordially invite all of you down to Norfolk when your schools plays here. I'll be happy to recommend restaurants, bars, and lodging facilities.

If you let me know enough in advance that you're coming into town, I'll clear my calendar and buy you a beer!! :lol:

We're (the CAA) all in this thing together !! :D

Thanks!

I also invite any fan of any school to Fairfax for any Mason games. P8 and I are really a lot of fun, ask Mr ODU, Coach and a few other that were at Brion's last year. I won't buy you a beer, but P8 will!! :lol:

[Monarch Man]

For what it is worth here, I would be very surprised if the CAA regular season race does not go down to the final week of games or possibly even the final weekend to decide first place. There are several good teams with talented players that can get a break or two along the way and put themselves in position for ending up in first. ODU is simply one of those teams. An injury, ilness, etc for most any team could change things all around.

The preseason write ups and accolades are nice but as some of the other posters have stated, that does not put numbers in the "W" column, and if anything will make them harder to come by as no one will be overlooking us and everyone would like to get a big win against us.

Is is good press for the conference? Yes!

Should the ODU fans be happy about the potential season that we could have? Of course!

Is there any reason to push this upon the other schools in the conference? No!

Just because a few posters from other schools are ugly or obnoxious enough to come to our boards and do that towards ODU is not a good reason to retaliate towards everyone. If you want to call someone out and give them some back then it should be done individually, not collectively in what ultimately develops into a big chest thumping match. We should show some sportsmanship here!

[masonfan]

Do you think the other posters came to the ODU boards for no reason? Or do you think they were provoked?

[Monarch Nation]

Do you think the other posters came to the ODU boards for no reason? Or do you think they were provoked?

Do two wrongs make a right?

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

yes

[WolfpackRam]

Modesty goes a long way in preseason since the first game has not been played. Anything can happen during the season regardless of what the prognosticators say prior to the season starting. The loader you yell in preseason, the harder you will fall if you slip on the "bananna peel" during the season. Last year was the first year Jablomi didn't have to crawl under a rock during the second half of the season. ODU did slip on a couple of "bananna peels" along the way though. ODU should be better this year, but the rest of the league should also be better. The league will beat up on each other this year, including against ODU, and that will not bode well for the CAA having a ranked team in the second half of the season. The only thing that can help ODU, or anyone else, being ranked in the second half of the season is marquee OOC wins in November & December.

One other note before you write in the final standings for this year in ink. Every CAA school doesn't play each other home and home during the regular season. You really need to look at who/where each school plays in the CAA this year. For example, ODU and UNCW only play once this year and UNCW upsets ODU. All of a sudden, if there is a tie at the end of the year, UNCW has the tie breaker. Another example is VCU only plays Hofstra and Drexel once this year and both games are at VCU. ODU has to play Hofstra and Drexel home and home this year. Northeastern only has to play ODU, VCU and UNCW once this year. They may have the most favorable schedule of any CAA team this year. Scheduling will play a huge impact on the final standings this season. I'm sure the coaches and media didn't take any of this into account before they made their predictions.

I am sure you are going to hear the complaints in February from posters crying foul over the schedule and how it is impacting the standings. With 12 teams, the CAA has changed more than people realize.

[bigblue1975]

Do you think the other posters came to the ODU boards for no reason? Or do you think they were provoked?

Do two wrongs make a right?

I doubt if it was understood. :lol:

[EverydayinVA]

I'm VERY optimistic, but I have a couple examples of what preseason hype gets you. Oklahoma was ranked in their normal high spot, look at them getting beat by UCLA etc. And the Vikings, right greedy? :wink: Werent they picked by alot of people to be playing in the superbowl this year? You never know with injuries and what not.

I will say preseason hype does help come tourney time as long as you do your job and win the games you're supposed to win. I'm a little more optimistic because of this, last year ODU didnt look past anyone, they had their let down or two, but the team brought it night in and night out. I just hope that continues, and things will fall into place nicely. GO BLUE!

[Sweet Baby G]

Chankenstank III lives!!!
I was beginning to worry.

[Mr. Jablomi]

Hey, I have to admit, I'm petty. It's fun shoving this in the face of guys like WolfpackRam, Ram"lackof"knowledge, and the other VCU haters, as well as the multitude of GMU morons who have no idea what it's like to even have a REALLY good hoops team (they never have, so how could they know?).
You guys all slammed ODU, Taylor, Loughton, Dahi, Hunter, etc...and now you have to eat crow. So eat up, while ODU gets the kind of press your teams could only dream of.
Now, go win some OOC games, so our 25-30 wins this year look even more impressive.

[bigrips77]

But, when it says "Read it and weep, ladies", it just makes the whole thing about how ODU is better than everyone, not about how the CAA's getting better, so it kinda puts a damper on my wanting to post here and congratulate anyone at all.

And that, folks, is a perfect summation of why people find it difficult to be happy for ODU. If it was Hofstra, UNCW or Drexel (even VCU), I would be doing cartwheels and pulling out my CAA pom poms. But the arrogance of some ODU posters who constantly have to rub your one-year of success in all of our faces really takes the enjoyment out of what should be a great distinction for all of us as a conference.

Totally agree with gmutom, dukie95, and kevin... I even start to laugh or shake my head when I read some of the lofty hype coming from Monarch fans. Let's see what we do to start out the year (esp. in non-conference games) before we start saying that ODU reigns supreme. I'm extremely optimistic about the Monarchs myself, but I know that this is a long process that could easily take a turn for the worse.

[Challenger]

....ODU should be better this year, but the rest of the league should also be better. The league will beat up on each other this year.....

One other note before you write in the final standings for this year in ink. Every CAA school doesn't play each other home and home during the regular season. You really need to look at who/where each school plays in the CAA this year. For example, ODU and UNCW only play once this year and UNCW upsets ODU. All of a sudden, if there is a tie at the end of the year, UNCW has the tie breaker. Another example is VCU only plays Hofstra and Drexel once this year and both games are at VCU. ODU has to play Hofstra and Drexel home and home this year. Northeastern only has to play ODU, VCU and UNCW once this year. They may have the most favorable schedule of any CAA team this year. Scheduling will play a huge impact on the final standings this season.

Great statements IMO WPack. No smack, I truly mean it.

Though I want ODU to go 18-0 in the CAA, I know it ain't gonna happen. There are too many good teams this year in the CAA. In a "normal" schedule year, it wouldn't be far fetched to say that the #1 seed in the tournament could have a 10-8 record since the league is so balanced. However with the unbalanced schedule (as you point out), who you play from year to year can be a huge determining factor. That gives me more concern than anything else.

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

I'm still here Baby G. I mainly stick to the Mason boards to avoid all the cross-urination on the zone lately.

[WolfpackRam]

Challenger,

The new schedule should concern a lot of people. I have looked at the CAA schedule for this year and I really think Northeastern has the easiest schedule. As I stated in my earlier post, they only play ODU, VCU and UNCW once. Factor in home and home games with JMU, Towson and Delaware and the number of really tough CAA conference games for Northeastern diminishes. Jablowmi can talk all of the smack he wants, but it's scheduling like this that can throw a big wrench into the final standings, particularly since I don't think we are split into two separate divisions like the ACC is this year. ODU and VCU really need to take care of business this year when they play Northeastern.

When you look at a schedule like Northeastern has, the worse thing that can happen to VCU and ODU is that they have to play each other twice during the year. Also, keep in mind ODU has to play Hofstra and Drexel twice this year. That's also a tough sweep.

[RamKnowledge]

Jablomi:

Hey, I have to admit, I'm petty. It's fun shoving this in the face of guys like WolfpackRam, Ram"lackof"knowledge, and the other VCU haters, as well as the multitude of GMU morons who have no idea what it's like to even have a REALLY good hoops team (they never have, so how could they know?).
You guys all slammed ODU, Taylor, Loughton, Dahi, Hunter, etc...and now you have to eat crow.

Some interesting stats/figures (thought this might be the appropriate time to restore order) --

VCU has won 10 of the past 12 against ODU (including ten straight)!!!

For perspective, VCU had ONE victory over an NCAA team (ODU ironically) in 2004-2005; ODU had ZERO

VCU has been to 3 of the past 4 CAA tourney finals (and was within a last-second Robert Battle shot of going to 4 straight); ODU has appeared in but one CAA final the past 4 years

VCU has been involved in ALL of the past FOUR ESPN CAA hoop broadcasts; ODU just twice

VCU has been on national TV (ESPN/CBS) SIX times in the past 4 seasons; ODU three times

VCU has an 81-42 overall record over the past four years with 1 NCAA and 1 NIT appearance; ODU is 70-49 with 1 NCAA appearance

VCU is undefeated at home (Siegel Center) lifetime against ODU - 6-0

VCU is 2-1 at ODU's current homecourt (the Constant Center) lifetime

ODU has yet to beat an NCAA-tourney team (other than UNCW/Liberty) in the Alex Loughton era

Jeff Capel and Nick George are both 6-2 against ODU/Blaine Taylor; Blaine Taylor is 2-9 career vs VCU and 2-6 vs
Jeff Capel and Nick George; Alex Loughton is 2-6 career vs VCU

VCU is 58-25 vs CAA opponents the past four years; ODU is 46-33; ODU was twice knocked out of the CAA tourney by
VCU in the past 4 years

In 2004, VCU finished 14-4 in the CAA regular season; despite losing the league POY and the starting center, VCU finished 13-5 in the regular season in 2005 -- the one-game difference from 2004? a 35-ft miracle bank shot at the buzzer by Drexel.

ODU is the only program (of the five listed below) NOT to win AT LEAST 10 CAA games (tourney included) in EACH of the past 4 seasons.

Last 4 Years (CAA record/including CAA tourney games, post seasons, etc.):
UNCW - 60-23; 2 NCAAs, 2 CAA Finals, 1 NCAA win; 6 ESPN/CBS appearances
VCU - 58-25; 1 NCAA; 1 NIT; 3 CAA Finals; 6 ESPN/CBS appearances
Drex - 50-28; 2 NITs, 1 CAA Final; 1 ESPN appearance
GMU - 48-30; 2 NITs, 1 CAA Final; 1 ESPN appearance
ODU - 46-33; 1 NCAA, 1 CAA Final; 3 ESPN/CBS appearances



If the facts above constitute consuming a rather large helping of "crow" then please pass the plate my way! And put some ketchup on it! :lol:

The Ram contingent I'm sure is quite happy with the results over the past 4 years and the future of the Ram program. I'm pretty sure the UNCW and GMU folks are fairly pleased with their programs as well.

The daily drivel spewed by some of the Monarch contingent on this forum is further testimony to their sad existence and severe inferiority complex. I feel sorry for them............for they know not what they speak. The "less educated" have a tendency to do that.

Please accept my apologies for the statistics above...............I hate to cite actual results of "head-to-head" contests. It's so much more fun (and accurate) when you can use supposition and predictions. :lol:

Now, please carry on with your juvenile debates................reality has been restored (at least temporarily).

[MarshaLee]

The "less educated" have a tendency to do that.

Now, if this isn't pissing I don't know what is. Gotta love it-- VCU kids acting like they're William and Mary, or even in top 5 of Virginia schools. What a joke.

Clearly, VCU has had a hold on ODU for the last decade. However, times have changed. Our time is now. That's what makes for a good rivalry. I look forward to slugging it out with VCU twice this year and beating the Rams again on national TV. What is that now Rammy, two in a row on national tv? Our ten in a row won't look so bad compared to four straight VCU losses in front of a national audience, will it? People might get the impression we own you lambs.

[scottyward]

RK,

Thanks for the incredible spread of historic facts. It is a great history lesson about VCU.

My questions for you are sincere.

Are there any recently published preseason articles with glowing predictions about the Rams? :shock:

Are the Rams rated or ranked by anyone? :shock:

Any votes for the Rams in the Top 25 ? :shock:

[Ramdog]

man, dont let the facts cloud the issue

[Mr. ODU]

Two ina row...... :D

[gmutom]

Are there any recently published preseason articles with glowing predictions about the Rams? :shock:


Um, Ram Reaper said they are going to be good and picked them 2nd in the CAA. If that's not credible and unbiased, I don't know what is. :wink:

[metternick]

As long as we are supplying stats:

I found a list where VCU is Top 9 of all the mens Basketball teams!

Boston Globe (http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/03/16/suppressing_the_bad_news_on_ncaa_graduation_rates/)

[scottyward]

I just thought I'd ask.... :shock:

OBTW mett...that is not a historic statistic that RK or RR would be proud of.....

[TriRam]

2<10

Come and play us again soon. :)

[VRam2]

They always hate facts. Facts can be very painful. I even felt ODU's pain when I read RK's post.

[Monarch Nation]

Isn't it ironic that VCU's fortune and our recent past ills can be summed up in one word?

CAPEL

[Monarch Man]

Do you think the other posters came to the ODU boards for no reason? Or do you think they were provoked?

That's like asking which came first the chicken or the egg!
If you're not part of the solution then you are part of the problem.

[Monarch Man]

Jablomi:

Hey, I have to admit, I'm petty. It's fun shoving this in the face of guys like WolfpackRam, Ram"lackof"knowledge, and the other VCU haters, as well as the multitude of GMU morons who have no idea what it's like to even have a REALLY good hoops team (they never have, so how could they know?).
You guys all slammed ODU, Taylor, Loughton, Dahi, Hunter, etc...and now you have to eat crow.

Some interesting stats/figures (thought this might be the appropriate time to restore order) --

VCU has won 10 of the past 12 against ODU (including ten straight)!!!

For perspective, VCU had ONE victory over an NCAA team (ODU ironically) in 2004-2005; ODU had ZERO

VCU has been to 3 of the past 4 CAA tourney finals (and was within a last-second Robert Battle shot of going to 4 straight); ODU has appeared in but one CAA final the past 4 years

VCU has been involved in ALL of the past FOUR ESPN CAA hoop broadcasts; ODU just twice

VCU has been on national TV (ESPN/CBS) SIX times in the past 4 seasons; ODU three times

VCU has an 81-42 overall record over the past four years with 1 NCAA and 1 NIT appearance; ODU is 70-49 with 1 NCAA appearance

VCU is undefeated at home (Siegel Center) lifetime against ODU - 6-0

VCU is 2-1 at ODU's current homecourt (the Constant Center) lifetime

ODU has yet to beat an NCAA-tourney team (other than UNCW/Liberty) in the Alex Loughton era

Jeff Capel and Nick George are both 6-2 against ODU/Blaine Taylor; Blaine Taylor is 2-9 career vs VCU and 2-6 vs
Jeff Capel and Nick George; Alex Loughton is 2-6 career vs VCU

VCU is 58-25 vs CAA opponents the past four years; ODU is 46-33; ODU was twice knocked out of the CAA tourney by
VCU in the past 4 years

In 2004, VCU finished 14-4 in the CAA regular season; despite losing the league POY and the starting center, VCU finished 13-5 in the regular season in 2005 -- the one-game difference from 2004? a 35-ft miracle bank shot at the buzzer by Drexel.

ODU is the only program (of the five listed below) NOT to win AT LEAST 10 CAA games (tourney included) in EACH of the past 4 seasons.

Last 4 Years (CAA record/including CAA tourney games, post seasons, etc.):
UNCW - 60-23; 2 NCAAs, 2 CAA Finals, 1 NCAA win; 6 ESPN/CBS appearances
VCU - 58-25; 1 NCAA; 1 NIT; 3 CAA Finals; 6 ESPN/CBS appearances
Drex - 50-28; 2 NITs, 1 CAA Final; 1 ESPN appearance
GMU - 48-30; 2 NITs, 1 CAA Final; 1 ESPN appearance
ODU - 46-33; 1 NCAA, 1 CAA Final; 3 ESPN/CBS appearances



If the facts above constitute consuming a rather large helping of "crow" then please pass the plate my way! And put some ketchup on it! :lol:

The Ram contingent I'm sure is quite happy with the results over the past 4 years and the future of the Ram program. I'm pretty sure the UNCW and GMU folks are fairly pleased with their programs as well.

The daily drivel spewed by some of the Monarch contingent on this forum is further testimony to their sad existence and severe inferiority complex. I feel sorry for them............for they know not what they speak. The "less educated" have a tendency to do that.

Please accept my apologies for the statistics above...............I hate to cite actual results of "head-to-head" contests. It's so much more fun (and accurate) when you can use supposition and predictions. :lol:

Now, please carry on with your juvenile debates................reality has been restored (at least temporarily).


Boy what a stupid group of comments. How about the following slanted facts that you conviently left out -

On days that Laughton ate pancakes for breakfast he is 2-0 against VCU.
Since Coach Taylor got his new car he is 2-0 against VCU.
Since ODU changed the brand of popcorn served at the TED they are 1-0 at home against VCU.
ODU has won the last 2 against VCU (where will it end).
ODU PLAYED in the NCAA tournament in 2005, VCU (ironically) didn't.
ODU is on TV at least 12 times this year...VCU?
Yadda, yadda, yadda!!! Bottom line is that you or anyone else can pluck out any stupid tidbits of data that shine a favorable light on your side of an argument. As Jablomi would say, unless you want to take the total picture into account then don't bother!

How many NCAA tournament games does VCU have versus what ODU has? How many wins? How many conference players of the year? How many CAA basketball titles? How many guys that made it to the pros?

Hey I'm not knocking VCU. Just tired of guys that like to pick out some few years and make it out to represent the history of things. :roll:

[Ramball]

Hey I'm not knocking VCU. Just tired of guys that like to pick out some few years and make it out to represent the history of things.


I think he picked out the Taylor years. :wink:

[rufus]

There's a 1-AA Football poll?

People care about CAA basketball?

[DarthDave]

As long as we are supplying stats:

I found a list where VCU is Top 9 of all the mens Basketball teams!

Boston Globe (http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/03/16/suppressing_the_bad_news_on_ncaa_graduation_rates/)

That is a pathetic list..now, I do not know what Th UD's rate is but 0% for those schools. Speaking of white and black, has VCU recruited a white guy since Capel took over?

[VRam2]

Certainly no one from JMU should be interested in CAA Basketball. :lol:

[Mr. Jablomi]

Okay, first and foremost, I have no problem putting my education up against LackofKnowledge. I'll take my ODU undergrad, Rutgers MBA over your...?
Again, this buffoon just does not get it. How do you want to look at it? Current, or history?
If it's current, we just came off a 28 win season, finished with a top 35 RPI, and are the OVERWHELMING favorite to be among, if not THE, best non-major team in the nation. When was the last time VCU (or any other CAA squad) was in that position?
If it's the whole CAA picture you want to look at, then how about the team with the most CAA titles (and most recent), and most titles/seasons played?
If you really "knew" sports, the way you arrogantly claim you do, you'd recognize that the situations that Taylor and Capel walked in to at ODU and VCU, respectively, could not have been much more different. Capel stepped into a good team, returning a significant amount of veteran talent to lead his team. If I'm not mistaken, JCIII's season win totals have gone every year, right?
Taylor, on the other hand, inherited a mess from JCII, was forced to patch a team together from the likes of Clay McGown, Joe Principe, Troy Nance, and a few other guys that were barely D1 caliber players.
He BUILT the powerhouse you now see in Norfolk, by out-recruiting the other schools in the CAA.
Now, if you STILL want to look at streaks, Nick vs Alex, etc, than you're a fool. ODU has a two game win streak (including breaking your hearts in March, if I recall, on one of those nationally televised games you're so fond of referring to) over VCU, and only an idiot like you would want to compare Nick to Alex. Nick is a very good player, Alex is a great player. When Nick is out of the league two years, you'll barely remember him. When Alex is gone, he'll be recalled by CAA fans in the same way Blizzard, Evans, and Hodge are. He's the best. ODU is the best. Deal with it.

[118cc5]

I went to Cambridge and Duke......Nanny nanny boo boo. .......It
s true, I swear to God I went to Cambridge and Duke.......well my high school is at the intersection of Cambridge and Duke in Alexandria, Va. ;)

[Mr. Jablomi]

:lol: :lol: Nice one.

I can't help but laugh at LackofKnowledge. He goes on and on about how some ODU fans have an inferiority complex, and how we need the facts, blah, blah, blah...and than spends two hours crunching these arbitrary stats that he keeps spewing out, trying to prove to US that VCU is better than ODU...too funny.
"uh, if you only count games in which Nick wore women's underwear, than VCU is undefeated, and, uh, if you count games in which Coach Capel had ginger ale with dinner, uh, we're undefeated than, too!".
What a dope.

[VCURamsFan]

:lol: :lol: Nice one.

I can't help but laugh at LackofKnowledge. He goes on and on about how some ODU fans have an inferiority complex, and how we need the facts, blah, blah, blah...and than spends two hours crunching these arbitrary stats that he keeps spewing out, trying to prove to US that VCU is better than ODU...too funny.
"uh, if you only count games in which Nick wore women's underwear, than VCU is undefeated, and, uh, if you count games in which Coach Capel had ginger ale with dinner, uh, we're undefeated than, too!".
What a dope.

Congrats to ODU... this is HUGE for the CAA. I look forward to (hopefully) 3 exciting games with you this year.

I don't think that any VCU or ODU fan is overrun with confidence on gameday when they have to face one another. This year should be no exception.

[mglau]

All I know is that VCU is undefeated when I wear no underwear.

Visiting fans may attend games at the Siegel Center at your own risk. Consider yourself warned.