Will ODU Win Their First Round Game?

THE SHRINK · Mar 8, 2005

I know it is difficult to predict without the matchup, but their new RPI will likely have them in the TOP 32, as they were 33 before last night's dramatic WIN...

So my question is how many of you believe they will win at least one game?

I am curious to know as I will surely bump this thread back up next week to see how sharp some of you really are...

THE SHRINK

Dante · Mar 8, 2005

Ken....I do not want to burst your bubble..BUT if they play PITT in round one..they do not make it ....IMHO

PokerKingJim · Mar 8, 2005

It's tough to say without knowing the matchup, but they will be somewhere around an 11 seed - and they will be the underdog no matter whom they play. Of course they could win, but they will be the dog.

Journeyman · Mar 8, 2005

What about the key injury?

I say its doubtful, but then again WHO are they playing, I will answer next sunday.

They didn't look good last night....missing free throws (front ends) and many easy layups.

PokerKingJim · Mar 8, 2005

Only 2nd time I had seen them play all year and agree that they didn't look good. They'd have big trouble against a team like Pitt.

THE SHRINK · Mar 8, 2005

Journeyman,

ODU went 12-12 with FOUL shots down the stretch when it counted most...

Yes, they did miss a couple of easy layups, but all teams do at times.

They played with the type of DEFENSIVE ENERGY that CHAMPIONS are made of, creating a sloppy game, but nonetheless, a WIN, baby!

And don't forget, ODU beat their arch rival in their own backyard!

That's not an easy feat to do...

As far as their injury, I believe that DAHI will be ready come Tournament time according to some of my sources...

He will undergo an MRI of course...

I think you UNDERRATE ODU and I hope other teams do the same...

ODU may shock some of you guys in the March Madness Tourney....

My God, only ONE team has more WINS than ODU!!!

28-5 baby!!!

As always, time will tell...

THE SHRINK

JimFiestSux · Mar 8, 2005

Shrink,

Doesn't look good for them in the "BIG DANCE". They are luckyy to win last night or else they wouldn't be in the Big Dance. Do you really think they would let a team in the big one that lost to Corpus Christie,lol, play with the big boys without an automatic win. Anyhow good luck Shrink on your team and congradulations on your entry to the big one.

Journeyman · Mar 8, 2005

Not really underrating them, I just didn't think they played a great game...however they did get the job done when the game was on the line, after nearly giving it away with poor execution the final 10 minutes of regulation.

Shrink , here's a question for you, with the game tied and .07 on the clock in regulation, were you rooting for OT (so the bet could stay alive) or were you rooting for a win? If they won the game with a 2 pointer obviously you would have lost the bet, I'm just wondering what your thought process was on that last posession of regulation?

Heart or wallet?

THE SHRINK · Mar 8, 2005

Journeyman,

I bet the game when the line was ODU minus 2 1/2 and bought it down to -2 lay 20...

That's the ONLY number that I ALWAYS BUY ONTO...

To answer your question, I did NOT want OT. I wanted Hunter's first shot to go in that rimmed around the basket but came out...

I was really a NERVOUS wreck and my wife can validate that....

I can't remember that last time I liked a team so much.

Perhaps going to some of their practices and getting to know the Coach and Players and sitting courtside for all their games had a lot to do with it...

I am so PROUD of this unheralded School from a mid-major...

It will be fun rooting for this UNDERDOG come tournament time because ODU was favored all year long to WIN this thing, so the pressure becomes less with lower expectations from here...

Their BIG MAN, Alex Loughton really IMPRESSED me by scoring 28 last night as he should have done with all of you casual observers.

THE SHRINK

Ego74 · Mar 8, 2005

Loughton is a very good player, and you should be proud of this team. But, if your guys draw a physical team like Pitt, they could rattle him with their rough play. What happens if he gets in foul trouble like he did in the 2nd VCU game?? Can the other guys pick up the slack???

Glaken · Mar 8, 2005

I will say this. If you told me two years ago that I would become a big fan of ODU and follow every game I would have said your nuts. But Shrink has got all of us rooting for this team, and it has been a fun ride this season. No matter what happens in the Dance these kids can hold there heads high. The Tourny isn't even over and I'm already looking forward to next season; I know-I know lets just enjoy the Dance.

I raise my glass to ODU and hope they become Cinderella.

Glaken

GREENHEAD · Mar 8, 2005

Shrink,Congrats are in order.ODU had a great season,for ODU.But please,please be realistic about the "28-5 record."They beat NOBODY all YEAR.Who was the BEST team they beat ALL year?

Enjoy your moment,it is deserved.But you would of had more fun in the NIT.Win 2 games in the big dance,and I'll be impressed,otherwise keep the noise to a minimum,the rest of the country thinks your nuts.

GREENHEAD · Mar 8, 2005

28-3 record.Too late to fix.

THE SHRINK · Mar 8, 2005

Thanks GREENHEAD for your kind words about ODU...

As for me toning it down, forget about it!!!

ODU BABY!!!!!

arty:

Jarbo · Mar 8, 2005

I think it will be a crazy year in the Big Dance. I would not be surprised to see a few teams like ODU make a run deep into the Tournament.

IMHO

JimFiestSux · Mar 8, 2005

It's "ONE & DONE". Any team can beat any team on any given night.

HNYLOC · Mar 8, 2005

First Time ODU spectator.. was very impressed by Loughton's ability to pass and post moves.. I think it all depends on Dahi's status.. From the short period of time he was in there, he looked like a rebounding machine which ODU needed... Without him, ODU was getting pushed around inside.. VAC was pachking it in daring the guards to shoot.. For a while there, that zone was killing them.. Couldn't free up Loughton inside cause there wasn't much dribble penetration.. With Dahi in there, Loughton woulda gotten more looks.. Another player who impressed me was that PG, he showed some nuts with some of his shots.. In the BIG DANCE, most important position is PG and a Big Man... looks like ODU has both. Don't now if they can hang with a team like PITT, but they make a good #12 seed upset over a #5 team... I'll definitely adjust my brackets now that i saw them play..

SHRINK, thanks for the last few winners..

D2bets · Mar 8, 2005

It all depends on who they play. Maybe the committee will do a mid-major championship and pari them up against Pacific in a 6-11 matchup.

spreadbeater · Mar 8, 2005

I really think that ODU can win their first round game, however their free throw shooting worries me a little. I know that they were great down the stretch last night, but they shoot less than 70% for the season. I am anxious to see who they will be playing though and sure hope they are getting a bunch of points.

go2guy · Mar 8, 2005

Krauser would run circles around Hunter or whatever the hell his name is and Taft along with Troutman would jam the ball down Loughton throat. By the way congrats to you Shrink on ODU winning their tourney. I know you're one of their biggest cheerleaders and I know you were happy that it didn't come down to an at-large. I'm sitting comfy right now knowing the true "mid-major" SIU can lose their tourney and still get an at-large. Maybe they will get paired together in the same bracket and we can have ourselves a little friendly rivarly?!

Note to ODU schedule some real competition next year and maybe you will garner a little more respect