The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

I thought Richardson was a decent recruiter. But he can't bring us anyone this year I guess. My problems with the team that I've seen so far is almost no boxing out, weak perimeter defense, and the usual ODU free throw percentage.

oh man. this is going to be a long year. I hope we go far into the playoffs for football! :-D

This thing will work itself out. I have to believe that if towards the end of the season we have a losing record and the Ted is empty, jobs will be in question. Given the success of some of our other athletic programs, and our previous success in men's hoops... A losing season at this level and at this time is unacceptable. Period. and it most certainly should not be entertained beyond this season. ESPECIALLY since we're joining a NEW league.

(11-14-2012 02:38 PM)SPACESCAPE Wrote:  This thing will work itself out. I have to believe that if towards the end of the season we have a losing record and the Ted is empty, jobs will be in question. Given the success of some of our other athletic programs, and our previous success in men's hoops... A losing season at this level and at this time is unacceptable. Period. and it most certainly should not be entertained beyond this season. ESPECIALLY since we're joining a NEW league.

We may somehow manage to go 16-14 this year and avoid a losing record....but have ZERO doubts, unless we manage to land another big time transfer during the offseason like Painter this past offseason, we WILL have a losing record, and a fairly substantial one at that, in our first season in CUSA.

VERY disappointing.

T-Mac

"We'll still get an invite into the NIT, CBI, or CIT. Our guys will get valuable experience playing together, and the young bucks will be incredible next year with a year of NCAA basketball under their belt."

BTW.....this is why people don't take ODU fans seriously and why the zone is a complete joke. Anyone who suggests that we will either A. go to the NIT THIS YEAR or B. be incredible next year with a bunch of sophomores and no front court whatsoever is clearly high on angel dust.

I'm thinking this year will be fun watching this young bunch progress.

BT and staff pull a good move, Snowden will enroll next year as a walk-on and then be on scholie in '14-'15. This could free up two scholies for bigs in the '13 class.

I agree with Razor that we're in a rebuilding mode that will not turn the corner signifcantly until two years from now. I disagree about the predictions of how bad we'll be through that process. I don't see NIT this year either. But, I definitely can envision steady improvement, because this is typically what Blaine does with his groups. The question will be: does tha admin. forgive the bad recruiting cycles with evidence of improvement, or use them to make a move at some point??

Razor, serious question for you ... Do you see CUSA being tougher than the CAA we've been in the last several years?

(11-15-2012 09:56 AM)Dominion Wrote:  The question will be: does tha admin. forgive the bad recruiting cycles with evidence of improvement, or use them to make a move at some point??

Given Selig's track record so far at ODU and the coaching changes he's made, I'd be highly doubtful to see Taylor retained with a season similar to last season or worse; especially if we finish outside of the top part of the CAA (which is a benchmark he put into place).

In general, it's very typical of schools to get rid of an under performing coach upon a conference change, and even more likely when you have an AD that didn't hire that under performing coach.

I wouldn't be surprised to see this team pull off a fairly lackluster season AND a top four CAA finish; that would make it pretty complicated. It would also take money to make a change, which I can't imagine we have in vast supply right now with the football move, practice facility, football facility expansion, football coaching salary hikes on the horizon to be at 1-A level, etc. These ain't the days of basketball driving the resource allocation anymore.

Personally, I'm rooting for the young kids to improve steadily and have a decent year. We'll see.

What are some of you talking about. Blaine had a +20 win season last year and the two years before that we were in the NCAAs. He has gotten every scholarship fully endowed. We have +7000 season tickets sold. He single handily got the Basketball Practice Gym funded with private donations, a large chunk coming a week ago. With that he has some clout, so please just stop.

Now Wood is trying to figure now to expand Foreman Field and move the football up to FBS. Think that comes cheap, have you raised your ODAF to match the increase. The previous posted was on the mark, Wood has got bigger fish to fry right now.

(11-15-2012 01:16 PM)DaBigBlue Wrote:  What are some of you talking about. Blaine had a +20 win season last year and the two years before that we were in the NCAAs. He has gotten every scholarship fully endowed. We have +7000 season tickets sold. He single handily got the Basketball Practice Gym funded with private donations, a large chunk coming a week ago. With that he has some clout, so please just stop.

Now Wood is trying to figure now to expand Foreman Field and move the football up to FBS. Think that comes cheap, have you raised your ODAF to match the increase. The previous posted was on the mark, Wood has got bigger fish to fry right now.

And Wendy Larry won 17 CAA championships in a row. And she had to go too once the program fell on hard times, even though she was coming off a Sweet 16. Why would Blaine Taylor be held in any better light? Really, what has he done to deserve a contract extension? Some are overestimating his job security at this point in time, and it should be at least considered irregardless of football. I trust Selig will make the correct decision when the time comes for evaluation.

(11-15-2012 01:16 PM)DaBigBlue Wrote:  What are some of you talking about. Blaine had a +20 win season

Yeah, but we still sucked last year and everyone knows it. 13 of those wins came against the CAA dregs and none of the wins were quality. This year is even worse as we can't even get by the likes of UTSA and Holy Cross. Next year looks to be even worse than this year which is worse than last year. If we would get our heads out of the sand, we'd all see the clear trend. Would you rather wait until we become UNCW to do anything about it or nip it in the bud while we still can? Unless something drastically changes in the next couple of months, it is time to make that change and get in some fresh blood.

(11-15-2012 01:16 PM)DaBigBlue Wrote:  Blaine had a +20 win season last year and the two years before that we were in the NCAAs.

This is the problem I have with some ODU fans. Just being in the NCAA's is good enough for a big part of our fan base. I don't know about the rest of you, but I expect wins in the tournament for the amount of support this University gets. We have a tremendously attractive arena, good attendance, a new practice facility, and willing donors. With all of these amentities, we are the same story book from season to season: a good team that can't seem to win games in the NCAA tournament. Blaine continues to recruit against low mid major schools like Rider. It's not by coincidence, it is because no athlete wants to come play a rockgut style of offense.

This school will never be anything with expectations like that, no matter how you spin it.

(11-15-2012 01:38 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(11-15-2012 01:16 PM)DaBigBlue Wrote:  What are some of you talking about. Blaine had a +20 win season

Yeah, but we still sucked last year and everyone knows it. 13 of those wins came against the CAA dregs and none of the wins were quality. This year is even worse as we can't even get by the likes of UTSA and Holy Cross. Next year looks to be even worse than this year which is worse than last year. If we would get our heads out of the sand, we'd all see the clear trend. Would you rather wait until we become UNCW to do anything about it or nip it in the bud while we still can? Unless something drastically changes in the next couple of months, it is time to make that change and get in some fresh blood.

I've always tried to tell people that the 20 win benchmark that gets thrown out there as an achievement and a streak is useless. I'm not saying the wins didn't mean anything but when you play in a mid major conference, 20 wins is not difficult for an average squad when you consider that you play two games a year for the most part against powerhouses like UNCW, W&M, Towson, GA State, and JMU.

You rate a coach with a score card, just like when you interview someone for a job. It's not just wins in the NCAAs. Question is Oliver Purnell a good coach? He makes about $1.5mil, but he hasn't ever won a game in the NCAAs.

Let's not rate the season on one weekend, with a team starting 3 freshmen.

Remember 1/2 the coaches hired, aren't as good as the ones they replace.

(11-15-2012 02:36 PM)DaBigBlue Wrote:  You rate a coach with a score card, just like when you interview someone for a job. It's not just wins in the NCAAs. Question is Oliver Purnell a good coach? He makes about $1.5mil, but he hasn't ever won a game in the NCAAs.

Let's not rate the season on one weekend, with a team starting 3 freshmen.

Remember 1/2 the coaches hired, aren't as good as the ones they replace.

True enough. Ask JMU what it's like to fire a coach who could only muster 20 win seasons.

(11-15-2012 02:36 PM)DaBigBlue Wrote:  Let's not rate the season on one weekend, with a team starting 3 freshmen.

^this guy.
I feel that with the potential in the latest recruiting class, Blaine Taylor has earned some more stability in his job than some are giving him credit for. If we can get another solid big man in the next recruiting class and have Anton freeing up a scholarship and find more potential, next years recruiting class will look pretty good IMO. All teams (except Kentucky) go through rebuilding phases.

Too early to say we will be worse next year. Especially with a number of open scholarships available.