EMU Joins R-MC, GC and VWC in Rankings
SALEM, Va. --- Randolph-Macon College took over
the No.1 ranking in the D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll on Monday evening,
climbing three spots from its previous perch as the nation's
fourth-rated squad. The Yellow Jackets are the first ODAC
squad to hold the No. 1 billing since Virginia Wesleyan College in
the first week of the 2006-07 season.
R-MC wasn't the only squad making noise in the poll as Eastern
Mennonite University made its debut amongst the nation's best in
the 24th slot. Guilford College maintained the No. 6 ranking
for the third consecutive week, and Virginia Wesleyan continued its
climb up the chart by jumping six spots to No. 12 in the
nation.
Randolph-Macon (11-0, 2-0 ODAC) and first year head coach, Nathan
Davis, have run the table through 11 games this season with several
feature victories. The Jackets routed D3hoops.com Preseason
No. 7 DeSales University by 24 points in November, dismantling a
unit that stood one win away from a trip to Salem, Virginia, and
the national championship series in 2009. R-MC has also taken
down perennial NCAC power and preseason No. 9 the College of
Wooster, as well as current 11th-ranked squad Williams College
(then No. 10). Other victories of note came against Lebanon
Valley College, ODAC foes Emory & Henry College and Randolph
College, and a preseason triumph over NCAA Division I American
University.
Production has come from throughout the roster for R-MC with Danny
Jones leading the way at 12.6 points per game, but it is defense
that makes the Yellow Jackets tick. Randolph-Macon surrenders
an ODAC-low 60.5 points per game following Monday's win at
Bridgewater College. Teams are shooting just 36.5-percent
from the field against R-MC, with the Jackets out-rebounding their
opponents by 10.5 caroms per contest.
With still more than half a season ahead of them, the Yellow
Jackets have plenty of work to do to remain on top of the D-III
rankings. Aside from having to hold off the likes of
back-to-back national champion Washington University-St. Louis,
R-MC has 12 games remaining against always tough and very deep ODAC
opponents. Two dates with Virginia Wesleyan await, as well as
one apiece against Guilford and Eastern Mennonite. The
Jackets also have a pair of what are sure to be heated contests
against rival Hampden-Sydney College, with the first showdown set
for Wednesday, January 6, at Hampden-Sydney.
Guilford (10-1, 1-1) ran off wins in its first four games before
hitting a road block in Virginia Wesleyan. The Quakers have
been streaking since, winning each of their past six matchups with
big man and D3hoops.com Preseason All-American, Tyler Sanborn,
leading the charge. Sanborn leads the ODAC with nine doubles,
including a two-bagger in each of the past six games to garner the
latest ODAC Player of the Week award. Over that stretch, the
Marietta College Shrine Tournament MVP has averaged 21.5 points,
13.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots per game while scoring at least
20 points in each of his past five outings.
Virginia Wesleyan (11-1, 2-1) also came out of the gates with four
straight wins before dropping a tough affair with EMU. Since
then, it's been seven straight wins for the Marlins with senior
guard Stephen Fields heading a young but talent crop that includes
athletic forward Donald Vaughn. A threat to score from
anywhere, Fields has notched at least 21 points in five of the past
six contests, including a 29-point effort in Monday's win over
Salisbury University. He currently leads the ODAC in scoring
at 21.3 points per game while averaging 22.7 points over VWC's
seven-game run.
Eastern Mennonite (9-1, 3-0) sits atop the ODAC standings with wins
over Virginia Wesleyan, Lynchburg College and most recently,
Hampden-Sydney, to date. After sprinting to an 8-0 start,
head coach Kirby Dean's "Runnin' Royals" stubbed their toes against
NAIA Southern Virginia University. The ODAC's leader in
scoring offense at 89.2 points per game, EMU features four players
that average better than 13 points per game. Todd Phillips
(19.0 ppg), George Johnson (14.9), Eli Crawford (13.4) and D.J.
Hinson (13.1) have taken their turns leading the Royals since their
Midnight Madness season-opener on November 15.
For more information on men's basketball and other ODAC sports,
visit the NEW ODAC home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.