Open Final MD Vs ODOWD

[larry legend33]

Well this one certainly brings back memories from last year but a one Stanley Johnson is long gone thank god because he was in a different class and wrecked havoc on norcal for 4 straight years. More I think about MD the more I worry. They've played a better schedule than BOD although that takes nothing away from ODOWD because they played a loaded preseason as well. They have a cast of size, talent, and athletes than can match BOD. (Pflueger, Cage, Parker, Smith, Stout). Going through SOCAL likes of fairfax, etiwanda, bishop monty, and westchester is a tad more daunting than Folsom, St Francis, and Modesto Christian. Latly, that monkey that has plagued ODOWD at state forever. Can they get it off there back?

I can't stand MD but I do respect what there kids do on the court. They are better than the teams years ago because assistants and stronger influences away from Mcknight.

Thoughts? Can ODOWD get it done. MD game plan was very effective last year. Cage at 6'10-6"11 is no stiff.

I'm thinking a score in the high 40's. These games usually turn out to be slug fest.

 

[NorCalScout]

Larry, I think O'Dowd can win and I expect them to do so. They are deeper, have more talent the MD but I agree with you, MD's schedule should help them here but in the end, Rabb & Austin are on a mission and they both saw MD celebrate on the court in Sac and they don't want that to happen again anytime soon.

Will this be Ritchie's last game at O'Dowd?

 

[RJ223]

I like Odowd's chances. I think playing at Haas is going to be a huge advantage. I expect the shooting %'s to be much higher given the venue. The odowd kids have played in that gym plenty of times to be very comfortable. I'd bet Odowd gets in a few practices at Haas this week. Any better ending to Rabb winning a state title then announce he will be going to Cal? If Odowd cant get it done this year it wont happen any time soon.

 

[larry legend33]

HAAS is a huge advantage. Its basically a home game for ODOWD in terms of location. And I would venture to say you will get a full house. Hopefully tribune and chronicle do some good advertising. It would be nice to see that place rocking.

But, I'm not overly sold on a much deeper and more talented Odowd team than MD. Its not like MD doesn't have college talent and size on that team. (and a good deal of it)

Really this one is a toss up. Maybe ODOWD a little bit of an edge because its home but the south is very use to coming up north and playing. MD also travels like a college team so that might not be as big of a deal as some of us think.

Should be one of the better finals in a long time. Would be great to see ODOWD end with a state champ.

 

[Defender4212]

NorCalScout why do you keep floating that Richie on the way out thing? Your earlier post claimed you were told that, but then claimed it was probably a rumour and a bad one at that. Do you have credible information? If not, it seems a little odd to keep floating that out there.

 

[raiderjohn]

Would be nice if Rabb announced Cal in that manner, great kid, he wouldn't do that to his teammates. But I hope he has Cal in his mind when he goes to McDonald's. Jaylen Brown snuck on to campus recently, same high school as Abdur-Rahim. Swanigan took his official to Cal with Rabb. With Dillard verballed, and if Martin can swing those first 3.....wow.

 

[observer22]

Does anyone know if they will be kicking everyone out before the Open games on Saturday to make everyone pay again, like they have done at Arco? I sure hope not.

 

[larry legend33]

Observer22- I've been every year for the last 20+ and I don't believe they did that the last 2 years. Or maybe they made us leave but if you had paid already you just showed stub and you got back in. I'm getting old so I could be mistaken but its a really poor practice if you think about it.

 

[kiddman32]

According to calbears.com, $16.00 general-admission tix are good for all day. The $35 courtside seats, which I assume are the bleachers directly across from the benches, are sold out. That's fine with me... The cushioned backrest seats are all or nearly general admission... and those are far better seats, especially for old worn-out butts to sit in all day, which is exactly what I intend to do.

I also thought to ask if there was wifi in the seating area, thinking I might bring in the iPad to discuss the games online... No wifi. Well, I guess ya can't be perfect