Runnin Royals Picked To Finish Third In ODAC Boosted by a strong end to last season plus and large group of returners, the EMU men's basketball team has been tabbed in a tie for third place in the ODAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll.  The Runnin Royals earned 91 points in a voting of the league's coaches, locking them up with Guilford College, which also received 91 tallies. The two teams are just a hair ahead of Hampden-Sydney which came in fifth with 87 votes.  Randolph-Macon received 10 first-place votes and stands atop the Old Dominion Athletic Conference for the second straight season with 120 total points.  Virginia Wesleyan received the remaining two top nods and 111 tallies to sit in second. Eastern Mennonite rattled off a six-game winning streak at the end of last year which only ended with a loss to Hampden-Sydney in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinals.  They finished 17-11 overall, including 10-6 in the ODAC. The Runnin Royals return 11 of 12 regular players from that squad, replacing only graduated All-ODAC Third Team senior RJ Sims (12.7ppg, 2.9rpg).  Headlining the returners are All-ODAC First Team center David Falk (Madison, Va./Madison County) (14.1ppg, 13.4rpg, 2.9bpg) and All-ODAC Second Team wing Marcel Crump(Richmond, Va./Highland Springs) (17.0ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.6apg).  EMU also brings back starters James Williams (Capitol Heights, Md./Archbishop Carrol) (8.3ppg, 2.5apg) and Kwa McDonald (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) (3.9ppg), along with Ryan Yates (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams) (13.0ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.5apg) who started much of last season before coming off the bench as a sparkplug sixth man. The men also brought in a large and talented recruiting class, giving them the deepest team they have fielded in recent years. EMU opens the 2014-15 season at home by hosting a tip-off classic on Nov. 15 and 16.  The Runnin Royals play Ferrum on that Saturday followed by St. Mary's (Md.) on Sunday.  Local rival Bridgewater also plays at the EMU Tip-Off Invitational, held in Yoder Arena. Click here to see the entire 2014-15 EMU men's basketball schedule. Two squads made a trip to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament in 2013-14, increasing the conference's representation on the national stage to 14 teams since the 2009-10 season.  Last year, Virginia Wesleyan punched its automatic ticket to the field of 62 by winning its fifth overall ODAC title via a 77-74 thriller over Hampden-Sydney College in the conference championship game.  The crown marked the second for the Marlins in the past three years. VWC, making its 10th straight appearance in the national bracket, was joined by fellow perennial qualifier Randolph-Macon as an at-large entrant.  The Yellow Jackets hosted their first round matchup against DeSales University, but were unable to take advantage of home court in falling to the Bulldogs, 77-74, in overtime.  Virginia Wesleyan also was awarded hosting duties by the national committee, and the Marlins turned that into a pair of wins in the Jane P. Batten Center.  They topped Johns Hopkins University, 84-72, in round one and followed that with a 79-74 triumph over Wesley College the next day.  VWC traveled to the University of Mary Washington for sectional action, where the Marlins fell to the host Eagles, 74-70. Last season, just seven all-conference performers returned to courts across the ODAC.  The story is much the same this year as eight All-ODAC honorees are back.  Still, you'll be hard-pressed to find a bare cupboard in the league, a notion that was recognized by the national pundits as two squads open the season ranked in theD3hoops.com Top-25 Preseason Poll.  Randolph-Macon is slotted 11th, while Virginia Wesleyan sits 19th.  Reigning national champion the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater stands atop the chart voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, sports information directors and media members from across the country. Listed below is the full 2014-15 ODAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll.  For more information on ODAC men's basketball, visit any of the participating school's websites, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com and view the men's basketball virtual media guide. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook.  You can also follow the ODAC on Twitter @odacathletics.  Be sure to check out the ODAC's YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/ODAC1976) and watch an interview with each of the ODAC's head men's basketball coaches as they talk about their programs from media day in Salem (videos not live --- to be added after the event). 2014-15 ODAC MEN'S BASKETBALL PREASON POLL (#) Denotes First Place Votes 1. Randolph-Macon (10) 120 pts. 2. Virginia Wesleyan (2) 111 pts. 3. Eastern Mennonite 91 pts. 3. Guilford 91 pts. 5. Hampden-Sydney 87 pts. 6. Roanoke 66 pts. 7. Lynchburg 64 pts. 8. Randolph 53 pts. 9. Washington and Lee 38 pts. 10. Bridgewater 35 pts. 11. Shenandoah 22 pts. 12. Emory & Henry 14 pts.

Nice flights thanks to All Nippon Airways and United. Cousin Ry was a quick call away after I landed and he even took me to Harrisonburg as Reed had a late basketball practice and it was going to be a really late night for him if he came to Reston. Ry and I watched his practice for awhile then went to eat before he headed back. What a cousin!! My little apt. is as wonderful as ever. Spent yesterday trying to get all my services back with the biggest problem being Comcast as I'm having to spend more money and my modem refuses to work properly.

Last day here and there's problems with the cable but looking outside I'm surprised it works at all.

Email from Reed: I'm back to practicing we had a scrimmage tonight for the fans to watch. I had 16 points in our 99-91 win. The seniors on each team made a bet that the winner gets coach Kirb's wife's cookies and brownies. I hope we get more of those because they are amazing. We even had a dunk off in the beginning. Got to show them what I can do. From EMU's website------ Runnin Royals Opening The Gym For Blue/White Game Saturday Night The moment has come for everyone itching for their first look at the Runnin Royals. EMU's basketball men are holding a Blue/White Game this Saturday night at 7:00pm, giving the general public a chance to see the men three weeks before the start of their season. The night starts with a dunk extravaganza, featuring the numerous high-flyers on the Eastern Mennonite basketball team. A full length intra-squad game tips off at 7:15pm. The event is open to the general public and admission is free. The Runnin Royals open the 2014-15 season by hosting a tip-off classic on Nov. 15 and 16, taking on Ferrum and St. Mary's (Md.). Local rival Bridgewater College will be the fourth team at the invite, playing before Eastern Mennonite each day. Click here to the see the entire 2014-15 EMU men's basketball schedule. The men finished last year on a tear, winning six in a row before getting knocked out of the ODAC Tournament in the semifinals. They return 11 of their 12 regular players from that squad, which finished 17-11. Among that large core are seven seniors, including center David Falk (Madison, Va./Madison), who was named All-ODAC First Team, All-State First Team and All-South Region Third Team, along with All-ODAC Second Team wing Marcel Crump (Richmond, Va./Highland Springs).

Tired of being in Manila. Saw Ver today and he's pleased with my progress. Got my instructions which includes x-rays to send him and exercises to do. In case you're interested in just what my procedure was, Ver showed me where to find a short video on it.

Well, out of the hospital and back over to Lourdes Suites. Actually got to stay in the hospital 2 more days. Here for about a week as I'll see Dr Ver again on Saturday and jump on the airplane for Narita and Dulles Monday morning the 27th. Here are the 4 other pics Dr Ver gave me.

Well it's been about 24 hours since I got out of the OR. Haven't slept much but snoozed a lot. Have to wear a neck brace but my neck seems to be longer than the brace so I'm not sure how much it's bracing. Dr Ver was here yesterday and will come again this afternoon to check me out. I may ask him to stay one more day. We'll see. The neck is still pretty tight. After he was here the first time I sent this out to Reed and Ry: Thanks for the thoughts. Dr Ver was just here and showed me pic of the procedure and told me I might be the only guy with 5 fused verts (8 fuses) using that procedure. I'm evidently medical history. Also showed me where he broke 3 chisels trying to separate the bones. See drinking all that milk was good for something. I'll try to get him to give me the pics. And I*'ll see if I can put a couple of the pics on the blog. When his boys came to check my incisions this morning they checked my hip and told me he'd taken a bone graft from there. It hadn't hurt and I didn't even know about it.

Coming up on noon Thursday here in Manila, PI. Going into the hospital in a couple hours for my operation. It's scheduled for tomorrow morning at 7am. Not a lot else to say. Wish me luck.

Typhoon was no biggee for me but creating havoc other places. Anyway, been here about 5 days and have seen doctors and technicians. Bottom line is right now my operation is scheduled for Friday with Dr Ver. That could change as I still have some people who need to clear me. Also my neck is somewhat worse than we first believed as I have 2 joints that are bad and 2 that are Very bad so we'll be fusing 4 vertebrae. I can believe it too as I have more tingling by the day. May have my choice of two different surgeries - lucky me - with my insurance company having some input. And meet my surgeon. Funny guy. Loves to talk and joke.

Sunday afternoon Guam time and Typhoon Something is a possible monkey wrench in my plans. Probably not though as it should be long past when my flight is scheduled to leave. Not a biggee as typhoons go it might give Rota some problems.

Went to Dr Carlos' office yesterday but the earliest appt was over 2 weeks away. Talked to Hillary down at my health insurer SelectCare and decided later to go to Manila and St Lukes Hospital to take care of this. A neighbor told me this morning that he has a somewhat similar problem and after some research decided that a Dr Ver at St Luke's is an excellent surgeon and that's who I should see. And so, by the end of Saturday (Guam time), I'm flying out Tuesday to Manila and will see Dr. Ver on Thursday afternoon.

Some months ago I started experiencing tingling in my arms when I had my hands behind my head and other times. Went to see Dr. Duenas in May and he thought I might have to get some vertebrae fused and had me get an MRI. The results of the MRI was that I had some arthritis, some stenosis (look it up) and a bone spur. Nothing seemed real pressing so I continued on with the original plan of getting Reed set up at college. Lately, however, the tingling seems to be getting worse so yesterday (a relative term when traveling to and from Guam) I jump on an airplane and came back to Guam as that's where my insurance is. Saw Duenas again today and he seemed a bit puzzled as my symptoms seems somewhat incompatible with the MRI results. Sooooo... Duenas is lining me up with a local neurologist, a Dr. Carlos, and we'll see what he has to say.