The countdown continues this week at number eight, focusing on the 2007-2008 men’s basketball team. The team’s coach, Tom Palombo, returned for his fifth season, along with three starters and 10 varsity players from the previous season.

These starters included Eric Belkoski ’08, Caleb Kimbrough ’08, and Ben Strong ’08. Strong, Guilford’s 6’11” center, was coming off a productive season, in which he averaged 25.4 points a game, with 11.2 rebounds, resulting in a co-player of the year award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

Before the season began, a poll was taken of Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) coaches, ranking the schools within the division. Guilford College was placed at number ones.

The season began with a tough exhibition against the University of South Carolina, a Division I competitor in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The teams were unevenly matched, resulting in a 99-63 loss for the Quakers.

From that point on, the Quakers hit their stride, winning eight out of the next 11 games, losing just one conference game to Randolph Macon College. This streak included wins against division rivals Lynchburg, Hampden Sydney, and Virginia Wesleyan.

  Just four days after the Virginia Wesleyan win, Guilford lost to rival Roanoke, marking the last in-conference loss of the season. 

Following their loss on Jan. 16 2008, the Quakers rebounded by winning 13 straight games, all within the ODAC. This winning streak led the team directly into the annual ODAC Tournament.

Basketball, like many sports, is often decided by which team is hottest entering the tournament. The 2007-2008 season was proof.

Their first game of the tournament was against Eastern Mennonite (10-18). Guilford had already beaten the Royals twice that season by a total of 35 points, and made quick work of them, winning 81-66.

That win matched the Quakers up against Roanoke for the second round. Tensions were high going in, given Guilford’s early season loss. The game was tied going into the halftime, but the Quakers took off quickly at the start of the second period, eventually winning 67-56.

With the win against Roanoke, Guilford headed to the championship against Virginia Wesleyan (22-6). The game took place in Salem, Va., at the Civic Center.

Guilford jumped out to a 13 point halftime lead, leaving both players and coaches feeling confident. The second half was not as comforting, with Virginia Wesleyan tying the score with a 3 pointer with 14 seconds to go. The half ended tied.

The Quakers took control of the game during overtime, winning the game 91-80.

Guilford posted a 24-5 record on the season, going 16-2 within the (ODAC).

This pick may be controversial, considering the equal 24-5 record posted by the 2006-2007 team. The main difference between the two was the result of the ODAC Tournament, in which the 2006-2007 Quakers were bounced in the first round by Bridgewater.

 Both seasons deserve recognition, but the 2007-2008 Men’s Basketball squad stands alone as Guilford College’s #8 best team of all time.