Nov. 12, 2001
The Old Dominion Monarchs play Sacramento State Tuesday night in the season openerunder the direction of head coach Blaine Taylor, in the first round of the NABC GuardianClassic in Memphis, TN. Game time is 6 p.m. #12th ranked Memphis hosts Wofford in theother game. The Games will be played in the Pyramid.
HEAD COACH: Blaine Taylor (Montana '81)
* Top Assistant at Stanford the last three years.
* 142-65 at Montana (1991-1998) - five 20+ win seasons
* 384-156 in 18 years as an assistant and head coach.
* 1992 Montana team was 27-4
* 1992 National Rookie Coach of the Year
* 1992 Big Sky Coach of the Year.
ABOUT THE MONARCHS Last Year's Record: 13-18 (7-9 in CAA 5th)
Starters Returning: Three...
Pierre Greene, Rasheed Wright and Ricardo Marsh.
Lettermen Returning: Nine
Returning Honors: Greene was second team All-CAA
MONARCHS PROBABLES 2000-01 Averages
F 21 Ricardo Marsh, 6-7, 225, Jr, Mebane, NC. 9.3 ppg/ 4.4 rpg
F 22 Rasheed Wright, 6-5, 195, Jr., Greensboro, NC. 9.8 ppg/ 4.0 rpg
C 30 Charles Dunnington, 6-9,220, So, Washington,DC. 1.7 ppg/ 2.0 rpg
G 12 Pierre Greene, 6-2 , 175, Sr. Chicago, Ill. 11.7 ppg/ 3.5 apg
G 13 Troy Nance, 5-9, 175, So. Va. Beach, Va. 3.6 ppg/ 3.5 apg
Top Substitutes
F 4 T.J. Waldon, 6-4, 210 Fr., Lakeland, FL. 18.5 ppg/9.7 rpg
G 10 John Waller, 6-4 ,175, So., Richmond, Va. 2.8 ppg/ 1.1 rpg
G 24 Kiah Thomas, 6-4, 185, Fr., Norfolk, Va. 14.1 ppg/7.3 rpg
F 33 James Smith, 6-7, 200, Fr., Norfolk, Va. 17.4 ppg/11.2 rpg
C 40 Clay McGowen, 6-11 220, So.Westerville, OH. 1.0 ppg/1.2 rpg
C 41 Joe Principe, 6-10, 225, So., Gladstone, MO. 1.7 ppg/ 1.5 rpg
GREENE PRE-SEASON ALL-CAA: Senior guard Pierre Greene was selected to the CAA preseason men's basketball All-CAA team by the league's head coaches and media in attendance at media day on Oct. 31 in Baltimore, Md. As a team, the Monarchs were picked seventh.
SERIES VS. SACRAMENTO STATE: ODU leads 1-0 First Meeting: 1995-96 Sacramento Tournament in the Arco Arena. ODU won, 69-62 in overtime.
ODU VS. Big Sky Conference: 1-1 vs. Idaho State, 1-0 vs Weber and 0-1 vs. Eastern Washington.
SERIES VS. WOFFORD: (0-0) First Meeting ODU vs. Southern Conference Teams: 13-4 vs. Georgia Southern, 2-0 vs Chattanooga, 15-4 vs. VMI, 2-0 vs Western Carolina, 1-0 vs. The Citadel, 0-1 vs. Furman.
SERIES VS. MEMPHIS: (0-0) First Meeting. The two teams were in the San Juan Shootout last year, but did not play.
ODU vs. Conference USA Teams: 6-0 vs. So. Miss, 2-1 vs. Tulane, 16-11 vs. South Florida, 13-10 vs Charlotte, 8-14 vs. UAB, 2-4 vs. DePaul, 0-1 vs. Cincinnati
MONARCH EXHIBITION GAMES:
Old Dominion defeated E.A. All-Stars Southeast, 106-99 in overtime as Ricardo Marsh scored 25 points and hauled in 13 rebounds. Rasheed Wright added 22 points and Troy Nance scored 12 with seven assists. ODU shot .473 from the floor and dominated the boards 63-35.
In the second exhibition game, ODU defeated Kentucky ABA, 89-82. Six Monarchs were in double figures. Pierre Greene led with 16 points, six assists and four steals. Marsh hauled in 16 rebounds. ODU shot .576 from the floor and outrebounded their opponent, 42-31.
MONARCHS IN SEASON OPENERS:
(Since moving to Div. I in 1976-77)
* 19-6 since 1976-77
* 5-6 in road openers
MONARCH CAA STATISTICAL LEADERS FROM LAST YEAR
Assists: Pierre Greene and Troy Nance (5th) 3.48
Free Throw Percentage: Greene (5th) .769
Wright (10th) .740 Steals: Greene (9th) 1.23
Three Point Field Goal Pct: Wright (10th) .364
BLAINE TAYLOR'S RADIO CALL IN SHOW
Every Thursday afternoon from 5-6 p.m. on ESPN 1310 radio with host John Castleberry. Fans can also e-mail questions to Taylor at www.odusports.com.
MONARCH NEW ASSISTANTS
Kenny Gattison ('ODU '86) Sun Belt Conference All-Decade Team and League Player of the Year in 1986. Larry Krystkowiak (Montana '86) Three-Time Big Sky Player of the Year and Academic All-American.
Both played in the NBA for nine years.
THE NEW CAA (Colonial Athletic Association)
*The CAA is now comprised of ten teams.
* The four new schools are Delaware, Hofstra (Long Island, NY.), Towson (Baltimore, MD. area) and Drexel (Philadelphia)
* Also in the league are Old Dominion, Virginia Commonwealth, James Madison, UNC Wilmington, William and Mary, and George Mason.
MONARCH NBA ALUMNI
Mark West ('83) Now Assistant General Manager with the Phoenix Suns.
Cal Bowdler ('99) In third season with the Atlanta Hawks
Chris Gatling ('91) Now with the Miami Heat.
"FAREWELL TO THE FIELDHOUSE TRIBUTES"
Dec. 1 vs. Illinois-Chicago (70's night)
Jan. 19 vs. Virginia Commonwealth (80's night)
Feb. 16 vs. James Madison ('90's night)
NEXT HOME GAME: The Monarchs home opener will be Nov. 24 against Virginia Tech in the Scope Arena at 7:35 p.m.