Nov. 9, 2006
NORFOLK, VA-- The Old Dominion Monarchs open the2006-07 season with the Cox Communications Classic. ODU will host Monmouth at 6:30 p.m. followed by Clemson and Arkansas State at 9:00.The tournament is Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.
Last year, ODU was 24-10 and reached the NIT semi-finals.Clemson (ACC) was 19-13 and reached the second round of the NIT.Monmouth (NEC)was 19-15 and reached the NCAA tournamentArkansas State (Sun Belt) was 12-18.
MONARCHS RETURNEES TO WATCHF Arnaud Dahi 6-7, Sr, 11.9 ppg/ 4.8 rpgF Valdas Vasylius, 6-7, Sr, 8.8 ppg/4.5 rpgF Jonathan Adams, 6-6, So, 1.2 ppg/ 2.5 rpgG Drew Williamson, 6-0, Sr, 7.3 ppg/ 4.8 apgG Brian Henderson, 6-4,Jr, 6.0 ppg/2.7 rpgC Sam Harris, 7-3, Jr, 1.1 ppg/ 1.0 rpgG Brandon Johnson, Jr, 3.5 ppg/ 2.5 rpgG Abdi Lidonde, Jr, 3.0 ppg/ 1.9 rpgG John Morris, Sr, 1.6 ppg/ 1.0 rpg
NOTES:Season Openers:ODU is 3-2 in season openers under Blaine Taylors direction. TheMonarchs have won the last two, including a win over Georgia inlast year's Paradise Jam tournament.
Blaine Taylor is only six wins shy of becoming the fifth ODU coachto reach 100 career wins at the school. He is 94-59 in five seasonsat ODU and 236-124 in 12 total years as a collegiate head coach.
The Monarchs have five newcomers this season. They are Marsharee Neely,a 6-2 guard from Greensboro, NC; Gerald Lee, a 6-9, forward from Uusikaupunki, Finland; Frank Hassell, a 6-8 forward from Chesapeake, VA;and Keyon Carter, 6-8 Forward from Riviera Beach, Fl. ODU also has a walk-on, in 6-2,sophomore guard, Joshua Russell.
Monarch Captains:This year's captains are seniors Drew Williamson, Arnaud Dahi and John Morris.
Clemson head coach Oliver Purnell and assistant coach Frank Smithare alumni of ODU. Smith is ODU's all-time assist leader, whilePurnell captained ODU's 1975 NCAA Division II National Championshipteam. He also coached ODU from 1991-94 taking the Monarchs to twoNIT tournaments and one NCAA tournament. Both Purnell and SMith arein the ODU Sports Hall of Fame.
ODU is 1-0 vs. Clemson, but has never played the other two schools.The Monarchs defeated Clemson in South Carolina, 61-59 in doubleovertime in the second round of the 1979 NIT.
ODU and Arkansas State have something in common. ODU was a memberof the Sun Belt from 1983 to 1991.
PLAYERS TO WATCHClemson:Vernon Hamilton, 6-0, Sr, G, 12.0 ppgCliff Hammonds, 6-3, Jr, G, 10.1 ppgJames Mays, 6-9, Jr,F, 9.2 ppg
Arkansas StateIsaac Wells, 6-8, Jr., F. 14.4 ppgJim Jones, 6-3, Sr, G, 12.4 ppg
MonmouthMarques Alston, 6-4, Sr, F, 11.6 ppgDejac Delic, 6-6, Sr, F, 12.3 ppg
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULEFridayODU vs. Monmouth 6:30Clemson vs. Arkansas State 9:00
SaturdayODU vs. Arkansas State 4:00Monmouth vs. Clemson 6:30
SundayArkansas State vs. Monmouth 2:00ODU vs. Clemson 4:30
All games will be televised on Cox Cable channel 11.Announcers are John Castleberry and Lefty Driesell.
Tournament adult ticket books are $45 for all three days ($40 for early orders). Discount ticket books are $35 ($30 for early orders) for military and senior citizens. Individual session tickets are $20 for adults, discount of $15 for senior citizens, military, faculty /staff and youth 17 and under. Group s of 20 or moreis $12.00. For ticket information please call the Constant Center box office at 757-683-4444