Aug. 30, 2007
NORFOLK, VA--The 2007-08 Old Dominion University men's basketballschedule will feature the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament,and home games with Virginia Tech, NCAA Final Four participant Georgetown, andan ESPN Bracketbuster's game. In all, the Monarchs will face seven teams from last year's NCAA tournament.
"One thing that has transpired over the years is our fans coming to see us play,instead of who we play," said ODU head coach Blaine Taylor. "That indicates how much the CAA race is valued as we have sold out home games many times against teams not in the first division."
"The schedule has obvious eye catching games," adds Taylor. "But there are a couple of junctures like the first couple of home games and the three-game road swing around Christmas that will be very crucial for this young team to work through."
"The CAA race is always exciting and with non-conference opponents likeGeorgetown, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina should provide our fans with outstandingquality basketball throughout the season," say's athletic director, Jim Jarrett.
ODU will meet Georgetown on Nov. 28 at the Constant Center. The Monarchsknocked off the then eighth-ranked Hoyas, 75-62 in McDonough Arena last year. The Hoyas would the BIG EAST title and advance to the NCAA FINAL FOUR. Virginia Tech returns to the Constant Center on Sunday, Dec. 16th. The Hokies defeated Illinois in the NCAA first round last year.
The eight-team Las Vegas tournament will consist of ODU, North Carolina,Louisville, Brigham Young, Iona , South Carolina State, Hartford and Jackson State.ODU will open the exempt event with home games against South Carolina State onNov. 11, then Iona on Nov. 20th , then travel to Las Vegas to play NorthCarolina on Nov. 23rd and either Louisville or BYU on Nov. 24th in the 8,000 seatOrleans Hotel Arena. All three teams competed in last year's NCAA Tournament.
North Carolina reached the NCAA Elite Eight, losing to Georgetown in the East Regional final. The Monarchs last played the Tar Heels in 2004. ODU has never playedLouisville before, although both were in the 2006 NIT Final Four. The Monarchs lastplayed BYU in the 1975-76 ODU-Kiwanis Classic in Scope.
This year's Bracketbuster weekend is Feb. 23rd with an opponent to be named at a later date. The Monarchs will host last year's Bracketbuster opponent and Mid-American power Toledo on Nov. 16.
The Monarchs will travel to NCAA participant Winthrop on Dec. 21, and playat NIT Finalist Clemson, coached by ODU Hall of Famer Oliver Purnell ('75), onNov. 18. The last time ODU played at Clemson was the 61-59 double-overtime NIT win in 1979. Clemson played in last year's Cox Classic at the Constant Center.
ODU will also travel to Richmond of the Atlantic 10 on Dec. 19 and UAB of Conference USA on Dec. 29th.
The Monarchs will play an 18-game league schedule, opening at home onDec. 1 against Georgia State, under the direction of new head coach RodBarnes. ODU will play Georgia State, James Madison, William and Mary,Virginia Commonwealth, George Mason, UNC Wilmington, and Northeastern twice,and Hofstra, Drexel, Towson and Delaware once.
Hofstra visits the Constant Center on Jan. 2, VCU on Jan. 19, W&M on Jan. 5, UNC Wilmington on Jan. 30, George Mason on Feb. 9, and Drexel on Feb. 14.
The CAA has had four teams in post season play in each of the past two seasons, and four teams finished in the top 75 of the RPI led by VCU (44), ODU (45), Drexel (55)and Hofstra (75). The CAA Championships will be March 7-10 at the Richmond Coliseum.
The Monarch's will play exhibition games against Mt. Olive College on Oct. 31 and Shepherd University on Nov. 5.
" Much of the credit of putting together a schedule of this magnitude goes to the support from our administration," said Taylor. The daily efforts of Dr. Jarrett and Jim Corrigan have helped make our schedule a great situation for our fans, the Hampton Roads community and students as our team continues to develop through the season."
ODU returns seven lettermen and two starters from last year's 24-9 squad whichearned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Monarch returnees include Brian Henderson (6-5, 9.4 ppg/3.0 rpg.) and 6-1, CAA All-Defensive standout Brandon Johnson (8.3 ppg/ 4.6 rpg.), 6-6, Jonathan Adams (3.0 ppg/3.4 rpg), 7-3 Sam Harris (1.7 ppg/ 1.2 rpg), 6-9 Gerald Lee (4.2 ppg./ 4.6 rpg), 6-2 Abdi Lidonde (4.6 ppg/ 2.0 rpg), and 6-2 Marsharee Neely (2.4 ppg./ 0.7 rpg.)
The youthful Monarchs will have four newcomers, plus two red-shirt freshmen.The newcomers include Northeastern North Carolina Player of the Year Kent Bazemore, a 6-5 freshman forward from Windsor, NC,, 6-3, Canadian under-19, guard Etoile Imama, from Montreal, Canada, 6-5 All-Tidewater guard/forward Ben Finney fromHargrave Military and Norcom High School, and 6-1, All-Tidewater guard Darius Jamesfrom Tallwood High School in Virginia Beach. Keyon Carter, a 6-8 forward from Riviera Beach, FL, and Frank Hassell, a 6-7 forward from Indian River High in Chesapeake return as they red-shirted last year.
Season tickets are on sale now through the athletic ticket office at 683-4444 and season ticket renewals are currently being taken online at ODUsports.com.MONARCHS TAKE TOUR OF BAHAMAS THIS WEEKENDODU heads to the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas to play a series of three-exhibitions this weekend. ODU will play the Bahamas All-Stars Saturday, Sept. 1 at 12 noon; Sunshine Auto on Sunday, Sept 2 at 2 p.m. and the Guatemala National team Monday at 11 a.m.
This is the fourth international tour for the Monarchs. ODU traveled to Algeria inThe summer of 1975, France in the summer of 1994, and London in the Fall of 2003.
Oct. 28 Blue-White ScrimmageOct. 31 Mt. Olice College (exh.)Nov. 5 Shepherd Univ. (Exh.)Nov. 11 South Carolina State%Nov. 16 Toledo (Homecoming)Nov. 18 at ClemsonNov. 20 Iona%Nov. 23 vs. North Carolina%Nov. 24 Vs. Louisville or BYU%Nov. 28 GeorgetownDec. 1 at Georgia State*Dec. 8 MD-Eastern ShoreDec. 16 Virginia TechDec. 19 at RichmondDec. 21 at WinthropDec. 29 at UABJan. 2 Hofstra*Jan. 5 William and Mary*Jan. 9 at Towson*Jan. 12 at Delaware*Jan. 16 James Madison*Jan. 19 VCU*Jan. 23 at George Mason*Jan. 26 at William & Mary*Jan. 30 UNC Wilmington*Feb. 2 Georgia State*Feb. 6 at Northeastern*Feb. 9 George Mason*Feb. 13 Drexel*Feb. 16 at VCU*Feb. 20 at James Madison*Feb. 23 ESPN Bracketbuster (Home game)Feb. 27 Northeastern*Mar. 1 at UNC WIlmington*
Fri-Mon. March 7-10CAA ChampionshipsRichmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA% Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational at Orleans Hotel Arena (1st two games at ODU) NOTE: all times are eastern, & as well as dates subject to change