Sept. 14, 2009
MBB 2009-10 schedule in PDF Format
NORFOLK, VA--The 2009-10 Old Dominion University men's basketball schedule willfeature 11 post season teams from a year ago, as well as nine home CAA games, a tournament in Texas, an ESPNBracketbusters game, and a road game with Georgetown, and Dayton.
"Obviously, the CAA is the centerpiece of any schedule," said ODU head coach Blaine Taylor, whowent over the 300 (303-159 in 14 yrs/161-94 in 8 yrs at ODU) career win plateau last year. " Our league is as good as any, and with our past success,we will have five home league Saturday games. We will also have home weeknight games against James Madison and William and Mary. This is aslate that should be quite exciting for our fans."
The Monarchs will play an 18-game CAA schedule, opening at home on Dec. 5th againstThe University of Delaware. ODU will also play home Saturday games against Hofstra on Jan. 9,Drexel on Jan 16th, George Mason on Feb. 13 and VCU in the regular season finale on Feb. 27.
The CAA Championships will again be held at the Richmond Coliseum, March 5-8, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
"It's important to note that because of the strength of our program, the facility and attendance, thatmany of the Wednesday night league games could change because of TV," said Taylor. "As a result of a young team that grew and captured theCollegeInsider.com title, we are taking on a very ambitious and challenging slate of games, and along with the strong CAA contests, there is an anticipation of a funride we will have this winter."
Four of the Monarch opponents, Dayton, Mississippi State, Missouri and VCU, were in the NCAA tournament. Missouri advanced to the Elite Eight,while Dayton reached the second round. Georgetown, Duquesne and George Mason competed in the NIT, while Liberty, JMU and Mount St. Mary'swere in the CIT and Richmond reached the semi-finals of the CBI tournament. In all, ODU will play teams from nine different conferences which includethe Southeast, BIG EAST, Big 12, Atlantic 10, Conference USA, MEAC, Big South and Northeast Conference .
The Monarchs will host Bethune-Cookman in its home opener on Nov. 15, then Longwood on Nov. 17, both as part of the South Padre Island Tournament. ODU will then travel to Texas, Nov. 27 to play Missouri and 28 to play Mississippi State or Richmond in the tournaments third and final rounds. The complete Tournament field includes Longwood, Bethune-Cookman, Chattanooga, Texas Pan American, Mississippi State, Richmond, Missouri and ODU.
ODU will also host non-conference games against Marshall on Nov. 21, Mt. St. Mary's on Dec. 8,Charlotte on Dec. 23 and Duquesne on Dec. 30.
" The South Padre Invitational is great for our program with first and second round games at ODU, then two games in Texas," said Taylor. " We have also been quite fortunate to land home and home games against Georgetown and Dayton."
The Monarchs will travel to Liberty on Nov. 19, Richmond on Dec. 2, Dayton on Dec. 11 and Georgetown on Dec. 19. ODU last played Dayton in2002-03 in Norfolk. The ESPN Bracketbusters game is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 20, on the road. The opponent will be announced in early February. The Monarchslast played Georgetown in 2007-08 in the Constant Center. The Monarchs have beaten the Hoyastwice on the road, in 1976-77 and 2006-07. The series is even at two game each.
Old Dominion will host exhibition games against Barton on Nov. 2 and Elizabeth City State on Nov. 7. ODU averaged over 7,000 fans per game in regular seasonand CAA home contests.
"I would like to thank athletic director Jim Jarrett along with Jim Corrigan for their diligent effortsin putting together this outstanding schedule,' added Taylor.
The Monarchs, who captured the Collegeinsider.com Tournament and finished 25-10; have won119 games over the last five years, the most of any Division I team in the state of Virginia. ODU returns10 lettermen along with six players with 13 or more starts. Heading ODU's returnees includefirst team All-CAA center/forward Gerald Lee (6-10, Sr, 15.5 ppg/5.7 rpg).
Also returning are Ben Finney (6-5, Jr, F, 10.0 ppg/ 6.0 rpg); Darius James (6-1, Jr, G, 6.9 ppg/4.6 apg),CIT Tournament MVP Frank Hassell (6-8, Jr, F, 7.5 ppg/ 5.3 rpg), Keyon Carter (6-8, Jr, F, 7.9 ppg/ 4.6 rpg)CIT All-Tournament selection Marsharee Neely (6-3, Sr, G, 7.1 ppg/ 2.8 rpg.), and Kent Bazemore (6-5, RS-So, G, 4.5 ppg./3.1 rpg).
The Monarchs will also be counting heavily on Marquel De Lancey (6-0, So, G, 1.0 ppg.), Trian Iliadis(6-3, So, G., 2.4 ppg), Chris Cooper (6-8, So., F, 1.0 ppg/1.0 rpg) and red-shirt freshman Nick Wright (6-8,C.).
Taylor and his staff brought in newcomers Josh Hicks (Winston-Salem, NC.), a 6-2 All-State guard from North Carolina High School 4A State ChampionMount Tabor, and 7-0 Anton Larsen (Copenhagen, Denmark). Hicks averaged 17.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 5-1 assists, and 4.5 steals as he led Mount Taborto a 31-1 record. Larsen is a member of the Danish National squad.
For season ticket information, please call the Constant Center ticket office at 757-683-4444.
OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY 2009-10 MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Sat. Oct. 24Blue-White (exh.)2:00 p.m.Mon. Nov. 2Barton College (exh.)7:00 p.m.Sat. Nov. 7Elizabeth City State (exh.)7:00 p.m. Sun. Nov. 15Bethune Cookman # 1:00 p.m.Tue. Nov. 17Longwood #7:00 p.m.Thur. Nov. 19at Liberty7:00 p.m.Sat. Nov. 21Marshall7:00 p.m.Fri. Nov. 27at South Padre Island Tournament %(vs. Missouri)8:30 p.m.Sat. Nov. 28at South Padre Island Invitational%(Mississippi State or Richmond)8:00/5:30 p.m.Wed. Dec. 2at RichmondTBASat. Dec. 5Delaware*TBATue. Dec. 8Mt. St. Mary's7:00 p.m.Fri. Dec. 11at DaytonTBA Sat. Dec. 19 at GeorgetownTBAWed. Dec. 23Charlotte7:00 p.m.Wed. Dec. 30Duquesne7:00 p.m.Sat. Jan. 2at George Mason*TBAMon. Jan. 4at Towson*TBAWed. Jan. 6James Madison*TBASat. Jan. 9Hofstra*TBAWed. Jan. 13at UNC Wilmington*TBASat. Jan. 16Drexel*TBAWed. Jan. 20at Delaware*TBASat. Jan. 23at William & Mary*TBAWed. Jan. 27Georgia State*TBASat. Jan. 30at Northeastern*TBAWed. Feb. 3William & Mary* TBASat. Feb. 6at VCU*TBAWed. Feb. 10at James Madison*TBASat. Feb. 13George Mason*TBAWed. Feb. 17Towson*TBASat. Feb. 20at Bracketbuster TBAWed. Feb. 24 at Georgia State*TBASat. Feb. 27VCU*TBAMarch 5-8CAA Tournament in Richmond, Va.
# Home South Padre Island Games at ODU. * CAA Games% South Padre Island Tournament in TexasGame dates and times subject to change