Aug. 30, 2010
NORFOLK, VA--The 2010-11 Old Dominion University men's basketball schedule will featurefive non-conference teams who competed in last year's NCAA tournament field, the defendingNIT Champion, 18 CAA games and a ESPN Bracketbusters home game.
"One of the many positive characteristics of ODU basketball is the ability to attract and schedule a quality non-conference schedule. Coach Taylor and his staff have again constructed an outstanding non-conference schedule that should challenge our talented team while also allowing us to make a favorable impression on the men's basketball committee come selection Sunday. Certainly our ODU basketball fans remain a primary beneficiary of our national schedule as our goal remains selling out every home men's basketball game." - Athletic Director, Dr. Wood Selig.
"I am pleased with the finished product of our schedule. We've played a very aggressive and challengingschedule over time and this one certainly compares with any. I always want to acknowledge the effortsof Jim Corrigan's day-to-day diligence and of course the positive influence that Dr. Selig had on thefinishing touches.- ODU head coach Blaine Taylor who is just 11 wins away from becoming ODU's all-time winningest coach (188-103 at ODU 9 yrs)/330-168 overall in 16 yrs) .
The Defending CAA Champion Monarchs who reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament will host Georgetown, Richmond along with NIT Champion Dayton at the Constant Center this year.
The Monarchs will also play at Missouri on December 30th and will compete in the Paradise Jam Tournament that will include Xavier, Clemson, Alabama, Iowa, Seton Hall, St. Peter's and Long BeachState, Nov. 19-22. Xavier and Clemson competed in last year's NCAA tournament with sixth seeded Xavier advancing to the round of 16 before losing to Kansas State. ODU will open the tournament against Long Beach State.
ODU will open the regular season at home on Nov. 12 against Georgetown where the Monarchs averaged 6,995 in 15 home games and 7,398 in nine CAA games. The Monarchs 15-0 homerecord is the best ever at the Constant Center and its current home winning streak of 23 straight winsranks fourth nationally.
ODU knocked off the Hoyas at McDonough arena last year and own a 3-0 record there. Georgetownwas a number three seed in last year's NCAA event. The Monarchs host Richmond on Dec. 1, as the Spiders also competed in last year's NCAA tournament as a number seven seed.
On Dec. 30th ODU will travel to Columbia, MO. for the first time since 1987 and the Missouri Tigers will come to the Constant Center for the 2011-12 season. Missouri defeated ODU in the South Padre Island Tournament last year and was a 10th seed in the NCAA tournament, knocking off seventh seed Clemson in the first round. ODU last played the Tigers in Scope during the 1989-90 season.
Include the CBI Post Season Champion and CAA rival VCU along with NIT participants Northeastern andwith William and Mary and CIT participant George Mason, the Monarchs again have 11 post season opponents on the upcoming slate.
The Monarchs Blue-White scrimmage game is scheduled for Oct. 23rd prior to the Homecoming football game against Georgia State at 12 noon.
ODU will also host High Point on Nov. 15th, Presbyterian on Dec. 23 and Maryland Eastern ShoreOn Dec. 9. East Carolina returns to the ODU schedule for the first time since 2005-06 season witha game in Greenville, NC. The Pirates will play at the Ted in 2011-12 season.
The Monarchs will play an 18-game CAA schedule, opening on the road on Dec. 4th at the University ofDelaware. ODU's first league home game will be Jan. 5 against Northeastern. George Mason comes to the Ted on Jan. 8, JMU on Jan. 19, VCU on Jan. 22 and William & Mary on Feb. 26th.
The CAA Championships will again be held at the Richmond Coliseum, March 4-7 in Richmond, Va.
"Your conference schedule makes up two-thirds of your competition, and I think the fact that six CAA teams played in post season play last year is an indication of just how entertaining that race has beenAnd will be. Keep in mind, last year we were not in first place by ourselves as the regular season champion until the last night of the 18th game. While we are playing many good opponents. Our goal has always been to come and watch us when we play, and obviously that has been the case." - BlaineTaylor.
Old Dominion has the best record of any Virginia Division I team the past six years of 146-60 for a .708 winning percentage. Last year, ODU was 27-9, won the CAA regular season and tournament title, then as an 11th seed defeated Notre Dame, 51-50 in the NCAA first round played in New Orleans. The fiveCAA titles is more than any other current league member.
ODU ranked among the nation's best in four categories. ODU ranked third nationally in rebound margin (8.1), sixth nationally in scoring defense (57.5), 18th nationally in three-point field goal defense (30.0),30th nationally in assists (15.4), and 24th nationally in scoring margin (9.6).
Heading the Monarchs returnees are Ben Finney, (6-5, Sr.,F. 8.8 ppg/5.8 rpg) a third team All-CAA selection; Kent Bazemore (6-5, Jr., 8.4 ppg./4.2 rpg), a CAA All-Defensive and All-Tournament selectionand league steals leader; Darius James (6-1, Sr, G, 7.0 ppg./ 3.3 apg.), Frank Hassell (6-8, Sr., F, 9.2 ppg./6.7 rpg.), and Keyon Carter (6-8, Sr, F, 7.4 ppg./4.9 rpg).
The Monarchs will be counting heavily on Marquel De Lancey (6-0, Jr., G, 1.3 ppg.), Chris Cooper (6-8,Junior, F. 1.4 ppg.), Trian Iliadis (6-4, Jr., G, 3.1 ppg.), red-shirt sophomore Nick Wright (6-8, F-C, 1.3Ppg.) as well as red-shirt freshmen Josh Hicks (6-2, G) from Winston-Salem, NC. And Anton Larsen (7-0, C) from Denmark.
Taylor and his staff brought in two outstanding newcomers in 6-3 guard, Dimitri Batten from nearbyKecoughtan High School in Hampton, Va., the Peninsula District Player of the Year and 6-6 RichardRoss the Co-Red River MVP from Hirschi High in Wichita Falls, TX.
For season ticket information, please call the Constant Center ticket office at 757-683-4444.
OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY2010-11 MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Sat.. Oct. 23Blue-White exh.12 noonMon. Nov. 1Virginia State (exh.)7:00 p.m.Sat. Nov. 6 Elizabeth City State (exh.)7:00 p.m. Fri. Nov. 12Georgetown 7:00 p.m.Mon. Nov. 15High Point7:00 p.m.Fri. Nov. 19at Paradise Jam Tournament %(vs. St. Peter's)2:00 p.m.Sun. Nov. 21 at Paradise Jam Tournament%(Clemson/Long Beach State)TBAMon/Nov.22at Paradise Jam Tournament%TBAWed. Dec. 1 Richmond7:00 p.m.Sat. Dec. 4at Delaware*TBATue. Dec. 7at East Carolina7:00 p.m.Thu. Dec. 9Maryland-Eastern ShoreTBA Sat. Dec. 11 Dayton4:00 p.m.Thu. Dec. 23Presbyterian7:00 p.m.Thu. Dec. 30at MissouriTBAMon. Jan.3at Towson*7:00 p.m.Wed. Jan. 5Northeastern*7:00 p.m.Sat. Jan. 8George Mason*TBAWed. Jan. 12at Drexel*7:00 p.m.Sat. Jan. 15at Hofstra*TBAWed. Jan. 19James Madison*7:00 p.m.Sat. Jan. 22VCU*TBAMon. Jan. 24UNCW*7:00 p.m.Wed. Jan. 26at Georgia State*TBASat. Jan. 29Towson*7:00 p.m.Wed. Feb. 2Delaware* 7:00 p.m.Sat. Feb. 5at George Mason*7:00 p.m.Wed. Feb. 9at William & Mary*TBASat. Feb. 12at VCU*7:00 p.m.Tue. Feb. 15Georgia State*7:00 p.m.Sat. Feb. 19 Bracketbuster TBAWed. Feb. 23 at James Madison*7:00 p.m.Sat. Feb. 26William & Mary*TBAMarch 4-7CAA Tournament in Richmond, Va.
* CAA Games% Paradise Jam Tournament, U.S. Virgin Islands
Note: Dates are subject to change