GAME NOTESOld Dominion Monarchs (18-17) In 2014 College Basketball InvitationalVS. Fresno State(19-16) Semifinals-Save Mart Center
The Monarchs, the nation's second most improved team over a year ago face Fresno State (19-16) at the Save Smart Center Wednesday night. Tip-off is set for 10 p.m. (EST), and the game can be heard on ESPN 94.1 FM in the Hampton Roads area. Fresno State is a member of the Mountain West Conferencem which will also exclusively broadcast tomorrow's CBI semifinal game between Fresno State and Old Dominion. There will be several locations where the game can be located, including the primary "Watch Live" page at http://www.themw.com/#!/watch-live and the live stats "Game Center" at: http://www.themw.com/#!/GameCenter/53315d74e4b0495ecc40a244?sport=m-baskbl.
ODU QUICK BITES
ODU played in the very first CBI in 2008ODU shot .594 from the floor in the first half vs. SDSUThe Monarchs finished sixth in their first season in the 16-team C-USA this year.ODU’s turn-a-round from last year currently ranks second nationallyReserve Ambrose Mosley leads the team with 57 three-pointers made.The shorter Monarchs have outrebounded 23 of their opponents this year.Head Coach Jeff Jones has 376 career winsHead Coach Jeff Jones is the winningest coach in American U. history.Jeff Jones was the first person to win the NIT title both as a player and a coach (at Virginia).ODU is 4-4 in C-USA road play.ODU is 12-2 when leading at halftimeODU has shot 50 percent or better from the floor eight times.ODU’s best shooting from the field was .592 vs. ECU at home.ODU finished 12-6 at homeODU is second in the league in attendance at 6,190 (6,408 in C-USA home games)Keenan Palmore and Denzell Taylor have started and played in all 35 games this year.The 6-6 Richard Ross ranks 11th in C-USA in rebounding and second in blocked shots.Asst. Coach Bryant Stith is a 10-year NBA veteran and played for Jones at Virginia.
MONARCH PROBABLE STARTERS G 1 Aaron Bacote, 6-4, So., Hampton, VA. 15.7 ppg/ 3.0 rpgG 3 Keenan Palmore, 6-1, So., Stone Mountain, GA. 10.0 ppg/ 4.1 rpgF 21 Denzell Taylor, 6-7, Fr., Brampton, Ontario 4.2 ppg/ 6.0 rpgF 23 Richard Ross, 6-6, R-Jr. Wichita Falls, TX. 10.0 ppg/ 7.1 rpgG 4 Dimitri Batten, 6-3, R-Jr., Newport News, Va., 10.9 ppg/4.1 rpg
OFF THE BENCHG 0 Jordan Baker, 6-2, Fr. Hampton, VA. 4.4 ppg/ 2.1 rpg.G 10 Martin Shaw 5-11 So. Hampton, VA. 0.2 ppg/ 0.0 rpgF 11 Joe Ebondo 6-7 Jr. Euless, TX. 1.5 ppg/ 3.5 rpgG 22 Ambrose Mosley 6-2, R-Fr. Jacksonville, Fl. 7.3 ppg/2.9 rpgF 40 Anton Larsen 7-0 R-Sr. Copenhagen, Denmark 1.3 ppg/ 1.1 rpgG 25 Sean-Michael King 6-1, Jr. Alexandria, VA. 0.0 ppg/ 0.0 rpg
HEAD COACHES:ODU- Jeff Jones 18-17 (1st year at ODU)/376-303(22nd year)Fresno State- Rodney Terry (3rd year at Fresno)43-55 PROBABLE FRESNO STARTERSG 1 Tyler Johnson 6-4 Sr. 15.7 ppg/7.4 rpgG 3 Cezar Guerrero 6-1 So. 12.8 ppg/ 3.1 rpg F 10 Alex Davis 6-9, Jr. 5.8 ppg/ 3.8 rpgF 22 Paul Watson 6-7, Fr. 10.0 ppg/ 4.6 rpgG 23 Marvelle Harris, 6-4, SO. 14.8 ppg/ 5.5 rpg Fresno State defeated fellow C-USA member UTEP in the first round, 61-56Fresno State was 9-9 in the Mountain West Conference.Fresno State is making its first postseason appearance since the 2007 NIT.Fresno State has won 11 of its last 14 games.
THE SERIES This is the first meeting between the two teams. ODU has also never played Siena orIllinois State.
COMPARING THE TEAMS ODU FRESNO STSCORING 64.2 72.9OPP AVG 64.3 70.5FGPCT .430 . 4363PT FGPCT: .329 . 431FT PCT .621 .726REBS 35.6 34.3ASSTS 10.7 12.3TO: 13.1 9.7STLS: 6.2 6.5BLKS 4.0 4.3
MONARCHS TOP 5 C-USA TEAM STAT RANKINGSScoring Defense: 4th at 63.7Rebounding Defense: 5th 33.9Field Goal PCT Def: 7th at .420
MONARCHS C-USA INDIVIDUAL RANKINGSScoring: Bacote 6th at 15.7Rebounding: Ross 11th at 7.1Assists: Bacote 13th at 3.0Field Goal PCT: 15th Ross at .525Free Throw PCT: Bacote 8th at .780Blocked Shots: Ross, 2nd at 2.3
MOST IMPROVED TEAMS FROM LAST YEARMilwaukee 21-14 8-24 11.5 (NCAA)UCSB 21-9 11-20 10.5ODU 18-17 5-25 10.5 (CBI)George Washington 24-8 13-17 10.0 (NCAA)Missouri State 20-12 11-22 9.5 (CIT)Alabama State 19-13 10-22 9.0 (CIT)Northern Illinois 15-17 5-25 9.0
PAST CBI CHAMPIONS2008 Tulsa2009 Oregon State2010 VCU2011 Oregon2012 Pittsburgh2013 Santa Clara