NORFOLK, VA- ODU honored its student athletes at the Big Blue BBQ after compiling an 18-18 season where they made the NCAA’s biggest turn-around in wins from five to 18 and fourth in won-lost differential at +10. The Monarchs finished sixth in their inaugural season in Conference USA, got a first round bye and advanced to the tournament quarterfinals. The Monarchs then advanced to the semifinals of the CBI (College Basketball Invitational).
The following awards were presented at the Big Blue BBQ:
The Practice Player Award: Trey Freeman
Named after every practice player with the most during the year.
The Cal Bowdler Most-Improved Player Award: Ambrose Mosley
From early October start to the end of the season.
The Mark West Defensive Player of the Year Award: Denzell Taylor
Doesn’t Always show up in the box score. Covers for all teammates.
The Paul Webb MR. Monarch Award: Keenan Palmore
The player that best represents Monarch basketball on the court, in
the classroom and in public.
The Most Valuable Player: Aaron Bacote (15.5 ppg/ 102 assists) & Richard Ross (10.0 ppg/7.0 rpg/2.3 blks). Stats, effort, leadership and results. They both put it all together.
Of the 353 NCAA Division I teams in 2013-14, the best turnarounds in terms of increase in wins from 2012-13 to 2013-14:
1. Milwaukee - +13 (8 to 21)
Old Dominion - +13 (5 to 18)
3. Connecticut - +12 (20 to 32)
Siena - +12 (8 to 20)
SMU - +12 (15 to 27)
Toledo - +12 (15 to 27)
Texas A&M CC - +12 (6 to 18)
8. GW - +11 (13 to 24)
Manhattan - +11 (14 to 25)
10. American - +10 (10 to 20)
Clemson - +10 (13 to 23)
UC Santa Barbara - +10 (11 to 21)
Fresno State - +10 (11 to 21)
Georgia State - +10 (15 to 25)
Louisiana-Lafayette - +10 (13 to 23)
Northern Illinois - +10 (5 to 15)
Of the 353 NCAA Division I teams in 2013-14, the best turnarounds in terms of win-loss differential from 2012-13 to 2013-14:
1. Milwaukee - +11.5 (8-24 to 21-14)
2. UC Santa Barbara - +10.5 (11-20 to 21-9)
Manhattan - +10.5 (14-18 to 25-8)
4. Old Dominion - +10 (5-25 to 18-18)
5. GW - +9.5 (13-17 to 24-9)
SMU - +9.5 (15-17 to 27-10)
Texas A&M CC - +9.5 (6-23 to 18-16)
8. Alabama State - +9 (10-22 to 19-13)
Louisiana-Lafayette - +9 (13-20 to 23-12)
Missouri State - +9 (11-22 to 20-13)
Northern Illinois - +9 (5-25 to 15-17)
Siena - +9 (8-24 to 20-18)
Toledo - +9 (15-13 to 27-7)
Villanova - +9 (20-14 to 29-5)