NORFOLK, VA—The ODU Monarchs hit the court Monday night at 7:00 p.m. with an exhibition game against the University of Mount Olive. Tickets for the exhibition at the Ted Constant Convocation Center are $16 for adults and $13 for faculty staff, military and youth 17 and under.
ABOUT MOUNT OLIVE: The Trojans are coached by Joey Higginbotham who has been the head coach since 2008. He is a three-time Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year, including last season as they won a share of the league title while posting a 18-9 record.
The 2014-15 ODU Monarchs return four starters and nine lettermen from last year’s 18-win squad that had the nation’s best turnaround. The team reached the semifinals of the College Basketball Invitational Tournament, and finished sixth with a first round bye in its inaugural season in Conference USA under the direction of head coach Jeff Jones now in his second season.
Leading the returnees are junior guards Aaron Bacote (6-4/15.5 ppg/ 2.9 apg.), Keenan Palmore (6-1/10.0 ppg/ 2.7 apg), senior forward Richard Ross (6-6/10.0 ppg/7.0 rpg/ 2.3 blks), sophomores, 6-2 guard Ambrose Mosley (7.3 ppg), 6-7 forward, Denzell Taylor (4.4 ppg/6.0 rpg), 6-2 guard Jordan Baker (6-2/4.4 ppg/ 2.1 rpg) and 6-7, senior forward Joe Ebondo (1.4 ppg/ 3.4 rpg).
Bacote, a pre-season All-C-USA selection earned All-State honors and was named to the Cancun Challenge All- Tournament team, while Ross ranked second in C-USA and 47th nationally in blocked shots. Palmore and Taylor were the only Monarchs to start and play in all 36 games.
The Monarchs have five newcomers who will add tremendous depth including: 6-2 junior red-shirt guard Trey Freeman, a transfer from Campbell University where he was 2012 Big South Rookie of the Year and 2013 All-League selection and 6-8 red-shirt junior forward Nik Biberaj,a transfer from Christopher Newport. Both sat out last year. Also joining the Monarchs are 6-9 senior Jonathan Arledge, a transfer from George Mason, 6-7 Junior College All-American forward Javonte Douglas from the College of Central Florida Community College, and 6-7 freshman and All-Area forward Zoran Talley from Merrillville, IN. The Monarchs also added 6-7 sophomore forward Brandan Stith (son of assistant coach Bryant Stith), who transferred from East Carolina where he led the team in rebounding along with 6-6 forward Stephen Vassor, who transferred from Hampden-Sydney. Both Stith and Vassorwill sit out this coming season.
ODU opens the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 15 against old CAA rival UNC Wilmington.
NOTES:
The 2014-15 Jeff Jones Coaches Show, presented by Bud Light, will be Monday nights at Dave & Busters at Lynnhaven Mall in Virginia Beach. ODU Director of broadcasting Ted Alexander, the voice of ODU athletics, will be the host for the Jeff Jones show while Doug Ripley will again host Karen Barefoot shows. The Jeff Jones shows will be carried live on ESPN 94.1 FM, Sports FM 100.5, WBRG 104.5 FM in Richmond, Super Talk 1050 in Lynchburg, VA., and on Monarch Media. The first Karen Barefoot show will be Tuesday, Nov. 11 and the first Jeff Jones show will be on Wednesday, Nov. 12.