IRVING, Texas – The Old Dominion men’s basketball team was tabbed fifth in the 2016-17 C-USA Preseason Poll voted on by the league’s coaches, as announced by conference officials on Thursday. UAB was picked to finish first in Conference USA play, while Middle Tennessee, WKU and Marshall were predicted to finish second through fourth, respectively.
Old Dominion is coming off a Conference USA title game appearance and inaugural Vegas 16 championship crown in 2016. Last season, Old Dominion compiled a 25-13 overall record, as the Monarchs posted a 12-6 mark within the C-USA.
Jones’ Monarchs especially impressed in the second half of the season, as ODU amassed 15 wins over the course of its last 18 games, which included a seven game winning streak from Feb. 25 until the heartbreaking Conference USA Championship finals loss to Middle Tennessee.
In his fourth season at the helm, Jeff Jones’ 2016-17 squad will boast four returning starters and four of its seven leading scorers from last season including Brandan Stith, Zoran Talley, Denzell Taylor and Jordan Baker.
The Monarchs have compiled a challenging schedule for the upcoming season that consists of 30 total games, 18 C-USA contests and 15 home games, plus two home exhibitions. After home exhibitions against Virginia State and Virginia Wesleyan in early November, ODU’s non-conference slate commences with a home game against former CAA foe JMU on Nov. 11 before traveling to take on another in-state and former CAA rival Richmond on Nov. 14.
UAB and the city of Birmingham will also serve as the host for the Conference USA Tournament for the third straight season. The 2017 championship will be held March 8-11.
2016-17 C-USA PRESEASON POLL (#) first-place votes
1. UAB (10)
2. Middle Tennessee (4)
3. WKU
4. Marshall
5. Old Dominion
6. UTEP
7. Louisiana Tech
8. Charlotte
9. Rice
10. North Texas
11. FIU
12. Florida Atlantic
13. Southern Miss
14. UTSA
2016-17 C-USA MEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Student-Athlete (School/Class/Pos./Hometown)
Erik McCree (Louisiana Tech/Senior/F/Orlando, Florida)
Jon Elmore (Marshall/Junior/G/Charleston, West Virginia)
Ryan Taylor (Marshall/Senior/F/Indianapolis, Indiana)
Giddy Potts (Middle Tennessee/Junior/G/Athens, Alabama)
Reggie Upshaw Jr. (Middle Tennessee/Senior/F/Chattanooga, Tennessee)
Jeremy Combs (North Texas/Junior/F/Dallas, Texas)
Marcus Evans (Rice/Sophomore/G/Chesapeake, Virginia)
Chris Cokley (UAB/Junior/F/Savannah, Georgia)
William Lee (UAB/Junior/F/Plantersville, Alabama)
Justin Johnson (WKU/Junior/F/Hazard, Kentucky)
SEASON TICKET INFO
Season tickets for Old Dominion men's and women's basketball are now available for purchase to new customers. Season ticket packages are now available for purchase online at www.YNotTix.com or by using the link below and also through the ODU Ticket Office.
For more information or to order season ticket packages, contact the Old Dominion Ticket Office at 757-683-7087.
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