NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion men’s basketball team will tip-off the 2019-20 regular season on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8:00 p.m. ET, when the Monarchs travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa to take on Northern Iowa at the McLeod Center. Tuesday night’s game will stream on ESPN+ and air on the ODU Sports Radio Network, with Ted Alexander and Dave Twardzik’s live pregame show beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.
ODU is 2-3 all-time against UNI, as the two teams unusually played each other twice last season as non-conference opponents. The Panthers won last year’s first meeting by one point, 54-53, as part of the Paradise Jam. The very next game for both squads, the teams met again, this time in Norfolk, where the Monarchs defeated UNI 72-65. The win over the Northern Iowa commenced an eight-game win-streak for Old Dominion, including a win over No. 25 Syracuse at the Carrier Dome.
The Monarchs and Panthers first met during the 1990-91 season in Puerto Rico, where ODU won 63-61. Old Dominion is 0-1 all-time when playing UNI in Cedar Falls.
In 2018-19, his sixth season at ODU, Jeff Jones was named the Conference USA Coach of the Year after the Monarchs claimed the C-USA regular season title, as well as the Conference USA Tournament crown, punching Old Dominion’s first ticket to the NCAA Tournament since 2011. Last year’s appearance in the Big Dance was ODU’s 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
In the past five seasons, Coach Jones has compiled a 122-49 overall record, which marks the 20th most wins in Division I during that period and most within the C-USA. In conference play over the past five seasons, Jones’ Monarchs are 65-25, which ranks first in the league.
Leading the charge in 2019-20 is Xavier Green, who named the 2019 Conference USA Tournament MVP, as well as was named to the All-Tournament Team and All C-USA Defensive Team a season ago.
Coach Jones enters this season with 497 career victories as a head coach, which ranks 72nd in NCAA Division I history and 23rd amongst active coaches. Jones ranks second for all-time wins at ODU (140), only behind Blaine Taylor (239).
Season tickets are now available for Old Dominion men’s basketball for the 2019-20 season. New patrons can purchase online at www.ynottix.com or by calling the ODU Ticket Office at 757-683-4444.