By Harry Minium
Conventional wisdom a week or so ago had it that if Old Dominion did not beat Rice and win the Conference USA women's basketball regular season title, the Monarchs likely would have to win this week's C-USA tournament in Frisco, Texas in order to make the NCAA tournament.
But Charlie Crème, ESPN's premiere women's basketball bracketologist, thinks ODU has a great shot even though the Monarchs fell at Rice Saturday in a nail-biting, 73-70 loss not decided until the final seconds.
Creme has three C-USA teams in the field of 64, including ODU as an at-large pick. He has ODU as a No. 11 seed playing Ivy League champion Princeton in Starkville, Miss.
Crème predicts Rice will win the conference tournament, be seeded No. 12 and meet Missouri State in Corvallis, Oregon. He also has Western Kentucky in the field, as a No. 11 seed facing South Datoka in Evanston, Ill.
Of course, all of this assumes there aren't a rash of upsets in other conference tournaments this week. And it doesn't take an iota of ODU's desire to win the conference tournament away. That's been
ODU's goal from day one, and the only way the Monarchs can be assured they make the field is to win three games in Frisco.
But it speaks highly for the investment that C-USA programs have made into women's basketball to improve the league. Programs have hired better coaches, poured more resources into recruiting and have played more challenging schedules in order to increase the league's power ratings.
And it appears to have worked.
The ODU women will face either Florida Atlantic or UTEP in the quarterfinals on Thursday. ODU won handily twice against FAU, 60-49 and 75-63, and held off UTEP in El Paso, 77-69.
ODU likely would face Western Kentucky in Friday's semifinals. WKU won its 11th game in a row over ODU last year in ousting the Monarchs from the conference tournament.
However, ODU defeated WKU earlier this season, 76-65, in Norfolk. Ajah Wayne had 23 points and Victoria Morris 19 against WKU.
ODU heads into the tournament with a two-game losing streak, but coach Nikki McCray-Penson said the Monarchs gained needed experience down the stretch. ODU was the conference leader heading into both games.
"We're never been in situations like this before where we're getting everybody's best punch," McCray said. "I like our chances going into the tournament because now we know what it feels like to be in those pressure situations. This teams has had to navigate having a target on their back."
ODU enters the tournament a No. 2 seed with a 24-6 record after going 8-23 just seasons ago.
"To be in a position to win a championship at this stage shows this program is moving forward," McCray said. "No more moral victories. We're going to the tournament to win."
ODU Men Face Difficult Bracket
ODU must win four games in four days to repeat as the Conference USA men's basketball champion. And if the Monarchs pull off the improbable and repeat as champions, they clearly will have earned an NCAA bid, for they find themselves in a tough bracket.
The Monarchs take on Florida Atlantic for the third time this season Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the first men's game of the tournament, and although ODU is 2-0 against the Owls, expect this game to go down to the wire.
ODU won fairly easily against FAU, 65-55, on Jan. 25, but then struggled on March 1 to win in overtime. ODU had a 9-point lead, 66-57, with 3:40 left in regulation, but was outscored, 11-2 over the final 3:40.
ODU then exploded for 17 points in overtime.
Both games were in Norfolk, with good home crowds giving the Monarchs ample moral support. Wednesday's game will be on a neutral court.
If ODU beats FAU, the court will be anything but neutral when the Monarchs take on North Texas in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m.
North Texas is located in Denton, Texas, a 35-minute drive from Frisco and the Mean Green had a ton of supporters during last season's tournament.
ODU has already played North Texas on the road, losing, 64-47, on a night when the Monarchs were uncharacteristically outrebounded and shot poorly.
ODU would likely face Charlotte, a team it split games with this season, in the semifinals, and then likely Western Kentucky or Louisiana Tech Saturday's final.
Guard Xavier Green, who was the tournament MVP last season, said this is a wide open tournament that any of 12 teams could win.
"This year, it's going to be who wants it more," he said. "There's not one team that's too talented that you can't beat.
"Everyone on our team, we've got to want it more."
But Xavier, can you win four games in four days?
"I think we can," he said. "We've got to get our minds prepared. If you get your mind prepared, you can do a lot of things that you didn't think you could do.
"We've got to play fearless and with an open min and play hard."
Where To Watch ODU
Conference USA has a myriad of TV partners and that is reflected in the TV schedule this week.
The four men's first round games, including ODU vs. Florida Atlantic at 7 p.m. Wednesday, will be televised on ESPN+.
If ODU advances to the second round, the Monarchs would take on North Texas at 7 p.m. on Stadium, which is available on most local cable networks. The semifinals and finals are on the CBS Sports Network.
The TV schedule is the same for the women.
ODU will meet the winner of Wednesday's UTEP-FAU game Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in a matchup that will also be televised by Stadium. If the Monarchs win, they likely would face Western Kentucky Friday at 9:30 p.m. in the semifinals, which will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.
ODU would have a quick turnaround to play in the championship game, which is 5:30 p.m. Saturday night, again on the CBS Sports Network.
Coronavirus Nixes Hand Shakes
Unlike a handful of college events, the C-USA tournament will be open to fans throughout, officials said, in spite of the growing threat from the Coronavirus.
But there will be no handshakes, as are traditionally done between teams both before and after games. Instead, fist bumps or forearm bumps are being encouraged.
C-USA and the Dallas Cowboys are setting up hand sanitizing stations through the Ford Center at The Star, the Cowboys' indoor practice stadium.
The conference, the Cowboys and schools involved in the tournament have also set up a protocol to isolate anyone with a suspected case of Coronavirus.
Minium: NCAA Prospects Look Good for ODU Women/ODU Men Face a Tough Bracket
