Minium: Yes, it's football season, but don't forget to renew your basketball season tickets
Both the ODU men's basketball and women's programs expect to have special seasons.
By Harry Minium
NORFOLK, Va. – Yes, it’s Tech Week at Old Dominion.
The Hokies are coming to S.B. Ballard Stadium on Saturday for a 6 p.m. football game. That contest is the primary focus for most ODU fans, and rightly so.
But I figured it would be a good time to remind you that later this month, our men’s and women’s basketball teams begin practice. On Nov. 4, they both begin regular season play.
And that means it’s time to renew your basketball season tickets.
This promises to be both successful and historic seasons for both programs.
The ODU men have a new head coach in Mike Jones, an alumnus and a hero from the University’s storied past. Jones scored 19 points when he was a senior and the Monarchs upset No. 3 seed Villanova in the NCAA Tournament.
ODU hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2019, and Jones vows to get the Monarchs back to the Big Dance, although not necessarily right away.
With only four returnees from the team that finished 7-25 last season, Jones and his assistants hit the recruiting trail and came up with some talented additions.
ODU had no true center last season and barely had any power forwards, but have two transfers standing 6-foot-10 or taller. The best of them may be Caelum Swanton-Rodger, a 7-foot center and a transfer from Maryland whom Jones said has looked stellar during summer and preseason workouts.
“Fans are going to love him,” Jones said.
Robert Davis Jr. who is from Detroit and transferred from UMass, has been impressive, as has Sean Durugordon, a Harlem native who transferred from Siena, where he averaged 18 points and 7.3 rebounds last season. Both are 6-foot-6 guards.
Stephaun Walker is a 6-7 wing player from Robert Morris, where he averaged 9.9 rebounds and 6.2 rebounds per game last season.
Jones has 19 players on his roster, and I won’t go into all of them, but know that R.J. Blakney, who returns from last season, could be ODU’s best player this season.
There are five walk-ons, including CJ Parker the son of former Maury High and Virginia star, Cornel Parker, and Vytautas Zygas, a 6-6 freshman from Kaunas, Lithuania who played for Lithuania’s junior national team.
Getting Zyvas was a steal for ODU. He has tons of international experience.
Women’s Head Coach DeLisha Milton-Jones, who has taken her team to the semifinals of the Sun Belt Tournament the last two seasons, thinks she’s added the right combination of newcomers to get ODU a long-sought championship.
She brought in 10 newcomers, including five Division I transfers and two junior college All-Americans. She has more height, more speed and better three-point shooters.
Camryn Hill, a 6-foot guard transferred from Hampton where she was the team’s MVP last season. She averaged 14.4 points and was a second-team All-HBCU All-American.
Simaru Fields, is a 5-6 guard who was a Juco All-American at Gulf Coast Community College in Mississippi, where she averaged 14.4 points and had 56 three-pointers, 77 steals and 93 assists.
Kelsey Thompson, a 5-10 guard, transferred from South Alabama, where she led the team in scoring with 12 points per game.
ODU returns three of its top five scorers – En’Dya Buford (12.4 points, 4.7 rebounds), Brenda Fontana (9.2, 4.5) and Simone Cunningham (6.9. 6.9). Fontana, a senior from Moreno, Argentina, may have been ODU's most improved player last season.
“We have added depth to our roster with more high-powered scoring,” Milton-Jones said.
“Come experience a great brand of basketball in one of the nation’s most historic women’s basketball programs,” she added when asked for a message for her fans.
Jones said he and Milton-Jones hit things off from the time he arrived on campus.
“She’s been such a great resource,” he said. “She’s a great sounding board and watching her put her team together has been impressive.
“I urge all of our fans to buy season tickets so you know you will have seats for every game. And I also ask them to support our women’s team.”
He’s cautious about setting expectations for his team, but said: “The guys have worked so hard. We haven’t had to ask anyone to work out. They’ve been asking us. They’re competing on a daily basis. They’ve embraced that.”
ODU finished last in the Sun Belt last season but still led the league in attendance. A few games last season were near sellouts.
We’re expecting the opener on Monday, Nov. 4, against Buffalo, will sell out. We have tons of promotions planned for Jones’ home debut.
The home schedule includes games with William & Mary and George Washington of the Atlantic 10 as well as Sun Belt rivals Marshall and James Madison.
The women host VCU and East Carolina, as well as a full Sun Belt schedule. The women open at home on Monday, Nov. 11, against Morgan State.
And if you want a sneak peak at the men's team this week, come to Chartway Arena Saturday at 1 p.m., an hour before tailgate lots open for the Virginia Tech game.
Jones will hold an open workout with his team that is open to the public. "We'll be done before the tailgate lots open," Jones said. "I think our fans will be happy with what they see."
The deadline to renew your seats is Oct. 2. You can purchase new season tickets now and select your seats after Oct. 2.
On Oct. 7, some mini plans go on sale and on Oct. 16, single-game tickets for all games are available.
Get your season tickets now, while good seats remain available.
A new era is beginning at ODU. Fasten your seat belts and come along for the ride.
To purchase season tickets, CLICK HERE.
Minium is ODU’s senior executive writer. Contact him at hminium@odu.edu or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram