Men's hoops/Cox Classic Preview
In response to a question posed to the blog I went to the ODU website for the following information, also went to Lindy's for more info, and threw in my own two cents (three cents with inflation) :
NORFOLK, VA-- The Old Dominion Monarchs open the 2006-07 season with the Cox Communications Classic. ODU will host Monmouth at 6:30 p.m. followed by Clemson and Arkansas State at 9:00. The tournament is Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.
Last year, ODU was 24-10 and reached the NIT semi-finals.
Clemson (ACC) was 19-13 and reached the second round of the NIT.
Monmouth (NEC)was 19-15 and reached the NCAA tournament
Arkansas State (Sun Belt) was 12-18.
MONARCHS RETURNEES TO WATCH
F Arnaud Dahi 6-7, Sr, 11.9 ppg/ 4.8 rpg
F Valdas Vasylius, 6-7, Sr, 8.8 ppg/4.5 rpg
F Jonathan Adams, 6-6, So, 1.2 ppg/ 2.5 rpg
G Drew Williamson, 6-0, Sr, 7.3 ppg/ 4.8 apg
G Brian Henderson, 6-4,Jr, 6.0 ppg/2.7 rpg
C Sam Harris, 7-3, Jr, 1.1 ppg/ 1.0 rpg
G Brandon Johnson, Jr, 3.5 ppg/ 2.5 rpg
G Abdi Lidonde, Jr, 3.0 ppg/ 1.9 rpg
G John Morris, Sr, 1.6 ppg/ 1.0 rpg
NOTES:
Season Openers:
ODU is 3-2 in season openers under Blaine Taylors direction. The
Monarchs have won the last two, including a win over Georgia in
last year's Paradise Jam tournament.
Blaine Taylor is only six wins shy of becoming the fifth ODU coach
to reach 100 career wins at the school. He is 94-59 in five seasons
at ODU and 236-124 in 12 total years as a collegiate head coach.
The Monarchs have five newcomers this season. They are Marsharee Neely,
a 6-2 guard from Greensboro, NC; Gerald Lee, a 6-9, forward from Uusikaupunki, Finland; Frank Hassell, a 6-8 forward from Chesapeake, VA;
and Keyon Carter, 6-8 Forward from Riviera Beach, Fl. ODU also has a walk-on, in 6-2,sophomore guard, Joshua Russell.
Monarch Captains:
This year's captains are seniors Drew Williamson, Arnaud Dahi and John Morris.
Clemson head coach Oliver Purnell and assistant coach Frank Smith
are alumni of ODU. Smith is ODU's all-time assist leader, while
Purnell captained ODU's 1975 NCAA Division II National Championship
team. He also coached ODU from 1991-94 taking the Monarchs to two
NIT tournaments and one NCAA tournament. Both Purnell and SMith are
in the ODU Sports Hall of Fame.
ODU is 1-0 vs. Clemson, but has never played the other two schools.
The Monarchs defeated Clemson in South Carolina, 61-59 in double
overtime in the second round of the 1979 NIT.
ODU and Arkansas State have something in common. ODU was a member
of the Sun Belt from 1983 to 1991.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Clemson:
Vernon Hamilton, 6-0, Sr, G, 12.0 ppg
Cliff Hammonds, 6-3, Jr, G, 10.1 ppg
James Mays, 6-9, Jr,F, 9.2 ppg
Arkansas State
Isaac Wells, 6-8, Jr., F. 14.4 ppg
Jim Jones, 6-3, Sr, G, 12.4 ppg
Monmouth
Marques Alston, 6-4, Sr, F, 11.6 ppg
Dejac Delic, 6-6, Sr, F, 12.3 ppg
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday
ODU vs. Monmouth 6:30
Clemson vs. Arkansas State 9:00
Saturday
ODU vs. Arkansas State 4:00
Monmouth vs. Clemson 6:30
Sunday
Arkansas State vs. Monmouth 2:00
ODU vs. Clemson 4:30
The Old Dominion University Monarchs were Picked to finish fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association and senior forward Arnaud Dahi (Ivory Coast, Africa) was selected to the pre-season All-CAA second team as announced today at CAA Media Day held at the ESPN Zone.
ODU returns three starters from last year's 24-10 squad that reached the semi-finals of the NIT. Arnaud Dahi averaged 11.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Point guard Drew Williamson (Burlington, NC.) led the CAA in assists/turnover ratio. He averaged 4.8 assists and 7.3 points per game. Brian Henderson (Richmond, Va.) led the team in three point percentage (.395) and averaged 6.0 points per game. Also returning is 6-7 senior Valdas Vasylius (Klepaidia, Lithuania), who averaged 8.8 ppg.
My comments: I would be surprised if MU was not in contention in all three of these games. How many they will win is something else. MU seems to have the most experienced team in the field and I gotta think the only 7-2 center that can play.
ODU going to be tough at home but again, I think MU should be in the game.
Clemson is considered a low grade ACC team, but it is the ACC. A game MU can steal? Maybe, but maybe I'm hallucinating. . It is the ACC.
Ark State, led by 6-7 senior Isaac Wells (14.4 ppg., 6.8 rpg.) , a pre season Sun Belt First Teamer by Lindy's, has three returning starters from an injury riddled 12-12 (7-7 Sun Belt) team last year.
On paper ,though, this is the game MU would appear to have the best shot at winning. MU hopes to come home with at least one win. Losing all three would be very disappointing for a team (MU) that has high expectations this season.
e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
NORFOLK, VA-- The Old Dominion Monarchs open the 2006-07 season with the Cox Communications Classic. ODU will host Monmouth at 6:30 p.m. followed by Clemson and Arkansas State at 9:00. The tournament is Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.
Last year, ODU was 24-10 and reached the NIT semi-finals.
Clemson (ACC) was 19-13 and reached the second round of the NIT.
Monmouth (NEC)was 19-15 and reached the NCAA tournament
Arkansas State (Sun Belt) was 12-18.
MONARCHS RETURNEES TO WATCH
F Arnaud Dahi 6-7, Sr, 11.9 ppg/ 4.8 rpg
F Valdas Vasylius, 6-7, Sr, 8.8 ppg/4.5 rpg
F Jonathan Adams, 6-6, So, 1.2 ppg/ 2.5 rpg
G Drew Williamson, 6-0, Sr, 7.3 ppg/ 4.8 apg
G Brian Henderson, 6-4,Jr, 6.0 ppg/2.7 rpg
C Sam Harris, 7-3, Jr, 1.1 ppg/ 1.0 rpg
G Brandon Johnson, Jr, 3.5 ppg/ 2.5 rpg
G Abdi Lidonde, Jr, 3.0 ppg/ 1.9 rpg
G John Morris, Sr, 1.6 ppg/ 1.0 rpg
NOTES:
Season Openers:
ODU is 3-2 in season openers under Blaine Taylors direction. The
Monarchs have won the last two, including a win over Georgia in
last year's Paradise Jam tournament.
Blaine Taylor is only six wins shy of becoming the fifth ODU coach
to reach 100 career wins at the school. He is 94-59 in five seasons
at ODU and 236-124 in 12 total years as a collegiate head coach.
The Monarchs have five newcomers this season. They are Marsharee Neely,
a 6-2 guard from Greensboro, NC; Gerald Lee, a 6-9, forward from Uusikaupunki, Finland; Frank Hassell, a 6-8 forward from Chesapeake, VA;
and Keyon Carter, 6-8 Forward from Riviera Beach, Fl. ODU also has a walk-on, in 6-2,sophomore guard, Joshua Russell.
Monarch Captains:
This year's captains are seniors Drew Williamson, Arnaud Dahi and John Morris.
Clemson head coach Oliver Purnell and assistant coach Frank Smith
are alumni of ODU. Smith is ODU's all-time assist leader, while
Purnell captained ODU's 1975 NCAA Division II National Championship
team. He also coached ODU from 1991-94 taking the Monarchs to two
NIT tournaments and one NCAA tournament. Both Purnell and SMith are
in the ODU Sports Hall of Fame.
ODU is 1-0 vs. Clemson, but has never played the other two schools.
The Monarchs defeated Clemson in South Carolina, 61-59 in double
overtime in the second round of the 1979 NIT.
ODU and Arkansas State have something in common. ODU was a member
of the Sun Belt from 1983 to 1991.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Clemson:
Vernon Hamilton, 6-0, Sr, G, 12.0 ppg
Cliff Hammonds, 6-3, Jr, G, 10.1 ppg
James Mays, 6-9, Jr,F, 9.2 ppg
Arkansas State
Isaac Wells, 6-8, Jr., F. 14.4 ppg
Jim Jones, 6-3, Sr, G, 12.4 ppg
Monmouth
Marques Alston, 6-4, Sr, F, 11.6 ppg
Dejac Delic, 6-6, Sr, F, 12.3 ppg
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday
ODU vs. Monmouth 6:30
Clemson vs. Arkansas State 9:00
Saturday
ODU vs. Arkansas State 4:00
Monmouth vs. Clemson 6:30
Sunday
Arkansas State vs. Monmouth 2:00
ODU vs. Clemson 4:30
The Old Dominion University Monarchs were Picked to finish fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association and senior forward Arnaud Dahi (Ivory Coast, Africa) was selected to the pre-season All-CAA second team as announced today at CAA Media Day held at the ESPN Zone.
ODU returns three starters from last year's 24-10 squad that reached the semi-finals of the NIT. Arnaud Dahi averaged 11.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Point guard Drew Williamson (Burlington, NC.) led the CAA in assists/turnover ratio. He averaged 4.8 assists and 7.3 points per game. Brian Henderson (Richmond, Va.) led the team in three point percentage (.395) and averaged 6.0 points per game. Also returning is 6-7 senior Valdas Vasylius (Klepaidia, Lithuania), who averaged 8.8 ppg.
My comments: I would be surprised if MU was not in contention in all three of these games. How many they will win is something else. MU seems to have the most experienced team in the field and I gotta think the only 7-2 center that can play.
ODU going to be tough at home but again, I think MU should be in the game.
Clemson is considered a low grade ACC team, but it is the ACC. A game MU can steal? Maybe, but maybe I'm hallucinating. . It is the ACC.
Ark State, led by 6-7 senior Isaac Wells (14.4 ppg., 6.8 rpg.) , a pre season Sun Belt First Teamer by Lindy's, has three returning starters from an injury riddled 12-12 (7-7 Sun Belt) team last year.
On paper ,though, this is the game MU would appear to have the best shot at winning. MU hopes to come home with at least one win. Losing all three would be very disappointing for a team (MU) that has high expectations this season.
e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
posted by Tony Graham at 8:01 PM
6 Comments:
The orginal poster asked for my predictions on scores...let's see what John Q Hawk fan thinks. as for me,
ODU, 57-62 (defensive game, close all the way)
Clemson, 65-73 (too many Tiger athletes).
MU 78, Ark State 68. (Hawks get a ton of back door layups).
Again, I think MU will be in all three games, and could grab two out of three.
MU fans would feel better I think if there was a proven double figure senior scorer or close to proven guy (not counting Bunch and he's not a double figure scorer yet) off the bench.
Tony,
Off to VA in 25 minutes. Be back on Monday!
MU-68 ODU-64
MU-63 Clemson-72
MU-73 ArkSt-67
Toneeee---
MU 66 ODU 62
MU 65 Clemson 73
MU 81 Ark. St. 69
Tony any game day insight from the shoot around? What do the coaches think about tonight's game? What does TG think? LET's GO MONMOUTH!
I wish I had some game day insight....as I am not there..nor am I going to MU football this weekend.
Steve Edleson is covering soccer and the MU-Albany game and will do a superb job.
Several reasons I am staying "home" ..numbers of high school football games, logistics, etc. Mainly Press wants me at hs football.
Weekend hoops coverage is primarily via Monmouth SIDS plus Saturday and Sunday I will be talking to Dave after the games to get his comments.
Disappointing loss...honestly maybe Calloway should get the kids in the gym to shoot a little bit...
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