TOWSON, Md. - The Tigers (0-15, 0-3 CAA) are back on the road to face another quality team coming off a loss on Saturday night, taking on Old Dominion (7-8, 2-1 CAA) at the Ted Constant Convocation Center at 7 p.m.
The Monarchs have owned the Tigers in this series, winning 25 of 26 previous encounters. Last year, Old Dominion dominated the Tigers, 80-57, in Norfolk. This game was played just two days after the Tigers played at George Mason in a game that was postponed the day earlier due to a snowstorm.
Old Dominion lost some key talent from a 27-7 team that won the CAA Championship for the second straight year and seeded ninth in the NCAA Tournament (the Monarchs fell to Butler, 60-58, in Washington D.C.).
The Monarchs have been on a bit of a roller coaster this season. They have won three straight games at one point this year but they also had a three-game losing streak during the season.
Old Dominion opened the season with three straight home games, defeating Long Island and Howard but losing to Northern Iowa (63-46). The Monarchs followed their homestand with a win over South Florida in the Hall of Fame Tournament in Uncasville, Conn., 68-66.
After a 10-point loss to Kentucky the following day, the Monarchs came back home and lost to Vermont, 65-55, in overtime. On Nov. 29, they bounced back to defeat East Carolina by five.
On Dec. 3, the Monarchs opened CAA play with a 63-59 home win over Northeastern, but that was followed by three straight eight-point losses at Fairfield and Central Florida and against Richmond at home in overtime.
The Monarchs were back at home on Dec. 22 and defeated VMI, 81-73. On Dec. 30, they lost to Missouri at home, 75-68. They earned their second CAA win of the season on Monday, defeating James Madison on the road in overtime, 67-61. On Thursday, the Monarchs were back at home and lost to George Mason, 63-54.
Even though they have more experience than the Tigers, the Monarchs have had similar issues putting the ball in the basket. They average 63.1 points per game while shooting 38% from the field (their opponents shoot 43% from the field). They also shoot 28.5% from three-point range (34% for their opponents).
As usual, ODU is a strong rebounding team, outrebounding its opponents by a 5.1 margin. The Monarchs also force 16.1 turnovers per game while committing 14.8 giveaways per game.
The star of the Monarchs is their only returning starter - senior guard Kent Bazemore (6-5, 195), who earned first team Preseason All-CAA honors. Bazemore leads the team in scoring at 13.7 points per game while shooting 36% from the floor and 69% from the free throw line. He also averages 5.1 rebounds per game and is second in the CAA with 36 steals. He also leads the team with 45 assists and 49 turnovers.
Senior Marquel De Lancey (6-0, 190) has been known as a stout defender who doesn't shoot very often in his first three seasons. He averages 4.7 points and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 37% from the field and 23% (3-13) from beyond the arc.
Sophomore Donte Hill (6-4, 205) is a transfer from Clemson, who was eligible in the second semester. He's the first transfer to play for Coach Blaine Taylor in his 10 seasons at ODU. Hill averages 7.2 points and 3.7 rebounds in six games, which includes four starts. He shoots 42% from the field and 31% (4-13) from beyond the arc. He is another big and physical wing player who can defend.
Up front, the Monarchs have had a tough time trying replace 6-9 Frank Hassell (15.1 ppg, 9.4 rpg) and 6-8 Keyon Carter (7.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg). Junior NIck Wright (6-8, 208) is very athletic. He averages 8.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting 35% from the field; he also has 11 blocks.
Redshirt freshman Richard Ross (6-7, 205) has started in four of his six games, averaging 4.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per outing while shooting 52% from the field. The Wichita Falls, Texas native once jumped 6-10 in high school.
The Monarchs have a lot of depth in the backcourt and frontcourt. Senior guard Trian Illiadis (6-3, 185) is a streaky shooter who averages 8.5 points per game and shoots 26% (19-72) from beyond the arc and 36% from the field.
Freshman guard Dimitri Batten (6-3, 190) has started 8 of 15 games this season and averages 8.7 points and 3.0 rebounds per game while shooting 42% from the field and 39% (20-52) from beyond the arc.
Even though he came off the bench against George Mason on Thursday and has started 11 of 15 games, senior Chris Cooper (6-9, 230) is the team's top frontcourt performer. Cooper is second on the team in scoring with a 10.7 average and is second in the CAA in rebounds with a 10.7 average. He shoots 42% from the field and leads the team with 15 blocks.
Saturday night's game will air on WNST-AM 1570 with Spiro Morekas and Vince Angotti on the call. In addition, there will be an in-game blog on TowsonTigers.com.
