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Old Dominion Monarchs (Last Year: 23-9, 15-3 in CAA)
2010-11 Projected Depth Chart:
F: Frank Hassell (Sr)/Chris Cooper (Jr)/Anton Larsen (Fr)
F: Keyon Carter (Sr)/Nick Wright (So)/Richard Ross (Fr)
G/F: Ben Finney (Sr)
G: Kent Bazemore (Jr)/Trian Iliadis (Jr)/Dimitri Batten (Fr)
PG: Darius James (Sr)/Marquel De Lancey (Jr)/Josh Hicks (Fr)
Gone: F/C Gerald Lee, G-Marsharee Neeley, F-Jonathan Adams
2010-11 Outlook:
Four of the five starters from last year’s Monarch team that upset Notre Dame in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and gave Baylor a battle in the second-round return this season. The lone player they lose, Gerald Lee, is now playing professionally in Italy.
Old Dominion stresses the team concept in their style of play and that should once again be the case. After Lee’s team leading 14.4 points per game, five returning Monarchs averaged between 7-9.2 ppg. The senior trio of Frank Hassell, Keyon Carter and Ben Finney will need to step up their offensive production while Darius James is back to run the show at the point. Wing Kent Bazemore’s versatility is a major asset as is his ability to lock down on the defensive end.
The bench play may determine the long-term success of Old Dominion. Trian Iliadis, Chris Cooper, Nick Wright and Marquel De Lancey all played sparsely last season but will need to take on bigger roles off the bench. With Lee gone, the Monarchs will not have the size they did a year ago, but if 7-foot redshirt freshman Anton Larsen can work his way onto the floor, he could be a difference-maker in the paint.
Old Dominion was one of the better defensive teams in the country allowing about 57 points per game last season and will rely on their relentlessness on that end of the floor to frustrate their opponents. The Monarchs will be challenged with a tough non-conference schedule that should get them prepared for CAA play and once again put them in the position of being the team to beat.
Player to Watch: Richard Ross, F
Realistically, Ross may never see the floor this season as he acclimates himself to the college game. But if he does get on the floor, how fun will it be for announcers to call him Rick Ross tha Boss, Ricky Rozay, or “The Teflon Don” like the hip-hop star? Doesn’t Old Dominion’s Ross need to shave his head, grow a massive, bushy beard, and gain like 100 pounds? Am I the only one thinking this?
Key Non-Conference Games:
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