March 13, 2005
NORFOLK, VA-- The Monarchs of Old Dominion (28-5) will open the
NCAA tournament on Friday against fifth seed Michigan STate (22-6).
The game will be played in the DCU center in Worcester, MA. This
will be ODU's first NCAA appearance since 1997. The 28 wins this
season is a school record.
"We are very pround of the fact that we earned our way to represent
our school, the CAA and region in March madness, "said ODU head coach
and CAA Coach of the Year, Blaine Taylor. " After nearly a decade
to return to the tournament is an very exiting for everyone envolved.
This season has been a very memorable and rewarding journey. Our kids and program have every intention of putting their best foot forward and
having our presence felt at the dance."
This will be the first meeting between the two schools. ODU play in
Worcester in 1992 tournament against Kentucky.
"I think this will be a great matchup," said ODU 6-9 forward-center
Alex Loughton, the CAA Player of the Year and Tournament MVP. "We
both have similar styles, but we will have our hands full. Michigan
State is an outstanding team, but I think playing on a neutral site
and the way we have been playing this year should make for an exciting
game."
MONARCH GAME NOTES
2005 NCAA Championships
Current Record: 28-5/ 15-3 in CAA
CAA Champions
2003-04 Record: 17-12
CAA Record: 11-7 (CAA Semi-Finals)
HEAD COACH:
Blaine Taylor (Montana '81)
Career Record: 212-113 (.630) in 11 season
Record at ODU: 70-48 (4th season)
Record at Montana: 142-65 (7 years) 1991-1998
MONARCH PROBABLE STARTERS
F 24 Kiah Thomas, 6-4, Sr, Norfolk, Va. 8.3 ppg/ 3.4 rpg
F 40 Alex Loughton, 6-9, Jr, Perth Australia, 13.9 ppg/ 8.1 rpg
F 31 Arnaud Dahi, 6-7, So, Ivory Coast, 10.3 ppg/ 5.5 rpg
G 10 Drew Williamson, 6-0, So, 6.2 ppg/ 4.7 apg
G 1 Isaiah Hunter, 6-2, Jr, Charlotte, NC, 13.4 ppg/ 3.2 rpg
OFF THE BENCH
F 42 Valdas Vasylius, 6-7, So, Klaipeda, Lithuania 9.2 ppg/ 4.1 rpg
G 3 John Morris, 6-2, So., Camp Hill, PA. 2.1 ppg/ 1.1 rpg
F 20 Brian Henderson, 6-4, Fr., Richmond, Va. 2.8 ppg/ 1.3 rpg
C 30 Sam Harris, 7-3, Fr., Newnham, Tasmania 1.9 ppg/ 1.6 rpg
F 21 Jason Thompson, 6-5, Fr, Sanford, NC. 1.2 ppg/ 1.5 rpg
G 4 Brandon Johnson, 6-1, Fr, Orlando, FL. 3.1 ppg/ 3.0 apg
MONARCH SEEDS IN NCAA TOURNAMENT
1980 9th 1982 10th 1985 12th
1986 8th 1992 15th 1995 14th
1997 14th
PAST ODU NCAA TOURNAMENT RESULTS
1979-80 L 74-87 UCLA Tempe, AZ
1981-82 L 57-74 Wake Forest Charlotte, NC.
1984-85 L 68-85 SMU Hartford, CT.
1985-86 W 72-64 West Virginia Greensboro, NC.
L 61-89 Duke Greensboro, NC.
1991-92 L 69-88 Kentucky Worcester, MA.
1994-95 W 89-81(3ot) VillanovaAlbany, NY.
L 52-64 Tulsa Albany, NY.
1996-97 L 51-55 New Mexico Pittsburgh, PA.
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