Old Dominion Monarchs (22-14 overall, 13-5 conference)
Projected starting five:
So. G Dmitri Batten
Jr. G Donte Hill
Jr. F Richard Ross
Sr. F Nick Wright
Sr. C DeShawn Painter
Important departures:
Four starters are gone from last season’s team, three of them very important contributors: G Kent Bazemore (15.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.1 spg), F Chris Cooper (10.5 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 1.3 bpg), G Trian Iliadis (85 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.3 apg 1.5 spg). G Marquel DeLancey (4.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.3 apg) also played in all 35 games last year, starting 29 of them.
Returning:
38.6 percent of scoring and 32.9 percent of rebounding
Additions:
Sr. C DeShawn Painter (transfer from North Carolina State)
Fr. F Ekene Anachebe
Fr. G Aaron Bacote
Fr. G Deion Clark
Fr. F Stuart McEwen
Fr. G Ambrose Mosley
Fr. G Keenan Palmore
Schedule Highlights:
As has often been the case, the Monarchs have a challenging non-conference slate in front of them. They open the season by hosting the Liberty Tax Classic with Holy Cross, Morgan State and UTSA. Later trips include Murray State, College of Charleston and Virginia, while they host Richmond, arch-rival VCU and UCF. In conference play, February begins with a tough stretch that might say a lot about where this team ends up: at Georgia State, George Mason, at Drexel, Northeastern and at Delaware.
Projected finish and outlook:
In the Monarchs’ last go-round in the CAA, there is a big newness factor as seven of their 12 players have never checked into a college game and the all-important point guard spot is wide open since Batten is really more of a wing. There is still some talent, with Hill looking last year like he could become a go-to guy on the wing in the future, which is now, Batten able to score and Ross already back from a broken wrist suffered during the summer. Ross has always been a “potential” player, and there’s never been a better time for him to start realizing some of that. Painter comes with the rep of having played in the ACC, but he’s never been an offensive star and may not give the big boost one might expect right away. The freshmen have talent, although it’s likely that a couple of them (such as Anachebe and McEwen) redshirt this year. The Monarchs were good but could never get over the hump last season in part because of offensive struggles, but good rebounding and forcing over 15 turnovers a game helped them finish fourth. They’ll need to repeat some of that to have another top-four finish this time around, and someone will need to emerge since there doesn’t appear to be much star power at first glance.
