The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Basketball season is here! Well, kind of. The cagers kick off the season tonight in their annual exhibition against Mount Olive College, a Division II school from Mount Olive, NC. The Trojans will travel 195 miles from arena to arena for tonight's matchup.

According to odusports.com, Mount Olive has two Hampton Roads players on their squad: Deshaune Green (Norcom) and Caleb Henderson (Deep Creek). Their coach is also an alum of Atlantic Shores. Like most small schools, they play an aggressive style and pressure the ball constantly.

So, thoughts going in? What do you guys expect? Obviously we should win this game, but for the first time ever under Blaine Taylor I really don't have any benchmark whatsoever from which to grade this team. Seven incoming players, redshirt chaos, but still four returning starters.

ODU-82
MOC-58

Three stars: Hill, Painter, Wright
Freshman of the game: Anachebe

It'll be fun watching all of our new players. I can't wait for the season to start.

Will Mosley, Ek and Clark be allowed to play?

(11-01-2012 10:35 AM)Fatalisk Wrote:  Will Mosley, Ek and Clark be allowed to play?

Clark and Anachebe will most likely play. Even though they are likely to redshirt, these games don't count because they are exhibitions. However, as Ed Miller points out, it's not likely that any redshirting player will see much time on Monday.

Not sure about Mosley, as his situation has to deal with NCAA eligibility. Apparently, a high school he once attended has been flagged by the NCAA. I'm not sure what's going on, but he hasn't practiced with the team since this summer. I doubt we'll see him play tonight.

In order to remain eligible to redshirt, my understand is that they're allowed to play the first exhibition, but not the second. Is that correct?

I want to see McEwen and Painter. I expect Painter to be pretty good, but it would be a great help this season if McEwen can be useful as a backup to Nick at the 4. Ross belongs at the 3.

Speaking of Ross, I really want to know how his injury is coming along.

(11-01-2012 11:30 AM)Monarch_Pride Wrote:  In order to remain eligible to redshirt, my understand is that they're allowed to play the first exhibition, but not the second. Is that correct?

I want to see McEwen and Painter. I expect Painter to be pretty good, but it would be a great help this season if McEwen can be useful as a backup to Nick at the 4. Ross belongs at the 3.

Speaking of Ross, I really want to know how his injury is coming along.

No, they can play in any exhibition game. The reason they likely won't play in the second is because coaches like to get an idea of which rotations they will run.

I wouldn't expect too much from McEwen. He's got a good shot (out to 22 feet, according to his HS coach), but he's still very skinny and will get pushed around out there.

Ross reportedly went to the doctor yesterday to have his injury examined. BT was hopeful that he could have the cast removed, thus allowing him to log a couple of minutes in the game, but my opinion is that he will be on the bench in a polo shirt. Might see him Monday if all went well, though.

Quote:14.2.3.1.3 Preseason Exhibitions/Preseason Practice Scrimmages During Initial Year. During a student-athlete’s initial year of enrollment at the certifying institution, he or she may compete in preseason exhibition contests and preseason practice scrimmages (as permitted in the particular sport per Bylaw 17) without counting such competition as a season of competition. (Revised: 5/9/06)

As long as it's their first year, they can play the preseason exhibition games and still redshirt. The problem with Chris Cooper was because he played the exhibition game and it was not his first year.

Mosley isn't playing tonight, he isn't cleared by the NCAA and hasn't practice with the team since pre-Euro. It might be our only chance to see EK or Clark this year.

53-31 ODU at the half.

Triple digits!

My thoughts:
1. The freshmen are scorers. Very optimistic there.
2. I left at HT, but I didn't see any plays where we pound it inside. The offense was not run through Painter and Wright. I don't know if it was just an exhibition or possibly Taylor might have actually changed his style a bit.
3. Not having Trian and DeLancey on the floor led to what appears to be an astronomical improvement in the backcourt. Palmore and Bacote are the real deal. There were and will continue to be rookie mistakes with the scoring, but I'll take that over senior mistakes and no scoring anyday.
4. Batten is still underutilized.
5. Hill looked like an ACC recruit.
6. Painter looks like an absolute beast. Also 4-4 from the field. Hopefully he can get more touches going forward.

(11-01-2012 08:05 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  My thoughts:
1. The freshmen are scorers. Very optimistic there.
2. I left at HT, but I didn't see any plays where we pound it inside. The offense was not run through Painter and Wright. I don't know if it was just an exhibition or possibly Taylor might have actually changed his style a bit.
3. Not having Trian and DeLancey on the floor led to what appears to be an astronomical improvement in the backcourt. Palmore and Bacote are the real deal. There were and will continue to be rookie mistakes with the scoring, but I'll take that over senior mistakes and no scoring anyday.
4. Batten is still underutilized.
5. Hill looked like an ACC recruit.
6. Painter looks like an absolute beast. Also 4-4 from the field. Hopefully he can get more touches going forward.

Good thoughts. Here's mine:

7. Anachebe needs that redshift, if there's any way we can afford to let him have it.
8. That's the most hustle I've ever seen out of Larsen. I'm not saying he's going to be a big performer for us this season, but he's at least found second gear.
9. I miss Chris Cooper. But I don't at all miss Jack Ankerson's moronic call-out of his name ("Coooooooper") after each score.
10. Great turn out by the student section, especially for an exhibition game.

As a matter of fact, Cooper did show up to the game. Me and another guy started yelling "Cooooo-" and he looked away. Student Section did the same thing when he walked past them.

Bacote and Palmore looked like the real deal. I was impressed with Clarke but I think a redshirt year could really bring him over the top.
Ekene DEFINITELY needs a redshirt year to catch up.
Anton got some serious minutes and I guess he will get some pt out of necessity this year. I still cringe everytime the student section cheers when Anton comes onto the court.
Hill looked even better this year. I feel like this is his team this year. As a whole the team did seem gel pretty well.
Good job with Blaine standing up for Palmore and getting the T.

How did Palmore look?

(11-01-2012 08:57 PM)Fatalisk Wrote:  How did Palmore look?

I was impressed. Lightyears ahead of any PG we have seen in the last 6 years.

(11-01-2012 09:00 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(11-01-2012 08:57 PM)Fatalisk Wrote:  How did Palmore look?

I was impressed. Lightyears ahead of any PG we have seen in the last 6 years.

Lightyears ahead of Darius James? Wow.

liked how the new guys finished at the basket. team is on the small size. i noticed there were no names on the back of the jerseys.

(11-01-2012 10:34 PM)vbundy Wrote:  i noticed there were no names on the back of the jerseys.

I think we were expecting Mt. Olive to bring different uniforms. We were wearing road jerseys today.

Palmore is now what James was on a good day during his junior and senior year. Striking resemblance, it's crazy. Except palmore can defend and finish at the rim.

Bacote is a pure scorer. Beautiful shot, pretty touch around the rim, and very quick. How he's not at an ACC school is beyond me.

Clark is the under-the-radar guy but he looked solid, too. Yet another finisher who can shoot a bit.

Ek was nervous. But he will redshirt, especially with Ross playing now. I will say this: ek is one giant human being. He's already bigger than Frank; taller, larger, more athletic. Only played a few minutes but its easy to see the potential.

And it's nice to score 100 points. Great opener for the cagers.