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

Three Observations
1) The Monarchs miss Brandan Stith. While Davis was certainly the one to kill us, and Ajukwa made some big shots, Charlotte was able to get key contributions from Reid Aube, who usually averages about 8 minutes per game. I feel confident that Charlotte would have been much less effective in the paint, if Stith had played. Furthermore, the absence of Stith is exaggerated by Porter's (and Taylor's) inability to stay out of early foul trouble. Those two guys simply have to play more disciplined, especially early in the game.

2) The Monarchs must find a way to defend the dribble drive. Losing Baker (and not having Stith) certainly hurt in this area, but the team simply must do a better job of not fouling out of control drivers. Charlotte went to the line 19 times in the first half. That's hard to overcome, especially when the team you're defending is making 85% of the freebies.

3) The Monarchs simply have to find additional help. 12 players played. 7 of them combined for 5 field goal attempts (4 of them by Haynes). But, Fields and Pinckney combined for 22 minutes and they had 0 points, 0 shots, 0 assists, 0 steals, and 1 rebound. With Stith injured, Baker relegated to the locker room, Porter saddled with foul trouble, and BJ having one of his "off" games, the Monarchs were literally left with two offensive options. That's simply not enough.

Two questions

1) Now what? This was the first of three straight away from the Ted. The next one is at a Rice squad that gave ODU all it could handle here. What will the mental state be? This road trip is an absolute must if the goal is still a top 4 finish.

2) Will Brandan play, and if so, how effective will he be? Brandan was a defensive menace and really assisted in preventing Evans from killing the Monarchs on the drive. How healthy will he be? It will be a key to this game.

One prediction

1) Honestly, I'm just not sure. Unlike the La Tech game, I wasn't disappointed in the effort. But, the defensive execution wasn't great. At the TED, ODU made life difficult for Rice with tremendous defensive execution, but I'm not sure Rice will shoot under 25% from deep again. My head tells me to be prepared to be disappointed, but my heart says, the Monarchs will find a way and win by 5.

For what it's worth, CUSA officials confirmed that Baker must sit out for Thursday's games, per Ed Miller tweet.

https://twitter.com/edmillervp/status/82...0894048258

Dribble drive, we can't seem to guard it, try a flipping zone.

(01-23-2017 01:31 PM)mac Wrote:  Dribble drive, we can't seem to guard it, try a flipping zone.

We did. And immediately gave up a wide open 3.

(01-23-2017 01:19 PM)odu09 Wrote:  For what it's worth, CUSA officials confirmed that Baker must sit out for Thursday's games, per Ed Miller tweet.

https://twitter.com/edmillervp/status/82...0894048258

This is what I thought.

(01-23-2017 01:18 PM)ODUCoach Wrote:  1) The Monarchs miss Brandan Stith.

We have gotten a little bit better offensively with Stith out than with him in, but I think that can be attributed to the return of Talley. But, defensively, we have averaged 0.88 points per possession in games he was playing and 1.03 ppp given up in games he's been out.

I knew we would miss him, but I didn't think the impact would be this great. We are really missing his defense.

So Coach, we suddenly cant play any type defense you are saying!!

Ahmad played great. My hope is that moving forward, he will look to finish in the lane. He started to do it at the end of the game Saturday. Don't look to dump it off anymore. Go up and finish, and if you miss, we have some guys there that will grab the boards.

(01-23-2017 01:35 PM)ODUCoach Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 01:31 PM)mac Wrote:  Dribble drive, we can't seem to guard it, try a flipping zone.

We did. And immediately gave up a wide open 3.

I'll take my chances with the other team shooting 3's. When they drive to the basket, they seem to either score, or get an and one, which equates to a 3, only with adding on a foul as a bonus.

(01-23-2017 03:06 PM)Old Dominion Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 01:35 PM)ODUCoach Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 01:31 PM)mac Wrote:  Dribble drive, we can't seem to guard it, try a flipping zone.

We did. And immediately gave up a wide open 3.

I'll take my chances with the other team shooting 3's. When they drive to the basket, they seem to either score, or get an and one, which equates to a 3, only with adding on a foul as a bonus.

I mean, we have one of the best defenses in the country. They must be doing something right.

You win Coach...I had a 1,2,3 breakdown ready to add to your post-game breakdown, but I'd only be restating your points.

I'll add one thing...this team is lacking an effective, on-floor leader. Caver's still just a sophomore and seems to be evolving towards this role, but he's very inconsistent on offense and hasn't discovered how to make the game easier for everyone else on the floor. He had great stats Saturday, but in those last three mins where the game was eventually lost, a true leader would have let the team ride him to a victory...instead ODU's end strategy seemed to be little more than get the ball to BJ and hope he gets fouled.

He's not to blame for the loss- there were way too many mistakes all night to single out one player, but good teams win these games and usually play according to script and with leadership and confidence. This team hopes it doesn't lose.

(01-23-2017 01:36 PM)ODUCoach Wrote:  

(01-23-2017 01:19 PM)odu09 Wrote:  For what it's worth, CUSA officials confirmed that Baker must sit out for Thursday's games, per Ed Miller tweet.

https://twitter.com/edmillervp/status/82...0894048258

This is what I thought.

This sucks. I thought we bounced back nicely from a tough loss at Marshall but we will have a tough time bouncing back without Baker and Brandan.

My old eyes must be failing me. I watched every replay and Jordan's move looked more like a retaliation shove and not a punch. I almost feel like his was a regular technical with no ejection. I think the next game ejection is excessive for him but definitely not for Van Hook and probably for White.

When does Brandan come back???

(01-24-2017 10:56 AM)Petey Hodge Wrote:  When does Brandan come back???

This is the longest sprained ankle recovery ever.

(01-23-2017 09:02 PM)Monarch Homselr Wrote:  My old eyes must be failing me. I watched every replay and Jordan's move looked more like a retaliation shove and not a punch. I almost feel like his was a regular technical with no ejection. I think the next game ejection is excessive for him but definitely not for Van Hook and probably for White.

It was a retaliatory shove for sure, but it was still a shove and he was ejected. I could see it only be a technical, but it he was ejected and thus must have to sit out the next game.

(01-24-2017 11:21 AM)Monarchblue Wrote:  

(01-24-2017 10:56 AM)Petey Hodge Wrote:  When does Brandan come back???

This is the longest sprained ankle recovery ever.

Yeah. Mr. Miyagi would have had Brandan back into the Marshall game in the second half.

Damn that Jeff Jones!

(01-24-2017 11:21 AM)Monarchblue Wrote:  

(01-24-2017 10:56 AM)Petey Hodge Wrote:  When does Brandan come back???

This is the longest sprained ankle recovery ever.

If it is a high ankle sprain, that may be up to 4-6 weeks before he even thinks about playing. It's been less than 3 weeks.

(01-24-2017 11:21 AM)Monarchblue Wrote:  

(01-24-2017 10:56 AM)Petey Hodge Wrote:  When does Brandan come back???

This is the longest sprained ankle recovery ever.

Why bring him back too soon? We aren't fighting for an at large.

(01-24-2017 11:37 AM)757ODU Wrote:  

(01-24-2017 11:21 AM)Monarchblue Wrote:  

(01-24-2017 10:56 AM)Petey Hodge Wrote:  When does Brandan come back???

This is the longest sprained ankle recovery ever.

Why bring him back too soon? We aren't fighting for an at large.

I wasn't questioning anyone... just observing.