Teams To Face Big-Name Foes

The Monarchs return two starters and nine lettermen from last year’s 24-9 squad that earned an at-large NCAA tournament bid. Heading the roster are starters Brian Henderson (6-5 senior guard/forward, 9.4 ppg) and Brandon Johnson (6-1 senior guard, 8.3 ppg), along with top reserves Gerald Lee (6-9 sophomore center/forward) and Jonathan Adams (6-5 junior forward).

The Monarchs will also be counting heavily on Sam Harris (7-3 senior center), Abdi Lidonde (6-2 senior guard) and Marsharee Neely (6-2 sophomore guard), along with red-shirts Keyon Carter (6-8 forward, Riviera Beach, Fla.) and Frank Hassell (6-7 forward, Chesapeake).

ODU brings in an outstanding freshman class: Kent Bazemore (6-5, Windsor, N.C.), Ben Finney (6-5, Portsmouth), Etoile Imama (6-3, Montreal, Canada) and Darius James (6-1, Virginia Beach).

The Monarchs will play an ambitious schedule, with Toledo, Georgetown and Virginia Tech all coming to the Constant Center early in the season. ODU will compete in November in the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational against North Carolina and either BYU or Louisville.

“This schedule has obvious eye-catching games,” said coach Blaine Taylor. “But there are a couple of junctures like the first couple of home games and the three-game road swing around Christmas that will be very crucial for this young team to work through.”

The Lady Monarchs begin their quest to bring home an unprecedented 17th straight league title. ODU returns eight letterwinners from last year’s 24-9 squad, including starters in two-time CAA Tournament MVP and 3-point record holder T.J. Jordan (5-8 senior guard, 13.4 ppg) and 2005 CAA All-Rookie Team member and leading rebounder Tiffany Green (6-2 junior center, 8.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg). Other returnees include Tamara Ransburg (6-4 senior center/forward), Shahida Williams (5-11 senior forward) and Jazzmin Walters (5-2 junior guard).

ODU will add six newcomers, including red-shirt freshman Vicki Collier (5-11, Upper Marlboro, Md.) and junior college transfer Dawn Coleman (5-9, Queens, N.Y.), and true freshmen Sierra Little (6-2, Greensboro, N.C.), Alena Voronia (6-2, Yekaterinberg, Russia), Shadasia Green (5-9, Paterson, N.J.) and Jasmine Parker (5-8, Norfolk).

A challenging schedule awaits, featuring 10 teams that advanced to last year’s NCAA tournament, including Tennessee and Connecticut. “Murderers’ row,” commented coach Wendy Larry. “We will be well tested come conference time.”

Old Dominion will be vying for another CAA title at a time when the conference is coming off its most successful season in history, with four teams making it to postseason play.