THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 18, 1995 TAG: 9502180749
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WILMINGTON, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
Old Dominion has topped 90 points in its last two games, but don't look for that trend to continue today.
The Monarchs face the best defensive team in the Colonial Athletic Association at 2 p.m. (HTS) when they visit UNC Wilmington's Trask Coliseum. ODU (15-10, 10-1) heads into the final eight days of its regular season with a one-game lead over James Madison and a two-game lead over the Seahawks (14-9, 8-3).
UNC Wilmington leads the CAA in scoring defense (65.9 points per game), field goal percentage defense (.390), 3-point field goal percentage defense (.320) and is second in rebound margin (plus-5.1).
UNC Wilmington first-year coach Jerry Wainwright said a couple weeks ago his team has improved defensively every week and understands what the coaches want them to do on the defensive end.
``I think we better be that way because we're not very good offensively,'' Wainwright said of his team, which averages 69.6 points, seventh in the league. ``We've tried to stress defense from Day 1.''
UNC Charlotte's 92 points was a season-high against the Seahawks, who have held opponents to 60 points or fewer nine times.
CAPEL'S CHOICE: Old Dominion coach Jeff Capel - who probably has a good shot at CAA Coach of the Year honors - believes ODU has the league's Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Last year it was Odell Hodge, but in the injured Hodge's absence, senior forward Petey Sessoms is making a strong bid. Sessoms' 22.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game both rank second in the league, and he's first in 3-pointers made per game with 3.
``I think he is (the Player of the Year), he's at the top in two categories,'' Capel said. ``But there could be an argument made for a number of other players.''
Actually, it's a two-man race between Sessoms and James Madison forward Louis Rowe, who leads the league in scoring (23 points per game), is second in field goal percentage (.570) and third in blocked shots (1.5). JMU coach Lefty Driesell, given the opportunity, had no interest in stumping for his candidate.
``All-star teams, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year - all that stuff's a bunch of baloney,'' Driesell said.
BYE, HOKIES: Virginia Tech said thanks, but no thanks to the CAA. Now look for many league teams to do the same when the Hokies look to schedule them in non-revenue sports.
``Well, you want Northeastern exposure, take everything up there,'' CAA commissioner Tom Yeager said.
Yeager said there's strong sentiment amongst league schools not to schedule Tech, not only because of the Hokies' recent conference switch to the Atlantic 10, but also because in recent years they have dropped Old Dominion, James Madison and Richmond from their basketball schedule after losing to those schools.
There's no boycott on scheduling Tech in all sports - yet. It may come up at the athletic directors' meeting next month.
RPI UPDATE: As it has most of the season, Old Dominion is the highest-ranking CAA team in the RPI Report. The RPI Report simulates the Ratings Percentage Index used by the NCAA Men's Basketball Committee to select and seed the NCAA tournament.
Old Dominion is ranked 98th out of the 302 Division I basketball programs. James Madison is next amongst league teams at No. 136.
HODGE HONOR: ODU fans aren't the only ones fondly remembering the injured Odell Hodge this season. Laurel Park High School in Martinsville, Va., retired Hodge's jersey on Valentine's Day. Hodge was a two-time Group AA state Player of the Year and completed his high school career as Virginia's career scoring leader.
The school kept a framed blue jersey with Hodge's number and gave him a framed white jersey.
The number, by the way, was not the 33 he wears at ODU. It was 50. Hodge said teammate Derrick Parker really wanted 50 at ODU, so he took 33.
PARTING SHOT: Driesell on what makes the Dukes so tough at home, where they have won 21 in a row against CAA foes: ``Coaching.'' by CNB