We’re exactly one week away from the first official day of practice for NCAA basketball teams, and we’ve only got a few CAA team previews left. Today, it’s the Monarchs of Old Dominion University.

2010-11 Recap: With the best rebounding margin (11.7) in all of Division 1 and the 3rd-best scoring defense (58.4 points per game) in the country, the Monarchs finished the year with a 27-7 overall record, 14-4 in league games. After entering the conference tournament with the 2nd seed, Blaine Taylor became the first coach to win consecutive CAA crowns. Old Dominion took home wins over Delaware, Hofstra and VCU in Richmond before falling to eventual national runner-up Butler in the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament, 60-58. It was the Monarchs’ 7th straight postseason appearance, including 4 NCAA tournaments, a CollegeInsider.com postseason tournament title, an NIT semifinal appearance, and a year of participation in the CBI tournament.. After losing their season opener to #21 Georgetown, 62-59, ODU won 4 in a row, including 3 in the Paradise Jam. All 3 victories in the Virgin Islands came against teams that would go on to make the NCAA Tournament (St. Peter’s, Xavier, Clemson).

Against Northeastern: On January 5, the Monarchs’ 49-34 victory in Norfolk made Blaine Taylor the winningest coach in Old Dominion history with 199 wins. The 83 point total made it the lowest scoring game in CAA history, and it was the fewest points scored by Northeastern since 1982. It was also a defensive team record for ODU. After the Monarchs scored the first four points of the game, a Chaisson Allen-less Huskies squad posted 10 straight points but followed that stretch with a scoreless stretch of over 10 minutes while ODU put up 18 of their own. At the break, Old Dominion held a 26-16 advantage. Northeastern brought it back to 30-26, but then gave up a 13-0 run which put them away. The Monarchs scored 22 points off of 15 turnovers, while the Huskies converted 12 takeaways into just 3 points.

Key Losses:

• Frank Hassell: There’s no doubt he earned the nickname of ‘Frank the Tank’ by being a tough defender who could create his own space on the floor and went after every rebound available. The first-team All-CAA selection and CAA tournament MVP was also named to College Insider’s Mid-Major Defensive All-American team. To add to his awards, he was named to the All-Virginia first team, an impressive feat in a state full of quality basketball programs. Hassell was no slouch on the offensive end either, netting 15.4 points per game (9th in the CAA) on 56% shooting (3rd). He was the leader of a senior class that won 97 games, most by any class in Monarchs history, went to 2 NCAA tournaments, won a CollegeInsider.com postseason tournament, and also played in the CBI.
• Ben Finney: Along with Hassell, Finney started all 34 games for the Monarchs last season and finished his career as the team’s all-time leader in games played. He earned MVP honors for the Paradise Jam, and was one of the club’s leaders both on and off the court. While his numbers are replaceable (9.2 points, 6.3 rebounds per game plus a very respectable 102 total assists), his leadership will be missed.
• Keyon Carter and Darius James: Neither one was particularly impressive on the floor, but both logged enough minutes (each over 20 minutes per game, with James starting all 33 contests he appeared in and Carter starting 10 of 34) to be worth a mention. With Finney and Hassell, they were part of a senior class that won 97 games, most by any class in Monarchs history, went to 2 NCAA tournaments, won a CollegeInsider.com postseason tournament, and also played in the CBI.
• The ‘Stache: I couldn’t resist. Blaine Taylor shaved his mustache in the offseason, and will be roaming the sidelines with a clean upper lip for the first time in his coaching career. However, it shouldn’t affect his coaching ability (which could be listed in the ‘Key Returns’ section, since his coaching is certainly one of the keys to ODU’s perennial success).

Key Returns:

• Kent Bazemore: Once he returns from a stress fracture in his foot that will sideline him until sometime in December, what’s not to love about Bazemore? Not only was he named the top defensive player in the CAA, leading the league with 2.2 steals per game, but he took home the Lefty Driesell Award as the best defensive player in the country. His 12.3 points per game on offense also gave him a lift towards a 2nd-team All-CAA selection. While time missed due to injury this season may damage his chances at postseason honors, he’ll still earn his way into the awards conversations with a dominant presence every time he steps on the floor.
• Trian Iliadis: The team’s best returning shooter will need to step up in 2011-12 after playing behind the senior class for the past 3 seasons. The 6’3″, 185-pound guard led the team with 41 triples last year but averaged just 6 points per game. That number will increase with many more opportunities, however. A native of Perth, Australia, Iliadis spent a portion of his summer competing for his home country in the World University Games.

What to Expect: Defense and rebounding. Old Dominion simply isn’t a team that has flashy players that will put up gaudy offensive numbers. Replacing four players who made up the best class in program history will not be easy, but the Monarchs will grind out games and find ways to win. Since this space is meant for predicting the team’s finish in conference play, Bazemore’s foot injury shouldn’t impact the standings too much unless the team struggles without him out of the gate and can’t recover, or he misses more time than expected. Though they’ll need to fight a little bit harder for it this year than the past few years, look for the Monarchs to claim their seats in the stands on Friday in Richmond instead of on the bench as they could very well still finish in the top 4 and earn a first-round bye.

Andy Towne Basketball CAA, Fall Preview, Old Dominion