Returning talent, newcomers mixing well for Blue Hens

Posted to: Men's College Basketball Sports

Game Watch: ODU men at Towson

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Towson Center; Towson, Md.

Records: ODU 7-8, 2-1 CAA; Towson 5-8, 1-2

Radio: 94.1 FM

About the Tigers: Junior Hairston, a transfer from College of Charleston, caught everyone's attention in his first game at Towson when he went for 26 points and 21 rebounds against Loyola. He has had eight double-doubles this season and averages 14.2 ppg and 11.7 rpg. Rodney Spruill has been suspended from the team by coach Pat Kennedy for academic reasons until the end of the month. Senior forward Tommy Breaux appears lost for the season with a foot injury. The Tigers will have four players in street clothes as they sit out the year after transferring. One of them is Brian Morris, younger brother of former ODU player John Morris. Brian Morris transferred from Richmond.

About the Monarchs: ODU is 6-0 lifetime at Towson Center. But ODU didn't play at Towson last season with the CAA's unbalanced schedule. Only five Monarchs have played in Towson Center, tallying a grand total of 17 points among them. Sophomore Gerald Lee has never played there but is averaging 12.1 ppg and 6.1 rpg. No other Monarch is averaging in double figures in points, but Brandon Johnson leads the CAA in steals with 42. Look for increased playing time and roles from freshman guard Darius James and freshman forward Ben Finney.

By Rich Radford
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 9, 2008

Delaware at the top of the Colonial Athletic Association standings?

In men's basketball?

It's a bit of a shocker, seeing how Delaware has been at or near the bottom of the standings in recent years. But as the Blue Hens prepare to play host to George Mason tonight (MASN, 7 p.m.), they are the only unbeaten CAA team.

Delaware (6-7, 3-0) is mixing returning talent with newcomers and has already surpassed its victory total of a year ago, when the Blue Hens went 5-26.

Back are All-CAA second-teamer Herb Courtney and All-CAA rookie-team player Brian Johnson. Mixed in are freshman Alphonso Dawson and transfers Marc Egerson (Georgetown) and 6-foot-9 center Jim Ledsome (Nebraska).

The transfers became eligible six games ago - the Hens are 4-2 since - and Delaware coach Monte Ross said the hardest part of the new roster he had at his disposal was creating balance.

"We didn't need heroes or saviors," Ross said. "We just needed guys blending in."

Ross kidded during Tuesday's CAA media/coaches call that, a month ago, he was "thinking about looking into concrete jobs after the season."

At the time, Delaware was 2-6.

Ex-Beach player redshirting

George Mason senior forward Darryl Monroe is officially redshirting. It was thought he may come back after preseason surgery to remove a bone spur from his toe, but recovery has been slow.

The 6-foot-7, 260-pounder from Virginia Beach's First Colonial High School decided just before Christmas that he wouldn't be able to play at 100 percent and would thus return for his final year of eligibility next season. Monroe averaged 6.1 points and 3.9 rebounds last season.

"It's a matter of his scar tissue in the toe healing and the flexibility returning," coach Jim Larranaga said.

Four tickets aren't enough

NCAA rules allow players four tickets to dispense for games. Old Dominion point guard Darius James said that's not nearly enough.

Such is the case when a player is a local product. James went to Tallwood High in Virginia Beach. He pointed out that Ben Finney, from Portsmouth's Norcom High, and Frank Hassell, from Chesapeake's Indian River, are having the same problems.

All are freshmen.

James and Finney combined for 29 points Saturday in a 70-61 loss to William and Mary, with Finney providing 17 points.

"Four? It's good, but... that's not enough," James said. "That's why we keep hitting Etoile Imama up for tickets, since he's from Canada."

And besides, Imama isn't playing. Tendinitis in his knees has left him in street clothes for almost two months after he'd played in only two games.