ODU men picked to win CAA hoops crown

It’s official: The Old Dominion men’s basketball team will sneak up on no one in the Colonial Athletic Association this season. As expected, the Monarchs were picked to win the conference in a vote of media, coaches and sports information directors released this morning at the CAA’s media day in Washington.

ODU’s Gerald Lee was chosen as preseason co-player of the year with Charles Jenkins of Hofstra. Lee is one of five starters and 10 lettermen returning from a team that finished 25-10 and won the Collegeinsider.com tournament championship.

“What you hope to do when you run a program is be in a situation where people look at your program and say, ‘These guys can be a contender,” coach Blaine Taylor said. “I’m proud that the last few years, typically this time of year, people think we have a chance.”