■ 31 December 2009 | 9:11 AM
A-10 split
The Monarchs completed the Atlantic 10 portion of their schedule Wednesday, in their 63-54 slugfest of a win over Duquesne. With four games against A-10 foes, ODU is practically an honorary member.
Wednesday's result gave the Monarchs a 2-2 split. Fittingly, this one had the feel of a conference game. ODU opened up a double-digit lead early in the second half but was unable to pull away against a team that played hard and had obviously scouted the Monarchs well.
"Every time it seemed we could string a couple of plays together, they had an answer to keep it competitive," Blaine Taylor said.
The Dukes were small but tenacious. Their double-double machine, forward Damian Saunders, nearly had a triple-double, with 11 points, 10 rebounds and an incredible nine blocks. The task of slowing him fell to Keyon Carter, and it took its toll on the other end, where Carter went 2 for 12.
The task of containing ODU's Gerald Lee was a group effort. Duquesne tried several approaches. None were very effective, as Lee poured in 24 points.
ODU needed them all, as Taylor said.
“I see guys who end up being player of the week and their team wins by 30 and their coach plays them the whole game and the guy gets a bunch of padded stats. The money players are the ones, like John Wooden said, ‘Be at your best when your best is needed.’ We needed Gerald to step up...he stepped up and made plays. That’s the kind of player he is.”
You've got to love a press conference that references the Wizard of Westwood.
A few other tidbits from the game:
- Duquesne hung tough on the boards, grabbing 42, to ODU's 43.
"That shows how competitive it was," Taylor said.
- ODU had 12 blocks, 10 steals and held the Dukes to 32 percent shooting.
- Take away Lee's 10 for 18 night, and ODU's other players shot 13 for 47 (27.6 percent). Ouch.
Taylor thought ODU had some good shots that "rattled out." Better to have them now than next week, for the start of real conference play.
"I think we might have had an eyeball on conference," Taylor said. "We're human."
-- Ed Miller
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A-10
Wondering how anybody feels about the A-10 Games. The good crowds for Wednesday Nights except the student and suite level mean what.
We know Va Tech and Georgetowmn on the same dates would be sellouts but what about George Mason and Wilmington (who have sold out the Ted in Late January)
Those who suggest the A-10 schools would not draw here in Jan or Feb - are they right. Delaware has drawn comparable crowds on Dec 5 & 6
What would VCU Draw on the first Sat of Dec against the SEC and B-12 Championship Football games?