The truth is, ODU Needs to shake out of its funk - soon

NORFOLK

Though a college basketball season can't be won or lost in November or December, for the time being, Blaine Taylor's Old Dominion players are carrying around a few minor regrets.

Expectations - their own and others' - have come back to bite the Monarchs.

The Thanksgiving weekend in South Padre Island didn't turn out as planned. An opportunity to elevate the program's profile was dribbled away with losses to Missouri and Mississippi State. They were followed by a dreary defeat at Richmond.

Falling to a couple mega-conference opponents is no disgrace, but the disappointment created a hangover in the ODU locker room.

"Losing to Missouri and Mississippi State kind of messed up my head," admitted junior forward Frank Hassell. "I'm stressing out about the wrong stuff instead of just playing basketball like I know how."

For the time being, it has cost him his starting job. He came off the bench for the second game in a row as ODU beat overmatched Mount St. Mary's 64-38 Tuesday at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.

"I haven't been playing like myself," he acknowledged the other day.

Marsharee Neely is another former starter who, for now, is getting reduced court time.

"I need to work on defense a little bit," said the senior guard.

When a locker-room visitor commended him on his candor, Neely spread his arms wide.

"Can't be nothin' but truthful," he said.

Neely's also having trouble letting go of the lost weekend in Texas.

"We're really disappointed," he said. "That was our opportunity to show we can compete at that level."

Teams like Mount St. Mary's - teams ODU can physically overwhelm - pose no threat, but on Friday the Monarchs move up a couple of notches in competition at Dayton, before visiting Georgetown of the Big East on Dec. 19. That's followed by two more non-conference games - both at home - against Charlotte and Duquesne before the end of the year.

"I feel like we should win those games," said Hassell.

Never hurts to be confident. ODU's chances would be made better, though, if the Monarchs' big man cleared his head and returned to top form.

"Coach calls it soul searching," said Hassell, "but I call it relaxing."

Whatever you call it - spinning, cajoling, soothing - Hassell's coach is doing everything he can to keep everybody on an even keel. Fans included.

"I'm still tinkering with this team," Taylor said. "People think all the chess pieces are in place, but they're not."

ODU, he insisted, "is not behind schedule."

But after returning all but one player and being selected to win the Colonial Athletic Association, the Monarchs expected to step out of the conference in great style - to make a statement. It hasn't happened so far.

ODU will never win a beauty contest, but even allowing for a drop-off in concentration due to the suspect caliber of Tuesday's opponent, the offense looked out of sync, especially along the perimeter.

There's a lot of season yet to go, and today's anxieties will be eclipsed by the challenges of the CAA schedule. January and February is when the team wants to hit its stride.

"Of course, we'll be better in March," said Hassell, "but we want to make our move now."

ODU gets its chance with the next stretch of non-conference games.

"As challenging as it can be," said Taylor.

Judging by how they've been playing, the Monarchs are going to find this stretch all too challenging.

If so, Hassell and his teammates will need reminding that it's not yet time to be stressing out.

But for now, can't be nothin' but truthful.

Bob Molinaro, (757) 446-2373, bob.molinaro@pilotonline.com