CAA tournament champs

RICHMOND

It looked like one of the challenges in "World's Strongest  Man."

Finnish basketball player carry.

For a moment or two a pair of ODU fans managed to hoist 6-10, 250-pound Gerald Lee at least a few feet off the ground, in the giddy afterglow of the Monarchs' 60-53 CAA tournament championship win over William and Mary.

It was a crazy scene. Hugs and tears all around, as senior Marsharee Neely said.

The Monarchs won their 5th tournament crown, the most of any CAA team. Not bad for a program that spent almost a decade in the Sun Belt Conference, not joining the Colonial until 1992.

Picked to win it, ODU did just that. They'll enjoy it a day or two before turning their attention to preparing for the NCAA tournament.

A few post-game quotes:

Blaine Taylor:

"It's not easy to be picked to win the league. You've got to be comfortable in your own skin and wear that badge, that bullseye. These kids wanted that."

On ODU's defense;

"The shots (William and Mary) made were really hard."

On ODU's chances in the NCAA tournament:

"You're always at the mercy of seeds and matchups. When you get to that level you better be ready to play the best. Our schedule and league race have really prepared us for that."

Kent Bazemore

On the team's composure:

"We know what it's like to keep our heads, and stay in the moment."

Marsharee Neely:

On winning the title:

"There are not too many seniors who get to go out the way we did, as far as our conference race. It feels great."

-- Ed Miller

 

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