ODU men to open hoops season against Georgetown

Old Dominion's recent success at home will be tested early by a men's basketball schedule that brings 2010 NCAA tournament teams Georgetown and Richmond as well as NIT champ Dayton to the Constant Center in the season's first month.

Meanwhile, the Monarch s' toughness on the road will be challenged with trips to the Virgin Islands and Missouri, and by a conference slate that opens with four of the first six Colonial Athletic Association games on the road.

The entire 2010-11 schedule, which had been dribbling out in bits and pieces, was released Monday, with the completion of the CAA portion. It features five teams that reached the NCAA tournament in 2010 and six others that participated in post-season play of some sort.

"We've played a very aggressive and challenging schedule over time and this one certainly compares with any," coach Blaine Taylor said.

The Monarchs' 23-game home winning streak, fourth-longest in the nation, will be put on the line immediately, in the Nov. 12 opener against Georgetown. Richmond comes to town Dec. 1 and Dayton on

Dec. 11. High Point, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Presbyterian and a "BracketBusters" game fill out the home non conference schedule. ODU, which advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament last season, hasn't lost at home since Jan. 7, 2009.

"I'm not really into streaks," Taylor said. "I am proud of the fact we have a good home court. The kids enjoy playing there, the fans enjoy watching there. We have a good synergy, a shared experience, that makes it a pretty tough place to play."

Away from home, ODU plays in the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands Nov. 19-22, in a field that includes Clemson and Xavier. The Monarchs play at Missouri Dec. 30.

The defending CAA regular season and tournament champs open conference play Dec. 4 at Delaware.

ODU plays three straight on the road in February, against rivals George Mason, Williams and Mary and VCU.

Ed Miller, (757) 446-2372, ed.miller@pilotonline.com