Ailing ODU returns to the court looking for a cure

The Old Dominion men's basketball team has had two days off since losing to Vermont last Wednesday - the first one scheduled, the second unanticipated.

The Monarchs didn't practice on Thanksgiving as planned. With a flu bug running through the team, they also took Monday off.

"It just didn't make any sense to go out there, when our state of affairs health-wise is what it is," coach Blaine Taylor said.

Ailing or not, the Monarchs (3-3) return to the court tonight to host East Carolina (4-1) at the Constant Center. It's the team's last home game until Dec. 22 and a chance to bounce back from a loss that left a particularly bad taste.

The Monarchs led by 12 before falling in overtime at home. The performance was representative - at least statistically - of what has been an uneven season.

ODU was outrebounded on the night, as it has been this season. The Monarchs also shot just 34 percent, dropping their season average to 39. And though ODU had more assists than turnovers, it's in the red in that category, averaging 11.5 of the former and 15 of the latter.

"Our stats are, I hope, misleading," Taylor said. "But they also tell somewhat of a story, in that we've got to do some things better."

One of them is rebound. The nation's top rebounding team a year ago, the Monarchs were beaten 48-37 on the glass by Vermont.

"We've just got a bunch of guys that are assuming that somebody else is going to do it," Taylor said.

Often that someone has been forward Chris Cooper, averaging a team-best nine rebounds. But Cooper has been plagued by foul trouble. When he has had to sit, ODU has struggled on the glass.

The Monarchs also have struggled from the perimeter, with senior guards Kent Bazemore, Trian Iliadis and Marquel De Lancey each shooting 36 percent or less.

Shot selection is part of the reason for the low percentages, Taylor said.

"We've been guilty of guys taking it upon themselves to make something happen, instead of working together to get good shots," he said.

With many players in new roles, and a challenging early schedule, some growing pains were expected. Still, Bazemore said that on a team with four seniors, youth is no excuse.

"I wouldn't say we're a young team. There's just certain stuff we should know how to do and not do."

Bazemore scored 20 points in ODU's 81-68 win at ECU a year ago. He made 8 of 12 shots, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range.

Still recovering from offseason foot surgery, he's shooting just 30 percent this year, and 22 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.

"I'm not going to blame anything on this injury," he said after the Vermont loss. "I've got to be better."

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