A win at Northeastern would be timely for ODU

It's old. Teddy Roosevelt held a presidential rally there.

It's cold. Beneath the court lies the world's oldest artificial ice sheet.

In its brief history as a Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball venue, it's been a tough place for opponents to win, with the home team prevailing 72 percent of the time.

There's no place in the CAA quite like Northeastern University's Matthews Arena, where Old Dominion opens CAA play this afternoon.

"Unique," is how coach Blaine Taylor euphemistically described Matthews, a drafty, 101-year-old barn best known as the cradle of pro and college hockey in Boston.

The Boston Bruins played their first game there in 1924. The NBA's Celtics played their inaugural home game there 22 years later.

ODU is a relative newcomer to the building. The Monarchs have visited four times since Northeastern joined the CAA in 2005-06. They've won twice.

A third victory would be especially timely. It would allow ODU to pocket a conference road win, a month before league play begins in earnest.

An early leg up could be important. With no team separating itself three weeks into the season, the CAA appears even more wide open than expected. Northeastern, picked ninth, is off to a 3-2 start, and owns what is arguably the conference's best win, at St. John's.

"I thought they would figure in the league race," Taylor said.

The Huskies returned four starters from a year ago and have one of the CAA's top backcourts. Guards Jonathan Lee and Joel Smith averaged 30 points, 10 rebounds and six assists combined.

ODU's guard play, by contrast, has been spotty. Seniors Kent Bazemore, Trian Iliadis and Marquel De Lancey are shooting a collective 33 percent and have nearly as many turnovers (53) as assists (54).

Bazemore continues to recover from offseason foot surgery. Iliadis and De Lancey are adjusting to expanded roles. Redshirt freshman Dimitri Batten and junior Nick Wright have picked up some of the scoring load.

Taylor continues to tinker with the lineup, and to emphasize the need for better shot selection. The Monarchs (4-3) are hitting just 39.5 percent on the season, but shot 48 percent in the second half of a win over East Carolina Tuesday.

The going is often tougher in conference play, because opponents are more familiar with ODU's style of play. The road also presents its own challenges. ODU has not played on an opponent's floor this year. Today's game is the first of four straight on the road.

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