ODU needs a strong finish to earn a top-4 seed

For Old Dominion, the math is simple even if the task isn't.

Win two of their remaining three CAA games, and the Monarchs clinch a top-four finish in the conference standings.

Anything less, and ODU could finish out of the top four for the first time since 2002-03. The difference is significant - the top four teams receive byes into the quarterfinal round of the CAA tournament. Since the conference expanded to 12 teams in 2006, no team that has had to play in the tournament's opening round has won it.

ODU (16-11, 11-4) is two games up on Delaware and Georgia State with three to play. The Monarchs own a tiebreaker over the Blue Hens and will travel to face Georgia State next week. They finish the season Feb. 25 at home against Drexel.

Coach Blaine Taylor said Monday that he's less interested in what might occur than the "opportunity" presented by tonight's game against UNC-Wilmington at the Constant Center.

ODU overcame 26 percent first-half shooting to beat the Seahawks 53-48 on the road last month.

ODU held UNCW to 30 percent shooting. The Seahawks (9-16, 5-10) have lost 4 of 5 since.

"We've just got to go in there and do a good job of being very selective with the shots we take, and try to play the best we can," coach Buzz Peterson said.

Round 1 of Mason-VCU is set for tonight

Something will finally have to give at the top of the standings tonight when VCU and George Mason, who have been in a first-place tie with Drexel, meet in Fairfax.

The Rams and Patriots, who have met just once per season the last four years, could play three times in the next few weeks.

"Our guys have been watching them the whole year," George Mason coach Paul Hewitt said. "I've been watching them the whole year."

VCU's Shaka Smart said the same thing about the Patriots.

"The more we see on tape, the more respect we have for them," he said.

Smart called Mason (21-6, 13-2) the deepest team in the league. Hewitt said he's been impressed by VCU's intensity.

"When they shoot the ball well, they are one of the best teams you're going to see anywhere," he said.

Monarchs are best draw in CAA, so far

ODU is out of the race for the regular-season title, but there's another title the Monarchs can still claim: No. 1 in attendance. After Saturday's sellout against VCU, ODU is averaging 7,822 per game, about 200 more than the Rams.

ODU has one home game remaining after tonight, Feb. 25 vs. Drexel. VCU also has one game, vs. George Mason the same day.