Scrambled eggs, fresh fruit and crispy bacon were part of the menu at the first women’s basketball breakfast held at Old Dominion’s Big Blue room inside Chartway Arena on Wednesday. It was enough to draw the faithful who demonstrated their lengthy loyalty associated with this program by answering a few questions.
Radio announcer Doug Ripley, the emcee, did the asking.
How many were here the last time ODU advanced to the Sweet 16?
Almost every hand went up.
That was 2008.
How many of you were here the last time ODU advanced to the Final Four?
A ton of folks raised their hands.
That was 1997.
How many of you were here the last time ODU won the national championship?
Yet another strong show of hands.
The year was 1985.
But the real question — who’s gonna be there Thursday night? That when the Lady Monarchs host Rice in the biggest regular-season game this pioneering program will play in nearly a decade. The Owls (16-6, 11-0) are the defending Conference USA champs with a 30-game league win streak, fourth-longest in the nation. ODU (20-3, 10-1) had one hiccup in the conference but has won nine straight and is unbeaten in 13 home games. A win here pulls the Lady Monarchs vaults ODU into a share of the conference lead. The teams meet again in Houston on March 7.
“They’re good. They’ve got size and they can hurt you in many different ways,” said ODU coach Nikki McCray. “But so can we.”
The last time ODU played for conference bragging rights was under Wendy Larry in 2011.
Two years ago, ODU finished 8-23, McCray’s rookie season as a head coach. Last year ODU earned a WNIT bid. Now the Lady Monarchs are in the mix for their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2008 when the cast included TJ Jordan, Jazzmin Walters and Tiffany Green. But Rice is a hurdle.
The Owls feature Erica Ogwumike, C-USA’s scoring and rebounding leader (her sibs are Nneka and Chiney) along with 6-9 Nancy Mulkey, a transfer from Oklahoma who averages 3.4 blocks per game, good enough for fifth in the nation.
Here’s what’s impressive about ODU besides its defense. They’re deep If Ajah Wayne (11.2 ppg) isn’t having a big night, Amari Young is. If Taylor Edwards goes cold, Victoria Morris gets hot And so on. They don’t go away. They attack. Minus Wayne and point guard Amaya Register, ODU rallied in the final quarter to beat UTEP on the road on Saturday.
Wayne is a game-time decision for Thursday night.
Playing time is spread out;11 players average 10 minutes but nobody more than 29.
But this story isn’t just about numbers. McCray is a marvel. ODU is in the national discussion again. McCray continues to bridge the gulf between “Old” and “New” Dominion. Larry’s in the fold again after an ugly divorce. The ODU Hall-of-Famer and Ticha Penicheiro spoke at ODU’s tipoff dinner last October. Nancy Lieberman’s tweeting support for these players. ODU hosted its first Anne Donovan Classic last December. McCray’s been instrumental in connecting this program to its roots.
The missing piece is the gate. Those Constant Center crowds that date back to the Field House haven’t made their way into Chartway Arena, Education Days aside. In 2007-08, the last time ODU reached the national tournament, the Lady Monarchs averaged 3,427 at home. The numbers say in 11 home games this season, average attendance is 1,843. That’s announced. Most games, especially Thursday nights, it looks like a lot less.
Rice will show. The Lady Monarch have been showing up all season. Let’s see if the fans will do their part Thursday night.