Old Dominion Monarchs
Conference USA (26-8, 13-5)
For the last five years Old Dominion has been right in the mix for a Conference USA title. This year they finally got it and ended up winning the conference by two games. They kept that momentum going in the conference tournament and snuck past Louisiana Tech, UAB and Western Kentucky by a combined total of nine points.
Big Wins: 11/28 VCU (62-52), 12/15 at Syracuse (68-62), 3/16 vs Western Kentucky (62-56)
Bad Losses: 11/9 at St. Joseph’s (64-79), 11/19 vs Northern Iowa (53-54), 1/10 at FAU (73-80)
Coach: Jeff Jones
Why They Can Surprise:
The Monarchs had to scrap their way to victory in every conference tournament game, but that is how they want to play. This is one of the best defenses in the country and Coach Jeff Jones will make sure that the intensity is always there on the defensive end of the floor. The Monarchs allow just 61.2 points per game, which ranks eighth in the nation. With defense like that, it does not take a ton of offense to win a game. B.J. Stith and Ahmad Caver can often provide enough. Stith leads the team with 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds, while Caver adds 16.5 points, 5.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds. Xavier Green, another big guard, is the only other consistent scoring threat on the team. Those three can knock down shots and use their size and quickness to their advantage by attacking the basket.
Why They Can Disappoint:
With plenty of size on the roster from Aaron Carver, Elbert Robinson Dajour Dickens and Kalu Ezikpe, this is a frontcourt that can compete with just about anybody on the glass and on the defensive end. The problem is the lack of a consistent scorer in the frontcourt. Of all four of the forwards in the regular rotation, none average more than five points per game. That puts a lot of pressure on the backcourt to create open looks on their own and that does not always work out for the best.
Probable Starters:
Ahmad Caver, Senior, Guard, 16.5 ppg, 5.46 apg, 4.3 rpg
B.J. Stith, Senior, Guard, 16.9 ppg, 1.0 apg, 7.4 rpg
Xavier Green, Sophomore, Guard, 9.7 ppg, 1.9 apg
Aaron Carver, Junior, Forward, 2.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg
Elbert Robinson, Senior, Center, 2.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg
Key Role Players:
Dajour Dickens, Sophomore, Forward, 3.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.7 bpg
Kalu Ezikpe, Freshman, Forward, 4.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg
Jason Wade, Freshman, Guard, 3.8 ppg, 1.6 apg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 66.8 (310th in nation, 12th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 61.2 (8, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 41.3 (316, 13)
Field-Goal Defense: 38.9 (8, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.8 (161, 8)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.6 (116, 2)
Free-Throw Percentage: 65.0 (327, 12)
Rebound Margin: 5.1 (32, 1)
Assists Per Game: 12.9 (222, 7)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.8 (70, 4)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 2015 | NIT | First Round win over Charleston Southern |
| 2015 | NIT | Second Round win over Illinois State |
| 2015 | NIT | Quarterfinal win over Murray State |
| 2015 | NIT | Semifinal loss to Stanford |
| 2014 | CBI | First Round win over South Dakota State |
| 2014 | CBI | Quarterfinal win over Radford |
| 2014 | CBI | Semifinal loss to Fresno State |
| 2012 | CIT | First Round win over Coastal Carolina |
| 2012 | CIT | Second Round win over USC Upstate |
| 2012 | CIT | Quarterfinal loss to Mercer |
| 2011 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Butler |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Notre Dame |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Baylor |
| 2009 | CIT | First Round win over Citadel |
| 2009 | CIT | Second Round win over Belmont |
| 2009 | CIT | Semifinal win over James Madison |
| 2009 | CIT | Final win over Bradley |
| 2008 | CBI | First Round win over Rider |
| 2008 | CBI | Second Round loss to Virginia |
| 2007 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Butler |
*all team stats through 3/10
