THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 9, 1995 TAG: 9506090678
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
Longtime neighbors Old Dominion and Hampton will finally meet again on the basketball court Nov. 29 at Scope.
``I think it will be a good game because the fans will be interested in it,'' Old Dominion athletic director Jim Jarrett said. ``The test of how good a game it will be over time is how well it will be attended. That will determine how often we play.''
The matchup is a one-shot deal with no return game planned for Hampton, which will make its debut in Division I next season.
The only previous meeting between the teams was a 120-106 ODU victory in the 1967-68 season.
Norfolk State, a closer neighbor to ODU, has plans to move up to Division I for the 1997-98 season. Jarrett said once the Spartans become Division I, a meeting between Norfolk's two largest universities will be possible.
``We're looking at that when and if (NSU's move up) happens,'' Jarrett said. ``Obviously, the same thing can be said for the interest in that game. We're going to look at games with Division I people where there is a natural interest in terms of geography.''
Jarrett said the remainder of ODU's schedule will be released soon, although it essentially appears to be set.
The Monarchs open the season against Duke on Nov. 22 in the Great Alaska Shootout, which also includes Indiana, Connecticut, Texas Christian, Ohio, Iowa and Alaska Anchorage. ODU also is in a tournament in Sacramento, Calif., right after Christmas with George Washington, Idaho and Cal State-Sacramento.
Other non-conference opponents are expected to include home games with Southern Illinois, South Florida, Tulane and St. Joseph's, and road games at Texas Tech, Wyoming and Virginia.
Hampton will begin its first year in Division I with new coach Byron Samuels, who is familiar with the Monarchs as a former assistant at UNC Wilmington.
``Playing a quality program like ODU's is a tremendous yardstick,'' Samuels said in a statement. ``It will help us in determining the things our program needs to reach their level of success.'' by CNB