THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, September 7, 1995            TAG: 9509070570
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C7   EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   69 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** A headline in Thursday's sports section incorrectly identified Indiana and Connecticut as being on the Old Dominion University men's basketball schedule for 1995-96. Both teams are in a tournament with ODU, but will not necessarily play ODU. Correction published Friday, September 8, 1995 on page C6 of THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT. ***************************************************************** ODU RELEASES BASKETBALL SCHEDULE FOR COMING YEAR OPPONENTS INCLUDE U.VA., INDIANA, DUKE AND UCONN.

Old Dominion's basketball schedule, virtually complete months ago, was finally released Wednesday.

The release was delayed because Tulane, tentatively scheduled to play at Scope Dec. 9, asked to postpone its ODU game so it could accept an offer to play another opponent on TV. That left the Monarchs scrambling late to pick up a game. ODU's NCAA tournament victory over Villanova caused some teams to shy away from playing the Monarchs.

In place of a home game with Tulane, rated 35th in the final RPI Report, the Monarchs ended up on the road at Toledo, which was 123rd in the final RPI Report. The RPI Report simulates the Ratings Percentage Index used by the NCAA to select and seed the NCAA tournament field.

``The success that we had was great, but when it comes to scheduling it's something that really hurt us,'' ODU coach Jeff Capel said. ``I don't hold any grudges because I understand. We're a dangerous team, and not everyone is willing to give you a shot when you're a dangerous team.''

The highest-profile opponent on the Monarchs' schedule is Duke on ESPN Thanksgiving night in the Great Alaska Shootout. Capel will coach against his son Jeff, Duke's point guard, in that game, which will also feature the return of Blue Devils' coach Mike Krzyzewski to the sidelines. Also in the field are Indiana, Connecticut, Iowa, Texas Christian, Ohio University and Alaska-Anchorage.

The Monarchs will also play at Virginia in the midst of their conference season on Feb. 5. The far-flung schedule also includes solo road games at Texas Tech and Wyoming, and a holiday tournament Dec. 27-28 at Sacramento's Arco Arena. The Monarchs open with Idaho in that tournament, and will play either George Washington or host Cal-State Sacramento the second night.

The non-conference home slate consists of Hampton, Southern Illinois, South Florida and St. Joseph's. ODU opens Colonial Athletic Association play at home Jan. 6 against league newcomer Virginia Commonwealth.

``It's another great schedule,'' Capel said. ``Very challenging, especially with a young team.''

The Monarchs, 21-12 and CAA champions last year, will have six freshmen and two sophomores among their 13 scholarship players.

``To start out opening night in Mike's (Krzyzewski) first game back on national television on ESPN with this young group is frightening,'' Capel said.

As for the Tulane game, Capel said the Green Wave will be on a Monarchs' future schedule at Scope.

``We're going to jointly work together to get our game with them next year broadcast nationally,'' Capel said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

``Not everyone is willing to give you a shot when you're a dangerous

team,'' ODU coach Jeff Capel said.

by CNB