THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 22, 1994 TAG: 9408220136
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C01 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PARIS LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
From the topless beaches of Cannes to 2 francs to use the toilet, from basketball in a bull ring to basketball against bullies, and from the Eiffel Tower to seemingly unending bus tours, Old Dominion's foreign trip has been adventuresome.
The big adventure ends today when the Monarchs return to their native soil 12 days after leaving for France.
``It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most of us,'' center Odell Hodge said.
But also a different lifestyle.
No longer will the Monarchs struggle to communicate, as ODU sports information director Carol Hudson did the other night at dinner. He pulled out a French-English dictionary to try to convey he wanted to wrap up his dessert and take it with him. The closest word he could find to ``wrap up'' was envelope. Finally the waiter said, ``Oh, doggy bag?''
No longer will they be subjected to the peculiarities of French lodging. Coach Jeff Capel encountered perhaps the ultimate peculiarity Sunday when he checked into ODU's Paris hotel. There was no bed in the room.
``Sleep standing up, I guess,'' Capel said.
And no longer will the Monarch players and coaches get to convene as a team, not until Oct. 15, anyway. Above all else, that was the matter of greatest import for ODU's U.S. basketball exports - that new coach Capel and the returning Monarchs got an opportunity to get to know each other on and off the court.
``I like them, I really like them,'' Capel said of his players. ``I think we can have something special.
``We got out of this without any serious injuries and found out a lot about each other. It's been great. I feel so much better about this team having seen them in battle. We've got some warriors.''
ODU lost all the battles in France, but Capel was happy with ODU's play in three of the five games. The 0-5 record came against teams in France's best professional league, and with some very unprofessional officiating. In five games ODU was called for 30 more fouls and shot 40 fewer free throws than its more-physical French foes.
``You don't hear me too much complaining about the officials, but this was ridiculous,'' Hodge said.
``Our players aren't going to face any more adversity than what they faced over here,'' assistant Mark Cline said. ``The officials have to live here, they're not going to make any money officiating ODU games.''
ODU's money player on this trip was Petey Sessoms.
The rising senior forward led the team in scoring (23.6 per game), 3-point shooting (48 percent) and blocked shots (eight).
``Petey played awfully well,'' Capel said. ``It's obvious from some of the coaches I talked to on this trip that, if nothing else, he will have a chance to play over here.''
The flip side of Sessoms was Hodge, who shot poorly from the field (42 percent) and the line (37 percent) and averaged 8.6 points, less than half his team-leading total of last year.
This trip wasn't about piling up stats, and Hodge sat more than usual because of foul trouble and because the coaches wanted to get a good look at Derrick Parker. But he admitted he wasn't satisfied. Because he played on an NIT All-Stars team earlier this summer in Europe, Hodge has been going virtually nonstop since early June.
``I've played a whole lot of ball, it's time to just relax a while,'' Hodge said.
Mario Mullen didn't play much ball last season because of back surgery and eventual tendinitis in his knees. This trip was good for Mullen, who inched ever closer to the Mario of old.
``I have a little ways to go,'' Mullen said. ``My knees are not giving me as many problems and my back is not giving me any problems now. I'm getting closer. With preseason conditioning and playing every day, I think I should be back to my old self, or even better.''
With the exception of Hodge, just about everyone appeared to have made strides from last season. Capel regarded the experience as a major building block for next season, regardless of the record.
``The way their conference season ended last year is something these kids are carrying with them,'' Capel said of the last-second shot in the conference tournament that put James Madison into the NCAA tournament and ODU into the NIT. ``I think it's a driving desire these kids have to let it all out this year.'' ILLUSTRATION: Chart
FRANCE AT A GLANCE
ODU trip statistics
For copy of chart, see microfilm
by CNB