THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 9, 1994 TAG: 9411090487
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
Old Dominion's basketball team gets a final tuneup tonight at 8 before it begins playing for real next week at Virginia in the Preseason NIT.
The Monarchs face Croatia in an exhibition game at the ODU field house. The game will be preceded by the ODU women also in an exhibition against Croatia at 6 p.m.
ODU coach Jeff Capel said junior point guard Duffy Samuels will get the start. Saturday freshman Brion Dunlap started and played 41 of 50 minutes in the Monarchs' double-overtime exhibition loss to Court Authority. Capel lauded Dunlap's performance, which included 14 assists and 5 turnovers.
The game Saturday may have also altered Capel's decision regarding another player. Derrick Parker, a 6-foot-9 junior center, was held out of the Court Authority game because the coaches decided to redshirt him. But ODU's entire starting front line of Odell Hodge, Mario Mullen and Petey Sessoms fouled out of that game, and backup center David Harvey finished with four fouls.
``We're contemplating right now that maybe we shouldn't redshirt him,'' Capel said Tuesday.
Capel said the coaches will make a decision today and Parker could be back in uniform tonight. If he is redshirted, ODU would start the season with 10 scholarship players.
Old Dominion expects to sign three recruits today - the first day of the national letter of intent signing period - and two of them are inside players. Capel said that has no impact on the Parker decision.
``It has nothing to do with commitments, it's about this year,'' Capel said.
NIT TICKETS: Fans seeking tickets to the ODU-Virginia game through Old Dominion's ticket allotment have until 5 p.m. Thursday to order. Tickets are $14. ODU is also organizing a bus trip to the game for $32, which includes a ticket. The bus will leave the ODU field house at 2 p.m. for the 7:30 tip-off at Virginia's University Hall, and will return immediately after the game.
Tickets and bus packages are available at the ticket office in the Athletic Administration Building on campus or by calling 683-4444.
The winner advances to the NIT quarterfinals against the Ohio University-Ohio State winner. by CNB