THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 16, 1995 TAG: 9503160551
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
Although March Madness is a grossly overused term, there's no better description for the scenario that could unfold this weekend for the Capel family.
``I'll be glad when it's all over with, if you want to know the truth,'' Jerry Capel said.
Jeff Capel Jr. will coach Old Dominion in the first round of the NCAA tournament Friday night in Albany, N.Y., (7:40 p.m., WTKR) against Villanova. At virtually the same time, his youngest son Jason will play in the Virginia Group AAA state high school semifinals.
Capel's wife Jerry and oldest son Jeff III will be in Lynchburg watching Jason's Indian River team take on Potomac.
If decided underdogs Old Dominion and Indian River both win, things get really interesting.
Capel said he will fly to Lynchburg to catch Saturday night's state tournament final. Then first thing Sunday morning he would fly back to Albany - with Jerry, Jeff III and Jason in tow - for Old Dominion's second-round game, which would tip off about 3 p.m.
``Logistically it's do-able,'' said Capel, adding that it would cost about $2,500. ``Worth every penny of it. I hope it comes to fruition.''
As of Wednesday afternoon, Capel had not discussed it with Jerry.
``He said that?'' Jerry said when told of the jet-setting plan.
Jerry joked she may get fired from her teaching job at Western Branch Middle School if she keeps asking for days off to go to basketball games.
Last week the Capels were in Greensboro to watch Jeff III play for Duke in the ACC tournament. The week before that, it was Richmond for ODU in the Colonial Athletic Association. Interspersed between them were Jason's high school tournament games.
ODDS: Villanova is a 12-point favorite, according to Las Vegas oddsmakers. Twelve first-round games have a point spread of 12 points or more. The most lopsided line is UCLA-Florida International, with the Bruins listed as a 30-point favorite.
TV EXPOSURE: Old Dominion-Villanova will be broadcast to just 7 percent of the nation Friday, according to CBS. The main national game in Friday prime time will be Missouri-Indiana, which will be seen by more than 80 percent of the country.
CLEAN SHAVE: ODU's players shaved their heads a few weeks ago in the name of team unity. Capel promised them he would shave his if they won the CAA tournament.
Don't look for his hairless dome Friday night, however.
``I'm not going to do it when I'm going to be on national TV,'' Capel said. ``I'm going to do it when I'm not going to be around anybody for about a week.''
TOUGH TICKET: Tickets for the East Regional's games at Albany sold out last April, except for the 350 allotted to each school. With nearby Massachusetts in the field, there shouldn't be many empty seats at Knickerbocker Arena.
UNSUNG BUNN: He hasn't played a minute for Old Dominion this season. But forward Joe Bunn, a transfer who had to sit out this season, helped the Monarchs get into the NCAA tournament.
``He's as much a part of us winning that CAA championship as any player who dressed out this year,'' Capel said.
Capel said Bunn, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference freshman of the year last season with Capel's North Carolina A&T team, made ODU's interior players better in practice every day.
``He took practice like a game because he couldn't play,'' ODU forward Mario Mullen said. ``He's very strong. Any time you play against him, you know you're in for a fight.''
TOUGH SCHEDULE: Although Old Dominion's conference was weak this season, the Monarchs are banking on a tough nonconference schedule having prepared them for postseason play.
ODU played five teams that are in the NCAA tournament and one that made the NIT. The Monarchs went 5-8 in nonconference play. Those 13 opponents finished the regular season with a combined 215-150 record (.589).
HISTORY LESSON: This is the 13th season of play for the CAA and its precursor, the ECAC South. The league has a 10-13 record in 12 previous NCAA tournaments. But the CAA has just one tournament victory in the last six seasons. by CNB