THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 4, 1995 TAG: 9511040484
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Jeff Capel will be an observer, not a coach, tonight when his Old Dominion basketball team conducts its annual intrasquad scrimmage at the Old Dominion field house.
The men's Blue-White game is scheduled for 8 p.m., the women's game for 6 p.m.
Capel will give the coaching reins of his divided squad to his assistants, Mark Cline and Jim Corrigan.
``It will be my first real look at the players from afar,'' Capel said. ``It's our first game-type atmosphere. The kids are really looking forward to it, and it's a chance for the fans to see us in a game-type situation.''
Capel said the game does not provide a good test of how the offense and defense are coming along because when the offense calls a play, the defense knows exactly what it is.
But Capel is interested in how individuals perform tonight as well as in two exhibitions next week at the field house - Wednesday at 8 against Latvia and Saturday against Court Authority.
``The two games next week will be ones to try to figure out who has earned what type of playing time,'' Capel said.
RECRUITING UPDATE: The early signing period for high school players begins Wednesday. Old Dominion has one commitment, and another recruit is visiting campus this weekend.
Freddie Bryant, a 6-foot-3 guard from Watson, La., is making his first official visit, according to his high school coach. Ken Kraft of Live Oak High School said Bryant, likely a shooting guard in college, has narrowed his choices to Old Dominion, Iowa State, New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana.
Kraft said Bryant has qualified academically and averaged 24.5 points, six rebounds and four assists as a junior.
Kraft said Bryant became interested in Old Dominion partly because of its NCAA tournament triple-overtime win over Villanova.
``It really put them on the map,'' Kraft said. ``After this trip he'll know a lot more. He definitely does want to sign early. He feels they're really an up-and-coming program.''
ODU has three scholarships to give. It already has one verbal commitment, from 6-1 guard Michael Williams of Thomas County Central High in Thomasville, Ga.
WOMEN'S GAME: At last year's Blue and White exhibition game, the new recruits on the Old Dominion women's basketball team got the better of their more experienced teammates, putting on a clinic in aggressive, uptempo play.
History will not repeat itself tonight when the old guard takes on the youngsters at 6. The team of returning veterans boasts all five of last season's starters, including a preseason All-American in forward Clarisse Machanguana.
In fact, the Lady Monarchs only have three new players to debut to the public tonight - Mery Andrade, Nicole Freudig and Aubrey Eblin. The preseason buzz has been centered on the athletic Andrade, a 6-1 forward who starred for Portugal at the World University Games. MEMO: Staff writer Julie Goodrich contributed to this story. by CNB