THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 29, 1996 TAG: 9601290161
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
Old Dominion's basketball season is more than two months old. Two-thirds of the regular-season games have been played.
But the Monarchs almost need to be reintroduced to the home crowd when they host American at 7:35 tonight (HTS) at Scope. ODU (10-9, 5-2 Colonial Athletic Association) has only played six home games this season.
For a team with five freshmen among its top 10 players, that's not much familiarity with the home court. ODU is just 3-3 at home compared with 7-3 on the road - the best by far of any CAA team - and 0-3 on a neutral court.
``I don't know how much familiarity matters,'' ODU coach Jeff Capel said. ``The goal is still 10 feet high and the length and width of the court are the same. When we come out and the fans are enthusiastic and behind us, we'll know we're at home.''
ODU practiced at Scope Sunday afternoon, marking only the second time they had been in the building in the last 22 days. The other time was the Jan. 17 George Mason game. ODU has played five of its last six games on the road, and the Monarchs usually practice on campus.
So is Scope home in name alone for the Monarchs? The feelings are mixed.
``I think of it as home,'' freshman forward Cal Bowdler said.
``It's home because we play our home games here, but to be honest it's almost an even court for both teams because we hardly practice here,'' ODU junior center Odell Hodge said. ``It's hard to get in here and get comfortable and get used to the feel of the rims.''
The Monarchs will get more of a feel for Scope in the final four weeks of the regular season. ODU plays six of its final nine CAA games at home - although one of them is at the field house. The lone remaining nonconference game is at Virginia.
ODU got its first feel for being above .500 Saturday with a win at William and Mary. Four times previously this season ODU had an opportunity to crack the barrier but failed.
``That .500 mark is sort of a measuring stick,'' sophomore forward Joe Bunn said. ``The coaches harped on that all week.'' by CNB