THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 14, 1996 TAG: 9602140541
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Diamonds are generally well received on Valentine's Day, but Old Dominion's basketball team would prefer not to get one tonight.
The Monarchs play at George Mason at 7:30. The Patriots are not known for their defense, but chances are they will employ a diamond-and-one tonight because the defense was so effective for Virginia and James Madison against the Monarchs.
``Anything that works I think is a great idea,'' Patriots coach Paul Westhead said.
The diamond has worked well against the Monarchs as teams have used a four-man zone and played freshman sharpshooter Mark Poag man-to-man.
``We do expect to see it because it's proven to be an effective defense against us,'' ODU coach Jeff Capel said. ``We have practiced very extensively in the last couple of days how we want to attack that.
``The bottom line is other people have to step up and take some jump shots.''
Open shots usually are plentiful against the Patriots. Poag had his best night of the season in the first meeting, scoring 28 points.
``We will be much more attentive to him,'' Westhead said.
ARENA UPDATE: As Hampton Roads cities grapple with an effort to build an arena to attract a professional sports team, Old Dominion awaits word from the General Assembly for the go-ahead to build its proposed on-campus arena.
David Harnage, ODU's vice president for administration and finance, said the university is anticipating approval as part of the budget process at the end of the current General Assembly session this spring. Although ODU is not asking for state funds, the lawmakers have to grant authority for the $40 million convocation center capital project to proceed.
``I would assume they would view the project favorably,'' Harnage said. ``At this point in time you have to let the process take its course.''
The next steps toward building the proposed 10,000-seat arena once state approval is granted are designing the facility and acquiring the land east of Hampton Boulevard, Harnage said. So when does the first basketball bounce in the building?
``What we're hoping is the turn of the century,'' Harnage said.
TRIBE AD SEARCH: William and Mary is in the midst of interviewing six finalists for its athletic director job that has been vacant since John Randolph died last August after a lengthy bout with cancer. One of the finalists is Norfolk native Jim Miller, the associate athletic director at North Carolina State who was interviewed last week.
Miller is a 1970 graduate of Norfolk Christian who went on to play basketball for Old Dominion. He received his undergraduate degree from ODU in 1974 and a master's degree in education with a concentration in athletic administration in 1978. Miller graduated from William and Mary's law school in 1984.
He was an attorney in a Norfolk law firm, then president of a sports marketing and management firm in Virginia Beach before going to N.C. State in 1990 as the Wolfpack's NCAA compliance director. Miller has served in several capacities at State and became the No. 2 man in the athletic department last summer. He said his ties to the area and William and Mary are key factors that make the job attractive.
ECU SEEKS A HOME: East Carolina is searching for a league in which to play football, and would seem to be a perfect fit with the new Conference USA.
``I've been told they have already made a decision they are going to expand,'' ECU athletic director Mike Hamrick said Tuesday. ``The ball is in their court.''
Hamrick said he expects to know where the Pirates stand with the conference within a month or so. Conference USA Division I-A football-playing schools next season will be Memphis, Tulane, Louisville, Southern Mississippi, Houston and Cincinnati.
Hamrick said the Pirates have also indicated to the Big East their interest in joining that league. That seems less likely, however.
``We're just looking for a football home,'' Hamrick said. ``We're happy with the Colonial for all our other programs. It fits our needs.''
TIP-INS: East Carolina's Morris Grooms, the victim of the flagrant forearm on Feb. 3 that got American's Tim Fudd suspended for five games, was still in the hospital with a collapsed lung as of Tuesday. ... JMU's Darren McLinton has 91 3-point field goals this season, 10 shy of the CAA record by former Duke Kent Culuko. ILLUSTRATION: ODU GAMEWATCH
[For a copy of the graphic, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB