THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, March 4, 1996 TAG: 9603040127
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
Though Comedy Central might be interested in looking at a few feet of video out-takes, this Colonial Athletic Association tournament was never going to be highlight fodder for ESPN or CNN.
Too many dull, poorly-played games. Too few spectators. Too little interest, even for the so-called home team, Virginia Commonwealth University.
Over the weekend, a conference hurting for talent struggled to entertain.
What might have saved this tournament from falling between the cracks of basketball's boardwalk, though, was a game tonight between VCU and Old Dominion.
Scintillating finals involving ODU have been the boost this event has needed in recent years.
Three of the last four years, the Monarchs played for the right to represent the CAA in the NCAA tournament. They were supposed to be here tonight, as well.
Once again, then, this ODU team failed to fulfill expectations. That's what some will say.
But whose expectations were they, anyway?
From the chilly beginning, when boosters thought Jeff Capel's team had a good shot at beating Duke in Alaska, only to watch the Monarchs lose by 20 points, people expected more of ODU than it was ready to deliver.
By its most loyal fans, and some in the media, ODU was overrated all year. The weaknesses and inexperience that made the Monarchs vulnerable early in the season were somehow forgotten when ODU began fattening up on CAA pastry.
A steady diet of George Mason, Richmond and James Madison will hide a lot of flaws.
Sunday, then, was a reality check the likes of which nobody would wish on any team.
Thirty-nine is an acceptable score for the front nine. But it will not get it done for two halves of a basketball game, not even in the CAA.
After North Carolina-Wilmington limited ODU to 11 baskets and 26 percent shooting, Seahawks guard Darren Moore said, ``We just followed our scouting report.''
Sounds like something Sitting Bull might have said after routing Custer.
``There are certain nights when you've got it and certain nights you don't,'' said UNC-Wilmington coach Jerry Wainwright. ``No disrespect to Coach Capel's team, but it just happened to be our night.''
Capel, who was an assistant with Wainwright at Wake Forest, said, ``I lost to a good friend. I guess that takes some of the sting out of it.''
Then again, probably not. Not after watching your team fall behind 26-6. Not after the Monarchs managed 12 points in the first 20 minutes.
``Our goal,'' said Wainwright, ``is five people guarding one. In the first half, we came as close to doing that as we have in my two years at UNC-Wilmington.''
Wainwright's team entered this game 12-15. Even in winning by 20 points, the Seahawks shot 36 percent.
``The best way we can compete is to defend,'' acknowledged Wainwright.
And, in the case of Sunday's game, hope the opponent is hopelessly out of sync.
``They played well defensively,'' said Joe Bunn, who was one of eight from the floor, ``but we just played terrible on offense. That's a bad combination.''
Speaking of bad combinations, tonight's matchup of VCU and Wilmington is not likely to create the highlight package the CAA is hoping for.
The game, at least, will not be burdened by lofty expectations. by CNB