THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 15, 1997 TAG: 9702150630
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 100 lines
In the locker room hysteria after blowing out Virginia Commonwealth last month, Old Dominion's Odell Hodge contemplated the monster games he and Mark Poag had just posted.
``When we play like that, we can't lose,'' Hodge said. ``That's not being arrogant, that's being honest. We were on fire inside and outside tonight.''
That fire has been doused in seven games since, and the Monarchs feel the chill. ODU - definitely not arrogant now - has lost six of its last seven. Though the reasons for the slide are varied, clearly when Hodge and Poag don't play well the Monarchs can and do lose.
VCU comes to Scope tonight (7:35, HTS) for the first of four ODU home games to close the regular season. Since the teams' last meeting, the Monarchs have dropped from a tie for first place in the Colonial Athletic Association into a tie for fifth.
It would be a stretch to pin the tailspin on two players. But ODU opponents know who to key on: Hodge, preseason CAA player of the year, and Poag, last season's rookie of the year.
Through the VCU game, Hodge and Poag averaged a combined 33 points, but only twice in the past seven games have both reached double figures. Once was a combined 21-point effort against Richmond, the Monarchs' only win during the slump; the other was a combined 37 Tuesday against non-conference opponent George Washington, when Poag made just 3 of 14 3-pointers.
``I don't want to put pressure on two guys to say they have to carry us,'' ODU coach Jeff Capel said. ``I think that's what happens to Mark a little bit, he's felt he has to score or he's not helping the team.''
Prior to the GW game, Poag had missed 12 consecutive 3-pointers. He is making 33 percent of his treys - down from 43 percent last season - but is just 7 of 38 (18 percent) in the last seven games.
Poag insisted his confidence isn't shot.
``If I lost that, I'd pretty much be dead,'' said Poag, who is frequently the first at practice and the last to leave so he can get in extra shooting time. ``No matter how many shots I do miss, they're still not going to leave me open out there.''
``He shot 14 3s against GW, don't tell me he's gun-shy,'' Capel said. ``He may have lost some confidence in it going in, but he hasn't lost any confidence in taking it.''
Capel wants Poag to shoot his way out of the slump. The problem with Poag - one of three sophomore starters - is when he's not shooting well he often becomes one-dimensional, allowing it to affect his defense, rebounding and ballhandling.
``We have confidence in him,'' Capel said. ``We've told him, `You're still the best shooter we've got, you're one of the best shooters in the conference. But when your shot is not going, you still have to be a player.' ''
Hodge's reputation as one of the CAA's best players has attracted double- and triple-teams. When Poag isn't hitting from the outside, defenses clamp down even more on Hodge inside. No one else has emerged as a consistent offensive threat to take the heat off ODU's top two scorers.
Hodge appears among several CAA statistical leaders: second in scoring (17.4), third in field-goal percentage (.532), sixth in free-throw percentage (.704), second in rebounding (8.4), first in blocks (2.6). Yet Hodge admits his senior season has fallen short of his expectations.
``There's no question I'm rushing my shot,'' Hodge said. ``I'm averaging 17 1/2 points per game, but I could easily be averaging 23 or 24 if I could just finish on half my shots that I'm missing. The majority of my shots are two to three feet from the basket. That's something I'm very disappointed in, my inability to finish plays.''
Hodge said he doesn't feel undue pressure, and does not think Poag does either. They want to be the go-to guys, he said.
``But it's our job when they come to us to deliver,'' Hodge said.
Hodge delivered in the last VCU game, scoring 28 on 12-of-19 shooting while Poag tossed in 24 with seven 3-pointers. But the Rams (13-10, 8-5 CAA) are a different team than they were Jan. 18, having won seven in a row since center George Byrd returned from injury.
ODU (15-10, 6-6) is a different team as well. Much less self-assured, the Monarchs are trying to salvage something and build momentum going into the conference tournament. Coming home, where they are 7-1, is a welcome relief after losing five straight on the road.
``It's hard to shake the monkey off your back when you're in his tree,'' Capel said.
ODU's last road win was against VCU, although that game was not played on the Rams' home court because of a fire that knocked out power at the Richmond Coliseum. ODU has since suffered a power outage, and Hodge figures his comment about ODU being unbeatable if the inside and outside games click has served as bulletin-board fodder for opponents.
``We got off to a 13-3 start and we started thinking we were going to run through this thing,'' Hodge said. ``We started looking three and four games ahead. In a way I do regret saying it because we haven't really won since, but in a way I don't because that's how I felt after that game.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
VICKI CRONIS
The Virginian-Pilot
Odell Hodge
Mark Poag
GRAPHIC
OLD DOMINION GAMEWATCH, STATS
[For a copy of the graphic, see microfilm for this date.]