DATE: Wednesday, March 5, 1997              TAG: 9703050663

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   80 lines

FOR MONARCHS, NEXT STOP NCAAS UNFAZED BY AN UNDERDOG ROLE, ODU THINKS IT CAN HOLD ITS OWN.

Twelve hours after he climbed a ladder to cut down the net at the CAA tournament championship, Odell Hodge's feet still hadn't hit the ground.

His head had not hit the pillow, either.

``I haven't really had a chance to sleep,'' the Old Dominion forward said Tuesday morning. ``Me and Skipper Youngblood just stayed up and watched movies all night.''

Hodge had one more to watch: the tape of ODU's 62-58 overtime win over James Madison Monday night.

``I just want to watch it and enjoy it,'' he said.

The Monarchs will have a couple of days to savor Monday's win before beginning preparations for the tournament next week. Hodge was planning to get some sleep. Coach Jeff Capel was heading on a recruiting trip, then to the ACC tournament to watch his son, Jeff III, play for Duke. If Duke reaches the final, Capel said he wouldn't be back until Monday. Capel gave the Monarchs Tuesday and Wednesday off. Practice Thursday and Friday will be run by ODU's assistant coaches.

If recent history is an indication, ODU (22-10) will be a heavy underdog in its first-round game. Hodge doesn't mind.

``We're not just happy to get there, we want to do some things,'' he said. ``I think we can hang in there with anybody in the country.''

ODU was a No. 14 seed when it upset Villanova in an NCAA first-round game in 1995. The Monarchs were a No. 15 seed when they lost to Kentucky in the first round in 1992.

CAA teams have traditionally been seeded in the mid-teens. Virginia Commonwealth earned a No. 12 seed last year, the highest for a CAA member since Navy was seeded eighth in the 1987 tournament.

``It's safe to say that somewhere between 12 and 14 is where we'll fall,'' Capel said. ``I'm selfish. I don't want to play Duke, but I'd like to be in the same region. It would be easier on my family.''

That could happen. If Duke wins the ACC tournament, the Blue Devils could easily be the top seed in the East Region. Nine of the last 11 CAA tournament winners have been sent to the East Region.

This year's first-round East Region sites are Winston-Salem, N.C. and Pittsburgh.

ODU will carry a seven-game winning streak into the tournament. Their latest was not their prettiest, but the Monarchs held together down the stretch while JMU (16-13) came apart.

``We didn't always look good, but we had some guys step up and make plays,'' guard Mike Byers said.

ODU took advantage of a puzzling JMU strategy that had no solid ballhandlers on the court in the closing minutes.

``When we found out they were going with that big lineup, we decided to press them,'' Hodge said.

JMU center Lamont Boozer committed two costly turnovers trying to handle the ball late in the game. The first came after ODU's E.J. Sherod hit three free throws to tie the score at 49 with 35.9 seconds left in regulation.

The second came with 20 seconds left in overtime, when Brion Dunlap stole an inbounds pass thrown by Boozer. The steal led to two free throws by Byers that gave ODU a 61-56 lead.

ODU was also fortunate to come out on the right end of a couple of close calls late in the game. When Mate Malisa was called for a foul on Sherod's 3-point attempt with 35.9 seconds left, JMU coaches and players protested.

Asked if if he was fouled, Sherod said he would have to watch the tape.

``I think they just made the call,'' Sherod said.

JMU partisans also protested a Reggie Bassette tip-in with 1:25 left, saying it was offensive goaltending.

Even so, JMU had its chances, especially at the free throw line, where the Dukes made just 8 of 18. ODU was 16 of 21.

``We came up with the steals, we knocked down the free throws, we came up with the big rebounds,'' Dunlap said. ``Those are the little things you have to do to win big games.''

Note: ODU will hold a ``pairings party'' Sunday March 9 at 6 p.m. in the Athletic Administration Building. The men's selection will be announced at 6:30 p.m., followed by the women's at 7:30 p.m. Both teams will be present. Admission is free. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

HUY NGUYEN

The Virginian-Pilot

Odell Hodge: "I think we can hang in there with anybody."

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