DATE: Thursday, November 13, 1997           TAG: 9711090259

SECTION: SPECIAL                 PAGE: Z2   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: 1997-98 BASKETBALL PREVIEW

SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER 
                                            LENGTH:   85 lines

MONARCHS, EVEN WITH HODGE GONE, ARE STILL THE TEAM TO BEAT IN CAA

The big guy is gone, but big expectations remain.

Two-time Colonial Athletic Association player of the year Odell Hodge has trotted off to Turkey to play professionally. But despite that, Old Dominion fell one vote shy of being a unanimous choice last month by league coaches and media representatives to repeat as CAA champions and make its third NCAA tournament trip in coach Jeff Capel's four years.

Some coaches might squawk about unrealistic expectations when they are picked to win the league after losing their best player. Capel, however, seems to be embracing the favorite's role.

``We don't talk about it a lot,'' Capel said. ``As a coach, I've been at the other end of it and, believe me, it's a lot better here.''

Key questions that will have to be answered for ODU to live up to the expectations:

Who replaces Hodge?

Nobody. Actually, three bodies.

Hodge's inside presence on both the offensive and defensive ends is not apt to be filled by one player. But between 6-foot-10 Cal Bowdler, 6-9 Reggie Bassette and 6-8 Skipper Youngblood, Capel hopes Hodge's productivity (18.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg and 2.6 blocks) can be matched if not exceeded.

Bassette, however, is out until the first of the year with a broken bone in his wrist, leaving ODU with just nine scholarship players to start the season.

With Hodge gone, who is the go-to-guy?

This is the pivotal question, to which Capel has no answer.

``I've had nightmares coming down to the last second of a game and we make the pass, but I always wake up before whoever we're throwing it to catches it because I don't know who it's going to be,'' Capel said. ``We're anxious to see who that is ourselves.''

Look for outside bomber Mark Poag or slashing guard Mike Byers to be the guys receiving that pass at the end of games.

Where is the strength of this team?

In the six-member junior class.

Five of them came in together as Capel's first batch of recruits. To varying degrees Byers, Poag, Youngblood, Bowdler and Bassette have all showed flashes of outstanding play during their careers. They will have to produce consistently for ODU to live up to its billing. The other junior is Curtis Pass, a JC transfer.

``All the returning guys have definitely made strides and bettered their games,'' Byers said.

Senior point guard Brion Dunlap - a four-year starter - is a key as well. But the scoring load will be shouldered by the juniors.

``There shouldn't be a standout,'' Bassette said. ``We can all play together, we don't need one player to shine.''

Who is poised to make a big impression?

Bowdler and freshman Michael Williams.

The Monarchs are considerably more athletic than last year, and Williams is one reason why. The freshman guard should see a lot of playing time as ODU likely will shuffle a lot of players in and out and attempt to press and run more.

Bowdler was a spindly 200-pounder when he arrived on campus. Now he's up to 255 and, according to Capel, ``walks around campus like he's the man.''

Bowdler said he was 225 at the end of last season and spent the summer lifting weights.

``I don't feel I've lost any speed or quickness or jumping ability - not that I had any in the first place,'' Bowdler said. ``But I haven't lost anything I had.''

What is the schedule like?

It's not sexy, but it's challenging.

There are no high-profile programs like a Duke or North Carolina that will pique people's interest. But ODU will play teams from Conference USA (UNC Charlotte), the Big 12 (Texas Tech), the Southeastern (Mississippi State) and Atlantic 10 (George Washington, St. Joseph's).

Six of ODU's non-conference opponents were in the top 100 of last season's final RPI Report, which simulates the rankings used by the NCAA to select and seed the NCAA tournament. St. Joseph's (12) and UNC Charlotte (26) played in the NCAA tournament, while New Orleans (75) and Washington (84) played in the NIT. ODU was 91st in the final ranking. ILLUSTRATION: HUY NGUYEN/file photo

Mark Poag...

Graphic

ODU AT A GLANCE

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