Monmouth at Old Dominion

The Colonial Conference sure put itself on the map last year with George Mason's run to the final four. Old Dominion has been solid the last two years winning 52 games, 24 of which came last year. This year they will bring back 9 lettermen, and 3 starters, but lose their top 2 scorers, and lots of leadership with it. Gone are Alex Loughton, and Isaiah Hunter, and how they fill those voids will determine how high they are able to rise in the Colonial this year. Monmouth was the NEC'S tournament winner, and tried to become the first team in conference history to win an NCAA tournament game. They had an impossible draw facing off with Villonova, yet holding their own in a 58-45 loss. This team returns everyone, and they seem to have a nice fit. Whitney Coleman and Dejan Delic give them the firepower from outside, Mike Shipman is a great ball-handler and distributor, Alston gives them a strong inside presence, and John Bunch (7'2" 320), gives them a cog in the middle that can block some shots. This game features two teams that aren't afraid to play some defense, and a game in the 50s and 60s is quite likely the case. That adds value to a double digit point-spread. It must be noted that this team played Nova to a 13 point game last year, and have evryone back from that team. This is a team that beat a very strong S. Illinois team last year 80-68, and lost to S. Carolina by only 6, and a very good Oral Roberts team by just 8. They should be an improved veteran team, facing a good Old Dominion team, that must find points and leadership with the departure of their two top scorers, and that may take some time. We like Monmouth to at least stay in this one, and perhaps even get the straight up win!