Leading scorer Curry cleared for key series
NORFOLK — Old Dominion guard Malik Curry is expected to be available for this weekend’s pivotal two-game series at Western Kentucky, Monarchs coach Jeff Jones said Wednesday.
Curry, a 6-foot-1 senior who leads ODU in scoring and ranks 10th in Conference USA with 14.6 points per game, left in the first half of Saturday’s 73-60 win over Middle Tennessee with a head injury. He was evaluated for a possible concussion and cleared to practice Tuesday.
The second-place Monarchs (14-6, 10-4 C-USA) play Friday at firstplace Western Kentucky (17-5, 10-2) with a chance to win the league’s East Division title.
With a healthy Curry, the chances are better.
“Unless something happens between now and Friday night, we intend for him to be full-go,” Jones said.
In Curry’s absence Saturday, sophomore guard Jaylin Hunter came off the bench to score a career-high 17 points.
Hunter’s teammates weren’t surprised.
“Ever since he got here
last year, he’s always been ready for whenever the nextman-up call is,” said junior guard A.J. Oliver. “You’ve got to give him a lot of credit. He just continues to keep going day in and day out, even though he doesn’t get as many minutes as he thinks he should.”
Curry’s availability means he’s in for a long few days. The Monarchs plan to fly to Nashville, Tennessee, early Thursday. They’ll bus from there to Bowling Green, Kentucky, for a practice and two games before returning to Norfolk on Sunday.
Following a Monday practice, they’ll depart Tuesday for Frisco, Texas, and next week’s C-USA tournament.
But first comes a huge series to end the regular season with a dramatic flourish. ODU can clinch the division title with a sweep of the Hilltoppers.
Jones said his players will be plenty motivated.
“I know for a fact that I don’t have to say anything to our guys to get them ready or excited to play against Western Kentucky on Friday,” he said. “They understand that Western is an outstanding team.”