ODU keeps the faith
With league-best home crowds, Monarchs strive for consistency
NORFOLK — Anyone who’s ever played golf knows the feeling.
After a hideous round of 92, what stands out is not the skulled wedge shot or the balls that found water or even the 25-footer that somehow snaked to the bottom of the cup.
It’s the grooved 5-iron that does exactly as intended that makes a player want to return the next day for another go at it.
Old Dominion, as inconsistent as a once-a-month duffer, can relate. The Monarchs, with many fans keeping the faith, enter tonight’s home game against
Georgia Southern with ample proof that they’re equipped to take shots against anyone.
It’s squaring up the 5-iron with regularity that eludes them.
“It’s in there. We can do it,” said interim head coach Kieran Donohue. “We’ve shown flashes. We’ve got to find a way to do it more consistently.”
Donohue, in charge since head coach Jeff Jones’ heart attack on Dec. 20, made that assessment late Wednesday, moments after seeing irrefutable evidence of its truth.
ODU (5-15, 1-7 Sun Belt Conference) fell behind by 26 points before putting a secondhalf scare into second-place James Madison in an eventual 78-62 loss.
The game followed close losses at Georgia State and Coastal Carolina, an emotional 91-66 home win over Marshall in which everything — for once — seemed to click and a deflating 80-73 loss to last-place Louisiana Monroe at Chartway Arena.
It’s been a theme throughout this difficult season: The Monarchs know they need to play with sustained energy and focus; they just can’t always find the power button to turn it on.
Asked his opinion on a potential remedy after the comeback against JMU, junior guard R.J. Blakney said it was simple.
“Just continue to listen to Coach,” he said. “Just continue to run our stuff. Continue to play defense. Defense is what got us back in the (JMU) game. I feel like everybody was buying in and trying to do that. That’s the only thing we could’ve done.”
An announced crowd of 6,701 watched ODU face the rival Dukes. Another 6,088 came to see the Monarchs face ULM, hardly a sexy Sun Belt opponent.
Despite its record, ODU leads the conference with an average home crowd of 5,831. The Monarchs have drawn 865 more fans per game than any other team in the Sun Belt.
“It’s impressive,” Donohue said. “It’s amazing, and it’s very much appreciated. I know our players appreciate it. I know our staff appreciates it. I know I personally appreciate it. We’re very, very lucky. This is a unique situation at this level of college basketball to have such amazing fans.”
Sophomore guard Devin Ceaser agreed.
“It’s crazy,” he said. “I’m still shocked they support us as much as they do, but I love it.”
Blakney said he was “grateful” for the mass gatherings.
“They still come out every night and support us, win, lose or draw,” he said. “That’s definitely a blessing, and we appreciate them. It definitely helps us. Even though it hasn’t resulted in the things that we wanted it to, they definitely still help us, and we are really thankful for their support.”
Tonight’s game against Georgia Southern (4-16, 4-4) falls on Alumni Night, and ODU’s coaching staff will don suits and sneakers as part of an annual American Cancer Society initiative. The school’s athletic department anticipates another big attendance night.
The large crowds, like sustained demonstrations of talent and ability, fuel the Monarchs to keep going, even as they struggle.
Donohue, whose time with Jones dates back to Donohue’s days as a student manager at the University of Virginia, said the sport’s nature provides its own motivation.
Meanwhile, he continues to try to solve a seasonlong puzzle that might elicit a knowing nod from a scuffling golfer.
“For me personally, it’s the chance to be out here competing,” Donohue said. “It’s the chance to play another game. It’s the chance to do this. It’s the chance to come in here and practice again tomorrow.
“We’re trying to reinforce to the players: What do we look like, what does it feel like when we’re playing well at both ends of the floor? And it’s very different than when we’re not playing well. And so we have to find a way to be that team more often.”