Colonial Fans

Colonial Athletic Association Tournament – Final

(1) Old Dominion 60, (3) William & Mary 53

Now, the Old Dominion Monarchs won’t have to worry about the bubble.

The regular-season champion of the Colonial Athletic Association created a drama-free Selection Sunday on a magic Monday in Richmond, Va. Coach Blaine Taylor’s team used superb footwork and timely rotations in a dominating defensive display that turned back William & Mary in the CAA Tournament final. The seven-point triumph carries the school from Norfolk, Va., into the NCAA Tournament. The only suspense attached to the selection announcement for the ODU crew concerns the combination of site, seeding and opponent.

This game was defined by defense on both sides of the divide, and that notion shouldn’t strike anyone as a surprise. William & Mary, a gallant third-seeded foe who pushed Old Dominion throughout this contest, won its semifinal at this tournament by outlasting Northeastern, 47-45, in a very rugged and ragged affair. A lot of elbow grease was going to be used in this championship showcase, but what also needs to be said is that conference tournaments are generally low scoring because the opposing teams know each other’s offensive sets. A full season of on-court combat combined with the accumulated experiences of coaching staffs creates a feel of familiarity whenever conference rivals play each other in a tournament setting. As is usually the case in a conference tournament, William & Mary and Old Dominion met for the third time in 2010, so the Tribe and Monarchs were anything but mysterious to each other. It only stood to reason that buckets would be hard to come by.

What might have surprised even the most careful observers of the CAA, however, was the fact that so few players rose above the moment in a contest that felt like a 15-round prizefight.

It’s hard to believe, but it’s true: Of the 19 players who took part in this game, 17 took at least one shot from the field. Of those 17 shooters, only one hit more than three shots (William & Mary’s Danny Sumner, who went 7 of 14 en route to a 19-point performance). All five ODU starters hit exactly three shots, and nothing more. The pervasive inability of players to put the ball in the basket, even at the foul line (the two teams were a combined 21 of 35, or 60 percent on the button), spoke not just to the pressure of this one-and-done event, but to the fact that points were precious. The defense thrown down by both teams was that active and consistent.

The difference, then, was that Old Dominion had just a little more defense to offer.

The Monarchs knew that William & Mary’s sniper, David Schneider, is never hesitant about putting the ball in the air. Schneider entered this game having attempted at least 10 3-pointers in 10 separate games. ODU’s scouting report had to focus on Schneider, and the results bore out the preparation turned in by Taylor and the rest of the Monarchs’ braintrust. Schneider went just 2 of 12 beyond the arc, as Old Dominion’s alert and rangy defenders challenged shots and extended themselves on the perimeter.

> Find CAA team apparel & merchandise including Old Dominion hats & merchandise through DFN Sports sites!

Against a non-conference opponent, William & Mary’s nuanced halfcourt offense – devised by coach Tony Shaver – would cause considerable confusion, but Old Dominion’s thorough understanding of the Tribe’s set plays and concepts enabled the Monarchs to read, react and rotate throughout the night in Richmond. The final results weren’t pretty for a William & Mary team that made only 9 of 31 threes and came away with too many empty possessions.

ODU never ran away with this event, but in the same breath, the Monarchs were never in especially grave danger of losing. Blaine Taylor’s team led by at least five points throughout the second half and was able to shut down the Tribe on the two occasions when William and Mary reached that five-point threshold.

It’s on to the NCAAs for Old Dominion, while William & Mary should definitely be able to snare an NIT bid. Each of these teams will be tough outs in a week, but Old Dominion will be playing in the event where everyone wants to be.

Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer