Old Dominion Denies William & Mary First Ever NCAA Bid
March 9th, 2010- By Chester O’Leary
After winning the regular season conference title, Old Dominion was expected to navigate their way throughout the Colonial Athletic Association tournament in the same fashion.
The Monarchs faced William & Mary in the tournament final and completed the quest that everyone had expected them to, by winning 60-53, and securing an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
William & Mary was looking for their first ever bid into the big dance, but will likely have to wait at least one more year. They are currently one of only five schools in Division I who have not made the NCAA tournament, (Army, The Citadel, Northwestern and St.Francis, N.Y).
“We wanted it. We wanted this win really bad,” remarked Old Dominion player Gerald Lee. “We know we accomplished something tonight.”
Lee won the tournament’s Most Valuable Player honor. Leading the way for the Monarchs in the final was Darius James, who scored 12 points, and Kent Bazemore added 10.
Behind a stout defense, Old Dominion was able to shut down William & Mary’s 3-point game that had been successful for them all season long. The Monarchs held the tribe to 9 of 31 from behind the arch.
It is the first time since 2005 that Old Dominion won the conference’s automatic invitation into the NCAA tournament. They were the recipient of an at-large bid in 2007, and have now made the tournament for the third time in the last six years.
“These kids were probably better able to measure up to the challenge because they have been somewhere before and I know we wanted to go somewhere better,” Old Dominion head coach Blaine Taylor remarked after the win.
The Monarchs held the lead for most of the game, accumulating a comfortable lead in the second half. Not to be denied however, William & Mary climbed their way back into the game to get within five points, but never got closer.
With the loss, William & Mary is left in waiting mode to find out their post-season fate. They have several good wins including over Wake Forest and Maryland out of the ACC.
“I think we will play somewhere,” William & Mary coach Tony Shaver remarked. “I don’t think the NCAA tournament is something that’s going to happen. I don’t think this team should carry the burden of our past. The team is a team deserving of playing in a national tournament.”
With conference tournaments continuing throughout the week up until Selection Sunday, many automatic berths will be handed out, with the 32 at-large bids to be filled as well. Currently, NCAA Basketball sportsbooks favor Syracuse, Kansas, Kentucky and West Virgina as the betting favorites to claim the 2009-10 National Championship.
Related posts:
- Four Automatic Bids Locked, More Coming As Conference Tourney Week Begins
- Kansas Favored Over Kansas State, NCAA Tournament Implications on the Line
- St. Mary’s Avoids Another Debate, Guarantees Tournament Spot With Upset Of Gonzaga
- March Madness Just Around The Corner, Odds To Win NCAA Tournament Favor Kansas & Kentucky
- SEC Tournament Gets Underway, Several Teams Need Good Showing
