Tomorrow night, the Virginia women's basketball team will open their season in style. The Cavaliers will face No. 22 Old Dominion, in their first regular season game in the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Va. Virginia will hope to put some sweat on the brand-new hardwood and some rubber through the still-white nets.
The center has served the Lady Monarchs well during their exhibition season, housing their defeat of both Stockholm and Team Concept. The strong preseason was encouraging for ODU, who is returning only one starter from last year's team.
Last season's squad compiled a record of 28-6, and was a perfect 18-0 in the Continental Athletic Association en route to their 11th consecutive conference championship and an appearance in the NCAA's Elite Eight.
The Monarchs saw another positive in the preseason: the emergence of senior forward Kim Giddens as a team leader. Giddens was ODU's high scorer in both exhibition victories this season, with 17 and 16 points, respectively.
Giddens and senior guard Okeisha Howard, the Monarch's leading scorer last season and a preseason All-CAA selection, are expected to carry ODU through a season that still has surprises in store for opponents, ODU Coach Wendy Larry said.
"We are not laying everything out on the table during exhibition games," Larry said. "We are not looking at shooting. We are more concerned about play in the paint and the timing of the game."
Virginia also must find some firepower before the regular season. The Cavaliers escaped with a victory despite weak second half play in their first exhibition game against Hungary, but were defeated last Thursday by the Melbourne (Australia) Tigers.
"We deserved to lose, and the team needs to understand that," Ryan said. "They did not play to their potential."
The Cavaliers, however, did not field their best players during the preseason -- some of them were benched for violating team rules.
Sophomore Purdue transfer Cherrise Graham and junior Marcie Dickenson sat out both contests, while sophomores LaTonya Blue and Brandi Teamer -- last season's ACC rookie of the year -- played only the second half of the Melbourne game. Teamer, a member of the preseason All-ACC team, is expected to make a big impact for the Cavaliers this season.
"She's an amazing player," senior captain Anna Prillaman said. "She has so much potential, and she's not even touched how much she can do as far as her career here at U.Va. We're looking for big things from her."
Teamer shot some praise back in the direction of her teammate, acknowledging that Prillaman would assist her against double-team defense from many opponents.
"I feel comfortable because I know I can kick it out to one of my three point shooters -- [Prillaman] or somebody else who's going to step up," Teamer said.
Although they did not have the same degree of success in the preseason, Virginia has one thing in common with tomorrow night's opponent: a new floor to play on. The logo in the center of the U-Hall court has been redesigned, and features a more modern look.
"I was never too fond of that big, cursive Thomas Jefferson. I think it looks a lot better," Teamer said.
The Cavaliers will have their first chance to test out the new court on Sunday when they square off with St. Joseph's at 2 p.m.
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