2015–16 Old Dominion Monarchs basketball team

The 2015–16 Old Dominion Monarchs basketball team represented Old Dominion University during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Monarchs, led by third year head coach Jeff Jones, played their home games at the Ted Constant Convocation Center as members of Conference USA. They finished the season 25–13, 12–6 in C-USA play to finish in a three way tie for third place. They defeated Florida Atlantic, Louisiana Tech, and WKU to advance to the championship game of the C-USA Tournament where they lost to Middle Tennessee. The received an invitation to the inaugural Vegas 16, which only had eight teams, where they defeated Tennessee Tech, UC Santa Barbara, and Oakland to become Vegas 16 champions.

2015–16 Old Dominion Monarchs basketball
Vegas 16 champions
Conference	Conference USA
2015–16 record	25–13 (12–6 C-USA)
Head coach	Jeff Jones (3rd season)
Assistant coaches	Lamar Barrett (3rd season) John Richardson (4th season) Bryant Stith (3rd season)
Captains	Trey Freeman[1] Aaron Bacote Denzell Taylor
Home arena	Ted Constant Convocation Center

2015–16 Conference USA men's basketball standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
UAB	16	–	2		.889			26	–	7		.788
Middle Tennessee †	13	–	5		.722			25	–	10		.714
Marshall	12	–	6		.667			17	–	16		.515
Louisiana Tech	12	–	6		.667			23	–	10		.697
Old Dominion	12	–	6		.667			25	–	13		.658
UTEP	10	–	8		.556			19	–	14		.576
Charlotte	9	–	9		.500			14	–	19		.424
Western Kentucky	8	–	10		.444			18	–	16		.529
North Texas	7	–	11		.389			12	–	20		.375
Rice	7	–	11		.389			12	–	20		.375
FIU	7	–	11		.389			13	–	19		.406
Florida Atlantic	5	–	13		.278			8	–	25		.242
Southern Miss*	5	–	13		.278			8	–	21		.276
UTSA	3	–	15		.167			5	–	27		.156
*Ineligible for postseason play due to self-imposed postseason ban.
† 2016 C-USA Tournament winner

Previous season

The Monarchs finished the 2013–14 season 27–8, 13–5 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for second place, after reaching as high as 13–1 to start the season, and being ranked in the AP Top 25 for the first time in program history. They lost in the quarterfinals of the C-USA Tournament to Middle Tennessee. They were invited to the National Invitation Tournament where they defeated Charleston Southern in the first round, Illinois State in the second round, and Murray State in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals where they lost to Stanford.

Pre-season

Departures

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Notes
Keenan Palmore	3	G	6'1"	185	Junior	Stone Mountain, Georgia	Graduated & transferred to Lenoir–Rhyne
Jovonte Douglas	10	F	6'7"	200	Junior	Charlotte, North Carolina	Graduated & transferred to Montevallo
Josue Ebondo	11	F	6'7"	221	Senior	Euless, Texas	Graduated
Deion Clark	15	G	6'3"	210	RS Sophomore	Naples, Florida	Transferred to Rollins College
Richard Ross	23	F	6'6"	225	RS Senior	Wichita Falls, Texas	Graduated
Jonathan Arledge	35	F/C	6'9"	235	Senior	Silver Springs, Maryland	Graduated

Incoming transfers

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Previous School
B. J. Stith	3	G/F	6'5"	205	Sophomore	Lawrenceville, Virginia	Transferred from Virginia. Under NCAA transfer rules, Stith will have to redshirt for the 2015–16 season. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.
Austin Colbert	11	F	6'9"	200	Junior	Chesapeake, Virginia	Transferred from Illinois. Under NCAA transfer rules, Colbert will have to sit out for the 2015–16 season. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.
Payton Pervier	12	C	7'1"	250	RS Senior	Snohomish, Washington	Junior college transferred from Dodge City Community College
Trey Porter	15	F	6'10"	200	Sophomore	Dumfries, Virginia	Transferred from George Mason. Under NCAA transfer rules, Porter will have to sit out for the 2015–16 season. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.

Incoming recruits

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Ahmad Caver PG	Suwanee, Georgia	St. John's NW Military Academy	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	Oct 7, 2014
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Aaron Carver PF	Elizabeth City, North Carolina	South Kent School	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Aug 13, 2013
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2015 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 22, 2015.

Roster

2015–16 Old Dominion Monarchs men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown G 0 Jordan Baker 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Hampton HS Hampton, Virginia G 1 Aaron Bacote (C) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sr Bethel HS Hampton, Virginia G 2 Martin Shaw (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Sr Kecoughtan HS Hampton, Virginia G 3 B. J. Stith (I)  6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) So Oak Hill Academy Virginia Lawrenceville, Virginia G 4 Ahmad Caver 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr St Johns Northwestern Military Atlanta F 11 Austin Colbert (I)  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jr Gill St. Bernard's School Illinois Chesapeake, Virginia C 12 Payton Pervier 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 275 lb (125 kg) RS Sr Glacier Peak HS Dodge City CC Snohomish, Washington F 13 Aaron Carver 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr South Kent School Elizabeth City, North Carolina F 15 Trey Porter (I)  6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 205 lb (93 kg) So Potomac HS George Mason Woodbridge, Virginia G 20 Trey Freeman (C) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) RS Sr Kellam HS Campbell Virginia Beach, Virginia F 21 Denzell Taylor (C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Jr St. Benedict's Prep Brampton, ON G 22 Ambrose Mosley 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) RS Jr Hargrave Military Academy Jacksonville, Florida F 23 Stephen Vassor (W) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 240 lb (109 kg) RS So Brunswick HS Hampden–Sydney College Lawrenceville, Virginia F 24 Zoran Talley 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) RS Fr Merrillville HS Merrillville, Indiana F 25 Brandan Stith 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 240 lb (109 kg) RS So Brunswick HS East Carolina Lawrenceville, Virginia F 30 Nik Biberaj (W) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 245 lb (111 kg) RS Sr South County HS Christopher Newport Fairfax Station, Virginia	Head coach Jeff Jones (Virginia) Assistant coach(es) Lamar Barrett (Elizabeth City State) John Richardson (Elizabeth City State) Bryant Stith (Virginia) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster

Schedule

Date time, TV	Rank^#	Opponent^#	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Exhibition
November 5* 7:00 pm		Christopher Newport	W 85–43		15 – Caver	7 – 2 tied	4 – 2 tied	Ted Constant Convocation Center (6,426) Norfolk, Virginia
Non-conference regular season
November 13* 7:00 pm		Niagara Hall of Fame Tip Off	W 67–50	1–0	20 – Freeman (1)	9 – Taylor (1)	4 – Taylor (1)	Ted Constant Convocation Center (8,150) Norfolk, Virginia
November 16* 7:00 pm		Buffalo Hall of Fame Tip Off	W 77–58	2–0	22 – Freeman (2)	9 – Stith (1)	5 – Biberaj (1)	Ted Constant Convocation Center (6,906) Norfolk, Virginia
November 18* 7:00 pm		Morgan State	W 79–48	3–0	22 – Bacote (1)	10 – Taylor (2)	3 – 3 tied	Ted Constant Convocation Center (6,968) Norfolk, Virginia
November 21* 12:00 pm, ESPN3		vs. No. 21 Purdue Hall of Fame Tip Off semifinals	L 39–61	3–1	17 – Freeman (3)	7 – Baker (1)	2 – 2 tied	Mohegan Sun Arena (3,813) Uncasville, Connecticut
November 22* 12:00 pm, ESPN3		vs. Saint Joseph's Hall of Fame Tip Off	L 64–66	3–2	15 – Freeman (4)	10 – Biberaj (1)	2 – 4 tied	Mohegan Sun Arena (3,813) Uncasville, Connecticut
November 28* 4:00 pm, CSN		at VCU Rivalry	L 67–76	3–3	21 – Bacote (2)	6 – Mosley (1)	6 – Freeman (2)	Siegel Center (7,637) Richmond, Virginia
December 1* 7:00 pm		at William & Mary	L 48–55	3–4	14 – 2 tied	8 – Talley (1)	3 – Bacote (3)	Kaplan Arena (3,256) Williamsburg, Virginia
December 4* 7:00 pm		Delaware State	W 82–38	4–4	18 – Bacote (4)	18 – Taylor (3)	4 – Freeman (3)	Ted Constant Convocation Center (6,764) Norfolk, Virginia
December 12* 2:00 pm, ESPN3		at Georgia State	L 64–68	4–5	16 – 2 tied	5 – 3 tied	4 – Freeman (4)	GSU Sports Arena (1,741) Atlanta
December 16* 7:00 pm, ASN		at Richmond	L 61–77	4–6	15 – Freeman (7)	10 – Taylor (4)	3 – Talley (1)	Robins Center (5,533) Richmond, Virginia
December 18* 8:00 pm, ASN		Maryland Eastern Shore	W 77–74	5–6	21 – Freeman (8)	8 – Stith (2)	7 – Freeman (5)	Ted Constant Convocation Center (5,825) Norfolk, Virginia
December 22* 7:00 pm, ASN		Rhode Island	W 71–65	6–6	30 – Bacote (5)	10 – Taylor (5)	5 – Freeman (6)	Ted Constant Convocation Center (6,298) Norfolk, Virginia
December 29* 7:00 pm		Norfolk State Rivalry	W 68–57	7–6	20 – Bacote (6)	13 – Stith (3)	4 – Freeman (7)	Ted Constant Convocation Center (8,472) Norfolk, Virginia
Conference USA regular season
January 2 12:00 pm, ASN		Charlotte	W 74–65	8–6 (1–0)	21 – Freeman (9)	13 – Taylor (6)	4 – Bacote (4)	Ted Constant Convocation Center (6,733) Norfolk, Virginia
January 7 9:30 pm, CBSSN		at Louisiana Tech	W 56–53	9–6 (2–0)	21 – Freeman (10)	8 – Stith (4)	3 – 2 tied	Thomas Assembly Center (4,807) Ruston, Louisiana
January 9 8:00 pm		at Southern Miss	L 71–73	9–7 (2–1)	24 – Freeman (11)	12 – Stith (5)	6 – 2 tied	Reed Green Coliseum (2,779) Hattiesburg, Mississippi
January 14 7:00 pm, CBSSN		UAB	L 71–72 ^OT	9–8 (2–2)	28 – Freeman (12)	13 – Stith (6)	6 – Caver (3)	Ted Constant Convocation Center (7,162) Norfolk, Virginia
January 16 4:00 pm, FSN		Middle Tennessee	L 61–64	9–9 (2–3)	28 – Freeman (13)	9 – Talley (3)	4 – Bacote (5)	Ted Constant Convocation Center (7,067) Norfolk, Virginia
January 21 7:00 pm, ASN		WKU	W 68–62	10–9 (3–3)	28 – Freeman (14)	9 – Stith (7)	4 – Bacote (6)	Ted Constant Convocation Center (6,535) Norfolk, Virginia
January 23 2:00 pm, ASN		Marshall	L 75–78	10–10 (3–4)	37 – Freeman (15)	13 – Taylor (7)	7 – Baker (5)	Ted Constant Convocation Center (7,140) Norfolk, Virginia
January 28 7:00 pm		at Florida Atlantic	W 78–66	11–10 (4–4)	28 – Freeman (16)	13 – Stith (8)	3 – 2 tied	FAU Arena (1,517) Boca Raton, Florida
January 30 7:00 pm		at FIU	W 64–60	12–10 (5–4)	25 – Freeman (17)	11 – Taylor (8)	4 – Talley (4)	FIU Arena (1,209) Miami
February 6 7:00 pm		at Charlotte	W 74–69 ^OT	13–10 (6–4)	38 – Freeman (18)	10 – Stith (9)	4 – Biberaj (3)	Dale F. Halton Arena (4,646) Charlotte, North Carolina
February 11 7:00 pm, ASN		North Texas	W 67–47	14–10 (7–4)	17 – Stith (1)	11 – Stith (10)	3 – 2 tied	Ted Constant Convocation Center (6,250) Norfolk, Virginia
February 13 2:00 pm, ASN		Rice	L 66–75	14–11 (7–5)	27 – Freeman (19)	16 – Stith (11)	4 – Baker (6)	Ted Constant Convocation Center (7,075) Norfolk, Virginia
February 18 8:00 pm, FCS		at WKU	W 59–56	15–11 (8–5)	26 – Freeman (20)	13 – Stith (12)	4 – Freeman (12)	E. A. Diddle Arena (3,182) Bowling Green, Kentucky
February 20 7:00 pm		at Marshall	L 65–82	15–12 (8–6)	20 – Freeman (21)	8 – Baker (2)	3 – Freeman (13)	Cam Henderson Center (8,520) Huntington, West Virginia
February 25 7:00 pm, FSN		UTEP	W 74–53	16–12 (9–6)	16 – 2 tied	15 – Stith (13)	4 – 2 tied	Ted Constant Convocation Center (6,887) Norfolk, Virginia
February 27 7:00 pm		UTSA	W 78–56	17–12 (10–6)	21 – 2 tied	14 – Stith (14)	6 – Freeman (15)	Ted Constant Convocation Center (8,372) Norfolk, Virginia
March 3 8:00 pm		at North Texas	W 76–70	18–12 (11–6)	24 – Freeman (23)	8 – Stith (15)	5 – 2 tied	The Super Pit (1,878) Denton, Texas
March 5 2:00 pm, ASN		at Rice	W 74–67	19–12 (12–6)	33 – Freeman (24)	12 – Taylor (9)	5 – Baker (7)	Tudor Fieldhouse (3,418) Houston, Texas
Conference USA Tournament
March 9 3:30 pm, ASN	(5)	vs. (12) Florida Atlantic Second round	W 72–46	20–12	25 – Freeman (25)	10 – Taylor (11)	4 – Freeman (17)	Legacy Arena (3,888) Birmingham, Alabama
March 10 3:30 pm, ASN	(5)	vs. (4) Louisiana Tech Quarterfinals	W 68–52	21–12	25 – Freeman (26)	10 – Taylor (11)	4 – Freeman (17)	Legacy Arena (9,797) Birmingham, Alabama
March 11 4:00 pm, CBSSN	(5)	vs. (8) WKU Semifinals	W 89–77	22–12	42 – Freeman (27)	13 – Stith (16)	5 – Baker (8)	Legacy Arena (6,176) Birmingham, Alabama
March 12 2:30 pm, FS1	(5)	vs. (2) Middle Tennessee Championship game	L 53–55	22–13	17 – Freeman (28)	12 – Stith (17)	2 – Taylor (2)	Legacy Arena (5,519) Birmingham, Alabama
Vegas 16
March 28* 3:00 pm, CBSSN		vs. Tennessee Tech Quarterfinals	W 75–59	23–13	18 – Freeman (29)	7 – 2 tied	3 – 3 tied	Mandalay Bay Events Center  Paradise, Nevada
March 29* 9:00 pm, CBSSN		vs. UC Santa Barbara Semifinals	W 64–49	24–13	26 – Bacote (7)	10 – Freeman (2)	4 – Caver (4)	Mandalay Bay Events Center  Paradise, Nevada
March 30* 10:00 pm, CBSSN		vs. Oakland Championship game	W 68–67	25–13	24 – Freeman (30)	15 – Stith (19)	5 – Taylor (3)	Mandalay Bay Events Center  Paradise, Nevada
*Non-conference game. ^#Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Eastern Time.

[2]

References

1. ODU Sports (September 29, 2015). "Jeff Jones Names Freeman, Taylor and Bacote Captains". ODU Athletics. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
2. "C-USA Announces ODU's 2015-16 Conference Schedule" (Press release). Old Dominion Monarchs basketball. July 20, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2015.