FRISCO, Texas
When Nikki McCray-Penson was named Old Dominion's women's basketball coach in 2017, the cupboard was bare. Transfers, other defections and the lack of solid recruiting before she arrived laid waste to the Monarchs' lineup.
I was a Virginian-Pilot reporter at the time and ODU officials acknowledged privately it would take three years at a minimum before the Monarchs were competitive enough to compete for the NCAA tournament.
Her first season bore out that sentiment. ODU finished 8-23 and the depth was so thin and the talent so depleted, I honestly thought she deserved consideration for Conference USA Coach of the Year for winning eight games.