HARTFORD, Conn.
You knew when you saw Old Dominion fall behind 21-0 against Western Kentucky and win, or when the Monarchs overcame a 17-point deficit to beat VCU or when the Monarchs erased a 10-point halftime lead to shock No. 25 Syracuse in the Carrier Dome, that this team was something special.
Talent-wise, not so much. This was a blue-collar team that played dogged defense and at times ugly basketball. But the Monarchs had big hearts and a ton of determination,
Coach Jeff Jones somehow managed to fashion a championship season from a group of guys who often couldn’t shoot straight.