ODU dancing in the Big Easy

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - The ODU Monarchs (26-8) will open the NCAA Tournament against The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame (23-11) Thursday in New Orleans, Louisiana.

ODU is an 11th seed and Notre Dame will be a sixth seed. Also in the bracket is number three seed Baylor and 14th seed Sam Houston.

ODU and Notre Dame have met only once before. The Irish beat ODU, 67-62 in the 1983-84 NIT.

ODU has played Baylor only once, defeating the Bears 87-79 in the 1974-74 ODU Kiwanis Old Dominion Classic. The Monarchs have never played Sam Houston.

ODU has already played a BIG EAST team this season, knocking off 11th ranked Georgetown 61-57.

ODU head coach Blaine Taylor said, "Quite different from 2007 when we were an atlarge team, hoping to get in. We didn't have to wait too long then. This time, we knew we were getting as an automatic and our name didn't come up until the end. I just wanted to head south.

We feel quite fortunate to experience what's coming up. New Orleans is an historic city, and we are playing a Notre Dame team that is very skilled, solid and extremely well coached. They have been tested all year long, and they have an outstanding big man.

I think our schedule has prepared us for this tournament and we are looking forward to the challenge. "