Herd Coach Tom Herrion on ODU/Charlotte and CUSA basketball scheduling

[Coach Bill Lewis]

http://www.herdzone.com/sports/m-baskbl/...12aaa.html

A budding rivalry in green with the 49ers, perhaps?

"Sure," Herrion said. "I think among four teams, East Carolina, Charlotte, Old Dominion and us, the potential is there to create some compelling games, some rivalries, games that fans of those schools will want to see."

"ODU is a wonderful addition," Herrion said. "Great tradition, a real track record of success and not just under (Coach Blaine Taylor), but back through the years (11 NCAA bids since 1980, after a 1975 Division II national title under Coach Sonny Allen, the former Marshall guard and Moundsville native).

"Charlotte has been really good before and has been in the conference before (10 seasons, from C-USA founding in 1995-96 through 2004-05). It's a nice campus and they've got tradition, reached the NCAA a bunch (seven bids in 10 C-USA seasons).

"Those are good markets for the conference, too. ODU is well-supported with a good fan base, and has (Norfolk, Va.) one of the most-populous cities in the country without a pro team. I don't know if a lot of people know really how good that program is."

Herrion said a scheduling format for a 14-team basketball group hasn't been devised, but said models for Conference USA to follow will be out there from the SEC (14 teams this coming season) and the ACC.

The ACC already has announced its hoops scheduling format for when expansionists Pitt and Syracuse join the conference. Each team has one primary scheduling partner. Over a three-year cycle, teams will play the other 12 foes at least once with the primary partners playing home and away annually while the other 12 rotate in groups of four: one year both home and away; one year at home only; and one year away only. Over the course of the three-year cycle, primary partners play six times and other conference opponents play four times.

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