Game Notes Norfolk, VA---The Howard University men's basketball team will try to continue its success when it takes to the road for four games in nine days, starting with a 7 pm showdown tonight against the Monarchs of Old Dominion at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.
               
The Bison (2-0) are coming off an 83-66 win over Gwynedd Mercy University this past Sunday at home.  Keon Hill, a red-shirt freshman guard, came off the bench to score 22 points while James Daniel, another freshman, contributed 16 points.
               
Howard has one of its youngest teams in recent history, featuring 10 new players.  Head Coach Kevin Nickelberry, who is responsible for the recruitment of this class, has implemented a new system, Frantic 40, that is designed to utilize its depth and talent to apply full-court pressure at both ends of the floor and to speed up the game.
               
"I have said all along that we are a work in progress," explains Nickelberry.  "We have to continue to improve.  With a young and talented group like this, we have to make sure that we take care of the little things because then the bigger things will come.  We are focusing on continuing to get better."
               
In the Monarchs (0-1), the Bison will face a team that is coming off a tough, 69-67 home loss in overtime to Missouri State on Friday.  ODU is similar to the Bison in regard to finding an identity.  Under first year head coach Jeff Jones, the Monarchs start only one senior.  Their leading scorers are sophomore guard Aaron Bacote and junior Dimitri Batten.
               
"ODU likes to play a physical style of play with an emphasis on halfcourt play," says Nickelberry, who is familiar with Jeff Jones coached teams at American where Jones formerly coached and played the Bison on an annual basis.  "In fact, the three teams that we play, ODU, Harvard and Pitt, all play a different style.  Harvard likes to run a very structured, disciplined style of play and with Pitt, they live on rebounding and half-court offense.  The common thing, though, is that they are all physical.  We have to find a way to speed up the game."
               
In the first two games, Howard has relied on a combination of the scoring from its guards and the hustling, scrappy defense that forces turnovers and attacks the glass.  The main cog in the defense has been the leadership of junior forward/guard Prince Okoroh, who has been getting in the passing lanes, getting steals while also contributing with rebounding and blocking shots.  The Bison have also gotten solid contributions from freshman point guard Ausar Madison, freshmen forwards Tyler Stone, Solomon Manghum and Damon Collins, red-shirt sophomore Oliver Ellison  and red-shirt freshman center Marcel Boyd.
               
Howard will welcome one of its key components to the Frantic 40 in freshman forward James  "JT" Miller.  Miller has missed the first two games with a minor injury but is expected to play tonight.
               
"First of all, let's be clear, he is another freshman," pointed Nickelberry.  "We can't expect a lot too soon because he has to get his feet underneath him.  But he does bring yet another dimension to us.  He is another scorer from the wing who can also put the ball on the floor.  We have to get him involved."

GAME NOTES:  ODU and Howard have met four times, the latest in 2-11-12 when the Monarchs prevailed, 53-43 in Norfolk.  ODU is 4-0 versus the Bison in the series.  Howard will conclude the nine-day trek with a game against the University of Houston on November 13 in Houston, making it four games in nine days.