ODU Monarchs gear up for a pivotal Sun Belt baseball season as Chris Finwood’s squad finally returns to their home field. Will new stadium energy and strategic portal additions propel Old Dominion past last year's .500 mark and shake up the conference hierarchy?

Dave Schultz interviews head coach Chris Finwood on the challenges of last season’s road-only slate, the ongoing stadium construction, and how NIL and the transfer portal reshape recruitment and competitiveness.

Key topics include the emergence of weekend starters Darin Kuskie and JJ Gatti, defensive upgrades with newcomers Cash Jay and Will Johnson, and mixing veteran leadership with portal talent.

The conversation spotlights Sun Belt rivals Coastal Carolina, Southern Miss, and Troy while raising critical questions about roster cohesion, schedule imbalances, and what it takes for ODU to climb the standings.

00:00 ODU Baseball's Stadium Update

06:14 Temporary Seating Addition Planned

09:16 "Chris Finwood on Home Advantage"

15:15 "Sun Belt Challenges and Resources"

18:06 "Building a College Baseball Team"

19:39 Challenges for Freshman College Players

24:29 "Early Season Evaluation Process"

28:36 Avoiding Sweeps Key to Success

31:19 "Gratitude and New Beginnings"

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