(08-20-2013 02:08 PM)Dukes84 Wrote:  My understanding is that JMU does not pay visiting teams to appear at the Convo, unlike many schools (e.g., Mason, ODU and VCU) and possibly all BCS schools. If true, that's obviously a big factor. Also, the fact that JMU appeared in the NCAA tournament following the most recent season and appears to be a solid team might dissuade a team from coming to the Convo and leaving with a loss.

I actually think being good helps with OOC scheduling. Many schools have learned the hard way (even BCS ones) that if they don't have a good SOS that their chances of getting an at-large to the NCAA tournament are significantly lowered. Unfortunately for JMU, scheduling is usually done years in advance with the occasional last minute signings, and JMU hasn't had much to hang their hats on for the previous 20 Marches.

The schedule isn't as bad as it seems at first glance, but only getting 2 OOC home games appears to be a big time fail.

It's a two year plan. We'll get a bunch of good home games the second year when the team will likely be more awesome.

I thought I remember MB saying he wanted to do more road games this year, so next year when we are conceivably better we have more home games? Not 100% sure, but could've sworn I saw that quote earlier in the year.

(08-20-2013 03:13 PM)South Main Wrote:  I thought I remember MB saying he wanted to do more road games this year, so next year when we are conceivably better we have more home games? Not 100% sure, but could've sworn I saw that quote earlier in the year.

I think he said "more awesome," not "conceivably better."

Again, agreeing to participate in tournament play a few times probably strips a couple of home games. I guess it's a philosophical thing. Would you rather have a few more home games or prepare the team to play in a tournament scenario. While I think it's awful to only have the team have 10 opportunities to play at home, I guess their thinking was "This is the best way to have a chance at winning the CAA tournament".

Regular season tournament games are good and helped the Dukes last year when they went to Pennsylvania and Vegas.
However, having only 10 home games is atrocious. There is no excuse, no explaining it away. All 300+ division 1 teams have to schedule OOC too so the excuse that it is "very, very difficult to do" falls on deaf ears.
No VCU, no ODU, No GMU. This will be a hard year to watch the Dukes in person and the new fans that may have been created by JMU's run to the NCAA tournament last year may very well lose interest.

(08-21-2013 06:43 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  This will be a hard year to watch the Dukes in person and the new fans that may have been created by JMU's run to the NCAA tournament last year may very well lose interest.

This.

(08-21-2013 07:20 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(08-21-2013 06:43 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  This will be a hard year to watch the Dukes in person and the new fans that may have been created by JMU's run to the NCAA tournament last year may very well lose interest.

This.

I agree this is unfortunate. It's going to be very difficult to build on the momentum from last season. I think the sports marketing folks need to pull out all the stops to try and generate some excitement and get butts in the seats. I think the home schedule for 2014-15 will be MUCH better with great potential for a crazy season.

Again, looking at this situation a bit more broadly, the Dukes will have relatively nearby road games (at VA, at UR, at Richmond versus Hampton) versus non-conference competition, plus the same holds true for conference road games (at Towson, at W&M, at DE, at Drexel). In other words, if someone is willing drive a few hours, they can still see the team in person. That's one of the advantages of the CAA, of course. If JMU moves on to Conference USA, for example, one has to take a plane to see most road games.

Looking at the glass half full, is there any chance that having less games may get more people to the games due to not having as much of an opportunity to see the Dukes play this year?

Could also give the young players more road experience which could pay off later in their career at JMU.

Yeah, it's a stretch. Trying to find a silver lining, as thin as it may be.

If we were to go to CUSA, do you think it would be easier or harder to schedule OOC games at home?

(08-21-2013 08:27 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  Looking at the glass half full, is there any chance that having less games may get more people to the games due to not having as much of an opportunity to see the Dukes play this year?

Could also give the young players more road experience which could pay off later in their career at JMU.

Yeah, it's a stretch. Trying to find a silver lining, as thin as it may be.

If we were to go to CUSA, do you think it would be easier or harder to schedule OOC games at home?

This is how felt. I think our average attendance could end up being better with less games. Ten is plenty for a casual/new fan.

This is a rebuilding year for us, I think the people in charge recognize that and want to bank on having more home court advantage in our 2014/2015 schedule, while lining up some decent opponents. For those that don't know, Valp, SFA, Detroit, UVA, are all quality OOC opponents.

Also taking the glass half-full, if an announcement to move was made in September/October, presumably the Dukes would be ineligible for the CAA tourney and autobid this year, when the team, while exciting, is young and semi-rebuilding by trying to replace HUGE contributors in Devon, AJ, and Rayshawn. They're well-positioned for 2014-15 to be a better year no matter the conference, but it would certainly be exciting to be playing a new league schedule in addition to home games with UR and UVA with a seriously competitive, contending team.

(08-21-2013 09:43 AM)PurpleStreamers Wrote:  Also taking the glass half-full, if an announcement to move was made in September/October, presumably the Dukes would be ineligible for the CAA tourney and autobid this year, when the team, while exciting, is young and semi-rebuilding by trying to replace HUGE contributors in Devon, AJ, and Rayshawn. They're well-positioned for 2014-15 to be a better year no matter the conference, but it would certainly be exciting to be playing a new league schedule in addition to home games with UR and UVA with a seriously competitive, contending team.

Never thought of it that way, but I agree that this would be a perfect year to be ineligible. With a team this young and with a rough schedule, this is the year to make the move. It would be extremely unfortunate for us to be ineligible next year with a much stronger team and better schedule.

While this may be a good year for the men's team to be ineligible, the women's team will be in the running for the conference title again this season.

couldn't disagree more for those who say this year will be a disappointment to new fans.

the hardcore fan knows the quality of the schools we play. But because they are hardcore they are likely to go and watch anyway. because that's what hardcore fans do.

the casual fan may or may not know who we are playing but if you ENTERTAIN them, they will come back. we didn't play anyone worth a damn in football (except App St) when Landers was around. but because the product was so entertaining, we sold out every game.

this year's basketball team will have a style and players that will entertain the casual fan. that will increase interest and get the casual fan to come back. that is how you get big crowds and turn them from casual to diehard.

I want the home opener game where they raise the championship banner to be a raucous sellout.

Paralysis by Analysis! Thinking it to death.

As a coach I want as many home games as I can possibly get. For a number of very good reasons. Home court advantage (increases chances of winning), Less time out of the classroom for my players, Branding (more opportunities to showcase the players and team), improve my CAA tournament seed, improved interaction between players and student body, reward season ticket holders with more games.

I get really perturbed when we start talking about being better next year. Bull Crap! Be good this year. You are either good now or you will never be good. The things we plant in these kids heads is stunning. It is like when my daughter was a little girl. Whenever she would go to town with her mother or grandmother she would get car sick. Because they talked her into it. She never once got car sick with me because I never put it into her head. Keep telling our players that they are a year away from being good. They won't disappoint you.

(08-21-2013 12:53 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  Paralysis by Analysis! Thinking it to death.

As a coach I want as many home games as I can possibly get. For a number of very good reasons. Home court advantage (increases chances of winning), Less time out of the classroom for my players, Branding (more opportunities to showcase the players and team), improve my CAA tournament seed, improved interaction between players and student body, reward season ticket holders with more games.

I get really perturbed when we start talking about being better next year. Bull Crap! Be good this year. You are either good now or you will never be good. The things we plant in these kids heads is stunning. It is like when my daughter was a little girl. Whenever she would go to town with her mother or grandmother she would get car sick. Because they talked her into it. She never once got car sick with me because I never put it into her head. Keep telling our players that they are a year away from being good. They won't disappoint you.

So I guess you would never redshirt a player then?

(08-21-2013 01:14 PM)JMU08 Wrote:  

(08-21-2013 12:53 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  Paralysis by Analysis! Thinking it to death.

As a coach I want as many home games as I can possibly get. For a number of very good reasons. Home court advantage (increases chances of winning), Less time out of the classroom for my players, Branding (more opportunities to showcase the players and team), improve my CAA tournament seed, improved interaction between players and student body, reward season ticket holders with more games.

I get really perturbed when we start talking about being better next year. Bull Crap! Be good this year. You are either good now or you will never be good. The things we plant in these kids heads is stunning. It is like when my daughter was a little girl. Whenever she would go to town with her mother or grandmother she would get car sick. Because they talked her into it. She never once got car sick with me because I never put it into her head. Keep telling our players that they are a year away from being good. They won't disappoint you.

So I guess you would never redshirt a player then?

It would have to be an extremely rare case for me to redshirt a kid in basketball.

I would say we under-recruited if we need to redshirt a kid. It hasn't worked out for JMU so far, red-shirting.

this team may not win the CAA, but they are going to be fun to watch. The departure of AJ, Devon and Goins is a lot to replace. Remember, we get Semenov back who didn't play the 2nd half of the year. Cooke, Nation, Bessick and Curry will be a year older and hopefully are taking big steps forward. I have heard very good things about Jackson Kent, Vondanivich and Dalembert. don't forget about Pierce. Could be a break out year for Pierce.

Replacing those seniors while integrating the new pieces wont be easy. Our early record may not be great, but by year end I think this team will match up well against anyone in the CAA.