first the JMU press conference, then the W&M press conference. Some pretty good and candid comments from both sides.

Brady seems pretty sure of his fate.

(03-06-2016 09:01 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  Brady seems pretty sure of his fate.

I watched him closely in the hand shake line after the game and got the same impression.

84 mentioned this in a previous thread but I think Brady was tight going into the game knowing how much was on the line and his players picked up on it and they played tight themselves. This group of guys are definitely Brady's guys and they care for and respect their coach. Likewise, they felt the pressure of the moment. These guys battled the entire game and made a nice rally before the referees determined the outcome of the game with McClean's terrible holding call.

Brady's teams since the lame duck season have lacked athleticism compared to CAA peers because Brady had to fill 6 scholarships with projects. Also, the athletes who did sign transferred or left the program (Cook, Nation, Hall).

Brady got the most out of this untalented team the past two years. He just needed a few more horses on the team to get him over the hump.

(03-06-2016 02:10 PM)Rock House Duke Wrote:  Brady got the most out of this untalented team the past two years. He just needed a few more horses on the team to get him over the hump.

Not entirely his fault but he should have had the horses but they got out of the barn and were replaced with ponies.

I believe Brady and the team Overachieved last year finishing tied for first. Losing in the quarterfinals of the tournament wasn't a big letdown.

I believe Brady and the team underachieved this year finishing tied for 3rd. The quarterfinal loss was a big let down this year. The team had many strong wins this year, overcame injury adversity, was loaded with upperclassmen, and proceeded to imitate bricklayers in the most important game of the year.

JMU was a 3 point underdog vs W&M this year in the quarterfinals. There was a reason it was mentioned winning the regular season finale wasn't ideal. Would have been small favorite vs Towson.

JMU was a 7 point underdog vs Hofstra in the quarterfinals last year, I hope no one is upset they lost that game.

JMU was a 9 point underdog 2 years ago against Towson in a down year.

The CAA Tournament losing margins are frustrating but the losses themselves shouldn't be a driving force to this decision. Just favorites winning games as expected.

The lopsided classes is a real concern. The improvement of the last 2 years, the expected team that will be around next year doesn't seem like the resume of a coach that is going to be fired. Going to be interesting.

(03-07-2016 02:54 PM)UofRfan Wrote:  JMU was a 3 point underdog vs W&M this year in the quarterfinals. There was a reason it was mentioned winning the regular season finale wasn't ideal. Would have been small favorite vs Towson.

JMU was a 7 point underdog vs Hofstra in the quarterfinals last year, I hope no one is upset they lost that game.

JMU was a 9 point underdog 2 years ago against Towson in a down year.

The CAA Tournament losing margins are frustrating but the losses themselves shouldn't be a driving force to this decision. Just favorites winning games as expected.

The lopsided classes is a real concern. The improvement of the last 2 years, the expected team that will be around next year doesn't seem like the resume of a coach that is going to be fired. Going to be interesting.

This is the second time he's created this class imbalance. It appears to me he loads his team with upperclassman near the end of his contract expiring.

And UofR. It's not how his team does versus the line. It's simple 2 things

1) Advanced past the quarterfinals one time in 8 years. Many not close, and many against W&M. 1 for 8 in a one bid conference does not work. At this point it's a proven track record. And as you know Lefty was not retained after making the final in 5 of his last 7 season. Matt has made the semi's once. That is awful and you need better than that at at JMU

2) attendance and support so low, versus Women's which is continuing to excel ".

Just pointing out there isn't some huge underachievement as far as games you were expected to win, that you didn't - especially the last 3 years. You could spin that against Matt in that they weren't better/favored in these games.

I see arguments either way but damn Dukester you are going in the for the kill here!!

Dukester is only sharing facts. And, they aren't his own facts; they are what they are.

I am closer to UR fans overall thoughts, but I do agree that the tournament is like a final exam and results have more weight. And if we had lost like William and Mary did to Hofstra yesterday in a great game, I would feel closer to the the way I felt pre tournament. Giving up a 20-0 run in a do or die game when the Tribe was held to only 31 points in a half is tough to take.

2015-2016 Dukes were the best team in the last 20+ years by all objective ratings that exist.

Last year's team massively overachieved and finished first in the regular season with a core of guys Matt had to recruit in a lame duck year for reasons still unknown.

It's been a pretty good 2 years and next year looks solid if only Curry is gone.

The imbalance of classes is a major issue and one I agree with fully. Just don't think losing as underdogs the last 3 years in the quarterfinals, including as 7 and 9 pt dogs is any trump card.

I understand why they wouldn't want to give Matt another 3-4 years, and if they don't they might as well let the next guy recruit the massive class upcoming. Feels like the firing this year is just preparing for the inevitable 2017-2018 disaster.

I think the administration is really stepping up to the plate. With Brady's firing and being "too good" for the CBI, there are obviously positive things to come! A top 100 RPI is no longer good enough!!

(03-07-2016 03:33 PM)UofRfan Wrote:  Just pointing out there isn't some huge underachievement as far as games you were expected to win, that you didn't - especially the last 3 years. You could spin that against Matt in that they weren't better/favored in these games.

I see arguments either way but damn Dukester you are going in the for the kill here!!

Losing to a lower seed last year by 17 is not an underachievement?

Losing huge to W&M, a lower seed you beat the prior week isn't underachievement?

I just don't see how you could say that is not under achieving?

I don't think many if anyone expected to be so man handled the last two years.

Also, I think Brady's 3rd year team was the best the last in the last 20 years - the one the was receiving votes late in December. Sagarins back that up. I know they laid an egg at Davidson at the end, but that was a pretty good team in a much better at the top CAA.

The situation with his repeated class imbalances you're going to have decent years and bad years. The problem is his teams always play their worst in big games. Kinda the opposite of Mickey Matthews. I can't say I recall one of his teams ever laying an egg in the playoffs. In regular season, yes. But his teams came prepared to play in the post season.

If Richmond did not get out of the quarterfinals of the A10 more than once in 8 years, would you think let's give it an extension? And this ain't no A10, back in my prime we were head to head with Richmond.

(03-07-2016 07:51 PM)Dukester Wrote:  

(03-07-2016 03:33 PM)UofRfan Wrote:  Just pointing out there isn't some huge underachievement as far as games you were expected to win, that you didn't - especially the last 3 years. You could spin that against Matt in that they weren't better/favored in these games.

I see arguments either way but damn Dukester you are going in the for the kill here!!

Losing to a lower seed last year by 17 is not an underachievement?

Losing huge to W&M, a lower seed you beat the prior week isn't underachievement?

I just don't see how you could say that is not under achieving?

I don't think many if anyone expected to be so man handled the last two years.

Also, I think Brady's 3rd year team was the best the last in the last 20 years - the one the was receiving votes late in December. Sagarins back that up. I know they laid an egg at Davidson at the end, but that was a pretty good team in a much better at the top CAA.

The situation with his repeated class imbalances you're going to have decent years and bad years. The problem is his teams always play their worst in big games. Kinda the opposite of Mickey Matthews. I can't say I recall one of his teams ever laying an egg in the playoffs. In regular season, yes. But his teams came prepared to play in the post season.

If Richmond did not get out of the quarterfinals of the A10 more than once in 8 years, would you think let's give it an extension? And this ain't no A10, back in my prime we were head to head with Richmond.

It's rarely mentioned, but for me I am sick of having a couple losses every season to the "Norfolk State's" and "Hampton's". Losing a game like that once every three years is barely acceptable, but it happens every year.

(03-07-2016 08:31 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  It's rarely mentioned, but for me I am sick of having a couple losses every season to the "Norfolk State's" and "Hampton's". Losing a game like that once every three years is barely acceptable, but it happens every year.

And Bongwood U. too

My personal take on the end of the press conference- I wouldn't go as far to say that Brady thinks he's gone I just think he's frustrated that JMU didn't already extend him, that he doesn't know if they will play in a lower level post season tournament etc. There is a reason for both- he needed to win a couple or the whole thing to not get bought out. I'd be shocked if he's brought back. The writing was pretty much on the wall.

(03-07-2016 09:56 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  My personal take on the end of the press conference- I wouldn't go as far to say that Brady thinks he's gone I just think he's frustrated that JMU didn't already extend him, that he doesn't know if they will play in a lower level post season tournament etc. There is a reason for both- he needed to win a couple or the whole thing to not get bought out. I'd be shocked if he's brought back. The writing was pretty much on the wall.

Frankly, I will not be shocked at all if nothing is done at this time and send him again into a lame duck season with no extension. They did it once, so I'd give it at least a 50% chance it is done again.

(03-07-2016 10:22 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(03-07-2016 09:56 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  My personal take on the end of the press conference- I wouldn't go as far to say that Brady thinks he's gone I just think he's frustrated that JMU didn't already extend him, that he doesn't know if they will play in a lower level post season tournament etc. There is a reason for both- he needed to win a couple or the whole thing to not get bought out. I'd be shocked if he's brought back. The writing was pretty much on the wall.

Frankly, I will not be shocked at all if nothing is done at this time and send him again into a lame duck season with no extension. They did it once, so I'd give it at least a 50% chance it is done again.

The last time around they didn't have a $20,000 buyout- they also weren't behind schedule raising money for a new arena which is an important component of ultimately getting to where they want to be in terms of athletics and conference affiliation.

(03-07-2016 10:24 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(03-07-2016 10:22 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(03-07-2016 09:56 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  My personal take on the end of the press conference- I wouldn't go as far to say that Brady thinks he's gone I just think he's frustrated that JMU didn't already extend him, that he doesn't know if they will play in a lower level post season tournament etc. There is a reason for both- he needed to win a couple or the whole thing to not get bought out. I'd be shocked if he's brought back. The writing was pretty much on the wall.

Frankly, I will not be shocked at all if nothing is done at this time and send him again into a lame duck season with no extension. They did it once, so I'd give it at least a 50% chance it is done again.

The last time around they didn't have a $20,000 buyout- they also weren't behind schedule raising money for a new arena which is an important component of ultimately getting to where they want to be in terms of athletics and conference affiliation.

This is true.