(02-25-2017 10:39 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote: You are Not sure if the Dukes underperformed? 9 wins in 31 games is bottom of the barrel and the worst regression year over year in the history of the program. Let that sink in. Minus 12 wins while returning 4 starters and more seniors than every team in the nation.
All those returning players won 21 games last year and tied for 3rd. They won 19 games and tied for 1st 2 years ago. And now they aren't capable?
You can point the finger directly at the coach who is on training wheels. He is hell bent on playing his "style" with players that don't have the qualities his style requires. He is hard headed as hard headed can be. You'd think Rowe would acknowledge his way didn't work and adjust to the strengths of this roster. You'd think...
The only fix for this disaster is a miracle 4 game run in North Charleston next week. That would completely offset the train wreck Rowe's season has been. Short of that the administration has some 'splainin' to do and feet need to be held to the fire.
Ask anyone for donations to the new basketball arena right now and see if they laugh incessantly. It can't be overstated how much this season has let the air out of the balloon for the push to build an $88 million facility.
The blame falls on Rowe and even more so on Bourne for completely botching the "National" coaching search.
I think it's interesting that when you put in context the performance of this years team vs. the last two that you don't mention the 1 missing player by name, Ron Curry. I think losing a top 3 scorer in the program's history and a 1st team all league player (who I would argue should have won Conference Player of the year last year) is worth noting.
I also think it's interesting that you say tie for first and 3rd the last 2 seasons when JMU was seeded #4 both years- but those are technicalities. It's pretty clear from the tone of your messages that you are a pro Brady guy and anti Rowe guy really from the time the change was made. That's cool. So when JMU improves next year it will be because of Coach Rowe right? They will have only returned 2 starters and 2 Seniors compared with this years 4 and 7. Or will Rowe have just adjusted his style vs. not adjusting his style this season?
Not necessarily- JMU will be better next year because of talent because of personnel. I'd expect Rowe to improve as well. Just because a group of guys was part of a solid team the last two years doesn't mean that when you remove their best player that they will continue to perform well.
A lot of these games come down to a few possessions where JMU needs to execute and I just think they are a little behind the eight ball on both sides of the ball to execute during those key possessions. Make a stop defensively, make a play offensively. If you don't think Ron Curry made that difference I'm not sure what you were watching. He masked a lot of blah offense, poor movement, and a lot of the current team's limitations on defense. Yesterday- pick your poison as a coach- help when their guards who are quicker than our guards beat them off the dribble and drive to the lane and they dump it to Gustys for the easy conversion- don't help and they score uncontested. A shot blocker like YoYo helps there a little, certainly an on ball defender as quick as Curry mitigates that.
The failing of Rowe has really been in the fact that he didn't bring in guys who could help this year. But maybe there were tradeoffs made there. I'd encourage you to watch tape of Stuckey Mosely and even Scissum and tell me if there are any guys on the current roster who can do what those guys can do with the basketball.
IMO this would have been a down year if MB had stuck around as well. They would have had a nice freshman PG who gave us hope for the future but he would have been a freshman and the team would have had a lower ceiling than when Curry was on it. You'd go into the off season worrying about Brady filling all of the open scholarships and if Shepherd would stick around all 4 years.