Bourne is not a basketball guy. Very much an outsider in the world of college hoops. Still, he can’t be ignorant of how bad of a coaching move he made setting back the program years when it needed momentum heading into the new arena Fundraising stage.

It was an intentional, deliberate, and terrible error in judgement. Not a flippant mistake, but a miscalculated decision that makes you question his qualities as the AD. Again.
Alger doesn’t care much because he is a nerd who airballs free throws and double dribbles using both hands at the same time.

We are in the dark ages again where only a miracle title run in the CAA tourney can fix it. If ECU could do it in 1993, JMU can do it now.

(01-26-2018 09:16 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  Bourne is not a basketball guy. Very much an outsider in the world of college hoops. Still, he can’t be ignorant of how bad of a coaching move he made setting back the program years when it needed momentum heading into the new arena Fundraising stage.

It was an intentional, deliberate, and terrible error in judgement. Not a flippant mistake, but a miscalculated decision that makes you question his qualities as the AD. Again.
Alger doesn’t care much because he is a nerd who airballs free throws and double dribbles using both hands at the same time.

We are in the dark ages again where only a miracle title run in the CAA tourney can fix it. If ECU could do it in 1993, JMU can do it now.

Hiring managers don't admit mistakes on bad hires. They promote them rather than fire. Rowe will be our next AD.

You guys are being a little overdramatic- it's the same BS that people spew about the Conference stuff. I hear your Thurston comparison. I believe despite the fact that the team keeps competing for Rowe (yes 84 the CAA isn't as strong as it was with Keener) and falling short in these games while showing potential that as others have said that by mid season next year you will know if Rowe will be the guy to lead these guys into the new arena or not. I really believe that if the team is struggling like it is this time next year in terms of Wins and Losses a change will be made- i.e. JMU and Rowe, a JMU alum who has given a lot to the program and bleeds purple and gold and is appreciative for the opportunity that JMU gave him, will mutually agree that it's not working and he will step down.

There is quite a bit of basketball, recruiting, and player development that will happen between now and then. I am betting on Rowe and these guys because I know and can see how hard they are working.

Another overdramatic point that you have made- I love JMU hoops as much as anyone and want us to be great- we were not great before we were not even good- you can give me any wins losses you want I know what I watched in person, on TV and through various streaming options. We were respectable- we were 4 and 5 seeded in yes 84 an average CAA. We were boring, we were easy to defend, we were lethargic, the crowds at the Convo were apathetic, the head coach made a ton of excuses, the program was borderline unstable in terms of player movement and off court incidents. PLEASE don't continue to insult our intelligence by suggesting that we were good- PLEASE don't continue to insult our intelligence by glossing over graduating Ron Curry going into Rowe's first season. We watch basketball, we know basketball, we know better than the picture that you paint that JMU was a good basketball program with talented all CAA level players. We weren't and we haven't been for decades.

Another over dramatic point that you have made- JMU's hiring of Rowe has had no impact on the new arena. JMU under the prior coach was not flush with interest or donations. We are scheduled to break ground this Spring and the new arena will be available in 2020.

If the basketball hire played out as A) there weren't as many interested candidates as they anticipated there would be (but they still were ok with moving on from Brady after 8 seasons of mediocrity) B) finances were a consideration given the status of the program, the planned new arena, and the need to pay COA C) a familiar coach to the program interviewed well and was well thought of by the hiring committee and D) something happened with another candidate where that candidate started trying to negotiate with JMU for more money I am ok with the Rowe hire as a bridge to the new arena.

Rowe is receiving his opportunity to build a program, instill a culture and develop a system and identity. He, the staff, and the players deserve some time to do that. Wins and Losses do matter but this idea that this period will set us back is utter BS. So we're not an RPI of 150 and a 4 seed in the CAA tournament who losses a first round game and earns a CIT or CBI invite- who cares- relatively speaking we were anonymous then and we are anonymous now. The fan, student, and crowd interest was equally uninspired. Get off your low horse, chill out, give it some more time and know that if it doesn't work out we will be in the same spot going into the new arena that we would have been otherwise. If hiring Rowe during this period in JMU athletics gave us a better shot to fund COA and or allocate more to the Football coaching staff I am ok with it knowing that going into the new arena JMU basketball will be well positioned to pay a coach more (if they have a coaching search) and attract better candidates. It's not ideal, it's obviously not good so far but it's also not as awful as the picture that you are painting and some kind of dark age of JMU.

(01-26-2018 09:10 PM)Dukes84 Wrote:  

(01-26-2018 12:10 PM)JMUSteeler Wrote:  

(01-26-2018 11:52 AM)Duke Dawg Wrote:  

(01-26-2018 11:46 AM)Dukes84 Wrote:  If you think that JMU is well coached, go see them play in person. That tells the whole story. If you listened to the commentators last night, they made multiple references regarding the poor coaching on the part of JMU. To paraphrase some of what they said last night:

1. JMU is routinely out of position defensively.
2. There's absolutely no resistance to direct line drives to the basket.
3. On offense, JMU doesn't even bother to throw the ball inside. Instead, they come down and chuck up a three. (Obviously, throwing an entry pass inside and then back out again will loosen up the defense because it has to react to the ball.)

Go see NE, a well coached team, play in person to see the stark contrast. Rarely, does a player ever have an open lane or look and they always work for a good shot offensively.

Unless and until Rowe changes how this team is coached, we're going to continue to see these sorts of results and the accompanying disappointment and frustration.

and you're positive that's coaching?

so freshmen are simply doing whatever the coach tells, and that coach is telling them to be out of position on the court?

basketball players, not matter what year, ALWAYS do what they are told is what i'm getting out of this.

Right, I've been to multiple games this season and I'll disagree with all 3 points AS THEY PERTAIN TO EVERY POSSESSION OF EVERY GAME. There have been games, or at least parts of games, where we have done a nice job playing D and running an O. The problem has been stretches where we've blown big leads or late in games where we've had those lapses. If we were truly incompetent all the time in all 3 of those points we'd be routinely getting blown out, you know like we did under Keener and occasionally under Brady for example. Or is the suggestion that when the kids play well it's in spite of the coaches, it's only when we blow it at the end that they're actually paying attention?

There's a lot that needs to be fixed, but we've lost 3-4 of these games on poor free throw shooting down the stretch alone. And one thing I'll stand by with this group of players is they still haven't quit, unlike teams under Dillard, Keener and Brady did. I'll continue to reserve my judgement of Coach Rowe until he has the chance to put a team full of his players, with experience, on the court.

I'll just make a few quick points. First, I think you misconstrued my post. I never said they have breakdowns on either side of the ball on every possession. I recounted what was said by the announcers and I thought they were spot on. In the first half, if you'll recall, there were multiple straight line, unimpeded drives to the basket by UNCW, primarily by Cacok. That stretch is what prompted the first two observations. The third observation occurred during the second half, when I believe UNCW went on a 15-2 run to turn around a 7 point deficit into a 6 point lead (something like that but you get the point). Again, it was an accurate depiction of JMU's offense during that stretch. Those sorts of stretches doom teams, of course.

With respect to the blowout comments, one would have to go back in time and look at how strong the CAA was during many of those seasons, producing two Final Four teams in VCU and Mason and a very solid program in ODU. Those teams are gone now and UNCW is currently down too, so Rowe is not facing the same level of competition. There was also a Richmond team that was pretty good.

Back to the coaching of this year's team. Tough to argue that JMU has a good defensive team, as evidenced by the shooting percentages that I posted a couple of weeks back now for three point FG% defense and overall FG% defense (among the worst in the country at one point). Scoring defense is also poor among the bottom quintile in the country. If I'm not mistaken, it's Rowe that's responsible for that aspect of the team.

After more than 50 games now, have we seen anything to suggest that this team is turning a corner? Keep in mind that they got 10 additional practices and 4 games over the summer. I generally like the team's talent, and I would argue that it's superior to many CAA teams, but we're not seeing the results of that in terms of wins and losses. Moreover, we're not seeing anything to suggest this futility won't continue for the remainder of this season and into next season. Other CAA teams have young rosters and new coaches and are showing more to date. UNCW has split its last 10 games. Delaware with three freshman and a sophomore among its top players has won 11 games. Drexel has beaten Houston and Lasalle. What can JMU point to as an accomplishment at this point?

84, UNCW uses Cacok to set screens for their 3 point shooters- he is very quick and active at then getting to the lane or to the basket. Jmu obviously struggled defending him. That's a tough cover for Wilson as a true freshman who isn't quick on his feet. Aside from being right under the basket Wilson isn't quick enough to play Cacok close nor is he tall enough to impede his shot. Cacok is a very good player who keeps getting better he showed an ability to take a guy off the dribble and get to the basket easily, to back a guy down and make a hook shot from the post and even to hit a foul line jump shot.

JMU tried throwing multiple guys and looks at him- you guys who hammer Rowe probably ignore that the same way Hart often talks about Rowe's defense as being exclusively one way- the rest of us who watch the games see different looks- zones, etc. that JMU tries to employ you guys make it seem like the staff isn't trying on defense and when there are breakdowns with young guys being in the wrong spot etc. it's all bad coaching. You expect ready made true freshmen great defenders- they do not exist. I agree there are too many drives through the lane for easy buckets. I just think if there were less of that at the expense of more open 3 point shots folks would be killing JMU for that too.

The defensive intensity and number of breakdowns have improved throughout the season. This is not a good defensive team but they are getting better. This team has a lot of ability on both sides of the ball. The Banks stuff of Cacok as an example and several of the steals throughout the game. They also are not shy when it comes to toughness- reminder many of these guys are true freshman- I maintain this experience will benefit them as the season goes on and in future years.

(01-27-2018 03:03 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  You guys are being a little overdramatic- it's the same BS that people spew about the Conference stuff. I hear your Thurston comparison. I believe despite the fact that the team keeps competing for Rowe (yes 84 the CAA isn't as strong as it was with Keener) and falling short in these games while showing potential that as others have said that by mid season next year you will know if Rowe will be the guy to lead these guys into the new arena or not. I really believe that if the team is struggling like it is this time next year in terms of Wins and Losses a change will be made- i.e. JMU and Rowe, a JMU alum who has given a lot to the program and bleeds purple and gold and is appreciative for the opportunity that JMU gave him, will mutually agree that it's not working and he will step down.

There is quite a bit of basketball, recruiting, and player development that will happen between now and then. I am betting on Rowe and these guys because I know and can see how hard they are working.

Another overdramatic point that you have made- I love JMU hoops as much as anyone and want us to be great- we were not great before we were not even good- you can give me any wins losses you want I know what I watched in person, on TV and through various streaming options. We were respectable- we were 4 and 5 seeded in yes 84 an average CAA. We were boring, we were easy to defend, we were lethargic, the crowds at the Convo were apathetic, the head coach made a ton of excuses, the program was borderline unstable in terms of player movement and off court incidents. PLEASE don't continue to insult our intelligence by suggesting that we were good- PLEASE don't continue to insult our intelligence by glossing over graduating Ron Curry going into Rowe's first season. We watch basketball, we know basketball, we know better than the picture that you paint that JMU was a good basketball program with talented all CAA level players. We weren't and we haven't been for decades.

Another over dramatic point that you have made- JMU's hiring of Rowe has had no impact on the new arena. JMU under the prior coach was not flush with interest or donations. We are scheduled to break ground this Spring and the new arena will be available in 2020.

If the basketball hire played out as A) there weren't as many interested candidates as they anticipated there would be (but they still were ok with moving on from Brady after 8 seasons of mediocrity) B) finances were a consideration given the status of the program, the planned new arena, and the need to pay COA C) a familiar coach to the program interviewed well and was well thought of by the hiring committee and D) something happened with another candidate where that candidate started trying to negotiate with JMU for more money I am ok with the Rowe hire as a bridge to the new arena.

Rowe is receiving his opportunity to build a program, instill a culture and develop a system and identity. He, the staff, and the players deserve some time to do that. Wins and Losses do matter but this idea that this period will set us back is utter BS. So we're not an RPI of 150 and a 4 seed in the CAA tournament who losses a first round game and earns a CIT or CBI invite- who cares- relatively speaking we were anonymous then and we are anonymous now. The fan, student, and crowd interest was equally uninspired. Get off your low horse, chill out, give it some more time and know that if it doesn't work out we will be in the same spot going into the new arena that we would have been otherwise. If hiring Rowe during this period in JMU athletics gave us a better shot to fund COA and or allocate more to the Football coaching staff I am ok with it knowing that going into the new arena JMU basketball will be well positioned to pay a coach more (if they have a coaching search) and attract better candidates. It's not ideal, it's obviously not good so far but it's also not as awful as the picture that you are painting and some kind of dark age of JMU.

AMEN BROTHER! At least JMU basketball has a team with actual athletes again and is fun to watch. Jackson Kent as the teams best player and big slow foreigners in cinder block shoes plodding up and down the court is finally behind us.

What we have learned is that it is fun to watch losing basketball while it is boring to watch winning basketball. This is the essence of a true athletic competitor.

We have also learned that Rowe’s 14-39 is not THAT bad (psst don’t tell anyone it is the worst D-1 winning percentage in JMU history at .264).

We have also learned that we should ignore the first 2 years because they just don’t matter. In fact, a coach could go 0-62 and he would be granted a 3rd year because that is how JMU does it. That is how we roll.

(01-27-2018 11:17 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  What we have learned is that it is fun to watch losing basketball while it is boring to watch winning basketball. This is the essence of a true athletic competitor.

We have also learned that Rowe’s 14-39 is not THAT bad (psst don’t tell anyone it is the worst D-1 winning percentage in JMU history at .264).

We have also learned that we should ignore the first 2 years because they just don’t matter. In fact, a coach could go 0-62 and he would be granted a 3rd year because that is how JMU does it. That is how we roll.

+1. Does the 14 wins include the 2 against D3 teams? LOL

Things are bad, very bad. It will be interesting to see who sticks around: Fans, posters, players, coaches, AD's.

I don't think we have learned anything yet- school is still in session- even though you gave out a failing grade before they even laced them up. There are many variables here- it's not just as simple and black and white as you make it out to be. There are nuances and gray area. Wins and Losses are ultimately what it is all about- post season wins and losses specifically (an area we have struggled with in the past). Not all wins and losses are measured the same. There are losses where you can see growth and potential and fight and there are losses where you don't. You can choose to be blind to that keep throwing out your predictions that JMU will win by 1 point while you probably hope that we will lose so you can hammer a decision you didn't agree with in the first place or you can choose to view things more big picture.

So what does firing a guy you really won't have given much of a chance do for the program- where do you go from here? Even you have begrudgingly admitted that Rowe brought in some good recruits in his first full recruiting cycle. These Freshmen seem to like Coach Rowe and want to play for him and grow with him. So we fire Rowe prematurely and these players leave JMU and your new guy who stresses launching a lot of 3 pointers, running the merry go round offense and recruiting Euros comes in and starts all over? How does that move the needle in terms of the arena and the program? How does that help recruiting moving forward when Rowe and his staff by all accounts have forged relationships and trust with local programs (something your boy Brady was unable to do)?

Stop acting so aghast that JMU MBB is losing these close games- it's painful to experience as a fan but we are in these games and on the wrong side of them- big deal we were on the right side of some of them previously but we still lost our fair share of games vs. teams and programs that many think are beneath us. We still got punched in the mouth in the games that counted. That to me is more embarrassing and deflating than a young team with talent fighting and competing out there.

(01-27-2018 11:17 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  What we have learned is that it is fun to watch losing basketball while it is boring to watch winning basketball. This is the essence of a true athletic competitor.

We have also learned that Rowe’s 14-39 is not THAT bad (psst don’t tell anyone it is the worst D-1 winning percentage in JMU history at .264).

We have also learned that we should ignore the first 2 years because they just don’t matter. In fact, a coach could go 0-62 and he would be granted a 3rd year because that is how JMU does it. That is how we roll.

If our Brady success had been consistent, I would agree with this. The issue is that I only saw "winning basketball" once with Brady in the 2013 CAA Tournament where only 7 teams were eligible. That's not winning basketball. When I went to Baltimore for Brady's last tournament, it was not "winning basketball" out there.

(01-27-2018 11:17 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  We have also learned that we should ignore the first 2 years because they just don’t matter. In fact, a coach could go 0-62 and he would be granted a 3rd year because that is how JMU does it. That is how we roll.

At JMU, a coach with a 5-year contract will not only be granted a 3rd year under these conditions, they will be granted a 4th year as well. I want to win too. Doesn't change these facts.

I got a good chuckle at comparing college basketball in 2018 to college basketball in 1993.

(01-27-2018 03:03 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  You guys are being a little overdramatic- it's the same BS that people spew about the Conference stuff. I hear your Thurston comparison. I believe despite the fact that the team keeps competing for Rowe (yes 84 the CAA isn't as strong as it was with Keener) and falling short in these games while showing potential that as others have said that by mid season next year you will know if Rowe will be the guy to lead these guys into the new arena or not. I really believe that if the team is struggling like it is this time next year in terms of Wins and Losses a change will be made- i.e. JMU and Rowe, a JMU alum who has given a lot to the program and bleeds purple and gold and is appreciative for the opportunity that JMU gave him, will mutually agree that it's not working and he will step down.

There is quite a bit of basketball, recruiting, and player development that will happen between now and then. I am betting on Rowe and these guys because I know and can see how hard they are working.

Another overdramatic point that you have made- I love JMU hoops as much as anyone and want us to be great- we were not great before we were not even good- you can give me any wins losses you want I know what I watched in person, on TV and through various streaming options. We were respectable- we were 4 and 5 seeded in yes 84 an average CAA. We were boring, we were easy to defend, we were lethargic, the crowds at the Convo were apathetic, the head coach made a ton of excuses, the program was borderline unstable in terms of player movement and off court incidents. PLEASE don't continue to insult our intelligence by suggesting that we were good- PLEASE don't continue to insult our intelligence by glossing over graduating Ron Curry going into Rowe's first season. We watch basketball, we know basketball, we know better than the picture that you paint that JMU was a good basketball program with talented all CAA level players. We weren't and we haven't been for decades.

Another over dramatic point that you have made- JMU's hiring of Rowe has had no impact on the new arena. JMU under the prior coach was not flush with interest or donations. We are scheduled to break ground this Spring and the new arena will be available in 2020.

If the basketball hire played out as A) there weren't as many interested candidates as they anticipated there would be (but they still were ok with moving on from Brady after 8 seasons of mediocrity) B) finances were a consideration given the status of the program, the planned new arena, and the need to pay COA C) a familiar coach to the program interviewed well and was well thought of by the hiring committee and D) something happened with another candidate where that candidate started trying to negotiate with JMU for more money I am ok with the Rowe hire as a bridge to the new arena.

Rowe is receiving his opportunity to build a program, instill a culture and develop a system and identity. He, the staff, and the players deserve some time to do that. Wins and Losses do matter but this idea that this period will set us back is utter BS. So we're not an RPI of 150 and a 4 seed in the CAA tournament who losses a first round game and earns a CIT or CBI invite- who cares- relatively speaking we were anonymous then and we are anonymous now. The fan, student, and crowd interest was equally uninspired. Get off your low horse, chill out, give it some more time and know that if it doesn't work out we will be in the same spot going into the new arena that we would have been otherwise. If hiring Rowe during this period in JMU athletics gave us a better shot to fund COA and or allocate more to the Football coaching staff I am ok with it knowing that going into the new arena JMU basketball will be well positioned to pay a coach more (if they have a coaching search) and attract better candidates. It's not ideal, it's obviously not good so far but it's also not as awful as the picture that you are painting and some kind of dark age of JMU.

97 --

Some of this is directed at me, obviously. You shouldn't get defensive when I criticize Rowe by going after Brady because I supported him. That's ridiculous. Do I want Rowe to fail? No, I don't. To be fair, he should probably be given 4 years to show what he can do. That's the same amount of time that Keener got and that Brady would have gotten, had Bourne been able to fire him like he wanted to after 4 seasons.

When evaluating Brady, and I'm not going to rehash those arguments again, Bourne is complicit, I believe, in his failure by undermining him publicly, of course. And ironically to some degree, wasn't it Rowe who was responsible for recruiting Andre Nation, who brought a double-edged sword with him to JMU and ultimately may have been Brady's undoing?

I have given plaudits to Rowe for his recruiting, rightfully so. Where I have been critical, again rightly so, is in the deployment of that talent, and I've suggested that he get some assistance from his coaching staff. In both of his seasons to date, we have not seen sufficient in-season improvement, growth and development. That raises a red flag to me.

Others have posted that my comments with respect to coaching are perhaps unfounded and that coaching is not the problem, but a lack of talent a year ago and a lack of experience this season. An easy counterargument to that for last year, for example, is the actual record versus the expected record going into the season. Some had JMU as a top 100 team going into last season and they proceeded to lose more than 20 games. This year, JMU's KenPom rating is 243, but their RPI is in the low 300s. In other words, they're a better team than reflected by their record.

And for the record, JMU had some exciting players under Brady, not all was boring or bad or mediocre. In 8 of his 12 seasons as a head coach (Marist and JMU combined), his teams won 18 or more games. Had he been given a chance to continue, he might have been able to elevate the team to a higher level than the 91 ranked team nationally by KenPom in 2016 (we're currently 243, as noted).

I m as disappointed as anyone....but we need to let this play itself out.......the coaching hasnt been great, but the recruiting appears to be good. This point next season we will all know for sure where this is headed. I think I know where it is headed but we ll see.

Until then GO DUKES

(01-29-2018 11:55 AM)nyduke Wrote:  I m as disappointed as anyone....but we need to let this play itself out.......the coaching hasnt been great, but the recruiting appears to be good. This point next season we will all know for sure where this is headed. I think I know where it is headed but we ll see.

Until then GO DUKES

tournament time - these teams can't beat us three times, so that's when we will take over

(01-29-2018 11:18 AM)Dukes84 Wrote:  

(01-27-2018 03:03 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  You guys are being a little overdramatic- it's the same BS that people spew about the Conference stuff. I hear your Thurston comparison. I believe despite the fact that the team keeps competing for Rowe (yes 84 the CAA isn't as strong as it was with Keener) and falling short in these games while showing potential that as others have said that by mid season next year you will know if Rowe will be the guy to lead these guys into the new arena or not. I really believe that if the team is struggling like it is this time next year in terms of Wins and Losses a change will be made- i.e. JMU and Rowe, a JMU alum who has given a lot to the program and bleeds purple and gold and is appreciative for the opportunity that JMU gave him, will mutually agree that it's not working and he will step down.

There is quite a bit of basketball, recruiting, and player development that will happen between now and then. I am betting on Rowe and these guys because I know and can see how hard they are working.

Another overdramatic point that you have made- I love JMU hoops as much as anyone and want us to be great- we were not great before we were not even good- you can give me any wins losses you want I know what I watched in person, on TV and through various streaming options. We were respectable- we were 4 and 5 seeded in yes 84 an average CAA. We were boring, we were easy to defend, we were lethargic, the crowds at the Convo were apathetic, the head coach made a ton of excuses, the program was borderline unstable in terms of player movement and off court incidents. PLEASE don't continue to insult our intelligence by suggesting that we were good- PLEASE don't continue to insult our intelligence by glossing over graduating Ron Curry going into Rowe's first season. We watch basketball, we know basketball, we know better than the picture that you paint that JMU was a good basketball program with talented all CAA level players. We weren't and we haven't been for decades.

Another over dramatic point that you have made- JMU's hiring of Rowe has had no impact on the new arena. JMU under the prior coach was not flush with interest or donations. We are scheduled to break ground this Spring and the new arena will be available in 2020.

If the basketball hire played out as A) there weren't as many interested candidates as they anticipated there would be (but they still were ok with moving on from Brady after 8 seasons of mediocrity) B) finances were a consideration given the status of the program, the planned new arena, and the need to pay COA C) a familiar coach to the program interviewed well and was well thought of by the hiring committee and D) something happened with another candidate where that candidate started trying to negotiate with JMU for more money I am ok with the Rowe hire as a bridge to the new arena.

Rowe is receiving his opportunity to build a program, instill a culture and develop a system and identity. He, the staff, and the players deserve some time to do that. Wins and Losses do matter but this idea that this period will set us back is utter BS. So we're not an RPI of 150 and a 4 seed in the CAA tournament who losses a first round game and earns a CIT or CBI invite- who cares- relatively speaking we were anonymous then and we are anonymous now. The fan, student, and crowd interest was equally uninspired. Get off your low horse, chill out, give it some more time and know that if it doesn't work out we will be in the same spot going into the new arena that we would have been otherwise. If hiring Rowe during this period in JMU athletics gave us a better shot to fund COA and or allocate more to the Football coaching staff I am ok with it knowing that going into the new arena JMU basketball will be well positioned to pay a coach more (if they have a coaching search) and attract better candidates. It's not ideal, it's obviously not good so far but it's also not as awful as the picture that you are painting and some kind of dark age of JMU.

97 --

Some of this is directed at me, obviously. You shouldn't get defensive when I criticize Rowe by going after Brady because I supported him. That's ridiculous. Do I want Rowe to fail? No, I don't. To be fair, he should probably be given 4 years to show what he can do. That's the same amount of time that Keener got and that Brady would have gotten, had Bourne been able to fire him like he wanted to after 4 seasons.

When evaluating Brady, and I'm not going to rehash those arguments again, Bourne is complicit, I believe, in his failure by undermining him publicly, of course. And ironically to some degree, wasn't it Rowe who was responsible for recruiting Andre Nation, who brought a double-edged sword with him to JMU and ultimately may have been Brady's undoing?

I have given plaudits to Rowe for his recruiting, rightfully so. Where I have been critical, again rightly so, is in the deployment of that talent, and I've suggested that he get some assistance from his coaching staff. In both of his seasons to date, we have not seen sufficient in-season improvement, growth and development. That raises a red flag to me.

Others have posted that my comments with respect to coaching are perhaps unfounded and that coaching is not the problem, but a lack of talent a year ago and a lack of experience this season. An easy counterargument to that for last year, for example, is the actual record versus the expected record going into the season. Some had JMU as a top 100 team going into last season and they proceeded to lose more than 20 games. This year, JMU's KenPom rating is 243, but their RPI is in the low 300s. In other words, they're a better team than reflected by their record.

And for the record, JMU had some exciting players under Brady, not all was boring or bad or mediocre. In 8 of his 12 seasons as a head coach (Marist and JMU combined), his teams won 18 or more games. Had he been given a chance to continue, he might have been able to elevate the team to a higher level than the 91 ranked team nationally by KenPom in 2016 (we're currently 243, as noted).

84, I believe Brady was a solid coach- he was up and down at JMU and by the end he had settled into where he and the program were going to be. A change needed to be made. I understand why folks were underwhelmed by the hire. I obviously understand why folks are very disappointed in the results but this rewriting history on Brady and the program is BS.

Whoever is to blame and Brady is very culpable for it- the reality is that the roster that Rowe or any other coach would have inherited had no real all CAA talent. Furthermore, because of the sins of the past (recruiting misses, transfers out, unbalanced classes, etc.) the roster had no real young talent. Those are facts that have factored into the poor results in year 1 and 2 for Lou Rowe and would have factored into year 1 and 2 had the new coach been someone other than Lou Rowe. I believe those are factors that had Brady stayed would have resulted in some more ups and downs during his tenure and would have even given Brady's biggest supporters pause.

Dukes would probably be up by 100 by now

(02-08-2018 07:25 PM)Centdukesfan Wrote:  Dukes would probably be up by 100 by now

Only to see UNCW come storming back to take a 1 pt lead with 2 seconds left thanks to a late technical foul on a ball boy who has mumps. Feel free to blame Rowe...or of course the old standbys, Alger and Bourne.

Watching the other games tonight and it matches the CAA season so far. Very little separation between top and bottom.
At halftime of the 4 games being played, there is a total of 6 points separating the teams.
More than ever, the CAA tourney will be available for anyone to win. Should be fun to watch in March.

Stat of the night... Grant Riller is scorching the sissy soft Tribe defense for 28 points in the first half. Have a game Son.

(02-08-2018 07:54 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  Watching the other games tonight and it matches the CAA season so far. Very little separation between top and bottom.
At halftime of the 4 games being played, there is a total of 6 points separating the teams.
More than ever, the CAA tourney will be available for anyone to win. Should be fun to watch in March.

Stat of the night... Grant Riller is scorching the sissy soft Tribe defense for 28 points in the first half. Have a game Son.

Good calls.

Drexel shooting for its 5th straight after starting 1-7 in the CAA. After CoC (6 straight wins), Drexel is the hottest team in the league right now. The Dragons lead Towson at home by 2 at the half.