Cacok with 26 pts and 24 rebounds. Tip of the cap to that young man.

That loss, to me, is on the coaching staff. We lose games at the end because of a lack of clear thinking, it seems. On the possession to tie or take the lead down 2 with 20 plus seconds left, we didn't run a good set and had the wrong guy taking the shot. We lucked out getting the rebound, but Phillips couldn't finish at the rim. He then proceeds to miss the first free throw and evidently was instructed to miss the second down 2 with 5.8 seconds left. He was able to miss, but then JMU lets three or four seconds run off the clock before fouling, still down 2 points. There are multiple, egregious mistakes in that sequence that are on the coaching staff. There were a number of other bad sequences in the game, any one of which could have been the difference between winning and losing. Very frustrating to be a fan of this team because they could be so much more than they are.

(01-24-2018 08:52 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  ...Cacok might go for 30-30

Not far off...

Zach Jacobs needs more minutes. He had a good first half in not much time

Cacok did not get to my 30-30 pregame prediction but he owned the game. He is obnoxiously better than any big man Rowe can put on the floor.
26 and 24 is a man’s game.

A lot of things went right for the Dukes tonight and they couldn’t capitalize. Better than normal offense in the first half and they won a lot of the 50/50 loose balls in the game. They got completely punked on the boards though.
Rowe may rethink his defense the next time they play. You can’t just say man up and try harder when playing Cacok. Mixes of double teams, zones, junk defenses are all better options than trying to play man defense against him. I say leave Marcus Bryan mostly open and have both forwards drape Cacok.

(01-25-2018 09:13 PM)JacksonHall Wrote:  Zach Jacobs needs more minutes. He had a good first half in not much time

Hes still finding his way. Looks good facing up to the basket, not quite as good back to basket. Struggled on D...but so did just about everyone.

Loads of talent on this team. They need to learn how to box out and guard the ball.

(01-25-2018 09:22 PM)PhillyDuke Wrote:  

(01-25-2018 09:13 PM)JacksonHall Wrote:  Zach Jacobs needs more minutes. He had a good first half in not much time

Hes still finding his way. Looks good facing up to the basket, not quite as good back to basket. Struggled on D...but so did just about everyone.

Loads of talent on this team. They need to learn how to box out and guard the ball.

I disagree on D tonight. He seemed one of the only ones to get good positioning and boxed out. I was hoping to see more of him in the second half for his defense.

Quote:Hofstra CAA L 66-87 3-8 L 3
Towson CAA L 84-99 3-9 L 4
Virginia Com CAA L 48-76 3-10 L 5
George Mason CAA L 43-65 3-11 L 6
Delaware CAA L 68-95 3-12 L 7
Virginia Com CAA L 55-71 3-13 L 8
NC-Wilmington CAA L 46-83 3-14 L 9
William & Mary CAA L 68-86 3-15 L10
Georgia State CAA L 53-77 3-16 L 11
Old Dominion CAA L 69-87 3-17 L 12
Delaware CAA W 74-64 4-17 W 1
Towson CAA W 76-68 5-17 W 2
William & Mary CAA L 70-72 5-18 L 1
Northeastern CAA L 55-77 5-19 L 2
Longwood Ind L 73-77 5-20 L 3
Old Dominion CAA L 58-75 5-21 L 4
George Mason CAA L 68-95 5-22 L 5

Keener's 2nd year. Notice all the completely uncompetitive results

(01-25-2018 10:20 PM)Halz87 Wrote:  

(01-25-2018 09:22 PM)PhillyDuke Wrote:  

(01-25-2018 09:13 PM)JacksonHall Wrote:  Zach Jacobs needs more minutes. He had a good first half in not much time

Hes still finding his way. Looks good facing up to the basket, not quite as good back to basket. Struggled on D...but so did just about everyone.

Loads of talent on this team. They need to learn how to box out and guard the ball.

I disagree on D tonight. He seemed one of the only ones to get good positioning and boxed out. I was hoping to see more of him in the second half for his defense.

That's right. Jacobs had 5 points and 3 rebounds in only 8 minutes. Phillips had 6 points and 8 rebounds in 24 minutes. This was a physical game and I think Jacobs could have helped in second half.

I get that as fans on a message board we are always going to play arm chair coach- with substitutions, even some guys on here with Xs and Os. We are going to look in hindsight and say- that guy should have played more- that guy shouldn't have played as much, that guy should have taken the shot, that guy shouldn't have. IMO it's all pretty much BS. The "this one is on the coaches" statements are very convenient to make after a tough loss (especially since Rowe based on his record and lack of resume are very vulnerable to folks piling on). To me- watching the game last night JMU wins if they hit their free throws- despite being out rebounded considerably.

I thought the rotation was fine, I thought the guys played hard and the defense for the most part continues to improve. I thought the offense was pretty good and well balanced. Despite what the UNCW announcer on TV said that 3 point shot by Talley as the shot clock wound down was a heave. Despite what Hart says JMU did mix up defenses on UNCW and on Cacok throughout the game- they fronted him, they doubled him, they tried it all. He is very active and to me he has an NBA motor. Despite his dominance they were able to get him to foul out and would have been well positioned in OT but it shouldn't have gotten to that point- Phillips was shooting well from the FT line early in the season and he needs to get back to that. He's active on both ends and his size is needed out there (he was effective late in the game fronting Cacok) but he's a liability when he's fouled. BTW Cacok's FT shooting is much improved.

Tough one- COC had to play in one of those rock fight games at Delaware last night so maybe that will help JMU's chances on Saturday.

There is no doubt this team is going to compete and be in every game. They have a lot of fight in them. I am interested to see how they grow. They just seem to be so close. That is what is frustrating because they do have the talent to win more games.

I expect a loss at Charleston Sunday, though the way this team battles I believe we'll be in it with 2 minutes to go and at least have a shot. CoC will be favored around 10 pts and I'll be laying some money on the Good Guys getting the pts.

After that game though, the schedule sets up pretty nicely for the guys to go on a February run. Hope to see it happen...that is, getting some momentum going heading into the CAAT.

(01-26-2018 07:56 AM)Wear Purple Wrote:  I expect a loss at Charleston Sunday, though the way this team battles I believe we'll be in it with 2 minutes to go and at least have a shot. CoC will be favored around 10 pts and I'll be laying some money on the Good Guys getting the pts.

After that game though, the schedule sets up pretty nicely for the guys to go on a February run. Hope to see it happen...that is, getting some momentum going heading into the CAAT.

We can beat any of these teams. I have not seen Northeastern play yet, but we can beat the rest. We can win the Championship in Charleston. Just finish!

To me, there is a difference between basketball talent and physical abilities. Does JMU have some players with physical abilities that give them an edge in 1 on 1 matchups at both ends of the floor? Yes, but they are also outmatched at some positions too depending on the opponent.

Examples:
1- Stuckey or Lewis could have drove the lane and scored at will against the little DIII Point Guard UNCW had to play long stretches due to Talley’s injury. Stuckey took advantage a few times early in the second half, but that matchup should have been exploited every single possession until coach McGrath subbed out. Complete mismatch.
2- we saw that JMU has nobody on their roster able to hang with Cacok. It was comical when Wilson went in. He struggles on defense anyway because of poor recognition and he is slow to move. Cacok could run circles around him all day and Wilson would be mesmerized.
UNCW took advantage of their mismatches better than JMU.

BTW, Rowe would give his left gonad to recruit and land a player like Cacok. It fits his mantra of “Play Hard and good results will happen.” He needs to recruit better if he wants to win by having superior players than the opponent.
So far his recruiting has been good, but not good enough to offset his coaching deficiencies.

The track record is getting long and the results don’t lie.
Rowe is 14-39 against D-1 competition ( I don’t count phony wins against DIII teams which are nothing more than light scrimmages. The NCAA doesn’t count them either in their calculation for the RPI)

You are what your record says you are.
The coach = the Program.

It boils down to this...you have to win games. Must. Win. Games.
College coaches simply do not survive with a track record of losing. Only 351 men in America can say they are a DI Head basketball coach and it is a very privileged job to be in.

The 2nd half of the CAA season and the Keener Round in the CAA tourney have become even more important for Rowe to post wins since the first 21games of the season have been a disappointment. I think we all know the wins are there for the taking in the CAA.
His good equity bucket is empty.

You don't get credit for losing by just a few points. A loss is a loss.

(01-26-2018 08:54 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  You don't get credit for losing by just a few points. A loss is a loss.

We wagerers might take a different slant on that.

(01-26-2018 07:32 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  I get that as fans on a message board we are always going to play arm chair coach- with substitutions, even some guys on here with Xs and Os. We are going to look in hindsight and say- that guy should have played more- that guy shouldn't have played as much, that guy should have taken the shot, that guy shouldn't have. IMO it's all pretty much BS. The "this one is on the coaches" statements are very convenient to make after a tough loss (especially since Rowe based on his record and lack of resume are very vulnerable to folks piling on). To me- watching the game last night JMU wins if they hit their free throws- despite being out rebounded considerably.

I thought the rotation was fine, I thought the guys played hard and the defense for the most part continues to improve. I thought the offense was pretty good and well balanced. Despite what the UNCW announcer on TV said that 3 point shot by Talley as the shot clock wound down was a heave. Despite what Hart says JMU did mix up defenses on UNCW and on Cacok throughout the game- they fronted him, they doubled him, they tried it all. He is very active and to me he has an NBA motor. Despite his dominance they were able to get him to foul out and would have been well positioned in OT but it shouldn't have gotten to that point- Phillips was shooting well from the FT line early in the season and he needs to get back to that. He's active on both ends and his size is needed out there (he was effective late in the game fronting Cacok) but he's a liability when he's fouled. BTW Cacok's FT shooting is much improved.

Tough one- COC had to play in one of those rock fight games at Delaware last night so maybe that will help JMU's chances on Saturday.

Great analysis and mostly agree.

JMU wins if we just shoot at least avg on FTs. 9-18 FTs you are gonna lose most games when you do that. 50% FT shooting is on the players not hitting their FTs (0-5 from Phillips)....not sure how you blame Rowe for that, but of well. Like all teams JMU needs a 3rd guy in double figures, someone needed to stepup and help Lewis and Mosely last night.

And for all you Rowe haters out there just chew on this for a second -- If JMU bails and does not give a coach more than 2 years (1 year with his players) just who in the HELL do you think would want the job.

Hundreds of qualified coaches would want the job. But you have to pay them the going rate for winning D-1 programs.

Only 351 Head Basketball Coach jobs in America. People are chomping at the bit to get a D-I job at all times. Supply and demand. Also, it is pretty easy to pluck a winning D-I coach from lower leagues as long as you pay them. $ 88 million for a new arena and JMU won’t rub 2 nickels together for a coach. Ridiculous.

If you are suggesting JMU couldn’t hire because it would be assumed in the basketball community that Rowe was fired too soon, you are crazy. Every coach knows you win or you go home. This is high stakes, high pay DI athletics.

Rowe will get at least 3 years at JMU. It's important to fill out this 2018 signing class with at least 1, preferably 2, guys who can come in and contribute next season. I'm hopeful we can get a post player who can block some shots, rebound, and be a force inside 10 feet of the rim.

it's amazing to me the standards some people on here have.

5 freshmen in a rotation of 8 and we are expected to be top of the heap.

thank god none of you are running athletic departments. you'd fire coaches faster than european futbol leagues do.