(12-30-2015 03:58 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  I find it interesting that Barkers used to post a lot when the ship appeared to be taking on water but his reports from inside practice, etc. are non existent now that the team is doing well.

I don't mean bad on barkers, but the staff found out who the leak was. I think they fixed the leak.

I cant get over how poorly this thread title was written.

Philly, you and I are in 100% agreement on Brown and Cooke. I will add that Cooke is two years older than when he last played at JMU. I have seen him play twice this year. He is a more complete player now than when he was at JMU. His outside shot seems much improved to me.

If Brown develops an ability to slash to the hole, he could develop into one of the best offensive players in the CAA. Add better defense too and he gets into the player of the year discussion.

(12-31-2015 08:57 AM)Centdukesfan Wrote:  I cant get over how poorly this thread title was written.

Sorry about that- would Best Center in College Basketball- JMU? work better for you?

wait are we saying that we have the best front court in college basketball?? Or are we just discussing who our best center is?

(12-31-2015 12:18 PM)Centdukesfan Wrote:  wait are we saying that we have the best front court in college basketball?? Or are we just discussing who our best center is?

I think he is trying to suggest that the combo of our two big men = best center in college basketball. I'm at a bit of a loss how one could think that. Our guys are good but nowhere near the talent level of the centers in many of the big programs. There are centers at big schools, like Mason Plumlee, that don't even break the top 20 centers list on Bleacher Report, that would be better than what we have IMO. I'm not saying I don't like our guys but think the assertion made by the OP is more than a stretch.

Whether you think they are "Centers" or not- the fact is that they don't play at the same time and rarely is one not on the court for the Dukes- so they play the same position on the team. This two headed monster has been very effective. When you look at their stats in aggregate (because they share minutes) I think you would be challenged to find someone better across the nation. It's like a football team that has a shared RB position where two runners go for 1000 yards over the course of a season or a platoon in baseball where the right handed RF and the left handed RF hits 40 home runs between them.

(12-31-2015 08:38 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(12-30-2015 03:58 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  I find it interesting that Barkers used to post a lot when the ship appeared to be taking on water but his reports from inside practice, etc. are non existent now that the team is doing well.

I don't mean bad on barkers, but the staff found out who the leak was. I think they fixed the leak.

You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.
Brady did a solid job of fixing some things, some things I don't agree with but for most part I am happy with changes. Mainly the oversight on academics,player accountability and how practices are ran.

No need to tell the village about microscopic bits and pieces when over all thing is going forward in right direction.

Have a wonderful new year.

(12-31-2015 12:39 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  Whether you think they are "Centers" or not- the fact is that they don't play at the same time and rarely is one not on the court for the Dukes- so they play the same position on the team. This two headed monster has been very effective. When you look at their stats in aggregate (because they share minutes) I think you would be challenged to find someone better across the nation. It's like a football team that has a shared RB position where two runners go for 1000 yards over the course of a season or a platoon in baseball where the right handed RF and the left handed RF hits 40 home runs between them.

Brady will need to play them together at some point if he wants this team to maximize it's talent.
Dalembert is too good inside to only play 20 minutes a game. Cabarkapa is a unique stretch 4.

The bench will have to shorten as the team gets close to March and some other forwards should get less time.

(12-31-2015 02:03 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  

(12-31-2015 12:39 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  Whether you think they are "Centers" or not- the fact is that they don't play at the same time and rarely is one not on the court for the Dukes- so they play the same position on the team. This two headed monster has been very effective. When you look at their stats in aggregate (because they share minutes) I think you would be challenged to find someone better across the nation. It's like a football team that has a shared RB position where two runners go for 1000 yards over the course of a season or a platoon in baseball where the right handed RF and the left handed RF hits 40 home runs between them.

Brady will need to play them together at some point if he wants this team to maximize it's talent.
Dalembert is too good inside to only play 20 minutes a game. Cabarkapa is a unique stretch 4.

The bench will have to shorten as the team gets close to March and some other forwards should get less time.

Yep good to see them on the court at the same time.

(12-30-2015 01:03 PM)PhillyDuke Wrote:  

(12-30-2015 09:01 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  We lost Cooke and added Brown. Cooke is the better defender and can drive to the hoop. Brown is the better 3 point shooter. I guess it comes down to who is the best fit for team chemistry? Brown fits very well so far. Maybe Cooke would have as well.

Both are excellent players and the best comps for each other. With the other pieces we have, I think I would have liked Cooke just a bit more because of his ability to slash. Curry and Cabarkapa have evolved into very good outside shooters. Kent benefits from confidence and a little breathing room. Cooke could have provided all a better opportunity with his style and I liked Cooke's D better than Brown.

All that having been said, Cooke left on his own and we didnt have the choice! Brown is a very very good addition.

If Brown improve on his ability to drive and score inside, this team could be even better than it is already. As it stands now, an off-night shooting and we can get beaten by anyone in the league.

I don't think its fair to compare Brown and Cooke- Cooke was/is a better player than Brown- if/when his shot wasn't falling (Cooke by in large wasn't a great 3 point shooter at JMU) he still had the ability to drive and get to the line. Brown hasn't really demonstrated that consistently.

I think we, the fan, did in Cooke by placing Nation on such a pedestal towards the end of their freshman year. We barely spoke of Cooke. I'm speaking prior to Nation's troubles. Hell, we even had shirts designed honoring Nation. Think the Nation talk didn't matter, then you don't understand the human mind very well.

Dalembert has 11 turnovers his last three games....he always puts the ball on the floor and gets it swiped away. A big flaw in his game. He needs to be able to catch and pivot and shoot without dribbling. Also needs to pass back out when double and triple teamed, which he rarely does. I think he's had a disappointing season to date, coupling the turnovers and the free throw shooting. Serb to me is now a better player than Dalembert as crazy as that may sound.

That is crazy. Dukes84 needs to take his medicine.
Dalembert needs to play 30 minutes per game even if that means he fouls out.

Cabarkapa is a nice, unique offensive player. He is awful in post defense.

Even Feinstein noted the fall off in Dalemberts play from last year. He had trouble getting his shot off yesterday against the bigger post players for UD. He dropped or mis-handled so many entry passes to him. He is a poor free throw shooter this year as well. The guy has regressed from last year. I am the opposite of Hart on this one, if he continues to play the way he has recently, I feel his minutes should drop. Satkus was a better low post option yesterday than Yo Yo and I never thought I would say that. Yo Yo looks confused out there at times.

(01-02-2016 11:20 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  That is crazy. Dukes84 needs to take his medicine.
Dalembert needs to play 30 minutes per game even if that means he fouls out.

Cabarkapa is a nice, unique offensive player. He is awful in post defense.

Feel free to issue an apology or a retraction Hart. Dalembert was flat out awful yesterday, missing all 9 of his shot attempts and not being able to catch an entry pass in the low post. He did grab 9 rebounds and started looking to pass out of the post late in the game. He's clearly not right at the moment coming off of that knee operation, which has affected his timing and conditioning. We also don't know if he's still experiencing swelling in that knee. Cabarkapa, meanwhile, is having an outstanding offensive year and his defense and rebounding are improved (he had a nice block yesterday and made at least one other solid defensive play). His offensive shooting percentages are elite. Prior to yesterday's game, his overall FG percentage was 54%; his percentage from three was 43%; and he was shooting over 94% from the line, as I recall seeing.

The good news is that the two players aren't mutual exclusive anymore as Brady has opened up the rotation and featured both forwards together.

Dalembert had a bad game yesterday- even his 9 rebounds were partly because he rebounded a couple of his own misses close to the basket.

That said he still needs to get his minutes (assuming he is healthy and not at risk for making his knee worse) and I think he'll get a better feel as the season progresses. He is really JMU's only shot blocking presence on defense and one of their better rebounders.

I'd stick with him - he's a big part of the team- it's nice that they have some other answers when he isn't playing well though.

I apologize to Dukes84 :)

Big picture thinking should rule the day.
I agree that it was probably Dalembert ' s worst offensive game of his career yesterday.
This season will have 30+ games and once he is back to last year's form the fanbase will love him.

Even with bad offense yesterday, his defense and rebounding were strong.

This team needs Dalembert in order to get better. If he established himself as a 12 pt, 6 rebound, 1 block, 55% FG% , 65% FT% player over 30+ games last year as a Sophomore, then there is no reason to think he can't do that and more this year.

Brady showed more of the Dalembert - Cabarkapa on court combo yesterday and it looked good. Will we see more?

Yo Yo did not play well against COC either. I have seen a bunch of games this year and don't recall him really standing out in any of them. He is afraid to take a wide open 6-8 footer choosing to drive to the basket for a contested shot instead.

We need improved play from him to win the CAA.

(01-03-2016 12:22 PM)JMUNation Wrote:  Even Feinstein noted the fall off in Dalemberts play from last year. He had trouble getting his shot off yesterday against the bigger post players for UD. He dropped or mis-handled so many entry passes to him. He is a poor free throw shooter this year as well. The guy has regressed from last year. I am the opposite of Hart on this one, if he continues to play the way he has recently, I feel his minutes should drop. Satkus was a better low post option yesterday than Yo Yo and I never thought I would say that. Yo Yo looks confused out there at times.

I think you hit the nail of the head. Yoyo looks slow, confused, catches the ball as if he lacks thumbs, and FT shooting is atrocious. His knee issue may lend itself to conditioning and lack of explosives but not explain his other issues so far this season.