Strong finish by the guys, happy for them to get another win at home like that.

Couple more wins and we could be looking at the No. 1 seed in the Keener Klassic.

good job by the Dukes holding serve at home. Despite the usual few lapses the defense was pretty solid. Weird box score in terms of number of assists. Only 5 for JMU which honestly watching the game I thought they had more- wilson alone had a couple kick outs from doubles for 3 point shots.

Rowe could still do a better job with the timeouts but it was nice to see how happy the coaches and players were in the post game celebratory huddle.

Big week of practice leading to a tough road trip. Nice to have a little wind behind our sails.

Dukes win. Half of the board is disappointed that this team is showing fight and promise and fear Rowe may get another year.

From the delaware coach:

“We had a hard time handling Wilson, man or zone,” Delaware coach Martin Ingelsby said. “He’s a big physical body. They do a great job running some of their sets and entries to get him low-post touches. Early, we tried to double him, but he was pretty effective against that. He’s a good young player that keeps getting better.”

Sounds like there was some good coaching done by Rowe and team get Wilson the ball.

They’ve got some really good young talent,” Inglesby said. “I like their team. Mosley kinda carried them tonight and when he’s scoring it, Lewis is making some shots...they’ve got some really good young talent and can win some games. Absolutely.”

Looks like others in the league see the potential of this team.

I am happy for Lou and the team. The talent is there but they need to do the little things to continue this winning streak. It’s not about being flashy or shooting 50% from three. It is the simple things like rebounding, defending without fouling and making the next pass to get the easy shot that will get this team over the hump.

It can happen but it is on the players to make it happen. A coach can only do so much. Winning is about doing the little things that put you in position at the end of games to close them out. This is the second season of play for these guys. They are young but have played a lot of basketball together. It’s time for them to put it all together and make a season ending run to build toward the next two years together. I believe it is possible but they have to deep down really believe it is possible for it to happen.

I think the answer is somewhere in the middle which it often is. Jmu has talent and potential and ability. They are doing some nice things and getting better but they still have a long way to go. Opposing coaches are generally speaking going to be complimentary of their opponents and opposing coaches. It makes them look better when they lose and it’s an unspoken fraternity thing. Ultimately you are judged by how much your program wins - let’s see if it starts to click and the wins start going up. St John’s has turned the corner in Chris Mullins 4th season. I’ve posted about Monmouth and King Rice in year 4.

As fans it’s natural to get attached to the players especially when you see them getting better and begin to think of what they could be in year 3 and 4 or in Parker’s case year 2. Coaches can recruit good players to Jmu but I like what Rowe and staff are doing here.

They are a young staff but they are doing a nice job on that side- Summers, Taylor, Johnson when there is talk about the staff and potential changes- they are all
Putting in the work on the recruiting trail. No one can question that. I’m a believer that this not only wins recruits/recruiting battles but it develops
Relationships with young men and their families early on which helps with development and retention. I don’t think the prior staff had those relationships and team involvement in the recruiting process but some would argue they were sounder from a game Mtg and x’s and o’s standpoint.

A note of optimism- We have improved our shooting considerably since last season.

2017-2018 rankings
FG% 304th
3pt FG% 266th

2018-2029 rankings
FG% 209th
3pt FG% 118th

I guess the disappearance of Alex Schulz will remain a mystery. No reporter seems to ask the difficult questions.

(02-18-2019 10:40 AM)PGJMU2 Wrote:  Dukes win. Half of the board is disappointed that this team is showing fight and promise and fear Rowe may get another year.

From the delaware coach:

“We had a hard time handling Wilson, man or zone,” Delaware coach Martin Ingelsby said. “He’s a big physical body. They do a great job running some of their sets and entries to get him low-post touches. Early, we tried to double him, but he was pretty effective against that. He’s a good young player that keeps getting better.”

Sounds like there was some good coaching done by Rowe and team get Wilson the ball.

They’ve got some really good young talent,” Inglesby said. “I like their team. Mosley kinda carried them tonight and when he’s scoring it, Lewis is making some shots...they’ve got some really good young talent and can win some games. Absolutely.”

Looks like others in the league see the potential of this team.

Without the promise of future success eventually being realized, "potential" is simply "underachievement". We all just have differing opinions on how long and to what degree that success should be achieved.

(02-18-2019 01:20 PM)JacksonHall Wrote:  I guess the disappearance of Alex Schulz will remain a mystery. No reporter seems to ask the difficult questions.

He’s a walk-on who never played- no offense but who cares?

(02-18-2019 02:58 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(02-18-2019 01:20 PM)JacksonHall Wrote:  I guess the disappearance of Alex Schulz will remain a mystery. No reporter seems to ask the difficult questions.

He’s a walk-on who never played- no offense but who cares?

I could be wrong, but I had the feeling that JacksonHall was being sarcastic.

(02-18-2019 10:40 AM)PGJMU2 Wrote:  Dukes win. Half of the board is disappointed that this team is showing fight and promise and fear Rowe may get another year.

From the delaware coach:

“We had a hard time handling Wilson, man or zone,” Delaware coach Martin Ingelsby said. “He’s a big physical body. They do a great job running some of their sets and entries to get him low-post touches. Early, we tried to double him, but he was pretty effective against that. He’s a good young player that keeps getting better.”

Sounds like there was some good coaching done by Rowe and team get Wilson the ball.

They’ve got some really good young talent,” Inglesby said. “I like their team. Mosley kinda carried them tonight and when he’s scoring it, Lewis is making some shots...they’ve got some really good young talent and can win some games. Absolutely.”

Looks like others in the league see the potential of this team.

Show me a press conference where a coach says they are bad, and we're worse. he he

People who want/expect more from the basketball program are not bad people, and I don't think there are many, if any, at all that want us to lose. Most of us care that instead of 4,000 fans attending a game we have 1,000 actually showing up. We want a new arena, but not $80,000,000 for a arena with a program that is happy to hope for the first winning season in conference play in 3 years.

We were picked to finish much higher this year. Do you think we've played to our talent level? Do you think Rowe is doing a good job coaching these players? I know what your honest answer would be. When a game is close at the end do you have confidence Lou will position/coach the team to win?

With a top CAA program we would have the best attendance in the CAA. Do you doubt that? Our attendance is a small fraction of what it used to be when JMU was less than 1/3 it's current size, and Harrisonburg was half it's size. When this is sub par is accepted, and you just "hope" get a little better this is exactly what you get.

(02-18-2019 03:08 PM)Dukester Wrote:  

(02-18-2019 10:40 AM)PGJMU2 Wrote:  Dukes win. Half of the board is disappointed that this team is showing fight and promise and fear Rowe may get another year.

From the delaware coach:

“We had a hard time handling Wilson, man or zone,” Delaware coach Martin Ingelsby said. “He’s a big physical body. They do a great job running some of their sets and entries to get him low-post touches. Early, we tried to double him, but he was pretty effective against that. He’s a good young player that keeps getting better.”

Sounds like there was some good coaching done by Rowe and team get Wilson the ball.

They’ve got some really good young talent,” Inglesby said. “I like their team. Mosley kinda carried them tonight and when he’s scoring it, Lewis is making some shots...they’ve got some really good young talent and can win some games. Absolutely.”

Looks like others in the league see the potential of this team.

Show me a press conference where a coach says they are bad, and we're worse. he he

People who want/expect more from the basketball program are not bad people, and I don't think there are many, if any, at all that want us to lose. Most of us care that instead of 4,000 fans attending a game we have 1,000 actually showing up. We want a new arena, but not $80,000,000 for a arena with a program that is happy to hope for the first winning season in conference play in 3 years.

We were picked to finish much higher this year. Do you think we've played to our talent level? Do you think Rowe is doing a good job coaching these players? I know what your honest answer would be. When a game is close at the end do you have confidence Lou will position/coach the team to win?

With a top CAA program we would have the best attendance in the CAA. Do you doubt that? Our attendance is a small fraction of what it used to be when JMU was less than 1/3 it's current size, and Harrisonburg was half it's size. When this is sub par is accepted, and you just "hope" get a little better this is exactly what you get.

I want JMU to win big and be at the top of the conference too. FWIW most publications predicted we would finish between 6th and 8th this year which is pretty much where we are right now.

(02-18-2019 03:05 PM)olddawg Wrote:  

(02-18-2019 02:58 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(02-18-2019 01:20 PM)JacksonHall Wrote:  I guess the disappearance of Alex Schulz will remain a mystery. No reporter seems to ask the difficult questions.

He’s a walk-on who never played- no offense but who cares?

I could be wrong, but I had the feeling that JacksonHall was being sarcastic.

Partly sarcastic and partly troubled. They just did a big story about the guy in the Breeze last month with lots of positive comments from Rowe about why he wanted him on the team. One of my biggest criticisms of Brady was poor student retention and Rowe, in his 3 years, keeps losing players.

https://www.breezejmu.org/sports/alex-sc...5d1cc.html

(02-18-2019 04:12 PM)JacksonHall Wrote:  

(02-18-2019 03:05 PM)olddawg Wrote:  

(02-18-2019 02:58 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(02-18-2019 01:20 PM)JacksonHall Wrote:  I guess the disappearance of Alex Schulz will remain a mystery. No reporter seems to ask the difficult questions.

He’s a walk-on who never played- no offense but who cares?

I could be wrong, but I had the feeling that JacksonHall was being sarcastic.

Partly sarcastic and partly troubled. They just did a big story about the guy in the Breeze last month with lots of positive comments from Rowe about why he wanted him on the team. One of my biggest criticisms of Brady was poor student retention and Rowe, in his 3 years, keeps losing players.

https://www.breezejmu.org/sports/alex-sc...5d1cc.html

Big difference between losing future pros from your program and losing walk ons. Rowe has lost back of the roster guys in his time at JMu. Brady lost starters and guys who would be core/cornerstone pieces- huge disparity.

I don’t think coaches from URI will be coming to URec to audition Schultz the way they did Charles Cooke. You can critique Rowe on a lot but player retention is not one. Just look around and even in conference to a school likeTowson and you’ll see what poor retention looks like.

Btw the Breeze stories rarely align with stories that are relevant to the sports at the time- it’s like reading a sports story in the alumni magazine.

(02-18-2019 06:53 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(02-18-2019 04:12 PM)JacksonHall Wrote:  

(02-18-2019 03:05 PM)olddawg Wrote:  

(02-18-2019 02:58 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(02-18-2019 01:20 PM)JacksonHall Wrote:  I guess the disappearance of Alex Schulz will remain a mystery. No reporter seems to ask the difficult questions.

He’s a walk-on who never played- no offense but who cares?

I could be wrong, but I had the feeling that JacksonHall was being sarcastic.

Partly sarcastic and partly troubled. They just did a big story about the guy in the Breeze last month with lots of positive comments from Rowe about why he wanted him on the team. One of my biggest criticisms of Brady was poor student retention and Rowe, in his 3 years, keeps losing players.

https://www.breezejmu.org/sports/alex-sc...5d1cc.html

Big difference between losing future pros from your program and losing walk ons. Rowe has lost back of the roster guys in his time at JMu. Brady lost starters and guys who would be core/cornerstone pieces- huge disparity.

I don’t think coaches from URI will be coming to URec to audition Schultz the way they did Charles Cooke. You can critique Rowe on a lot but player retention is not one. Just look around and even in conference to a school likeTowson and you’ll see what poor retention looks like.

Btw the Breeze stories rarely align with stories that are relevant to the sports at the time- it’s like reading a sports story in the alumni magazine.

There's a reason they are called STUDENT athletes. These kids who leave JMU drive down the student retention rate. I don't care whether the people who leave are starters or don't play. Eventually it catches up to you. Administration will get involved because I guarantee you retention is part of the goals used to evaluate the coach. And parents of recruits will also be concerned about it. And it's pretty clear you aren't the parent of a college kid or you'd see them more as human beings than just a cog in the wheel of a sports machine.

Just a few quick odds and ends:

1. I've said this before, but there's usually a progression from bad to good over time. JMU is not Kentucky or Duke. Overnight success is not going to happen. Our society is such that everyone wants instant gratification.
2. Attendance at college games is probably in decline across the country, save at perhaps the blue bloods of the sport. Many reasons for that.
3. Good to see the team win three out of four games.
4. Wilson's development is remarkable. He has terrific hands and is becoming a very solid scoring threat around the basket.
5. JMU had not beaten Delaware under Rowe until the other night. Delaware is very well coached, but I don't love their talent.
6. I thought that Schultz had been awarded a scholarship during the course of this season.
7. In the Drexel game, I would not have fouled the Drexel player with 1 second left on the clock and scrambling behind the three point line. Generally, I'm in favor of fouling up three, but not in that situation. JMU was fortunate to have escaped with the win there.
8. As others have said, Rowe has to call a timeout (once or twice) while the 14-point lead is evaporating. The team was gassed and making a bunch of mistakes and I don't understand his unwillingness to do that in that situation.

(02-18-2019 10:13 PM)JacksonHall Wrote:  

(02-18-2019 06:53 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(02-18-2019 04:12 PM)JacksonHall Wrote:  

(02-18-2019 03:05 PM)olddawg Wrote:  

(02-18-2019 02:58 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  He’s a walk-on who never played- no offense but who cares?

I could be wrong, but I had the feeling that JacksonHall was being sarcastic.

Partly sarcastic and partly troubled. They just did a big story about the guy in the Breeze last month with lots of positive comments from Rowe about why he wanted him on the team. One of my biggest criticisms of Brady was poor student retention and Rowe, in his 3 years, keeps losing players.

https://www.breezejmu.org/sports/alex-sc...5d1cc.html

Big difference between losing future pros from your program and losing walk ons. Rowe has lost back of the roster guys in his time at JMu. Brady lost starters and guys who would be core/cornerstone pieces- huge disparity.

I don’t think coaches from URI will be coming to URec to audition Schultz the way they did Charles Cooke. You can critique Rowe on a lot but player retention is not one. Just look around and even in conference to a school likeTowson and you’ll see what poor retention looks like.

Btw the Breeze stories rarely align with stories that are relevant to the sports at the time- it’s like reading a sports story in the alumni magazine.

There's a reason they are called STUDENT athletes. These kids who leave JMU drive down the student retention rate. I don't care whether the people who leave are starters or don't play. Eventually it catches up to you. Administration will get involved because I guarantee you retention is part of the goals used to evaluate the coach. And parents of recruits will also be concerned about it. And it's pretty clear you aren't the parent of a college kid or you'd see them more as human beings than just a cog in the wheel of a sports machine.

I don't think a non scholarship player factors into a teams APR. It is rare for a kid to be a walk on on a team for all 4 years. Who knows what happened here if anything but I don't think it's really newsworthy or anything to be concerned with.

(02-18-2019 10:16 PM)Dukes84 Wrote:  Just a few quick odds and ends:

1. I've said this before, but there's usually a progression from bad to good over time. JMU is not Kentucky or Duke. Overnight success is not going to happen. Our society is such that everyone wants instant gratification.
2. Attendance at college games is probably in decline across the country, save at perhaps the blue bloods of the sport. Many reasons for that.
3. Good to see the team win three out of four games.
4. Wilson's development is remarkable. He has terrific hands and is becoming a very solid scoring threat around the basket.
5. JMU had not beaten Delaware under Rowe until the other night. Delaware is very well coached, but I don't love their talent.
6. I thought that Schultz had been awarded a scholarship during the course of this season.
7. In the Drexel game, I would not have fouled the Drexel player with 1 second left on the clock and scrambling behind the three point line. Generally, I'm in favor of fouling up three, but not in that situation. JMU was fortunate to have escaped with the win there.
8. As others have said, Rowe has to call a timeout (once or twice) while the 14-point lead is evaporating. The team was gassed and making a bunch of mistakes and I don't understand his unwillingness to do that in that situation.

Schultz was awarded a scholarship last year after Scissum left. He isn't on scholarship this season.

Rowe's recruiting hasn't been perfect (Holmes, Johnson, Scissum, Hicklin). The biggest disappointments have been Smith's inability to contribute on the floor, Scissum (red shirt from VCU with big hopes but only 1/2 year on the court) Holmes (PG that never was) and IMO pushing out Devontae Morgan for someone like Johnson who was really a reach in terms of a D1 prospect. Morgan could have helped in year 1 as a red shirt Senior and I would have liked to see more from him.

All of these have been relatively back of the rotation misses but relative to other programs JMU has done a solid job recruiting and retaining student athletes under Rowe. The program is relatively stable- they just need to start winning more now.

Great crowd, great game and the best pep band. JMU needs to move the students down to the lower level. I know they will have lower level seats in the new convo but they need to be down there now. They and the pep band are our best cheerleaders.

(02-19-2019 08:41 AM)jmudukes Wrote:  Great crowd, great game and the best pep band. JMU needs to move the students down to the lower level. I know they will have lower level seats in the new convo but they need to be down there now. They and the pep band are our best cheerleaders.

If they allowed the lower seats to be used by students, who knows?

Maybe students would show up!


/shakes head