I still think waiting until the end of the season to fire Rowe is stupid. Give these kids a fighting chance by putting someone else in charge...anybody else.

If Rowe really cared about JMU he would resign and let the University move forward in a new direction ASAP

I do think if going into the CAAT if this team hasn't won another game Rowe should step away but he's not a guy who is going to give up so I don't see it- it's more likely that they view the CAAT as a fresh start to reset their season- I just don't see them winning more than one game there the way they struggle on both sides in the half court. CAAT play is more half court oriented, less possessions and barring some huge individual efforts I don't see this team as having any shot.

(02-06-2020 11:06 PM)Dukes84 Wrote:  I watched maybe the last 9 or 10 minutes of the game and when Drexel would reverse the ball on offense, they would get wide open looks from three. No one within 5 or 6 feet of shooters. Not blocking out for rebounds. Open looks inside. That's just on the defensive end. On the other end, no concept of what a good shot is, no ball or player movement, just one-on-one forces. Matt Lewis, if you're paying attention, cannot finish at the rim. That and forcing the game instead of sharing the ball lead to his continued futility as a shooter. A competent coach with X's and O's is imperative and can't happen soon enough!

Every game it is chalked up as not coming out aggressive enough- I think the players are trying to be relaxed and let the game come to them offensively and they quickly are reminded how much of a grind it is to get a good look and are quickly disheartened by how easily the opposition scores or after working 20-30 seconds and playing pretty good defense how the opposition hits relatively easy shots at the end of the shot clock.

Most games recently they will look to go to Banks in the corner for 3s early in the game and when those don't go in and there are long rebounds to the opposition you just know JMU will be trying to dig their way out all game and come up short.

Lewis is trying to let the game come to him early so he's less aggressive- Banks is trying to find his shot early so he's less aggressive. Wooden and or Christmas are still trying to figure it out. Wilson if he struggles converting early against post players who can match his physicality or outsize him he can get out of the flow pretty quickly and then there is a drop off when Jacobs comes in because he's just a little soft/undersized.

IMO it's 2 parts below average-poor coaching (guys not in the right spots, guys not freed up for good looks, not enough ball movement or passing and too much isolation) and 1 part limited personnel. Some talent of course but the depth isn't as good as it should be in year 4 and they lack a couple of key spots- a real big/shot blocking center type to go with Wilson and perhaps another PG. I'm really disappointed that Flowers hasn't played more. I'll say it again- he has height that they don't have in spades on this roster. Put him in for 8-10 minutes a game and see if that different look can help.

Parker was good last night I think he exploited the Drexel defense and personnel. Against some opposition it's a tougher match up for him but he's a hard working kid and getting better.

(02-07-2020 07:30 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  I do think if going into the CAAT if this team hasn't won another game Rowe should step away but he's not a guy who is going to give up so I don't see it- it's more likely that they view the CAAT as a fresh start to reset their season- I just don't see them winning more than one game there the way they struggle on both sides in the half court. CAAT play is more half court oriented, less possessions and barring some huge individual efforts I don't see this team as having any shot.

Missed Rowe's postgame with Dave Thomas last night. Not sure it would have been anything enlightening unfortunately.

I just wish Lou would do what's best for the program which he has to know and that's resign if not in the next week or so before the CAA Tournament.

This team will not win another game. There's no semblance of defense or an offensive game plan.

(02-06-2020 07:37 PM)JMU1987UVA1998 Wrote:  

(02-06-2020 07:27 PM)JMU John Wrote:  

(02-06-2020 07:23 PM)JMU1987UVA1998 Wrote:  

(02-06-2020 06:54 PM)JMU John Wrote:  Stayed home from work today as not feeeling well and just saw this game is on NBC Sports Washington. I have my doubts watching this game will make me feel better.

I hope this game doesn't make you feel worse. It makes me feel like Rowe should have already been fired. There's no concept of team basketball.

The lack of improvement in all areas across the season and seasons for individuals is just awful. We just don’t get better.

Hard to believe Banks and Lewis are 1000 point scorers.....

When we play team defense and offense, share the ball and stick with the system we look pretty decent. When we "panic" and guys try to take control of the game as individuals, the wheels fall off, all chemistry goes away in a span of about 1 min. and we're done. I really love the passion that Lewis, Banks and Wilson play with but that intensity seems to be interfering with their decision making.

We cause a few clock violations in a row, momentum in our favor and what happens? Push a fast break that wasn't there, drive the lane into a double to play for a foul. THIS is exactly when a coach calls a time out and gets control of his player(s). At lease sub.

Maybe the friendly relationship that coach seems to have with this team is a bad thing. Maybe our kids need some tough love.

(02-07-2020 07:41 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(02-06-2020 11:06 PM)Dukes84 Wrote:  I watched maybe the last 9 or 10 minutes of the game and when Drexel would reverse the ball on offense, they would get wide open looks from three. No one within 5 or 6 feet of shooters. Not blocking out for rebounds. Open looks inside. That's just on the defensive end. On the other end, no concept of what a good shot is, no ball or player movement, just one-on-one forces. Matt Lewis, if you're paying attention, cannot finish at the rim. That and forcing the game instead of sharing the ball lead to his continued futility as a shooter. A competent coach with X's and O's is imperative and can't happen soon enough!

Every game it is chalked up as not coming out aggressive enough- I think the players are trying to be relaxed and let the game come to them offensively and they quickly are reminded how much of a grind it is to get a good look and are quickly disheartened by how easily the opposition scores or after working 20-30 seconds and playing pretty good defense how the opposition hits relatively easy shots at the end of the shot clock.

Most games recently they will look to go to Banks in the corner for 3s early in the game and when those don't go in and there are long rebounds to the opposition you just know JMU will be trying to dig their way out all game and come up short.

Lewis is trying to let the game come to him early so he's less aggressive- Banks is trying to find his shot early so he's less aggressive. Wooden and or Christmas are still trying to figure it out. Wilson if he struggles converting early against post players who can match his physicality or outsize him he can get out of the flow pretty quickly and then there is a drop off when Jacobs comes in because he's just a little soft/undersized.

IMO it's 2 parts below average-poor coaching (guys not in the right spots, guys not freed up for good looks, not enough ball movement or passing and too much isolation) and 1 part limited personnel. Some talent of course but the depth isn't as good as it should be in year 4 and they lack a couple of key spots- a real big/shot blocking center type to go with Wilson and perhaps another PG. I'm really disappointed that Flowers hasn't played more. I'll say it again- he has height that they don't have in spades on this roster. Put him in for 8-10 minutes a game and see if that different look can help.

Parker was good last night I think he exploited the Drexel defense and personnel. Against some opposition it's a tougher match up for him but he's a hard working kid and getting better.

I agree that it's more than coaching, it's the composition of the roster. Because the coaching is so piss-poor, it's hard to evaluate players and the ratio on that is hard to gauge. On defense, we're always out of position. On offense, a total lack of basketball IQ. We lack a defensive presence inside, consistent outside shooting, as evidenced by the team's free throw and field goal percentage shooting; and we're not a good ball-handling or passing team. I also think guys are beaten down by the losing at this point. Rowe has seemed to recruit more on athleticism and less on basketball skill, thinking that players would develop. His players never seem to develop.

I see one or two more wins the rest of the way, the same amount I had predicted following the Towson game. A chance versus Elon at home and in first round of CAA tourney.

Wilson has developed the most, but is still an unfinished product. And he gets easily frustrated and taken out of games.

They all (the core returnees that is) have developed individually but the team unfortunately has not and while there is talent - there isn’t enough to make up for the bad team play and coaching and there are holes with the roster and talent and even the makeup of the team at this point. They all seem like good young men - it was nice to see some fire from parker last night. Other guys show that at times but it’s not natural to them.

I do think the lack of a true big has been a miscalculation by Rowe in recruiting. Even in the Caa there are capable big guys.

Ultimately kids are attracted to coaches and styles and personalities. It take a ton of self awareness to move off of that. I maintain that Coach Rowe has done a nice job getting some good kids with talent into the program but Clearly they have missed in terms of supplementing that from a skill set and personality type perspective.

If the personalities of the players and their coach are very similar and struggles happen in terms of scheme, effort, execution clearly the problems just kind of stay there even though they all like one another.

Mettlen Tweet: Guy, it's absolutely pointless to talk about #JMU making a coaching change before the season is over. 1 reason is JMU's rep among coaches already isn't great after its last firing. Doing that to an alum who's done everything right but win would make the next hire more difficult.

(02-07-2020 11:30 AM)Dukes84 Wrote:  Mettlen Tweet: Guy, it's absolutely pointless to talk about #JMU making a coaching change before the season is over. 1 reason is JMU's rep among coaches already isn't great after its last firing. Doing that to an alum who's done everything right but win would make the next hire more difficult.

Mettlen does not need to tweet......Bourne said that a week or so ago....in a statement.

(02-07-2020 11:30 AM)Dukes84 Wrote:  Mettlen Tweet: Guy, it's absolutely pointless to talk about #JMU making a coaching change before the season is over. 1 reason is JMU's rep among coaches already isn't great after its last firing. Doing that to an alum who's done everything right but win would make the next hire more difficult.

Yep - they dug the grave for us 4 years ago. I could see it coming.

NJ
I disagree with you slightly. I do not think there has been much improvement in individual players. Banks handle still not good enough to get around guys, Lewis is stronger and better but still takes poor shots. Parker, besides last night has been disappointment this year.

I think the lack of bringing in another ball handler and the lack of improvement in Christmas and wooden as season has gone along has hurt as well.
DJ should be dominating, but in games Ive seen, they go away from him for long periods of time.

(02-06-2020 07:22 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  Very small. And this is what they’ve got AFTER they renovated to add more comfortable/luxury seating.

Those upgrades putting seatbacks in lowered our seating. Our available seating has not increased, they just put lipstick on the place to make it look nicer as well as be more comfortable (comfy chairbacks, same level bathrooms, permanent concessions, air conditioning etc). The main upgrades were to the locker rooms which supposedly are top of the CAA at the time of that renovation (4 years ago). They also closed the corners to make it feel more like an arena.

But yes we all know its small (just under 2500 seats). And yes we know our fan support is awful and is especially bad after now 6ish years of constant losing. When the team is good it has been supported well by the students and its a tough place to play. That hasn't been the case for 6 or 7 years.

(02-07-2020 11:30 AM)Dukes84 Wrote:  Mettlen Tweet: Guy, it's absolutely pointless to talk about #JMU making a coaching change before the season is over. 1 reason is JMU's rep among coaches already isn't great after its last firing. Doing that to an alum who's done everything right but win would make the next hire more difficult.

Well if that isn't a set up for an excuse when they can't get a good coach I don't know what is. It's one thing if it was a different admin, but they are the ones who effed it up by firing Brady after a winning season.

Coaches will overlook all of that if the pay is right. As they say money talks and bs walks.

(02-07-2020 12:49 PM)dan10 Wrote:  

(02-06-2020 07:22 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  Very small. And this is what they’ve got AFTER they renovated to add more comfortable/luxury seating.

Those upgrades putting seatbacks in lowered our seating. Our available seating has not increased, they just put lipstick on the place to make it look nicer as well as be more comfortable (comfy chairbacks, same level bathrooms, permanent concessions, air conditioning etc). The main upgrades were to the locker rooms which supposedly are top of the CAA at the time of that renovation (4 years ago). They also closed the corners to make it feel more like an arena.

But yes we all know its small (just under 2500 seats). And yes we know our fan support is awful and is especially bad after now 6ish years of constant losing. When the team is good it has been supported well by the students and its a tough place to play. That hasn't been the case for 6 or 7 years.

More describing more comfortable. Sorry didn’t mean to say seating capacity had increased. I’ve visited the DAC at least 5-6 times. One of the most underwhelming renovations I’ve seen. Improvements were definitely made, but it’s pretty insignificant at a glance. Just more padded seats & chairbacks. The addition of bleachers on one endline is a plus though, for sure.

(02-07-2020 12:13 PM)nyduke Wrote:  NJ
I disagree with you slightly. I do not think there has been much improvement in individual players. Banks handle still not good enough to get around guys, Lewis is stronger and better but still takes poor shots. Parker, besides last night has been disappointment this year.

I think the lack of bringing in another ball handler and the lack of improvement in Christmas and wooden as season has gone along has hurt as well.
DJ should be dominating, but in games Ive seen, they go away from him for long periods of time.

That’s fair- I’ve been hard on parker but he has definitely continued to incrementally improve since he’s been on campus- freshman are freshman so the jury is out. DJ has improved obviously and can be a big difference maker but the reality is he plays below the rim and is 6’7 - there are some tall guys in this league and I think he understandably has trouble with that. Imagine if he could play 4 on this team how many cleanup boards and layups he would convert.

Lewis and Banks have done a lot of work on their individual games and they seem like good kids who are trying to evolve in the team game. Matt for example has made a conscious effort to let the game come to him and Banks has tried being more aggressive. The problem is the team is constantly down and trying to claw back so Lewis is somewhat forced to force the action and go one on one because the offensive movement is so poor. Not making excuses for him- he needs to play smarter but the coaching has a big role in this- they guys get more space to operate more of a plan and better looks and I think they are 1st team guys.

(02-07-2020 02:17 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(02-07-2020 12:13 PM)nyduke Wrote:  NJ
I disagree with you slightly. I do not think there has been much improvement in individual players. Banks handle still not good enough to get around guys, Lewis is stronger and better but still takes poor shots. Parker, besides last night has been disappointment this year.

I think the lack of bringing in another ball handler and the lack of improvement in Christmas and wooden as season has gone along has hurt as well.
DJ should be dominating, but in games Ive seen, they go away from him for long periods of time.

That’s fair- I’ve been hard on parker but he has definitely continued to incrementally improve since he’s been on campus- freshman are freshman so the jury is out. DJ has improved obviously and can be a big difference maker but the reality is he plays below the rim and is 6’7 - there are some tall guys in this league and I think he understandably has trouble with that. Imagine if he could play 4 on this team how many cleanup boards and layups he would convert.

Lewis and Banks have done a lot of work on their individual games and they seem like good kids who are trying to evolve in the team game. Matt for example has made a conscious effort to let the game come to him and Banks has tried being more aggressive. The problem is the team is constantly down and trying to claw back so Lewis is somewhat forced to force the action and go one on one because the offensive movement is so poor. Not making excuses for him- he needs to play smarter but the coaching has a big role in this- they guys get more space to operate more of a plan and better looks and I think they are 1st team guys.

The glaring problem with this team is on the defensive end of the court. I don't see any improvement whatsoever in any of them defensively. Lewis letting the game come to him and Banks being more aggressive are good I guess, but offense to me at least isn't the problem and hasn't been all season. This team wasn't good - neither individually nor collectively - defensively coming into the season. Much to my/our dismay they have got even worse.

Rowe loves guys in the 6'4" to 6'7" range who can get up and down the court. Part of his recruiting miss is a really big dude who is a shot blocking threat. A big dog sitting back behind you in the paint can clean up a ton of messes defensively and gives freedom for the defenders to take chances out on the perimeter. I realize 6'11" guys with long arms, athleticism to move and smarts to stay out of foul trouble aren't there for the taking easily in recruiting - especially for a weak mid-major program. But, the fact remains, teams drive on us with ease and with zero fear they will be stopped - neither by their on-ball defender and especially with no big dog sitting back there ready to take them on.

(02-07-2020 02:27 PM)Wear Purple Wrote:  

(02-07-2020 02:17 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(02-07-2020 12:13 PM)nyduke Wrote:  NJ
I disagree with you slightly. I do not think there has been much improvement in individual players. Banks handle still not good enough to get around guys, Lewis is stronger and better but still takes poor shots. Parker, besides last night has been disappointment this year.

I think the lack of bringing in another ball handler and the lack of improvement in Christmas and wooden as season has gone along has hurt as well.
DJ should be dominating, but in games Ive seen, they go away from him for long periods of time.

That’s fair- I’ve been hard on parker but he has definitely continued to incrementally improve since he’s been on campus- freshman are freshman so the jury is out. DJ has improved obviously and can be a big difference maker but the reality is he plays below the rim and is 6’7 - there are some tall guys in this league and I think he understandably has trouble with that. Imagine if he could play 4 on this team how many cleanup boards and layups he would convert.

Lewis and Banks have done a lot of work on their individual games and they seem like good kids who are trying to evolve in the team game. Matt for example has made a conscious effort to let the game come to him and Banks has tried being more aggressive. The problem is the team is constantly down and trying to claw back so Lewis is somewhat forced to force the action and go one on one because the offensive movement is so poor. Not making excuses for him- he needs to play smarter but the coaching has a big role in this- they guys get more space to operate more of a plan and better looks and I think they are 1st team guys.

The glaring problem with this team is on the defensive end of the court. I don't see any improvement whatsoever in any of them defensively. Lewis letting the game come to him and Banks being more aggressive are good I guess, but offense to me at least isn't the problem and hasn't been all season. This team wasn't good - neither individually nor collectively - defensively coming into the season. Much to my/our dismay they have got even worse.

Rowe loves guys in the 6'4" to 6'7" range who can get up and down the court. Part of his recruiting miss is a really big dude who is a shot blocking threat. A big dog sitting back behind you in the paint can clean up a ton of messes defensively and gives freedom for the defenders to take chances out on the perimeter. I realize 6'11" guys with long arms, athleticism to move and smarts to stay out of foul trouble aren't there for the taking easily in recruiting - especially for a weak mid-major program. But, the fact remains, teams drive on us with ease and with zero fear they will be stopped - neither by their on-ball defender and especially with no big dog sitting back there ready to take them on.

I think we have the talent players just not on the floor at the right time.

(02-07-2020 02:27 PM)Wear Purple Wrote:  

(02-07-2020 02:17 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(02-07-2020 12:13 PM)nyduke Wrote:  NJ
I disagree with you slightly. I do not think there has been much improvement in individual players. Banks handle still not good enough to get around guys, Lewis is stronger and better but still takes poor shots. Parker, besides last night has been disappointment this year.

I think the lack of bringing in another ball handler and the lack of improvement in Christmas and wooden as season has gone along has hurt as well.
DJ should be dominating, but in games Ive seen, they go away from him for long periods of time.

That’s fair- I’ve been hard on parker but he has definitely continued to incrementally improve since he’s been on campus- freshman are freshman so the jury is out. DJ has improved obviously and can be a big difference maker but the reality is he plays below the rim and is 6’7 - there are some tall guys in this league and I think he understandably has trouble with that. Imagine if he could play 4 on this team how many cleanup boards and layups he would convert.

Lewis and Banks have done a lot of work on their individual games and they seem like good kids who are trying to evolve in the team game. Matt for example has made a conscious effort to let the game come to him and Banks has tried being more aggressive. The problem is the team is constantly down and trying to claw back so Lewis is somewhat forced to force the action and go one on one because the offensive movement is so poor. Not making excuses for him- he needs to play smarter but the coaching has a big role in this- they guys get more space to operate more of a plan and better looks and I think they are 1st team guys.

The glaring problem with this team is on the defensive end of the court. I don't see any improvement whatsoever in any of them defensively. Lewis letting the game come to him and Banks being more aggressive are good I guess, but offense to me at least isn't the problem and hasn't been all season. This team wasn't good - neither individually nor collectively - defensively coming into the season. Much to my/our dismay they have got even worse.

Rowe loves guys in the 6'4" to 6'7" range who can get up and down the court. Part of his recruiting miss is a really big dude who is a shot blocking threat. A big dog sitting back behind you in the paint can clean up a ton of messes defensively and gives freedom for the defenders to take chances out on the perimeter. I realize 6'11" guys with long arms, athleticism to move and smarts to stay out of foul trouble aren't there for the taking easily in recruiting - especially for a weak mid-major program. But, the fact remains, teams drive on us with ease and with zero fear they will be stopped - neither by their on-ball defender and especially with no big dog sitting back there ready to take them on.

We haven't had a guy like that since Denzel Bowles.