I said for years that Rowe should have been gone much earlier. My reasoning was that the new head coach would have had a year to start fixing the mess at the old Convo so when the new arena was open, it would be the coach's second year.
Make no mistake: this program is a MESS. It just isn't fair to ask ANY coach to turn this around in a year. To some that think we should be much better by now, apparently the new bar is several months.
Now I understand why Rowe wasn't released a year earlier due to not wanting to pay him. However, in doing that was setting the program up for another issue: year one in the new arena would be with a new coach.
Even under a regular season, I wouldn't have expected Byington to turn it around this soon. I still believe he is a good coach. But you have to give the guy some time to fix this. We were one of the worst teams in college basketball for years. Poor fundamentals and a losing culture don't get turned around overnight.
Yes, I have much higher expectations for this team, especially under Byington. But this team wasn't going to go from being one of the worst to one of the best overnight.
The admin did this to this program and now they have to live with the struggle.

NJDuke97 – 9/20/19
“I really believe we are losing so many recruiting battles because our current players are so talented that playing time is a concern, not instability or losses over past three seasons”.”

JMU Nation 1/26/18
“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.

What Happened:

Conference record was worst in history of JMU basketball. And the” talented” players transferred to Fairmont State, Clark College, and Queens College to name a few.

Covid has given Byington cover for this season. That notwithstanding, you can see his frustration or at least you could yesterday during the weekly presser. He doesn't have the pieces in places to play his style is perhaps the simplest way for me to put it. He's also had some interruptions. He wants to play 4 out with one inside guy as far as I understand it. That's why Wooden is playing on the perimeter.

I really think highly of Christmas as a talent. He's the one guy on the team that is an NBA prospect if he can develop in the right way.

Taylor has a 7-2 wingspan and take a look at one of the pictures of him in camp where his head is at rim level while throwing it down. Again, Coach B is trying to get him to play on the perimeter.

Morse has been a big loss offensively, but those things happen during the course of a season.

Of the three freshman, I've seen the most improvement in Strickland, but I still see him best suited as a backup. Amadi is an undersized big with a limited skill set. Edwards, who leads the team in turnovers, cannot shoot at the moment and is too ball-dominant.

Team will get better, but this season looks like a throw-away at the moment. Can Byington's approach work at a high level? We're going to find out in the next few seasons. His incoming class includes a true point guard, an excellent shooter that's perhaps a combo guard and a wing that can shoot. I suspect that there will be player movement after the season and he could add a player or two.

1) I watched the game, and don't feel negative as many of you appear to do.
2) It's way too early. Let's see where we are in 6 weeks.

I'm still very bullish on this year & By. It's too early for me to make a judgement.

Come on - first year, so many new players, covid protocols, & cancelations. I thought - while our shooting was off early on, we played decently. What I did not like is Matt tried to take it over all by himself at the end of the game. It was Matt versus their team. Their team won.

If this were an election we would certainly be in the "too early to call" stage.

So far, so good for me.

“ He doesn't have the pieces in places to play his style is perhaps the simplest way for me to put it. He's also had some interruptions. He wants to play 4 out”

If I had a nickel.....

Maybe it was this thread, maybe it was another, but the NBA has ruined basketball. Everything is a dunk or a three. Play basketball, quality fundamental basketball, and you can find ways to win. It’s not hard - high percentage shots and free throws win games. Can’t stand excuses. It doesn’t require the best “pieces” but rather smart, semi-talented, players.

(01-05-2021 10:20 AM)Dukes1825 Wrote:  “ He doesn't have the pieces in places to play his style is perhaps the simplest way for me to put it. He's also had some interruptions. He wants to play 4 out”

If I had a nickel.....

Maybe it was this thread, maybe it was another, but the NBA has ruined basketball. Everything is a dunk or a three. Play basketball, quality fundamental basketball, and you can find ways to win. It’s not hard - high percentage shots and free throws win games. Can’t stand excuses. It doesn’t require the best “pieces” but rather smart, semi-talented, players.

I remember watching those great NBA finals between the Celtics & Lakers in the mid 80s. Every possession mattered. It was like watching an athletic chess match. So many different ways of coming away with points on a given possession. Great teamwork. I don't think I've watched the NBA playoffs since the end of the Bulls run. Just dreadfully boring.

As far as a 4 out offense, it sure helps if you have a burly 4 and a rim protecting 5 that can shoot the three pointer very effectively. Not everyone gets Villanova's 2018 lineup to run that offense. Wooden and Christmas have shown some success this year with the 3 ball. Maybe we'll try that combo at some point.

(01-05-2021 10:20 AM)Dukes1825 Wrote:  fundamental basketball, high percentage shots and free throws win games.

it's that simple. get the ball inside, put it up, draw fouls, hit FTs, and walk out of there with the W.

(01-05-2021 09:26 AM)Dukeman2 Wrote:  NJDuke97 – 9/20/19
“I really believe we are losing so many recruiting battles because our current players are so talented that playing time is a concern, not instability or losses over past three seasons”.”

JMU Nation 1/26/18
“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.

What Happened:

Conference record was worst in history of JMU basketball. And the” talented” players transferred to Fairmont State, Clark College, and Queens College to name a few.

Condemning fans for trying to be positive just shows how far down the negative rabbit hole you are. I am not sure how someone can claim to care about their school yet every word they post seems intent on destroying it.

I liked Lou Rowe as a person and was rooting for his success. I saw how bad we were during his tenure. I wasn’t blind. I just didn’t want to make things tougher than they already were for him.

You seem to lose sight of the fact that Lou and those in the administration are people not robots. Your posts behind a fictitious name criticizing every decision lacks balance and just feels wrong to me. I honestly feel you should use your energy toward another endeavor you feel passionate about. You are not helping JMU nor yourself with your dysfunctional relationship with the the university.

(01-05-2021 10:20 AM)Dukes1825 Wrote:  “ He doesn't have the pieces in places to play his style is perhaps the simplest way for me to put it. He's also had some interruptions. He wants to play 4 out”

If I had a nickel.....

Maybe it was this thread, maybe it was another, but the NBA has ruined basketball. Everything is a dunk or a three. Play basketball, quality fundamental basketball, and you can find ways to win. It’s not hard - high percentage shots and free throws win games. Can’t stand excuses. It doesn’t require the best “pieces” but rather smart, semi-talented, players.

If there ever was a post that hits the nail on the head, this is it! The entertainment value of basketball has gone way downhill. The players are phenomenally athletic today but the lack of fundamentals and basketball IQ makes a lot of basketball especially the pros not enjoyable to watch.

I feel like the NBA goes from unwatchable to can’t miss as soon as the playoffs start. So while I do think the NBA sucks because of playing style, I think it mostly sucks because these amazing athletes don’t try hard most of the time. In the NBA playoffs, it can be extremely entertaining because some of the world’s best athletes are maxing out effort.

In the fight for MEAC supremacy, Norfolk State and Morgan State split their series over the weekend

(01-11-2021 10:01 AM)dan10 Wrote:  In the fight for MEAC supremacy, Norfolk State and Morgan State split their series over the weekend

Lefty's first game his first season was a 64-61 win versus Westmont

His first game his second season was the first a many, many painful losses. 79-80 versus UNC.

Give By time.