Dukes are bigger according to Byington, Mettlen and Strickland.

https://www.dnronline.com/sports/differe...a6b1c.html


Deez: Edit for thread title & sticky

(06-30-2022 06:25 AM)Bawlmer Duke Wrote:  Dukes are bigger according to Byington, Mettlen and Strickland.

https://www.dnronline.com/sports/differe...a6b1c.html

Really look forward to seeing how this team develops. The additional size and heft under the basket is much needed.

(06-30-2022 12:14 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(06-30-2022 06:25 AM)Bawlmer Duke Wrote:  Dukes are bigger according to Byington, Mettlen and Strickland.

https://www.dnronline.com/sports/differe...a6b1c.html

Really look forward to seeing how this team develops. The additional size and heft under the basket is much needed.

It's been a while since we've had this kind of length on the team. A few of the guys are young, so it may take some time for the inside game to develop.
Coach By has really been trying hard to build size on the outside and he has done a very good job of that. That was a huge focus for him this recruiting cycle.
I would like to see him add more on the inside now that (hopefully) he's fixed the outside.

We are bigger, longer, more talented and deeper than last year. This team should be fun to watch.

The team should be better and the team needs to be better. We are in year 3 of the AUBC and the new car smell only lasts so long. Time to get it done.

I’m glad there is a little more size on the squad, but it remains to be seen if Roberson can make an impact inside or if he we get sparse playing time. Offrum should help inside, but at whose expense? Amadi, Sule, and Wooden will be fighting for the minutes Offrum wants too. Offrum only averaged 5 boards a game at Mt St Mary’s last year so I don’t know if we can expect him to be a big man savior.

It feels like the roster is improved, but still missing a man inside. The Dukes were throttled on the boards last year, struggled to defend the paint against effective bigs, and had a minimal post game on offense. We’ll see. Maybe Byington turns it into a higher pace team with relentless full court pressure and reduces halfcourt possessions to hide the weak spots.

The Sun Belt is weak and I think the Dukes can win the conference even with a perimeter based team. There are a handful of bigs in the conference who will be a problem for JMU, but most teams are in a similar position as JMU with the focus on perimeter play.

I think a big key will be if Friedel can effectively replace Falden. Big shot Chuck was an excellent player and won several games for the Dukes. I know coach won’t say it publicly, but any coach would be wondering how Friedel is going to pan out. Will he mature and fight through adversity or will he be a basket case? Mental toughness is one of the hallmarks of sport and he essentially quit on his team last year in the middle of the season. That has me concerned. I’m hoping he has learned and grown and becomes the offensive weapon JMU needs. Hodge and Falden were both 40%+ 3pt shooters and both are gone. Friedel needs to be 40%+

Hopefully some more big OOC games are announced soon. UVA and UNC are great gets so far.

Good take Hart.

There is little doubt to me this program is trending in the right direction and we have upgraded talent each year. I think with the extra year of growth (experience not inches), some of our existing bigs will make more impact and Offurum and Roberson are getting too much buzz from inside and outside the program for there not to be something there. Wooden at times last year seemed like he could muscle inside. I'm expecting him to find more of that as I'm sure Byington is pushing him to in practice .

Hodge was a great shooter but had a hard time getting his shot off. Falden will be the tough miss. Pure clutch.

The injuries to Strickland and Molson I thought did the most to derail our season last year (along with the Tournament taken away). The injuries changed our defensive presence and the whole dynamics of the team changed. It helped expose some of our weaknesses.

We've recruited against some of those weaknesses, existing roster has had another year to mature, and we have a fresh start in the SB. I can't wait for this year to get started.

Sent from my LM-V600 using Tapatalk

Another thing that really helps in our first year in the SBC is that Byington came from the Sun Belt. Even though he's a few years removed, he probably knows the teams still fairly well.
The Sun Belt for basketball should not be the challenge that it will be for football. The conference is improving, but so are we. I don't see any reason why we couldn't win the title in year 1.

(07-01-2022 07:39 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  Another thing that really helps in our first year in the SBC is that Byington came from the Sun Belt. Even though he's a few years removed, he probably knows the teams still fairly well.
The Sun Belt for basketball should not be the challenge that it will be for football. The conference is improving, but so are we. I don't see any reason why we couldn't win the title in year 1.

If we're not competing for the title almost every year, then we're not doing something right. I'm not saying we should win it or even be in the Championship game every year, but we must become a heavyweight in the Sun Belt.

Some more off-season notes

https://www.dnronline.com/sports/strickl...0ee12.html

Strickland loves JMU. Not interested in playing for his dad at LIU plus more…

Matt Lewis on Timberwolves Summer League roster

Molson and Strickland injury update

https://www.dnronline.com/sports/college...6191d.html

DNR ARTICLE Basketball notes
https://t.co/jTLW5m8JZB

Coach happy with the experience on his roster
Handed out scholarship offers on the recruiting trail

THE BREEZE article on pace & depth
https://www.breezejmu.org/sports/expect-...71370.html

(06-30-2022 08:13 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  I think a big key will be if Friedel can effectively replace Falden. Big shot Chuck was an excellent player and won several games for the Dukes. I know coach won’t say it publicly, but any coach would be wondering how Friedel is going to pan out. Will he mature and fight through adversity or will he be a basket case? Mental toughness is one of the hallmarks of sport and he essentially quit on his team last year in the middle of the season. That has me concerned. I’m hoping he has learned and grown and becomes the offensive weapon JMU needs. Hodge and Falden were both 40%+ 3pt shooters and both are gone. Friedel needs to be 40%+

Hopefully some more big OOC games are announced soon. UVA and UNC are great gets so far.

This is flat out untrue.

Yeah from what I understand he had some mental health struggles and it sounds like his coach wasn't very understanding of the situation. When entering the portal he specifically said he wanted to go somewhere that takes mental health more seriously.

This page has us at 6 preseason

(07-19-2022 03:51 PM)Newduke Wrote:  

(06-30-2022 08:13 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  I think a big key will be if Friedel can effectively replace Falden. Big shot Chuck was an excellent player and won several games for the Dukes. I know coach won’t say it publicly, but any coach would be wondering how Friedel is going to pan out. Will he mature and fight through adversity or will he be a basket case? Mental toughness is one of the hallmarks of sport and he essentially quit on his team last year in the middle of the season. That has me concerned. I’m hoping he has learned and grown and becomes the offensive weapon JMU needs. Hodge and Falden were both 40%+ 3pt shooters and both are gone. Friedel needs to be 40%+

Hopefully some more big OOC games are announced soon. UVA and UNC are great gets so far.

This is flat out untrue.

Give us the scoop newDuke. We need some Jackrabbit insight. Did he quit last year and get benched the year before or vice-versa? Whatever happened, we need to see an improved Friedel in purple. Without a 3pt threat this team will be much easier for opponents to defend

Mental health is a little more nuanced than that and after what we went through in softball, JMU's awareness is obviously going to be extremely heightened on this issue. I actually see it as a very good sign that he chose to come here. I take it to mean we are at least trying to do the right thing for the athletes.

Freshmen look good

https://www.dnronline.com/sports/college...2edc2.html

(07-19-2022 09:53 PM)Bawlmer Duke Wrote:  Freshmen look good

https://www.dnronline.com/sports/college...2edc2.html

It will be interesting to see how this shakes out. We will be so deep that I don't think there will be minutes given just for the sake of playing time. I would not be surprised to see some redshirts handed out this year.

(07-19-2022 07:33 PM)James Madison Wrote:  

This page has us at 6 preseason

Not surprised by that ranking, but I would be very disappointed if that's where we ended up.
I would say top 4 in the league and a deep run in the SBC tournament (semifinals) would be a solid first year. Hoping for more than that, though.

(07-19-2022 08:42 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  

(07-19-2022 03:51 PM)Newduke Wrote:  

(06-30-2022 08:13 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  I think a big key will be if Friedel can effectively replace Falden. Big shot Chuck was an excellent player and won several games for the Dukes. I know coach won’t say it publicly, but any coach would be wondering how Friedel is going to pan out. Will he mature and fight through adversity or will he be a basket case? Mental toughness is one of the hallmarks of sport and he essentially quit on his team last year in the middle of the season. That has me concerned. I’m hoping he has learned and grown and becomes the offensive weapon JMU needs. Hodge and Falden were both 40%+ 3pt shooters and both are gone. Friedel needs to be 40%+

Hopefully some more big OOC games are announced soon. UVA and UNC are great gets so far.

This is flat out untrue.

Give us the scoop newDuke. We need some Jackrabbit insight. Did he quit last year and get benched the year before or vice-versa? Whatever happened, we need to see an improved Friedel in purple. Without a 3pt threat this team will be much easier for opponents to defend

Does it matter what another person is/was going through? He's here now; let's make it awesome