Bowles Brings Hope For Us All

The Dukes’ Jimmy Chitwood?

The eve before JMU’s exam week featured a flash mob,  and the night after exams week will feature a basketball game.  The flash mob (or is it a flash mob rave?) is simply the latest in a series of events which exist for no other reason then to remind me that I am old. Very old. First of all, what the heck is a flash mob rave? Second of all, where the hell is East Campus? How do I even know that’s really JMU? People keep sending me videos of this event and telling me how cool it is. It’s not cool people. Not at all. And neither are we. It’s a bunch of good looking kids half our age, having fun doing things that confuse me. And scare me. This is what college kids do for fun? They should just stand ankle deep in beer sludge,  in some dank basement, drink Beast Ice, and listen to Widespread Panic like we did when I was in school. Seriously, the little whipper snappers in these videos couldn’t have made feel any older if they beat me with my own cane while I was on my way to buy prune juice and feed pigeons in the park. Stop sending me the damn links people. You’re making me depressed.

Now the game however, brings joy to my heart and the promise of a brighter future, as it will be the Dukes debut for 6’10” forward Denzel Bowles. Bowles transferred to JMU from Texas A&M and per NCAA regulations, had to sit out the Spring and Fall semesters. He’s been practicing with the team though and is expected to be in the starting lineup Saturday when JMU plays Eastern Michigan. He’s so good, the Aggies apparently can’t bring themselves to admit he’s gone.  Coach Brady has high expectations for Denzel and had this to say about him:

He’s a significant player. And I don’t want to pin everything on him, but he’s just a really, really big dude who can really play. And he’s going to be one of, if not our best player. He’s really that talented.

Coming off a loss to Georgia State in which the Dukes shot 34% from the field, Bowles’ inside presence should help control the paint and open some space for JMU’s shooters. Dazz Thornton, who showed some nice touch inside and was one of the few bright spots against Georgia State, should also get some more favorable match-ups with the taller Bowles on the floor. Bowles addition to the lineup should also help alleviate the pressure on Julian Wells, who’s had increased responsibility since Devon Moore tore his ACL in the preseason. Here’s to hoping Bowles is just what the Dukes need to breath a little life into them before conference play really gets going.